Dear Team Boyd,
We are holding strong. Cap had a very peaceful night. The doctors are slowly weaning him off of his medicines and discussing the possibility of weaning him off the ventilator throughout today and tomorrow. Even without being awake, Cap is stealing hearts:)
David is feeling the effects of the high dose chemo, radiation, and transplant. We knew this would wipe him out. Please keep him close to your heart as he finds the courage to persevere.
Lastly, I want to send a special thank you out to Wesley Boyd, David's youngest brother, who donated his stem cells. It was a more painful and lengthy process than anticipated. We appreciate his sacrifice and are so thankful for his generosity and love. Brotherly love is a wonderful thing.
Until next time,
Lisa
Dear Friends,
David, my son-in-law, has just completed 2 days of chemo blast and 4 days of twice daily full body radiation, followed by introduction of new bone marrow stem cells. At this point he is extremely susceptible to infections and bleeding and needs platelets daily and other blood components on a less frequent basis. If you or someone you know would like to donate platelets or blood we would be very grateful. Donations can be made at the Atlanta Blood Services offices in the Northside Hospital, Monday through Saturday, contact them at 404-459-8744 to make an appointment. Let them know that you are donating for David Boyd. FYI, platelet donations take about 2 hrs and they have a full library of movies you can watch while donating. Platelets can be donated as frequently as every 8 days. Thank you for all your prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Jack
A blog made by the friends of David "Superman" Boyd who showed us what it is like to live life like a real hero! We will always look after your super family - Lisa, Izzie and Cap!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Cap Update...
Dear Team Boyd,
I have struggled whether to write this e-mail or not. You probably need to sit down before you continue reading.
Cap was admitted to the Pediatric ICU (PICU) last night. Around 2 AM he was struggling too hard to fight the infection and breathe plus the infection moved to his lungs causing pneumonia, so the doctors intubated him. He is sedated and finally resting comfortably. Since the time of intubation, his vital signs have continually improved. However, he will need to stay intubated for at least 48 hours to give the antibiotics time to work.
As for David, his heart is breaking. He feels so helpless since he cannot be here. I have a feeling he got as much sleep as I did last night. Physically he is doing fairly well, but as we are finding out attitude plays a huge role in the recovery process.
I will email with updates as I can.
Love,
Lisa
I have struggled whether to write this e-mail or not. You probably need to sit down before you continue reading.
Cap was admitted to the Pediatric ICU (PICU) last night. Around 2 AM he was struggling too hard to fight the infection and breathe plus the infection moved to his lungs causing pneumonia, so the doctors intubated him. He is sedated and finally resting comfortably. Since the time of intubation, his vital signs have continually improved. However, he will need to stay intubated for at least 48 hours to give the antibiotics time to work.
As for David, his heart is breaking. He feels so helpless since he cannot be here. I have a feeling he got as much sleep as I did last night. Physically he is doing fairly well, but as we are finding out attitude plays a huge role in the recovery process.
I will email with updates as I can.
Love,
Lisa
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Stem Cell Transplant Update
Dear Team Boyd,
As our very eventful week draws to a close, I want to share with you a brief description of what has transpired.
First, David completed his high-dose chemo and conquered that ugly infection. He also graduated from radiation; the doctor actually gave him a diploma and tassel after his four days of radiation treatment. He is experiencing some of the side effects, but he is taking it as he has taken everything so far, with a triumphant spirit.
The stem cell transplant was completed yesterday, and David slept through most of it (a bag of benadryl will do that to a person). He remained in the hospital last night as a result of low platelets and for observation. It may be a few more days before they release him.
Unfortunately, I was unable to be with David on his big day. Cap awoke with a fever and vomiting. With a temperature of 104.5 we headed to MCG. We were admitted and are here indefinitely. It has been a rough 24 hours, and that is pretty much how I look . . . and smell:( Cap's surgeons have run tests to rule out enterocolitus (that ugly Hirshsprung's infection) and complications from his surgery this past Tuesday. They think he has a nasty virus, but they are being careful with how they proceed.
Having been exposed to a possible virus, Izzy, Cap, and I will not be able to see David until we get the "all clear". As a result we have cancelled our weekend visit with our Daddy. Please pray for Izzy, especially, as she does not understand why things are so complicated. She just wants us all to be together, as we all do. David and I are trying to explain things to her, but we, too, are at a loss for explanations these days. I despise the saying "it is what it is," because it sounds so accepting of one's current situation. I want our children to understand that life is like a choose your own adventure novel: situations, good and bad, happen in everyone's life. However, it is how we choose to respond that creates our destiny.
Thank you for choosing to be positive, to be hopeful, to be supportive, and to be loving.
Much love,
Lisa
As our very eventful week draws to a close, I want to share with you a brief description of what has transpired.
First, David completed his high-dose chemo and conquered that ugly infection. He also graduated from radiation; the doctor actually gave him a diploma and tassel after his four days of radiation treatment. He is experiencing some of the side effects, but he is taking it as he has taken everything so far, with a triumphant spirit.
The stem cell transplant was completed yesterday, and David slept through most of it (a bag of benadryl will do that to a person). He remained in the hospital last night as a result of low platelets and for observation. It may be a few more days before they release him.
Unfortunately, I was unable to be with David on his big day. Cap awoke with a fever and vomiting. With a temperature of 104.5 we headed to MCG. We were admitted and are here indefinitely. It has been a rough 24 hours, and that is pretty much how I look . . . and smell:( Cap's surgeons have run tests to rule out enterocolitus (that ugly Hirshsprung's infection) and complications from his surgery this past Tuesday. They think he has a nasty virus, but they are being careful with how they proceed.
Having been exposed to a possible virus, Izzy, Cap, and I will not be able to see David until we get the "all clear". As a result we have cancelled our weekend visit with our Daddy. Please pray for Izzy, especially, as she does not understand why things are so complicated. She just wants us all to be together, as we all do. David and I are trying to explain things to her, but we, too, are at a loss for explanations these days. I despise the saying "it is what it is," because it sounds so accepting of one's current situation. I want our children to understand that life is like a choose your own adventure novel: situations, good and bad, happen in everyone's life. However, it is how we choose to respond that creates our destiny.
Thank you for choosing to be positive, to be hopeful, to be supportive, and to be loving.
Much love,
Lisa
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tough Road...
Hello Team Boyd,
This will be a quick update. David is fine, however he got very sick Saturday night--fever, vomiting. He has been admitted to Northside as an inpatient for the rest of the CITB (chemo and full body radiation preceding the transplant). He will stay in the hospital up until the day of the transplant. That is as far as we have right now.
We knew this was going to be a tough road; we just didn't expect it to happen so fast. David has an infection that they are fighting with antibiotics. They also are giving him medicine for the pain, so he is very groggy. He requested NO visitors at this time. He is very weak and fatigued. He is trying to rest as much as possible.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I'll be in touch.
Best,
Lisa
This will be a quick update. David is fine, however he got very sick Saturday night--fever, vomiting. He has been admitted to Northside as an inpatient for the rest of the CITB (chemo and full body radiation preceding the transplant). He will stay in the hospital up until the day of the transplant. That is as far as we have right now.
We knew this was going to be a tough road; we just didn't expect it to happen so fast. David has an infection that they are fighting with antibiotics. They also are giving him medicine for the pain, so he is very groggy. He requested NO visitors at this time. He is very weak and fatigued. He is trying to rest as much as possible.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I'll be in touch.
Best,
Lisa
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Working up to Aug. 26th Transplant
Dear Team Boyd,
We are so glad to have our feet back on terra firma and our confidence strengthened in our oncologists at Northside. As I write, David and I are driving back to Athens after a world-wind trip to Houston, Texas, to consult with the doctors at MD Anderson. Kings of Leon are singing on the radio in their Southern Rock style "it's in the water; where you came from . . . ." I can't help but feel that they are playing just for us. Our source of love and strength come from our home, our community. It is only fitting that the fight of our lives takes place here in Georgia.
We have been on information overload for 48 hours undergoing an intense course on Non-Hodgkins Diffuse B Cell Cancer on crack cocaine. We have been surrounded by sick people- really sick people-and we've heard some extremely abysmal cases. Yet here we are knowing in our hearts that we are not a lost cause. We are not even close to the end. Rest assured that David Boyd is still the healthiest looking sick person out there. And if you look good, isn't that what really matters?:)
So here's the plan. We are proceeding with the allogeneic stem cell transplant at Northside hospital. David will begin the process on Friday, August 19 with another line placement and prelabs. He will have two days of high dose chemo followed by 4 days of radiation twice a day. The transplant will occur on August 26, exactly 7 months after his initial diagnosis.
MD Anderson is not completely out of the picture. They are our Plan B if the transplant doesn't work. And let's face it, the transplant is going to work. Although the cancer is extremely aggressive, all of the doctors agree that David has his young age and overall health -sans cancer- on his side. If that doesn't work, then I'll nag the cancer out of his body; I'm really good at that.
As long as David is feeling and doing well, he will receive all of his treatments as an outpatient. Therefore he will be staying at a location to be determined later but before Friday. It's a work in progress. David's Mom will be his primary caregiver for that first week, and I will visit as much as I can. Cards and packages can be sent to our home address, and I will ensure that he gets everything. Once we have a specific location for him I will forward the address to you.
Izzy, Cap, and I will stay in Athens. School and dance classes are going well for Iz and Cap is sleeping like a champ in his own bed. I'm not messing with that chemistry right now. Plus, I have a triathlon to race, not really "race" but to finish without collapsing.
To say "thank you" at this point seems so small and insignificant. Instead, let me share that each night as I lie in bed waiting for sleep to overtake my anxious mind and heart, I humbly thank God for you.
Love,
Lisa
We are so glad to have our feet back on terra firma and our confidence strengthened in our oncologists at Northside. As I write, David and I are driving back to Athens after a world-wind trip to Houston, Texas, to consult with the doctors at MD Anderson. Kings of Leon are singing on the radio in their Southern Rock style "it's in the water; where you came from . . . ." I can't help but feel that they are playing just for us. Our source of love and strength come from our home, our community. It is only fitting that the fight of our lives takes place here in Georgia.
We have been on information overload for 48 hours undergoing an intense course on Non-Hodgkins Diffuse B Cell Cancer on crack cocaine. We have been surrounded by sick people- really sick people-and we've heard some extremely abysmal cases. Yet here we are knowing in our hearts that we are not a lost cause. We are not even close to the end. Rest assured that David Boyd is still the healthiest looking sick person out there. And if you look good, isn't that what really matters?:)
So here's the plan. We are proceeding with the allogeneic stem cell transplant at Northside hospital. David will begin the process on Friday, August 19 with another line placement and prelabs. He will have two days of high dose chemo followed by 4 days of radiation twice a day. The transplant will occur on August 26, exactly 7 months after his initial diagnosis.
MD Anderson is not completely out of the picture. They are our Plan B if the transplant doesn't work. And let's face it, the transplant is going to work. Although the cancer is extremely aggressive, all of the doctors agree that David has his young age and overall health -sans cancer- on his side. If that doesn't work, then I'll nag the cancer out of his body; I'm really good at that.
As long as David is feeling and doing well, he will receive all of his treatments as an outpatient. Therefore he will be staying at a location to be determined later but before Friday. It's a work in progress. David's Mom will be his primary caregiver for that first week, and I will visit as much as I can. Cards and packages can be sent to our home address, and I will ensure that he gets everything. Once we have a specific location for him I will forward the address to you.
Izzy, Cap, and I will stay in Athens. School and dance classes are going well for Iz and Cap is sleeping like a champ in his own bed. I'm not messing with that chemistry right now. Plus, I have a triathlon to race, not really "race" but to finish without collapsing.
To say "thank you" at this point seems so small and insignificant. Instead, let me share that each night as I lie in bed waiting for sleep to overtake my anxious mind and heart, I humbly thank God for you.
Love,
Lisa
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
David gives us an update!
Hello all-
It's David--I thought that I would give Lisa a break from her memoirs and give an update as to how TeamBoyd is doing. I know that I will not be as eloquent as she is but I will try my best!
Before anything I want to thank everyone for their support--whether it has been a call, an email/text/card --you will never fully know how much it has meant to me. They have helped me through some hard places and continue to keep my spirits high!! And a HUGE THANK YOU to my wife--I thank her each day but I wanted to publicly announce how awesome she is!! She is MY inspiration throughout this battle. If you know her--you know what I'm talking about--if you have yet to meet her--well she's kind of a big deal!!
I am back home after finishing what was my last round of RICE Chemo at Athens Regional and have started my attack on getting my body and mind ready for whats to come. I started riding the bike again (Lance Armstrong watch out) and soaking in a bath trying to rid myself of the toxins from the RICE. I will tell you that a warm bath after riding a bike in 100+ degree heat is not the idyllic scene one would imagine,but it is what it is. My appetite is good and we have been incredibly lucky to have had meals delivered that have spoiled us (thank you OPC and TEAMBOYD ). As expected my platelets have dropped down, and I am getting transfusions pretty much daily. This was to be expected and happened every other time but I rebounded and expect to this time as well.
Many of you have asked about what the next step is in beating this. Heres the game plan--
August 8 & 9 - going to Northside for a battery of tests--PET Scan, CT Sans, echo cardiograms, bone marrow biopsy and even a lumbar puncture--I know, I know--some guys have all the fun! I'll be back home after that for the week. On the home front, Izzy is starting kindergarten!
August 15- Educational Day--I imagine this will be reviewing what all is involved in the procedure, meds, follow up and I'm sure that we'll get the statistics and probabilities of this--I'll probably zone out like I did in High School because as Lisa said "we threw out probabilities and statistics a long time ago"...I'll snap out of that overload haze and only need to know the answer to one question--"Is this possible?"--that's all I need to know!!
August 20- I start my high dose of Chemo/ Radiation-- this will be in their clinic and I will be blasted with as much as they can give me. This is intended to get rid of all the cancer but unfortunately will also wipe out all of the "good stuff" in my body as well. I'll be apparently pretty puny (so they think! ) so that the new stem cells can do their thing.
August 26- I get the Stem Cell Transplant (thank you Wesley for taking the reigns on this and donating!) The procedure is apparently anti-climatic and like a simple blood transfusion. From this point on I will be an inpatient at Northside until my counts and body start to recover. Once they feel like I am responding then they will "release me back into the wild" somewhat. I will have to stay within shouting distance to their clinic and be going back everyday for up to 100 days (typical) for meds, blood and be monitored to see how my body is taking to the transplant.
Cancer has been compared to a Marathon --I think this is probably pretty true (seeing as I have never actually run a marathon) and I feel like I have been in training for what's to come. I know that we have the most incredible support team that has ever been assembled and that whatever comes our way we'll make it through it.
"I don't want easy...just possible"
With you guys by our side --ANYTHING is possible!!!!
GO TEAM BOYD!!
David
It's David--I thought that I would give Lisa a break from her memoirs and give an update as to how TeamBoyd is doing. I know that I will not be as eloquent as she is but I will try my best!
Before anything I want to thank everyone for their support--whether it has been a call, an email/text/card --you will never fully know how much it has meant to me. They have helped me through some hard places and continue to keep my spirits high!! And a HUGE THANK YOU to my wife--I thank her each day but I wanted to publicly announce how awesome she is!! She is MY inspiration throughout this battle. If you know her--you know what I'm talking about--if you have yet to meet her--well she's kind of a big deal!!
I am back home after finishing what was my last round of RICE Chemo at Athens Regional and have started my attack on getting my body and mind ready for whats to come. I started riding the bike again (Lance Armstrong watch out) and soaking in a bath trying to rid myself of the toxins from the RICE. I will tell you that a warm bath after riding a bike in 100+ degree heat is not the idyllic scene one would imagine,but it is what it is. My appetite is good and we have been incredibly lucky to have had meals delivered that have spoiled us (thank you OPC and TEAMBOYD ). As expected my platelets have dropped down, and I am getting transfusions pretty much daily. This was to be expected and happened every other time but I rebounded and expect to this time as well.
Many of you have asked about what the next step is in beating this. Heres the game plan--
August 8 & 9 - going to Northside for a battery of tests--PET Scan, CT Sans, echo cardiograms, bone marrow biopsy and even a lumbar puncture--I know, I know--some guys have all the fun! I'll be back home after that for the week. On the home front, Izzy is starting kindergarten!
August 15- Educational Day--I imagine this will be reviewing what all is involved in the procedure, meds, follow up and I'm sure that we'll get the statistics and probabilities of this--I'll probably zone out like I did in High School because as Lisa said "we threw out probabilities and statistics a long time ago"...I'll snap out of that overload haze and only need to know the answer to one question--"Is this possible?"--that's all I need to know!!
August 20- I start my high dose of Chemo/ Radiation-- this will be in their clinic and I will be blasted with as much as they can give me. This is intended to get rid of all the cancer but unfortunately will also wipe out all of the "good stuff" in my body as well. I'll be apparently pretty puny (so they think! ) so that the new stem cells can do their thing.
August 26- I get the Stem Cell Transplant (thank you Wesley for taking the reigns on this and donating!) The procedure is apparently anti-climatic and like a simple blood transfusion. From this point on I will be an inpatient at Northside until my counts and body start to recover. Once they feel like I am responding then they will "release me back into the wild" somewhat. I will have to stay within shouting distance to their clinic and be going back everyday for up to 100 days (typical) for meds, blood and be monitored to see how my body is taking to the transplant.
Cancer has been compared to a Marathon --I think this is probably pretty true (seeing as I have never actually run a marathon) and I feel like I have been in training for what's to come. I know that we have the most incredible support team that has ever been assembled and that whatever comes our way we'll make it through it.
"I don't want easy...just possible"
With you guys by our side --ANYTHING is possible!!!!
GO TEAM BOYD!!
David
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