Hi everyone! I figured I would update you since Brian had his blog but some people only check this one.
New York went well overall. We have a definite date for surgery on May 18th. We fly up on the 13th for some pre-op appointments. We also found out that we are approved to stay at American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge which is a huge blessing. This means we will only need to find housing for a week and half until Brian is discharged from the hospital. We are beyond blessed. Wings of Hope also bought our airline tickets again.
One More Round
Before we leave Brian has one more round of chemo starting Tuesday (4/14)-Friday (4/17). If you would like to visit or drive him home or there just let me know!
Some people have asked where to donate. Here is the site again:
https://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/brian-newton-fan-club-help-brian-beat-cancer-/281003
We love you all and cannot thank you for the continued support over these past 6 months!!!! We are so grateful!!
Friday, April 10, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
Hospital Again
Hey everyone!
Brian unfortunately took a trip back to the hospital last night. We knew on Tuesday that all his counts were low and they told us to just be cautious about not being around sick people. Brian laid low. Thursday night he was feeling run down and had a 100.5 fever. The magic number that send us to the ER to be admitted. So he was last night. He is feeling fine other than some sore mouth side effects from the chemo.
Although Dr. B. is not highly concerned. The infectious disease doctor wants him there for 48 hours with no fever. So if you're perfectly healthy and feel like dropping by to say hey just text to make sure it is a good time. Hopefully he will get out Saturday or Sunday.
NYC Update
Our first two appointments are confirmed. We were fortunate to get free one way flights through a foundation called Wings of Hope. They will fly us home post surgery as well. Truly a blessing. We will be heading up just the two of us on the 17th. We have scans on the 18th and appointments on the 19th. The 19th will let us know whether or not surgery is a go. If yes, surgery will be the 23rd and we will be in NYC for up to four weeks.
It has been a planning nightmare because it is hard to look into lodging without having confirmed dates. So we are praying everything works out and have many contingency plans in place. That being said, if you know a great place to stay in the city that won't cost a gagillion dollars, LET US KNOW!
Love to you all!
Brian unfortunately took a trip back to the hospital last night. We knew on Tuesday that all his counts were low and they told us to just be cautious about not being around sick people. Brian laid low. Thursday night he was feeling run down and had a 100.5 fever. The magic number that send us to the ER to be admitted. So he was last night. He is feeling fine other than some sore mouth side effects from the chemo.
Although Dr. B. is not highly concerned. The infectious disease doctor wants him there for 48 hours with no fever. So if you're perfectly healthy and feel like dropping by to say hey just text to make sure it is a good time. Hopefully he will get out Saturday or Sunday.
NYC Update
Our first two appointments are confirmed. We were fortunate to get free one way flights through a foundation called Wings of Hope. They will fly us home post surgery as well. Truly a blessing. We will be heading up just the two of us on the 17th. We have scans on the 18th and appointments on the 19th. The 19th will let us know whether or not surgery is a go. If yes, surgery will be the 23rd and we will be in NYC for up to four weeks.
It has been a planning nightmare because it is hard to look into lodging without having confirmed dates. So we are praying everything works out and have many contingency plans in place. That being said, if you know a great place to stay in the city that won't cost a gagillion dollars, LET US KNOW!
Love to you all!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
New York Plans (well kind of)
Hi everyone!
First of all, once again we owe a big thanks! The donations and kindness continue to bless us and overwhelm us. We appreciate you all including you anonymous-ers. We have loved the meals, kindness of strangers, and security we receive from all of the support.
Second, Brian just finished his fourth round of chemo today!! Wahoo!!!!! Just fluids and a shot tomorrow and we get a little bit of a break. The third round was rough, so we are hoping that laying low this weekend will help make this fourth round seem like a piece of cake. Prayers and fingers crossed!
Third, we heard from MSKCC and our doctor's office in New York today. Tentatively, we will have scans and an appointment with our surgeon on Thursday, March 19th. After that there will be two options:
Option A: two more rounds of chemo at home
Option B: surgery on his arm/chest area on Monday, March 23rd.
Obviously we are hoping for Option B but are going to do what is best according to the doctors. Again, this isn't set in stone until we hear back from them.
Our Needs
The only thing we need right now is lots of prayers. Prayers for Brian to feel great this round with no crazy side effects. Prayers for a planner like me to be okay when plans aren't easy to make. Prayers that surgery is the next step.
We love you all!
First of all, once again we owe a big thanks! The donations and kindness continue to bless us and overwhelm us. We appreciate you all including you anonymous-ers. We have loved the meals, kindness of strangers, and security we receive from all of the support.
Second, Brian just finished his fourth round of chemo today!! Wahoo!!!!! Just fluids and a shot tomorrow and we get a little bit of a break. The third round was rough, so we are hoping that laying low this weekend will help make this fourth round seem like a piece of cake. Prayers and fingers crossed!
Third, we heard from MSKCC and our doctor's office in New York today. Tentatively, we will have scans and an appointment with our surgeon on Thursday, March 19th. After that there will be two options:
Option A: two more rounds of chemo at home
Option B: surgery on his arm/chest area on Monday, March 23rd.
Obviously we are hoping for Option B but are going to do what is best according to the doctors. Again, this isn't set in stone until we hear back from them.
Our Needs
The only thing we need right now is lots of prayers. Prayers for Brian to feel great this round with no crazy side effects. Prayers for a planner like me to be okay when plans aren't easy to make. Prayers that surgery is the next step.
We love you all!
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Counts are up!
Neutrophil count is at 900! They told us yesterday that no matter what we couldn't leave til it was 500. We are so happy. Now it's just a waiting game hopefully Brian will get released today or tomorrow! Yay! He's feeling a lot better.
Friday, February 6, 2015
A Small Hiccup
Hello everyone. Just a quick update on our crazy week. Brian has been feeling pretty run down since the last round of chemo. He has a slight cold and just didn't feel like he was rebounding the same as past rounds. Yesterday he had some blood work and his white blood cell counts were low. Then last night he had a fever. The rule is 100.5 or higher and we have to go to the ER. So we went last night. They ran every test imaginable. They haven't found any infection which is good! Brian is getting antibiotics and fluids to be proactive since he has such a low immunity right now. He has to wait until his nuetrophil white blood counts reach 500 in order to be discharged. This whole process is so that we are better safe than sorry. It could take several days to get those counts back up. Pray that it is quick so that our little family can all be sleeping under the same roof!
Love to you all!
P.S. Is it a good sign when people say, "I remember you," when they see Brian?!?!
Love to you all!
P.S. Is it a good sign when people say, "I remember you," when they see Brian?!?!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
GOOD NEWS!
Hallelujah! The chemo is working!!!! The masses on the adrenal glands have shrunk and are not viable anymore (will still remove them just in case there are tiny active cells). The mass under the arm seems to be about the same size but has probably scarred over which is the reason Brian has not been in as much pain. A PET scan will show how much the arm tumor has scarred.
What's next?
Dr. B will call Memorial Sloan Kettering and our doctors there. They will discuss what the next step is. Dr. B predicts that we will head to New York after the next round of chemo. So approximately 6 weeks or so. That would be a check in with them for the MSKCC doctors to make a further plan of action that should include surgery.
We start chemo again today. Brian will be here Tues.-Fri. If you want to stop by, text me!
THANK YOU!
Again we just want to say thank you. The love continues to pour in. The prayers are so appreciated. We love you all! Thank you for loving our family so much.
What's next?
Dr. B will call Memorial Sloan Kettering and our doctors there. They will discuss what the next step is. Dr. B predicts that we will head to New York after the next round of chemo. So approximately 6 weeks or so. That would be a check in with them for the MSKCC doctors to make a further plan of action that should include surgery.
We start chemo again today. Brian will be here Tues.-Fri. If you want to stop by, text me!
THANK YOU!
Again we just want to say thank you. The love continues to pour in. The prayers are so appreciated. We love you all! Thank you for loving our family so much.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Chemo: Cycle 2
Hey everybody! Just wanted to type a quick update on this second cycle of chemo. Overall this round went very smoothly. Brian hasn't has some of the side effects he had during the first round of chemo (like feeling flu like or achy teeth) which is nice. The only real side effect is fatigue. He has been his normal joking self and had fun going to work Monday before treatment started.We really appreciate the support that continues to flow in. From visitors, to chauffeurs, to prayer warriors, to huggers, to lunch bringers, etc., we love you all!
What's next?
Brian has weekly lab appointments to check his blood counts, a physical therapy to hopefully get a sling that relieve some of the pain on his arm, and another echocardiogram (standard procedure after every cycle). Most importantly he will have another CT scan to see how things are going. His next round of chemo will be January 27th, 28th, 29th. If you feel like visiting just let me know!
-Karen
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