Brian’s Blog was created for all of his friends, family, fans, and community members who are cheering him on in his fight against leukemia. Brian graduated from HHS in May of this year. Many people know Brian due to his leadership, sportsmanship, and outstanding athletic achievements including three state championships in wrestling, a state football championship, state discus champion 2011 and varsity track and soccer teams. He had received a call to serve a full-time mission to Uruguay and was planning to start his mission at the end of the month. After completing his mission to Uruguay, Brian planned to play football at SUU where he has already received a full-ride scholarship. Brian was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) on Tuesday October 2nd. That very day he was taken to Salt Lake City for intensive inpatient care. He has been receiving chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and other treatments. We hope and pray that Brian will recover with the help of competent medical care. Doctors say that there is an 80% chance that Brian’s cancer will respond favorably to treatment. Thank you so much for your support. We will keep you updated regularly on Brian’s progress.
Update: On January 14, 2014, Brian passed away after a 15 1/2 month battle with leukemia. He was in remission following the first series of chemotherapy treatments for only 3 months, in spite of earlier optimism. Another harder hitting chemotherapy began in June with the intention of following with a bone marrow transplant but instead, alternative treatments in Colorado Springs and later Atlanta were chosen. Those also were unsuccessful, too little too late. In November he underwent yet more chemotherapy in Denver. The leukemia did not respond. Brian returned home to Southern Utah friends and family on December 12, 2013. Leukemia took his mortal life, but it can't touch his spirit.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

October 30, 2012

New doctor, actually a senior doctor from the group of hematologists/oncologists who are responsible for Brian's care, Dr. Lemmons, came in today with Fellow - Dr.Maese and said Brian can go home for a few days because the counts are coming up...so we will head down tomorrow.  He's still very much without immunity, so will have serious restrictions as far as visitors- like at the hospital- but at least he will get a break before the next round of chemo. He will be at home, except he could take his truck for a spin...:), which I know he would like the freedom to do.  We will have home health checking on him. I will be the protective paranoid mama, (and rightly so).  We have to return to SLC on the 8th, then he'll be re-admitted on the 12th for a proceedure to put in a new central line and probably start the chemo right after that, depending on the counts. So I am excited as well to be home and see the family too.  Sure glad the weather is good for this.
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