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Sorry it has been a busy few days. Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. Dad got released for the Hospital Christmas day stayed with Uncle Rick & Aunt Nancy. He really wanted to sleep in his own bed and would not be able to get a hold of Doctors until Monday so he came home on the 26th. He has not been feeling very good the last couple of days the Chemo has set in and is making him pretty nausea. Thanks to all the great ward members who have helped clean the snow from the drive way and Troy who has been busy fixing garage doors building fires and bringing wood in to dry. They are not sure the coarse of actuation the doctors are going to take we know there will be some radiation treatments and possibly more chemo. Mom was not there when all the doctor came in to discharge Dad from the hospital she will be making many phone call tomorrow to figure out when he is to be seen and by which doctor. Thanks for all your love and support and just remember Dad is going to be weak and tried for some time hopeful we can convince him of that so he doesn't over do it when he does feel good.

Good News

Mom just called the bone marrow test was done today the results are back HE is at a stage 1 which means we caught it early. If Chemo goes well today he might get released from the Hospital tomorrow. I am sure they will be staying in Vegas for a while for treatment but at least things are looking up.

More Testing

They have decided that they really need to do the Bone Marrow test after all. Dad should be getting that done tomorrow. The spinal tap is done to make sure that there are now cancer cells in the spine and central nervous system because Chemotherapy does not work on the spine region and it would have to be treated differently. The bone marrow test is to see if the caner has gone to the bone lets pray that it has not. They have ruled that the cancer is on the EK cells I think that is what Mom said which is the cells in the sinuses. Hopefully they will know tomorrow and be able the start the chemo soon. They did start Dad on Steroid which is suppose to slow down the cancer. Mom said the Doctors told her that Dad might only be in the Hospital for another week or so then they would be able to treat on an outpatient basis. They don't want to release him to early because of all he has been through. Well I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Keep praying Dad was really happy to see all the kids this weekend even though he was worried about us traveling. Thanks for coming to visit I think it helped his spirits.

Diagnosis

We now know Dad's diagnosis is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I was able to do some research online today at the National Cancer Institute site (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/non-hodgkin), and it was quite helpful. There is actually a 53-page PDF you can download with information specific to this cancer and its treatment, plus lists of questions that we can keep in mind when speaking with Dad's caregivers. I've printed a copy for Mom to keep handy.

Today we made some progress! In the morning, Dad had a CT scan (with contrast dye) of his abdomen, and in the afternoon, he had a spinal tap. Last night, Dad mentioned that he would be having a bone marrow test, but today the Dr. said that the spinal tap is less invasive...so, that's a good thing. We hope to have some results tomorrow, although some portions of the tests might take a couple days.

Also, Uncle Rick and Uncle Dale spoke with Grandma Mott tonight and let her know what's going on with Dad. Let's especially keep Grandma in our thoughts and prayers. I know our hearts are just broken for her and what she's had to go through recently. Mom will pick Grandma up in the morning and take her to see Dad.

I know Dad enjoyed everyone visiting him this weekend! He’s had a few good days in a row, and I think we can all attest that Dad’s sense of humor is still in tact!!! And that, too, is a good thing!

Mark was able to go to Vegas this weekend and visit Dad. Saturday a doctor finally came who seemed to know what was going on. He says there is an infection that only a certain antibiotic will cure, and immediately started him on it. Cancer has not been ruled out, but at least we are getting some kind of answers. Hopefully he will start to feel better soon.

Frustration!

We still have not been able to get a clear answer from the Doctors as to what is going on with Dad. The latest is that on Tues. during surgery, another biopsy was taken - no results back yet. Found out yesterday that the blood work taken last Friday (the day Dad was admitted to the Hospital) was never sent out to the lab to test for Wegener's, which is what Dr. Pearson recommended he be tested for!! Apparently, the staff (with the exception of Dr. Ly) doesn't get the concept of "urgency"!

Today's conclusion is that if we have not received word back on either the blood work or the biopsy by the morning, Mom, Uncle Rick, Uncle Dale and possibly some angry kids will be holding a conference with the staff and the head of the administration to share a piece of our minds!!!

Besides all this, the hardest part is to see Dad in his current situation, in pain and barely recognizable. So, any and all the prayers you can say, please do! We know that they are being heard.

Thanks so much to everyone for your continued support! We all appreciate it!!!

Surgery

Yesterday Dad had surgery to clean out his sinuses again and do more biopsies he came out of the surgery okay. The Doctors think they have the disease narrowed down to three different diseases one being a cancer, one an auto immune disease and one a fungal infection. Hopefully the tissue that they got this time is a live and they can get pathology results from it. Mom seems to be in good spirits she is hanging on strong. To add a few burdens to them there furnace quite working this week at home and Mom went out to the car yesterday and the window was broken not exactly what they need right now. Please keep them in your prayers hopefully we will have an answer as to what we are up against by Friday so they can start treating dad with the right medication. All three diseases are treated differently. Also in the surgery that discover that this disease has eat away his septum and they drained and pocket of stuff by his eye hopeful that will ease some of the pressure. It has not moved to his brain yet hopeful it wont get there. Lot s of love to all and Thanks for your love and support.

Going in for Surgery

Melissa called this morning to let us know Dad is scheduled to have surgery tonight at 5 pm. The plan is to go in and clean out his sinuses again like what was done Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Hopefully this will help to relieve some of the pain he is in and give the doctors another chance to try and figure out what's wrong and how to treat him from here.
Please keep him in your prayers, and we'll let you know more as soon as we find out. Thanks for your love and support!

Change in Status

Today Dads status had been change to intermediate he is no longer on ICU status but still in an ICU room because they have no rooms available in intermediate. Mom said they just finished signing paper work to do an MRI hopefully that will tell them something. They are going to clean out his sinuses again not sure when though. The infection control person says that needs o be done. Mom says his face hurts so bad that he does not want he to touch him to clean off the stuff that is coming out of his nose. Hopeful the biopsy results will be back on Monday of Tuesday along with the blood test for Wegeners granulomatosis which the ENT doesn't think it is but the pathologist here in Utah suggested to test for this ENT says he has never seen Wegeners present its self this way but at least they might be eliminating it.
They have started to give him nutrition though an IV because his mouth hurts so bad that he can not eat. Hopeful that will help keep some weight on him.

ICU

Mom called today Dad was put in ICU last night he had a fever of a 100+ his heart rate went high and his blood pressure low or vise versa can't remember which way it was. Mom says he is doing better today. His blood sugar was a 146 they would like it in the 120's.

hosptial

Today Dad went the the ENT in Vegas still no diagnose but mom held her ground they where not leaving until they knew something she told the doctor he is going down hill every day. The doctor decided to admit him to the hospital he was very dehydrated they could not find a vein and in a lot of pain because the doctor did another biopsy in his mouth today. When I talked to mom she said they had given Dad 2 IV's for hydration and one with antibiotics and some morphine. They are planning on a few CT scans one of his brain, his skull and chest. Everyone who has looked in his mouth has sad it looks like cancer but none of the biopsy have proving that yet. Now that he is in the hospital maybe they with find the problem faster so he can start to receive treatment for what ever the problem is. Please keep him in your prayers.
Thanks I will try to keep this updated now that things should be happens daily before we where just playing the waiting game. Love ya lots.

Thanks to all

We are very grateful for everyone's love and support. Your prayers, kind deeds, and words of encouragement are greatly appreciated! Please continue to pray for Dad and Patty in this difficult time. We love you Dad!!!

This weeks news

Sorry I have not had time to update this week. Dad went to the primary care Doc on Wed. who mom and dad seemed to like he ask what they where doing there when he saw the HMO as the payee he understood . Any how he just so happens to be from Africa which turned out to be a blessing he looked in dads mouth and told they it looked like a Lymphoma that children in Africa get finally someone who thinks they know what this is. Mom said he said the name but she could not remember what it was or how to pronounce it. So they did blood work that day waited in the office for a referral which was going to be for an Ear nose and throat doc (ENT). I suggested they pack a bag in case they could get an appointment fast they where half way to Vegas good idea but the office didn't cooperate they set them home with out a referral when they were outside of Mesquite they got the call for an appointment with the ETN on Friday Dad was exhausted and wanted to sleep in his own bed so they came all the way home just to leave Thursday around noon to go the Las Vegas.



While on the drive there they got a call asking why they had missed the appointment with the ENT. To make a long story shorter they call the Primary care Doctor asking what was going on. They were not meant to go to the ENT they where suppose to go to an Oral Surgeon so Friday they actually saw the oral surgeon who looked at dad and said I could do this surgery but what you really need is to start Chemotherapy and Radiation NOW!!! Mom and Dad are Staying in Vegas hoping to see the Oncologist (Cancer Doctor) Monday or Tuesday. So that is the scoop.

Please continue to pray for your own strength to make it though this but especially for Dad's strength he has been very weak and tired which will most likely get worse with the chemo.

Rick and Nancy if you are reading I would love to hear how Nick did in the Marathon. This is meant to be focused on Dad but some good new from anyone to bring a positive beat to the blog would be great.

I am going to surprise Mom and Dad by having there Christmas tree up before they get home.

Dads results

Well we are still waiting to see what the diagnoses is both biopsy came back inconclusive. So what ever they where testing for did not come back in the biopsy as a positive. I must say waiting is the hardest thing. He has an appointment tomorrow with his new Primary care Doctor to get a referral for an Oncologist hopeful they will do some blood work to find something out.

I just want to say how thankful Dad was to see all of you this week for Thanksgiving he was really worn out when all was said and done but glad to have everyone there.

Thanks to all that helped clean up around the house and for Mark for finishing the siding work.

This is an invitation only blog, so please send a post with any email addresses you would like added. I've never had a blog before, so let me know if I need to do anything to improve. My goal is that anyone and everyone who loves Merrill and the Haley Family can read and post comments. Thanks for your interest:)