The Burkhardt Family Blog

2009-08-13T21:45:00.007-05:00

2009-08-13T21:44:00.001-05:00

No more cancer

2009-07-22T18:14:00.002-05:00

I have been told by everyone that I have not ended the story in the blog. I really am sorry. According to the Doctors they are officially calling me cured and I don't have anything else to go through. Thank goodness!! The radiation was pretty rough. It really burned me up. At first it felt like a sunburn but each day it got worst and worst. By the end I felt literally fried to the bone. After a couple of weeks after I got finished with radiation, the skin got better but, I can still feel the tissue underneath healing. It itches like crazy at times. The other weird part is that it has messed up my saliva glands. i get really dry mouth all of the time and my mouth is constantly producing a really thick mucus. As long as I have something to drink regularly it is not to bad. It does take awhile to get the pasty morning mouth to get feeling normal. The only other weird thing is that my tongue is really weird. About 2 weeks ago it turned all white then I think the tissue started healing and it kind of sluffed off. The new tissue is really tender like new skin. Both textures and extreme flavors really effect it. Each day it gets less sensitive so I think with in another week or so this should pass too. All in all I think I got through things pretty well and don't have to much lasting damage. I was thinking about it, it was exactly a year ago when I talked to Dr. Baker and started this whole process. WHAT A CRAZY YEAR IT HAS BEEN!

Radiation

2009-04-17T20:36:00.002-05:00

The Doctors have decided that I need to have 20 treatments of radiation to insure that I don't need to go through any of this again. Radiation consists of bolting me to the table and laying perfectly still for 20min. There is really no sensation from the radiation but it has given me the feeling of really bad indigestion the last couple of days. I have also have been very tired this week. Please excuse the fat guy in the pictures. I have gained 25lbs since I got diagnosed.

CANCER FREE!!!

2009-03-31T11:13:00.003-05:00

This is definitely the post I have been waiting to make. I met with my Dr. today and he gave me a high five and said, "you are cured." He made sure to say this is not just remission but this is cured and he feels like I will never have to deal with this again. I even get to take the port out. Follow up will be blood work every 4 months and a cat scan every 6 months. After five years then it will go to a yearly check up.

I am really sorry that I have been so bad about posting. But, it has kind of been a no news is good news situation. All of the chemo visits were really the same and rather uninteresting. The part that really surprised me was how well my body held up through it all. Except for a short bit of flu right after I started I really have not been sick at all. Well besides the normal side effects of chemo. Now that I have a clean bill of health it is time to clean out my system and get myself back in shape. I have about 15 lbs that I need to take care of.

If I haven't said it enough. Thank you for all of the love, prayers and support. I know that is what got us through this so smoothly.

We think we are done with Chemo..

2009-03-12T10:41:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday I had what we think will be my last chemo treatment. I got tested after my first rounds were finished and the Doctor wanted me to do 4 more treatments that were basically for insurance. He said it would lower my chances of having to deal with this again. Next week I will get retested and then on the 29th I meet with the doc. again. Hopefully all of this is coming to and end.

It looks like the next step for me now is getting out and finding a job. Well, hopefully I will be able to make arrangements with an investor to reopen HotShots at a new location but that is up in the air at this point. We will see. We are just trying to be positive and have faith.

The many faces of Ellie

2009-03-08T20:47:00.002-05:00

This is what you get when you get Ellie in front of a camera and ask her to make a face!

Mamma's sweet little boy

2009-02-21T22:54:00.002-06:00

Oh I just love my babies! Burke was at work the other night, Ellie was already fast asleep so Aden and I got the chance to just snuggle in our big fluffy bed. We watched madagascar for a while until he started chatting my ear off, so I figured we would turn the movie off and just lay in bed. It was poring down rain outside, so I said " Let's just snuggle and listen to the rain." After about a minute he said " Ya know what mom? I love this, it is just so peaceful." That's it. The end of my story. Just a really sweet boy and a mamma who loves him.

Swimming with the Manatees

2009-01-12T21:44:00.007-06:00

We went to Homosassa Springs Fl. this weekend and went swimming with the Manatees. It was amazing. They are HUGE animals! Our captain of our boat said they are like 5000lb puppy dogs.

He was right. The picture above is of Aden and I. We were in the water for about 20 mins, and here comes this massive manatee straight towards us. He swam straight to me and got about 4 inches from my face and just looked at me like I was the funniest looking thing he had ever seen. I scratched him for a while and then he had enough and went back to the bottom. OH MY GOODNESS!!!
This picture is of Burke(red mask), Aden(yellow mask), and I(behind the boys). This Manatee visited with Burke and Aden for a while and then rolled over to his belly for a rub. That is a manatee belly you are looking at. We had a great weekend. We got to camp for the first time this year. We stayed at Manatee springs state park. The kids got to ride bikes all day. And they swam in the 72 degree spring waters. Still a little chilly for me. We LOVE to camp though, so was good to get out.

More Chemo

2009-01-12T11:49:00.003-06:00

I met with my oncologist Thur. We have scheduled a PET scan for 1/13. He feels that the results will come back as 'total remission.' That being said he want me to go through 2 more cycles (4 treatments) of chemo. NOOOOOOO! He said that the chance for reoccurance sp? goes way down with the additional cycles. So it is go through this and hopefully never have to deal with it again.

I will let you know the official results of the test as soon as I get them
Burke

It's been a long time

2008-12-31T12:05:00.003-06:00

Wow its been a long time since I have taken the time to post on here. However my logic has been how many times does anyone want to hear, 'I had a treatment, I puked a few time and I don't feel very good this week.' BORING!
But, that has really been the basic story of the last few months. It has been rough but I know a lot of people that have had it a lot worst then I have, so for that I am feeling very blessed.

So yesterday was the 8th and final treatment of the original schedule. So the next step is to meet with the oncologist and get retested. I am hoping and praying that the cancer has reacted well to the treatments and I can be done with this mess. I really don't want to have to go through any more chemo.

So for this cause I am asking everyone who is willing to help for a favor.
In our church we believe in the principle of fasting. We start our fast with a prayer to Heavenly Father to ask for special blessings, then we go for 2 meals or 24 hours with out eating or drinking. In the church we donate the money that we save by not eating to the church to help feed the needy or other charitable needs. Through out the day of fasting we let the rumbling in the tummy remind us of what we are fasting for and it helps to keep a prayer in our hearts for the purpose of the fast. At the end for the fasting period we again close with a prayer to wrap up the fast.
I have seen many miracles brought about by sincere fasting and prayer and would like to invite anyone who is willing to fast with me and my family this Sunday Jan. 4th. Obviously the purpose of the fast will be that all the upcoming testing will go well and I am cancer free. I appreciate the willingness to support me and my family in this.

Also on a good note. It looks like I have found an investor to take over Dad's shares. This is GREAT news because we were really close to needing to close down HotShots because of this craze economy. The new investor actually was our first party that we ever booked right as we opened and he and his family has been coming ever since. It will be great for HotShots, he will come in with some much needed cash and put us in a really positive position going into the new year. I am mostly excited that I will not be unemployed starting out the new year.

As you can see we are being blessed and are VERY hopeful that 2009 will be a banner year for us.

2008-12-10T20:50:00.001-06:00

I swear! Every year Burke and I have the Christmas light debate. He found this picture today and said " Now thats my idea of hanging christmas lights!" You have to realize I grew up with massive amounts of lights on my house. Blinking Merry Chrismas signs on the roof, Santa stop here signs, lights everywhere. Maybe a little reminiscent of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Oh, and the lights must be straight, extremely straight! But hey thats Christmas to me, and I love it. However Burke does not. So at least I have lights on my house and not a massive bundle hanging from the eaves.
http://www.wiregrasslive.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12057

Lucky Dog

2008-11-25T22:33:00.002-06:00

Burke got out of Chemo today! He went in a little late so the rooms were pretty full. His blood counts were a little low, plus Thanksgiving is on thursday. The sweet nurses had mercy on him and said lets postpone till next week. This is the exact text I got from him at work today. No Chemo. Blood counts were low +thanksgiving.......and I whined. This actually works perfect because it will push the last three of his treatments back a week, which means the treatment that was scheduled for Dec. 23 is moved also. Yay, I get a happy husband for Christmas!All is still going pretty well. He is feeling good, except for the few days after a treatment.Doing good!

2008-11-15T15:00:00.001-06:00

Our cool dog.

2008-11-15T14:47:00.002-06:00

I was playing with pictures and had a bunch of our mutt so I put them together. I know I promised pics of disney next , and I am still working on it. You all know how much I love our animals, and that foster care was put off until after chemo was over. Weeeeell, There was a super cute dog that was going to be put down if she went back to the shelter so she is living with us until she gets adopted. Don't worry I asked Burke first. She is potty trained and everything so no messes in the house. Very sanitary! I couldn't help it! Anyway back to Holly. She is a cool dog. She sleeps with Aden every night, except if Ellie is sick or hurt, then she sleeps with her. When E.J. banged up her lip holly slept with her for two nights until she felt a bit better,and when she had the flu holly was there for her again. She wakes up at 6:30 most mornings and wanders into our bedroom to my side of the bed and sticks her nose in my face to wake me up because she needs to go outside. She also drives to school with aden and Ellie in the morning just for fun. There is something to be said about kids having animals. Aden treats the dogs better than his sister! We love her.

Soon, I promise....

2008-10-28T21:01:00.002-05:00

We had an awsome vacation, how can you not at Disneyworld? I will get pics up and blog it soon I promise. I brought a sinus infection home with me, and burke had a treatment today, so I am just checking in . I'll get to it really soon....promise.

No news is good news......

2008-10-16T23:08:00.002-05:00

Well we haven't blogged in a while because there isn't anything overly exciting to mention, well maybe a few things. Burkes last treatment was a little weird. There was a fill in nurse and she just did things a lot differently than the other two nurses he has had. He actually got fairly sick while at the hospital, which usually doesn't happen until a day or two later. That was on Tuesday. Sunday morning he woke up and his neck and the area where his port is was very sore, enough to wake him up through the night. So he called the on call oncologist and he said " not normal, head to the ER". So we yanked the kids out of their classes at church, went home, changed clothes, ate lunch, and off we went. We drove to the ER across town because my sister in law is an RN there. The kids and I sat in the waiting room for a while, then we went exploring. We though we might go check out the babies. No viewing windows at this hospital, bummer. That adventure killed about 30 mins. I though we could sit for a while. YEAH RIGHT!!! Our sweet little EJ is not much of a sitter. So we went out to the car and fished out the church bag with books and crayons and stuff. Theres 10 mins. At this point EJ is practically climbing the walls, hanging upside down from chairs, playing leapfrog from chair to chair, doing all of her ballerina moves for the entire waiting room to see. BTW she decided to keep her dress on so every 2 seconds I was saying "Ellie pull your dress down, Ellie cross your legs, Ellie when you do a headstand people can see your skivies". I GIVE! So we were going to try going to the playplace at Mcdonalds and run off some energy. The one by the hospital has no toys. Crud. So lets try Chick-fil-a. Nope not open on sunday, but they are in the same parking lot as Sams Club which is great because my gas light has come on. While pumping gas I stand still long enough to realize that I am extremely tired. By this time we were back on our side of town. Much to the chagrin of my children,("but moooooom you said we could get McDonalds") we went home and took a nap.Burke called a couple hours later and said he was done. They did a port study, basically they shoot dye through the port to make sure it is functioning right, and they also did an ultrasound to make sure there were no clogs or anything. Everything is fine. Nothing a little tylenol couldn't fix. And yes my kids did get McDonalds on sunday. We went after picking Burke up. Sometime a girl just needs some fries! I mean the kids do..........

Ahhh...

2008-09-29T21:29:00.002-05:00

I cant get rid of the blue! I am so proud that I found a fall background for our blog. I can change all of the font colors and everything, But I can't get rid of the blue!!! I know one of my blogger friends out there can help me! I can't stand the no matchie....

Week of treatment #2

2008-09-28T20:30:00.003-05:00

*Due to the graphic discriptions in this post. Reader descresion is advised.*
Its time for me to sit down and pound out another blog. I have known that I need to do this for a couple of days but I actually have been a little hesitant. As I said in one of my first blogs I am not someone who likes or wants ANY sympathy. That is not why we are doing this. We are writing this all down for a number of reasons: 1. It will make a good journal for looking back on this whole situation someday. 2. Keep our family and friends posted. 3. As kind of an education for others that have not been through this.
That is really why I am am going to put down all of my feelings from this last week. And, I have learned that unfortunately that I don't even share my feelings and thoughts enough with Shelly. I'm sorry. I just am not good at placing any of my weak burden on anyone. Even my terrific wife.
Anyway, back to the post. As we said last week was great. The cancer is really shrinking and I was feeling better than I have felt in months. I didn't realize what a toll the cancer was ravaging on my body. I went into this round of chemo, on Tuesday, in pretty good spirits. The chemo went pretty good. I noticed that this time my sense of smell and my reactions to the taste of some of the drugs was really heightened. The taste is a lot like the aftertaste of straight lemon juice. While that does not sound that bad, when it is combined with the nausea and the drugs going crazy in your body, even the thought of it right now makes me a little ill. Other than that the chemo went pretty smooth. I had a nice visit from Jimmy and Karen and I was really grateful that I took the time to shave my chest. The tape coming off wasn't bad at all.
Wednesday started out OK, but at about 3 I started puking my guts out. It went on for hours and it wasn't just little gags it was clean absolutely everything out my system. I couldn't even keep water down for more than a half hour. I actually got worried enough that I called my doctor to see what I could/should do. He told me to add some benadryl to the nausea medicine and if it was still bad in the morning to call him back. I really don't mind puking. I am the kind of person that if I eat something that doesn't sit right I will go in the bathroom and take care of it. I figure it is a lot better to do it that way then to be miserable while it works its way through my system. My biggest concern was how complete the episodes were and how I couldn't even keep anything down. I really was scared we were going to have to take me into the hospital and I was going to get hooked back up to the IV. I think even harder then that though was the psychological part. If it was going to get this bad how was I going to make it through this. Wednesday was REALLY hard on me that way.
There was really nothing at that point that Shelly was able to do for me, the kids were getting very restless, and we had been given tickets to the circus so Shelly loaded up the kids and the took off. I got a call about a 1/2 hour later that they were coming back home. As you have already read they all came home and they ALL were sick. It was a very long miserable night for all of us. Actually by about 10:30pm I was able to keep a little down and was feeling a little better. Oddly enough it brought my spirits up a little to have everyone sick because I realized that I wasn't sick from the chemo but I was sick from a bug.
Side bar: I learned this week that chemo sick and bug sick are VERY different. When I had the bug once I had the urge to throw up there was no stopping it and once I started I kept going until there was not a drop left in me. With the chemo the nausea comes in waves. There not so bad that you can't get trough them most of the time. If you do end up needing to get sick its not that bad. I usually retch a few times and most of the time it never really even produces that much vomit. It is never to the point that I am worried about getting dehydrated or malnourished etc. For me when it hits it is easier to excuse myself to the bathroom, let myself take care of it, and then I feel better and I can go on with what I was doing. Sorry about being graphic, but I thought it was an important distinction for me to make.
Thursday turned out to be pretty much a lay around day. Stomach cramps/bloated, very tired, and waves of nausea. Again Shelly was giving me a hard time about being pregnant. Friday I felt better and I had stuff that I HAD to get done at HotShots. So I went in and took care of a group that had a big reservation for a meeting, lunch (as good as Olive Garden normally is, even the smell of it was pretty bad), and a team building exercise. It went good but about half way through I really realized that I was not going to be able to make it out to FT Rucker for a BIG advertising event that I had scheduled for that night. I was already to whipped. I REALLY struggled with that. With HotShots struggling like it is right now HotShots NEEDS any and all advertising that I can come up with. So I went back and forth with getting someone to go with me to getting someone else to take my place...... But when it boiled down to it I could send a couple of guys out there to take space but that would be all they would be able to do (along with car troubles and a couple of other variables). If I wasn't able to go our time out there would not be very effective and it wouldn't be worth it. Unfortunately I was not able to suck it up so I had to cancel our participation in the event. This was another BIG psychological blow for me for the week.
Saturday was pretty good. I was able to put in a pretty good shift and felt decent all day(only a couple of waves of nausia and my stomach wasn't aching to bad). By the time I got home I was tired but able to hang out some with Shelly and the kids. I had been asked earlier in the week to teach a lesson at church and I really do enjoy teaching and it usaully pretty easy for me to throw something together. But as hard as I tried on Saturday I could not get my brain/thought together enough to do anything. I figured it would be better in the morning but it wasn't. Even through Sacrament meeting I couldn't get my brain to work. Again this was really hard for me. I felt like this is something I should/need to be doing and I can't. I really don't do well with that. Then as Sacrament went on it was Fast Sunday (for those of you who are not members that means that once a month our church sets aside a Sunday to fast, or to go with out food for 2 meals which we donate the money that we save as an offering to help those who are in need) Also on Fast Sundays during Sacrament meeting the time is set aside for the bearing of testimonies. This is an open format in which any one can stand up and bear a short testimony. One on the Sisters in our ward Sister Stinson has been battling cancer for the last couple of years has spent basically the last year and a half in Houston getting many treatments along with stem cell transplants. She has gone through so much more than I have. She is truly an inspiration for me. I don't know if I could do what she has done. Thankfully she is currently in remission and was able to come home this last week. As she stood there and bore her testimony of how blessed she is and how she would do it again because of the blessings it has brought here I got very emotional. I guess I really threw myself a pity party. I know that I have had it pretty easy so far. I know that I am going to beat this. But if I am getting this down over having an upset stomach, a little nausea, mouth sores(oh yes, another wonderful treat), and not being able to work as hard as normal this early on, and she is so strong after ALL that she has gone through. How in the world am I going to make it. More than physically, physiologically this week has been really tough. I know some how I am going to get through it what other options do I have.

All of that being said. Tonight I am felling much better. I have talked about all of this with Shelly and my parents. I know I need to better at that. This is not something that I can handle as an island. I need to talk. I am also thankfull for all of the kind thoughts and prayers. They really do bouy me up. I also am feeling much better today, no real nausia, and I was able to eat pretty normal. Hopefully the same pattern that I had last time holds true and I should wake up tomorrow feeling good and have a really good week.

Enough for one night. Good night
Burke

Oh what a night.......

2008-09-25T19:38:00.002-05:00

What a fun night we had last night! Burke was not feeling good all day, just kinda "Bleh" again. We figured it was because of the chemo the day before. Towards the evening I started to feel a little yucky, but we had free tickets to the circus so supermom took the kids. Burke stayed home because he had started vomiting(sorry bout' the graphics). Off we went to the circus, got our seats, cotton candy and sodas. We were there about 20 minutes when Aden said "Mom I don't feel good, I don't think I can do this". So we left the big-top and headed home with the promise of "we'll try again tomorrow". We had to make a stop for gatorade, and a thermometer for Burke on the way home( if his temp goes over 101 he gets a trip to the ER). As soon as we got home Aden ran to one bathroom and vomited, Ellie ran to the other and did the same. We got the kids settled down and to bed with their buckets beside their beds and about 45 minutes later I figured it was my turn and I started in with the vomiting. Meanwhile Burke is still at it. I got the chills, Burke seemed to stay away from the fever somehow. I have to say I do believe clorox wipes are straight from heaven. Everyone is back to normal today, and yes we made it back to the circus tonight! Oh what a night!!!!!

Nothing big this week.

2008-09-22T08:55:00.002-05:00

I know it has been a few days since I posted. I think the main reason is there really was nothing to post. On Monday I got my appetite back and have felt better then I have in a couple of months. I haven't felt tired and I have had good energy. I guess before the diagnosis I thought I was worn out with the stresses of life, but it turns out the cancer was taking its toll.

So I spent most of the week trying to get stuff done for HotShots. Me not feeling well, and all the time spent taking test etc., has really taken its toll on HotShots. Our numbers have been pretty bad this month. The good news this last week I was able to get some good stuff done and made a great deal with the ITR (entertainment sales office on FT Rucker) on FT Rucker to do some sales for us.

The other fun this week was it was the Learn-a-thon at Aden's School this week. This is the big fund raiser for the school for the year. Shelly was in charge of one of the groups so it was a VERY busy end of the week for us. Thursday and Friday we both spent about 8 hours a day at the school. Luckly this is only once a year!

As I said there was nothing on the cancer front but a very busy week.

It's been a couple days....

2008-09-14T21:13:00.002-05:00

Still doing good. Burke is a little bit tired these days and has to take frequent naps(I wouldn't complain on that one). I tease him because all of the symptoms he has remind me of morning sickness. Is this payback for what a baby I was when I was pregnant? He has to have his nausea meds and some food before he gets out of bed. He is not really eating large meals, more just grazing all day on whatever he fancies. We went through an entire family size box of Chees-Its in one day between him and Aden. Guess I'll go to Sam's club next time! Ellie is still in heaven keeping Daddy fed and hydrated. All she says after school is "Where's Daddy?" and if he is at home she goes straight to him and assess the situation. If he is in bed, so is she! Aden's best role in all of this is to just keep us all laughing. Some of the stuff this kid comes up with is amazing. He is very quick witted. Definitely still mama's boy though. Any chance he gets to ride in the passenger seat of my car he will hold my hand as we drive down the road. I wonder how long that will last? Overall we are all holding up pretty well. If this is as bad as it gets we are in good shape. Burke is still able to go to work. He might not be as productive as usual but he is still there and feeling useful, earning his paycheck! And I am just trying to be Superwoman and pull it all together. So far so good! SJB

2008-09-12T22:16:00.001-05:00

First T-Shirt Order

2008-09-11T16:01:00.002-05:00

We are going to make the first order of Cancer Sucks shirts on Monday the 15th. If you would like to get one please let us know size and color. They are $15 if we have to ship them the shipping is $5.

It's shrinking....

2008-09-10T20:54:00.002-05:00

Today has gone amazingly well. Burke has felt no side effects at all. In fact the tumor on his neck that we could feel growing has already started softening. He woke up this morning and was like " Oh my gosh I can breath!" He also has a tumor above his left lung that has been causing him to cough and have little bit of a hard time breathing. He has had a ton of energy today and has been on the go all day. He has not been able to go a full day without a nap or some kind of rest for at least two weeks now. We know that it is the 2nd and 3rd day that are usually the worst as far as the nausia goes so we will see what the next few days bring. So far so good. We'll keep you updated! SJB