Prayers for Brian

My brother Brian is currently hospitalized at Dartmouth Regional Medical Center. They drained 1300 CC's of fluid from his lung yesterday, and he is filling up again. They will drain it tomorrow and possibly put in a catheter. He will not be able to be discharged until he has stablized. He is scheduled to be at the Layhy Clinic in Mass on Tuesday to be evaluated for a liver transplant as he is an End Stage Liver Disease patient. It looks like he may not make that appointment, and it took some four months to get him in. He could use your faith and prayers. Our family is all holding it's collective breath. Please keep my mother in your prayers as well as his wife and kids as I think this is hardest on them. We appreciate you all. Thanks. Marleigh

Back in the Saddle...

Today, I've completed the last chemo/infusion of my 2nd cycle. Two cycles down, it looks like six more to go. I should complete the chemo part of this 'ride' sometime in August. Midway through (3-4 months) I go through another evaluation (MRI's, bone scan, etc.) to determine how things look. If all is well, at the end of the 8th cycle we start to talk about bone marrow transplant (from my own stem cell's).
I've handled the chemo well; haven't been really sick, lost no hair, not too irritable(?). The biggest issue has been fatigue; not a lot of energy and I feel like I could sleep anytime. Actually, I know this is a little contradictory but I've had nights where I couldn't sleep at all. I forget which drug does that to me but I don't like it. Weird.
I've officially return to work; I had been on short-term disability for a couple of months... even though I've been working the whole time (emails, conference calls, preparing my courses, etc.). My company has been great. They've been very supportive and understanding. They've sent me flowers, cookies and I've been bombarded with emails from friends/co-workers who have wished me well. So I'm grateful for Alcatel-Lucent.
I continue to stay busy with my Church responsibilities, which I'm also grateful for. I need to stay active... It's good medicine- better than chemo.
So, for the most part 'I'm back in the saddle again'. We're looking forward to Dani coming home next week for the summer. She'll be going to Paris in the fall (the one in France not Texas) for the 'semester abroad' program for BYU. She's very excited. We are also looking forward to having Grandpa come out to stay with us for a time (we hope a long time). We're not sure how soon that will happen, but hopefully sooner rather than later.
So all things considered, life is good. We have a few challenges, but who doesn't. We miss our Mom/Grandma, but know all is well with her. And we are looking forward to having a great Spring and Summer.

Blaine

Saying Goodbye

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and the air was clear when the family of Betty Jean Grass Savage held her memorial service. Lovely things were said that rang true. She was unassuming and kind, truthful to a fault, and devoted to her family. Absolutey devoted. There was a gathering for a family prayer before the casket was closed just prior to the service. That was the most memorable, tender, spiritual part. Kevin, her oldest son, offered a beautiful prayer in behalf of the family while holding the microphone that connected to her 97 year old mother's hearing device. Then one by one, with profound reverence, her children with their spouses and children, came up in family groups to wish their mother, grandmother, and yes, loving mother-in-law, a last goodbye. Finally it was Dad's turn. He didn't say anything we could hear, but gently touched her, probably smoothing her white hair, which had grown back, one last time. Then the casket was closed.

As Blaine said, she would have been suprised at how many had come to the memorial to honor her, as she never sought her own glory, and never expected any. It was wonderful to see all of the family and friends. Truly. The following day, many of us, including all of her children, drove to Bicknell, Wayne County, Utah, a three hours drive, where she was interred. The wind was gusting something fierce. It truly was a Wayne County day. Ron, her youngest son, offered a beautiful dedication for her grave, with lots of words of love for both her and his Dad.

We move forward now, and wrap our collective arms around her husband (Dad/Granpa) who misses her fiercely. They have been an example of pure love that will not soon be forgotten.

Marleigh

Betty Jean Savage

My Mom's father died when she was only 6 years old. She really had very little memory of him. My oldest sister, Becky passed away after only 2 days on this earth. Not sure how it all works, but I'm sure there is a grand reunion taking place right now.

Mom had been in a lot of pain the last few days, but at the moment when she passed a sense of peace, almost joy came upon her. My sister described it like she had walked into a room full of friends and loved ones- that was the expression on her face. There wasn't an ounce of fear or apprehension.

She is a great woman who is already missed.



I've attached the link with her obituary.



Blaine



http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=237409&fh_id=10233&s_id=BCDE83649A50FBCBA3575FB23E387EAA

News

Today at 11:45 AM Mountain Time, Blaine's father told his mother that it was ok for her to go. At 1:00 PM Mountain time, Betty Jean Grass Savage left this life for the next. We will miss her. God Speed.

Marleigh

En Route

Blaine is on his way home to see his mother for the last time. She took a turn for the worse this last weekend, and is very near the end. He left early this morning and will return Sunday evening. She is a gentle soul who will certainly have a welcoming committee there to greet her as those on this side of the veil wave goodbye. We will miss her loving, kind, gentle spirit, and look forward to seeing what kind of mansion she is preparing for those she loves on the other side. God bless her, and God be with her till we meet again.

Fear not for Blaine, his white counts are high, so he is not at risk of infection right now as he travels, and should be back to continue chemo on time. This is his week off anyway, so he shouldn't miss any treatments. If he needs to, he will be fine. His blood counts look fantastic right now. His platelets and white counts have actually gone up these past two weeks! Obviously our good Lord has heard all of your faithful, loving prayers. Thank you soooo much. We love you, and are in your debt, and our Father's debt. If you ever need to know if prayer is effective, or wonder if your prayers are just words to the ceiling, wonder no more. Your prayers are heard and answered, and Blaine is living proof. You can call down the blessings of Heaven through your faith and prayers, and we hope you will all make daily prayer a pattern of life, as it will bring you so much comfort. It has for us. Thanks again, and God Bless .

Marleigh

Smooth Sailing...

Tomorrow I complete the 2nd week of my 3 week cycle. A cycle for me is 2 weeks with chemo, 1 week off. So my schedule for the 2 weeks is Monday and Thursdays, then some downtime for the 3rd week.

It's hard to say how many cycles I will have, but it'll be at least 8 cycles (up to 12). If it is just the 8 cycles, I should complete the chemo portion sometime in August. If it is 12 cycles, then sometime in November.

After the chemo portion has been completed (and hopefully remission) then we start to talk about the Bone Marrow transplant (sounds fun, doesn't it?). Not really looking forward to this. In the hospital, they took a bone marrow biopsy from me a couple of days after the surgery. Honestly, this was one of the worst parts of the whole ordeal. Even worse than removing the tumor. At least with the tumor I was knocked out cold, but even afterwards the pain from the wound has been pretty minimal. But the biopsy didn't have all the medications and it took them a few tries to get a 'good' sample from each side of my hip. Again, not fun. And for those keeping score at home, the MRI was the 2nd worse part- I mean I'm a big guy and lying completely enclosed in a tube, on top of a recently operation back- and not being able to move. Not a good combination.

Where was I... oh yeah- chemo. So far I haven't had really any issue's with the chemo; not much nasuea and I don't think I've lost a single strand of hair. My body functions are relatively normal. The biggest effect has been fatique, I've been pretty tired. Tired I can handle (even though I did fall asleep during Amercian Idol last night-what a tragedy).

So, so far... Smooth sailing.

Again, Thank you for all that you've done for us. It is so very appreciated.

Blaine