Run for Fun for Brandon -- Sat, Aug. 1st ($25)

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Run for Fun for Brandon!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2009
10:00 am @ Sugarhouse Park
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.... Registration preferred; Visit website below to register ....

http://race.brandonplewe.com/

We can’t go through chemo for him and we definitely can’t take care of him as well as Katie does - so lets run for fun for Brandon! As his friends, family, and loved ones we are holding a fun run event in our neighbor Brandons Plewe’s honor. We are asking for a $25 donation to register and we are also selling t-shirts for $12 each, with all proceeds going to the newly created not-for-profit incorporation benefiting Katie and Brandon to help them fight this cancer, BP's Multiple Myeloma Fund. Make sure to check out the fun run website for more details!!

Back on Top!

So, after a week or so in the hospital, the doctors figured out the right medication to get the pneumonia under control. Brandon's infamous fever has stayed away for a couple days now, so...BRANDON IS GOING HOME!!! What a great Father's Day present!

We Spoke too Soon!

Well everyone, unfortunately, over the weekend Brandon was re-admitted to the hospital. His fever continues to come and go, and the Dr.'s want to be able to keep a closer eye on things. A few days ago, they found some fluid in his lungs indicating the beginnings of pneumonia, so they had him taking antibiotics for it. His fever went down a bit, but when they took him off the meds, his fever came right back. So, they're trying to figure out how to get rid of this pesky fever once and for all.

There are 2 good things to look at though. One, Brandon has an excellent team of Dr.'s who are problem solving and working with him to get him feeling better as soon as possible. Two, after his kyphoplasty surgery last week, his back feels more stable.

Now that it has been a couple months since Brandon's diagnosis, it is really easy to lapse into thoughts that this is so terrible and to be angry and sad and upset that all of this is happening. All very valid emotions of course. I'm sure many of us feel like with all of our fasting and praying that Brandon should be cured by now! However, it is important for us all to remember to be positive and optimistic. The Lord is in control and has been very mindful of Doan's situation from the beginning. We need to rely on our Savior to give us strength, compassion, patience, and whatever else we may stand in need of. The reality is, cancer does not have a quick fix button (as much as we wish it did). So, we need to be patient, focus on and be grateful for the many blessings we have received so far since his diagnosis...

- Being able to be at Huntsman where Brandon is getting the best possible care
- Successful kyphoplasty surgeries that have strengthened his back and decreased his pain
- 2 successful chemotherapy treatments that have effectively killed off many, if not all, of the cancer cells
- A successful bone marrow transplant where the cells have continued to engraft and essentially begun to re-program Brandon's body
- Having such an amazing support system
- Having access to the Priesthood for blessings

Those are just a few of the many, many blessings we have to be grateful for. Please continue to sign up to fast, and of course, keep both Brandon, Katie, and their families in your prayers. We all need to continue to demonstrate our faith and trust that the Lord will make this all for our good. We appreciate you all so very much.

Finally Feeling Better

So, to be honest, the past few weeks have been particularly challenging. Even after Brandon came home from the hospital, he continued to fight a fever and just didn't feel good. It has been really hard for him to keep food down, and consequently has had very little energy. HOWEVER...as of Sunday, his appetite has been getting better and today, I'm proud to report that Doan said he is feeling really good! He had another kyphoplasty (the back cement procedure) today, and it was successful in that more of his back pain has been alleviated.

Please keep the fasting and praying going folks! For the most part, Brandon's treatment has gone very smoothly, but it isn't over yet. While it has been, and continues to be, quite a journey, we have all felt strengthened and uplifted because of the Lord's care which is a result of everyone's efforts to show their faith through action. Thank you so much. You will never really know the difference your thoughts, prayers, fasting, emails, phone calls, texts, and every other act of service and kindness has made. We truly feel so blessed.

He's Home!

We are so, so, so excited that Brandon gets to go home to the Crockett's today! His fever has been down for the past few days, and he is ready for some R & R in a home environment rather than in the hospital. The doctors are happy with the way things are going thus far. They might do another kyphoplasty (the back cement procedure) in another month or so, but we won't know for sure for a few weeks. That's about it. We're so grateful that he gets some home time to gain strength and weight before the next round of treatment. Thanks for your continued support!

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WONDER WOMAN!!!

AKA: KATIE PLEWE

Thank you for setting such an amazing example of love and faith. You have been and continue to be so strong. We are all learning from you and are here to support both you and Brandon through this difficult time. You're truly a remarkable person, and we all feel so blessed to have you in our lives. Your birth is a great reason to celebrate and we're so glad you're you!

Weekend Update

Considering that at the start of the week Brandon was neutropenic, meaning his cell counts were next to nothing, he has come a long way! Rick's analogy is that these past couple of weeks have been like climbing out of the Grand Canyon. Good news is, the stem cells have engrafted and his counts have gone from 100 to 1300 in the past couple of days. That means that the transplant was successful so far and his body is responding positively to the healthy cells. As you can imagine, he has been very tired as his body has been fighting and working so hard to kill the bad cells replenish the good ones. Unfortunately, Doan developed a fever this week and also some sort of rash. The fever is a pretty common side effect of the chemo treatment and luckily the rash wasn't too itchy. As of today though, they have both started to go down. Hopefully that continues to be the case.

The specific thing we're praying for this week is that Brandon will be able to get out of the hospital and go back to the Crockett's as soon as possible. Preferably in the next few days! In order for that to happen though, he has to be fever free for 4 days and his counts have to remain above 500.

So that's the latest. Tomorrow is Katie's birthday, so give her a call, send her a text, or an email to let her know that you're thinking of her! We'll keep the updates coming...please keep the prayers and fasting coming as well! Thanks for your love and support.

Round 2 Chemo Complete!

The past week has been very eventful for Doan. Where to begin....

Last Friday, the 15th, Brandon returned to the Huntsman Cancer Center to have his second round of chemo. This round of chemo was really different from the last dose. Rather than 4 days of 24 hour chemo, he had a 20 minute drip on Friday and then again on Monday. That was it! During the drip, we packed his mouth with ice because the chemo he was receiving can cause mouth sores. By keeping your mouth as cold as possible, you can prevent the sores. Bobbi was in charge of giving him the ice, and he lovingly referred to her as the "Ice Nazi."

On Tuesday, he had his 1st bone marrow transplant. It took about an hour and a half and went well. It was interesting in that Doan had a nice, aroma of creamed corn all around him for a couple days! Apparently the preservative they use for the stem cells has a strong odor. We were grateful it was creamed corn though because the nurses said that with some people it smells like tomato soup or garlic! Katie deserves a gold medal for continuing to spend the night in the hospital room despite the smell. That's true love!

Since the transplant Brandon has been feeling okay. He takes anti-nausea medication to help with his stomach cramping and nausea which are both common side-effects of chemo. As of yesterday (Saturday) he reached a neutropenic state which essentially means he doesn't have an immune system which has made him pale and pretty weak. Neutrophil is a type of white blood cell that makes up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serves as the primary defense against infection and disease. So, the chemo has wiped those cells out. In a healthy person, this would be bad, but in Brandon, this is a good sign because it shows that the chemo is successfully killing the rapidly dividing cells in his body which is what the cancer cells are as well.

Over the next week or two, we expect Brandon to start feeling better as the stem cells he was given in the transplant engraft and start rebuilding his system. He says his spirits are still high, and he can't wait to get out of the hospital again. We're praying that he will be able to keep food down so that he can get those calories to start gaining back some weight and strength. Doan is definitely a fighter though and gets up each day to do his walking exercises and the other things his physical therapist recommended. We continue to admire his grit and determination as well as his perpetual optimism.

We continue to be so grateful and impressed with the love and support from everyone. With the help of the Lord and all of you we're getting through this, one day at a time.

Donations have been rolling in

Thank you all so much for the great outpouring of love and support of Brandon and Katie through this very trying time. Over the last month after setting up an online donation system to partner with the Zions Bank "Brandon Plewe Donation Fund," we have received over $2,600 in online donations from many people. Your loving dollars go 100% to Brandon and Katie in this great cause to help him. THANK YOU so much for all your love, support, and prayers. Please sign up to fast on the right of this page to help Brandon through his second set of Chemo. If you haven't had a chance to donate, please click below: