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Help for our Dad who has NHL High grade Lymphoma tumor in his Sinus cavity

  • The last battle...

      13 August 2019

    This page has closed, but to those whom were following, I know its been awhile. It was a long tough journey for Dad, sadly he was diagnosed in 2018 with mucinous adenocarcinoma and had developed another x3 tumors in the respiratory / digestive systems which also caused him to loose his voice as one of the tumors was pressing on a vocal cord.

    Dad put up an amazing fight in the last year but passed away 14th October 2018 surrounded by his family.

    R.I.P Dad, its been a real tough time for all of us not having you here.

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  • Sad news & another biopsy for Dad

      25 September 2016

    Hello all, sorry I haven't updated Dad's page for awhile as we have been trying to get back to some type of normality...(Yeh right!)

    As I have mentioned in previous posts that Dads sister (my Aunty) had Leiomyosarcoma a rare uterus cancer. On the 16th August I flew to Australia (Moranbah) to spend some time with Aunty as we were told she didn't have long to live. I am thankful that I made the right decision to go when I did for myself and my family to spend that last week with her, as she sadly passed away on the 23rd August surrounded by her loved ones including myself. It was very hard for all of us to lose another loved one. Aunty had the most beautiful service and farewell and I am and will be forever great full to my Uncles and cousin for bringing Dad over with them for the service. We Love you Aunty Always & Forever xox

    SCAN & BIOSPY -

    On the 19th August Dad had a PET scan done and received some not so good results the next week. My heart broke for my Dad having to withhold his news from me until we arrived back in NZ and we did have a cry together but I said to him as always we will keep positive and get through this again.

    7th Sep we had an appt at MSC and were told that it was showing up another possible tumor in the same area but there could be a chance that it is a highlight from inflammation due to the radiation treament.

    Dads tumor was an aggressive one so to be on the safe side the specialist booked Dad in for another biopsy which he had on the 14th Sep under general as they took tissue samples and also did a Sphenoidectomy.

    We get the results this week so we are keeping everything crossed..

    take care of you and yours.....

    xox

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  • Dads 1st Granddaughter

      13 May 2016
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    While we have been busy with our families and still watching and keeping an eye on our Dad, my younger sister had a baby girl on the 28th March. Mum and Dads first beautiful granddaughter (they already have x4 awesome grandsons) Dad is so smitten with her its a great watching him chatting away telling her stories.

    Here is a special photo of Dad with my gorgeous niece Maddison.

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  • Radiation Treatment

      13 May 2016
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    oops been a bit busy over the past few months I forgot to update...

    Feb 15th Dad went in to Auckland hospital to have his groovy mask made for his treatment which started on the 3rd March every day (well not sat and sun) for 3 weeks. First day was a bit scary as we didn't know really what was going to happen but it was over before we knew it. The cool thing about it was Dad had a driver everyday to take him in and bring him home and we got to go along with him, so Mum & I took turns to go along for support. Thanks to all the awesome drivers we had and the fabulous nurses whom took care of Dad while having his treatment. Sessions were approx 10/15 mins long.

    Radiation finished on the 23rd March.

    Dad has had a few specialist appts since and everything so far is going really well. We are now waiting on his MRI scan appt to see if the tumor has gone......fingers crossed!!!

    Watch this space........

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  • Chemo over!

      5 February 2016
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    Well as of last week Dad had his final session of Chemo and his picc line was removed. Dad had appts on Tues to have another MRI and Gastro appt. We will find out results of MRI on the 1st March at his Haematology appt.

    I am so proud of my Dad and all he has been through over the past 5 months. I have been there through it all (the ups and downs, even mine & Mums) and I have been amazed at the strength and bravely he has had during this horrible time. Anyone who knows my Dad will know that he is a kind hearted generous man who would put himself out to help anyone, which he has always done in the past and it saddens me to know now during these 5 months who was really there for him and who wasn't, which made me mad! Dad just shrugged it off and said the important ones are always here. Bugger the rest! hmmm totally!

    Anyway Dad is back at work (I've told him to take it easy) but today he went to work all day.woohhhooo! Well done Dad.....and he was happy about that. I'd like to just put it out there too that his boss and the big boss in Aussie have been so awesome to Dad & Mum..Couldn't have asked for nicer people !

    Dad will have on going check ups and tests from now on, i think it was every three months.

    Roll on the radiation treatment!

    Will keep updating as time goes on....lets all still stay positive and send love and thoughts to Aunty HB too..we love you lots xx

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  • Dads MRI scan - Pictures!

      5 January 2016
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    Before - top picture you can see the mass in the middle of his face ( sinus cavity)

    After - bottom picture its pretty much gone

    Dad calls the top one Jar Jar binks and the new bottom scan The Predator haha

    Huge Huge Improvement - Positive thinking and our support does pay off

    xx

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  • New Year brings hope

      5 January 2016
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    Merry Xmas & Happy New year to you all.

    Firstly and I cant stress this enough is to Thank you all for you kind donations to this Givealittle page for Dad it has helped them financially with bills and medical supplies that he has needed due to him being unable to work. We haven't got to the new clothes yet that he will need due to losing heaps of weight he is sitting at 95kgs now. (was 120kgs) not a good way to loose weight but Dad says he feels alot better for it.

    Dads 5th treatment was the week of xmas so we had xmas day in Middlemore Hospital but we weren't going to let that put a damper on our xmas. I took up a small xmas tree and put decorations up in the room as I had stayed with Dad at night for most of the week. I got to wake up xmas morning with my Dad which was awesome..we had breakfast together and just chatted until Mum arrived not long after that, so I could head home to see my Hubby & boys having lunch at the inlaws and then we headed back up to the hospital with a roast chicken dinner and desert to enjoy with Dad. Once Mum and my Hubby & boys left I think Dad and I were tucked up in bed by 9;30pm and off to la la land..Early I know but it had been a long day and I know Dad enjoyed it with us all being there with him.

    We had some fantastic news a few days before xmas day that Dads tumor has shrunk big time which was the best xmas present we could have asked for.

    2016 is here and Dads final 6th Chemo treatment is on Monday 11th and we are all keeping our fingers crossed that we will have a much happier and brighter 2016.

    so on that note Take care of your loved ones and Thank you again for you kindness xx

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  • Good News for Xmas

      23 December 2015
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    Dad is doing really well, this Chemo session has gone fast, R-Chop is booked in for Thurs morning down in the day stay ward where it is done a lot quicker then up on Haemo ward and hopefully we will have Dad home for Xmas day but if not he should be allowed out for a few hours .

    We had some great news on Monday morning, Dads tumour has shrunk down a lot. We are so happy! The doctor is going to show us the MRI scans today so we can have a look for ourselves.

    Dad will be having another MRI possibly next week again just to see if it has shrunk any further before his last Chemo treatment on the 10th Jan. If its completely gone then he wont have to have the radiation treatment in February. Otherwise Radiation has been booked for mid Feb.

    We are over the moon!! Best Xmas present ever!

    Thank you to you all for your support we appreciate it immensely.

    Merry and Safe Happy holidays to you all from our family to yours :)

    Hugs & Kisses from Michelle xoxoxoxx

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  • Christmas is coming

      11 December 2015
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    Well another treatment is over and all went well. Dad was in a little longer this time and only went home on Weds 9th. Dad had two bags of blood again on Tues to help him out with his low blood count.

    Dad had an MRI scan yesterday so fingers crossed its good news. We wont find out the results for maybe a week or so?

    His picc line has a bit of a blockage in it due to the calcium folinate pushes but we are getting that seen to and possibly he has to have a new one put in.

    Dad will be back in again on the 20th of Dec Xmas week and all going to plan hope to have him at home with us on Xmas day otherwise we will be invading his hospital room hhaaha.

    Thanks again to everyone for their well wishes xxx

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  • Quick Update for Weds 2nd Dec

      2 December 2015

    Dad is going through his 4th round of chemo, so far so good, apart from his blood count being very low so he had x2 blood transfusions through the early hours of Tues morning and the nurses were monitoring Dad every half an hour so he is very tired. I stayed with him in the hospital last night and he was good. Sugar levels were a bit low so he had hypo fit paste and some juice then a few hours later it was still low so i gave him some more juice and an up and go type drink.

    I left him at 3:30 sleeping, to come home and shower, and will head back up later on.

    Fingers crossed the rest of the week goes well.

    Michelle x

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  • One day at a time.....

      27 November 2015
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    Last Thurs 19th we all (Uncle Putti, Mum and I ) noticed that Dad had started going quiet, not eating etc we thought maybe he was just over tired as he had been out and about since the Sunday before when he finished his 3rd bout of Chemo. On Sunday 22nd my boys and I went over for lunch and I noticed he was still very quiet, not eating, bit touchy, so after my Hubby & boys went home I made a decision to take him to Middlemore to get checked out. Dad ended up staying in there for 2 nights. He had a fever and high temp as well as those dreaded mouth Ulcers (caused by the chemo) hence why he wasn't eating. I was told i did the right thing bringing him in because he could have deteriorated very quickly. I stayed in hospital with him at night and went off to work the next day and back to the hospital after work....so I'm feeling very tired today but that's ok! I will always there for my Dad.

    Dad is now back to his normal self YAH! Hate seeing my Dad unwell and down. Cancer just s*x.

    Weds 25th we had an appt at the ADHB Radiation Oncology to discuss Radiation treatment for Dad when his Chemo is finished. They are putting everything in place for that to start mid February as he has to wait for 1 month after Chemo finishes. 2 weeks before he starts Radiation Dad will go in and have a mask molded and fitted to his head which will be used every day during his treatment.

    Dad will be going in everyday Mon - Fri for 3 weeks straight. Each treatment will be approx 15mins long.

    Round 4 of Chemo starts this Sunday! but because Dad was unwell and his white blood cell count was low the 4th Chemo sess maybe postponed til Sunday week, Dad had blood tests done yesterday morning and the Hematology Doctors have their meeting today so they will let us know Yah or Nah.

    Dad is slowly starting to eat again which is good. Oh and he now weighs in at 94kgs.

    Not long til Xmas - Enjoy your family and close ones as you never know whats around the corner

    :)

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  • End of Round 2

      29 October 2015
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    Dads chemo session went well last week, he went into hospital on Sunday 18th and had a flush put through over night with the Methotrexate (1st part) starting on the Monday morning.

    Mum and I left on Tues 20th to Samoa for my younger sisters wedding and I tell you it was very very hard to leave Dad and my family behind, the wedding and the week went well and it was awesome that we could skype Dad on his ipad to talk to him which made us more at ease being so far away.

    My Brother, Husband & my boys stayed behind to look after Dad and they did a great job being there during the night and day and also my grandparents from Papamoa whom sat with Dad during the day. Huge thanks to you all xxx

    Dads Methotrexate levels were still a little high during the week so the R-Chop (2nd part of the chemo) that was scheduled for last Friday 23rd was pushed forward to Tues 27th in the Day stay ward where Dad stayed for half a day and went home afterward.

    As of today, Dad is doing really well, apart from having no hair but that's not stopping him. I sat with him yesterday and we looked at the photos from our trip to Samoa. Looking forward to going back in a few years with Dad and all the family.

    Its great that Dads still got his quirky sense of humor and smartar*e ness hahaha.

    Next session NO.3 starts on 8th Nov - Dad will also have some tests and scans then as well to see whats happening with his tumors and if the chemo is working - keeping all fingers and toes and everything crossed!

    Lastly just a big THANK YOU to you all for your generosity.

    Much love xx

    P.S photo is of my Sis & Mum (wedding in Samoa)

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  • Round 2 of Chemo

      17 October 2015
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    Happy to say that Dad has had a good week at home and it was good to watch him eat something after a few weeks of only eating icey cold things and mandarins. Although he gets tired a lot more and has his little naps here and there I know he enjoyed being at home.

    Dad is back to hospital tomorrow afternoon for Round 2 of chemo, where they flush him through with Saline over night and Monday Chemo starts with the High dose Methotrexate first this time and then the R-Chop follows a few days later.

    My younger sister left for Samoa on Thurs (15th Oct) and Mum & Dad were supposed to go too but Dad is not allowed to fly so it was with great sadness that he will not be attending the wedding on the 23rd. Mum & I will be heading over for the wedding next week and it will be hard to leave Dad here but our brother Ryan and my husband Martin as well as my grandparents will all be here from Tues for the day and night shifts with Dad, so we know he will be in good hands as well as the great nursing staff that have been so awesome with Dad.

    You got this Dad!! Your gonna fight this!! We love you so much!!

    Updated by Michelle (oldest daughter)

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  • 9th October

      9 October 2015
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    Well its the 9th Oct today and Dad is still in hospital, they wont let him go home until the Methotrexate levels are low enough for them to be happy for him to go home until the next Chemo treatment starts on the 18th Oct. So fingers crossed that will be today xx

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