Feeling, so, so blessed to have this news! We continue to pray that Pop-pop will feel better quickly so that he can come see us and cuddle baby Colby! We love you Dad!
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
From Ric
Friday, December 30, 2011
Yesterday Dad finished his induction chemotherapy. The oncologist is very pleased with how he responded to the treatment and his white blood cell count went from 70,000 down to 5,000 in a matter of days. This was in spite of a reduced dosage of one of the drugs due to the heart risks. His pnemonia is clearing up well and he feels much better than a week ago. He has been walking the floor everyday and has enough energy and concentration to be able to read and play games with his grand-daughter Dorothy. His appetite is good and he enjoyed cookies, fudge, blue cheese dip and chips, nuts and bolts and apple pie that we supplied him with. He has not felt sick thanks to the anti-nausea meds and so far the only side effect has been fatigue. They are continuing to monitor his heart closely and he will begin meds to boost his good blood cell counts very soon. There will be another bone marrow biposy next week I believe. Good news on the last one is there are no signs of a chromosonal abnormality, which is a very good thing and means he likely will not need a bone marrow transplant.
For Christmas we spent a couple of hours with him at the hospital and opened presents and brought him pepperoni pizza. Leif showed him all of his new Star Wars characters and it was a great visit. He also had visits from his brother-in-law Dean, niece Katie, great-niece Anna-Marie, sister Kathy, brother-in-law John, mom Dorothy, niece Laurel (just returned form 4 months in Africa), and nephew Whit. On Christmas Eve my husband Cory spent several hours with him watching football and talking story. He also enjoyed a nice visit with his stake president that day.
Later that evening we celebrated Christmas with our extended family at my cousin Nate's home. Mom joined us and dad enjoyed a turkey dinner at the hospital.
Mom has had frequent lunch dates with ladies from her ward and dad has been visited by his bishop and others from the ward several times. They truly appreciate the service and love of their ward family.
My sister Maggie gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Tuesday, Colby Vaughn, and I know Dad is eager to get up and about and have the all clear to visit his newest grandson as soon as possible.
We had to head back to Idaho on Monday due to the prospect of poor road conditions later in the week. It was truly a blessing to be able to make this trip on such short notice. If we were still in Hawaii I'm not sure we would have been able to make it.
Dad is very vulnerable to sickness and infection right now, so please keep in your prayers that he does not catch anything over the next several weeks. We all express our love and gratitude for the continued prayers.
Mahalo nui loa and alhoa,
Amanda
For Christmas we spent a couple of hours with him at the hospital and opened presents and brought him pepperoni pizza. Leif showed him all of his new Star Wars characters and it was a great visit. He also had visits from his brother-in-law Dean, niece Katie, great-niece Anna-Marie, sister Kathy, brother-in-law John, mom Dorothy, niece Laurel (just returned form 4 months in Africa), and nephew Whit. On Christmas Eve my husband Cory spent several hours with him watching football and talking story. He also enjoyed a nice visit with his stake president that day.
Later that evening we celebrated Christmas with our extended family at my cousin Nate's home. Mom joined us and dad enjoyed a turkey dinner at the hospital.
Mom has had frequent lunch dates with ladies from her ward and dad has been visited by his bishop and others from the ward several times. They truly appreciate the service and love of their ward family.
My sister Maggie gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Tuesday, Colby Vaughn, and I know Dad is eager to get up and about and have the all clear to visit his newest grandson as soon as possible.
We had to head back to Idaho on Monday due to the prospect of poor road conditions later in the week. It was truly a blessing to be able to make this trip on such short notice. If we were still in Hawaii I'm not sure we would have been able to make it.
Dad is very vulnerable to sickness and infection right now, so please keep in your prayers that he does not catch anything over the next several weeks. We all express our love and gratitude for the continued prayers.
Mahalo nui loa and alhoa,
Amanda
Friday, December 23, 2011
Treatment Begins
This is Amanda. I spent a few hours with Dad at the hospital yesterday so Mom could come home for a bit. I was there when his oncologist came to see him. This is where we're at: He has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The good news is this is the most common type of adult Leukemia and they have been using the same treatment for years. So the doctors will be dealing with something with which they are very familiar. We are awaiting (10-14 days) further pathology of the bone marrow biopsy which will give the doctor better information with which to make a full prognosis.
The induction treatment (beginning today) will consist of 7 days of 24 hour IV chemo with the first 3 days including an additional drug. This additional drug involves some risk for his heart so they will be monitoring that very closely, although evidence of any damage may not be aparant for several weeks. But it was very clear in talking to the doctor that the heart risks far outweigh the risk of waiting or doing nothing. There is also a high risk of infection so he will remain in the hospital for an additional 3 weeks after the week of treatment. He will have his blood counts and kidneys checked daily and have access to platelet and blood transfusions as needed. He has been moved to the oncology unit and will remain there (in a private room where mom can stay with him). At day 14 they will repeat the bone marrow biopsy and again at day 28; at which time his blood counts should be back up. If all looks good a few days later will start his consolidation chemotherapy. This will consist of 4 rounds of chemo for one week (hospital stay) each month.
The doctor said they will be able to manage nauseau and most discomfort with meds and he will experience a low appetite, fatigue and hair loss.
It is going to be a long tough month but he's ready to get this going. Please continue to keep him, mom and the docotrs in your prayers. We thank you all for your love and support.
Amanda
The induction treatment (beginning today) will consist of 7 days of 24 hour IV chemo with the first 3 days including an additional drug. This additional drug involves some risk for his heart so they will be monitoring that very closely, although evidence of any damage may not be aparant for several weeks. But it was very clear in talking to the doctor that the heart risks far outweigh the risk of waiting or doing nothing. There is also a high risk of infection so he will remain in the hospital for an additional 3 weeks after the week of treatment. He will have his blood counts and kidneys checked daily and have access to platelet and blood transfusions as needed. He has been moved to the oncology unit and will remain there (in a private room where mom can stay with him). At day 14 they will repeat the bone marrow biopsy and again at day 28; at which time his blood counts should be back up. If all looks good a few days later will start his consolidation chemotherapy. This will consist of 4 rounds of chemo for one week (hospital stay) each month.
The doctor said they will be able to manage nauseau and most discomfort with meds and he will experience a low appetite, fatigue and hair loss.
It is going to be a long tough month but he's ready to get this going. Please continue to keep him, mom and the docotrs in your prayers. We thank you all for your love and support.
Amanda
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Message from Lori 12/19/2011
Tonight I am giving myself a gift... A few moments to share my feelings. I am grateful that I know my Heavenly Fathers knows me and loves me so much. I am grateful for my understanding of the Great Plan of Happiness and for my Free agency. I am grateful for my elder brother, my Savior, Jesus Christ and for all He has done for me. I am grateful for wonderful children and their supportive spouse...s, the bestest grandkids and supportive,caring sisters, for Gramma Packard and the whole Packard clan, for friends who are like family and for my Ward Family and for all the 1000's of others that I do not know but whose prayers and offering I feel. I am so blessed. Ric is doing better today.. No temp...YEAH!! Heart is repairing itself..little to no damage...kidneys doing better...still some wheezing from the pneumonia but soooo much better( he can get 3-5 words out with a breathe-up from 1)...bone marrow test tomorrow if he has a good night. AML, watch out, because here we come!!
Message from Ric 12/19/2011
This is Amanda. The day after Dad was diagnosed with Leukemia he was havong chest pains and trouble breathing. Mom took him back to the hospital where it was determined that he had pnemonia and an infection in his blood. The next day further tests showed that he had suffered a heart attack as well. He was not doing well over the weekend. Andrew came over from Yakima, Kathy (sister) and John and Dorothy (mom) came up from Longview and me and my family started drin=ving over from Idaho. By Monday he was feeling a bit better and the antibiotics were doing their jobs. Dad posted this update on FB on Monday.
"So here's a little update. I am feeling much better and am still good and sick. The heart attack was caused by infection not blockage, a good thing. No major damage and is already righting itself. Will be well enough to undergo bone marrow biopsy tomorrow. They will also begin preps for major chemo because the white cell count is climbing and climbing fast. Then the regimine will be someth...ing like 7 days of chemo followed by 30 days of in hospital isolation and monitoring. Could be different, but that is what they have offered so far. The hospitals staff here at Providence are great, but none is greater that my incredible rock of a sweet and loving wife. We just keep picking up up the cart and heading west. All is well. Thank you all again for you faith and prayers. We are so blessed to live in a time when stuff like this can be fixed, even yet if only through our faith on the Lord Jesus Christ to grant that we may be healed.I ran a lot of races in my younger years. I didn't win all of them, but I did finish all of them. Love to all."
He did undergo the bone marrow biopsy on Tuesday with preliminary results given on Wednesday. We're awaiting further results on Thursday at which time we'll update with the results.
Dad's breathing is considerably better and he is able to rest fairly comfortably. He is tired but still cracking jokes. We continue to pray and hope for as positive as possible of a prognosis. We are so grateful for allt he prayers love and support.
"So here's a little update. I am feeling much better and am still good and sick. The heart attack was caused by infection not blockage, a good thing. No major damage and is already righting itself. Will be well enough to undergo bone marrow biopsy tomorrow. They will also begin preps for major chemo because the white cell count is climbing and climbing fast. Then the regimine will be someth...ing like 7 days of chemo followed by 30 days of in hospital isolation and monitoring. Could be different, but that is what they have offered so far. The hospitals staff here at Providence are great, but none is greater that my incredible rock of a sweet and loving wife. We just keep picking up up the cart and heading west. All is well. Thank you all again for you faith and prayers. We are so blessed to live in a time when stuff like this can be fixed, even yet if only through our faith on the Lord Jesus Christ to grant that we may be healed.I ran a lot of races in my younger years. I didn't win all of them, but I did finish all of them. Love to all."
He did undergo the bone marrow biopsy on Tuesday with preliminary results given on Wednesday. We're awaiting further results on Thursday at which time we'll update with the results.
Dad's breathing is considerably better and he is able to rest fairly comfortably. He is tired but still cracking jokes. We continue to pray and hope for as positive as possible of a prognosis. We are so grateful for allt he prayers love and support.
First Message from Ric - 12/16/2011
To all my faithful family and friends. I need you all. I am entering totally unknown phase of my life. I was diagnosed this week with some form of acute leukemia. A bone marrow test on Monday will give more specifics from which the oncologist will form a treatment regimen. Will begin chemo very soon. And so the fight begins. If this is to be beaten it will be with the combined faith and prayers of all of us. If not, then let the next great adventure begin. Thank you for your faith, hope, and prayers.
The Beginning
I'm sure that I speak for our entire family when I say that we are so thankful for the support and prayers that have been offered for Dad and the family. It's a testament to what a great man our father is!
As far as the family goes, we've been shaken. Mom is strong, and I know that helps Dad. She is a rock, always has been! Andrew and his family drove from Selah on Sunday and spent a few days visiting and will return for Christmas. Amanda and her family arrived Monday from Poceatello, and will also be there for Christmas. I know that having them there has brightened both Mom and Dad's spirits. Grandma Packard, Kathy, Jodi and their families will be up that way for the holiday and will gather to share presents and dinner on Christmas day. It's such a blessing to be a part of such a strong family!
It's been difficult for me to have no choice but stay home for the time being. I want to be there, to feel useful in all of this. But it eases my mind knowing that they are taking care of one another.
We love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas!
As far as the family goes, we've been shaken. Mom is strong, and I know that helps Dad. She is a rock, always has been! Andrew and his family drove from Selah on Sunday and spent a few days visiting and will return for Christmas. Amanda and her family arrived Monday from Poceatello, and will also be there for Christmas. I know that having them there has brightened both Mom and Dad's spirits. Grandma Packard, Kathy, Jodi and their families will be up that way for the holiday and will gather to share presents and dinner on Christmas day. It's such a blessing to be a part of such a strong family!
It's been difficult for me to have no choice but stay home for the time being. I want to be there, to feel useful in all of this. But it eases my mind knowing that they are taking care of one another.
We love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas!
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