Fast Facts

Good Evening Everyone,

I am going to keep this really really short tonight because there isn't an excessive amount of new information to give out. I hope everyone had a nice New Year and that your New Years resolutions haven't already wavered! I will quickly share the resolution my family made. We are going to try to do one family related activity once every week (meal, game, movie etc.) and I personally am going to continue to enjoy every moment of my life even when things could be better. Alright, on to the information...

1) My dad received his 11th bone marrow test last Monday the 6th 
2) We will receive the results of the test on the 14th of this month
3) Depending upon the results the next move will be determined and I am hoping that whatever happens will be positive and move us in a healthy direction
4) He has gone two weeks without a blood or platelet transfusion which is a possible indicator of his own cells starting to reproduce. 

That is all for now and I will post after the 14th and let you all know what the next battle will entail! Goodnight!

Laura Katchmark

A Very Merry Christmas

Good Evening Everyone,

What a lovely Christmas! I have to say, it beats last Christmas when my Dad was still in the hospital and couldn't be home! This year we went to my aunt's house and it was a wonderful gathering. It felt complete and the atmosphere was one of content and happiness.  I always find it amusing that after such long periods of time without visiting, a family can reconnect and enjoy each others company! It is so much fun to see the little kids and babies bring such joy to everyone's face! New life is very refreshing and at the same time it reminds me of the fact that I am growing up! Its a scary thought, growing up, but I have a plan to contribute greatly to something in my life and now I just have to decide what that will be! As for my Dad, he is doing as well as he can be doing with everything that has happened to him. He really appreciated the time he got with his relatives on Christmas Eve and he has had such a positive attitude about everything. He is truly a strong and loving person with a determined spirit! After his third round of chemo his counts dropped off almost completely and they are still very low. He also developed an intestinal infection that is minor and is being treated with antibiotics. On January 6th he will be going in for a bone marrow to see if the cancer has been killed off. Please send your prayers, thoughts, anything, his way! This is a very very important test and lets just say that passing it is the only option that has a favorable outcome! He also asked me to write a thank you to everyone who has ever donated blood! He has received over fifty transfusions so far and they have saved his life again and again. Never under estimate the power of a giving spirit! That is all for now! I will post again after the new year! May 2014 bring good fortune for all!

Laura Katchmark 

Dad cant have live plants in the house so this year we improvised and decorated our fake tree!! It will be a bittersweet memory forever.

Last Round

Good Evening Everyone,

Tomorrow marks the day of the third and final round of chemo (as of now). I have to say, we are all ready for this to be completed. The next round will again last for five days and once it is over a stem cell transplant will be scheduled just as before. My dad has been feeling really good lately! It is so easy to tell when someone is genuinely happy and feels almost normal and he is no exception. Just the fact that he has been able to eat fairly normally and participate in our family activities has relieved so much stress for everyone. The positive attitude that has been relatively hard to hold on to has started to slowly reappear and take shape in our lives. Unfortunately every silver lining has its downfall and tonight ended up being a bad night for him. The chemo doesn't start taking effect right away and he did experience some stomach pain and nausea throughout the day. His goal is to just make it through the week and I know he will. If I have learned one thing about my dad, its that he never gives up when something is hard (for lack of a better word). Please send your prayers his way! Your love and support is appreciated and my entire family is humbled by it. I will post again next weekend.

Laura Katchmark

ON A SIDE NOTE...
I am not a person who is offended by many things. I am fairly even tempered and I don't believe in spur of the moment come backs or lapses in self control. However...this stupid "comedy" crossed my line of what is morally correct and appropriate. I refused to watch the whole thing but my god. ..whoever is writing this has no idea what it is like. CHEMO IS NOT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!! BALDNESS SYMBOLIZES THE HELL YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WHATEVER ELSE THESE IDIOTS HAVE TO SAY IS JUST AWFUL.  Take a look for yourself and think of all of the people who have cancer and who just got slapped in the face. What is the line between funny and down right cruel.
http://www.cbs.com/shows/mom/video/dfWHf5B_E4wQaV_ghGP3pdKq0b4Y3qSv/mom-new-boobs/

I'm not particularly religious but I do find comfort in this quote. I hope you do as well.

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