Christmas Eve

Dear Friends and Family,
Just a quick hello to tell you all Merry Christmas. It is Christmas Eve and ready or not, Christmas will be here tomorrow. We will be having a White Christmas and are happy about that. It is just sort of "expected" in Bear Lake.
We love you all and love to hear from you. If you do not want to post a comment, but would rather email us, Marty is martybaker@dcdi.net
and I am glcb@dcdi.net
Merry Christmas. Love, Marty and LaRee

Dear Family & Friends,
Thank you (you know who you are!) for all the kindnesses extended to Marty and I as this Christmas season rolls around again. We are grateful,

Love Marty & LaRee

December 8th, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,
Wow, this is a neat date---12/08/08. Today is the "sandwich day" between Holly's Birthday on the 7th and Brandon's Birthday on the 9th. How can it be that our little Bicentenial babies will be turning 32 this year???
Tomorrow marks our 36th Wedding Anniversary, also. I am so grateful to get to celebrate this day with him. I have meetings followed by more meetings, but we will be able to spend the evening together.
We have really been trying to have Sunday dinners every other Sunday. It does take work and planning, but we have both really enjoyed it and I think we are getting a little better at the getting out and putting everything away game. It was fun this Sunday, as we had the tree and decorations up and everyone got to see them. We had a mini program put on by the Grandkids and it was fun. Marty was the cook and I was mainly the helper. When everyone left, we were tired, but both felt it was a wonderful day. We thought alot about the Boltons----having their fun adventure at Disneyland.
We feel very unready for Christmas, but that will be our focus for the next while and as usual, ready or not, Christmas will be here before we know it.
Marty thought of 2 homemade gifts that he could do and hopefully can have the energy to accomplish his plans. I am rooting for him to do them. I always feel people appreciate homemade gifts and coming from him will make them very special. I, as usual, have some pretty fun ideas, but money and time (2 very endangered resources) may make them ideas for "next" year.
No matter how much I may whine if you see me in person or talk to me on the phone, please KNOW that I have a very grateful heart for all the wonderful people in my life, all that I have been blessed with and the knowledge that I have about the purpose of our time here on earth.
We are so grateful that Esther has done as well as she had going through surgery on Marty's birthday. She is a good patient and although she cannot return to work yet, she is healing and getting stronger. Marty made a comment after all the kids left yesterday that his boys are just like him in that they all chose beautiful women to marry. I thought it was a very sweet comment. And, it is no secret that we agree that our own daughers are beautiful women as well.
We hope all is going well in your world. Thank you so for checking in on us and for all you have done in any way to help us, be kind to us or entertain us.
Love, LaRee, and of course, Marty

December GOOD News

Dear Family and Friends,
Well, after another day at the Huntman Cancer Hospital, we have the good news that Marty has passed another check up with no new cancer. We still need to schedule some further tests at U of U hospital for hearing and fitting for hearing aides and then the scheduled MRI and Chest X-ray with his next visit to Dr. Sharma. Dr. Hitchcock was not at all concerned with the new black lesion on his neck and said she felt it had "nothing to do with the surgery or radiation". Oh, my.
We are so grateful for how things are in 2008 compared to this time last year. Our prayer is that things stay this good or get even better as Marty figures out how to get around and through the many physical obstacles he faces every day. He is amazing and strong and courageous------oh, and SIXTY !!
This is a fun time to be in Salt Lake City. Everything is all lit up and beautiful for Christmas. We will stay tonight at the new Hampton Inn in South Jordon. It is only 6 months old and I have to say, it is one of the nicest Hampton Inn's we have ever seen.......and that's alot of Hampton Inn's!!!
Last night we attended a wonderful Christmas program and dinner with many of our Baker relatives at the Desert Star Theater and that was really fun. Tonight we will go to a belated Birthday Party for him with the Baker side at Doug and Carolyn's. We will show the DVD that was made for the party at home.....and have dinner and cake. I think he feels sufficiently "Birthday'd" for this milestone 60th birthday.
We are starting to get the Christmas Spirit now and hope to have the time and energy to follow through with getting ready before the big day arrives. I have to work Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, but will have Christmas Day off. We will have a dinner and get together at our house on Christmas Eve with all the kids and grandkids that can come and hopefully get out and do some visiting / and have some visitors-----on Christmas Day. It is time to get my Christmas Cards with a yearly newsletter in the mail. I haven't even composed it yet. I may compose it on this blog and see how that goes-- but, later. For now, my mind is too tired to sum up the year and spell words correctly. Marty is back in the room taking a rest so he can enjoy tonight.
Love and Happy Holidays to all of you,
LaRee and, of course, Marty

November 28th, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,
Well, I can safely tell you now what we have been up to here in Bear Lake. If I had successfully posted the "wonderful" update I wrote and somehow lost, you would not get the following information......because I did not know all the facts on that date.
Now, the s u r p r i s e party for Marty's 60th birthday is over, Thanksgiving is over and now we know that Esther had to have emergency surgery for appendicitis and adhesions.....and she missed both big events.
Marty really was surprised. On his actual birthday, he thought we were preparing for Thanksgiving at our house and then in the eary evening, I was taking him out to dinner. As we left for dinner, Deidra called with a "fake" emergency at the Oregon Trail Museum. He was SURPRISEd! It is a miracle he was, though, because I said several things that may have tipped him off---his deafness came in handy this time. The kids(minus Esther, Chris and Misti) the grandkids (minus Dakota and Christopher), Grandpa Jack , Kristi & Karl, Steve & Charlotte and Elaine were the group waiting to surprise him. Because he does not listen to me, he took one route and I took another. Anyway, there was a quiet little "surprise" from Andrew, who spotted him first coming from the different direction. Anyway, there were 26 guests who ate dinner in the wagons and then enjoyed singing Kareoke in the Theatre. Probably the biggest hit of the day was the slide show of pictures that was shown to music and it was wonderful. He got presents, had a HUGE cake and it was alot of fun. Keep us in your prayers for Marty's next appointment with Dr. Hitchcock at the Huntsman Center. Love to all, Marty and LaRee

Greatful Hearts in Bennington

We are quickly running out of October!

Dear Family and Friends,
Sorry about the big gap in updates. The thing we keep running out of is TIME.
Marty's appointment with Dr Sharma went well--no new cancer. That's always the right answer. When anyone asks him how he is doing, he keeps giving the answer of: "Well, I'm still on the right side of the grass." He continues to try to adapt to the way his new body can or cannot do things. I am very proud of him for his courage, determination and adaptability.
Yesterday, while I was at work, he spent the better part of the day making a message board for the kitchen. He did a really nice job and it will hopefully help organize me. (he is already organized). He also went to visit my brother, Steve, who is recuperating from back surgery. I always have to say my brother or his brother---as we both have a brother Steve. Back surgery is hard and we are sad that Steve is having to go through this.
All through the month---even on hard days, we remind each other how grateful we are that it is October 2008 and not October 2007---------part of the grueling radiation therapy story. That certainly was one of Marty's biggest trials out of all he has had to endure.
He went with me to my early morning dentist appointment this morning. It feels good to him to get out of the house and visit with people. Wherever we go, he finds a friend to visit with. And, I constantly hear people telling him how good he looks. I wish he felt as good and strong as he looks. Pain and swallowing are still two big challenges, but he continues to try to find ways to handle the activities of daily life successfully.
We are ever grateful for our many blessings. We are really trying to re-establish a tradition of having Sunday dinner with the kids and grandkids living right here in Bennington. We know we need to take time to enjoy our blessings and spend time with the people we love. Not being able to even get together for a family dinner has made that more precious now that we can. We are mindful that so many are fighting hard physical, emotional and financial struggles all around us. We will be forever grateful to all of you who kept us in your prayers and thoughts and did large and small acts of kindness and service for us. We hope to be able to repay in some measure what others have done for us and be able to take our turn to be the ones to help others in need.
We have had some very radical weather--even for Bear Lake and one of the side effects of some really wild winds and a very heavy, heavy wet snowfall has been major damage to the trees all around the house. It is like Mother Nature is punishing them for tangeling up and ruining the leach lines of our sewer system. Yes, that has been a very upsetting development. Between the weather and having Don Burdick dig a big trench through the back yard, it sort of looks like we've had an earthquake here.
Love to all and have a wonderful Halloween. Marty and I will probably make it very easy and just dress up as "Grandma and Grandpa". This year the primary is having a party at the church at 7pm with a light meal and then having the kids trick or treat from room to room. I feel that sounds way better than dragging kids around in the cold night air from house to house. I think it is a pretty neat idea.
Love to all,
Marty & LaRee

Happy July 4th---Wherever you may be.....

Dear Family and Friends,
GREAT NEWS !!!! BOTH ONCOLOGISTS GAVE MARTY THE "NO NEW CANCER" THUMBS UP.
Yes, Marty and I made it thru the medical marathon of tests, doctor visits and all that goes with that. It was 2 FULL days of hurrying and waiting in one after the other offices and being sent here and there for tests and procedures. In all, he saw four Doctors, had an MRI, a shoulder x-ray, an EMG, a KUB x-ray, a stent removal and got more prescriptions to fill. When we arrived home Thursday evening, we were both bone tired and glad to be home. We made NO follow up appointments. As we left each office, it was just too overwhelming to predict what day we could make and then keep an appointment, so we just walked out the door of each office----knowing we will have to sit down with a calendar and give it careful consideration. We have FIVE follow up visits to schedule. The heat, our exhaustion and just the long days made it seem to be an impossible task. Of course, today, being a holiday and all and me having to work all day, we have not even thought or acted on any of it YET. He says he wants to do nothing, but that will probably not be the solution.
As he continues to find out, being a patient is a full time job!!! And, not an easy one !!
We made a few phone calls, planted some plants, did some laundry and put away our baggage from the trip, had a few visitors and calls and before we knew it, it was bedtime.
Thank you for checking in on us. We love and appreciate you all. Love,
LaRee , and of course, Marty

Happy July 2008

Dear Family and Friends,
WOW! One month since I updated our blog. June has been a full and busy month. I'm sure it has been for all of you, too. I have worked longer days in Dialysis and also
some hours in the Skilled Nursing Facility and at the Manor. I enjoy all areas and am grateful for my job. Being a patient has been such a full time job for Marty for so many months now. It has been wonderful to see him trying to be outside as much as the weather has allowed and puttering in the garage and around the yard.
His biggest problems this month continue to be the kidney stone issue and the impaired range of motion of his left arm and shoulder. Even with his two emergency room visits and 2 surgeries at Logan Regional. he still has not got rid of the kidney stones. A stent was placed during the last surgery and he is anxious to get that removed.
We have set up THREE doctor appointments for July 2nd. We will probably be nuts by the end of the day, but with the price of gas and shortage of time, it seemed like a great idea when we did it. We'll know better afterwards how it all worked out.
We enjoyed the Jack and Jennie Crane reunion this year. Deidra and Jenny were the two grandchildren in charge this year. I am very thrilled with the job they did. All who made the effort to attend had a great time. There was a lot of fun, good food and some visiting. The weather cooperated beautifully and several were able to attend the blessings of Spencer and Yulia's twin baby girls in Logan that Sunday. Randy, SunDee, Bradley, Marty and I all attended from Bear Lake. They had a wonderful lunch after at the Armory.
Please know that we love you all and appreciate the calls, visits and prayers in our behalf. We can usually be located on our cell phones if we are not at home.
Love,
LaRee, and of course, Marty

Happy July 2008

Happy June

Dear Family & Friends,
I find it hard to beleive it is already JUNE! I will try to write an acurate, but brief report on our favorite guy. MARTY has STILL not passed the kidney stone. He had one other Emergency Room visit on Friday evening--the start of the Memorial Day weekend ---and was sent home with pain meds and the news that the stone (stones) were too big to pass. He got thru the weekend without any additional trips to the Emergency Room, for which we were very grateful. We had a picnic on Saturday here at our house. Yes, it was an indoor picnic because of the weather! He wasn't up to going to church on Sunday, but we went visiting a bit that evening. I worked Memorial Day and as soon as I got done, we left for Logan to stay the night. Fasting, Marty reported to Dr. Michael Callister's office at 9am Tuesday morning the 27th and he was seen, had some further X-rays and then was admitted for an outpatient surgery-- a LEFT ESWL (lithotripsy treatment) to break up the 9mm stone that was lodged in the ureter. Dr. Callister did not go after the other THREE stones that are still in the kidney because of the anti inflammatory meds he is on-- too much risk of the kidney bleeding. The procedure only took one hour and when he came back, though groggy, he felt like he had been kicked by a mule. Dr. Callister assured us that was appropriate for the procedure he had just had done. Although he was able to knock off some edges and make it smaller, he could not break the stone up as he had anticipated. So, there is a large (but smaller than it was) stone and many fragments that now need to come out.
As soon as he had some more IV fluids and was awake enough to get dressed, he was discharged to go home with major pain meds and another strainer! Any of you who have had kidney stones can appreciate how unfun this whole thing is. Yet, at the end of the long day, when we were going to bed, he asked me if I had had fun today. I said, "No, I really wouldn't call this fun". His reply was that he thought it had been pretty nice. I was shocked by this statement and then I decided that maybe compared to the LAST two surgical parties he has had, this WOULD seem nice. No ICU, no tracheostomy, no drainage tubes....... Anyway, it made us laugh the next day when we talked about it. He will see Dr. Callister in another week for a follow up, but so far, no pay dirt has been strained and saved for show and tell. I am afraid he will need further surgery or something. Now, things have got stirred up and bleeding and that is a worry.
Although neither of us felt great, we pulled the trailer over to the Apple Garden Campground in Garden City. It was probably foolish, but we did it anyway.
Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We never have to look very far to see others who are having overwhelming trials and struggles. We continue to be grateful that with each check back with the oncologists (both Dr. Sharma and Dr. Hitchcock), no new cancer has been found. It is always a relief to hear that. His main trial at this time is THE kidney stone issue and the pain and lack of use of his left arm and shoulder. He has an appointment with a nuerologist about that and hopes something can be done to help. His job now is to adjust to his new self/body and not get discouraged. It is so hard to believe that next month it will be one YEAR since the day Marty was last able to work.
It is so true that we take our marvelous bodies for granted until they start to betray us and malfunction in all the ways bodies can. We need each and every part present and working to truly be comfortable and fine. I know that so many of you know that all too well. And for you that don't, be grateful for your health.
Love to all--those that check the blog once in a while and those that we see or hear from more often. We love and appreciate you all.
We hope you are having a wonderful June.
Love,
LaRee and, of course, Marty

Again.....Sorry

Dear Family and Friends,
Hello. Im ashamed that it has almost been a month since my last post. Each day is a new and unexpected adventure. Yesterday was an example. I left early for work and Marty was sleeping so soundly I did not even wake him up to kiss him goodbye. I was very frightened when Deidra called me to say she had brought him to the ER in a great deal of pain. (10 on the 1-10 scale). Dr. Campbell and Brandie took very good care of him and it appears he is in the process of passing a kidney stone. Something brand new. It is probably related to his being dehydrated over a long period of time now and the changes in his intake and diet since all this started. Anyway, he was grateful for the pain shot that brought the pain to about half of what it had been. He has not felt well since coming home. He has also not captured the cultpit stone in the strainer he was sent home with. That will be the proof that it is a kidney stone and we can have it analyzed to know how to prevent another occurance. Now, he knows what labor feels like! He is still trying to be good and trying to keep up with all the problems as they pop up. His next scheduled appointment is with a nuerologist about the problem of not being able to lift his left arm up and pain in the shoulder and arm. Dr. Sharma feels it may be a result of the radiation treatments, but it puzzles me that it took 6 months to present itself. We will explore that avenue and then hopefully get him back into some sort of Physical therapy for strengthening. He remains persistant and I am very proud of all he has done to try to get used to life as it is now with all his new limits and restrictions and challenges. He is resourceful, as always. His new answer to "How are you doing"? is usually "Well, I'm still on the right side of the grass!"
To all, have a nice Memorial Day. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Love, Marty and LaRee

Sorry.........

Dear Family and Friends,
I have been reminded several times now that the blog is NOT being updated often enough. I just get too busy with all that is going on. Life continues to be an ever changing series of unpredictable and challenging events. YES, I continue to be ever so grateful that Marty is still here with us and is trying to get his life back. We both know that things will never be the same as before the big "C", but life changes us ALL in little and huge ways.... everyday.
I am so proud of all he has endured because of his determined personality and that he continues to try each day to feel productive. And..... I might add, though there are many moments of misery in his day, when he gets rested up, dressed up in a suit and out to a funeral or family event, he looks pretty great and people comment on how good he looks. He still has a few hurdles to jump before he can even get fitted for new dentures that will fit his new titanium jaw!! He has regained some of the weight he lost during the grueling ordeal of radiation, but is still down 40 pounds from where he started out. He's happy with that. He is up to 12 minutes on the treadmill and trying to work with 4 pound weights to regain strength in his arms. It still shocks me each time I open a jar or pill bottle for him....it was always the other way around! We often get into some awful situation because of the aftermath of this surgery and radiation. When I am tempted to whine about how hard his life is......I try remind myself how close he came to NOT having to deal with any of this!!!! Dr. Sharma reminded us again at Marty's last check up that this particular cancer is usually found on autopsy. WOW!
We see so many around us dealing with cancer and other illnessess, losses of many kinds, financial and emotional problems and much more. We will forever be grateful for the love and support of all who helped hold us up when things looked too hard and too unbelievable. Thank you , again, for each kind and helpful contribution you made on Marty's behalf and keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.
I am grateful for my job and oh, so grateful for the health insurance I had on Marty, as I am certain NO ONE will be willing to insure him now. We are grateful that through this, he did not max out his lifetime benefit---I really feared he would. So, even though my hopes of early retirement (only because I have worked since I was 13 years old) will probably not be an option, I feel so lucky to LOVE the job I have. Knowing as a youngster that I wanted to be a nurse and then reaching that dream has been one of the many blessings in my life. I may have hard days at work, as anyone may. But always know I LOVE my work and even if I end up working my entire life, I will never regret my decision to be a nurse.
Well, duty calls. I will try to write more faithfully.
Love, LaRee and of course, Marty

Our Family

When you almost loose a parent it is impacting to look back through all of the memories and try to imagine them not there for future memories. I am so grateful that my dad is still here today. He is doing okay and tring his best to adjust to his body the way it now is. Most days are a struggle for him but he trys to get through them. My mom has been so wonderful through all of this. I continue to admire the unconditional love that she has for him. I think dad does realize how lucky he is to have my mom, and I hope that he is letting her know how much he appreciates her! I know that I don't let her know enough how much I appreciate all that she continues to do for dad, her dad, me, my siblings, and to still be so dedicated to her job. I love you both so much and I love the time that we get to spend together. Life continues to change, Grandpa moved out of the Manor Saturday and in with Aunt Kristi. I look back and think WOW I never thought life would turn out the way that it has. I just feel blessed to have the parents that I do, and the Husband that I do. My little 2 year old boy, who I love so much,what would I do with out him? Thank you to all of you who continue to send love and support to my parents. Love Deidra



Our Family last August before dad's surgery.
Missing are : Chris, Misti, Dakot, Chris Jr, Jentz and JosLynn


This is the start of the home that Dad built us!



Angie, Brandon, Curtis and Deidra


ABCD














Our little Family minus Chris who was living with his mom is California.


Chris, Misit, Dakota and Chris Jr





Family Reuinion Bear Lake 2003 (Some were missing)
Esther couldn't make it she was due to have Christophy (Christopher) the next month.
Chris, Misit, Chris Jr. and Dakota couldn't make it.
Sabrina IS Pregnant with Brody. Additions to our family since then have been
Christophy, Brody, Drew, Shailey and Jentz and JosLynn.

President's Day

Dear Friends and Family,
I know for many today is a holiday, but not for this Dialysis Nurse. Some of the kids and grandkids are having a snowday up in the canyon. That sounds very fun and I'm sure they will have alot of it. We had visits from SunDee,Randy and Michelle and Kent, Angie, Aly , Baylee and Carter---as it was a long weekend. Although we did get some family time in, we never got the whole family together at the same time with work schedules and a little thing called the "the flu bug".
Another negative was our own personal problem of having septic tank problems at our house. Well, I guess now that I'm telling it on the blog, it's not too personal now. Huge drifts of snow, bitter temperatures and septic tank problems are NOT a good mix. Hopefully before the day is out, thanks to lots of help from our friends and family, all will be well.
Marty is home alone today while I'm at work, but he says he is doing ok when I called home to check on him. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Marty and LaRee

Happy Valentine's Day 2008

Dear Blog friends and family,
Happy Valentine's Day to all. I hope you all had a great day----romantic, sweet or at least FUN. On a positive note, Marty & I got to spend the ENTIRE day together. I was supposed to get some work in, but became very ill. The flu bug has been going around and it bit me. I am so scared Marty will be next. He does NOT need any additional problems. I spent the last part of the day Wednesday at the dentist and Marty saw Dr. Thakur and got on yet MORE meds for a fungal infection , again, in his throat. He is so tired of all the medication he is having to take!!!
Our winter snow is getting deeper and deeper. I love it and think it is beautiful, but then, I am NOT the one who has to push and stack it. That has always been Marty's job and so it is ironic that we are having more than we have had for years in Bear Lake ...and it has been a challenge.
He continues to have trouble maintaining a comfortable temperature. He is either freezing or roasting.
Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.
Love, LaRee and Marty

February 6th 2008

Hello to all,
I'll just forgo the apology speech about why it has taken me so long to get an update posted. We are still having freezing, really freezing cold weather here, but it is fun to see the snow piled so high....kind of like the good old days!!
Marty is trying hard to exercise each day and has cut way back on most of his medications. I'm sure that is going to help in the long run, but is hard for him right now. We went out of town Monday for appointments and that really wore him out.
He is trying to help around the house as he can, but he knows there is nothing more important to me than him feeling good and resting when he can. He does hate being the one home while I am at work. We love you all and thank you again for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Love, LaRee , and of course, Marty

January 28.2008 Monday

Dear Family & Friends,
Wow, it is so hard to describe how things are going here at home. Marty is still on quite the roller coaster ride with how he feels. He can feel pretty good and actually enjoy a movie or venture out into the cold to deal with snow.....and then not be able to relax, get warm enough, then cool off enough. We do believe his internal thermastat has been fried in all this--and he is very fragile that way.
It seems hard to realize how long he has been sick now and how long ago he was working and maintaining his life as it was. So many changes impact his today and all his tomorrows. Thank you one and all who are continuing to remember in your thoughts and prayers. He really still needs them.
I am very proud of the persistance with which he is trying to keep up on all the meds and cares and nutrition---even when it seems too hard.
Except for a few hours of education hours, I hope to be home most of tomorrow to catch up on the nightmare paperwork that is taking over our home. So much of it just needs tending to and some just needs to be filed in file 13, if you know what I mean. We are very aware of so many around us having great struggles of their own at this time and keep each in our prayers.
We had such severe weather in Bear Lake today, that school was called off and we were holding our breath until all our patients arrived safely. Then there was the issue of them getting home safely. Some stayed in Montpelier at a motel and some braved it home. It was a windy, snowy dozie of a storm. But, we got a lot of inches out of it. Marty, left to himself all day, went out to push snow with his Bronco and blade. That involved him getting stuck and requesting Brandon to be his recue ranger. I could not believe the snow atop my Durango when I went to come home from work tonight. Fun.....mostly once I'm home and can just look out at it.
Please know we aprecaite each kind and thoughtful act of service on Marty's behalf. It means so much to him. Love, LaRee and , of course, Marty

January 23rd Dr. Appointment

Today dad went to see Dr. Sharma and had an exam done on his throat and the Dr. said that everything is looking good. Since some things have changed with dad's anatomy the doctor wanted to get a MRI done so that he will have a base line for what is normal on dad. So it is just about 7 pm and they just got on the road to come home. They actually decided to stay at Angie's tonight. I think that is a great idea because it is so so so so cold here. Right now it is -12. CRAZY! So they will come home in the morning. We have all learned that no news is good news, so it looks like dad is still cancer free and trying to heal each and every day. Don't forget about him in your prayers. I think that all of us including him thought that his healing process would go faster then it is going. Thanks to Angie and her family for putting that slide show on. It is awsome. Love to all. Deidra

Grandma Ree, Grandpa Marty and Fam Slideshow

January Update

Dear Family & Friends,
Wow, this month is going fast(for me) and slow (for Marty). The pace will pick up a bit now as we have his appointment with Dr. Promad Sharma in Salt Lake City on the 23rd. So don't be worried if you try to reach us and neither of us is home.
We are hoping for good roads and a good report. Two events Marty was able to do this week were going with me to the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital after Christmas party and going to Sacrament Meeting. He has cooked a few meals---which makes him feel more back to normal. He continues to try to do the best he can each day and get the nutrition in that he so desperately needs. I am proud of him.
Thanks for checking on us,
Love, LaRee and of course, Marty

January 13, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,
It seems unreal that it was five months ago today (Aug 13,2007) that Marty had his first surgery in Logan and his cancer was finally diagnosed. Time has gone so fast in many ways, yet stood still in others. When I think of all the choices he has had to make and all that he has endured, it seems unbelievable. It is heartbreaking to look back in time when we both KNEW something was seriously wrong and told doctors we suspected cancer long before the diagnosis was officially made that day. It is impossible to fight cancer until an official diagnosis is made and then you know which beast you are fighting. Stage 4 is a bad time to start the fight!!
We continue to be grateful for the innovative and aggressive treatments now available for this type of cancer and will never forget Dr. Sharma's comment that THIS is the type of cancer people die from----not knowing what they had. It is usually diagnosed on autopsy. WOW ! The many symptoms that he had endured and been treated for one by one all added up WHEN THE DIAGNOSIS was documented by the pathology in surgery. It all seems like a repeat of Linda's cancer (my sister). Her list of complaints and doctors she had gone to for help were long. She was so discouraged because the good news was that there was nothing wrong with her (according to the many tests that were run on her) and the bad news was she could not get our of bed. When one of her last attempts for help got her a "pych consult for pain management", she called to tell me "they think I'm crazy". Shortly thereafter, bold physical manifestations made the diagnosis of Stage 4 NonHodgkins Lymphoma easier--and she got the doctors ATTENTION then. Suddenly, there was MUCH that could be done. She fought hard and valiantly......but at stage four!
I guess this is my way of saying to all of you that when you don't feel good and you KNOW something is not right, be proactive and assertive and keep trying to find the answer. Sometimes the problem does not clearly proclaim itself. Some cancers and other problems are hard to diagnose at their onset.
I am grateful every day that Marty chose the brave choice to have the surgeries and radiation, but it has taken a great toll on him. He is trying now to regain his strength, but it is slow and unpredictable. In my last post, I said that he was trying to wean off some of the many meds because each med may come with its own set of side effects. Now, he is on 3 more. One is for the neurological pain he is having on his face, neck, chest, back, arms and hands that was so alarming to him and it really is seeming to help. Two are for the fungal infection in his throat that has returned-- probably, in part, from the antibiotics he continues to be on.
Although we keep having unscheduled things happen, our next scheduled appointment is to see Dr. Sharma,Oncologist Surgeon, on January 23rd in Salt Lake.
I am grateful to be back to work and am so grateful for my job and the Blue Cross I have for him through my job. It has been overwhelming enough with insurance and the generous benefit Simplot held for him. I have seen many patients who have NO insurance!
Marty is experimenting with more and more foods and drinks, but trouble swallowing and tolerating the painful throat is an ongoing problem. The list of foods that work is getting longer, though it always depends on the day if something works or not.
He has tried to "putter" around the house and garage--there is so much that needs to be done. But, he does not have much stamina and the thermostat of his body is very fragile. He is usually too cold or too hot. And, he is shaky so much of the time. Simple things like writing a check or managing a spoon are difficult with the shakes. I see improvement in many areas and when he is not trying to do something, I see that he is thinking about and hatching a plan for how he could get something done. That usually involves asking for help--which we all know is difficult for him to do.
Last week was Fast and Testimony meeting. Marty got up and was only able to speak for a few minutes, but said so much in those few words and minutes. He almost blacked out as he turned from the pulpit. Don Crane grabbed him and assisted him back to his seat. He only stayed for that one meeting, but I was so proud of him.
We continue to feel blessed by the love and caring of so many. We are also aware that there are so many others around us with huge problems. I constantly hear courages stories and know so many people are enduring their own trials.
Thank to all,
Love, Marty and LaRee

Happy New Year 2008

Dear Ones,
Hello, we are still here and the battle continues. I am so proud of Marty for he continues to be a valiant and courageous patient. I have told several people that though I have never seen him in a weaker state of being than he is now,in my mind he has never been tougher ---- in all the ways that count.
Yesterday, he was seen in Dr. Clark's office and more antibiotics have been called in today. He is also going to try to wean himself of some of the many medications he has been on. He was already wondering how much of the way he feels is related to the MEDS. So, he is going to try to take less, but was cautioned not to just go cold turkey and stop everything. We got very little sleep last night and yet today is going a little better. Brandon, Curtis and Josh have all offered to help with anything Marty needs help with today and Steve is out there now plowing our driveway with his truck and blade. Deidra has sped to town to get Marty's perscription before the drug store closes. Angie continues to call and check on us as have Chris and Misti.
We appreciate the concern and love and physical help that all the kids, so many family members, so many friends and community members have been to us. I would say that we are starting out the year with grateful hearts. We are also discouraged that Marty, now past the surgeries and radiation is NOT feeling better than he is. Each day presents new and challenging problems and he struggles in new and different ways. I have never seen him be more tough.
We had a wonderful Christmas and continue to be touched by the generousity and kindness of others. I could write a book with each chapter being a touching, unbelievable story.
We did not make New Year's Resolutions this year, We hope to just make daily resolutions and try to do what's most important each day. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Love,
LaRee, and of course, Marty.