Author Archives: nashi

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About nashi

Half scientist, half artist. One whole lotta sass.

Treatment Update: Day 7

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Hello Team,
Since there is notice of a lull in updates, I thought I would take a second to let you all know that Tyler is now temporarily at home. He will receive all his treatments for December in the outpatient Moores Cancer Center, starting today. I think I can speak for Tyler, Marlene, and myself, when I say fatigue had definitely set in. The hospital life does not allow for much sleep. That is the plus in being released to go home for now, a chance at rest. The negative is that Tyler’s cell counts are expected to drop significantly in the next few days. He will have to take his temperature frequently and go back to the hospital if it rises. The chemo is also compounding Tyler’s fatigue. I imagine even if he is able to sleep, he is not getting relief right now as those cancer (and good) cells are dying out and draining him. His immune system is now at the bottom, so germs are to be avoided at all costs for the next week or so.

Treatment Update: Day 5

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“Keep your face always upward toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”

-Walt Whitman

I could get really philosophical right now. My family says I have a knack for the wishy-washy (they use a more vibrant term), but what I have witnessed this past week is such a flood of love and support from friends and family, that I cannot help but feel slapped in the face on how I was handling our gift of life. Two weeks ago I had a definite list of priorities. Figure out my job situation, train to be faster (or fast as, let’s be realistic here) Tyler on bike,  train my dog to stop barking at select people he doesn’t like, train my dog to not bark at animals on tv, train my dog to not cry when his armpits are touched, and follow Ms. Leigh’s assigned diet to keep me healthy. Easy enough, but enough to keep me busy.

Then we got slapped. All of us. Every single one of you. I know you feel it. What the heck is going on here? Why Tyler? Why the most healthy, strong, beautiful, kind, loving, hard-working, passionate person we know? God knows. A few weeks ago my coworker was diagnosed with cancer, and asked me, ‘What did I do, why am I being punished?’. This is not a punishment, I told her, you can’t see it now, you might not see it for a very long time, but this is a lesson. Her eyes got big and I saw the wheels turning, ‘Maybe this will bring my family closer?’.

Maybe. I said.

So here we are, and my heart is open, and your hearts are open, and I have played team sports my whole life, but I have never felt a camaraderie like this. My priorities have changed, and at the top of my list: FAMILY, FRIENDS. Make my relationships count. This is all we have. This is what we are here for.

Tyler with my soccer star cousin Hamid

So Team Tyler, without further delay, I have the current update for our Hero.

He is kicking cancer in the heart, literally. So far the most uncomfortable side effects are coming from the steroids. Hiccups, irritability, difficulty sleeping, an overall ‘weird’ feeling. Sound harmless but they are magnified in this 10 x 10 room. Cell counts are currently still normal, but are expected to drop significantly in the next few days. That is when we should expect weakness and an increased risk for infection. His spirit is strong and his eyes are bright. So far, so great.

Bracelets are not in yet, I will post as soon as they are delivered.  And, special thanks to my lovely cousin Kathryn Kopczynski for sharing the quote at the top–Tyler loves Whitman  🙂

Treatment Update: Day 2

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The Champion with Dr. Michel (oncology/hematology)

Day 1 is done. Yay! Lot of love and concern for how Tyler is doing after his first round. I can happily report that he took it like a champ. As this is now going to be the start of chemo build-up in his system, we will still have to wait for possible side effects to show face. Tyler is still under a quarantine of sorts, so visitation is to be determined.

For those that are interested, we were informed today that the cancer has been detected in bone marrow but not in his spinal fluid. As mentioned in the treatment plan, I think the doctors were expecting this, as this type of lymphoma is common in bone marrow.

“This does not change treatment plan or prognosis” – Dr. Curtin

Keep the support coming. On to Day 2!

Team Tyler – get ready to unite!

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I received this message today from my family in Milwaukee, I am super pumped on this idea and I hope you all are too:

Hi Tash,

Kathryn came up with a really great idea for Team Tyler. There are 600 lime green “TEAM TYLER” rubber wrist bands coming your way — in about 7 days. You can hand these out to  your family and friends to symbolize that we are all a united front under “TEAM TYLER”.  Lance Armstrong started this bracelet movement to increase awareness of the disease and solicit support. Lance beat it and so will Tyler. Please mail us a dozen so that we can also wear the bracelet and be on the team!

We’re thinking of you all!
Love,
Aunt Debby, Kathryn, Uncle Jim and Anthony

Stay tuned Team Tyler – bracelets are on the way! A BIG HUGE THANK YOU to Aunt Debby, Kathryn, Uncle Jimbo and Anthony. Great idea guys, we love you!

Treatment Update: Day 1

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Tyler is mad at cancer. Let’s call this pre-game and Tyler is getting pumped. Tonight at 10 pm he will get his first dose of chemo. He had a port implanted in his chest today. That will be his line to take in all his chemo friends and use them to punish. He is now warming up, getting fluids pumped to prep his delicate innards for the fight ahead.

An individual’s response to medicine is just that, individual. We have no idea what to expect. We are taking deep breaths, and thinking before we speak. There is tension, no question about it.

A NOTE ABOUT VISITATION AND GIFTS: Continue reading →

The Weirdest Sense of Relief: The Treatment Plan

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Tyler on Red Rocket after 100mi ride

The waiting in the last week has been torturous. Maddening. Actually, I won’t even try to type those emotions out, because there are no words. And that is just from my point of view, to even try to imagine how Tyler has felt in the last few days is beyond my simple human brain. So when the treatment plan was briefly outlined by Tyler’s doctor last night, and I felt like jumping for joy after, and Tyler was stunned and pokerfaced, I will never know how or if our emotions ever intersected.

For those that were not in the room, here is my side of the story: Continue reading →