Trevor's Gift of Life Foundation fighting Aplastic Anemia

BONE MARROW ASPIRATION!

admin — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:34:24 +0000

Well- Monday Trevor had his Bone Marrow Aspiration. He did great asnd had only a slight headache afterwards. One Tylenol took care of it. I spoke with the PA that did the procedure and she was extremely pleased with not only how it looked, but also how easily came out. We won’t have results from the testing for 2-3 weeks as some of the marrow sample is sent to the Mayo Clinic for further testing too. His platelet count is holding steady around 83-87K even with the raised Cyclosporine doses. We are still having blood draws weekly until they get a consistant reading for his meds in his system. (I hope that makes sense to you as I know what they are doing but not sure how to explain it to you).

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and having Keith and Sylvia be able to join us. We have the entire week off school and Trevor will be speaking at the Charger’s blood drive again this year on the 25th. Other than that, we are staying close to home and relaxing as much as possible.

Hopefully we will have results before Thanksgiving, and if we do, I will update. If not, please have a terrific Thanksgiving and enjoy your families, turkey and pie!!!

All our love,

Dawn and Crew

HAPPY HALLOWEEN–ALMOST!

admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:30:29 +0000

WELL- ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER BLOOD DRAW. TREVOR’S NUMBERS ARE HANGING AROUND THE SAME, WITH HIS PLATELETS GOING UP 5K THIS WEEK AS OPPOSED TO DOWN 5K LIKE LAST WEEK. HIS CYCLOSPORINE LEVELS ARE A BIT LOWER THAN THE DOCTOR WOULD LIKE SO AFTER OUR PHONE CALL TOMORROW WITH THE HOSPITAL, WE SHOULD KNOW IF THEY WANT TO UP HIS MEDS A SLIGHT AMOUNT OR KEEP IT AT THIS LEVEL FOR A WHILE LONGER. TREVOR SEEMS FINE WITH HIS MOODS ON THE HIGHER DOSAGE, WHICH IN ITSELF IS AWESOME, FOR ALL OF US! HE IS DOING FANTASTIC IN ALL OF HIS HONORS CLASSES AND SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING SCHOOL NOW THAT THE BULLYING HAS STOPPED. HE HAS A TOURNEY NEXT WEEK FOR THE FLYERS AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. DREW IS PLAYING FALL BALL AND HIS TEAM IS 7-0 SO FAR. TED’S SCHEDULE IS FINALLY STARTING TO PICK BACK UP A BIT. HE’S BEEN DOING A LOT AROUND THE HOUSE WITH HIS HONEY DO LIST ALONG WITH HELPING MY MOM OUT A BIT WHEN NEEDED. I AM ENJOYING MY JOB AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT HAVE AN INTERVIEW SET UP FOR NOV. 4TH FOR FULL TIME AT DREW’S SCHOOL. THAT WOULD BE IDEAL SINCE FULL TIME COMES WITH MEDICAL BENEFITS, BUT WITH 35 PEOPLE APPLYING FOR 3 POSITIONS, WHO KNOWS WHO WILL GET IT. JUST HAVE TO KEEP POSITIVE AND GO IN TO IT WITH CONFIDENCE. MAY YOU ALL HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN! TAKE CARE——– DAWN AND CREW

WE SAW DR. KADODA

admin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:32:46 +0000

WELL- TED TOOK TREVOR TO SEE DR. KADOTA YESTERDAY. THE FINAL DECISION WAS TO RAISE TREVOR’S CYCLOSPORINE FROM 100 MG 2X A DAY TO 125 MG. 2X A DAY. HE ALSO SCHEDULED HIS ANNUAL BOME MARROW ASPIRATION FOR TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11TH IN THE AM. WE REALIZE HOW PAINFUL IT CAN BE FOR TREV BUT IT NEEDED YEARLY SO THEY HAVE A BASELINE NUMBER TO COMPARE THINGS TO AND TO CHECK VARIOUS PARTS OF HIS BLOOD AND MARROW TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM THE MEDS HAPPENING.

HIS LATEST BLOOD DRAW STAYED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AND NOW DR. KADOTA IS REQUIRING WE GET A DRAW WEEKLY UNTIL HIS PLATELET COUNT HITS AT LEAST 100K. WE ARE JUST GRATEFUL WE HAVE MADE OUR DEDUCTIBLE ALREADY! WELL-MAY YOU ALL HAVE A COOL FALL, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR OURS!

ALL OUR LOVE, DAWN AND CREW

admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:12:59 +0000

WOW! SORRY IT HAS BEEN SO LONG!

THINGS ARE GOING WELL! TREVOR’S NUMBERS CONTINUE TO STAY POSITIVE AND ARE EITHER GOING UP EVER SO SLOWLY OR MAINTAINING THEMSELVES. HE HAS BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID ANY COLDS FROM SCHOOL AND IS NOT PLAYING AS MUCH BASEBALL AS HE WOULD HAVE HOPED. GOLF SEEMS TO BE SPARKING TREVORS INTERESTS MORE THESE DAYS AS TED WAS ABLE TO GET HIM A NEW SET OF CUT DOWN CLUBS FOR HIM TO USE AND NOW ALL I HEAR IS “MOM, CAN YOU DRIVE ME TO THE GOLF COURSE AFTER I FINISH MY HOMEWORK?”.

WE HAVE A FLYERS BASEBALL TOURNEY IN SAN CLEMENTE THIS WEEKEND AND DOCTORS AND DENTIST APPT. NEXT WEEK.

i AM WORKING AT TREVOR’S MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH THE SPECIAL ED. DEPT AND I AM LOVING IT! I HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF KIDS AND GET TO SEE TREVOR DURING A FEW OF THE PASSING PERIODS, WHICH IS NICE. OTHER THAN SOME UNFORTUNATE BULLYING BY SOME BOYS TREVOR THOUGHT WERE HIS FRIENDS, SCHOOL IS GOOD. HE IS TRYING TO HANDLE IT ON HIS OWN BUT IT IS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT EITHER WE OR THE SCHOOL MUST STEP IN. I AM GIVING HIM UNTIL AFTER SCHOOL TODAY TO RESOLVE IT BEFORE TED & I STEP IN.

DREW IS LOVING BASEBALL. HIS FALL BALL TEAM, THE MIAMI CANES, ARE 4-0 SO FAR. PITCHING STARTED AND DREW IS LOVING IT AS WELL AS CATCHING.

TED IS SLOWING DOWN AT THE ACADEMY WHICH IS COMMON THIS TIME OF YEAR AND IS TRYING TO FIND THINGS TO OCCUPY HIS FREE TIME OTHER THAN POKER. REAL ESTATE HAS SPARKED HIS INTEREST SO FAR.

I HOWEVER, HAVE DECIDED TO PUT SCHOOL ON THE BACK BURNER FOR AT LEAST A SEMESTER OR TWO UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT MY SCHEDULE COMPLETELY FIRST.

I’LL UPDATE AFTER OUR APPT. NEXT WEEK.

HOPE YOU ARE ALL ENJOYING THE FALL COOLNESS, EXCEPT FOR US HERE ON THE WEST COAST WHO ARE ALL STILL IN SHORTS!

TAKE CARE-

DAWN AND CREW

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IS BEHIND US!

admin — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:06:24 +0000

Well, middle school started with nerves showing everywhere. Glad to say- both the boys came home with smiles and are happy with their classes, teachers and to see their friends. We haven’t had a blood draw in a few weeks and were supposed to get one 2 weeks ago but have been busy. With baseball starting up again tomorrow, we need to get a draw to establish a baseline reading for comparisions. Trevor looks good but is very tired as he is NOT a moring person and getting up at 6AM every morning is proving to be somewhat of a challenge. So far he has gotten up on time each day but we can’t say he has been happy about it, nor very cheerful either. Drew seems to get the brunt of it as there is no way he would try to give us the attitude. Drew has been very good at handling his grumpy brother by either ignoring him or making him laugh.

As for the rest of us, I am interviewing for a position at Carrillo school for 6 hours a day as well as being accepted with a scholarship to the National University to get my teaching credential. This will entail about 1 to 1 1/2 years of classes via the internet before I am certified. Along with working, it should be quite busy around here with all of us doing our studying. Trevor still wants me to heep him Gift of Life Challenge going strong as well as start a magazine for him that we would publish each quarter. Now, if I could just find a few more hours in each day, I may be able to figure it all out. Add baseball and all of it’s practices and games in there, I think I may need a lap top to take with me to get everything done that needs to be accomplished. At least I will be busy. Everyone who knows me, knows I need 87 things going on at once to fell fulfilled. I think I may just have gotten my wish, and then some! Ted has been busy at the Academy and I am sure things will begin to slow down now that winter is coming. He is the assistant coach for Drew’s fall ball baseball team, the Miami Canes! He still tries to fit on-line poker in to his schedule whenever possible along with playing catch and teaching Drew to pitch as he is now no longer on machine pitch baseball. well- that is how things are shaping up around here for now. I will update again soon when we get a draw and some more information. May you all enjoy these last days of warmth before fall settles in.

All our love,

Dawn and Crew

SECOND PLACE IN THE WORLD SERIES!

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:38:35 +0000

WELL- WHAT A FUN TIME WE HAD IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS. THE 11 DAYS SEEMED TO FLY BY AND IT WILL DEFINATELY BE A TRIP WE WILL ALL REMEMBER FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

TREVOR’S TEAM DID FANTASTIC! NOT ONLY DID THEY PLAY WELL, THEY CARRIED THEMSELVES ABOVE EVERY OTHER TEAM INVOLVED. FRUSTRATION IN THEMSELVES FOR SOME OF THE PLAYS THEY MADE, BUT NEVER ALLOWING OTHER TEAMS OR PARENTS GET UNDER THEIR SKIN. TREVOR HAD A GREAT TOURNEY EVEN THOUGH HE FEELS THEY COULD HAVE PULLED OUT A FIRST PLACE FINISH. MY OPINION IS NOT THE SAME HOWEVER, AS PLAYING 3 OF THE 4 GAMES IN RAIN, ALL ON THE SAME DAY. THEIR FIRST GAME WAS AT 10 AM AND THEY FINISHED THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT 11:45PM THAT NIGHT. THEY WERE EXHAUSTED BUT NEVER GAVE UP. MANY HAD STOMACH CRAMPS, LEG CRAMPS, SORE ARMS FROM PITCHING OR CATCHING ETC., BUT NO ONE EVER GAVE UP OR GAVE LESS THAN 100% OF THEMSELVES.

WHEN WE CAME HOME, OFF WE WENT FOR A BLOOD DRAW. HAPPILY TO SAY- TREVOR’S NUMBERS WENT UP AFTER ALL OF THE BASEBALL, LACK OF SLEEP, TONS OF ACTIVITIES AND EXCITEMENT AND GOING NON-STOP FOR 11 DAYS. THE DOCTORS ARE HAPPY WITH HIS PROGRESS AND WE ARE GETTING MIXED FEELING FROM THEM. DR. CHANGS LAST DAY IS TODAY AND HE IS NOW SAYING, IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT. AS BEFORE, HE AND THE OTHER DOCTORS WERE WANTING TO REDUCE HIS DOSAGE. WITH SCHOOL STARTING SOON, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIS BODY A FIGHTING CHANCE WITH THE MED’S IN HIS SYSTEM JUST IN CASE COLDS ARE RAMPANT AND HE HAS A HARD TIME FIGHTING THEM.

I HAVE ASKED TERRI KRAUS , (KENNEDY’S MOM) FOR A RECOMMENDATION AT CITY OF HOPE IN DUARTE FOR A DOCTOR SHE TRUSTS SO WE CAN SEEK A SECOND OPINION SINCE DR. CHANG IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL AGREE WITH CHILDREN’S DOCTORS BUT WE JUST WOULD LIKE REASSURANCE.

MAY YOU ALL ENJOY WHAT IS LEFT OF YOUR SUMMER, ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND YOUR FAMILIES.

ON A SIDE NOTE:

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAYS TO: PAPA KEITH, DAVID RHORER, LISA MANAMANN, UNCLE DEAN ON THE 17TH AND WELCOME BACK HOME TO CARLSBAD IRICKS! WE MISSED YOU!

BUT MOST OF ALL-

THANK YOU SO MUCH MOM! WE HAD AN AWESOME TRIP TO COLORADO AND IT WAS YOUR FAULT! WE SO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID AND DO FOR US! WE LOVE YOU!

DAWN AND CREW

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS!

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:24:41 +0000

Well, we are here at it is absolutely gorgeous! It took us a full day to get acclimated to the altitude but we all seem to be doing good now.

We played our first game yesterday afternoon and had a narrow loss of 9-8. Trevor had a fantastic game and 2 exceptional hits. One walk and scored twice. The team needs to get used to the altitude and the way it affects the balls when it is hit. They are not sure how far it will actually carry and that will just take some practice. We have a double header today with our first game starting at 3:15 and game #2 starting at 5:15.

I will update on how we played tonight after we get home, may be tomorrow morning when I get the chance.

Opening ceremonies were so awesome last night. They introduced each team, this week there are 42 teams age 11 and 38 teams age 13, (wow, those kids are huge!). They all walked around the arena,(rodeo) we said the pledge of allegiance and had picture op’s. Then MORE pin trading. The kids are having a blast collecting and trading team pins. Even Drew is involved. Trevor was fighting a migraine during the festivities but was a trooper and managed to pull through it fine with Tylenol and caffeine.

Today I am planning on taking the boys to breakfast and doing some exploring in town.

May you all have a great day and I will keep you all posted!

All my love-

Dawn and Crew

NUMBERS UP AGAIN!

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:48:47 +0000

WELL, WITH A LAST BLOOD DRAW UNDER OUR BELT BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR THE WORLD SERIES TOMORROW MORNING, TREVOR’S NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO UP, EVER SO SLIGHTLY!

HIS PALTELET COUNT IS UP AT 73K WITH HIS RED BLOOD COUNT AND HEMOGLOBIN NUMBERS ALSO RISING EVER SO SLIGHTLY. HIS WHITE BLOOD COUNT AND ANC, (IMMATURE WHITE BLOOD CELLS) DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY BUT ARE STILL IN THE ‘OK’ RANGE.

TREVOR IS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HELP HIS TEAM OUT IF NECESSARY PITCHING WITH HIS NUMBERS BEING ABOVE 50K.

WE LEAVE TOMORROW MORNING FOR STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AND DREW IS LEAVING TODAY AS HE IS DRIVING THERE WITH ETHAN AND ALI.

AS FOR THE REST OF US-

PLEASE SEND GREAT GOLFING MOJO TO DENNIS, HE IS PLAYING IN THE PGA IN RENO THIS WEEKEND, SUZANNE GOODALE IS CELEBRATING HER 12TH BIRTHDAY TODAY AND TERI & ALAN JUST CELEBRATED THEIR 4TH ANNIVERSARY YESTERDAY!

I WILL ATTEMPT TO SEND UPDATES VIA THE BLOG ON HOW WE ARE DOING IN CO. IF NOT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL MY CELL AT 760-505-4155 FOR UPDATES OR CALL TED AT HOME IN THE EVENINGS FOR THEM AT 760-931-5328.

ALL OUR LOVE-

DAWN AND CREW

July 23, 2008

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:05:06 +0000

WOW! WHAT AN AWESOME DAY WE HAD YESTERDAY AT THE HOSPITAL. TREVOR’S BLOOD DRAW WAS THE BEST IT HAS BEEN FOR OVER 8 MONTHS!

EVERY BLOOD COUNT/NUMBER WENT UP.

HIS PLATELETS ARE AT AN ‘08 ALL TIME HIGH OF 67K!

HIS WHITE BLOOD COUNT, HGB AND ANC COUNTS ARE IN THE

‘NORMAL’ RANGE!

I CANCELLED OUR APPT. AT CHILDRENS HOSPITAL TODAY AS WE HAVE AN EXISTING APPT. WITH DR. PAYNE TO HAVE A WART REMOVED FROM THE TOP OF TREVOR’S FOOT THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. IT IS ONLY NOW BOTHERING HIM AS HE IS IN FLIP FLOPS A LOT AND IS RUBBING IT WRONG.

TREVOR HAS BEEN GOING OUT WITH DILLON ALMOST DAILY SELLING THE FLYERS VALUE CARDS AND THEY ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB! THEY ARE BOTH VERY EXCITED TO BE GOING TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS IN 1 1/2 WEEKS AND HAVE BEEN HITTING BALLS AND HAVING PRIVATE LESSONS ALMOST DAILY.

I PLAN TO GET ANOTHER BLOOD DRAW THE DAY BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR COLORADO AND I WILL UPDATE THAT EVENING. THEN DON’T EXPECT TO SEE MUCH FOR 2 WEEKS UNTIL WE GET BACK AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE RUN DOWN ON THE WORLD SERIES!

CONTINUE TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER EVERYONE!

ALL OUR LOVE-

DAWN AND CREW

A New Day!

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:23:43 +0000

Well- It has been quite a busy week around here with All Star practice for Drew and fundraising in full swing for Trevor and Steamboat Springs! Trevor, (Drew and Ted too), have all benn fighting head colds/coughing. Ted and Trev seem to be the worst and Trevor at age 11 has still yet to learn how to cough productively. I did ask Dr. Payne how to ‘teach’ someone how to cough and he was completely stumped! No suggestions.

With Trevor ripping a tooth out last week and after 45 minutes of it bleeding with no stopping , HE asked if HE could have a blood draw. He was uneasy at all the bleeding and wanted reassurance. Very unsettled by this, off we went and to our surprise, his platelet count went up 8K! I am thinking I am not going to get a draw this week as his is not feeling well and we see Dr. Chang on the 23rd.

Our trip to Colorado is in full swing and we will leave on August 2nd, return on the 11th and play a minimum of 5 games for this World Seiers. I will be televised so as soon as I hear where and when, I will let you all know via the blog.

Thank you one and all for the love and support you have given us through this.

A HUGE thanks goes to Lance Block who has so kindly started this web site for us to get the word out to more people of the importance of blood donation and bone marrow registration. NONE of this would have happened with out any of his help. SO-KUDOS TO LANCE BLOCK!!!