Round Ten

Round Ten started yesterday.  We were sad to see round nine go because Trent had started to feel really good.  After last week's episode with the fainting and falling all over, we got a call on Tuesday from Katie at the Huntsman.  Trent needed blood in a bad way.  That was not really a surprise since he couldn't walk a straight line.  So we were in SLC at 7:00 am the next morning.  It took us SEVEN HOURS to get two units of blood!  We waited for a full two and a half hours before they even started the blood.   It was a long day but he improved almost immediately.  We spent the next night with our family at Temple Square.  We were quite a sight; me pushing Trent in a wheelchair, followed by Megan pushing  Jonathan in the stroller, followed by three more kids.  Craziness, but it was really fun.  Trent kept saying he felt so good that it was hard to believe he had cancer. 

We really lucked out with the timing of Trent's chemo.  The best three days of his cycle were just happened to fall on Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after.  So, on Christmas Eve, Trent got the itch to shop.  So Jarom and I took him to Walmart.  I was shopping a little ways away from Trent in his jazzy when a couple we do not know walked up and put $50 in Trent's hand.  He tried to give it back but they said that he looked like he could use it.  They explained that 10 years ago someone had helped their little family and this was their way to pay it forward.  I looked up and saw Trent crying and Jarom was motioning for me to come.  I ran over to Trent and he told me what had happened.  He turned around to show me who they were but they were gone.  We both just stood there in tears, once again, overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of others.  We have been very blessed throughout this year and especially during the holidays by many, many people.  I am trying to keep track of all the tender mercies and anonymous acts of kindness shown to our family.  I really want to be able to remind my family how blessed we have been through our trial.  We have learned many lessons and continue to be humbled and taught each day.  We have been lifted and edified by the pure goodness of people; friends, family, and strangers alike.  I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is mindful of our needs and has seen fit to bless us so willingly.  I truly believe that He knows how much we can handle and though we are facing a very difficult reality, we are being blessed beyond measure. 

Thank you all for your continued prayers and faith.  We are so grateful for all the kind words and support we receive from you all.  As our year comes to a close, we look back and see that though it has been our hardest year yet, it has been our best.  We wish you all the best that 2011 can bring.  Thank you for everything and love to you all!

Life Goes On

This round of chemo is now 2/3 over and it hasn't been too bad.  We were really expecting to be hit super hard after what the doctor said.  However, the first week was a little rocky and week two has been okay minus some stomach issues.  Trent's main complaint this week has been fatigue but that is an easy one to fix and not life threatening. When the home health nurse came yesterday all of Trent's vitals were looking pretty good.  His blood pressure was a little low but it always is.  We really noticed how low it was yesterday when Trent was trying to help Zach earn his Carpentry Merit Badge for Scouts.  He was trying to show Zach how to use the chop saw and he was falling all over the place!  I made him sit down and he kept falling onto the work bench and all over me.  I finally made him leave amid his protests.  Kind of scary to have him flopping all over the place and me trying to keep his hands and Zach's hands out of the saw!  We finally got him settled in bed and Zach and I finished a darn good step stool!

Last week Jonathan threw us for a loop when he shoved a popcorn seed up his nose.  He got it lodged up behind the second turbinate.  We tried everything to get it out; saline, crochet hooks, tweezers, and of course, blowing.  That kid blew snot all over all of us as many times as we asked him to but no popcorn seed ever emerged.  We had a nurse from our ward come over and she couldn't get it either.  So the next morning I took him to a family doctor in town.  He put a foley catheter up behind the popcorn seed and blew it up to get it to force out the seed.  Twice.  No luck.  Jonathan was crying and would not look at the doctor.  He said, "Doctor not fun!"  The doctor was nice enough not to charge me for the visit and then referred me to an ENT in Logan.  He told me Jonathan would have to be put under general anesthesia to have the seed removed.   Ugh.  Jonathan's insurance doesn't kick in until January 1.  I was not thrilled, but guess what?  LIFE GOES ON!  No matter what else is on my plate right now, Jonathan is still two and will do two year old things.  Zach needs help with projects, and Mallory wants to be read to, and so forth.  Life still happens to us and everyone else and we just have to keep dealing with it, hopefully with a smile on our faces. 

To continue the Jonathan saga....we starved him for the rest of the morning until the next doctor visit.  It was so sad.  Mallory was having her lunch before school and Jonathan was chasing her around trying to steal her food because we had not given him any.  He was so confused.  While waiting for the doctor he was begging for a drink. I gave in and gave him a little sip.  He was starting to get really agitated and I finally asked the nurse how long it was going to be.  She offered him things to color and I told her he was just hungry.  She was surprised when I told her we had been instructed not to feed him.  She said he was only getting loopy meds, not anesthesia and I was free to feed him.  Hallelujah!  She gave him a little candy bar and I had snacks in my purse-which are normally for Trent.  He horked those things down so fast it wasn't even funny!  Finally we saw the doctor and he was great.  Dr. Bennion at the Cache Valley Specialty Hospital-(shameless plug for an awesome doctor!) was so good with Jonathan.  He was very amused at the popcorn seed.  Said he had never removed one of those before.  Way to go Jonathan!  We like to keep them guessing don't we?!  We slipped over to the pharmacy to get Jonathan some Versed to make him loopy.  While we were there we ran into a good friend from Providence.  Annette hung out with me while Jonathan spit his medicine all over the place and acted like a little twerp.  He didn't get enough medicine down to make him really loopy so we had to give him another 1/2 dose.  Finally it was starting to hit him.  He was being all goofy and barking like a dog while trying to walk backwards.  It was hilarious.   

We got him up on the table and he was crawling all over the place.  Every time the nurse laid out a napkin for him to lay on he would pick it up and blow his nose with it.  He did that three times before the nurse stopped laughing enough to get him situated correctly. 

It took me and two other nurses to hold him down-not because he was moving much, just as a precaution.  He was so loopy by that point that it didn't take much to keep him still.  The doc had to use a few different instruments but pretty soon a $90 popcorn seed popped out of his nose!  I am pretty sure he gave me a discount too.  I am so grateful for his compassion--I am sure it could have been lot worse! :)  As soon as the seed came out Jonathan sat up and said, "Thank you doctor, thank you!"

Once again a shameless plug for Dr. Bennion, I have been to see two of his associates and I will pick Dr. Bennion EVERY time from now on.  Of course, I hope I never have to but you know what I mean!

Just another day in the life of those wacky Rasmussens!

The Joys of Chemo

This week was worse than we expected.  Usually the first week of the cycle is not too bad, just a little blah.  But the day after chemo Trent felt like he was on fire---inside.  He didn't have a fever at all, just felt like he was burning up on the inside.  So, a couple of pain pills and an anxiety pill later, he was doing better.  Then the next day he woke up with mouth sores.  Usually that doesn't happen until at least day five or six.  So, Diflucan to the rescue and the mouth is getting better.  He has fought all week with a churning stomach.  No matter what he eats, his stomach just churns.  He doesn't throw up though so I guess that's good.  He has slept a ton this week.  I feel like I have hardly seen him.  He keeps making plans to help me get ready for Christmas but then sleeps through them.  Oh well, I can handle that. 

I overheard a funny thing the other day.  Mallory was singing the Rudolph song and she sang, "You know Dancer and Prancer and Cancer and Vixen..."  I listened to her do this a few times.  That is her world right now.  Not too many six year olds know very much about cancer.  Unfortunately she knows way  more than I ever wanted her to know.  But on the plus side, at least she rhymes well! :)

More Good News!

The tumors are STILL SHRINKING!  The scan today showed more positive progress.  When Grace, the PA, came in she was all smiles.  She asked if Trent wanted to do two more rounds of chemo and we both said, "YES!"  There are currently four nodules in the right lung and three in the left.  However, two in the right lung and all three in the left have not changed at all and they are the size of BB's so they are not really concerned about those right now.  The two larger nodules in the right lung have made a "significant change".  Dr. Gouw said it is better to have the big spots in the right lung because there are three lobes in that lung and one could be removed along with the tumors if need be.  He also said not to get our hopes up but he would now entertain the idea of contacting a thoracic surgeon and reviewing Trent's scans with him.  He told us that when he had mentioned that before he really did not think we would ever get to that point.  He said that when he first met us and saw that the tumors did not respond to the first chemotherapy drugs he didn't think he could do anything to help us.  WHAT?!  It's a good thing he did not tell us that because we totally believed the opposite.  And still do! 

Trent is now on Round Nine overall but Round Five of Gemcytobine and Taxotere.  Traditionally round 5 and 6 are worse for the patient.  The doctors talked about seeing how round 5 goes and then evaluating whether or not to do six.  I couldn't understand why we would want to quit if we were getting positive results!  They all just kind of smiled at me.  That makes me a bit nervous.  We assured them we are going to do six.  So two more rounds and then a scan on Jan 19.  If the positive trend continues we will then meet the thoracic surgeon.  That should be a very interesting conversation!  We are a bit anxious about what lung surgery would entail but very willing to go through with it if it means remission.

Trent's labs were a low today but stable.  We are planning on a transfusion next week with the second dose of chemo.  That should perk Trent up a little bit.  Grace also gave him permission to keep a bag of peanut butter cups by his bed so he can get some more protein.  I am afraid that allowance might get abused! :)

All of our "Huntsman Family" was very excited to hear more positive news.  However, we almost feel guilty enjoying it when so many others are not hearing good news.  It has been very eye opening to see how much suffering is going on.  We have been truly blessed and are so grateful for the good news today.  We know the road is not going to be easy or short, but when you travel with the Lord and all of the family and friends that we have, the journey is do-able.  We are so grateful for your prayers and compassion. It makes all the difference in the world for us.  Once again our prayers have been answered and our testimonies strengthened. 

Monday, December 6, 2010 was a very good day for us!  We are praying for many more good days to come!

Pray

This is Dakota Wilson.  We have known her and her family since she was about six.  They are some of the most amazing people we have ever met and have become our dear friends.  We learned that she had written this song for us and were so touched.  We were so impressed!  It is a beautiful song, sung by a beautiful girl, with a beautiful message.  It comes at a time that I needed to be reminded of the simplest thing.  Pray.  Our prayers have never stopped but I know they can become repetitious.  We pray not only for Trent's healing but for patience and endurance. We pray for the ability to endure this trial WELL. At this point it is wearing on us and we are anxious for the end of it. We are looking forward to the day when our daddy can be our daddy again.

Much love and thanks to Dakota for this much needed sentiment!