Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Good Evening Everyone,

There isn't much to update on today! My parents are still at the Mayo clinic and my dad has been kept very busy with the tests they are giving him. On Friday they will be coming home and he will stay home for about a week until his brother Dean goes down for his testing. No news is good news so far:) Thank you for your support and love!
~Laura Katchmark

Sunday, February 24, 2013

New News

Good Evening Everyone,

My dad came home on Wednesday and got to spend three and a half days back at home. He went to receive six doses of chemo at Methodist and came home to recover from that. He has been doing very well! There have hardly been any side effects from the treatment which has been fantastic! Yesterday he even went ice fishing again and thoroughly enjoyed himself! Today my parents went down to the Mayo for a week of testing. Each day will be busy for them as my dad prepares for his transplant. Thank you for your support and love!
~Laura Katchmark


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Heavy Heart

Good Evening Everyone,

I sincerely hope you had a wonderful Valentines Day! Today we received the news that my dad will be leaving for Methodist for a round of chemotherapy tomorrow. His bone marrow test showed activity (meaning the cancer is reviving itself) and with this in mind the doctors decided to take action sooner rather than later. Although I am glad that my dad will get the best possible care, my heart is in fact broken. Its hard to tell all of you what this is like,seeing your family everyday wanting to just enjoy one another's company and love but then knowing that eventually things will be broken apart again because of this awful disease. I vehemently believe that being optimistic and having the right goals in your mind are half of the battle (my dad has been doing great with this) but the other half is in the doctors hands and perhaps even in Gods hands. For those of you who know me I am not particularly religious. The events I have experienced in my life so far have made me question things that I think everybody does eventually ponder upon. Perhaps its time to start trusting in something bigger than science and with that in mind I will pray. I will pray for my dad, for my family, for my friends, and for a cure to cancer. As always thank you for your everlasting love and support.
~Laura Katchmark

Child With Over Keeping A Grandmother Fighting Http Quotes Ive

Monday, February 11, 2013

Doctors Visit

Good Evening Everyone,

Today my dad went in to the doctors to get a bone marrow test and his blood levels checked. We wont have the results until Wednesday or Thursday at the latest and we are hoping for the best! His blood levels were very low however, and he may or may not need a transfusion and some platelets before the week expires. On the plus side, he is still feeling really great and has been doing many of his favorite activities such as cooking and going ice fishing (special thanks to Mike Katchmark and John Ritter)! If you have time, a small prayer or even some positive energy would be great especially in these next few days! Thank you!
~Laura Katchmark


Sunday, February 10, 2013

Finalizing the Decision

Hello Everybody,

My dad has decided to go to the Mayo Clinic for his transplant! It was a very hard decision but as a family we have agreed that he will receive the best care possible down in Rochester. The doctors have been talking about their treatment plans for him, and they think that it might be necessary to have him go back to Methodist for a five day regiment of Chemo before going to the Mayo. On Monday he will go in for another bone marrow test and the results will be what decides this. To decide who will be the donor, DNA testing kits have been sent to Steve, John and Dean. The doctors will pick who is in the best health to be a donor and then the transplant will take place (in about four weeks). As for what will happen in the three months my dad is undergoing treatment, my mom will live down in Rochester in a house that the hospital has designed especially for circumstances such as this. If the treatment is going well it will be possible for my dad to leave the hospital and stay in the house. Sarah and I will be staying with my grandpa and will be able to visit my dad on weekends and Skype during the week. Thank you for all of your words of encouragement and love!
~Laura Katchmark
(I readjusted the setting for posting comments and if your interested let me know if it is any easier to post on this page! Thank you!)

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Tough Decision

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Its amazing how the time has flown by. After two consultations, one at the Mayo clinic and one at the U of M our family is left with the toughest decision of our lives. Where do we go. From a statistical stand point the Mayo is more appealing. They are ranked fourth in the country for cancer treatment. They have a very nice facility and their staff is very friendly and cautious when it comes to hygiene (hand washing and masks). Being that it is so far away, my mom would have a very hard time working and would have to live down in Rochester with my dad. As for visitors my dad truthfully believes that your love and constant caring got him through the first round. I know its very far away but if you ever get the chance please stop by (if we do end up at the Mayo). It made such a huge difference in his well being. The last few days have been very sad. We all know what is coming and none of us are ever going to be prepared for it. The only thing we can do is continue to remember how special family is and take it day by day. Once our decision has been made I will update the blog. Until then, make sure you let someone in your family know just how much you love them because at the end of the day they are the things that matter.
~Laura Katchmark