December 30, 2009

After a long year of travel and treatments, we have finally received the next best thing to a perfect year end event. Bryon's MRI showed his tumor has shrunk down to the smallest size since surgery in January. Dr. Jensen is very happy with the results and informed us that Bryon is the poster boy for his drug trial. Bryon is the longest lasting patient on the trial and currently is one of only two remaining candidates on the trial in Utah. Our trial coordinator, Travis, is going to email us the measurements they have been recording all year long and any other information regarding Bryon's participation in the trial. We are excited to share this news with everyone, since it has been a year of such uncertainty. When we receive all the information it will be posted for you to see how Bryon has progressed since surgery. You may even be able to compare MRI's from post surgery to the present. The MRI's are a real window into how incredible this news really is.

Bryon is very tired, but relieved to hear the good news. The cold weather wears him out very quickly and he is not very active with such temperatures looming outside. He does want to express his gratitude to all of his friends, neighbors and family memebers who helped us out over the last month.

Thank you to the neighbors who visited and kept Bryon in touch with the outside world. You are the kind of people that make us feel welcome anywhere, anytime.

Thank you to family for always being a beam of support and a light to reality when things get foggy. From Sunday dinners to extended phone calls, family is where the love begins.

The whole Gundersen family wishes to extend a huge hug of appreciation to Bryon's co-workers at Schreiber Foods. The volunteers from Schreiber's came to our home and spent much of their valuable time fixing and mending the basement of our home. It is now a comfortable place to be and easier to maintain. Although they are not finished, the projects and kind gestures have meant the world to us. Even though Bryon has completed his speech therapy, he is speechless when is comes to recalling all of the kindness that has been shown to him and his family.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and we wish you all the happiest of times in 2010.

December 27, 2009

Nothing new to report other than we survived the holidays. Bryon is looking forward to a trip to Salt Lake on Tuesday for an end of the year MRI. We requested a clean image, but we will have to wait and see what the doctor has to say. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that your New Year will bring great things.

December 8, 2009

Holy cow, is it December already?! Well, I think a quick update is in order. Bryon did finally finish his speech therapy, and was given an open invitation to sharpen his skills at the USU speech institute anytime in the future. He met all of his goals and has improved by 80% or more in most categories. There was only one area where he was improved by 76%, but that too exceeded our expectations.

Bryon is able to visit Schreiber's occasionally and enjoys seeing his work buddies. You know you have a good job when everyone you work with becomes your friend, even when your not at work. He misses the job, but admits that being able to improve his speech and fine motor skills was more important. Bryon is still unable to drive, even with his improvements, his attention span is still not where is should be. In a few months he will take a driving test in Salt Lake, it will tell him what he will need to work on to become a safer driver.

As of Monday Bryon started another chemo cycle. It is the same old story as usual, we are pretty used to it by now. The holiday season is fast approaching and we are counting our blessings. The fact that we get to be together every day, and not just on the weekends or holidays, is our greatest treasure. Having time to enjoy each others company and make memories with the girl's is more than Bryon can ask for. Now that we have some snow on the ground, our holiday is pretty much complete.

If the blog is not updated further down the road, Happy Holidays to everyone! Thanks for all your love and support all year round.

November 30, 2009

Sorry to be such a fuddy duddy, but you know how it is around the holidays. Bryon is doing well since his last round of treatment. He has a week off and it's a good thing. He needs time to get over another head cold. They seem to hit him harder than they used to, but he is such a trooper. He has done the dishes voluntarily the last tow days and was able to muster up the energy to enjoy an Aggie b-ball game. We have become home a little more home bound since starting a few projects on the house, but we don't mind. The projects keep us busy and it makes Bryon feel like his electrical knowledge has not gone to waste.

Bryon will be completing his speech and occupational therapy this week. After speaking with the therapists, Bryon is very pleased to announce he has achieved and even exceeded his goals set at the beginning of his therapy almost 8 weeks ago. He has improved in most areas by 80% or more and is so close to be considered 'independent' by hospital standards he can taste it with a tooth pick. Congratulations Bryon!

Bryon will start another round of chemo on Monday and have his last MRI of the year on December 29th. If all goes well, he should be able to continue on the clinical trial in 2010. Bryon wants to thank everyone for keeping in touch and sharing your thoughts with him. Believe it or not he does read the blog and is so glad to have this convenient connection with family and friends.

November 17, 2009

Treatment went great this week. We had good driving weather and it got done early in the afternoon. Bryon was able to go to the Point Restaurant and get his own lunch for a change, and then we headed out well before rush hour. We kept a steady pace all the way to Preston which gave us a total return travel time of two hours. We will not disclose how fast we were going, but we made it to the Health Department just as the H1N1 vaccines were starting. Bryon and I got through the line and headed to Dayton to pick up Anna. Then we drove to Weston to pick up Audrey. Both parents and children made the return trip to the Health Dept. to travel through the vaccination line a few more times. You can never be too safe when it comes to the flu.

Everything seems to be running as smoothly as possible. The only hiccup we have now is that both of the girl's are getting sick of staying at the same house for sleepovers when mom and dad leave. Anna is going to try a night at her friend Brinlee's house(thanks Jill!), and Audrey's sleep over location is yet to be decided. I am glad that is the only thing I have to worry about when I take Bryon to SLC.

Thanks for reading and for all of your continued support.

Apron for Auction

This darling apron is handmade and comes with two oven mits! Bidding starts at $15.
Thanks, Ashley M. for the donation.

November 10, 2009

Here is a quick update on Bryon since last week. He has started a new cycle of chemotherapy and is feeling the side effects as we speak. He is tired and worn out, but happy to take his antinausea medications. We are looking forward to the next treatment since it is much shorter and not near as difficult to endure.
Bryon wants to attempt some pheasant hunting this week if we get some snow, we will have to wait and see. He has also mentioned how neat it would be to see Tran Siberian Orchestra in concert, but it might just be easier to hear it all in the comfort of our home on CD. The sounds of the season have begun and we are looking forward to decorating with tacky colored ribbons and gaudy figurines. Feel the joy.

and the survey says...

I love that line from Family Feud. I don't know why but it is kind of catchy...to me any way.

So, to make short of a long story this is what happened after the MRI. Dr. Jensen and Dr. Yuko as well as Travis the trial coordinator all met with us in the exam room. There was some complicated debate about whether or not Bryon was still eligible for the trial. However, thanks to our super hero Dr. Jensen, Bryon will be able to continue treatment on Monday. The scan showed a small decrease in the tumor size, about 2 mm to be exact. This is extremely good news considering we saw growth in the previous scan. Dr. Jensen is going to meet with the drug company on Friday and fight for Bryon to stay in the trial. He strongly opposes the method being used to calculate the tumor growth. He says it is counter productive and not medically relevant to what is really going on. Thank you Dr. Jensen for fighting for Bryon.

Treatment begins again on Monday and the next MRI is scheduled for December 29th. Kind of like deja vu really, since the last time we got bad news it was the same date one year ago. Things are looking good and we'll keep on truck'in.

MRI Day!

Not that we are super excited to have another MRI, it is actually quite stressful, but at least we will know what's been going on. Bryon suffers silently most of the time since he has a hard time describing things in words. He has manged to tell me about his headaches the last few weeks. It may be nothing, but it is not like this man to have pain between the ears. I firmly believe that steel head fishing was good therapy for him, even though we all came home tired and ornery. We will go to Salt Lake on Tuesday, November 3 to have a scan and shortly after we will review the scan with Dr. Jensen.

Just a re-cap: If the tumor has grown 20% or more he is no longer eligible for the trial and will have to be referred to other methods of treatment. If the tumor is significantly larger (whatever size significant means.) surgery is always the best medicine. Thank heaven and prayers that we have seen little to no growth on the scans since surgery in January.

An update will be posted as soon as Bryon gets home from his appointments.

October 25, 2009

Bryon is preparing for another trip to Salt Lake for week 3 of treatment. He has not been doing so well with his speech and occupational therapies. The past two weeks or so he has been fighting off a bad case of bronchitis and has had to postpone a few of his sessions. As of today, he is feeling better, and is taking some antibiotics to help get him well again. After his treatment on Monday he will make a U-turn and head to Salmon, ID for a week. His families annual fishing trip, that has gone on for over twenty years, takes place this week. Bryon is anxious to fish, eat, socialize and just be away from things for awhile. No updates will be done on the blog this week as no one will be around to do them, but once the Gundersen's come back from vacation there will be much to talk about. Bryon's next MRI is scheduled after his return from fishing so cross fingers and toes then pray a bunch so it comes out clean.

October 15, 2009

Just a quick update on Bryon. He started another treatment cycle this past Monday and received the nasty once a month chemo, Carboplatin. In addition to that he was also well enough to get his flu shot. Now he is suffering from both treatments. In the long run he will be better off, but it is hard to watch him go through such misery just to get back to being healthy.

On the bright side of things, Bryon was able to do some minor retail therapy. We have been without a dinning table for several years and we finally broke down and bought one. It was the Kmart special, but it was so fun to sit together last night and have a french toast dinner at the table. Bryon also got some much needed pants and a warmer shirt to wear under his t-shirts. He gets chilled very easily and this should save him when he goes out for some fresh air. The purchases were needed so much more than we can put in to words. I want to thank my cousin and his family for helping us put these needs to rest.

Overall, Bryon is surviving. He has been able to go places with his family and see people he hasn't seen in a long time. His is very happy with his decision to stay home. Things always seem to have a way of working out and we are very blessed to have things so good in a bad situation. Thanks to everyone for your help and loving support.

Here we have Audrey eating her lunch on the new table! Yum!

Butterfly Bows

This pair of bows is aprox. 3 inches wide and double stacked with grosgrain ribbon. Perfect for your toddler's pigtails or to clip to a baby headband! $10.

Halloween Blocks

Wooden blocks to add to your Halloween decor! Starting bid $15

Awesome New Auction Item!!

Hold on to your to do list ladies! We have an auction item that can help you get it all done! No more begging and pleading with the hubby to take care of those honey dew's, we have the remedy.
Mackay Wilson (my cousin Mary Beth's own live in 'Bob Villa') has offered his handy man services to the highest bidder. I have seen some of his work first hand and know for a fact he is capable of taking on some pretty big tasks. If you need to hang a shelf, dry wall, or lay some tile Mackay is your man!! Hours are negotiable and should be discussed with Mackay...not the auctioneer. The services are only available to local bidders not outside of the Cache Valley area. Materials for any projects performed are not provided by the laborer, this offer is for labor work only. A handsome laborer if I may add, but keep in mind he is happily married. His contact information will be available after the winner has been determined.

Thanks for this auction item Mackay and Mary Beth! Bidding starts at $50

Great Outdoors Blanket

Great outdoors baby receiving blanket, measures 43 1/2 x 42
Thanks to Camille for the donation.
Starting bid $25.00

Perfect for Any Little Princess

This darling little blanket measures 40X46. Special thanks to Camille for the donation.

Opening bid: $25

Darling bib and burbcloth

**Remember to include your email when you bid**

This hand made set will look darling on your baby! Special thanks to Andi for the donation.

Opening bid: $15.

September 28,2009

Well, we made another trip to the city today. We are still in the hospital waiting to get the ball rolling as usual.

The last week went by so fast with Bryon home and and feeling well. He tried to stay active and involved and we have so much fun driving to Logan together for his speech therapy. He starts Occupational therapy this week to help him work on control his hand and legs tremors. This means we will be in Logan 3-4 days a week for the next little while. The speech therapist explained Bryons evaluation to us. She said that due to his lack of an attention span and delayed reaction time, his driving priveledges have been revoked. This is only until he can get his mind to multitask, and therapy should help a lot with that. If this is really the case then we should all have our licenses taken away....I have been accused of lacking some focus in my time and I seem to function.

In the mean time Bryon is getting excited about the family's annual trip to Salmon, Idaho for a week long fishing trip. We won't be able to take a trailer this year, but since his whole family goes up together, I am sure someone will have room for him. The kids are excited about it too, because they get to do trick or treating to all the trailers in the parking lot. They get more candy from the handful of trailers at Cache Bar than you would combing the entire city of Weston, ID. It will be good for Bryon to get back to what he loves and that's bringing in a wild steel head trout. By the way, Bryon isn't going to work anymore so he won't turn down any invites to go fishing unless hunting gets in the way. I found it very funny that we trust Bryon with a gun, but his employer doesn't trust him with a screw driver.

I just want to ask everyone to please pass this blog on to anyone you know and encourage them to participate in the auction. Donated items are wonderful and much appreciated. If we can get people bidding too, that would really boost things for my cousin. She has already bid on two items in her own auction, maybe we should show a little support for Christina. Thanks for all your efforts cousin, they don't go unnoticed.

Well, it is almost lunch time and I had better get back and see if Bryon wants food! We will update the blog if something should go out of the ordinary.

New Auction Item

Unique Custom Wood Signs!


These pictures are just a few examples of what the artist has already done. All were done free hand so each sign is unique. You can request a smooth wood or genuine barn wood. Custom sayings or family names accepted. If dried flowers are available they can be applied to the sign as well. Biding will start at $15.

September 22, 2009

This week was slightly different...thank heavens for change! No blood draw and no EKG's during treatment. This made for a very speedy stay in the hospital. We were in by 8:00 am and out by 1:30 pm. Bryon was so happy that he got to go to the Point Restaurant in person that he had me by some of their fabulous chocolate cake. He ate Buoy Soup and a mango smoothie. I took a picture of him while he was finishing up, he was having a very good day.


The new trial protocol also requires a new trial coordinator. His name is Travis, and he is every bit as silly as Chris was, our last trial coordinator. He doesn't have it all down yet, but he is trying and that is what counts. We appreciate all he does to make our stay comfortable every week.





As for long term, Bryon officially called it quits at work today. He was too exhausted to get out of bed and came to except that life could be better for him without work. We are excited to have him home and see him do things that make him happy, not tired.

Recent happenings...

Bryon has given his current situation a lot of thought. He has concluded that working a full time job is no longer possible. It is not fair to his employer and it takes a lot more out of him than it gives back. So, after he made this decision he said he would work until he can see his doctor, which should be able to recommend long term disability. Then he will be able to stay home and be a lot less stressed. Bryon is not sick every day all the time, but he has limited amounts of energy to give. When he is rested he can function quite well for an hour or so, but shortly after, he resigns to the couch where he sleeps for 3-4 hours just to recuperate. We wish him luck in this new venture and am very glad to see he made it this far.

***Scroll down for auction items. Check back for new items added often***

The Porcelain God

***Scroll down for auction items. Check back for new items added often***


I don't think Bryon, or myself, had any idea how things would work once his health really went downhill. The last few days have been very frustrating and stressful. Bryon has been very good at taking his meds so he isn't sick, but the fatigue alone has hit him like a truck. He can sleep all day and be wide awake for an hour and be able to sleep another 8 hours with no problem. You can see when he is awake that he really wants to be useful, but his legs just want to fall out from under him.

The real worry, as of today, is he has lost his appetite and made a mad dash to the thrown of the porcelain God and forcibly sacrificed what little he did have in his stomach. (he threw up.) He immediately came home and is now resting. This is the longest he has been away from work, except after surgery, and even though his co-workers are concerned he is starting to walk on a thin line with his employer.

What can you do? He is the sickest I have ever seen him, but the worst part is knowing it is self inflicted in order to prevent worse things from happening. This cancer is becoming more than just headache to us, and I wish I had a magic baseball bat to knock it out of the ball park.(Bryon's head.) I have vented a little and rambled a lot, and that is not what this blog is for.

I want to thank everyone who is participating in the online auction. There will be new items coming soon, so keep checking in to see whats available. A great big thank you is also thrown out to everyone who reads this blog. Just knowing your checking in on Bryon is very comforting to him and he loves your comments.

What a conundrum!

I was reluctant to take a photo of Bryon this week since he decided to shave off the beard. It isn't that he looks bad, but he does have his father's chin, and it tends to make him look quite juvenile.

In addition to the baby face, he had sores under the facial hair. They were red splotches that did not appear to be infected, but unsightly none the less. The doctor looked at them and explained his skin is probably more sensitive than it used to be and has over reacted to being dry. This also explains why he breaks out so bad when his skin is oily. So, he has to put his modeling career on hold for awhile while his skin regroups, but his blood cell counts are a different story.

We were told Bryon would become immunosupressed (spell check just isn't up on the medical terminology, so I apologize for spelling errors.), but he has done so well that it was kind of a shock when they said his counts were low. What this means is the white and red blood cell counts are low enough to suppress his ability to fight infection and cause severe fatigue. He is supposed to avoid large crowds (basically work), anyone who is potentially sick(or wear a mask instead), and report immediately to the ER if he has a fever of 101 degrees or higher. His numbers are not bad enough to give him a booster shot at this point, but we would like to avoid it anyway. The shot would create panic in his bone marrow, causing it to produce more blood cells. The worst and most common side effect of this drug would cause serve aches in his joints and bones throughout the body. The only time they would give him the booster is if absolutely needed it. For right now, he is still able to be in the medical study, even though he is also having troubles with blood clotting. We will just have to keep a close eye on him and wait to see how this affects his day to day life.

Bryon is considering going on disability while I (the wife) go to work. I am not tremendously excited for him if that is his decision. I do feel that work gives him something to focus on and a reason to get out of bed. I also feel that if he were to stay and run the home, he would be doing his family a great service without putting his health in jeopardy. There are always choices in these matters, and this one is totally up to him.

As for now, life goes on, but much bigger decisions are yet to be made. It is a tense time, but like the seasons, it may be time for a change.

September 9, 2009

Just a quick update on Bryon and recent events. Bryon went to Salt Lake yesterday to have his 8 week MRI and doctor visit. Even though there was some massive confusion about where the MRI was supposed to take place, it happened and we were able to move on. Doctor Jensen was able to see Bryon this week and was very optimistic as usual, but someone should inform him that an extended period of silence while reviewing the images only creates stress in those sitting in the room with him. After much debate, he decides there is little to no change and treatment may continue. Bryon and I had our own opinion of what changes were there, but thank heavens that our medical opinions on this matter are irrelevant.

So, life continues and we will keep pretending we have a normal life. Just a quick side note, however, I am incredibly busy since my kids started school. It makes it very difficult to update to blogs when news happens. I am going to keep this blog as current as possible, and only update the family blog when I have time. Both blogs will remain, but I am sorry if they do not always reflect the latest gossip.

Filling a void...

OK, I am sorry for the lack of updates, but after school got started, I really got busy.

Bryon has a two week break from treatment right now. He gets his regular 4th week off and the week after he will go in for the all important MRI and visit with the doctor. He had a major blow to his ego last week when he was approached by human resources at work. A few of his co-workers had safety concerns about Bryon being around the machines, and asked that something be done about it. It was not a complaint, but merely that they love him and don't want him to be electrocuted. Understanding this, I spoke with Ben in HR and explained Bryon's current obstacles in speech and mental processing. He said Bryon will work on day shift in general labor for 90 days and if their is some improvement he can eventually go back to being a tech, but if there is no change he will be there permanently and take a $3 pay cut. Now, being the man that Bryon is, he took it pretty had for the first 24 hours before his new shift. He soon came around to the idea and realized he has the power to change his situation. Starting today he will go through more therapy to address his issues and try to regain better communication skills.

So, it has been a slow moving week, but we are loving the time we have with Bryon on a normal schedule. It is the first time in his married life that he has worked days. It makes the need for a kitchen table much more pertinent. Even if he can't improve and has to remain on this shift, the pay cut will be hard to swallow, but we will love being around him more often. If anything, he might get more rest and he might gain some weight. There is an upside to everything.

August 18, 2009

This was week two of Bryon's treatment cycle. Things went off without a hitch and I am happy to say no one got sick this time. Bryon slept more than usual, but managed to muster the energy to down a cheeseburger, then drift off to dream once more.

Bryon has his good days and bad days. The physical ills are on a more regular schedule than the mental ruts he seems to fall into. He has mentioned that he feels worthless and asks 'why me?', but we all know the answer to that. Bryon is a very determined individual who has been given this trial only because he is strong enough to overcome it. He is very useful since he is determined to go to work every night and provide financial support to his family as well as himself. His loving support to other family members brings peace and appreciation to their troubled hearts. He brings smiles to his kids faces every day, who ask for him urgently when he is not around.

Bryon used to tell me that the one thing he loved most about me was my big heart. No matter who it was, I hated causing them any grief. I have changed a lot since then, and Bryon reflects his description of me so long ago. His heart gets bigger every day and we are so lucky to have him in our lives. I am so happy he was able to attend the Westerberg family reunion and share his light with every one. He thinks so much of others, and yet, all we can do is think of him and what he must be going through.

I love you so much Bryon, and so does everyone else who takes the time to think about you every day. You are of great worth and this terrible cancer has been dealt to you because you are strong enough to get through it. Every week is another week lived, and we are grateful.

August 11, 2009

This week's adventure in Salt Lake was mildly, uneventful...for Bryon. Thanks to the new hospital cafeteria, the menu has changed for breakfast. Hallelujah!! We had french toast with bacon or sausage, a whole wheat bagel (talk about getting your carbs!), and milk and orange juice. Bryon downed his just fine, but half way through mine I got a wee bit queasy. By the time I had finished the bacon and toast, my stomach had had it! I immediately laid down to rest and no sooner had I got comfy did my stomach roar in retaliation. I was hit with food poisoning. For the majority of the day I was bed ridden or evacuating my innards in one form or another. So, in short, I got nothing done that I had planned on. My pedicure will have to wait till next week I guess.

On the way home Bryon wanted to go down the Fruit Way. He was just aching for some cherries. I thought I would be on the look out for any deal I could find. The first fruit stand that was open had our business. Five pounds of cherries for under $5! Bryon was ex tactic and feeling confident he could finish it all off by himself. I found a large bucket, nearly full, of pickling cucumbers. It was the last one and obviously picked over. I asked how much they were and the under age sales man said it was $18!! Holy Crap! Even the hospital isn't that big of a rip off. I brought the bucket over to him and asked him if it looked like $18 worth of vegetables to him. He said they only have them priced that high because people in Salt Lake will pay it. He said that since we were not from the city, being nice, and knew better than to pay that much he sold the whole thing to me for $7. Now I have a fridge full of cherries and cucumbers and not the slightest clue on how to get rid of them.

The whole family will give the cherries a run for their money, if our stomachs allow, but does anyone know how to make dill pickles?

August 3, 2009

We, the Gundersen's, want to thank everyone for supporting us through our difficult time. The support has been overwhelming and the ongoing efforts to keep us afloat take our breath away. We are extremely humbled and grateful that anyone would think that much of us. Thank you friends and family.

I think I prefer Dr. Suess....

Our adventure with treatment with this week was long and awful. Too bad we have a blog and can take the time to tell you the whole boring story!!

To recap; last week Bryon took part in his regularly scheduled MRI. The only difference in that trip was that we would not be able to see Dr. Jensen, Bryon's neurosurgeon. Dr. Jensen had to participate in a more urgent matter and we were asked to reschedule for Tuesday, July 15th. I tried to work it out with the doctor's nurse, Melody, a way to get a visit in on Monday when we come for treatment instead of having to be in Salt Lake for two days. Melody explained that there had been a mix up and we were never supposed to be rescheduled, but she would see what she could do.

Sunday night, I had made arrangements for the kids to stay with friends and family, and Bryon and I were going to leave that night and stay in Ogden. Before we could leave, I was unable to contact the family Audrey was going to be staying with. We went to their home and no one answered the door. Troubled by this, we went home and tried to figure out a new strategy. Luckily another neighbor was trying to get a hold of me and graciously agreed to let Audrey spend the night. After we had dropped Audrey off at the neighbors and Anna at her Granny's house, we were finally on the road. Our cell phone was MIA, so we had no way to contact anyone...keep this in mind for later.

We slept fine that night and woke up ready to head to SLC. When we arrived at the hospital it was 7:11 AM and we were anxious to get going. The nurses took one look at us and said, "your not supposed to be here." They had not received any information that Bryon did get an MRI, this meant they could not confirm if the treatment was working well enough for him to continue with it. Nurse Michel got on the phone to contact someone who could resolve the issue. After about an hour, the doctor on call named Julie, arrived and got Bryon approved for treatment.

The next step was to draw blood and make sure the cell counts were good. That part does not take long at all, but the lab had other ideas. There was another delay in the lab which meant another hour goes by without treatment. Then the pharmacy had a delay with the medications, good bye to another hour of their day. Finally all was ready to go, but it was already 1:00PM when Bryon finally got started. He had a scheduled release time of 9:00PM that evening. Oh joy.

Now, remember we haven't seen the scan so we are still waiting to hear what is going on with it. Sara was able to drag down Julie and ask what was on the scan. She explained there were some changes, but it was normal. The previous scan had no visible tumor, so if they can see something now it is officially growing. To the health care people this is good. They can chart the growth of the tumor while on their drug. Bryon and Sara, however, did not get any explanation on how much it had grown and what to expect in the next 8 weeks.

To clear her mind, Sara went and tried to do some study work on the internet at the learning library. This was her perch most of the day, but she managed to relay some information via email since she was unable to call home. Since the girls were at Granny's house, they needed to know when their parents were coming to pick them up. Some how, through Facebook, Granny found out there was trouble in SLC. Aunt Janie had tattled since she had seen the post on the web. Now every one was in a panic!!

By the evening time, Bryon was resting and Sara was getting his prescriptions filled. It couldn't go smoothly or it wouldn't have been a Monday. The pharmacy said everything would be ready 15 minutes after they were called in. Sara went to pick them up an hour later and they informed her that they were out of one medication and, regardless, both medications had to be paid for in full with cash. The insurance company had problems with their computers and would not pay for anything till they were back online. GRRR!

To spare you any more details, the day was down right crappy, but if it wasn't for crappy cancer we wouldn't have crappy cancer treatment days. (Some photos were taken just so you can get an idea of what goes on during treatment.)

The new hospital...it has been under construction for quite some time in case you were unaware.

"Hey your not supposed to be here?"

Labs, labs, labs....where the *&@# are the labs?

Fresh lemonade for the hard working technicians at the University Lab.

Bryon eating breakfast, and Dr. Julie trying to take his vitals.
Bryon has 3 ECG's throughout the day to monitor his heart.

Now don't move or the ECG won't be accurate!!
Waiting around was the longest part of day...quite boring as you can tell.

What fun, huh?

July 7, 2009

Today, Bryon goes in for his 8 week MRI. We will not have an appointment with the doctor today so we will not know the results for about a week. Darn it!

The Gundersens would also like to give a huge thank you to the Swann family for putting on a yard sale. The benefits from that sale went towards hospital bills and food storage. Thank you Josh, Amber, Austin, Jeffery, & Jake. You are all such a big part of our lives, and we love you so much.

Funderaiser Updates!

Check the left side column for updates on the yard sale and Scentsy Party!

The Scentsy party will be held Wednesday July 15th from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at 743 East 800 North (that's Sandy's house) in Preston. Come and bring a friend or even two (if you have that many)!

New Trials

Bryon's treatment's continue as usual. There have been no physical complications with the chemo or his new port. He struggles to keep up with work since several of his co-workers have been ill and no one is available to come in for him. He is also finding it difficult to accept that he is still recovering form his surgery. The speech and physical abilities are coming back steadily and we are very happy with his progress, but Bryon seems dissatisfied. Like anyone else, he wants to be better, or at least be more like himself before the surgery. He struggles daily with the knowledge he has a terminal illness and he can't ever escape the little reminders. Everything is planned around his treatments, how he might be feeling, or whether the tumor grows back in a different place. It is all about the tumor, not about Bryon anymore. No matter what the treatment does for him, I feel the loss of control over his own life is slowly draining his ability to function. We encourage him to get out and go fishing or have time for himself doing what he wants, but that rarely works out for him.

I would encourage anyone who is up for a day of fishing they would feel free to invite Bryon to get out with them and throw a line in. A four wheeler ride, or a drive up the canyon would do him some major good. He loves his family, but being with them all the time is not really the best medicine. He needs a manly moment, and possibly a vacation from EVERYTHING.

June 1, 2009

Bryon's treatment today was very special. Anna Kay got to go on the trek to Salt Lake with her mom and dad to see what goes on. She was a willing partner in crime as she hung around with her mom all day for entertainment. What a joy it was to just sit and play and talk with Anna. She has grown up so much, and we are so impressed with her ability to excel, considering her upbringing.

When traveling to the Point Restaurant to get lunch for Bryon, Sara and Anna ran into some unexpected friends. The first was Dr. Jensen, Bryon's surgeon. He was getting lunch between surgeries and gave 5 minutes of his time to explain some of his more recent thoughts on Bryon's case. He said that he had spoken with another doctor about Bryon specifically. He mentioned that when he last spoke to Bryon they had decided not to decide on how long this current treatment would last. After speaking with his colleague, they have decided to continue treatment for one year, and will see what comes of the tumor by that time.

The other friend was actually a family member of sorts. Brad Fisher is Bryon's great uncle and owner of Best Tire in Cornish. He was visiting the Huntsman Center with his wife Lynn for her 6 month checkup. It was good to see a friendly face and someone who is going through the same kind of run around for a loved one.

The Gundersen's made it home safely and were happy to be reunited with little Audrey. Bryon feels great but will not go to work tonight. Even though he felt well enough to go last week, he very exhausted by the weekend. He would much rather be awake and able to go fishing with his brother than have to stay in bed.

Thanks Anna for being a friend to your mom today, she loves you very much and can't wait to spend more time with you this summer!

May 26, 2009

Today was an awesome day in Salt Lake. The treatment went very quick and Bryon got some good rest in. We would have made it home in record time, but it was such a beautiful evening Bryon suggested we drive through Weston Canyon to get home. It was well worth it. Once we got home and picked up the girl's, Bryon decided he felt good enough to go to work. He got dressed, grabbed a Coke, and headed out the door! How awesome is that?!

Dr. Akerley, who is over the clinical trial, stopped in for the first time in 10 weeks. He said he couldn't believe how good Bryon looked, acted, spoke, and moved. He said his balance was right on and he couldn't really tell a difference between hand functions. The right one is gaining strength and is keeping up with the left very well. With nothing but positive comments and the sun shinning, it made for a wonderful day for Bryon. His goal now is to get back on top of his projects at work. He missed quite a bit of time since the port got put in and he doesn't want Schreiber's to stop relying on him. It is still a second home to him.

So, Congratulations Bryon!! You are finally able to do things on your own terms with smile on your face! Rock on!

May 19, 2009

Bryon had his first treatment on Monday, using his new port. He received a Power Port on the right side of his chest last Wednesday, it will be used to put medications into his body and to take out blood samples as needed. The theory behind it is that he will no longer have burnt veins from the chemo, or have to be poked several times with a needle to find the vein.

The treatment went very smoothly and Bryon is very pleased with how painless the process was. The nurses who administer his treatments were very relieved to see the port also. Believe it or not they don't LIKE to poke people with needles. If you have a medical professional who does like to poke you then get a new one. He still has about 8 stitches holding the port under the skin, but they will be taken out in the next couple of days.

The clinical trial doctor also took a look at the suspicious mole on Bryon's neck. She kind of chuckled and said it wasn't a priority since he was already on chemo. The only reason to have it biopsied is if it gets bigger, very quickly. Since Bryon sees a doctor every week, he does not feel like he is in any immediate danger. Overall, Bryon is a new man with high hopes for his, now, extended future. Even though he feels better mentally, the drugs keep him limited physically. He has missed a lot of work in the last week, but will be returning to Schreiber's this evening. Loaded with pain meds and anti nausea pills he should fair pretty well. Most healthy people need those just to survive 8 hours at their own place of employment.

Good job Bryon, and keep on trucking!

May 13, 2009

We have little bits of news coming in, so we had better get them posted. Bryon came home today, after having a port put in his chest. There are a few stitches in there that we were not expecting. Turns out he's a bleeder. Anyway, everything went well, except when the doctor became fixated on one of Bryon's many moles. He asked that Bryon see a dermatologist as soon as he can, especially considering his tendency for cancer growths. You think they could give us good news and let that be it for once. Oh well, we know it is just maintenance. The treatments are successful and tolerable, so we will stay this course until the wind changes and pushes us in a different direction. Get well soon Bryon, there's is life out there waiting for you!

May 12, 2009

Just a quick note to all...Bryon's MRI looked AWESOME!! There was some contrast on the last scan 8 weeks ago that is not visible now. The doctor and staff were extremely excited to tell us this wonderful news. HURRAY!

Another Day of Treatment

Today, Bryon had another dose of experimental treatment. It marks his 6th week in the clinical trial and so far he is doing great. The worst part of the day came right at the beginning, when the nurse attempted to start an IV. They tried in the left arm twice and had no luck. So, reluctantly, they tried in the right arm. They struck blood, but not before deciding Bryon was dehydrated and very cold, this made it much more difficult to find a vein. His arm hurt terribly the rest of the day, but they got the treatment done. We are crossing our fingers now in hopes the veins do not burn again. It was terribly painful to endure last time and it still hasn't fully healed. After today, the doctor has decided it is best to put a port in
Bryon's chest. Even if this chemo isn't working he will still have some kind of chemo treatments later on, so it just made sense to put one in and prevent undue torture.

Next week is the week we have been waiting for. The plan is to get the MRI and doctor visit done on Tuesday, stay the night in SLC, and then have the port put in on Wednesday. This is a big deal since it tells us if treatment is working, how fast the tumor is growing with treatment, and what the plan will be from here on out. We are trying not to get too worked up, but it is pretty hard since it is all that is on our minds. Bryon is feeling very good, his speech has improved significantly in the last week and he has no noticeable problems with his vision. These are all signs the treatment is working, according to the trial doctor.

We want to thank Josh Swann for doing the new layout of this blog. He has made it much more functional and easier to get the scoop on Bryon's whole story. He and his family are close friends to us and we love them for all their support.

There will definitely be an update after the trip to Salt Lake next week, so stay tuned!

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

This marks the sixth week of Bryon's treatment. Monday's treatment sailed by without a hitch and he even got home before dark. His arm is still sore and needs some time to finish healing, but the treatment has not caused any problems with the left arm. That means "so far, so good" and we will continue to hope it will hold up.

The significant thing happening now is that we are 2 weeks away from the MRI and doctor's consult. The MRI should be conclusive enough to decide if the experimental drug is working or not. Bryon has one more week of treatment, and then we will know. If they decide to continue with this course of treatment, they may put a port in Bryon's chest. For convenience and to save the veins in his arms any further trauma.

Even though Bryon is able to work, the future is still unknown. If he has a bad week on the chemo he could miss several days. The financial stress has plateaued, but being on edge is not the best for anyone. The warm weather helps, and being able to do family activities has made life feel a little more normal. We are thankful for the little things(our kids), our friends & family, and the many blessings bestowed by our Heavenly Father.

Now, pray for sunshine so we can get our yard work done.

Week 5

This week the post is not done by Sara as she is enveloping herself in yard work and house work at this time----some much needed theraputic relief, I'd say. So if this post isn't as entertaining and witty as Sara, I am so sorry :) She shall return!

Once again no news or not much news in this case is very good news. So this week's treatment went without a hitch. It was a very good day. The drive was good, and they even got done in record time which was amazing with an added treatment of the original chemo Carboplatim and a delay with the pharmacy. The burned vein arm was not touched so everything was done in the left arm.

To put a little humor in the day, Sara and Bryon were trying to decide what to eat in terms of hospital food, again.....hmmmmm the same day of the week which means, the same food to choose from.....again. Then all of a sudden Bryon's nutritionist who says that she is there to make him happy, suggests that they can choose from the grill (well why didn't we know about the grill a long time ago?). So Bryon jumps at the chance for hamburger and fries...not once but twice; once for lunch and once for dinner. The grill must be better than the cafeteria.

So to close things off for this week, Sara and Bryon wanted to make mention to give a big thanks to Aunt Karla and cousin Junior for the Jeff Dunam tickets that were so graciously offered. Junior bought tickets for them to go to which happened to be the same day that Bryon got out of surgery a couple of months back. Since Bryon was just not feeling up to it at the name, Aunt Karla took them and she found out that Jeff Dunam was going to be in Pocatello in the near future!!! She is even providing extra money for dinner for the two of them. Thanks for the date night!

Week 4

Not much to say about Bryon this week. It is week 4 in the treatment process and that means he gets the week off. The much needed rest has been good for him since it gets him back to a semi normal schedule. His confidence has been better this week and he has been much more like his old self.

The right arm has been slowly healing over the past week, but not gaining much ground. The burned veins are not visible any more, but he feels pain whenever he stretches his arm, puts on his shirts, or if his wife grabs him by mistake. Darn woman! Things are mostly positive since the spring weather brought sunshine in the windows for a brief time.

There will be some minor changes to this blog coming in the near future. Don't panic if it looks much different by next week. The order of postings will change to help introduce people to Bryon who have not visited the blog before. His introduction will be the only post listed on screen and you should be able to select the latest post on the right hand column. If anyone has any other suggestions, we welcome them always. Thanks again for supporting Bryon and his family with your prayers.

Just in time for Spring!

Sara would like to think she has a green thumb, so with the welcoming of spring weather she started some tomatoes from seed. Unfortunately, she got a little carried away and planted more than she could ever care for in her own garden. Now, she and Bryon would like to share the wealth with you.

By the end of May, these plants will be up and ready to plant in your own garden. There were 288 seeds planted,and so far half are up and on their way. Most of the plants are beef steak varieties, but there is a beautiful Yellow Brandy wine in there somewhere. These are 'hard to find' varieties of heirloom tomatoes. The colors range from black to white and of course there are a few good red ones in the mix for the less adventurous tomato connoisseur.

When the plants are ready to go to a good home they will be available to anyone who wants them. Donations are welcome, but not required. Remember, even though there is potentially 288 plants available, not all of those seeds may sprout, so they will be given out on a first come first serve basis unless you have already asked for a plant to be reserved for you. Feel free to invite friends and neighbors, who may not visit this blog, to join in and welcome a tomato plant into their garden. Thanks for all your support, and please consider giving these plants a good home.

Week 3

This week has gone much better than most for Bryon. There was no car accidents, tickets, icy roads, or chemo induced vomiting. He sailed through his twelve hours of treatment on Monday, and was feeling very well up to today.

Tonight he called in sick to work after he had developed a rash on the IV sight. The nurses trade arms every other week so that the medication does not do too much damage to his veins, but he still runs the risk of having trouble. After speaking with the trial coordinator, Chris, we were told that the rash was a tell tale sign of burned veins. When a person receives massive amounts of medications through an IV, especially chemo, it can burn the veins. It is extremely painful and shows up as a rash on the arm. The irritation follows his veins up and down his arms and it is very hot to the touch. Bryon says it burns, but itches terribly at the same time. He will need to apply an ice pack to his arm for about 48 hours to sooth the irritation. Then, he will have to use a hot pack for about 24 after that.

Bryon will stay home tonight but is in good spirits. He and his family have gotten used to things going wrong so this was no surprise to us. There is still rumors of fundraisers being planned for the first part of June so stay tune for the latest info. Thanks for visiting with us this week!

Week 2

This post was done the old fashioned way by simply copy and pasting from our other blog. I only did that because of the amount of time I don't have to fill up two blogs with the same information, only worded differently. Forgive me, but at least your up to date.

So, when it rains, it pours at the Gundersen home. So many silly little things have gone on in just the last 5 days. I am not going to dwell on the specifics much. I am really just worn out from it all.

Saturday, due to an act of heroic parenting, I sprained my ankle. Audrey was indoors crying, I was outdoors breathing and getting educated on tree pruning. I ran quickly to see what all the fuss was about and I jumped over a rock and landed in the sandy confines of my driveway. My ankle rolled, my body fell, and I just cried for mommy. Turns out it wasn't broken, and if I applied pressure on it, it would heal faster. As of today I have lost my limp.

Monday morning, Bryon and I drug ourselves out the door at 5 AM to make the journey down to Salt Lake. The morning weather wasn't all bad, and Bryon said he felt confident to drive. We hopped in the truck and were on our way. The roads weren't bad till we got into Ogden. They started getting icy and I was a bit concerned when I noticed a warning sign just before the Roy exit, but it was too late. The back end of the truck started to fish tail and I just braced myself with my eyes closed. When it was all over, Bryon and I looked at each other and asked how we had crossed 3 lanes of freeway traffic and not hurt anyone, or ourselves. The only damage was a dent on the front passenger side where we had demolished a reflector pole. Had there been no damage we would have just gone on our way, but someone had to pay for the stupid pole.

Since we were delayed several hours, the treatment did not get started till 10 AM. Even though we were now present and accounted for, the lab was running late. So, Bryon's blood tests took about an hour to come back. The whole process lingered until 9 PM. By then, the nurse told us to just stay the night as guests of the hospital. The room was no charge.

In addition to this post I would like to announce that there will be a benefit breakfast coming up soon. The event has been taken over by Amy Gittens, who is a dear friend to the Gundersen family. The date has been pushed back to some time in June, but will happen none the less. Also, remember to pass on info to Amber Swann if you want to help with her yard sale in May. She is gathering items to sell and explains that it is a good way to clean out your basement or garage. I fyou live in the Boise area she needs your help. Please leave comments on the blog as this is the best way to get in touch with anyone involved in fundraisers. Thank you everyone for your loving support.

Bryon's Kryptonite

This week has gone very well for Bryon since his treatment on Monday. He admitted to feeling a bit yucky the first couple of days, but went to work none the less.

Tonight, as he prepared for work, he said he felt kind of sick. The doctor's told him to take anti nausea medication any time he felt the need. He was being a bit brave and took the pill only after he started feeling sick instead of before. The poor guy vomited on his work clothes on all over the kitchen floor. If that wasn't bad enough, he tried to call in sick to work and couldn't remember the number he was supposed to call. The numbers in the phone book were no good, so he looked up the numbers for a co-worker. He spoke with the lady of the house and found out his friend was already at work. Not thinking straight he forgot to ask for his friends cell phone number. With a little encouragement from Sara, Bryon called back to his friends wife and got the contact info he needed.

After much effort he finally got himself excused from work. Next, a shower and some toothpaste, and Bryon should feel a bit better by morning. Let's just hope this is the worst he will have to endure for this month.

Hurray for today!

Today, March 23, 2009, marked the first day of Bryon's clinical trial. The trial was conducted at the University Hospital and overseen by Dr. "can't remember the name." He was very nice and informative, but couldn't scare Bryon enough to make him forgo the treatment.

The weather was absolutely brutal, so to save some sleep and stress, Bryon and his wife stayed Sunday night in Salt Lake. The trip the next morning to the hospital was white out conditions, as a winter storm rolled over the state. They made it to their appointment on time, however, right at 7:30 AM.

Meals were provided by the hospital, as well as a bed for Sara to camp out on during the day. Treatment began after a sermon of side effects and and disclaimers. This would be the longest day of the treatment because of all the explanations and tests. The nurses ultimate goal was to have Bryon out by 7:00 PM.

Bryon received several ECG's and gave multiple ounces of blood throughout the day. They confirmed Bryon was anemic before the trial even started and warned him to eat his vegetables. It was not terribly concerning, since they went ahead with the experimental drug and the Carboplatin (chemo) anyway. MPC is what they referred to the trial drug as, and it took 4 hours to be pumped through Bryon's veins. Then, after drawing more blood, they pumped in the Carboplatin. No matter how fast the chemo goes in, Bryon still has a four hour waiting period to make sure he has no ill affects from the MPC. It made for a very long afternoon.

The good news was, during the final assessment, the doctor concluded Bryon handled both drugs extremely well. He said that however Bryon tolerated the drug in the next 24 hours, is probably how it will affect him throughout the rest of the trial. This process will happen two more times, minus the Carbotplatin, and then Bryon will go in for an MRI. They should be able to tell by then if it is working. This is a very exciting time and we hope Bryon's body will tolerate the drugs well enough for him to function. Going back work seems to have lifted his spirits, but he will have to be careful around others as he is more susceptible to illness while on this chemo.

Clinical Trial Pre-screening Day

Tuesday, March 17, 2009 Bryon went to Salt Lake City to have his health screen. It is required in order to qualify him for the clinical trial that starts on Monday. The whole process made for a long day though.

Bryon went to his first night of work since surgery Monday night. He stuck it out for 7 hours, then caved in and came home for two hours of sleep. His wife, Sara, woke him up and dragged him down to Salt Lake where the first appointment took place at the Imaging and Neuroscience building. He was very early, but anxious to get the process started. Another couple who was there, also dealing with brain tumor issues, kept Sara and Bryon company while they waited for their turn. Michael and Patrice Miller were kind enough to share their 10 years of experience with the Gundersen's which made the day seem a little brighter.

After the MRI, the next appointment was at the Cardiovascular Lab at the University Hospital. They were running about an hour late so, immediately they new Bryon would be late for his final appointment with the doctor. The lab tech was named Steve, and he conducted Bryon's echo cardiogram. He did not indicate anything was wrong with Bryon's heart and held a very pleasant conversation with them, since it took nearly 25 minutes to complete.

The final appointment was with Dr. Randy Jensen at the Huntsman Center. Bryon was the only one left besides two nurses and the clinical trial coordinator, Chris. Bryon was asked to give a few blood samples for testing, a urine sample, and participate in an EKG. All of the tests on his heart are to verify he is the best candidate for the trial, and that his heart was not weakened from previous chemo treatments. After all the poking and prodding, the doctor came in for a visit. He was very impressed with the days MRI. He said it was best you could have to start the clinical trial with. He also stated that Bryon's involuntary leg tremors were actually micro seizures from continued healing in the brain. Bryon also has intermediate problems with vision in his left eye, but that too would go away as things start to heal up.

Overall, the day gave positive results and Bryon will make the journey, once again, on Monday to start his new therapy. We wish you the best of luck Bryon, and hope we can give you all the support you need to continue through your adventure.

In reference to the previous post, the auction is being done by cousin Christina. A few people have inquired as to what items will be needed for the auction. Please feel free to comment on this blog and ask questions. This is our best means for communication right now. Thanks again for your continued support.

Bryon's Story

In April 2008, Bryon suffered a seizure in the last hour of his graveyard shift at work. His concerned co-workers called for an ambulance to take him to Logan Regional Hospital, where he was taken to get a CT scan and blood work done. After his wife arrived, and the results were in, the ER doctor informed Bryon that he had a mass in his brain on the left frontal lobe. This most likely caused the seizure, and he immediately referred Bryon to a neurosurgeon at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, UT.

Dr. Winters ordered a contrast MRI that revealed a golf ball sized tumor and explained that surgery was the best option. The surgery was scheduled, and took place in Ogden Regional Hospital, about one week later. The scar was the shape of a horse shoe and held together with metal staples. Bryon’s face swelled with the increased amount of fluids, and he was taking steroids to try to reduce the swelling. The drugs made him short tempered and vicious towards his f amily. He even ripped a bathroom drawer a part when he couldn’t find his tooth brush.

The surgeon assured the family that the tumor, from what he could tell, was a stage 2 tumor and did not appear to be aggressive. There was also a small calcium deposit that had developed on top of the tumor. This was a good indicator that the tumor was not aggressive and that it had grown over a period of several years

rather than months. Some tumor matter was left behind during the surgery, since the doctor did not want to interfere with his patient’s speech or motor skill unless there was no other option. The pathology report would be the deciding factor when it came in. It didn’t take long, but about a week after surgery, the report was a stage two astrocytoma diagnosis. Since brain tumors are very difficult to diagnose, the tumor was sent to the University Hospital in Salt Lake City. There, a tumor board consisting of doctor’s practicing at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, gathered to discuss the pathology report. Their decision was a terminal diagnosis of a stage four, glioblastoma. An aggressive tumor that gives the patient a very short life expectancy without treatment, Bryon’s tumor was now a major threat to his life.

Once again, Bryon was referred to a new doctor. This time it was a Dr. Glantz at the Huntsman Center. This doctor was supposed to suggest and direct the next course of treatment which was radiation and chemotherapy. Before he made the definite decision to do these therapies, he referred Bryon to yet another doctor. Dr.Shrieve did not impress Bryon or his wife and they were extremely disappointed that no one would return their phone calls. When trying to get some idea of when treatment would start, the staff for Dr. Glantz became rude or totally unavailable. Needless to say Bryon had to find himself another doctor.

By this time, it was about a month and half since surgery and no treatment had been done on Bryon’s tumor. Feeling desperate, Bryon and his wife sought out a local oncologist at the Logan Cancer Treatment center in Logan, UT. This facility had just opened and Dr. Ben Jacobs was well known in the community. He was appalled to hear of the delay in treatment and without fail, got Bryon the coordination between doctors’s that he so desperately needed. Dr. Whipple was his radiation oncologist and directed the 6 weeks of radiation treatment, and Dr. Choucair from Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, UT directed the chemotherapy treatments. The chemotherapy was a pill called Temodar, and was taken everyday while on radiation. Then Bryon went on a cycle and only took the drug 5 days out of every month.

Treatment continued on through the fall and into the early part of winter. Bryon was healthy enough to go to work and support his family of a wife and two children. In December, he was scheduled to have a contrast MRI to see if any progress was being made. One week after Christmas, Bryon and his wife went to Dr. Choucair’s office and was told the chemo had been ineffective and the tumor had grown back. Surgery was the best option, until another treatment plan could be decided. At that point, without any further treatment Bryon was told he would have three months to live, and six months if his surgery was successful.

The second surgery happened in January 2009 at University Hospital under the direction of Dr. Randy Jensen. This surgeon was confident he could remove the entire tumor and place chemotherapy wafers in the remaining tumor bed to slow the progress of new growth. It was a success and the post surgery MRI showed all the residual tumor had been removed. Chemotherapy wafers take six to eight weeks to dissolve so no other treatment could be done until that time.

In the mean time, Bryon was recovering from his ordeal. His right side was greatly weakened and he had lost the ability to speak. While in the ICU, Bryon vomited from the anesthesia and due to steroids in his IV his blood pressure went through the roof. The first night was touch and go, but he made it through. After several more days of vomiting and not having any food twelve hours prior to surgery, Bryon’s sodium levels were dangerously low. Nurses put a feeding tube through his nose and fed him a high sodium puree until he was strong enough to eat on his own. Before leaving the ICU, Bryon managed to say the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ which made communication of pain much easier on him. His entire stay in the hospital was 7 days.

Upon returning home Bryon endured 6 weeks of physical, speech, and occupational therapies to speed up his recovery process. Ironically, Friday March 13^th, Bryon graduated from his therapies and was released to return to work. At the time this post was written, Bryon had not yet gone back to work, but eagerly waits to see his friends and co-workers at Schreiber Foods in Logan, UT. He has been enrolled in a clinical trial at the University Hospital and will receive treatment once a week for a few weeks, then gets a one week break. The process will repeat itself until they know it is working or if he needs to find another course of treatment. Dr. Jensen feels this could make or break the one year life expectancy he has at this time.