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.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Update from the PICU

PIICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, commonly referrred to as "pic-u" here at Primary Children's Medical Center...  as opposed to NICU, "nic-u" (neonatal ICU ) and CICU "C-I-C-U" (cardiac ICU).  As you can tell by this knowledge, we've been here too long.  This was all new to me just 9 months ago!

So here we are in the PICU. Private room with ante room for airborn germ protection.  I heard all these bad things about this place last winter, but it must have been over crowded then, because aside from the beepers going off on numerous machines, and happy chatter amongst the staff, this is a very good place to be.  Nurse to patient ratio: 1:1, almost without exception.  Three tiers of doctors: Residents, Fellows and Attending physicians, all very attentive and smart.  Aside from everyone dashing out for the code blue in the surgical unit last night, things have been pretty calm around here. Those always get ya at least just a little.

So, the update you were wanting...is good.  Fever is keeping relatively low, the blood pressure medicine was stopped and Brian is keeping it up pretty well on his own.  Not as high as they would like though so he'll be another night here, just to be safe. Then back to his room in the ICS (Immuno Compromised Services unit).  I'm good with that.  The pain from his mouth sores down his throat is getting ever so slightly better, Brian thinks maybe partly on it's own and partly from the Oxycodone.  Maybe these are signs his counts are going to come up soon.  He's resting very well, and texting on his phone now and then.  I'm feeling relieved and blessed. Thanks for all the thoughtful prayers!
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