Prayer/Good Thoughts Request

[oliegirl]

Not sure if many of you remember, but my father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which is a form of bone cancer (it's what Roy Scheider recently died from) last March. He's been on oral medications daily and a monthly low dosage chemo infusion ever since then.

When he had his last round of bloodwork, all of his numbers were "very elevated" and the doctors said it was "weird". It might be because he was on a drug holiday while he was having cataract surgery and a couple other procedures, however it's still odd and alarming that going off the meds for a short period of time (about 10 days) brought the numbers up so much.

He had another bone marrow biopsy done today, and we are all anxiously waiting the results. Tomorrow he is going in for a Cardiac Catheratization (sp?), his last stress test showed some "abnormalities", if they find any sign of blockage they are going to take him immediately to have an angioplasty done or have a stint put it, depending on how bad it is. His family (mother and brother) both have had very severe heart problems, my grandmother had quad bypass surgery about 10 years ago and my uncle had triple bypass surgery about 20 years ago, he was very young when he had it, so we are concerned at what they will find tomorrow.

Please send good thoughts and prayers his way...

[Passacaglia]

Good luck olie, I hope it all goes well.

[Kodos]

I hope it goes well. Will be thinking good thoughts.

[Lathum]

good luck Olie

[Honolulu_Blue]

Good luck. I hope everything turns out well.

[path12]

Best wishes to you and your family, olie.

[SnDvls]

sending you my thoughts from AZ

[FrogMan]

got him and you in my thoughts...

FM

[Lorena]

Keeping him in my thoughts Julie.

[Icy]

You and your father are in my thoughts, good luck.

[jeheinz72]

Good thoughts Olie, good thoughts...

[Fidatelo]

Good luck

[SteveMax58]

Hoping for the best.

[Warhammer]

Thoughts and prayers on the way.

[oliegirl]

Thanks guys. The catheter thing went well, they found a small blockage - about 30% - on the right side, but it was so small that they didn't need to do anything about it and are just going to "monitor" him. Given his family history of heart disease this is great news - even the doctor was surprised...

Keep the good thoughts coming until we get the results of the biopsy! :)

[Farrah Whitworth-Rahn]

Belated and continuing good thoughts. I hope the results of the biopsy bring good news.

[MikeVic]

Good luck!!

[CleBrownsfan]

Continuing good thoughts as well...

[oliegirl]

Bump

Got the results of the bone marrow biopsy today and it's not good. I have only talked to my mom on the phone so I don't have all the details, but he is going to be having a stem cell transplant this month. He'll have 3 days of medication that builds up the lining in his mouth, and then 3 days of massive chemo, immediately followed by the stem cell transplant. He'll be in the hospital for a total of 3 weeks while he rebuilds his immune system. He'll lose his hair, be sick from the chemo, etc. Although I have faith that he'll be better once he gets through this, watching him go through it is something I'm not sure I can handle.

Please keep him in your prayers.

[Lathum]

Good God Olie, I am so sorry.

Seeing what my Mother in Law is currently going through waiting for a much needed heart transplant Molly and I can sympathize.

We will both pray for you your father and your family.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I'm sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with you and your's.

Good luck to your dad.

[SFL Cat]

Thoughts and prayers for your dad and family.

[oliegirl]

Another bump. My dad decided to shave his head in preparation for all that is going to happen, and my son decided to show support and shave his as well. Today was the big day, here is a pic of the 2 of them right before the big event...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/2330218142_0ddb3585a9.jpg?v=0

And right after...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/2329437135_b7568edbec.jpg?v=0

[DaddyTorgo]

omg olie...thoughts and prayers...absolutely!

[BYU 14]

Very sorry to hear of this Ollie, thoughts and prayers to you, your father and your entire family. And god bless your Son for his show of support.......You have a very special young man there!

[terpkristin]

Wow, olie, what a frightening diagnosis/plan forward.

Your family will be in my thoughts, stay strong.

/tk

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I chuckled at the 'after' picture of your father and your son. Looks like it was a good bonding experience for the two of them considering your dad didn't smile much in the first picture but was grinning from ear to ear in the second picture. Small thing for your son to do, but I'm sure that your dad was extremely proud of his grandson for doing that.

Best wishes.

[Kodos]

Ugh. Sorry he has to go through all that. I hope it works out well in the end.

[MIJB#19]

Best of luck for your dad in getting through all of that, Oliegirl.

[Eaglesfan27]

That was a very nice gesture of support by your son. I hope everything goes well with your father's procedures.

[Lathum]

Thats a great gesture by your son Olie.

[oliegirl]

My son and my dad have a very special bond, they are incredibly close, which is amazing, but of course makes something like this that much harder. It was a great experience, difficult, but great for us to all go through together as a family.

Funny story - Anthony has three fairly good size birthmarks on his head, his 2 best friends came over yesterday when we got home to see his new look, and they now call him "guaca-mole". It's hysterical...they are all obsessed with Austin Powers so of course they do it in a goofy voice and do the Dr. Evil pinky finger thing with it too...it's great.

And again, thanks to everyone for the well wishes...it's definitely helping me to know you guys are out there sending good thoughts his way. Please keep them coming :)

[oliegirl]

Bump for update...

My dad had his 100 Day checkup today, they took bone marrow last week, and it's great news. He's in full remission!!! They have no idea how long it will last, anywhere from 3 months to 9 years...but for now, there is no cancer anywhere in his body :)

Thank you to everyone who sent prayers and good thoughts!!!!

[path12]

Great news, Olie.

[jeheinz72]

That's fantastic Olie!

[Lorena]

Great news!

[Eaglesfan27]

Awesome news!

[JediKooter]

That is very very great news!

[Lathum]

Awesome news Olie.

I was just telling Molly what your son did and it actualy bought a tear to my eye.

[terpkristin]

Fantastic news, really glad to hear it!! :) :) :)

/tk

[oliegirl]

Thanks everyone! I talked to my dad earlier today, and just talked to my mom again...I don't think any of us have stopped smiling since we got the news.

[oliegirl]

Awesome news Olie.

I was just telling Molly what your son did and it actualy bought a tear to my eye.

Awww, thanks Lathum - that is so sweet :) He really is a cool kid, he's 10 - so he's really into his friends, bikes, video games, all the things a 10 year old boy should be into - but he still is very into family also and loves having family time, doing stuff just with my husband and I, or with my parents included as well. I'm very lucky to have him in my life...he's at my parents this week so I'm missing him like crazy!

[Chief Rum]

That's great to hear, olie.