SAVE THE DATE . . .Ryan Holaday Benefit Golf Tournament

1st Annual Ryan Holaday Benefit Golf Tournament!!! River Bend Golf Course in Homedale, ID, June 19th at 8am. $250/4 person team. Dinner included. Benefit auction to follow. $100 minimum to sponsor a hole. We are also looking for donations for the auction. If you aren't a golfer, you are welcome to attend the dinner. It will be $25/person. Registration deadline for the golf tournament and dinner is June 12. We will also be looking forward to celebrating Ryan's 30th birthday at the golf course!!!

Ryan is 29 and has stage 4 adrenal cancer. He is married to Ashley Bieker Holaday and they have 2 boys. Brody, age 5 and Kolby, age 3. Ryan had a major surgery in November to remove a 5+ pound tumor, a kidney and his gallbladder. He and his family went to Chicago for 2 months to undergo a clinical trial which was unsuccessful. Unfortunately, we recently found out the tumor is back, about the same size, and the cancer has mets to his liver. Ryan is currently undergoing radiation.

All proceeds will aid in his care. Register online at http://www.theholadays.blogspot.com/ or call Amber Stice at (208) 880-9940 or Zach Bieker at (208) 739-8543.

Thank you all SO much & we love to you all!

Radiation Radiation Radiation . . .

Radiation has been tough. Monday was day 1 of 14 treatements. Ryan walked out of the radiation vault feeling great, and I was shocked that he was out so quickly- nothing like chemo. We went home afterwards and Ryan wanted to go into Boise. We made it as far as Middleton when Ryan started puking along side of the freeway, and then it began. Radiation sucks! We now have it somewhat figured out. Before each treatment(daily) he goes in for fluids, anti-nausea and pain meds through his port. This has made all the difference in the world. When we saw his Rad Oncologist Friday she explained it like this-
Ryan's tumor is pressing up on his stomach and when they radiate the tumor, it also radiates his stomach. This is also causing the stomach to fight back and thus the reason he is so pukey. She said that this radiation would be miserable, thanks to the location of the tumor, but she is hopeful that when the 14 days are complete he will have good pain relief.
Yesterday he ate a great breakfast and we celebrated food by going to Texas Roadhouse.(Ry's favorite restaurant)
We are looking forward to next week. Ryan's Grandpa is coming to visit for a while. It has been 3 years since we last saw him and Barbara. The boys are looking forward to seeing Grandpa Burr!! Monday will be day 6 and the half point will soon follow. As much as we love all the nurses at MSTI, it will be extremely nice to not spend the majority of each day with them :):) We need to get ready for camping season!! YAY!!

April 19th 2010

It seems like forever since I last updated this. Life has been a bit hecktic and I haven't had the chance to get to this. This process has had so many up and downs.

Ryan started round 2 of his chemo last Tuesday. He has been such a trooper and done much better that expected. He manages through the day to day nasuea, and never complains :)
This past weekend I had a Board meeting in Sun Valley for work. Ryan had chemo every day last week, so we didnt know if he would feel up to going with me. Friday, he went in for his chemo and got his fluids and steroids. After we loaded in the car and headed to Sun Valley YAY! We stopped on our way down for some lunch, and he was feeling fairly well. By the time we got there he was starting to feel crummy. He thougth it was from a big lunch. Saturday he was still not feeling well. He said he felt gassy and uncomfortable. Saturday evening we headed home. During the night Ryan woke me up because he was hurting so bad. I called his oncologist and he said to take him to the ER. They gave him some pain meds and something for his nausea and then did a cat scan.

The cat scan showed that his tumor on his adrenal bed has grown, and is pressing on his spleen, stomach and diaphragm. His lymph node by his Vena Cava has also grown in size. After a day to absorb this nightmare, we called his regular oncologist this morning to come in for an appt and gather a new plan. It is looking like he will start some radiation to help decrease the size of the tumor and help with the pain.

Today is a better day. Ryan's pain is better, we are still working on fine tuning this. We saw the Radiation Onc NP and spoke with his Dr in Michigan. His Drs are going to check to see if surgery is an option to decrease the size of the tumor. We are pretty sure this is not an option. Tomorrow we see the medical oncologist. We are not yet sure if he will finish his chemo tomorrow. Wednesday we see the Radiation Oncologist to get a final plan. They will review his scans in Michigan again next Tuesday at their tumor board to determine what other avenues could help.

We want you to know that we are doing good. Ryan is an amazing pillar of strength and gives us all the strength to continue through the bad days. We welcome your phone calls, emails and visits and want you all to know how much we love you all. We are so appreciative for the support system you all have given us.

Love, Hope and Faith!!
The Holadays

Round 1 completed

Ryan has completed round 1 of his chemo. He has had good days and bad, but overall has done better than expected. Yesterday he got out of the house to take a drive with his mom and the kids. He didn't do so well on the drive so we ended up going in yesterday for fluids and change in his anti-nausea medications. His Dr is hopeful that next week will be better and he will be able to resume some of his regular activities.

Today he is doing well so we are looking forward to spending some time in the backyard catching up on yard work. Hopefully spending some time in the sunshine relaxing in his favorite camping chair supervising will be just what he needs to jump start a great week. :)
We made a deal that I would be in charge of all yard work-JUST THIS YEAR- but next year it's returns to being his baby!! He laughed and agreed.

We have all learned that laughter is the best medicine and helps us get through the bad days. I am so thankful for the wonderful man that he is and how strong he has been through all of this. We continue to appreciate each and every one of you everyday and talk about how lucky we are to have such wonderful friends and family to lean on.

April 13th is the day to starts the next round! We have had lots of questions and hesitations about visitors and want you all to know that we welcome visitss and calls anytime. We all enjoy the company, so come ANYTIME. The only stipulation is no sickies! :):)

Love to you All!

Day 2 down!!

Ryan had his first dose of chemo yesterday and tolerated it well. They gave him 2 different kinds and lots of other meds in the mixture. We spent most of our day there.
Today he went in for his 3rd type of chemo. He will go back in tomorrow and Friday to get this kind again and then they have him resting the weekend and Monday. He will return again Tuesday to get the first 2 types again. Wednesday is an injection to boost his blood count, and then he rests until April 13th and starts again with the same cycle.
So far he hasnt had much for symptoms besides being extremely tired. He did wake up this morning and tried to drink a cup of coffee- notice I said tried. He said it was terrible. Very unusual since we both enjoy our coffee alot.
We continue to thank our blessings. Today we are thankful for the minimal side effects. Thank you Lord!!
~Until tomorrow :)!

The Port Is In

Ryan had his port put in this afternoon and is home resting now. He did very well- Dr said his skin was very thick- I wanted to be smart and tell him that it has to be to handle all of this, but instead I smiled pleasantly and nodded. :) I'll update after Tuesday when he starts his first dose of chemo.
We want to again thank all of you who have been so concerned, and so helpful to our family. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Update

I apologize for not posting anything for the past few weeks. We have been busy adjusting to being home, dr appts and enjoying the nice spring weather until today- it was chilly!
We had our appt with the oncologist today to get results from Ryans CT he had yesterday. The results show that Ryans cancer has grown in his liver and on his adrenal bed. He will be starting the Italian Protocol regimin of chemo on Tuesday. This will consist of 4 different types of chemo given on a set schedule. We will know more on the schedule after Tuesday. Tomorrow he goes in for surgery at 12noon to have a port placed in his chest. This will allow easier access when they give him his doses and to give fluids and other meds as needed.
We will let you all know how things go as we know more.