The month of September all of the fun began. I started by taking a quick flight up to Utah from Colorado were I was working back and forth from between the two states. I was diagnosed in Colorado by a group of Doctors at Swedish Hospital and also at the Colorado Oncology - Hematology Clinic. I spent a week there were they did many test for infections and disease and when the last test came back as Cancer I was shocked. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia I learned was a form of cancer in the blood. It is found in the bone marrow where blood is made and attacks the white an red bloods cells in the body. It takes over your immune system and spread into the spine and brain it not treated quickly. At this point I then decided that it would be a good idea to get treatment in Utah were all of my family lives. I took the next flight home and was emitted the next day into to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.I have been here for the past month and have received two rounds of Chemotherapy and many other treatment. I have received care from some of the best Doctors and Nurses I have ever met. The Huntsman Cancer Institute is really a wonderful place and is treating many types of Cancers and performing a lot of research for them. I see a lot of different patients each day as I wander the halls. I also met a young man named Nick who invited me to his room to hang out and play some video games. I found out after speaking with him that he has a very rare form of cancer called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. It was found under his right eye as a cancerous tumor. He has also undergone many treatments of Chemotherapy. It was nice to met someone going through the similar conditions and seeing his positive attitude.
After being here for almost 6 weeks now a positive attitude is sometimes hard to keep but, when you are surrounded by family, friends, great nurses and doctors it help you get those little boosts you need to make through each day with a good attitude. I can't be more grateful for the support and love I have received by all of these people and the strength that I have received from God at this time. I'm also happy to say that my older Sister Amanda is a match for a bone marrow transplant. That has been some great news to hear and comforting as well. I will keep an update of events and new blogs as the fight goes on. I'm going to keep on keeping on and will be able to go home in a week or so! Harrison
15 comments:
Hey Harrison,
Sounds like your doing good. Im feeling fine and hope the treatments aren't keeping you down. You know that after your are done with all this fighting and feeling like crap stuff.. A lot of people will look up to you and idolize your courage and strength.
The Blog looks good and I am looking forward to reading good progress. I wont be back into the hospital till probably around the 28th of October, so I dont know for sure if I will see you then.
I will post your story and link on my page.
Its worth in the end my friend!!
-Nick Raitt
Hi Harrison:
Welcome to the world of blogging! We have found it invaluable in many ways. I'm thrilled you and Nick met and are able to connect on a level the rest of us can only observe. Continue to reach out for any support you can find and KEEP LEARNING! It's all out there just waiting for your asking.
One suggestion I might recommend is to try and find an on-line support group, specifically designed for your leukemia. We found one for "rhabdo" and it has been a great resource and platform.
Keep your head up, eyes forward and heart open. We will include you in our prayers for blessings of health, healing and gratitude. Thank you for taking the step to share your journey with us.
With love,
Lori Brower (Nick's Mom)
Dear Harrison,
Greetings and prayers from southern California - another Nick connection. I ponder the odds of the Ulvins/Matthews/Raitts having other mutual friends and reflect on my faith that nothing is impossible in God's plan for our good. I give thanks that you have a sister with a perfect bone marrow match. Lastly, I rejoice that you and Nick can encourage each other. May God continue to bless you with good friends, great doctors, and loving family.
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32
Hello Harrison - I am a friend of Nicks (one of his Fairy Godmothers) and just read his blog and then yours. It's like getting the wind knocked out of you when you get diagnosed with cancer I am sure. Its a hard road to travel but with positiveness, family & friends and great medicine and doctors its amazing the good results that occur. I am so glad you got to meet Nick. I'm sure not only was he fun to be with but also he was able to give you lots of information. Standing on the sidelines we don't really know how you as patients feel. Its good to be able to share with someone who is going through the same treatments. I do know that the mind and spirit are very strong and powerful things. As Nick's motto for his war with cancer states "Cowboy Up". Be strong, believe, be positive - and every now and again scream at the top of your lungs to help get the frustration out!!! I send you love, light and healing. I will do so each day. Hopefully we'll get to meet at the hospital when I visit Nick. With all godd wishes - Jennie M.
Harrison,
This blog is so awesome! We are so happy to have a way to get information from up here in Idaho. We hope you know we love you very much. I am sure Tommy will leave a comment later on and I apologize in advance for any inappropriate comments. (hey if he wouldn't cut you a break when your serving the Lord, he's not going to cut you one now!) We look forward to seeing you soon! Keep on keeping on.
Love,
Genevieve
Hi Harrison,
Just wanted to say hi and to encourage you. I know it can be hard to keep a positive attitude, but we can each wake up every day and make that decision, to either be sad or be glad. I'm quite a bit older than you (54) but the days I chose to be glad have been much better than the others. I was diagnosed with AML back in Dec 06, went thru 2 chemo sessions (1 month each in the hospital) and then another round of chemo just before my bone marrow transplant(April 22, 07). Knowing that this is something that we have to go thru anyway, we might just as well try to enjoy as much as possible, cause you already know there are times when you don't enjoy anything. It helped me to bring as many of the things I enjoyed doing at home to the hospital. My golf clubs wouldn't do me any good, maybe the putter (LOL) but I did bring my guitar and played almost every day. Most importantly, believe that you are going to beat this thing, do everything the docs say to do (they've treated a lot of people before you that are living life again in remission)and try to be as happy and as positive as you can be. If you practice at anything, even being positive, you will get better at it. I've been a pessimist all my life but became very positive just from practicing it every day. If you have any questions or just want to talk feel free to contact me.
God bless you! You're on my prayer list now.
Ernie Brady
buf481@aol.com
erniesjournal.blogspot.com
Harrison,
We are so excited to see you. We heard a rumor that you are coming home tomorrow! We will need to play some Halo 3 and catch up soon. We haven't come to see you because we have had terrible colds.
Look forward to seeing you,
Chad and Mara
Harrison I was just going through my email and was surprised to see your blogg.Technology dont you love it (Jerry does).It is so wonderfull to have you home!I love you so much!I am amazed at how strong of a person you are and so proud that your my little bro!Cute picture by the way,you sure are a good looking guy! Talk to you soon
love "sister may"
Harrison,
Your AWESOME! Theresa, the Brethren and I are all praying daily for you. We love and respect your attitude as you face off with this cancer. We look forward to the updates this "Blog" will give us here in Las Vegas.
Love you,
Calvin
Happy Sunday Morning Harrison,
When my nephew Nick first started his journey as a cancer fighter/survivor - a friend sent this following quote from "Our Daily Bread" to me. I shared it on Nick's blogspot and I hope it blesses you and your blogspot also.
Cancer is so limited.....
It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot kill friendship,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the Spirit,
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrction.
Praise God. May He bless you in the weeks ahead. In Christ's love, Chris Ulvin
UPDATE YOUR BLOG!
Hey Harrison,
I'm so glad you have started this I will be checking it all the time to see your progress. So make sure you keep it updated..haha. Can't wait to see you again. Keep up the positive attitude. I love you!
Live Strong.
Love Cousin Angi
XOXO
Harrison, Your Unlce Greg and I think of you all the time and have gotten progress reports from your dad and from ma. Do you need some more crosswords-puzzle books! Angi forwarded me your blog and I'm so glad. We love you and wish the best for you and your family. I'll be checking in on you!
Lots of Love, Aunt Karie.
Hi bud it is just after work here and we are all at the counter talking about you and how much you are cared for. Keep up the work,
Cliff and the team in service at Royce Ind
Happy Birthday Harrison I hear you have been doing awesome, that is great news! Brian and I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday hope you have a great day can't wait to see you on Christmas.
Lots of love,
XOXO
Cousin Angi & Brian
P.S. you need to update your blog buddy (:
Post a Comment