A few photos from Jess

Yea! We are so excited! Thanks for sharing in our happiness. A couple photos from me...and I think Elisa is posting some more later. (If I remember correctly, you can click on the photos in the blog to see them bigger if you like.)

Just have to also add some "props" to Brenan for a fantastic, romantic proposal that I will never forget! It has been such a joy getting calls from both our families the last few days sharing in our excitement. How blessed we are to both have such wonderful, supportive families that we are *already* so included in. We are looking forward to making it official ;)

Lots of love from Jess & Brenan

----------Christmas Day-----------------Christmas Eve--------------

-------Christmas Day------Our 2 families together Christmas Eve

Eventful Christmas

This Christmas was an overwhelming success! And by success, I mean lots of time with family and friends, giving and receiving of gifts from the heart, and the engagement of Brenan and Jess. Yes, he did it! And she said yes. We have lots of pictures to share so I will post them here later today.

On Christmas Eve, we had an incredible dinner over at Diane's house (Jess's mom). The whole family was there along with Jess's brother, Travis, and his wife, Jaime. It was a nice glimpse of holidays yet to come. The only thing missing was the presence of Aunt Linda and Uncle Les, as they stayed home sick. They were missed! Afterwards, we went to the Christmas Eve service at Diane's church, who were kind enough to accommodate us in a private room for Brenan's sake. It's best for him to stay away from busy areas like malls, movie theaters, and other highly attended events. After church, Mom, Dad, Uncle Russ, and I headed over to the annual Christmas Eve party at Sandy and Jean's. Always lots of fun!

Christmas morning began with Brenan's proposal to Jess, and eggs benedict for breakfast before opening presents. We ended the day with lasagna and chicken parmigiana for dinner, and playing games.

Brenan is looking and feeling great! His past few appointments have gone very well and they continue to decrease his steroid intake. He has another appointment this morning... updates to come. He also has been given clearance to drive short distances, which gives him a bit more independence.

All in all, we had one of the best Christmases we can remember and continue to feel blessed as Brenan continues to recover. We hope your holidays were just as fulfilling!

Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Brenan's 32nd birthday this weekend. Because he missed out on the Thanksgiving feast, his birthday wish was to re-create Thanksgiving on Saturday. We made turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans for the birthday dinner. We then spent the evening playing games and watching a few episodes of Dexter - a perfect birthday weekend. Brenan also had a few friends over to visit on Sunday, his actual birthday.

Brenan is looking and feeling good. We are taking all necessary precautions to keep him out of the hospital for good! He has an appointment today for blood work and his regular check up and will keep you updated on any news that we might get today.

Day +55

All continues to be well! Today is day +55 - it's hard to believe it has been 55 days since the transplant. Brenan's appointment yesterday went well - blood count is good, platelets are up, they decreased steroids but increased magnesium. Nothing too new or exciting, which in our eyes is very good news!

Moving Along

Brenan had a check up yesterday and everything went well. He received some fluids to ensure hydration, along with some magnesium. He is also receiving some medicine each time he visits the hospital to help fight a virus he contracted. We're just happy he can be at home and they only need to administer this medicine on his regularly scheduled visits. His blood count looks good and doctors are pleased with his progress thus far. His next appointment is Monday so let's all pray for a fantastic weekend - and Cardinals game! Brenan gave his Cardinals tickets to some well deserving Minnesota fans, Uncle Leslie and Uncle Russell.

Also, Brenan is planning a big fundraising garage sale in January. The last one, held by a few of Brenan's friends, was a huge success! We're hoping for just as big of a turnout this time around. If you have anything you'd like to donate for the garage sale, please let Brenan, Jess, Mom, Dad, or me know. All proceeds go to the "Brenan Cancer-Fighting Cause." :)

Updates & Reminders

Brenan had a successful and relaxing weekend, and returned to the hospital this morning for his regularly scheduled check up. I am still waiting on news on how his blood tests went today, but I have all the faith in the world that he is still maintaining healthy blood counts and won't be readmitted any time soon. His doctors were very pleased to announce that recent tests, as of Day +30 after the transplant, show Brenan's DNA is 97% donor. We are so close to 100% - which is what we are aiming for!

Here are a few updates, reminders, and comments Brenan wanted me to express on the blog:

- If you are interested in donating bone marrow and being added to the national donor list database go to: Marrow.org

- If you would like to get a private test done for an individual, the cost is $165 and for more information on this test go to: BoneMarrowTest.com

- If you would like to donate blood to the community supply, please visit your local United Blood Services location. Blood will not go directly to Brenan but you will be helping those in your community. Visit UnitedBloodServices.org.

Other things you can do to help:

- We must not forget that people are needing more than marrow and blood. Become an organ donor and register at: OrganDonor.org

- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has been key in helping Brenan during his recovery. Donate money to your local Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Chapter by visiting the society's site: LLS.org

- Brenan's medical expenses continue to grow. Contribute to Brenan's Wells Fargo accound to help with medical expenses. If you are a Wells Fargo account holder, you can go online and transfer funds directly to Brenan's account. Contact me or Brenan for account information. Or you can go into any Wells Fargo branch and make an in-person deposit.

- Don't forget the power of prayer! Ask your churches and communities to pray for Brenan and his speedy recovery.

Brenan also asked that I tell everyone that he is continually thankful for all the cards, donations, and support he is getting from you. That goes for Jess, my parents, and me, as well - we wouldn't be as strong as we are without your support!

Indulging in the holiday spirit....from home!

It's been a nice weekend...free from the confines of Good Samaritan hospital! Brenan was released on Friday and we've been spending the weekend with his parents (since I've been working late at the restaurant). We've been sleeping in late, watching TV, and enjoying the fire and Christmas tree. Brenan is feeling great and all should remain well....provided that the AZ Cardinals stay ahead today! We are looking forward to going home to our house tonight. Thank you everyone for your continued support and prayers.

Awaiting Release

The great day is finally here! We are still awaiting official discharge news. Brenan has promised to keep me posted as more updates surrounding his release emerge. Most likely they will give him discharge orders and finalize his prescriptions mid morning and he'll be out by lunchtime.

Taking a Walk

Word on the street is that Brenan should be out on Friday! For the past few days, the doctors have been weaning him off steriods and other IVs, and as of this morning, he should be unhooked from the IV pole. All medication is administered by mouth at this point. His appetite is good and diet has consisted of canned peaches and pears, egg salad, tuna, chicken, and noodles.

Yesterday was his first opportunity to take a walk outside in the garden at the hospital. With mask and gloves on, and Dad by his side, he was able to get a bit of fresh air and he said it felt amazing.

Other good news is that Brenan sold his dirt bike, which he had been trying to get rid of for the past few months.

Our Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was as much of a success as it could be, considering the circumstances. It was a bummer to not have Brenan there, who is usually Head of the Table at Thanksgiving when Dad has to work and the leader of the Thanksgiving prayer. Luckily, we had Uncle Russ with us to serve as the dual role Head of the Table and Head Chef! He made us some gourmet entrees like wild rice stuffing and wild rice and mushroom soup, not to mention a succulent oven-baked turkey, for our delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

Luckily, we also had the great invention of the speaker phone with us - and Brenan was there in voice and spirit to bring us our holiday prayer as usual. It was an unexpected surprise that he and Mom concocted, and just as we were sitting down to our meal Mom brought out the phone, set it in the middle of the table, and via speaker phone, we could all hear Brenan lead us in prayer. It was a moment that brought tears to my eyes.

Also with us on Thanksgiving day were Uncle Les and Aunt Linda, Jess's mom Diane, Dave and his two friends Mike and Jeff. Mom spent the morning and the evening with Brenan at the hospital, Jess spent the day with him, and Dave and I stopped in after the Thanksgiving meal in the afternoon. It was a good day filled with too much good food and lots of love!

Friday

Just a note to say that everything is still great. Brenan looks and feels really good--most of the people who visit comment, "Wow! You look good!" when they first see him. (And I have to agree myself! ;)

He's eating regular food now (small quantities from a recommended list) and they are slowly transitioning him from the IV medicines to pill form...in preparation to go home sometime early next week. The family had a nice Thanksgiving...but I will leave those stories to be told by Elisa ;)

Reflecting on my thankfulness yesterday, I am certainly thankful for all of our family and friends that have been such a support in this journey we've been on. Wishing you all our best! Jess

Update!

Brenan has now been approved to drink clear beverages! Just over a week of not being able to drink anything makes that Gatorade taste like heaven, I'm sure!

Turkey Day: -2

No news yet this morning, there hasn't really been a change in Brenan's status. He is still feeling good and continues to be getting medicines and nutrients via IV to treat the HVGD (Host Versus Graft Disease). It usually takes about a week to transition him from TPN (nutrients) to clear liquids by mouth, and finally to food. Since the doctors have not yet begun that transition, it seems that all signs are pointing towards a hospitalized Thanksgiving for Brenan. But we will all make the best of it and still have so much to be thankful for - we have Brenan's full recovery just on the horizon!

Turkey Day: -3

Finding out whether or not Brenan will be out for Thanksgiving is sort of like a countdown. Each day we find out a little more information about his status, and each day can be a little different from the next. Most likely, we won't know when Brenan will be released until the day before, or maybe even on that very same day. Right now, though, he is feeling good and things are holding steady.

Saturday

Just a quick note to say that Brenan is still feeling good. One of the nurses got him set up with a Nintendo Wii in his room a few days ago. It's been a great way to pass the time! Apparently, a few weeks ago someone donated enough to give each BMT room it's own Wii. The hospital is still working out how to distribute and protect the game systems, so Brenan has (what I think may be) the only one right now. He's been having a good time playing the Sports games (especially bowling with his dad). Everyone take care and have a nice weekend!

Feeling Better

Brenan is feeling much better yesterday and today due to good medicine and being rehydrated. It's a little disappointing to be back in the hospital but we are ready for the speed bumps that come with recovery. We will let you know more news about the HVG prognosis as the information comes to us.

Thank you for all your comments and support!

Rough Patch

Don't panic! The following information is normal and expectable! :) On Monday, Brenan's symptoms were severe enough for the doctor to order a biopsy to determine exactly what is going on. The results came back this morning and, unfortunately, not only does Brenan have C. diff, but he also has Acute Graft-Versus-Host. Graft-versus-host is rated in phases 1 through 4. Thankfully, Brenan is in Phase 1, which is highly treatable. They have put him back on IVs including new antibiotics, steriods, and nutrition. At this point, he is no longer able to eat or drink anything - nothing by mouth! They estimate that he will be in the hospital about 10 days, but could be less. Maybe out in time for Thanksgiving.

Rehydration

Hello! And sorry about the break in blog posts. Brenan was at home for a couple of days but the weekend has been rough. After being released on Wednesday, his first appointment to check on his progress was Friday. During this appointment, it was determined that Brenan had C. diff, which is not good because it makes Brenan feel yucky, but is good because it's not Host-Versus-Graft disease, which is what we don't want.

Over the weekend, Brenan continued to feel not-so-good and, unfortunately, became a little dehydrated due to his illness. During his next scheduled appointment on Monday, the doctor decided Brenan should be readmitted to correct his dehydration and have the nurses monitor him. Brenan is feeling much better after getting some fluids in him! He should only be in the hospital for a few days.

Everything still great!

Just a quick note to check in and say that everything is still going well. Being back at home makes me deliriously happy! It's amazing the little things that you take for granted (like laying on your own couch). We are so full of appreciation for the great things that God has done in our lives--and being home is not small in the least! Thanks to everyone who is thinking of us. We are sending out our love to all of you.

I'm sure that we might be writing a little less frequently (not as much to say) but don't anyone be worried. We will be sure to write if there is any big news!

WEDNESDAY +21

I just got a call. From the other end of the line came this:

"I'm on the corner of 16th and McDowell and it couldn't feel better."

And the corner of 16th and McDowell ain't all that pretty. But to Brenan, it's freedom. He's out! On Day +21 (3 weeks after the transplant) Brenan has been released from Good Sam and is on his way home. He said he feels good - just a little tired - and will probably spend his afternoon resting at home, in the comfort of his own bed.

Distraction

So Brenan and I have a new addiction... "Dexter." Thanks to Bryan Jones for that. It's a series from Showtime that is one of the only things that helps Brenan sort of escape from the seclusion of his hospital room. Speaking of escape, it could come sooner than later... rumor has it, he could be out this week!

Mom, Dad, and Jess (with the help of their lovely assistants Kathy, Les, and Linda) have been working feverishly to make the houses spic and span. Part of taking care of Brenan once he is home is keeping his surroundings as clean and sterile as possible.

Bonus!

Bonus photo! Here's a nice photo of Brenan and Bryan from today!

Doing good--Sunday

Well...this may not look like much--and for heaven's sake, don't strain your eyes--but this is a printout of Brenan's blood counts today...which his doctor brought in as proof that he is finally engrafted! (Can we get a “whoop! whoop!”) There are 3 numbers that she circled, saying that seeing those numbers above a designated point for 3 consecutive days shows engraftment! The printed copy itself isn't much to look at (so don't worry about trying to zoom in to read it)...I just kind of thought that it was the closest thing we'd get to a certificate of achievement ; )

Brenan's doctors seem honestly pleased with his progress and they are full of smiles and encouragement. We have been hearing (for the past few days) that we might get to go home next week! We are shooting for Friday as a goal!

Brenan is cheerful and feeling well. One of his closest friends, Bryan Jones, has been visiting from out of town. They have had a great time watching sports and some TV show DVDs that Bryan brought along. (Right now, the two of them are sitting here talking strategy for the football game that’s on.) Uncle Les and Aunt Linda have been back in town for a few weeks and have been up to see Brenan regularly. They were here this morning for a nice visit. It’s so good to have them here, too!

Our family has been trying to get ready for Brenan to come home. The hospital has many recommendations, such as cleaning the AC vents and shampooing the carpet, that are important for his health when he gets home. It’s a lot of work—but definitely joyful work! We are all so happy to be getting those houses ready!

After being released from the hospital, Brenan will be scheduled for regular visits (outpatient) to check his blood counts and monitor his progress. Initially, the visits will probably be about 3 times a week—and eventually, about twice a week. He still has a lot of precautions to take, such as wearing a mask in public places and being very careful what he eats (in order to limit his exposure to food borne illnesses). But, paraphrasing Dr. Briggs words today, “He is on the road to recovery!”

We appreciate everyone’s thoughts, prayers, cards, and support! You have all been such a crucial part of Brenan’s recovery. I know that from the bottom of my heart! Please keep him in your thoughts…pray for continued progress and no set backs (such as a cold or something) that would push back his release date.

When we do get home from the hospital, I want to extend a warm offer to please come over and visit! Many of you haven’t had the chance to see Brenan due to his need for rest, but he will probably be ready to start having some visitors by the time we get home. It probably won’t be recommended for him to leave the house much, so it would be great if you would like to come over. Please don’t feel like you are imposing by offering to visit! I really think that it would be good for Brenan to help the days pass. Feel free to call my cell (480-277-3872), our house (623-486-3855), or Brenan’s cell to let us know that you are coming ahead of time. I’m sure that there will be a waiting list of visitors! ; ) On a side note, when you come to visit...please don't bring any live plants or flowers. (They are prohibited by doctors).

I know that a lot of times, people like to do stuff to help in situations like this, so I’ve been trying to think of things that might be helpful. Unfortunately, bringing food isn’t really a possibility because there are so many restrictions about what he can eat and how it has to be prepared. One thing I was thinking he might really enjoy is some loaner DVDs. Movies are ok but some of the TV show DVDs work better because the episodes are short and can be watched over time (rather than a movie that is two hours long). If you have any really good TV show series DVDs to loan Brenan, that might be a good idea—and we will be sure to keep a list of what belongs to who. Another idea is maybe to send something like a $10 dollar gift card to Blockbuster so that we can rent him some movies, etc. Please don’t anyone feel obligated to send anything! Your thoughts and cards have been more than enough to last us a lifetime!

Sending out lots of love and appreciation for all of you! Love, Jess

Reduced Pain

We're still on track for engraftment, according to Brenan's blood work. Last night the nurse told us that his white blood cell count was going up, which is a great sign, but it also tends to make people feel a little yucky. But, he is only taking half the pain medication right now than he was a few days ago, so that's good news.

So Far, So Good

I got to spend the morning with Brenan today and he is looking good! He is experiencing slight nausea and still doesn't have much of an appetite. The doctor who came in today really encouraged him to find something that sounds good and eat more, so they can begin to take him off the nutrients they've been giving him intravenously. The good news is that results from his blood work are pointing in a positive direction and the very initial phases of engraftment are now evident!

Feeling a little better ; )

Things are certainly starting to look up! It’s been 11 days since Brenan got his new cells (the doctors call this Day +11). From the beginning, Dr. Briggs has said most patients start feeling better around 15 days after the transplant...but I think we are already seeing some good signs of improvement! ; ) And we should certainly expect things to be getting better from here.

We watched the DVD today of Elisa’s triathlon (thanks to Sandy and Jean for putting it together and bringing it over). Brenan grinned from ear to ear watching the DVD (and me too!) It was definitely a highpoint of the day. I felt so lucky to be a part of such a supportive family. There were so many people there to cheer for Elisa…and it was clear (from all the posters) that Brenan was not far from their thoughts. We are so lucky!

His pain level seems to be going down. Hooray! I heard him tell the nurse today that his pain level is “0” (on a scale of 0-10). He is still on the morphine drip, but even with the morphine—he used to have a lot of pain. So it made me feel cheerful to hear him say “0” today. He also said that his mouth is starting to feel better. Yea!

Now that he can talk a little more, he started returning a few phone calls today. He sounded so cheerful talking to friends. Thank you everyone for the cards and the messages on the blog. They always mean so much.

Please keep up the thoughts and prayers. He’s been trying to wean himself off of the nausea medicine so he’s feeling a little nauseous sometimes. But overall things are looking good. We’ve still got a way to go—but he is so motivated to get better and get out of this hospital room!

Lots of love from both of us! Brenan and Jess

Hoping for Engraftment

Wednesday will be the two week anniversary of the BMT. Between days +14 and +21 are when we may begin to see grafting take place and a change in Brenan's condition. Fingers crossed, this change will be towards healthy blood production. Brenan is experiencing all the normal side effects right now, including a fever that comes and goes throughout the day. He keeps busy by walking around the bone marrow transplant unit and riding the stationary bike. I made him watch my triathlon inspirational movie yesterday - "Saint Ralph" - and he stayed awake through the whole thing! That is an accomplishment, considering just the act of taking a shower can be quite energy-sapping.

Side Effects of BMT

Brenan's temperature exceeded 101 degrees yesterday evening but they were able to bring it back down to 99 with ice packs and Tylenol. Fever is just one of the many risks that come with the territory. He also received 2 units of blood on Tuesday, and 2 more units on Wednesday. During these next few weeks we are waiting for engraftment. I pasted a bit of information below to help us understand what Brenan is going through because reading it is like reading a page right out of Brenan's biography.

ENGRAFTMENT
The two to four weeks immediately following transplant are the most critical. The high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation given to the patient during conditioning will have destroyed the patient's bone marrow, crippling the body's "immune" or defense system. As the patient waits for the transplanted bone marrow to migrate to the cavities of the large bones, set up housekeeping or "engraft," and begin producing normal blood cells, he or she will be very susceptible to infection and excessive bleeding. Multiple antibiotics and blood transfusions will be administered to the patient to help prevent and fight infection. Transfusions of platelets will be given to prevent bleeding. Allogeneic patients will receive additional medications to prevent and control graft-versus-host disease.

Extraordinary precautions will be taken to minimize the patient's exposure to viruses and bacteria. Visitors and hospital personnel will wash their hands with antiseptic soap and, in some cases, wear protective gowns, gloves and/or masks while in the patient's room. Fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and cut flowers will be prohibited in the patient's room since they often carry fungi and bacteria that pose a risk of infection. When leaving the room, the patient may wear a mask, gown and gloves as a barrier against bacteria and virus, and as a reminder to others that he or she is susceptible to infection. Blood samples will be taken daily to determine whether or not engraftment has occurred and to monitor organ function. When the transplanted bone marrow finally engrafts and begins producing normal blood cells, the patient will gradually be taken off the antibiotics, and blood and platelet transfusions will generally no longer be required. once the bone marrow is producing a sufficient number of healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, the patient will be discharged from the hospital, provided no other complications have developed. BMT patients typically spend four to eight weeks in the hospital.

WHAT A PATIENT FEELS DURING THE TRANSPLANT
A bone marrow transplant is a physically, emotionally, and psychologically taxing procedure for both the patient and family. A patient needs and should seek as much help as possible to cope with the experience. "Toughing it out" on your own is not the smartest way to cope with the transplant experience.

The bone marrow transplant is a debilitating experience. Imagine the symptoms of a severe case of the flu - nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, extreme weakness. Now imagine what it's like to cope with the symptoms not just for several days, but for several weeks. That approximates what a BMT patient experiences during hospitalization.

During this period the patient will feel very sick and weak. Walking, sitting up in bed for long periods of time, reading books, talking on the phone, visiting with friends or even watching TV may require more energy than the patient has to spare.

Complications can develop after a bone marrow transplant such as infection, bleeding, graft-versus-host disease, or liver disease, which can create additional discomfort. The pain, however, is usually controllable by medication. In addition, mouth sores can develop that make eating and swallowing uncomfortable. Temporary mental confusion sometimes occurs and can be quite frightening for the patient who may not realize it's only temporary. The medical staff will help the patient deal with these problems.

Tough Recovery

Sadly, I had to take Aunt Viv and Uncle Rich to the airport yesterday. We will miss them! But I got to spend a couple hours with Brenan yesterday and considering his circumstances, he was in a pretty darn good mood. We watched a few episodes of "The Office," which can always make us laugh.

It has been a very tough week for Brenan, and the challenges that come with chemotherapy, radiation, and new stem cells are expected to last for the next 3 weeks or so. It's as if we've climbed a very steep mountain and have reached a rocky, unsafe plateau that we must cross before we can slide down the other side to the valley of health.

Tri-Hard

Phew! I made it! I completed the triathlon in 3 hours and 22 minutes. I feel great and I am so happy I made it through without any flat tires or pulled muscles.

Swimming through Tempe Town Lake went by in just 24 minutes and 25 seconds, and was rather uneventful except for a right hook to the jaw by a very aggressive passing swimmer. Couldn't take me down though! I jumped out of the lake and raced to my bike in the transition area and was off for the bike ride in just under 3 minutes.

Winding through Tempe's streets on my bike took the longest and I finished the route in 1 hour and 44 minutes. There were times when I didn't think my legs could peddle any further, but my trusty bike, Purple Thunder, and I pushed to the very end. I was off my bike and ready to run in 2 minutes and 11 seconds.

The run was actually a relief to me - to feel solid ground under my feet and my lungs burning with life! The 6.55 mile run took me 1 hour and 8 minutes, just enough time to process the goal I was about to reach, focus on the finish line, and think about Brenan. Now it's time that we plow ahead towards his swift recovery! I made it through my challenge, and Brenan will make it through his.

Pictures of the event and mine and Brenan's supporters:

Saturday

Keep those prayers coming ten-fold!

Elisa's big day is tomorrow! She is running in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's triathlon tomorrow at Tempe Town Lake. She plans to get there around 5 am to get PUMPED before the race--and the event should be over around 9 or 10. She has to run, bike, and swim! Geez! Please keep her in your thoughts! (More info about all of this in her previous posts if you are a newcomer to blog)

Brenan is probably going through the hardest part of the transplant process right now (and for the next week). Your extra prayers. cards, and blog posts would be so appreciated. After the process of chemo and radiation to destroy bone marrow--it takes awhile for the new bone marrow to start making cells. In the meantime, a person develops extremely painful sores in their mouth, body aches, extreme fatigue, and many other kinds of painful side effects. Even a superhero like Brenan has to go through all these painful symptoms. (It is part of the expected process--so the doctors say). He is doing his best to crack a smile here and there--and the doctors/nursing staff has been very helpful with offering different solutions and pain medicine. The unfortunate part is that these symptoms are expected to last for at least another week to ten days. It will be awhile until he starts to feel better each day.

Please pray for Brenan's strength in spirit--his determination to get better--and for some restful, healing nights of sleep. Please pray that his doctors ask the right questions and think of the right solutions to help him be as comfortable as possible in these difficult times.

(PS: We have internet here so we can read the blog posts often. Post him messages as often as you would like. Or, if you would like to send him a more personal message--that you'd prefer to post more discretely--feel free to send it to my email address and I will make sure that he gets it. Doremi2u@hotmail.com)

Lots of love from Jess, Brenan, and the whole family!

Recovering After Transplant

As expected, Brenan is extremely tired after the transplant on Wednesday. He is resting in his room with plenty of fluids and medication, and the nurses are attending to him, as well as Jess. :)

We love having Aunt Viv and Uncle Rich here! They visit Brenan as often as they can - they must hold an awful lot of love for him to fly all the way down from Minnesota to sit in a hospital.

Two days until the big race! What an eventful week we are having in the Eiler family.

Let the Healing Begin...

Brenan received his new stem cells last night at 9:30. It took a full hour for that little bag of pinkish red liquid to empty into his veins. Now those stem cells need to travel to their destined spot and begin producing new marrow. This little bag of life, traveling all the way from Germany, arrived at about 8:30 into the bone marrow transplant unit in a green and white cooler. They gave Brenan a few different medicines to prepare him for the stem cells, which helped to relax him, then hung the bag on his IV pole at about 9:30. Jess, Mom, Dave, and I circled around Brenan, said a little prayer, and watched as the cells began to flow into Brenan, bringing along with them the hope of a cure.

BMT Prayer

Dear God,

Today is the day. Brenan receives his new stem cells tonight around 8:00 pm. We have continuously prayed for you to walk with us through this journey towards Brenan's recovery, and are so thankful for a successful treatment process thus far. But today we ask a little bit more. Today, we need hope, love, and positive energy sent to us and inspired in us tenfold. Today, we need Brenan in good spirits, strong in mind and body. Today, we need a cure.

We have all the faith in your power, the doctors, and Brenan.

With love and devotion we pray,
Brenan's Family and Friends

Apheresis

The procedure that Brenan is going through today is actually called apheresis. You can read more about apheresis by clicking here. This procedure will help Brenan to receive the donor's blood and bone marrow more effectively.

Care During and After BMT

Brenan is getting set for his BMT. He looks good and is in high spirits. It's easier for him to eat liquids right now because his stomach and esophagus are a bit sensitive from the radiation. He is not allowed to consume any foods outside the hospital though - so no Dairy Queen milkshakes, sorry! My mom, dad, and I learned a ton about what Brenan can and cannot eat while he is recovering from his transplant, and many other facets of the recovery process. It was a bit overwhelming for me to take in all the information.

He will receive the donated marrow on Wednesday but we're not sure of an exact time yet. Tomorrow, he has to get his blood "scrubbed," meaning they need to rid his blood of any typing so that his body does not reject the donated bone marrow which comes from a donor with a different blood type. I don't think "scrubbing" is the technical term, but that's how I think of it. :)

Here's a little bit more information about what the next few weeks will be like for Brenan:

The Transplant & Recovery
Physicians usually transplant the harvested marrow or stem cells intravenously, in the same way that they would administer a blood transfusion. Over the following days and weeks, the transplanted stem cells in the graft migrate to the marrow space in the patient's bones, where they gradually begin to produce blood and immune system cells.

Between two and three weeks after the transplant, physicians should begin to detect cells of the donor's type in the patient's bloodstream. As time passes, a successful graft is able to produce the full range of blood components including red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes, including polys or neutrophils), and platelets.

During the days just after transplantation, patients need a great deal of medical support including transfusions of irradiated blood products like platelets and red cells. Patients also receive antibiotics to prevent and treat infections. These include bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, which are most likely to occur in the first three months after transplantation. Patients are also vulnerable to complications of the preparative regimen, which may require specific treatment.

Patients generally remain in the hospital for several weeks after the transplant. During this time precautionary measures protect the patient from infection by requiring people who enter the room to wear protective gloves and masks, and to wash their hands with antiseptic soap. Sometimes people entering the room need to cover their clothing with clean, disposable gowns. Fresh fruit, flowers, plants, or cut flowers are barred from the patient's room, as these can carry disease-causing molds and bacteria.

So our hope is that a few weeks after the transplant, successful grafting will occur and his body will fully accept the new marrow

A bit about Brenan's room

I thought that it might make some of you feel more at ease to see some photos of Brenan’s room. Our room is nice and spacious. The mural in the room was painted be the nursing staff and many of the rooms here have special murals. Your photos and cards have also really helped to keep everything cheerful. But—don’t think we’re getting too comfortable! We’re counting down days to be out of here in no time!

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We have a wonderful view from our window, looking out over Phoenix, the mountains, and Sky Harbor…where you can see planes come and go all day. Not only that—but we look right out at the helipad! We have gotten to see lots of helicopters come and go as well. At night, the city lights are absolutely beautiful.

-----view of the mountains-----

--helicopter outside our window--

--------Phoenix at night------------

Elisa is busy preparing for her triathlon on Sunday! Please keep her in your loving thoughts. Brenan is getting lots of sleep but is cheerful and lots of fun (always!) to be around. Please keep praying for his endurance and strong faith that we can make it through all this!

Please also include Brenan’s donor in your prayers the next few days. From what I know, this anonymous 30-year old man will be donating his cells today or tomorrow so that they can arrive for Brenan by Wednesday or Thursday. What an amazing gift from someone that has never met us!

Thanks for all the love, thoughts and prayers, and the pictures.

Lots of love from Jess and Brenan!

Photos!!!

Haven't sent photos yet? What's your excuse?!?

Please send your photos! Even if you happen to be someone (wonderful) that doesn't even know Brenan--but is reading the post because a friend of a friend of a friend told you....that's so cool! Please send us your photo, too! We want photos from EVERYBODY!

And if you're close friends or family--you have no excuse! Send your photo!!! (I'm still waiting for photos from some very important people!)

Brenan loves to see the special messages! It makes him smile everytime. If you need ideas, see my previous posts ("collage update" and "send your photos") OR just email me a photo of you/your family and tell me what caption to add. I have one more collage to make--probably soon--in about a week.

Thanks! Jess (email to: doremi2u@hotmail.com)

Feeling the Effects

Just heading to the hospital now to visit Brenan and the family. He is all finished with radiation and has been officially admitted into City of Hope at Good Sam in Phoenix. He is extremely tired and has been sleeping a lot these past few days. He also has experienced a big reduction in appetite. Those are his only major side effects right now.

I will post again after visiting with him today and let you know how he's feeling and the exact date of the BMT.

First Day OK

Brenan completed his first day of radiation therapy yesterday with no major incidents or reactions quite yet. Last night, when I asked him how he felt on a scale of 1 to 8.5, he rated himself an 8.5. So all is well! He just looked a little tired, inevitably.

He has three more sessions of radiation today and tomorrow, and he is staying in Guest Lodging at Good Sam in Phoenix for the time being.

Beginning Radiation

Brenan got through all his testing last week and according to the results from his bone marrow biopsy, he is officially in his first REMISSION. That's a great word to type. So I'll type it again - REMISSION. This is great news because doctors prefer that bone marrow transplants take place during a REMISSION. :)

Today, Brenan was admitted to Good Sam's City of Hope in order to have a second portacath put into his chest - on the opposite side of his initial portacath - which will be used to administer chemotherapy and eventually the donated bone marrow.

For the next few days, Brenan will be receiving radiation therapy. He will not be officially admitted into the hospital but will stay in what is like a hotel for outpatient care. This way, he can be monitored by a family member and if needed, can be immediately admitted to the hospital depending on his reaction to the radiation.

He will be officially admitted to City of Hope on Friday, if he is not already admitted sometime during the week. His BMT will probably happen Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Collage Update...

Thanks to everyone who has been sending photos! The collages are turning out so cool! I am really excited for Brenan to see them. (I think that I might give them to him tonight). I know that he will be so touched that you have taken that extra time to do something special for him!

Here are some pictures of how they are turning out--in case anyone needs some inspiration. Keep the pictures coming! I will keep making collages as stuff comes in. I have supplies for at least two more!





















If you are having trouble finding time/creativity to make the picture message, just send something else. I'd like to have pictures of as many people as possible! You can also email me photos and tell me to add a caption. I have pretty good photo editing freeware, so I can add whatever you want it to say. Just send the photos and the message to my email.

Here's my email again: doremi2u@hotmail.com

No need to worry about mailing them. The emailing is working out fine and I will just go print them whenever I find time.

We are heading into a tough week, starting with surgery today (to install the port-a-cath that will be used for the bone marrow transplant). Brenan will also be getting radiation about three times a day from Tuesday through Friday. Most people feel extreme fatigue and some nausea related to radiation, but we are hoping to be among the lucky few that go through easily.

Specific prayers: Please pray for Brenan's strength and healing during radiation. We are hoping for limited nausea and mild fatigue.

Please pray for Brenan's doctors this week, specifically Adrienne Briggs and his radiologist (whose name is slipping my tired mind at the moment). Please pray that his doctors are making sound decisions, consulting the right people, and getting enough of their own sleep in the next few days.

Lots of love! Jess

Please send your photos!!

Hi, everybody! I don’t post much but I have two purposes…First, I wanted to THANK YOU ALL so much for all of your love and support! Second, I wanted to tell everyone that I am putting together a photo collage to put in Brenan’s room during the transplant. Would you all please help!

Take a photo of yourself or a group that is like a “message photo” (see my examples below). You can make them funny, wear your orange shirts, or do whatever you like….basically, I want it to be full of your faces—people who love him, that will help him smile on the tough days. Also looking for any additional photos that you might want to send (especially ones that have Brenan in them, too). You can either mail them or email them (mailing them would be best if you haven’t emailed by Saturday, October 11th because I might not be able to go and print them out after that date).

I'll probably work on this a lot on Sunday--so anything by Sunday would be awesome. After that, I will continue to add anything that I get as it comes in...so keep it coming. Thanks in advance for anything you can send!

Jess Powell: 8058 W Caron Drive/Peoria, Arizona 85345
Email: doremi2u@hotmail.com

Examples:

Steps to BMT

Brenan is just a few steps away from getting his bone marrow transplant, which is scheduled to occur on Oct 22nd or 23rd. This week he will go through quite a bit of testing which includes an MRI, an EKG, a CT Scan, a bone marrow biopsy, a kidney function test, and many other tests to make sure he's set to go.

Beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 14, he will be administered radiation therapy three times a day for three days. On Friday, Oct. 17, he will receive only two sessions of radiation and will then be admitted into Good Sam in Phoenix to undergo chemotherapy until the bone marrow transplant.

During the time he is going through radiation, he will not be officially admitted into the hospital, but he will be required to stay in a special outpatient room at the hospital so he can be monitored throughout the treatment.

Once the transplant occurs, he is expected to be at Good Sam for about 3 - 4 weeks.

T-Shirt Fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who ordered a t-shirt through the Accel fundraiser! And a special thanks to Kathy Orton for organizing the event. She asked me to give a little "shout out" to everyone who bought Peace Love Cure t-shirts. Brenan received a check for over $1,600. That's amazing!! Much needed assistance for Brenan while he is out of work and going through treatment. Staff on all 3 campuses wore their orange t-shirts this past week as a big show of support. Also, a big 'thank you' goes to Michael's Garden who printed the shirts at cost so the remaining money could go to Brenan.

I'm number 1!

Thanks to everyone's unsurpassed generosity, I am now the number 1 fundraiser on my Triathlon training team!

5. Jones, Bruce - 2375.00
4. Taylor, Audra - 2575.00
3. Coffman, Renee - 2590.00
2. Duvall, Brian - 2995.00
1. Eiler, Elisabeth - 3065.00

Special thanks to Aunt Lavonne and Aunt Viv for being my number 1 fans. I love you.

Learning to be Caretakers

Surprise, surprise! Brenan was released from the hospital last night!

Mom and Dad are enrolling into a "caretaker's class" in the next couple of weeks to learn all about the care Brenan will need when he comes home after the bone marrow transplant. As I have said before, while ultimately necessary for fighting the cancer, this is the most difficult and painful part of the treatment process for Brenan.

Chemo Success

Today was the last day of treatment for Brenan and he is feeling good. The lymphoma is not as visible in his face anymore - he looks good! His blood count is up at good levels and he may be released as soon as Wednesday if all remains as it is now. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the bone marrow transplant to take place in the next two to three weeks.

Back at Arrowhead

Brenan is back in the hospital as of last night. He will begin his chemotherapy either today or Thursday. This will be the regimen that runs for 5 days, every other day.

My race photos from Sunday's Triathlon have been published and you can see them here.

Day at the Lake

With Brenan still not needing to report to the hospital, we used yesterday as a family getaway day. Mom and I used a personal day from work and the four us Eilers went to Lake Pleasant for some much needed family time. I think a little sun and swimming did us all some good. At one point, while Brenan was waterskiiing, Mom turned to me and said, "Is this a special moment, or am I being too cheesy?" "You're being cheesy," I said in my effort to act casual and downplay the emotions of the day. But, in fact, it was special. Watching Brenan slalom ski over the lake in the boat's wake while Dad drove, something that once was so normal, felt good. It reminded us of what it was like to be... well... normal.

Practice Triathlon

Good news... Brenan did not need to go into the hospital on Friday, he will be admitted either tomorrow or Tuesday. He was able to get through the weekend with some freedom.... and without any hospital food.

Also, I made it through my first triathlon today. This was just a warm up for the real thing that occurs next month. I swam a half mile, biked 13 miles, and ran 3 miles - and it went really well! Here is a picture of me crossing the finish line, cheered on by my mom, dad, Brenan, my dog Piper, and my boyfriend Dave. It was great being able to finish the race and get a big hug from Brenan just after crossing the finish line.

Readmitted

Brenan will be admitted tomorrow to the usual Arrowhead Hotel.

Prepping for Nelarabine

Brenan had his regular standing appointment with his oncologist yesterday and all went well. His blood count is at healthy levels. As of today, he is waiting to hear if he will be admitted to Arrowhead on Friday or on Monday. The hospital will contact him when 1) a room becomes available and 2) when they have verified that the hospital's pharmacy has in stock and can administer the Nelarabine chemotherapy regimen. He will be in the hospital for at least 10 days.

Racing for a Cure

Brenan has been keeping himself busy this weekend, doing some house and yard work, getting ready for his next hospital stay. He is feeling good and was finally able to put his season tickets to use and go to an Arizona Cardinals game on Sunday - they beat Miami in his honor, I believe.

I had a race this weekend - something my training team signed up for to help us get ready for the real thing in October. It consisted of a 1000 meter swim and a 3K run. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well as I had hoped. I was very disappointed in myself. I definitely finished, but not as strong as I had thought I would. I had been beating myself up about this for the past couple of days.

But last night, my friend Amanda brought over a movie called "Saint Ralph," an inspirational film to get us ready for another mini triathlon we are racing in next weekend. The movie is about a boy who trains to run a marathon. He wants to create a miracle by winning the Boston Marathon thinking this will be the way to awaken his mother from a cancer-induced coma.

I highly recommend this movie - not just because it's an award winning and entertaining film - but because it really hits home for me and reminded me of my goal, and that's to bring us closer to finding a cure. I'm not competing to win any race. I'm doing this for my brother and for cancer patients everywhere. I had forgotten my purpose, but now I remember.

Here's a photo of a few of us on the team who raced on Saturday:

Second Round Needed

Brenan had his appointment with the oncologist at Good Sam today. Unfortunately, during this evaluation she determined that a bone marrow transplant cannot occur until all the Lymphoma that has presented itself in his skin and face has dissipated. The chemotherapy treatment he just completed almost rid him of the Lymphoma so he will be admitted back into Arrowhead to get a second treatment. Next Wednesday he will see his regular oncologist again and most likely be admitted into Arrowhead on Thursday. He should begin the Nelarabine chemotherapy by Friday and will receive a dose every other day for five days.

The oncologist at Good Sam tentatively slotted the bone marrow transplant to occur in the 3rd week of October, pending the results of this upcoming treatment.

Still on Track

Brenan has an appointment with his oncologist tomorrow to get some blood work done and to evaluate the results of his last chemotherapy treatment. On Thursday, he meets with the doctor at Good Sam who will be organizing and overseeing his bone marrow transplant. More news to come after that appointment!

How You Can Help

Brenan was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. He received a final dose of chemotherapy via an intrathecal procedure on Friday and his blood count levels were stable enough by Sunday to send him home. He has an appointment with his oncologist this week and the next step will most likely be admittance to Good Sam to begin the bone marrow transplant procedure.

This is when things are going to get really tough. With a bone marrow transplant comes many risks and side effects, but of course is the best option for a patient with Brenan's diagnosis. We don't know all the details of the specific BMT that Brenan will go through, but the link above provides details of a few different options.

If you are wondering about what you can do to help, here's a quick checklist of things that you might want to participate in, if you haven't already:

1) Buy a t-shirt through the Accel T-Shirt Fundraiser (see details in previous post) or maybe just donate a few dollars. Proceeds go directly to Brenan!

2) Spread the word - Brenan is selling his dirt bike and Dad is selling his '03 maroon F150 truck. If you know of anyone in the market for either, please let us know! Brenan can be contacted at brenan@qwest.net and Dad can be contacted at bruce911@qwest.net.

3) Donate to my triathlon fundraiser - proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/somatri08/eeiler

4) Donate blood and platelets at your local United Blood Services location. Blood will not go directly to Brenan but you will be helping those in your community!

5) Contribute to Brenan's Wells Fargo account to help with medical expenses. If you are a Wells Fargo account holder, you can go online and transfer funds directly to Brenan's account. Or you can go into any Wells Fargo branch to make an in-person deposit.

6) Ask your churches and communities to pray for Brenan and his speedy recovery.

Order Form

Right click on this form and save to your desktop. Open it from your desktop to print.

T-Shirt Sale

Brenan's last dose went smoothly. He is still feeling pretty good - just very sleepy. Again, they are just monitoring his blood count and depending on how stable it is will determine when he is released. In the mean time, Good Sam is working with another possible bone marrow donor, someone who might be available before the end of the month. The BMT could take place sooner than we thought!

My mom's school, ACCEL Learning Campus (ELC), has been generous enough to hold a fundraising event for Brenan. They are having a "Benefit T-shirt Sale" and 70% of the proceeds go directly to Brenan and his medical bills! I am going to attach the order form - you can either print this out and fax it, or call in your order for a t-shirt. The form will be attached soon!

T-shirts are $10 each, and are orange with white lettering that says Peace, Love, Cure. Your order form should detail that this is for the ELC campus. Be sure to check mark the box if you don't want an ACCEL logo on the back of your t-shirt.

Last Dose

Brenan received his last dose of chemo today but he will need to remain in the hospital for 7 - 10 days for observations. The doctors will monitor how his body reacted to this round of chemo. I had initially thought that he might be released sometime this week but this is not the case. It will most likely by later next week.

As soon as I hear concrete details on the bone marrow transplant situation, I will post them. So far, he has a match and it sounds like the BMT will take place very soon after he is released from the hospital.

Another Regimen

It was a rather uneventful Labor Day weekend - cancer treatment-wise. Tomorrow Brenan will receive his last of three doses of this newest regimen of chemotherapy. The pattern of the treatment has been one dose every other day. So far, the major side effect of this round of chemo has been sleepiness. Other than that, Brenan is coping just fine and should be released from the hospital after a few days of monitoring his blood count.

I will be visiting him later this evening so he might have received more details from a doctor about the next steps and how we will proceed with the bone marrow transplant.

Procedure and New Chemo

Brenan had his surgery this morning and is now recovering back in his room at Arrowhead. The procedure went well, although no obstruction was found or the actual cause of the blockage could not be identified. They put the stent in place and hopefully Brenan will feel some relief from the pressure and pain he has been feeling.

Tomorrow, Brenan will begin a new round of chemotherapy because he has relapsed since the initial chemo treatment. They are going to administer a different regimen of chemo called nelarabine, which I have yet to research. I will provide more info on this once I have it. What we do know is that this will be the next step in attacking the T-cell and will treat both the lymphoma and the leukemia.

Hydronephrosis

Brenan just left his oncologist's office where he was told he would be admitted back into Arrowhead Hospital tomorrow. He will undergo an inpatient treatment to have a stent placed in his right ureter tube either tomorrow or Friday, not next Tuesday.

He started feeling some abdominal pain on Sunday because the right ureter is partially blocked causing a build up of fluid in his right kidney, which is known as hydronephrosis.

I didn't get to read the full definition because as soon as I began reading I felt abdominal and kidney pain. It's a chronic disorder I have - hear or read about something and suddenly I come down with the symptoms. I'm seeking help for it.

All I know is I am probably imagining only a fraction of the pain that Brenan is actually experiencing - and I had to stop reading, close my eyes, and concentrate on my breathing.

On another note, this might interfere or possibly postpone his ability to get the bone marrow transplant. However, the donor that is the best match for him won't be available for the donating procedure until end of September anyway. So really, we would have been waiting until end of next month regardless of the hydronephrosis setting in.

It just would have been nice for Brenan to be able to wait in peace, right?

Stent

Brenan was released from the hospital yesterday and is doing okay right now. He is scheduled to return next week on Tuesday in order for them to perform a procedure that will help them determine exactly where the blockage is located. They will insert a stent in the area that has the blockage, which will help encourage drainage from the kidneys. He will probably have the stent in for about 3 weeks.

Kidney Trouble

Brenan is still awaiting further tests as of this moment. He is not experiencing too much pain, is just resting in the hospital. What has been told to me, and forgive me as I might be getting some of this medical terminology wrong... and I, of course, will come back and correct any mistakes if I make any... is that he might have a blockage in the connection between his kidneys and his bladder and the pain and inflammation is occurring because there is no drainage from the kidneys. They are working to correct the situation by identifying the point of blockage and the best way to reduce this, and then the kidneys will be able to drain sufficiently.

Stomach Pains

Brenan was experiencing some abdominal pains yesterday. After calling the doctor, he was told to go to Arrowhead's ER. Tests revealed there was no blood in his stomach, which is good, but there was some abnormal flare-up in his kidneys and appendix. He was admitted into the hospital overnight and will undergo further testing today. I will post more detailed information once it is received.

Competitive Streak

Just want to give you all an update on my fundraising. My triathlon team has raised over $37,000!! I, alone, have raised $2,300, which is well over my goal. Thank you so much for all your donations, I couldn't ask for a more supportive, generous circle of family and friends.

However, I have raised the 4th highest amount on my team:

Eiler, Elisabeth SOMA Triathlon 2300
Jones, Bruce SOMA Triathlon 2375
Taylor, Audra SOMA Triathlon 2575
Duvall, Brian SOMA Triathlon 2995

and this is making me crazy! I'm not sure where I get my competitive edge from... both my parents are pretty laid back. But the second I am head to head with someone, I want to crush them. I'm sure I'll beat these people in the actual race. In fact, you can count on that. (Apparently, not only am I competitive, but I'm a trash-talker too!? Yikes.)

So if you know anyone who is looking to donate to a great cause, send them my website! Send it to everyone you know - maybe I can be the #1 fundraiser on my triathlon team.

My Website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/somatri08/eeiler

Just Being at Home

Brenan has been keeping busy this week - feeling good and happy to be home. His next appointment with his oncologist is on Monday. He should receive more news about the bone marrow transplant then.

Karma

All is still quiet on the homefront... Brenan had an appointment with his oncologist yesterday that he described as "uneventful." We know we've been through way too much in the world of cancer when we can describe an appointment to a cancer doctor as "uneventful." He said they didn't even take blood. Imagine that!

As far as the triathlon goes, I am getting more and more nervous, but continuing to train my little butt off. On Friday night, I pumped up my bike tires and loaded Purple Thunder into my car to get ready for an early morning ride on Saturday. Upon pulling into the parking lot at Tempe Beach Park and opening my trunk, I came to the horrifying realization that both my tires had become completely flat overnight.

Not being a morning person (AT ALL), I immediately became a little cranky. There is no way I woke up at 4:30 a.m. on a Saturday only to stand and look out at the bike path I was supposed to be riding on. As I sat on my bumper taking a moment to let the reality of the situation wash over me, and curse myself for being an incompetent triathlete, a couple rode into the parking lot on their bikes towards their car.

Lucky me! Here's a couple who look like they know what they are doing - hence probably brought a bike pump WITH them to the park. I asked to borrow their pump and set to work correcting my situation. But for some reason the tires were just not filling with air. I pretended to know exactly what I was doing and worked diligently on my tire situation, but the woman noticed that I truly had no clue. She offered to help, but the tires still wouldn't fill with air even with her superior tire-inflating skills.

"I bet you need new tubes," she said.

"There's no way! I just got new tires put on this bike!"

The couple insisted on removing my tires and checking the tubes, which indeed were damaged. The man pulled two new tubes from their trunk (Note to self: Apparently when you become an experienced rider, you know that you should carry a pump and extra tubes as a precaution.) and proceeded to change out the tubes on my bike and inflate my tires. Turns out, I had somehow pinched the tubes the night before when blowing up the tires and created a hole in each tube.

The couple wouldn't accept cash for parts or labor. Good thing, because I didn't have any. They even gave me a quick lesson in how to fix a flat. Within 30 minutes, Purple Thunder and I were cruising down the very same bike route I will be traveling on the day of the triathlon. I didn't even catch the couples' names.

I learned a valuable lesson. They had no idea I was training for a race against cancer, yet they took their time and resources to help me to the best of their ability. It certainly made me want to be a more helpful person, no questions asked.

Out Again

This is a bit delayed but.... Brenan was released from the hospital Friday evening! He was able to spend the weekend with family and catching up on things at home, and more importantly - NOT in a hospital room. Because a bone marrow match was found, most likely the next step will be to check into Good Sam's BMT unit sometime next month to get ready for the transplant. As soon as we have a schedule of what's to come, I will post it.

Thanks for everyone's comments and participation in the survey, which I just noticed located on the right side of the blog.

A Match is Found

Sorry for the lapse in posts! I actually spent yesterday at the hospital with Brenan, experiencing firsthand what it's like to be without internet for a whole day. I was not happy. But I was happy to just hang out with Brenan. His blood count is up - both white blood cells and platelets. As of yesterday evening, he has been called off neutropenic status, which means no more masks!

The doctor said if all goes well today, Brenan should be released on Saturday. Fingers crossed! Everything at this point is a hope and a wish, like a fluffy cloud in the distance that seems so full of refreshing rain drops and just might be blowing in our direction. There's a 50-50 chance the wind will whip it away, dissipating our hope. Or before we know it, the cloud is hovering directly above us pouring down a cleansing burst of rain. It's hard to predict.

I am happy to share some great news finally. They have found a bone marrow match for Brenan! The next step is to bring the person in for further testing to be sure nothing has been contracted from the time he was added to the bone marrow registry and now. After these final tests, Brenan will begin treatment to get prepped for the transplant. We have been given an anticipated date to begin this process of mid-September. So in about a month, we should be heading onto that final turn to recovery, the one thing standing between Brenan and a cure, healthy bone marrow.

Blood Tranfusions

Brenan received one bag of platelets again today along with 2 units of blood. He needed blood transfusions because of low red blood count and low hemoglobin. Good news is that preliminary results from the cultures that were drawn on Sunday morning came back negative for any specific infection. The lab will continue to grow the cultures for several days in order to see if anything else is found and it will take up to 5 days for final results.

Unfortunately, Brenan is very weak and tired right now. Some chemo side effects he is experiencing include fatigue, lower back pain, and a nasty rash. He continues to run a fever of 100 to 101. He was started on 3 broad spectrum IV antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

Tonight, the doctor told Mom, Dad, and Brenan that he is surprised with Brenan's reaction to this round of chemo and they did not anticipate his body reacting in this way. The goal is to get Brenan released from the hospital when his white blood cell count reaches 1000 for two consecutive days and other lab results are stable.

Brenan's friend Rachel brought a movie, popcorn, and Brenan's favorites, Milk Duds and licorice, to the hospital today. Brenan and Jess snuggled in the bed, with Rachel on the cot, and they watched a flick. Mom and Dad came in later and treated Brenan to a massage to help him relax.

I'm glad to hear this blog is helping so many people stay updated with Brenan's condition. Definitely stay tuned as I try to post as much as I can. We encourage your comments! At the bottom of every post there is the word "Comments" and a number showing how many comments were made in regard to that post. Just click on "Comments" to add your message. You can select anonymous so you don't need to create a profile - just be sure to include your name in the post so we know who you are!

Blood Troubles

Brenan's white blood cell count has risen slightly, but is still too low and he remains neutropenic. Even though he received a bag of platelets yesterday, his platelet count is way down as well. He should be receiving another bag sometime today. If you have donated in the past, and have time, this would be a good time to donate platelets for him. We're not sure if this second bag today will do the trick and it will be nice to have a backup plan.

No Baseball for Brenan

We were all extremely disappointed when Brenan's white blood cell count dipped to an ultimate low this weekend and he was put back on neutropenic status. We were even more disappointed that come Sunday morning, there wasn't any improvement despite the medications he was given and he could not be released to attend the baseball game. Mom & Dad, and Dave & I went to the game, along with Sandy & Jean using Brenan's & Jess's tickets. Despite our overwhelming disappointment that we were there without Brenan & Jess by our sides, we were happy to watch the DBacks beat the Braves 6-1.

As of this morning, Brenan is still neutropenic. In case it has slipped your mind, neutropenic means that his white blood count is so low that he is at serious risk of getting ill. Everyone who enters the room must wear a mask and gloves to prevent exposing Brenan to any viruses. He has also been experiencing a low grade fever throughout the weekend and his platelet level has dropped. He should be receiving a platelet transfusion later today.

My hope is to post some more uplifting news by tomorrow!

Hoping for Release

Good news - Brenan is not neutropenic anymore! Bad news - he is getting an intrathecal treatment right now and will be pretty worn out for the rest of the afternoon. We are crossing our fingers, arms, legs, and toes that all goes well overnight - SO well that come Saturday, they release him with a ballcap on his head, and a glove in his hand, ready for the Dbacks game on Sunday.

Mom and Dad are planning on bringing pizza to the hospital tonight to host a little pizza party for Brenan and celebrate another successful treatment cycle.

The doctors are very impressed and happy about how well Brenan is handling the chemotherapy. Like I had mentioned previously, you would never think he has gone through so many intense treatments, aside from his shaved head.

On the outside, Brenan's light continues to shine for his family, for the nurses and doctors, and for all those who hold him in their thoughts and prayers. The doctors and nurses all love him and think he is one special man. (He must be offering them bribes or something - I'm stumped.)

On the inside, I'm sure he is tired and anxious for this all to be over.

Back to Neutropenia

As of yesterday, Brenan's blood count dropped to an unsafe level so he is back to being neutropenic. Visits from family members only, and masks must be worn to protect Brenan from any viruses we may be carrying. He is finished with the Course B treatment, so is not receiving any chemotherapy at this time. Now he is being monitored and they are doing their best to raise his blood count and get him back to a healthy state.

Other than that, he is feeling a bit tired and trying to keep himself occupied. If you've been able to visit him at Arrowhead, you know how frustrating it can be to stay all cooped up in that small hospital room.

We are hoping for his release by Saturday at the absolute latest! We have tickets to the Diamondbacks game on Sunday, in honor of Mom's birthday back in June, and we need the whole family there. :)

More Camping Pics

Here's a few more pictures from our camping trip.

Brenan's goal for this trip was to fish and ride his motorcycle. So as soon as they arrived he went fishing and managed to catch trout in his first outing to the lake. In the pictures you can see Brenan taking a warm-up ride with Julianne and Jean. After that, with Brenan on his motorcycle and Dave and I (Sandy) on the quads, we really roughed it and rode up into the mountains. Naturally we had a hard time keeping up with Brenan, so he would circle back after he got too far ahead. It's pretty intense blasting along the mountain trails with the steep declines and dodging pine trees that pop up in the middle of the trail. Of course we all made it back in one piece and covered in dirt.

In the last picture you see Brenan taking a nap while we discussed the rules of "bullshit". After a few minutes of that, we switched to playing "apples to apples". We had so much fun, that we continued to play it until it was time to make smores around the campfire.

All and all, it was a great camping trip!

Sandy Marshall

Prepping for More Chemo... Again

Yesterday, Brenan checked into Arrowhead around 3:00 p.m. and he is there now getting hydrated and doing whatever it takes to pass the time. The doctor wanted him to get a full 24 hours of hydrating IVs going before they begin Course B of the chemotherapy treatment on Friday morning.

Good news - as of yesterday evening, Good Sam had identified 3 more possible matches for Brenan's bone marrow transplant. We are waiting to hear a little more about these possibilities and will let you know!

If you are interested in learning more about donating bone marrow, either for Brenan or for your community, visit marrow.org.

Brenan will most likely find a match within this Donor Registry, thanks to all the generous donors who took the time to get themselves "tissue-typed." Having to go through this voyage we call 'cancer' has made us realize how important it is for everyone to donate blood and marrow for anyone in the world that might be in need.

For intructions on finding out your type, click here. The cost to get "tissue-typed" is $52.

Cheering for Brenan

Brenan's appointment went well yesterday, no news. He is waiting to be admitted to Arrowhead later today.

When we first heard the news of Brenan's diagnosis, I think it made us all stop, catch our breath, and time just seemed to stand still for a few days... we were all a bit frozen with shock. It took a few weeks for us all to feel normal again, to realize that even though our Brenan is ill, we still have jobs to keep, homes to maintain, lives to live, and the earth is still going round, with or without us.

The initial shock was replaced by absentminded worrying, waiting, hoping, which takes a toll on us all, emotionally and physically. Lucky for us, we can take a long hot shower, sit and talk with a friend, go see a movie, immerse ourselves in work, or specifically for me, train my worries away by swimming, biking, or running.

But for Brenan, this is not the case. His life continues to stand still while he undergoes treatment. We have to remember that Brenan lives with cancer. Every. Day. He is dealing with it so well, if you were to see him, you'd never guess he has endured almost 3 months of chemotherapy. But that can almost be deceaving for the rest of us... we think and want to believe - oh he's fine.

Let us not forget the mountain Brenan is climbing right now. He needs us to continue to cheer him on, remind him we've got his back, show him there's a party waiting when he reaches the top.

Training Updates

Brenan is still in good shape these days, thanks to all the positive thoughts and prayers you are sending our way. We are still waiting to hear from Good Sam on a bone marrow match. Tomorrow is Brenan's checkup with the oncologist to prep him for admittance into Arrowhead Hospital on Wednesday. He will be in the hospital again for about 1 week. Last time it was 6 days so we're hoping for the same, if not less, this time around!

Training for the triathlon is going very well! You can see my fundraising progress on my website:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/somatri08/eeiler

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GENEROSITY! Just a reminder that all these donations go directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for blood cancer research.

It shows that there is a $100 donation from me, Elisabeth Eiler, which is really a donation from a good family friend who wanted to remain anonymous. Thank you! I really don't have the funds to be donating, which is why I'm competing instead! Being a triathlete is expensive - swimsuits, goggles, swim caps, wet suits, racing bikes, biking shoes, running shoes, a waterproof tri-outfit, etc. etc. etc. I think I might have chosen the most expensive sport out there. Oh well, I am really enjoying the training and making some good friends along the way.

This past weekend was my toughest practice yet. We swam in Lake Pleasant, our first open water swim to get used to swimming in a lake as opposed to a pool with lane lines. We also biked a very hilly course for 2 hours and finished off with a 20 minute run. Those hills were killer, I'm feeling it today. Three months to go!

Camping Pics