A time to rest...

Dad decided today that it is time, the medicines have stopped working and his blood is not bouncing back anymore. So he will now enter into hospice care. Dad and the family would ask that this time be for close friends and family, and when you do visit try to call first and please be aware that Dad's head hurts horribly bad and loud noises or voices really bother him, so please be sensitive to that. He is at peace with his decision as is Mom (as much as they can be) and this will be a difficult time but also a very sweet and tender time for them both. We are so grateful for all the prayers and love and support that have been offered up in his name. We have been truly blessed by all of you!

Update

Well things have not progressed well, Dad now has what is believed to be a staph infection in his left eye. We really ask for prayers and support for Dad, Mom and the family, as you can imagine this is a very hard time for all. We are so grateful for those who have been so wonderful during this time and continue to be great friends, family and associates. Thank you so much.

Not feeling well

Dad's sinus infection has moved into his lungs and is now pneumonia. He is still not feeling well but has started the second round of Vidaza. They are hoping it will knock some of the leukemia cells down to a more manageable level. Dad has now requested no school age or younger children be brought into his home, there is just too much of a risk right now. He is not trying to be mean or cruel, he is just trying so hard to fight all of this and his immunity is zero. Having kids make cards, pictures or a video. If you can put them in an email you can send them to him at scbankhead@hotmail.com. Some have said that Dad and even Mom right now can get a little testy, well let us try to understand, they both know very soon they will have to say goodbye to each other after almost 60 years of marriage, I think we can all be very sympathetic to that, and I know myself would not be half as nice and kind as they are right now. Please continue to keep Mom and Dad and the family in your prayers.

Family and Friends, a special fast

Just wanted to let you all know, our family is having a special fast for John's Dad tomorrow, he has had a miserable week and is very weak and in a lot of pain. Please keep him in you prayers as you fast this Sunday. Thank you again for all your love and support.

Update

Last week Dad was fitted with a port cath in his chest and has been feeling pretty well, just very tired. He has calculated that a bag of platelets last him about 2 1/2 days, before he needs more. His platelets stay around 10,000-20,000 normal being about 150,000. But he is in good spirits, going crazy sitting still and his normal self for the most part.

Another Update

Well Dad has finished his first round of Vidaza and is now just receiving platelets, his platelets are not holding up as well, as we have seen them before but Dad is in good spirits although very tired, a common occurrence with leukemia. We continue to pray and hope and appreciate all of you who have done so much!

The Results

On Wednesday the family met with Dr. Ford and Ladee from LDS Hospital. Dad was given 4 options. None of them were good options but these are what we have been given. Dad has chosen to go with a medication called Vidaza, it is a shot that is given seven days in a row every 4 weeks, with the hope that he will be able to be at home and these shots are given on an out patient basis, he may also be able to recieve the shots at McKay Dee, so not as far to travel. The hope and prayer with the medication is that it will either slow down or stablize the leukemia, giving Dad more time.
It was a very sad day for the family, but there were as always many sweet moments. It was very touching to see many nurses, orderelys, and doctors pass by and see Dad and just have to make sure that they stopped to see him and tell them how much they love him. He was a "model" patient for them, because he was never sick with the chemo, so they always wanted to be assigned to his room. Besides the fact that he is always very interested in their lives and what they are doing. We stood and waited about twenty minutes for his groupies to finish with them so we could go. It was very touching to see how much these wonderful people love Dad.
Dad joking as always was teasing about getting a refund since the cancer returned. Those of you who know Dad, know that is very typical of him. We all laughed through our tears.
We are entering a new time with Dad, it is very bitter sweet we are now realizing how extremely lucky we have been to have this time, so many wonderful things have happened. We are very much looking forward to the family reunion in July and hope Dad will be in good health to attend which he has promised he will be.
We would once again ask you to be very careful when visiting Dad, please make sure you are not sick, as his immunity to disease will be greatly decreased, I know that the masks, gloves and sanitizer will be at the house, the gloves are extremely important because as you know Dad will always shake your hand, we are just trying to hold on to him as long as we can. We are so grateful for the love and prayers that have been offered in Dad's and the families behalf, please remember to include Mom in those prayers, as her health is not very good either and this as you can imagine has been very difficult for her also. We thank everyone so much. All our love,
The Bankheads