A New Week Begins..

As the new week begins we are starting testing for City of Hope. We have a lot of tests scheduled this week, some included are CT Scan, Bone Scan, Bone Age Test, Blood Work, MRI, Sinus Test, Dentist, and many more appointments. They need to make sure that all of Hunter is functioning well and is in the best possible condition that he can be in before he begins this tough fight. We are PRAYING that all tests come back GREAT and that Hunters health stays on the upside so that we can move on to the next phase of his treatment. We have had to put this off a couple times now due to his illnesses but are praying that this time will be a go. We know that it's going to be a long and tough treatment but he wants it over with so that he can move on to the next and hopefully soon see some light at the end of that tunnel.

Hunter has been working had with his home schooling, trying to get ahead so that when he does go into the City of Hope he won't be so far behind when he gets out. He has been doing an amazing job at keeping up and staying focussed. His goal is to be ready for his senior year, graduate, and go to a great college to hopefully be a doctor of some kind. We will see if that dream changes at all but as for now...we hold onto each and every dream...

Thank you again for ALL of your LOVE, SUPPORT and PRAYERS,
The Herrick Family

First Week HOME..

Hunter's first week home started off a little rough for everyone! Hunter had his normal doctor's appointment on Monday and when he went to this they felt something on the outside of his scar. They really weren't sure what it was but they knew that it was swollen and that it wasn't there before he had gotten sick this last time with pneumonia. The next step would be to take an MRI to get a better look at it and see what it was. They scheduled an MRI for first thing on Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon we received a call from the doctor and she told us that there was "something" there but she really wasn't sure what it was? She knows that it was bigger from the previous MRI that was taken in January. The problem was that Hunter had such a MAJOR surgery on his back to remove the first tumor that it still isn't fully healed. This made it hard for her to know exactly what it was. Our biggest fear was that a new tumor was growing. She wanted Hunter to do a PET scan the following morning to get a better look so that she can see exactly what was going on. So, Wednesday morning Hunter went in for his PET scan and needless to say WE didn't sleep much, if any. On Wednesday afternoon we received a call from the doctor and she told us that the area is clean..THANK YOU GOD. What this means is that the area did not light up, she knew that certain areas would light up due to the surgery but the "area of concern" was not lighting up. Most importantly..it wasn't a new tumor!!! She believes that it could be muscle coming back together, veins or something to that sort due the extensive surgery he had at the end of December. There were no words that could express the weight that was lifted when we received that phone call. This time we cried for joy!! We took Hunter out to celebrate that night and the rest of the week has been great! Hunter is getting stronger and feeling better. His counts are continuing to go in the right direction and he is starting to eat great!

We will have a Doctor's appointment this week, but as of now we are scheduled to start City of Hope (Stem Cell Replacement) on April 11th. We will keep you updated as things progress.

THANK you for all of your LOVE, SUPPORT and PRAYERS,
The Herrick Family

Hunter is HOME!

Hunter came home Thursday at around 3pm and is very happy to be out. He is taking medication for pneumonia and has lost a fair amount of weight and must put it back on before the stem cell rescue can began. He is still a little weak but, went to visit friends today and enjoy the sun on his face.
Thanks again for all the good thoughts and prayers,
The Herricks

Back to Anaheim

Hunter was transported last night at about 10pm to Kaiser on Lakeview in Anaheim Hills. Eating more and recovering. Please put the word out and I'm sure he would love some visitors. Not sure of when they'll let him out but we hope its soon.

Hungry!

Hunter finally ask and ate food yesterday without one of us force feeding him. His blood counts are starting to rise slowly and should help to get him out of the ICU. Hunter walked around the ICU for a couple minutes and is starting to cough up some of the mucus in his lungs. City of Hope - Stem Cell transplant has been delayed as a result of the illness 2 - 3 weeks.

Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts,

The Herricks

Fever Broke

Hunter broke his high fever early Saturday Morning! Its been around 99.7 since. He sat up in a chair, for an hour, for the first time in over a week. He is still very weak although his counts have started to come up a little. All good news! Still waiting for test and counts to climb higher. Best case is 1-2 more days in ICU and 4-5 in regular hospital room.

Friday Scope

Bronchoscope found some blood in his lungs most likely from his platelets being so low. Lung tissue looked healthy and samples were taken and sent to the lab. Fever was still a problem starting the day with 105.8 and staying most of the day at 103.5ish. He did get cleaned up and it seemed to wake him a little and he ate a small amount of applesauce and broth. He was given several units of blood, platelets, plasma and it seemed to help the blood pressure. Cool wet towels helped bring his fever down some and made him more comfortable.

Thanks for all the support,
The Herricks

Bronchoscopy 10:30 am

Friday at 10:30 am doctors will preform Bronchoscopy procedure to look in the lung through a thin camera and remove some flem/disease and test it to find the best way to treat Hunter. The sample will then need to be grown in the lab for 48 hours to determine what it is and what meds to use.
Also, Hunter has not eaten for 7 days so the are starting nutrition through his central line at about 2am. He has bouts of nausea and a lack of appetite have been tough and made him weak.
His bone marrow is starting to work as we can see some white blood cells slowly beginning to show in his counts. Hopefully this will soon began to help him fight this off.

Part Two

Doctor talk with us regarding Hunter lack of progress. A lung specialist will come in today and discuss operation in which Hunter will be put under and a scope will be inserted in to his lungs and a sample of the fluid will be taken then sent to lab to find out what can be done to more directly treat him. He was started on Tamaflu yesterday an antiviral for H1N1 and other Flu. It is believed his pneumonia is viral but, tough to say if other infections will or will not start because of him low immune system. The blood in his flem my be due to his low platelet counts but we will know more later.

Fever won't go away

Yesterday brought more of the same and up most of the night with 103 fever. Hunter has an hour or two where he seems to be ok then the fever jumps to 103 and Blood Pressure drops. Doctors started some antiviral meds and he was able to cough up a small amount of flem which appeared to have blood present. It was sent to the lab and we will see what that brings. Blood and platelets transfusion today, thanks to those of you have donated that to him. Wish I had answers for you but all I have is more questions for the doctors.

Doctor visit

CT scan yesterday and we were able to see the scan as the doctor showed us fluid in both lungs. Blood cultures are coming back negative for infections in the blood, so looks like pneumonia is what is causing the problems. Medications will take care of bacterial or fungal infections. However, if it is viral it will have to run its course, problem is his white blood cells, used to fight such infections, are at zero because of his last chemo. His count won't start to rise till probably Friday.

His fever is lower at times with tylenol (99 - 101) and his blood pressure is still fluctuates from 83/30 to 120/70. So prayers for a normal temp and higher BP will be appreciated.

Hoping its not viral and the meds do there job, as soon as he can stabilize his vitals he can leave the ICU and be moved to normal room and then home.

He seems to be feeling a little better over all. I am trying to update this daily for everyone, so if you can pass this blog address along it will help keep people informed.

Post a comment here and I will share it with Hunter.


Thanks for all the prayers
The Herricks

New Day

Hunter is still running a fever of 103 can't seem to shake it. Doctor are doing a CT Scan today to get a good look at his lungs. They are thinking it's pneumonia of some kind but waiting for blood cultures to rule out infection in his central line or fungal infection. Still on strong antibiotics- must be 10 IV bags hanging now. He had a rough night last night cough kept him up most of the night. He was able to keep down some clear liquids and jello yesterday afternoon and had some appetite, he had not eaten since Friday night. Seems to be more coherent yesterday and talked with us some at times.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Thanks

First we wanted to say THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for the fundraiser on Saturday! It was great to see everyone and can't thank Lisa Sharp, Mom Marie and the whole family and Shelly Bailey for putting it on. Joe and Hunter wished they could attend.

That brings us to the update. Hunter is very sick. He entered the Kaiser hospital in Anaheim, Saturday night and was air lifted to Kaiser Sunset in LA. He is in the ICU with a high fever and very low blood pressure. He is on an array of antibiotics till all the lab work comes back tonight. Because he just finished chemo his count are very low which adds to the problem of fighting this off. Please pray for his recovery and we will do are best to update more and make a longer post on the Saturdays fundraiser.