Happy Thanksgiving

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Last year at this time, my dad and family were preparing for a dismal and depressing holiday in the hospital. This year, although things are still hard and scary, my dad is at home and we are preparing for a holiday that will be filled with laughing and food which he can actually eat! The second round of chemo ended on the fifteenth of November and the weekend following that was rough. He was very listless and unresponsive which as you know is unlike my dad at every level. My mom ended up taking him back to the Mayo and we found out that too many pain pills, and a need for red blood cells was what was causing these symptoms. He has been doing much better since then and some of his appetite has returned! As each day goes by, I have more and more hope that this will pass and things will get better. Just believe:) Happy Thanksgiving!

Laura Katchmark

Always, always believe

Chemo: Take Two

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I am sitting here in class and decided to post just a quick update. This is the second round of chemo for my dad and it will last throughout the week. He is doing okay thus far but the chemo has kicked in a few times. When this happens he usually feels nauseated and pretty tired. I am so proud of him however because of the strength that he shows everyday even when he isn't feeling very well. I will give you an example that made me so happy and I know that he was thrilled as well! As I have mentioned in previous posts, deer hunting and hunting in general is a hobby and passion for my dad. For as far back as my memory can go, I can picture him going out in the cold November mornings getting ready to sit in the quiet and peaceful woods. I know it is like a sanctuary to him and the stories that he shares are some of the best I've ever heard. This year, despite all the odds, he got up and sat outside and got two deer! It may not have been the most exciting season ever but he fights the leukemia everyday. He has three days left of this round and then he has one more to go in December. I will post again on Sunday after this week is over. Have a great rest of the day! Thank you for all of your support!

Laura Katchmark

You make the best of it. I learn from you everyday. 

KEEP GOING DAD!!!! YOU ARE KICKING ASS!!!

And Snow it Comes

Good Evening Everyone,

What a blustery and rather miserable day it has been both weather wise, and just in general today. In the past few days things have been going fairly well at home and at school. My dad has been able to laugh and do a few things in the kitchen despite his fading appetite.I have enjoyed every minute of that time. He even went deer hunting and saw about four bucks and eleven does. Unfortunately he couldn't get a shot at them but he had a wonderful time. Anyways...back to today. My mom and dad went down to Rochester for labs and red blood cells. They both agreed it was a very long day both mentally and physically.My dad was feeling pretty drained and he really needs to rest. During their doctors visits they had a few questions answered and I will share them with you now. 

1) Why didn't the stem cells multiply correctly the first time around?

Doctors answer: Think of it this way. The bone marrow can be considered a bed of soil. A good type of soil to have is black dirt which has the right makeup to allow things to grow. Your (my dads) marrow is more like sandy soil which has potential but needs a bit of extra care to make things work correctly. To do this we need to administer the chemo to give your body a second chance. 

2) When is the next round of chemo?

Doctors answer: Next week. It will last for another five days. 

This information is a bit scattered right now because that is how the doctors give it to us. The Mayo has done an excellent job caring for my dad but because this is just so individualized, they are developing the treatment plan  as they go. I will keep posting (especially next week) to let you know how things are going. Thank you for your support and love!

Laura Katchmark

Setting In

Good Evening Everyone,

It will never cease to amaze me at how fast things can change when it comes to this disease. My dad is still doing okay but the chemo is starting to set in. He hasn't been quite as active as normal, and you can tell that he doesn't have extra energy to spare. Every week he goes in to get his labs drawn and he has only needed platelets once so far. He goes to Rochester in a few weeks for the next round of chemo and this round will again last for five days. In the mean time, our goal is to keep him happy and busy with little projects! I have determined that making him laugh at least once a day is going to be a new habit! Thank you for your support.

Laura Katchmark

The Fight Continues

Good Evening Everyone,

This week has been a good one for my dad. His first round of chemo ended on Sunday the 13th and ever since then he has tried to stay as active as possible. On Monday, I participated in an Outdoor Adventures (class at school) field trip and he came with me! We were shooting trap and afterwards my dad and I stayed behind to shoot a few rounds in the handgun range:) Things almost felt normal! Hopefully this good feeling will last for a while but as we know from previous experience there could be a few side effects emerging in the next few weeks. For now however, we are thankful that his appetite is still very large and he is tackling little projects around the house! As for his counts, they are remaining fairly steady, but are very low which is to be expected. Thank you so much for your support and love as the winter months draw near! I will post again next weekend! Stay warm:)

Laura Katchmark

Merry Go Round

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to take the time to update you all on my dads health status. As you all know, over the summer he was declared  "cancer free" and things were going quite smoothly. During the month of August however, he developed a severe line infection. The doctors at Mayo couldn't quite figure out what kind of bacteria was in his body but eventually they determined that it originates from corn plants and pineapples. We still have no idea how he managed to contract such an infection but nonetheless he did and as a result his blood counts began dropping dramatically. At first there wasn't much concern over the falling numbers but just this month he went in for a bone marrow test and the results were concrete. The cancer is back. His bone marrow test showed about 10% blast cells (cancerous cells) present in his body. He began chemo on Wednesday of this week and goes everyday until Sunday. He will do this same schedule three weeks from now and then again in December. As a family we have been doing well with the news of the cancers return, or as well as can be expected. My dad is a fighter and he has loads of support. Thank you all so much. I will be posting weekly on either Saturday or Sunday from now on! 

Laura Katchmark

My family is my happiness and I love you all!

What a Ride!

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I am so happy to be writing again! I know it has been a while since my last post but I wanted to give my dad a chance to worry about healing. Sometimes I find that life's best moments happen in the time that is undocumented and relaxed. This has been particularly true this week! My mom, dad and I took a three day fishing trip to lake Michigan to celebrate my dad's 50th birthday!! I am so happy to say that because for a while we weren't sure if we would get to spend that day together. Besides the fishing (which was awful) we enjoyed being on the water, cherry picking, and visiting a few little shops along the lake shore. My dad's health also allowed us to attend my cousin Michelle's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and everyone was feeling pretty happy including my dad. At the wedding there was a funny pictures booth and I have to say I haven't laughed that hard in quite a while. The big sunglasses, a feather boa, and a fairy princess wand that created my dad's look will be remembered forever along with a matching outfit for Uncle John (Best picture ever:). These two events are just examples of what my summer has been like! Aside from the adventures we have had, my dad  is still going to Mayo once a week for testing. Up until now things have been holding steady and all has been well. Two weeks ago however my dad did a bone marrow and had a few tests done. After that he got sick and had a pretty high fever. We just got the results to the bone marrow test and...IT IS CLEAN!!! THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This doesn't mean that things are over (it is just a progress report) but it is such revitalizing news!! He is at Mayo this weekend however because he got sick again yesterday. He had a very high fever and the doctors determined that he has a bacterial line infection. He is being treated with antibiotics and will remain in the hospital until Monday. I am so happy!! There really aren't words to describe it! For the past months my family and I'm assuming most of you have carried this extra weight that never really goes away even when your entire body is screaming in protest to get rid of it. Although worry is still a part of every day life I no longer feel like i'm being crushed. I only pray that it will remain like this and that my dad continues to heal and regain his strength. What a ride. What a life. What a gift it is to have my dad still with us. It is truly amazing how one person can belong in the hearts of so many. Thank you so much for keeping your heart's open and your love always present. More news to follow soon.

Laura Katchmark

Love is not love without someone to hold
someone who cares and someone who knows 
how life can turn from joy into fear
how you may need a hug or some cheer

through the darkness, the sorrow, the pain, and uncertainty 
people come together enduring one great mystery 
why are we here and why do we suffer?
maybe it will remain a question without answer 

One thing is true and one thing is certain 
Love is not love without people like you