Home Again!

Levi was able to come home this evening...yay!

Pathology Report and Levi Update

We unexpectedly got the pathology report back today. I tried to prepare myself, but you are never really ready to hear it. He has been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer (stage 1 being the best, stage 4 being the worst and most aggressive). The surgeon removed about a 4 cm tumor, which apparently is a large tumor for the colon. He also removed 37 lymph nodes surrounding the sigmoid colon. Of those 37, two had cancer. Since it has spread to the lymph nodes he will definitely be going through chemotherapy, which he won't be able to start for about a month until he is healed. The good news: the surgeon said it didn't look like the cancer was super aggressive, it hasn't spread to the surrounding blood vessels and it was well differentiated.

On to how Levi is feeling. He got his i.v. removed yesterday and has been on a semi-liquid diet. Between it being hospital food and not feeling like eating, he hasn't got much down. He felt pretty good yesterday, but has not felt very good today. We hope he will be able to come home on Wednesday. It's definitely been a long four days in the hospital so far. And again, he was the one assuring me after his diagnosis today that everything is going to be just fine.

And me? I'm doing ok. I'm defintely exhausted. It has been the HUGEST help for my parents to come into town to help around the house and with Brecken, and just to be my support. Thanks for everything Mom and Dad. In fact, I've been a little spoiled. My mom has been sleeping with me to get up with Brecken in the middle of the night so I can get some rest.

I am glad we have the diagnosis and can move on to figure out how we are going to fight it. We won't meet with an oncologist until after he gets his stomach full of staples out in about two weeks. The surgery went even better than expected, according to the surgeon, and I absolutely know it is due to prayers from literally around the world, faith from so many people we know and don't know and the power of priesthood blessings. And those same things are going to get us through these next few weeks and months.

Surgery Update

Levi is out of surgery and doing well. The dr said the surgery went great and as planned. We won't know results until Tuesday or Wednesday. He will be in the hospital 3 to 7 days. Sorry so short, writing this on Levi's Iphone.

Consider Yourself Warned

As I write this, Levi is having tons of fun cleansing his colon. Poor guy. Many people have been inquiring how in the world we found out he had cancer. Well, if by writing this, it helps someone catch colon cancer early, then it will make writing this worth it.

Levi started noticing blood in his stool at the beginning of this year. He went into the doctor around February and they thought it was internal hemorrhoids. They said they can sometimes go away on their own, and in extreme cases, have to be surgically removed. He went through a couple rounds of suppositories, but it didn't help. He pretty much just kind of let it go, thinking it would get better on it's own. Finally about 2 months ago, it got drastically worse. He was having abdominal cramps, increased blood in the stool, blood clots, very thin stool and going to be bathroom as many as ten times a day. I finally convinced him to go back to the doctor a few weeks ago. After telling the doctor his symptoms, she immediately recommended a colonoscopy. It's no wonder she was concerned. He basically had EVERY symptom for colon cancer, but does not fit ANY of the criteria for someone at risk. After the colonoscopy, the gastronologist told us he had a two inch mass in his sigmoid colon, but we would have to wait for biopsy results to confirm anything. The doctor was very concerned, and turns out, rightfully so. He told us he tattooed the tumor with some ink so it could be easily found again. Levi, still being a little loopy, asked him if he at least tattooed something cool, like a skull. The very serious doctor did not think that was funny.

So poop has recently become very normal talk at our house, and we keep joking about how exciting it is going to be for Levi to have normal poop again! So hopefully after tomorrow's surgery, it will fix all that.

Sigmoid colon below:

Levi's tumor (pink mass) on the left leaving only a tiny hole for waste to go through.

On a ligher note, and the joy in our lives, a few pictures of Brecken. LOVE THEM!

Our good friend, Kelli Eudis, took these pictures. Here is the link for more of her beautiful work. Thanks Kelli! http://www.kellieudisphoto.blogspot.com/

More pictures to come later...

Surgery Date

Surgery has been scheduled for next Friday, September 25th.

What we learned today...

After 5 LONG days, we finally got to meet with the surgeon today. We both felt really good about him, and plan to continue treatment with him. Surgery is scheduled for next week, no specific date yet. Unlike other cancers, you can't know the stage of colon cancer until the tumor is removed and analyzed by the pathologist. We will then be able to meet with an oncologist after surgery to determine what additional treatment, like chemo, is needed. Basically his whole sigmoid colon will be removed along with surrounding lymph nodes. He will be in the hospital between 3-7 days and recovery time is about 4 weeks. We can't say how grateful we are to everyone and their fasting, prayers and love. We have really felt so much comfort these last few days. Thank you, thank you. I will also post again once I find out the actual date of the surgery.

The rollercoaster from hell....I want off this ride!

We received some news yesterday that will probably change our lives forever. No matter how many times I've heard it, or say it myself, it doesn't seem real and that it's happening to us. For those of you who haven't heard, we found out that Levi has colon cancer. Yes, 28 years old, active, healthy and no family history, my husband has been diagnosed with cancer. I still can't believe this is real and can't quite wrap my mind around it. Of course everyone tells you to stay positive and have faith, and yes, I will try my best, but obviously you can't help but to think about the worst. Death. What would I do? It breaks my heart that there is a possibilty that Brecken would never know her amazing father. Everyone keeps saying, people beat this all the time...but people also lose all the time too. I know, playing the devil's advocate, but I would be lying if I said all these thoughts haven't crossed my mind. Maybe the Lord thinks I need a faith growing experience, and I probably do, but wow, this would not be the experience I choose. Can I please trade it for a new one??
All kidding aside, Levi has been the rock through it all. He's been the one comforting me, not the other way around, I must admit. He has been amazingly calm and positive, which is more than I can say. However yesterday evening and this morning after being on the phone and talking to people, I am feeling a surprising calm as well. Levi has always been the calm one and so many times he has brought me back down, and this situation is no different.
So Levi Rose, don't you leave me! I will be there for you every step of the way fighting and BEATING this together! As you have been saying, "I have cancer, cancer doesn't have me!" We can do this and we will become closer and stronger because of it. We still have many more memories and experiences to come. I love you so much.
I have never been a good journal writer, or even a journal writer at all. So in a sense, this blog has become my journal, and not to mention writing has been a bit theraputic for me. This is something my children (yes, and it better be children and not just child) will be reading in the future. I want them and everyone else to know that I KNOW that our family is eternal and I'm so grateful for that knowledge through the gospel. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered all and knows all, we can turn to Him through whatever challenges and trials we face, no matter how unexpected. I am so grateful for the priesthood powers and know they can heal Levi. Never in my life have I been through anything remotely close to this, and I know it will bring us to our knees in prayer more than ever before. I don't know what the Lord has in mind for us in His eternal plan, but I hope we can turn to Him and trust in Him and get out of this trial what he intends for us to learn. We may never know the purpose for us going through this, but I know there is a reason. Just as I was thinking my life is so great, with a brand new baby and how fortunate and blessed we are, we get turned for a loop. Speaking of how fortunate we are, because of my job at UPS, we have INCREDIBLE health insurance, and money will not not have to be an added stress to the situation and I can't be grateful enough.
We have been overwhelmed with everyone's love, support, thoughts and prayers. People keep asking what they can do for us, well, I don't think there's much anyone can do but remember us, and especially Levi in their prayers. I know I speak for both of us when we say thank you to everyone so far for the kind words, support and prayers...please keep them coming.
I will of course keep everyone updated, and as of right now, we don't know a whole lot. We are meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday afternoon (an eternity away) to determine severity and course of action. We are going to learn more about cancer in these next few weeks than we ever wanted to know.
Everything is going to be ok.....

Much Love,
Kelsie

Brecken's Blessing

Aunt Callie

Friends

The whole group

Payne Family

Proud Grandy & Pops

Brecken hanging out with Pops

Brecken was given a beautiful blessing by her Daddy on Sunday September 6th, 2009.

This just never gets old!

First of many...

I had to document Brecken's first boat ride...and hopefully many more to come!