Another update: Return to the hospital and a headache that won't quite

After I left the hospital on Monday 02/24/2025 I became extremely sick. I was throwing up, had extreme diarrhea, was nauseous to the extreme and the pain in my abdomen was debilitating. I was so ill, I had to go to the emergency room at 1:00 am. They gave me some fluids, pain medication, and nausea medicine and then sent me home. In the morning we called the Acute care team at Huntsman and they told us to come in immediately. After an evaluation, I was admitted to the hospital again. 

Back in the hospital was not the plan. I was supposed to be recovering from the chemo and doing better but alas I was very sick instead. Once again the team at Huntsman was amazing and they were able to get things under control and I was able to return home. So all-in-all I spent eight days in the hospital when it was only supposed to be five. Needless to say, everyone knows us on the hematology floor and we are getting a system down as to what we need to bring to the hospital to make it as comfortable as possible. 

As I get further away from the chemo treatment the side effects are lessening and I hope in the next few days my mouth sores will resolve and I will be able to talk normally and eat more solid foods. I hope the fatigue will also improve, but much of that is related to my anemia. Before I left the hospital blood tests showed that my red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells tanked. They went so low they gave me a blood transfusion, which, was another reality check of how real this cancer is. 

When I left the hospital they indicated that I would have to now have to have my blood drawn 3 days a week to check the levels. Our first appointment was scheduled for this last Friday at the Farmington Clinic which is about 15 min from our home whereas the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City is about 45 min away which was going to make it nice. But we got a call on Thursday indicating we need to go SL because I most likely will have to get some blood products. I guess the infusion therapy in Farmington doesn’t infuse blood products which makes sense as it would be a lot to store properly. So, if my numbers are low after the blood draw I would have to go to SL. So hopefully my numbers will improve over time so that we can just go to Farmington. 

After the hospital, I developed a severe headache that made me nauseous and unable to function. The headache was a combination of anemia, lack of sleep, and, the migraines that I get from time to time. It was pretty well under control when we went for my transfusion but just before it started getting worse. I asked for some pain medicine which helped but an hour later the headache was back I asked for something else so they called Dr. Shami he was concerned that something more serious may be at play so ordered a CT scan to make sure. I came back clean so we were happy about that but the headache was still there so he gave me more pain meds. We started at Huntsman at 11:20 am and didn’t leave until 7:00 pm. Needless to say, it was a long day. But after everything they sent me home with some pain meds and I am riding out the headache storm and it is getting better.

I am grateful for the technology that allows our ward to Zoom our sacrament meeting as my numbers were too low to go. Today was Fast and Testimony meeting where members were allowed to come to the pulpit and bear their testimony, unlike normal service where people give talks. Several testimonies made me reflect on the covenants I have made including especially those that I made in the temple. Covenants that have blessings associated with them like our family being sealed for time and all eternally not just until death do we part. These covenants are the foundation of what gets me through these tough times. I am bound with God and he has unlimited blessing for me as I keep my covenants. In addition, it gives me access to His power which helps me endure trials.

“President Russell M. Nelson taught us how to do this. He promised, “Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ … [to lift] us above the pull of this fallen world.” In other words, we can access the power of God, but only when we connect with Him through sacred covenants.” (Accessing God’s Power through Covenants”  Elder Dale G. Renlund April 2023)

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As a reminder, I have a friend who has launched a Fundraiser for our family. Click the link and read the story. You can share it, donate, and/or join the team. https://www.gofundme.com/f/jasons-fight-faith-family-and-the-will-to-beat-cancer Please encourage your friends to share my story on social media.