Arrangements

Dad passed away Saturday morning at about 1am. We are extremely thankful for all of your thoughts, prayers, cards, voicemails, e-mails, and loving support. There will be a viewing on Tuesday, with the funeral following on Wednesday, details below:

Tuesday viewing: Muehlig Funeral Chapel 2-5pm & 6:30-8pm.

Muehlig Funeral Chapel

403 S Fourth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Phone Number: (734) 663-3375

http://www.funeralhomesguide.com/Michigan/AnnArbor/MuehligFuneralChapel.html

Wednesday funeral: St. Thomas the Apostle Church @ 10am.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church

530 Elizabeth Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

http://sainttc.com/

"Par is always in sight"

Tuesday September 27, 2011

Chris here with a much overdue update.

I'll start off where the last update left off. Dad spent one week in the hospital while the doctors worked towards raising his sodium levels back to normal. His doctor recommended he try a new drug, Tolvaptan. This drug maintains dad's sodium level, and he will have to remain on this drug for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, this drug also makes dad very tired.

In the weeks since dad's return from the hospital, he has resumed chemotherapy and radiation. Midway through the chemotherapy treatments, a scan revealed that the cancer had spread further, which meant that chemo treatments had to stop in favor of radiation. All of these treatments have made dad very tired, if you can imagine.

Last Friday hospice care started at home. Med Equip also came on Friday night to set up a more comfortable bed as well as oxygen for dad. The oxygen will greatly help as dad has had some difficulty breathing (which results in making him feel even more tired). The new bed allowed dad to enjoy a Wolverines, Tigers, and an improbable Lions win in comfort over the weekend.

Dad continues to be very tired as a result of the drugs and endless treatments. However, he remains very positive and appreciates everyone's thoughts, prayers, and support.

August 11, 2011 update

Came in for a blood test prior to chemo on Monday. Went back home and received a phone call from the Dr.'s office who had read the results and said I needed to immediately go to the ER. All my vitals had crashed to new lows. My Sodium level was the primary problem, which should normally be up around 135. It was down to 112. So the week has been lots of blood tests and drugs, and my sodium level is now up to 121. Its been a struggle trying to find a new plan of action. As of today, I think we have things solved and should be home for the weekend. Love Tom.

July 13, 2011 Update

Chris here with an update in regards to the previous update. Further results from the CT scan show that the cancer has spread to parts of the spine and brain. What this means is that the plan to start Topotecan and AVE0005 is on hold. Instead, radiation is set to start either Friday or Monday at the latest. The radiation will be for parts of the brain, and we are waiting to hear if the doctors will also be targeting the chest in their treatments. The treatments will be Monday through Friday for three weeks and then the doctors will regroup. Dad is feeling very tired and is sleeping as much as possible. We appreciate all of the support we have been receiving from all of you.

Went to the doctor this morning for the results of the CT scan & the news was not so good. Despite all the chemo, the cancer has been growing so I'm officially out of the Mayo study. I will be starting a new treatment with Topotecan which is a second-line chemo agent which has been shown to prolong survival and improve symptoms. I will be getting this drug with another randomized drug AVE0005. I get a brain scan on Monday to make sure no cancer has spread there sine my last scan. If I'm good to go, we start the Topotecan immediately.
How do I feel about this? Mayo was a 50/50 chance of getting a placebo. God didn't like the odds either!
Still looking for the miracle. Thanks for your continued prayer.
Tom

A short update today. Should be lots more info after my doctor appointment next week. Chemo #6 went very well. No nausea at all but I did spend most of the next day in bed. It just drained all my strength. Fortunately I rebound quickly. Thursday was my CT scan to see what effect the chemo has had. That darn barium contrast had me on my knees in front of the precelain princess over a span of 9 hours later in the evening. Nasty stuff! I'll have the results of the scan on the 7th. Right now I'm scheduled to have the Mayo Clinic infusion on the 17th. Will keep you posted.
Blessings,
Tom

Cheryl here to thank you all very much for remembering Tom with your prayers, mass cards, and get well wishes. Currently Tom is beginning his 6th round of chemo on June 15. Upon completion of the 6th round he will further qualify for an experimental trial out of the Mayo Clinic at Johns Hopkins. They collaborate with St. Joe's and he would be getting those treatments here. If Tom fully qualifies for this particular trial, we are asking your prayers that he would be given the real deal rather than the placebo. Approximately two weeks after this chemo he will have a full CT scan to see if the tumor has shrunk. If it has, we begin the study immediately, including infusion of the test virus, radiation to the brain, physical exams, blood tests, all on a frequent basis. Since day one of his chemo, Tom has hardly missed a beat except for a few days of nausea which we were able to get taken care of with some different drugs. He has been going to work daily, as well as coaching the boys golf team at FGRHS. This 12th season will be his last and his boys qualified for regionals but did not advance to states. We come full circle on 6/13 when Tom is being inducted into the Detroit Catholic League Hall of Fame.
We especially thank all of you for your many prayers and acts of love as we have certainly felt God's presence in this part of the journey.
God bless each of you in a special way!!!
Love and prayers