HAPPY Thanksgiving to ALL of our Friends and Family...

We are truly blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives and for that we are extremely THANKFUL for... This has been a week full of doctors appointments for Hunter. Between City of Hope, transfusions, and his regular appointments he has been there almost everyday. This Chemo treatment (ICE) is very strong on his body already, he has needed 2 blood transfusions and 2 platelet units. He will go in on Friday to get one more unit of blood (making it 3) and depending on his counts if he will need more platelets. His next appointment will be on Monday to see if he needs anymore of anything else. Hunter is scheduled to go back into Chemo next Tuesday (Dec. the 1st), but it will all depend if his counts are good. Please PRAY for good counts so that he can stay on schedule. LOVE and PRAYERS to ALL...may you find the "little" blessing in all the things that you do...

Love, The Herrick Family

City of Hope

Friday the 20th Hunter began running a fever around 101. His counts are down from the chemo treatment and was tired most of the weekend. Monday November 23rd, was a visit to the clinic where antibiotics were given. He lost ten pounds over the last two weeks but, his appetite is returning. Then a trip to City of Hope to meet Dr Rosenthal, Director of the Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation team. Discussion of what to expect from the treatment, outcome, side effects, dangers, percentages and hospitalization of at least 30 days or more in a negative pressure, germ free room... They will harvest the stem cell by giving medication that will boost his stem cell production and allow the stem cells to detach from the marrow and enter the blood stream. He will be hooked to a machine, much like the one they use to separate platelets from the blood, and the stem cells will be harvested and stored for the transplant of a later date. The hope is to get them in one session but, it may take more. Then it was back to Kaiser for a much needed blood and platelet transfusion, he went in looking gray and came out much pinker and ate a good dinner.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers,

The Herricks

Season Ticket Family Pizza Fundraiser...

Where do we begin our "THANK YOU's". We are so extremely blessed to live in such an amazing community! When we moved here almost 17 years ago, little did we know that Cypress would be our extended family. We would like to start off by THANKING Steve and Lisa Fosmire, and the owners of the Season Ticket Family Pizza. We would also like to THANK the STAFF for all of their hard work and SUPPORT! There are so many people to THANK besides this amazing community that we live in, we would like to THANK; the Landell Staff and Families, Lexington Jr. High Staff and Students, Cypress High ASB, Teachers and Coaches, and lets not forget all of our family and friends..... I would like to send a special ThANks to Lori Morrison, Kim Huettl and Debbie Neary for all of their hard work in organizing this event! They did an amazing job!!!

THANK you again to EVERYONE for all of your LOVE, SUPPORT and PRAYERS,
Love,
The Herrick Family

First Chemo Treatment

November 11th - November 16th
Hunter went in for his first round of his new treatment (known as ICE). It was a six day treatment that brought back a lot of memories for Hunter. There were some rocky times but we got through the first round and it's one that's off the calendar. I want to THANK all of those who came to visit him. It really helps when he gets visitors because it keeps him distracted which is a huge plus!!! THANK you for all the love, support and PRAYERS...

November 6, 2009 we had a plan of treatment meeting with the doctor. Hunter's treatment will be 9-12 months and it will be very aggressive. Some of the plan listed below may be adjusted slightly due to test results and other variables.

2 cycles of chemo (6 days in the hospital, Every 21 days beginning with first day of last Chemo)
Stem cell harvest ( 1-7 days at City of Hope)
Surgery to remove the tumor and clear the margins
4 cycles of chemo (as above)
Stem cell bone marrow transplant (at City of Hope 4-6 week hospital stay in a germ free room)
Radiation - Monday through Friday for 6 weeks possible stay in housing by Sunset facility in LA

The doctor is in contact with other doctors nationwide to get the best possible treatment for Hunter. Jeanna and Joe will seek a second opinion for reassurance.

The doctor did request that all persons in contact with Hunter or the Herrick Home get a flu shot. Home schooling will be done because Hunter's blood counts will go very low making him susceptible to infections.