August 11, 2016

The first week of August, we had a visit from our cute Indiana grandchildren.  What a treat that was!  Rick had a few extra days before his next treatment so it was so fun to be with the Wheadon kids! 

Rick also had a chance to go fishing with James Baird who is a dear friend of his ever since they were young.  They had such a fun day together.  They also caught some nice fish!  Rick came home so happy but also tired.  (But believe me, it was all worth it.)

On August 5, Rick had another treatment up at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.  This is the third week of the new trial.  The first two treatments Rick received the new standard of care drugs to make sure he could handle those first.  This week he was given the trial drug also.  The new drug is an immunotherapy drug that unmasks the cancer cells so that the body’s immune system will attack them.   It is always a little scary to see how his body will handle it.

While we were up at Huntsman, Rick was able to go to acupuncture.  He has been going to Annie for several weeks and it seems to help him sleep better and eat better.  We are hoping it is helping with the nausea too.  He even falls asleep while he has needles all over him.  It is very interesting.  While he had that appointment, I was able to get a massage.  Huntsman provides these services for the patients and their families.  

The following morning Rick had a fever so we called the doctors at Huntsman.  They said to keep them posted if the fever went higher.  I called the doctor again a few hours later when his fever was 103.  At that point they had us drive up to the emergency room.  Rick also had a cough that was tight in his chest.  They ran a chest x-ray and several blood tests to look for infection.  We stayed all day in the ER and finally at 11:00pm they admitted him up at Huntsman.  They gave him a lot of fluids and continued to monitor his fever and the fever broke at about 2:00am.  I slept at the hospital that night and then the next day they felt comfortable about sending him home.  They didn’t see any signs of infection but they ran more cultures to make sure.  The doctors wonder if Rick may have had a reaction to the drug.

Since we have been home, Rick has improved each day.  The side affects are pretty tough but of course Rick never complains.  Eating is the most difficult part.  Usually after about five days, he can eat a little better.  He is also feeling some neuropathy in his hands and feet.  He especially feels it when he drinks or holds something cold in his hands. 

  

I am so proud of him for his great strength and his positive attitude.  I am amazed at him everyday!  We feel so blessed to be able to spend so much quality time with each other.  Nothing else really matters to us at this time.   We continue to have faith and hope that he will be cured, but we also realize that God and our Savior are in charge.  Rick always reminds me to have faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ and not in the outcome.  He always says, “Jana, the plan is already in place.  We just need to have faith in the plan, whatever that is.”  This is just another reason we are trying to be strong like him!

Thank you so much for your continued love and prayers!

Love,
Rick & Jana