Brenan had his first checkup today after the chemotherapy treatments. They drew some blood and his platelets were low. He was sent over to the hospital to get a blood transfusion, which is where he is currently. It usually takes a couple of hours for his body to receive the platelets.
Not much news was shared during his appointment with the oncologist, but he will be going to bi-weekly checkups until they are ready for him to begin the next round of chemotherapy.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Links to wedding video!!
Ask me how excited I was when I found the entire video of our wedding ceremony as I went through my Aunt Lisa’s pictures yesterday!?!?! It was a complete surprise because I didn’t know that she had taped it (using her still camera!) Anyhow, it made me smile EAR TO EAR all over again!!! Hope that you enjoy this video—it’s about 15 minutes altogether. You might like it if you didn’t get to see it the first time or if you’d like to watch it again. Special thanks to our dear friends, Kristin and Brandon, for their beautiful job (and to Aunt Lisa and others for getting video). I could watch it over and over. God has blessed us greatly!
As you watch the service, there are a couple of points when everyone laughs (that may be hard to hear on the video). One of them is when I say something like “Can I kiss him yet?” and there is another part as we exchange rings when my parrot, Quasar (watching from a cage in the back of the yard) pipes up to give his approval (or disapproval!!) When we heard him chirp, we started to laugh then as well ;)
Click here on the links below to get to the video. There is a part 1 and a part 2 so you will need to click on the first link and then come back to click on the second. The video quality isn’t fantastic (due to the site I uploaded to), but the sound is good. There is a part at the beginning when everyone is standing up and blocking the camera—but hang tight because everyone sits down after about a minute ;)
Part 1 (click on link below)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3678591622851196095
Part 2 (click on link below)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7494405140677262064
Hopefully we will have more video to come…my Uncle Randy is busy working on his—and I have heard that Uncle Stan taped as well. I don’t know if I’ll be able to figure out how to post those or not—but I will try!!
By the way—it looks like Google is closing their “video” site as of March 30th—so be sure to watch before that if you’d like to see it. I think that the video may disappear after that.
Still working on pictures—will try to post tonight or tomorrow.
Lots of love from Jess and Brenan!
***Tip: If your computer loads slowly and the video is choppy, you can “pause” the google video in the bottom left corner, wait for it to load, and then press “play” again.***
As you watch the service, there are a couple of points when everyone laughs (that may be hard to hear on the video). One of them is when I say something like “Can I kiss him yet?” and there is another part as we exchange rings when my parrot, Quasar (watching from a cage in the back of the yard) pipes up to give his approval (or disapproval!!) When we heard him chirp, we started to laugh then as well ;)
Click here on the links below to get to the video. There is a part 1 and a part 2 so you will need to click on the first link and then come back to click on the second. The video quality isn’t fantastic (due to the site I uploaded to), but the sound is good. There is a part at the beginning when everyone is standing up and blocking the camera—but hang tight because everyone sits down after about a minute ;)
Part 1 (click on link below)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3678591622851196095
Part 2 (click on link below)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7494405140677262064
Hopefully we will have more video to come…my Uncle Randy is busy working on his—and I have heard that Uncle Stan taped as well. I don’t know if I’ll be able to figure out how to post those or not—but I will try!!
By the way—it looks like Google is closing their “video” site as of March 30th—so be sure to watch before that if you’d like to see it. I think that the video may disappear after that.
Still working on pictures—will try to post tonight or tomorrow.
Lots of love from Jess and Brenan!
***Tip: If your computer loads slowly and the video is choppy, you can “pause” the google video in the bottom left corner, wait for it to load, and then press “play” again.***
Monday, March 16, 2009
Last Dose, Cycle 1
Wow, those pictures from Cherie were beautiful - hopefully you all had an opportunity to click on the link in Jess's post and visit Cherie's blog. I encourage you to read Cherie's posts about Brenan and Jess, even back before their engagement, to see photos from before the BMT. They brought tears to my eyes!
Brenan is back in hospital today for his final dose of Nelarabine for this first cycle of treatment. Just a reminder, a cycle consists of three weeks - Week 1 includes 3 treatments, followed by 2 weeks of no chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatment days are long and filled with lots of "sitting around" time at the hospital for Brenan and Jess. It's like working a full time job! They clock in around 8:00 a.m. and clock out close to 8 hours later. We are looking forward to this next 2 weeks of downtime where Brenan will only need to report to the hospital for fluids, blood, and follow up tests. These sessions will not last as long as a chemotherapy treatment session.
I will be visiting Brenan and Jess at the hospital today for a quick lunch break and will get more news on plans for the next 2 weeks.
Brenan is back in hospital today for his final dose of Nelarabine for this first cycle of treatment. Just a reminder, a cycle consists of three weeks - Week 1 includes 3 treatments, followed by 2 weeks of no chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatment days are long and filled with lots of "sitting around" time at the hospital for Brenan and Jess. It's like working a full time job! They clock in around 8:00 a.m. and clock out close to 8 hours later. We are looking forward to this next 2 weeks of downtime where Brenan will only need to report to the hospital for fluids, blood, and follow up tests. These sessions will not last as long as a chemotherapy treatment session.
I will be visiting Brenan and Jess at the hospital today for a quick lunch break and will get more news on plans for the next 2 weeks.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Link to Cherie's photos
Wow! One week since our wedding and I am still grinning! I am so overwhelmed with warm thoughts and things that I want to say. Been working on getting all of the photos we have edited and then I will get a link posted. (Love to have copies of any great photos still out there, too!) More thoughts on our wedding later when I can really think about all the things that I want to say...the thanks we have to give...and reflections on it all! Praise God for all of the wonderful and talented people we have in our lives!!!
Happily, I wanted to post a link to our professional photos! We were so excited when our friend, Cherie, posted her "preview" today of some of her shots. They are great! Here's a link to her blog so that you can enjoy them, too.
http://cheriemillerphoto.com/blog/ (Click right here on the link and it should open in a new window).
***Also--I'm trying to get an accurate "guest" list from our wedding and I want to include the people who watched online. If you watched, will you please respond in the comments and say where you watched and anyone you watched with...also list anyone else that you know was watching. (You can click on "comments" right here below the blog post.) Thanks!!***
Lots of love (always!) Jess and Brenan
Happily, I wanted to post a link to our professional photos! We were so excited when our friend, Cherie, posted her "preview" today of some of her shots. They are great! Here's a link to her blog so that you can enjoy them, too.
http://cheriemillerphoto.com/blog/ (Click right here on the link and it should open in a new window).
***Also--I'm trying to get an accurate "guest" list from our wedding and I want to include the people who watched online. If you watched, will you please respond in the comments and say where you watched and anyone you watched with...also list anyone else that you know was watching. (You can click on "comments" right here below the blog post.) Thanks!!***
Lots of love (always!) Jess and Brenan
Friday, March 13, 2009
Middle of Cycle
Brenan is back at Banner Good Samaritan (BGS) today for his second dose of Nelarabine. He will go back in tomorrow morning for another session of fluids before his final chemotherapy dose on Monday. He called me from the hospital today in good spirits and said he is feeling great today. He also wanted me to pass along thanks to all the support from family and friends.
More information will come on Monday and hopefully results from blood tests after the first cycle of treatment.
More information will come on Monday and hopefully results from blood tests after the first cycle of treatment.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Back on Track
Okay, so now we're going to get back on track with regular posts so you can keep tabs on the Brenan Eiler Express.
We have a need for more regular updates because Brenan is starting a new treatment regimen this week. Unfortunately, the bone marrow transplant (BMT) was unsuccessful and Brenan still has leukemia. On the bright side, his doctors are working together to come up with as many solutions and plans as possible to counteract the cancer. Before the BMT, Brenan was given a chemotherapy drug called Nelarabine and his body responded very well to it. Doctors have decided it is best to try this treatment again. He received his first of three doses yesterday and will continue to receive this chemotherapy for several cycles. A cycle is made up of 21 days and consists of three doses on days 1, 3, and 5, followed by 14 days of no chemotherapy. Wednesday, March 11, was day 1, Friday will be day 3 or his second dose, and Monday will be considered day 5, his final dose. There will be a 14 day waiting period and his next cycle will begin.
This first cycle of chemotherapy is occuring at Banner Good Samaritan on an outpatient basis. His visits are lasting 3 - 5 hours and he is free to leave the hospital and rest at home. The doctors are keeping a close eye on him. Today, he had an appointment to receive fluids and check for any reactions from the chemotherapy. Nelarabine is hard on the kidneys, so they gave him sodium bicarbonate to fight against any side effects. Brenan's blood count is good and his white blood cell count is dropping - which is good!
Brenan has received a few bags of platelets and blood recently and he continually asks that we all contribute to the community's supply of blood by donating whole blood and platelets to your local blood bank.
We have a need for more regular updates because Brenan is starting a new treatment regimen this week. Unfortunately, the bone marrow transplant (BMT) was unsuccessful and Brenan still has leukemia. On the bright side, his doctors are working together to come up with as many solutions and plans as possible to counteract the cancer. Before the BMT, Brenan was given a chemotherapy drug called Nelarabine and his body responded very well to it. Doctors have decided it is best to try this treatment again. He received his first of three doses yesterday and will continue to receive this chemotherapy for several cycles. A cycle is made up of 21 days and consists of three doses on days 1, 3, and 5, followed by 14 days of no chemotherapy. Wednesday, March 11, was day 1, Friday will be day 3 or his second dose, and Monday will be considered day 5, his final dose. There will be a 14 day waiting period and his next cycle will begin.
This first cycle of chemotherapy is occuring at Banner Good Samaritan on an outpatient basis. His visits are lasting 3 - 5 hours and he is free to leave the hospital and rest at home. The doctors are keeping a close eye on him. Today, he had an appointment to receive fluids and check for any reactions from the chemotherapy. Nelarabine is hard on the kidneys, so they gave him sodium bicarbonate to fight against any side effects. Brenan's blood count is good and his white blood cell count is dropping - which is good!
Brenan has received a few bags of platelets and blood recently and he continually asks that we all contribute to the community's supply of blood by donating whole blood and platelets to your local blood bank.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Prayer request...
First off, our wedding was so much more than we could have ever asked for or expected! More on that later. I'm trying to get the photos all sorted out!
Even more importantly: We have many doctors consulting to decide on treatment options for Brenan. Please pray for the following doctors: Raoul Tibes (pronounced Tee-bes), Adrienne Briggs, and Dr. Clarence Adoo. Pray for the right resources, clarity of thought, sleepful nights, and the right people consulting together...bridging their expertise to make the best decision about the road to take next.
Thank you all for your continued support! With lots of love, Mr. and Mrs. Brenan Eiler!
Even more importantly: We have many doctors consulting to decide on treatment options for Brenan. Please pray for the following doctors: Raoul Tibes (pronounced Tee-bes), Adrienne Briggs, and Dr. Clarence Adoo. Pray for the right resources, clarity of thought, sleepful nights, and the right people consulting together...bridging their expertise to make the best decision about the road to take next.
Thank you all for your continued support! With lots of love, Mr. and Mrs. Brenan Eiler!
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