Michael Stem Cell Transplant Center at Mayo Rochester Minnesota

So Michaels been in the hospital since Saturday —he had a really bad infection that’s still going on and then they were studying a tertiary infection.

This was the day he was going to be released at least for a few hours, and then have daily infusions of IVs and platelets.

We were getting all ready to go ~~~~and then then Infectious Disease doctor came in and in his Hickman line, there seems to be a bacteria, which is causing an tertiary infection within him. So he didn’t get to wear his new Hawaiian shirt and head out the door.

But when he does get to do as he gets to have a bunch of blood drawn, a bunch of cultures, a bunch of tests, a pretty full CT scan, and even though it’s kind of dangerous what they’re going to do is, they’re going to remove the Hickman line and hopefully that will clear up that the third infection and help with the second infection …………so that’s where we are at.

We know this is the best place to be, it really is, it’s just been twice now where they’ve caught us just as we were kind of getting ready to head out the door where they’ve said oops you’ve got XYZ you’ve got to stay ——know a little bit heartbreaking and nerve-racking but one of the beauties of this is that each time was perfect timing right as we just as we were walking out the door.

So his Hickman line will be removed, it’s a little bit dangerous because he doesn’t really have the blood levels to do the surgery—- but they are pumping him up with lots and lots of platelets…. And it’s all going very very quickly…… the decision was made at 11:30…. And he will be in surgery by 3:00……

The good news is is that he is grafting. He is going through Nadir, in which the stem cells that were put into him, are grafting within his body. So that’s rhe good news ———-but he’s other things are complicating everything It is nerve-racking and unsettling, and a little on the dangerous side—but he’s got a good spirit and sassy and I love him more than words can say. —— xox
Caitlin Canon
Mike Canon
Michael Stem Cell Transplant Center at Mayo Rochester Minnesota

Update: Michael is still in the hospital—- he has an infection that is slowly getting better— so that is good— they are holding him because now there may be a tertiary infection— they are trying to narrow down what that may be— and then what happens— he is looking much better— he’s got his sassy back— he still is having a little problem with temperature regulation—- so we are kind of out of one frying pan and into another—- but we don’t know if the other is serious, or can be handled with a specific drug, right now he is on a broad spectrum one— but only the cultures will reveal what’s needed. He is still in the midst of Nadir….. which in a nutshell the stem cells that he was infused with, which were his own, they are bonding within throughout his body.
Right now it’s a holding pattern.
Love - Caitlin
Michael Stem Cell Transplant Center at Mayo Rochester Minnesota Mike Canon

This…… this is the hard part. This is the mean, evil, terrifying awful part of cancer………..this is nadir.
This is where it hurts, the pain, the nausea, the utter exhaustion, where his body is working so hard to incorporate the stem cells that were transplanted into him.
He’s always been the strongest, kindest most amazing man I’ve ever met……..and he is fighting so incredibly hard. But cancer is ravaging and relentless…it’s tricky….. and it’s evil, ……it plays by its own fu***ng ever changing rules.

He’s is fiercely fighting,…..

I’ve never felt so helpless and utterly heartbroken.

He’s battling everyday…… and these days, these days are just running into one day after the next— didn’t even register that it was the 4th….. it’s all just one long very fu**ed up piece of time.
All I can say is that he’s going to get through this, one way or the other….. but for right now though ~~~It’s so heartbreakingly fu**ed up…….

*this is not a yippieskippy post….. it is cancer, and I’m not going to sugarcoat cancer— cancer doesn’t get a fu***ng sugarcoating.