Roller Coaster

Updates this weekend about Jon from Marie Minner, Jon's mother: 

3.23.13: “Busy week for Jon and the blood bank. He was admitted for platelets on Monday. His platelet count was 14 thousand with normal range 150-450 thousand. We knew they were low because his nose kept 'spotting' all weekend, a sure indication of low platelets. 

He was admitted again on Friday this time for platelets and red blood cells. His platelets were still 14 even after the platelets on Monday. His hemoglobin was below 8 so he needed red cells (packed RBCs) 

Both visits required admission for the day, it's outpatient but because he has to have special radiated blood due to his immune-suppressed state it takes hours to get from Red Cross. It's typically a 12+ hour stay. He certainly looks "less pale" after getting blood and has more energy. He has another week off before starting round five on Monday, April 1. 

We are hoping for no more hospital visits until then.”

3.24.13: “Unexpected admission to the hospital. Jon has an infection requiring antibiotics and IV fluids. Luckily he will not have to have surgery tonight but he will be checked by general surgeon tomorrow. We are praying that the antibiotics will be enough. He's really disappointed that he didn't get to stay home for the two weeks off chemo as planned. His next session is scheduled to start April 1.” 

3.25.13: "Good news, no surgery need, Temps 103 all night which delayed getting blood, normal now. Plan for some scans today."

Life has its highs and lows. You don’t have to be old and wise to know that much, but when cancer touches your life those ups and downs can really make you want to yell “STOP THE RIDE, I WANT TO GET OFF!”

I don’t know what it’s like to be the one who’s sick. I can only speak as someone who is cheering Jon on from the sidelines, wondering every day how he manages to maintain his cool. I don’t think I will ever forget the night he told me that he was sick. I remember feeling my heart sink as he told everyone else to leave us alone in his hospital room. When they had gone, he held me tight in his arms, my head against his chest, and he said, “Babygirl, the doctor came in and spoke with me today. I have Lymphoma.” Even then, his voice was so calm and reassuring. We will make it through this, and we will do it together. Jon’s strength is inspiring.

Every day something new happens. We rejoice at the good news, we make the best of the bad. Ups and downs, highs and lows.

For me, it’s been a steep learning curve, but I am beginning to believe that every moment of my life has been preparing me to better deal with new situations during Jon’s treatment as they occur. When it comes to coping with stressful situations, I can confidently say that I have more experience now than I’ve ever had.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have days when I just don’t want to get out of bed. The difference between me now and a younger me is that I don’t do it. “One day at a time” is a great thing to say if you’re having a good day. But I’ve found that it’s actually a lot closer to one moment at a time when you’re having a really bad day. When I’m tempted to shut down and wallow in self-pity, I turn my attention outside myself. Often, I grab my dog, Lindy, and we walk over to the hospital to visit hospice patients. It makes me feel better to know that I didn’t succumb to the temptation of doing nothing for myself — that what I chose to do instead was help others and by doing so, help myself. Because I chose to help myself, I am more prepared to be there for Jon when he needs me, which is what I want more than anything.

Please consider donating. Even if you can only afford five dollars, every little bit will help Jon pay for medical costs as he continues to battle Burkitt's Lymphoma. Giving to Jonathan Minner during this time of crisis is easy and safe. Click on the "donate" button below. You will be taken to the Paypal website to complete your transaction using your Paypal account, credit card or bank account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Bethany Culp at polymediastudio@gmail.com.

Halftime

An update on Jon from Marie Minner: "Jon is scheduled to come home today after he finishes the second unit of blood. His LDH is down to 794! He feels good, just a little "chemo-ey". He is really ready to go home. Each hospital stay gets harder and harder but the good side is that he has finished the forth round and is half way finished. Yeah for the half-way mark! Can I get a hallelujah!!!"

Please consider donating. Even if you can only afford five dollars, every little bit will help Jon pay for medical costs as he continues to battle Burkitt's Lymphoma. Giving to Jonathan Minner during this time of crisis is easy and safe. Click on the "donate" button below. You will be taken to the Paypal website to complete your transaction using your Paypal account, credit card or bank account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Bethany Culp at polymediastudio@gmail.com.

Round Four

According to Marie Minner, last week Jon had “a bit of a set back, Jon's platelets are too low to start this round of chemo so they are sending him home until Monday. His LDH is 1510 but Dr Murphy thinks he's far enough along that he will be able to wait until then.”

Today, Jon returns to the hospital where his blood will be tested again. If his platelets are high enough (he had a transfusion to help increase his count), his can begin his fourth round of chemotherapy.

Last time, this was a difficult course of chemo for Jon. He developed sores in his mouth and throat that were so painful he could not talk or eat for days and had to be fed intravenously, and his legs would give out beneath him if he tried to stand. They say that each round of chemo gets easier. I hope that it is the case this time around.

When his blood is tested, the level that I watch with the most interest is his LDH. LDH is used to to check for tissue damage. Accoring to MedlinePlus, “The protein LDH is in many body tissues, especially the heart, liver, kidney, muscles, brain, blood cells, and lungs.” In Jon’s case, it is an indicator of how well his treatment is going. The typical “Normal” range is “105 - 333 IU/L (international units per liter).” When I first brought Jon in to the hospital, his LDH was close to 3000 IU/L.

If you pray, please keep Jon and his family in your prayers. If you think, please keep them in your thoughts.

Please consider donating. Even if you can only afford five dollars, every little bit will help Jon and his family pay for medical costs as he continues to battle Burkitt's Lymphoma. Giving to Jonathan Minner and his family during this time of crisis is easy and safe. Click on the "donate" button below. You will be taken to the Paypal website to complete your transaction using your Paypal account, credit card or bank account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Bethany Culp at polymediastudio@gmail.com.

Facing a Fear

“On our darkest day 
When we're miles away 
So we'll come 
We will find our way home 

If you're lost and alone 
Or you're sinking like a stone 
Carry on 
May your past be the sound 
Of your feet upon the ground 
Carry on, carry on, carry on” 

I used to get scared when I was alone at night. I asked a good friend of mine, Colleen Downey, (who confided that she used to experience the same feeling) how she managed to overcome her fear. She told me that one night it just dawned on her that she is never actually alone.

There are over seven billion people in the world tonight. No matter how I feel — happy or sad, scared or angry, lost or alone (or sinking like a stone) — somebody out there has felt the same way before at some time. This person may even feel how I am feeling right now. Songs like, “Cary On” by Fun, remind us that we are not alone and encourage us to remain hopeful.

Then, instead of thinking about how scared and alone I feel, I think about all of the people who love me. I think about my friends and my family. I go through the list one by one, and I visualize what each of them might be doing at this moment. Watching TV, laughing over a beer with friends, playing a board game at a comic book shop, returning from a long day at work to an empty house… By the time I get through that list, I don’t feel alone or scared any longer.

So I dedicate this song to Jon, who is about to go through another brutal round of chemotherapy. And I dedicate it to anyone out there tonight who might need to be reminded that we are never really alone — simply because we are all human.


Do not worry, love. I am here.

Please consider donating. Even if it is only five dollars, every little bit will help Jon and his family pay for medical costs as he continues to battle Burkitt's Lymphoma.

Giving to Jonathan Minner and his family during this time of crisis is easy and safe. Using the Paypal Giving Widget to the right, select the amount you wish to donate and click on the "give" button. If you are on a mobile device or, you may alternately use the "donate" button below. Please note, if you use the button below rather than the widget, your donation and name will NOT display to the right.

You will be taken to the Paypal website to complete your transaction using your Paypal account, credit card or bank account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Bethany Culp at polymediastudio@gmail.com.

An Update on Jon, and Calvin Plays the Banjo: Part 2

Jon Update via Marie Minner (Jon’s Mother):  

“He has enjoyed being home for the last 10 days, especially over the weekend which included a visit from Bethany (Bethany Culp). He remains extremely fatigued with some generalized aches and pains probably from the WBC booster he got last week, but overall feeling fairly well. Last night he ran a temp that easily responded with Tylenol and none today. He will return to the hospital on Friday to start round four (series B), not his favorite. He has tried to limit going out to avoid getting sick, but wanted to take Bethany to his favorite eateries, Uncle Buds and Maniacs. Luckily his white count has been high enough to venture out. I would have gone stir-crazy by now but "he's hanging in there". Everyone at work ask me how he's doing and I guess that's my best answer. We are taking one day at a time and thankful for every one of them, our friends and family and Dr. Murphy and the medical staff at WMC.” 

A few people have requested to hear more of Calvin Minner’s banjo music, so I’ve uploaded a second video:


Please consider donating. Even if you can only afford five dollars, every little bit will help Jon pay for medical costs as he continues to battle Burkitt's Lymphoma. Giving to Jonathan Minner during this time of crisis is easy and safe. Click on the "donate" button below. You will be taken to the Paypal website to complete your transaction using your Paypal account, credit card or bank account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Bethany Culp at polymediastudio@gmail.com.

A Night in Tennessee

Jon's father, Calvin Minner, is an award winning banjo player. When I visited Jon this weekend in Tennessee, he played for us. I believe that it is impossible to feel sad listening to banjo music.

Those are the moments I enjoy the most — spending time with family and friends, safe and warm indoors on a cold night, letting the music sooth away the rough edges and fill my soul with comfort. Four days seemed like such a short time, but I was so fortunate to be able to spend time with Jon between treatments when he is feeling most like himself. Being affected by cancer makes me want to hold on to every happy moment. I’m learning to live and love day by day, which is what I should have been doing all along.

Please consider donating. Even if you can only afford five dollars, every little bit will help Jon pay for medical costs as he continues to battle Burkitt's Lymphoma. Giving to Jonathan Minner during this time of crisis is easy and safe. Click on the "donate" button below. You will be taken to the Paypal website to complete your transaction using your Paypal account, credit card or bank account.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Bethany Culp at polymediastudio@gmail.com.