1 year and Happy Birthday:)

well....it has been about one year now since this blog was started for dad. Thanks for all your support to our family. And also...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to dad:) For his Birthday and one year celebration...we bought bands...we LOVE you daddy!!!!

been a while...

wow...it has been awhile:)
that could be good news and it could be bad...sorry to leave you all hanging like this! Dad is doing good. He has been off everything but antibiotics for a few weeks. He went in and they found a staph infection so they took him off everything and gave him a strong dose to fix the infection. He had a doctor visit today...and his infection is gone-YAY! So he will be starting chemo again next week.
Now to update you on other things...We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We went around the table on Thanksgiving and said what we were thankful for and dad said he was thankful to still be alive...We are all SO thankful for this too...and that he is doing good and still kicking:) We are looking forward to a great Christmas...and we hope that you all have a happy season as well. Again thank you so much for your love and support for our family and especially towards my dad.

the Power behind you!!!!

Hello Friends!!!!!
We apologize for the length of time between our updates. Our Dad has been plugging along with the little bits of chemo they have been giving him weekly. He has felt pretty good, tired of course, but really doing well. That is the one of the most impressive traits about Sid Stoker. He is going through one of the most challenging times in his life and yet still finds time to serve others. He is upbeat and never complains. He still has his grandkids over all the time and more often then not he is doing the cooking.
He had a series of tests done last week to see where he sits in his healing process. The good news is the he has conquered a good half of the cancer, the bad, well, you can do the math. They also found a little spot on his Thyroid. He will have further tests to assess whether they can just take his Thyroid out.
So the fight continues!!!! But never you mind because my Father-in-Law may seem like a softy but he is tough as nails!!!!!! My favorite quote is "When you are doing the Lords work, the obstacles in front of you are never greater than the power behind you" We believe in that power and we will continue to have faith that it will sustain him and us!!!

Today was a GOOD DAY!!!!

Today Dad went to the Drs. and receive some pretty good news!!!!!! He will have to continue with chemo, but he can be home the whole time!!!!! This time around it won't be near as bad as the last. He goes in every week and gets a very small shot of chemo and then he heads right back home!!!! Can I get a woot woot!!!! The Drs. told him that he won't be near as sick and that he can even go up to the mountains and camp if he wants. We are so excited!!!!! No one ever gets better sitting around in a hospital. Home is where we all feel better, surrounded by family that we love!!!! He still has been warned to not be around alot of people, purely for precautionary measures. His immune system is shot!!! But we take alot of comfort in knowing that he will be where he feels the best------ in his home!!!! We love you Dad!!!!!

Not so Good News :(

We received some not so good news today. Dad went to the Dr's. office to check the levels in his blood. To say the least the results were a little discouraging. It looks like he will have to under go another round of chemo followed by another stem cell transplant. We are all a little down about the news, mainly due to the fact we hate to see him so sick. It is unfortunate that they basically have to kill you in order to keep you living. We were holding on to a "perfect brightness of hope" that he would only have to have one round, but it just wasn't in the cards. The Dr's. did inform him that it ususally takes two rounds to completely dissolve the cancer.

On a brighter note, we feel extremely blessed that we have been able to spend a little more time with him lately. Last Sunday morning, my kids woke up, called Grandpa, and before you knew it they were down there eating breakfast. It says alot about a man, who is probably going through one of the biggest trials of his life, and he still has time for the little ones. He has attended school programs, ball games (he watched from the car), and loves to sit outside and just watch them play. The Grandkids really miss their best friend when he is out of commission.

On a even brighter note, over the last few months Dad has lost over 65 lbs. (not a recommended diet plan), but he is looking pretty good.

Thanks to our Dad on Father's Day for continuing a good fight, keeping the faith, and showing the rest of us what really matters is family!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!!!!!

bALd iS IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, He is home again!!!! Dad had a little set back over the weekend. He was severly dehydrated, his sugar dropped to a critical level, and he went back to what has become his home away from home (the hospital). But the man is tough as nails and it seems he can beat anything. We are glad he is back home and with us. He did come home with a shining new hair do. I just can't believe how good bald looks on him. Some people look good no matter what!!! He is not supposed to have visitors, but he would love to hear from you!!! Drop him a comment or give him a call!!!! Dad loves people in his home and everyone is treated like a friend there!!!! It is definitely his grandchildrens favorite place to be, and not being able to be there everyday has been as hard on them as it has been on Dad. If there was an award for the best grandpa in the world, he would get it!!!!! He is loved by his grandchildren and they need him here for as long as our Heavenly Father will allow it!!!!

HE is HoME!!!

yeah!!! Dad is home from the hospital...

thank you so much for all your prayers on our families behalf. We have truely seen miracles due to the many prayers said for mom and dad. Mom was having some health issues and when she went in for further testing the doctor came in and said it is a miracle what was there last week is no longer there today!!!

Thank you to all of you and to our Heavenly Father for truely listenig and answering those prayers. Dad is doing GREAT!!!! He is back in his own little bubble and we are so thankful for that. At this time the doctors are asking that there is no visitors coming to the house. Thank you so much for understanding, that we want dad healthy and not to catch anything! Thanks again for all your love and support that you give to our family even when you think your not! We love and appreciate each of you:)