Round #5 of Chemo today

Hazy old day at the Huntsman, that's the Great Salt Lake out there in the haze, beyond downtown. Here today for Chemo #5. — withBlake Moss at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Words of Encouragement

Some words of encouragement from the wall of inspiration here at the infusion center — withBlake Moss at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Winning the SLC Hockey Division Title 2013

I'm ecstatic about winning the SLC hockey division title last night with my team, Ice Pak, and dedicating our first championship to our teammate Blake Moss, who's in the middle of battling cancer. Proud to be his teammate and proud to be his good friend! Keep fightin' Blake!

~ From Christiaan O'Connor

Chemo #4, At the Huntsman Again

Here we are again, round number 4.  After today we'll be two thirds of the way through. 

Dr. Halwani showed us the CT scan today, it was good to actually see it with our own eyes, he showed us the results in comparison to the scan from the one taken in England on 23 December.  The mass is considerably smaller than it was, about a 60% reduction.  Most noticeable to me was how much room Blake's heart has now - it was really squashed in the first image.  No wonder his heart was pounding and he was getting all those symptoms.  No wonder he was flagging on the ice and so easily getting winded. (Apparently some of his teammates were beginning to talk...!) We were definitely encouraged after talking with Dr. Halwani and seeing the results.  It's made the possibility of this being gone altogether all the more real.

Our heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who has reached out to us, people have been so unbelievably generous, friends old and new, friends of friends, relatives, acquaintances, old work colleagues, long distance travel buddies, and even complete strangers.  We feel so loved, so blessed to have you out there.  Your kindness and generosity has been truly overwhelming.  Thank you for the numerous messages, emails and Facebook posts. Thanks to those of you who've reached out personally to Blake, getting him out the house is quite the feat at the moment and I know he appreciates your efforts and so do I.  Thanks to everyone who has helped us out with the children, the impromptu playdates and the peace of mind knowing they are well looked after while we're at doctor's and hospital visits.  Thanks also for the dinner invitations; going out has become difficult lately but of course we still love to socialize with friends.  And a special shout out goes to all the lovely people who have brought us dinner.  You have no idea how massively helpful this is on so many levels.  It's not just a dinner, it's so much more than that and we are supremely grateful to those of you who've taken the trouble to make or bring us something.  Thank you, all of you, so very very much

Update on the CT Scan

Thank you everyone for your positive thoughts and kind messages. We finally heard back from Blake's scan and the mass is responding well to chemo and has reduced in size, so that's good news. Thanks again for thinking of us, sorry if I haven't responded to personal messages, but will get round to them all eventually xx

A note of Encouragement from Lucy Wood,

"went for a walk yesterday along the beach on the north east coast. The sun was shining with a biting wind. xxx"

No News on the CT Scan Yet - Thank you for all the positive thoughts and messages

Blake had his CT scan today, we won't find out the results probably until Thursday when the pathologist and the consultant have had the chance to look at the images. But thank you THANK YOU for all the positive thoughts and wonderful messages - it has really helped alot. Thank you so so much xoxo

Please send positive thoughts

Hi all Blake has his first CT scan since we started chemo tomorrow (Monday). We're feeling very positive that the mass has responded well to treatment, but obviously feeling rather apprehensive. I'd be really grateful if you could send positive thoughts, and picture Blake well. 

Here are some photos to help you picture a happy, healthy Blake XOXO

Trying to enjoy some normalcy

As I think most of you are aware, Blake had his third round of chemo on Valentine's Day.  Not the nicest way to spend it but at least we did get to hang out together all day.  He tolerated it fine although he always comes home in a bit of a daze and feeling really 'weird' - no wonder after being pumped with strong chemicals for the better part of a day :-(  Since then, he's battling the usual symptoms - tight kidneys, sore stomach and extreme fatigue.  He finds it hard to walk up the stairs some days, but during more energetic periods we've been able to go out and enjoy some normalcy.  He even managed to sled a couple of runs with the kids the other day - it was too beautiful a day to stay indoors so I coaxed him out and got some much needed vitamin D.

He is scheduled for round 4 of chemo on Thursday 7 March, and a couple of days before that he'll have a CT scan to see how the chemo has affected the mass in his chest.  We are really keeping everything crossed and hope with all our hearts it has shrunk considerably. 

Thanks again for all your help and kind and positive thoughts.  The support we have received has been overwhelming.

Much love from us all xoxo

Not the Best Place to Celebrate Valentines Day

Not the best place to be spending Valentine's Day, but the view from the infusion room ain't too bad. Bit hazy today...

Thank you to our mysterious Valentine who left a lovely thoughtful gift on our front doorstep for when we came home from hospital. C'mon, own up, so we can thank you properly :-)

An update - Round 3 of Chemo

We're back at Huntsman hospital today for round 3 of chemo. We wanted to express our appreciation for all the kind thoughts and messages, it truly warms the heart. I'll keep you updated on how things go today... please send positive thoughts...! 

Chemo Round 3

Thinking of you today Blake!! Chemo Round 3!! If I were there I would bake you some Valentine's Day Cookies today...but I will be there in March my dear!!  Aimee

Every Little Thing is Going to be Alright

Love you guys!  Ashley

Weekend Escape to Sundance

Our lovely relaxing weekend at Sundance didn't start out as planned :-( Four car pile up in the snow, no-one hurt thankfully.

Back in Utah - Chemo Round 2

Just to let you all know that we're back in Utah, Blake had his second chemo last Thursday which has made him super tired but he hasn't been sick, so that's definitely an improvement on the first round. We're looking at 4 more rounds of chemo (here in Utah at the Huntsman) and then probably radiation. Thanks again for all your positive thoughts, vibes and prayers xoxo

What's been going on

A note from Julie, One of my favorite Amos Lee tracks! Thought of you Blake Moss. Perhaps you'll treat us to your version round the campfire come spring.

I would certainly settle for this one. Cheers darlin!

We have our Moments but we are holding up so far

Blake actually seems to be handling it all pretty well. Yes we both have our moments when we feel like we can't take it any more, but the frequent trips to the hospital here have meant that we have been able to spend a lot of time together, far more than we would have done under normal circumstances. And it's been an opportunity for Emily and Oliver to spend a lot of time with my parents, who've been great. Emily gets cross when Daddy has to keep going to the hospital, but really they've been blissfully unaware. They know Daddy is ill and will be for a while, but they seem to be taking it all in their stride and I'm grateful for that.

I do wonder if it will all come crashing down on us once we get home. Thankfully, Blake's parents are planning on coming to Utah as soon as we know when we're flying home, they'll pick us up at the airport and stay for a while. That will be a great support for us and I know Blake can't wait to see them.

More to come soon.

Making a few plans to get back to Utah...

Blake had his post chemo check up today at the hospital, everything went well, his infection has all but gone and his chest looks better. Although of course he has to finish the course of antibiotics. GOOD NEWS is that we got the results of the bone marrow biopsy back and it was all clear, so that was a huge relief.

We have got quite a bit sorting out to do before we can fly back to Utah. I've been in touch with the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and have lined up an appointment with a consultant there. They want the actual slides of the biopsies that Blake had, so I have asked the consultant here if that can be arranged, hopefully without too much trouble. We are just trying to iron everything out so we can fly back to Utah hopefully this coming Friday or Saturday.

Thanks again for all your support and love, it means so much to us,
XOXO

Just a quick update from this side of the pond...

Blake had his first round of chemo on 1st January - what a way to start 2013! He tolerated it well but has been feeling a bit off for the past couple of days, bad headache etc, so we went back to hospital today, just to get checked over, and it turns out he has a slight infection. He was given plenty of fluids and is now on antibiotics. Hopefully he'll be feeling better in a day or so.

He has a post chemo check up at the hospital on Tuesday (8th) and we are hoping he might be well enough to return home soon after that and resume his chemo treatments there... so we might all be back in Utah by the end of the week...

Thanks again for all your messages, prayers and thoughts.

 Much love
Ali and Blake XOXO

2013 will be tough for us but I am hopeful it will be a good year

Thank you so much for all your messages and emails.  It's so great to know you are thinking of us.

Just a quick update (sorry if I'm repeating to those I've already emailed back individually) - Blake has diffuse large B cell lymphoma, which is a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma and we have been reassured that this responds very well to treatment.  He is on R-CHOP chemo therapy for this - he started the steroid part a few days ago and today started the rest of the regimen, which includes the actual chemo.  The nurses and doctors here have been fantastic, they even let him come home last night for New Year's Eve prior to starting the chemo which was a very welcome reprieve, he was SO much happier as soon as he left the hospital and is in much better spirits today.  He can probably come home again tonight once he has received all the day's medications (he's on a drip, I left him a little while ago sitting up in bed watching movies). One of the consultants believes he can fly home much sooner than we originally thought, we are still unsure as to when exactly (depends on how he responds to the chemo today) but there is a possibility we could come home within the next week or so and have the rest of the chemo treatments there.  

Thanks again for all your kind words and messages.  It really means a lot.  The sun is shining today and the world just seems a brighter place than it was just a few short days ago.  2013 will be tough for us but I am hopeful it will be a good year!  

Happy New Year to you all

With much love and blessings

Alison and Blake