Day 3

I guess I didn't do my job last night.  These ear plugs work good or I was just really tired.  Steve tried to get me to come cover his little toes that were poking out 3 times but I didn't hear his calls for help in the middle of the night.  Boy did I hear about it in the morning!  I'm here to help out and I'm not doing my job ha ha.  Hopefully tonight I can tuck those toes in before I fall asleep so I don't hear about it tomorrow.  Things went good today.  One of the really weird things that has happened to Steve is the chemical they give him stimulate a part of his brain that activates the memory cells in his body.  Those memory cells remembers a time in his life when he was sunburned.  So his body is all sun burned.  It's so crazy to me that the body can work that way, but it does. Today was the first day we noticed that he started losing his hair.  He had a ton on his pillow this morning and more that came out in the shower.  It might be time for the summer time buzz.  The two older boys said they would shave their heads to match their dads, but McKay said he needed to think about it.  I love that kid.  Either way, it looks like the Garvert boys might be sportin a new do soon.  I had a fun day today visiting with a dear friend.  I love getting visitors.  Steve sleeps a lot so I read a lot and go for some walks but it was really fun to be with her and spend time catching up.  When else do we ever just sit and talk for hours with a good friend.  I say, we defiantly need to do more of that.  That is time well spent.  I know I am guilty of wasting time doing things far less important and much less rewarding.

     Steve decided to take my bed

Round 2 Day 2

Pretty good day today, we got to move out of ICU and into a regular room.  Although you feel very safe and cared for in the ICU, there isn't much rest.  Steve is much happier with out all the extra cords and extra "bugging".  He did pretty good today with all the treatments and they were able to really stay on top of his symptoms.  We were able to go outside and sit in the sun for a little bit today.  It felt so good! Our view from this new room is the top of the U of U hospital so I get to watch all the life flight helicopters come and go.  Although it's not as pretty as the mountain side, it is a bit more exciting.  I was even able to sneak away for a little bit tonight and meet a friend who has a little one down the street at Primary Children's.  It was great to get out for a bit even if it was just to a different hospital.  I thought I could be gone with out Steve even noticing, but that was not the case.  I wasn't gone long before I started getting texts asking me when I'd be back and that he missed me.  Ha ha, I guess I'm not to sneaky.  I guess he does know I'm here, sometimes I wonder??? I know I say this a lot, but We are so very grateful for all the prayers we are getting in our behalf.  We are truly lifted up and feel the strength that comes from those prayer.  The power of prayer is real, I can testify to that!!!

The view from our room day 2

                                 

                                        The PIC line was placed a lot easier and quicker this time around

This is what the PIC line looks like on x-ray

Round 2

Wow! One week in the hospital and two weeks home felt like two weeks in the hospital and one week home.  The two weeks home went fast but it was sure nice to be home doing some normal things with our family.  Steve had a birthday yesterday and he slept for most of the day.  We celebrated the day before by going up Logan Canyon with some friends and had a camp fire and did some 4 wheeling.  I think we wore him clean out!  It was a lot of fun and a great way to enjoy one last day before we headed back down for round two.  We got up at 5:30 this morning in hopes to get here early.  They ask us to be here by 8:00 so we figure that the sooner we get here the sooner we get to go home on Friday.  When we came this morning we headed straight to the 4th floor where we spent our last week here.  Of course, I wanted to make only one trip from the car with all our stuff so our arms were full, I mean full!  Steve was cussing me, telling me that we should have taken two trips, but I wouldn't be a true Mathison if I didn't try to make only one.  I just can't help myself.  When we barely made it to the 4th floor without dropping everything, they told us that we wouldn't be on that floor this time.  We had to head up to the 5th floor.  So we stumbled towards the elevators again to make our way up one more floor.  I probably took out 4 people as I walked by because I was carrying so much stuff.  We made it and realized we had ended up in the ICU.  They explained that after our experience last time with his heart rate that went crazy and his blood pressure that tanked, they wanted him in the ICU so they could keep a closer eye on him.  Boy, he was not happy!  That means more cords, more monitors, and lots more "bugging".  He is just not a happy patient right now.  As soon as they got the PIC line placed and the drugs flowing, he started to calm down, mostly because he gets knocked out with all the drugs.   Knowing what is coming is good and bad, I think.  Good because we know what to expect and what worked best last time treating it. Bad because we know whats coming and how awful he is going to feel.  We are just trying to keep focused on the bigger picture of things and see this as a blessing that we have these resources available to us.  I am truly grateful for the village that is there to take care of my family while we are away.  My sisters have it all figured out and taken care of for me.  I have neighbors and friends running my very active kids to and from practices and activities.  I don't know how we could do it all with out all the love and support we continue to receive from countless people.  I have to say, I am super proud of my kids as well.  They take such good care of each other and are being such good sports through this all.  Here's to one day down, and 4 to go.

                                                                   Happy Birthday                                                                    

                                            Jacob did Sierra's hair today.  He did a great job!

                                                       Our View from our room in ICU

Home Sweet Home

We were only in the hospital for a week but it might as well have been a month.  We were both so grateful to get home and sleep in our own beds.  Steve was especially happy to be freed from all those cords.  Our family was very cared for while we were gone.  Many meals were brought to my kids that were at home and my house was clean laundry done and folded.  My youngest that stayed at my sisters house cried when she brought her home because she had had so much fun with her cousins and loves it at their home.  I was very grateful for all the help and selfless acts of service so many people gave to our family.  Steve has spent much of his days sleeping since we got home.  Today is the first day he is really up and about.  The day after we got home, he had to get a shot that boosts his white blood cell count.  They said it is pretty painful because it stimulates the bone marrow to go into over drive and boost his counts. They said a lot of people experience bone pain that is pretty bad.  They gave us lots of meds to give him before the shot and then more pills for after.  We did it at night before he went to bed, so I think he slept off most of the side effects.  He didn't feel great the next day but it wasn't as bad as they had prepared us for.  Two nights ago, he had his first interferon shot.  We gave him all the pre meds once again but that one knocked him down a bit more the next day.  He was pretty sick, and no energy.  Jacob, our oldest, had an awards assembly I went to that morning. I was surprised when Steve showed up a bit late, but just in time to see Jacob get his award for being on the honor roll and getting good citizenship all year and also intramural champion.  Of course, the best award was the intramural champion.  Steve sneaked out right after Jacob got his award.  He wasn't really suppose to be around so many people at this time in his treatment.  He is at a higher risk for infection and sickness right now.  That was all he could do that day.  He came home and slept the rest of the day.  Today is the first day he seems to be doing better.  He actually went out and started mowing the lawn.  It is a riding lawn mower, but still a great accomplishment right now.  Jacob took over as soon as he got home from school.  I am learning a lot right now about nutrition and how it will help him heal.  It's amazing!!! I didn't really think we were that unhealthy but I see a lot of areas that we will be improving on.  I'm kind of excited to do all we can to help Steve get healthy again and stay healthy.  That is one thing we have gained a greater appreciation of, is having good health.  We have really always been healthy.  Our kids and us have never had anything other than the occasional cough or flu.  We have been very fortunate that way.  Watching Steve lose his health so quickly, has been a challenge.  He will get it back and we will never take it for granted again.  Steve has 2 more shots this week then he has a week off.  We will head back to the huntsman for round 2 after that.  For now, we are just going to enjoy our time together as a family!

Day 4

Today was much like yesterday where Steve slept most of the day.  He only got up once to walk the halls.  The goal is to get up and walk 2 laps 3 times a day.  This huge cart we have to haul around is monstrous and heavy.  That leaves me in charge of pushing it around the halls.  I'm not the best driver of that thing.  Steve isn't the best walker right now, so the two of us make quite the pair walking in circles around the halls.  All I can say is if you see us coming, you better get out of the way. He claims I run him into the wall, I think he can't walk straight. It's probably a little bit of both.  Walking is suppose to help prevent blood clots and really helps you feel better.  They were a little slow to get on top of his symptoms so he had a rough ride today.  His fever spiked and his heart got to a dangerous rate so they had to pump him with more and more drugs.  Poor guy is so drugged, he's not sure which end is up.  He just woke up for 30 seconds and looked at the clock and asked, "Is it 11:00 in the morning or 11:00 at night?" He laid his head back down and started snoring again.  My brother and his wife came to visit tonight and when he walked in he asked Steve how he was doing and he lifted his head and said, "Kumbaya." Ya, that is about how he's been all day.  They are trying to get us ready to leave tomorrow so part of that is bringing us all the meds that he will go home with.  I didn't know I would be taking the whole pharmacy with me.  Two different people came to instruct me on what drugs to give him and when.  When to give the shots and when not to.  Good thing they gave me something to take notes on.  I even wrote on the bottles so I wouldn't forget some things.  Hopefully I can keep it all straight.  Steve has gained about 15 pounds since we checked in.  Hard to believe since he's not eating at all.  It's all water weight.  He is so puffy and soft. They said all that will come right off when he gets home plus some.  He likes to tell people he's going on the CHEMO diet.  Not one I recommend.  I really hope that he forgets most of his stay here or else I think I might have a real hard time getting him to come back for round 2.  Some people say that their stay here is a fog.  I think ever since they started his Chemo on Wednesday, he had been in a fog.  Hopefully that will be the case.

Day 3

Today had it's ups and downs.  Steve kind of had in his mind that he might have a day like yesterday where he had a break in the madness, but not today.  He woke up pretty miserable and it stayed like that most the day.  His platelet levels dropped again today to a level they would normally do a transfusion.  Since he will probably be needing them more than normal, they decided to lower the parameters of when he will receive a transfusion.  They are going to try and ride it out a little longer before they do the transfusion.  He slept most the day.  Once again, the nurses have been outstanding in taking care of him.  They know exactly what to expect and how to treat it before it even happens. They are working round the clock to make sure he is as comfortable as possible.  I am so very grateful to here at the Huntsman where he is receiving the best care possible.  They are outstanding! Some compare Bio Chemo like having the really bad flu.  That comparison seems so minimal compared to what he is experiencing.  He is handling this like a champ!  I'm very proud of him and the strength he is possessing.  You have to be one tough nut to handle this kind of torture. It makes me feel bad sometimes when he is so uncomfortable because I know he is only going through this because of me and our kids.  He said if it were just him, he would just roll the dice and take the risk of the cancer coming back.  But with his responsibilities and love he has for us, he is suffering greater than he anticipated, all for us.  This is the greatest sacrifice anyone has ever made for me and my kids. I love him more than ever for it!  He is truly doing everything he can to fight this wicked beast.  He is a fighter, so I know he will prevail.          

Day 2

Day 2 was much better than day 1.  They told us that the first day would be the worst and so far, they are right.  We had a really busy night last night.  Steve's blood pressure tanked so they were up working on him till 3:00 am.  The cause of his low blood pressure was what they call capillary leakage.  That is where all the fluid they are giving him leaks out of the capillaries and into the tissue which causes his blood pressure to drop.  He was in and out of it most of the night, but it makes me on edge when everyone is working to fix a problem.  So, needless to say, we didn't get much sleep last night.  This morning Steve perked up and seemed to do real well.  It's nice that he has a break in the torture during the day.  We got to go sit outside for about 15 mins.  They don't like him to go out for long because his heart monitor doesn't reach outside and they are keeping a close eye on that.  But it was nice just to be outside even if it was only for a few minutes.  Steve even felt good enough to play video games for a little bit today.  Then it hit with a vengeance.  He got the shakes and chills and then the fevers hit.  It's pretty miserable but they are really quick to treat the symptoms so as soon as they do that he gets knocked out and sleeps for several hours.  We even got a visit from some old friends we hadn't seen in a long time tonight.  That was the highlight of our day today.  2 days down, 3 to go.  Steve is doing great! He has a positive attitude and is handling this better than I had expected.  Miracles are happening every day.  That is one of them.