Day 12 - Weight gain

Facebook post from 08/19/2012

Day 12 - Caleb has lost about 7lbs since entering the hospital. The docs told him today that if he didn't stabilize or gain weight by tonights weigh in, he would have to take some additional meds to help his appetite. He just sent me this text message. 

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Day 11 - Sleepover at the hospital

Facebook post from 08/18/2012

Day 10 - Spending the night with my boy. He had a pretty good day today...but didn't have any company all day. I spent the whole day cleaning the house, doing laundry, restocking the fridge and the pantry, and going to the doctor for me (funky knee pain)...so I decided to just stay the night and hang out with him for part of the day tomorrow. He mostly played Kingdom Hearts on the PS2 all day.

Facebook comments:

MLW: Ask him how far along he is in the game...so we can make Ian jealous...lol.  ;)
August 18, 2012 at 11:51am · Like

Caleb: I am just about to beat the game. How far is Ian?
August 19, 2012 at 2:41pm · Like

IL: My copy of Kingdom Hearts broke. I beat Kingdom Hearts II though

Day 10 - Hooray for friends

Facebook post from 08/17/2012

Day 9 - Caleb had a pretty good day today. He ate a little breakfast, most of his lunch, and a little dinner! He is still having occasional high blood pressure and some nausea, but he was in much better spirits today.
I'm SO grateful that his friend Pohai was able to come down and spend almost the whole day with him!! He stayed from 11am to 8pm and played ps2, cards, settlers if Catan, and watched the first LOTR movie with him. He really needed that!! Thank you Pohai!!

(This photo is from 08/24/2012.  Pohai came and played games again)

Facebook comments:

EYS: :)
August 17, 2012 at 2:42am · Like

MWL: Oh yay for friends!
August 17, 2012 at 11:05am · Like

HYN: Awwww, what a great friend he has! We pray for you all!

August 18, 2012 at 9:12am · Like

Day 8- Feeling a little better

Facebook post from 08/15/2012

I slept like a log last night! Eight full hours!!...but the trade off for not getting up with a cute baby all night was being woken up at 8:20am by six adults standing around and whispering about Caleb in the room...lol!! ;)

Caleb slept good last night, ate a bowl if cereal, drank some juice (he hadn't eaten in 3 days!), and is now peddling his floor bike, facebooking, and has a smile on his face!! He still doesn't feel great, but he feels so much better than the last two days!! Hip hip hooray!!

Facebook comments:

RLJ: Good to hear that he is feeling a bit better!! He is so brave!

August 15, 2012 at 2:19pm · Like

PF: That is great news to hear!

August 15, 2012 at 2:25pm · Like

AB: So glad that he is feeling better. I hope it just gets better from her on out! Glad you could be there for him! Let me know if you need anything.

August 15, 2012 at 2:34pm · Like

MLW: Ok, I have an odd question...What is the cool peddling thing for?

August 15, 2012 at 3:33pm · Like

MJ: Hahaha! Physical therapy. He has to do exercises so he doesn't get jello muscles from sitting in bed all day for a month.

August 15, 2012 at 3:38pm · Like

MWL: Thanks...I love neato toys..haha

August 15, 2012 at 3:52pm · Like

DL: need a work out mat? and some weights??? we could defunk them!!! hahhaaha

August 15, 2012 at 4:12pm · Like

LSV: Glad he is feeling better!

August 15, 2012 at 4:16pm · Like

EYS: YAY! That is great news :)

August 15, 2012 at 4:54pm · Like

CS: I get on facebook and read what is happening through my tears. I don't have proper words to express my feelings. Caleb is never far from my thoughts and Brooklin is a hero, just as others have said. These two are my first grandchildren. They both started their lives, living in my basement. Brooklin was old enough to sneak up the stairs and see us whenever she wanted to. Caleb was a happy, always smiling baby. You have both grown into the kind of teenagers that eveyone wants their children to be but few are. You both have made me proud. Love, Grandpa Strasser

August 15, 2012 at 5:01pm · Like · 1

KB: Awesome!! That is great news!! Tell him hi from the Banks Family and that we are thinking about him :))

August 15, 2012 at 5:13pm · Like

HO: So glad he is feeling better!!!!

August 15, 2012 at 5:16pm · Like

MLW: So glad to hear that!

August 15, 2012 at 5:58pm · Like

Gma Pita

Gma Pita Cheehoo for Caleb and cereal! <3 div="">

August 15, 2012 at 7:26pm · Like

KOB:@Charlie: Now we are all reading this with tears in our eyes! These are two wonderful people, and they are pretty terrific grandparents, too!

August 15, 2012 at 9:01pm · Like

RRS: WOW Charlie even gave ME tears.....he has a soft heart under that "tough guy" exterior.

August 15, 2012 at 9:42pm · Like · 1

TRL: So great to see him up and about :)

August 15, 2012 at 11:44pm · Like

Bone Marrow Donation and Transplant Day

IV in and ready to go

Today was very long and very emotional! Brooklin's procedure took three hours, but she came out all smiles. After collecting 1200ml of bone marrow, the doctors sent the blood to be processed at another facility. Brooklin received a transfusion of her own blood that she donated for herself during her time in the operating room. She is pretty sore now, but has some medication to lessen her pain. She surprised the doctors by getting up and walking (very slowly) around Caleb's room just hours after having her procedure.

Dressed and ready for her procedure

     

Screenshot from my facebook feed.

Out of surgery and in recovery.

Eating an otter pop in recovery

She felt much better after having lunch!

Caleb's procedure took a little over an hour. The first bag and a half (of three bags) of bone marrow for the transplant were the hardest. Caleb's blood pressure spiked to 175/100 and he had a massive headache. (all "normal" reactions that the doctors were prepared to address). He was sobbing and grabbing his head it hurt so bad. His muscles were also making him twitch and jerk uncontrollably. I tried really hard not to let him see me crying...and I just kept rubbing his hands and wiping the tears off his face. I am so grateful that Brooklin was sleeping through the first part of the transplant and didn't see him in so much pain. She had such an amazing spirit through all of this today! 





After they gave him some medication to lower his blood pressure, he calmed down and went to sleep. The last half of the transplant went fairly smoothly. He even got up and stumbled to the bathroom twice during the procedure...which is just like a blood transfusion. They just hook the bag of bone marrow up to his IV and let it flow in.  

On a side note...Caleb had been watching Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith before the transplant started.  As his blood pressure was spiking and he was having the hardest time, there was ultra-dramatic music playing in the background.  It was at the part of in movie where Anikin is fighting Obi-Wan in the lava and loosing his limbs and then becoming Darth Vader.  It was kind of weird and crazy that it happened that way.

Tray full of medications for anything that could go wrong...

So proud of these two for making it through all this!!

They were watching Star Wars throughout the transplant

Resting during transplant

Dr. Wada, Dr. Glaser, Carol, and 2 nurses

Seriously high blood pressure!

Brooklin's IVs

One of three bags of bone marrow

The most touching part of this day was when we were leaving to take Brooklin home, Caleb got up and hugged me and then my sister...and then he gave his sister the sweetest hug I have ever seen. They were both in pain and really tired, and that hug just made my tears flow freely. I love my children and am grateful they all love each other so much. I am also grateful that God and his angels were there with us today helping us make it through, and that I have such amazing friends who cared for my other children today!

At home resting with baby sister.

May The Force Be With You, Harry Potter

When we were doing all our initial meetings with hospital staff, the child life specialist told us that they could decorate Caleb's room in any theme he wanted.  Our family LOVES Star Wars and Harry Potter!  I think for Caleb, Star Wars wins out just a little over Harry Potter...but both are pretty interchangeable when it comes right down to it.

The child life specialist told us on the first day that she had ordered some decorations, but they weren't in yet.  This is what they had in the room for him on the first day.

Everything pictured is from the hospital...except for the PS2.  We brought that from home for him

Before Caleb went into the hospital, we bought him a 1200+ piece Millennium Falcon Lego set.  He was kind of sneaky about getting me to buy it for him.  The day before his surgery, he asked to go to Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana for his last outing before being in his hospital room for a month.  After Barnes & Noble, he wanted to go to The Apple Store and The Lego Store.  While we were in Lego, he was drooling over all the Star Wars sets.  He turned to me and said, "You know mom...I'm going to be in the hospital for a month...  I'm going to get pretty board in there...  You should get me some of these Star Wars Legos so I will have something to do while I'm in there..."  {insert sneaky smile here}.  I couldn't resist his sweet little face and got it for him!

As soon as the nurse got him settled into his room after his Hickman placement and stepped out the door, he turned to me and said, "I have itchy fingers!  I need to start on the Millennium Falcon now!"  He had it completely done in a day and a half!!

Today the rest of the decorations came in. =)  They got him one set of Star Wars and one set of Harry Potter wall clings.  Brooklin and I (along with Brother Clyde) went to town putting them up all over the walls.  Caleb wasn't feeling very good, so he just smiled and enjoyed our company.  Here is what we came up with...

Harry Potter surfing on the Millennium Falcon

Yoda teaching Ginny about "The Force"

An Ewok with a potion on a stick

Boba Fett riding a broom towards the Death Star...and an X-Wing Fighter

May the force be with you, Harry Potter!  Dumbledore shooting a spell towards Luke Skywalker...who is riding a broom and swinging Hedwig around on his light saber.

My personal favorite!  Han Solo broom surfing

C3PO, R2-D2, and Ron Weasley

Chewbacca being sorted into the Hufflepuff House 

Hermione

Princess Leia

Day 6 - One Day Before Transplant

Caleb had a pretty hard day today. His body isn't liking all the meds he's had over the past 4 days and it's rebelling against him. He hasn't eaten much the last two days and when he does eat, it causes a ton of abdominal pain and he ends up retching it back up (pretty violently). He is beyond homesick and really just wants to come home. =( 

Tomorrow is transplant day and both of my big kids will be in the hospital. I am so grateful for those who are praying and fasting for them (and the rest of us) and for everyone here who is helping me out tomorrow! We couldn't do this on our own! Brother Chandler came to the hospital and gave both Caleb and Brooklin a priesthood blessing tonight and I know that angels will be with them and the doctors tomorrow. God is good and I know that everything will be ok.

(Facebook comments)


Kris Gregson-Clark We are all praying
August 13 at 11:15pm via mobile · Like · 1

Angeline Morrill-Quiner Melissa, we are hoping and praying for the best. so sorry he's having to go through this trial.
August 13 at 11:19pm via mobile · Like

Dulcie Larsen man after all this a mission will be a piece of cake for him!!!
August 13 at 11:22pm · Like · 1

Gma Pita It's been an honor to unite our faith with yours through fasting and prayer. I know Our Father will answer in love, peace, and endurance. <3 font="font">
August 13 at 11:27pm via mobile · Like · 1

Emily Scott Lockie I am so sorry to hear this, this is so sad. I hope that he feels better and stronger soon. Good luck to you all - we are praying for you!
August 13 at 11:28pm · Like

Kathleen Houtz Benner Prayers going out to your family.
August 13 at 11:39pm · Like · 1

Renee LeAnn Clark Praying that all goes as planned.
August 14 at 2:31am via mobile · Like

Lisa Martello-Henning Praying for your whole family! Stay strong.
August 14 at 3:26am via mobile · Like

Laura Sanders Vancour thinking and praying for you guys!!
August 14 at 3:35am · Like

Angela Parker Dorman We love you guys too.....we will continue to pray for you all!
August 14 at 5:23am · Like

Andrea Thayn Griffin praying for you all
August 14 at 6:29am · Like

Dianna Cheney Ashton our prayers are with you.
August 14 at 7:16am · Like

Mindy Patterson Andrew Thoughts and prayers for your family.
August 14 at 7:18am via mobile · Like

Mia Wolfe League Oh Melissa, I am so proud of you. I usually do not remember to get priesthood blessing for my family...but when I do get them the blessings are amazing and help carry me through the hard times. I know with all my heart angels will be watching your children. I will continue to pray and will not stop until you tell me to.
August 14 at 7:52am · Like

Heather Malone Mumm We are praying for you sweet thing Im so sorry this is happening our hearts are with you all!
August 14 at 7:53am · Like

Steph Alaska Praying today!! Blessings are wonderful fulfillment of the priesthood
August 14 at 8:48am · Like

Annjanette Blackmer Whiting We love you all! Praying for you!
August 14 at 5:10pm · Like

Laura Tucker Thinking of you all, in my prayers and thoughts
August 15 at 10:59am · Like

Day 5 - Doubt Not, Fear Not

Caleb wasn't feeling very good today, so we brought a Liken The Scriptures video to watch with him.  He impressed his doctors today too!  He has played video games every day and today when they came in and he wasn't playing so they asked him why.  He told them it was Sunday and it is our family rule to not play video games on Sunday.  They all told me what a good boy he was and he was following our family rules even when we weren't there to check if he was.

Church was so good today!  The theme was:  "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." ~Doctrine and Covenants 6:36

(Facebook status)
What an amazing sacrament meeting today! I felt God's love through all three speakers! Thank you ward family for your love and support during our family's trial! I am so grateful for all of you!!

(Facebook comments)
Marnie Joye Strasser yep, your ward is pretty amazing. I held back tears multiple times today as people prayed in behalf of Caleb and the rest of your family.

August 12 at 3:58pm · Like · 2

Tricia Robinette Loder We love you, Jensen Ohana!
August 12 at 9:58pm · Like · 1

Kim Rivera The spirit was super apparent today for sure!!! Privileged to be able to unite in fast. We're here for you Melissa & Darwin!
August 12 at 11:41pm via mobile · Unlike · 1

Maidy Licerio Worthen We love you guys! I know that Heavenly Father will be watching your Family and He will be watching Caleb and Brooklin during their bone marrow transplant. I really love that scripture that Dawn shared and love her talk. "Look unto me in every thought; DOUBT not, FEAR not." Just hang in there with faith trusting in Him!

Day 4 - First Visit From Everyone

Brought all the kids with me to visit Caleb today. He is really homesick! Kalia and Isaiah can't go in his room, so they just waived at him through the window. =( It seemed to cheer him up and make him sad all at the same time.

Caleb and Auntie Marnie...and Kalia photo bombing!

London playing video games with Caleb

This picture makes me cry!  He was so sad that he couldn't  touch or hold her!!

Day 3 - Medication Details

Millennium Falcon is complete!

Playing U-Build Battleship with Caleb.

This is the white board in Caleb's room that lists all the treatments he will be receiving.  I will go over each one in detail below.

1. & 2. ATGAM:  Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is an infusion of horse or rabbit-derived antibodies against human T cells which is used in the prevention and treatment of acute rejection in organ transplantation and therapy of aplastic anemia.

• Basically, ATGAM weakens the bodies immune system, so it body doesn't reject the new bone marrow.
• Caleb had the horse-derived version of this drug
• Side effects: nausea, diarrhea, mouth and/or throat sores, aches and pains, headaches, night sweats, and unusual tiredness
• Given through IV

3. Cyclophosphamide:  (Chemotherapy) A synthetic cytotoxic drug used in treating leukemia and lymphoma and as an immunosuppressive agent.  In order to work, cyclophosphamide first is converted by the liver into two chemicals, acrolein and phosphoramide. Acrolein and phosphoramide are the active compounds, and they slow the growth of cancer cells by interfering with the actions of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) within the cancerous cells. Unfortunately, normal cells also are affected, and this results in serious side effects. In addition to slowing the growth of cancerous cells, cyclophosphamide also suppresses the immune system and is referred to as immunosuppressive. 

• Side effects:  hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, weight loss, sterility, and jaundice. Can also cause kidney failure and heart and lung problems.
• Suppresses production of blood cells from the bone marrow, including white blood cells (leukopenia), red blood cells (anemia) and platelets (thrombocytopenia).
• Leukopenia reduces the ability of the body to fight infection, thrombocytopenia impairs the ability of blood to clot, and anemia reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen. 
• May cause inflammation of the urinary bladder with bleeding
• Can cause lower abdominal pain and problems urinating
• Given through IV

4. Mensa: This drug is used to protect the bladder and kidneys from the effects of the chemotherapy drugs.

• Side effects: nausea, vomiting, taste changes, diarrhea, headache, joint pain, tiredness, weakness, and irritability
• Given through IV

5. Solu-Medrol: A steroid that decreases inflammation in the body and is used to treat a wide variety of diseases.

• Side effects: nausea, dry skin, headache, stomach pain, dizziness, insomnia
• Given through IV

Kalia - 2 months old