Time goes so fast. It was 2013 the last time I updated you. The good news is that for the past several years Dave has led a relatively normal life for someone who has fought cancer.
Dave was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells, in September of 2010. Upon diagnosis, 90% of Dave's plasma cells were malignant and his kidneys were failing. He was vigilant in his fight. He went through rounds of chemo and had a stem cell transplant in 2011. Both were a success and he reached stringent complete response. Since this cancer is incurable, they don't call it remission. Stringent complete response was the best of the best. Dave chose to not go on maintenance treatment which would require him to be on a non-stop regiment of chemo.
The news was short lived as we soon found out Dave had malignant parotid cancer. Surgery was a success, but he suffered many side affects from the surgery, including facial paralysis, numbness, and other issues. Not much longer after that, Dave was hospitalized with the most painful case of shingles. Dave has also suffered from extreme bone pain do to lesions on is bones caused by the cancer. Since being diagnosed, and up until recently, Dave has worked and has been a major contributor to the success of Miracle Ear. Many multiple Myeloma patients can't even work. It goes to show how strong Dave is in mind and spirit.
Finding out Dave had cancer was like a sucker punch to him, me, and our entire family. He was 56 years old when diagnosed with this disease that typically plagues individuals much older. Sadly, that is not the case any longer as more and more young people are fighting this treatable, but not curable disease.
In 2015, we got the news that Dave was out of remission. His numbers were rising and it was time to get on chemo. There were many new options and Dave was placed on two chemo therapies. The cocktail of chemo seemed to hold his numbers steady until August 2016 when they seemed to rise and continue to rise at a rapid pace. Dave started to lose his voice and was having very bad pains in chest area. We found out that he broke two ribs and the cancer was affecting his vocal cords. He also started having bloody noses that would not stop.
The doctor became concerned and did a full body scan and bone marrow extraction. We found out that Dave had multiple lesions on his scull, ribs, shoulders, and legs. Needless to say, he was in a lot of physical pain. The doctor gave us the news that the cancer is back with a vengeance and that once again 90% of his body has malignant plasma.
His health has deteriorated very quickly. He was sent to Stanford right after Christmas where they started him on a new chemo in hopes that it will beat the cancer down. He is on his 4th round and little has changed. He has been hospitalized multiple times because of low red-blood cells that had to be replaced through transfusions and just this week had to get a transfusion of plasma. Tonight, he has to do another transfusion of red-blood cells. He is also anemic and has had to have liter upon liter of fluids.
I know many of you are concerned as is our entire family. We do not know what the future holds or what is up next for Dave. It is up to him now. Dave is a fighter and he is doing all that he can to sleigh this beast again.
We head to Stanford on Monday to meet with the Multiple Myeloma specialist to discuss options.
If you want to come by for a visit, please text Dave or my Mom to see if it is a good time. You may also contact me at 559-972-5754 if you have any questions or would like an update.
Dave is celebrating is 62nd birthday of February 1 if you would like to send warm wishes.
Hugs
Jeana
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