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.