'Lots of Locks of Love'

Well, Thursday, August 13 was a big day for Julia, when she finally decided it was time to give her gift of love to someone she has never met, or probably, will never meet. A gift that would certainly help someone gain the confidence to go in public after chemotherapy. A gift that would help someone get in front of a camera to take pictures with their families after chemo, or a gift that would help someone keep a low profile after their health was compromised by disease. A gift that was inspired by her own mother's valiant battle with Leukemia, which eventually took her mom's life on July 9, 2009. Julia's gift was something she would give from her head and from her heart, to support a cause that she trusted and believed in. She had not cut her hair in 3 years, and during Christi's journey with Leukemia, she discovered 'Locks of Love', an organization that accepts donated hair, to be used in the manufacturing of wigs for cancer patients who have lost their hair after a strong round of chemotherapy.
Julia was quite nervous, as the time neared for her to go to the Hair Salon. I told her that she really didn't have to do this, but she insisted that it was something that she wanted to do. Equipped with her personal assistant and photographer, her sister Lisle, Julia left telling me to say goodbye to her hair. Her appointment was at 10:00 a.m.
When Julia walked into the Hair Salon, the stylist was eagerly awaiting her arrival, and she was seated immediately. The time was here - clip, clip; chop, chop !! No turning back now .....
The stylist began by combing out her hair, which was already washed, and then put it in a pony tail. She then braided Julia's hair to have more control when she got ready to put the scissors to it !.
As the scissors neared her hair, Julia took a deep breath and held it as the scissors began to cut her 3 years of growth. As the scissors cut through her hair, Julia began to get comfortable, and let out a sigh of relief, just as the last cut was being made. What she had set out to do some time in the past, had now come to realization. 3 years of hair growth was about to be handed to her in 1 single braid, that will be used to improve someone's quality of life, after cancer has gotten ahold of them, and some of their dignity has been taken away by the after effects of chemotherapy.
From this point, the stylist would shape the remaining hair on Julia's head to give a pleasant, easy to manage hair style. Julia approved, and was proud of herself for her accomplishment !


See you in 3 years, Julia . . . . keep up your great work !!

My Mom

My mom was such an incredible person. I can't even imagine how amazing heaven is for her.

Obituary

Christi Holt Bleile, beloved wife, daughter, and sister, joined her Heavenly Father on July 9, 2009, after a heroic, hard-fought battle with leukemia. She was surrounded by her loving family. She was a faithful servant and devoted disciple of her lord Jesus Christ, and she touched many people with her selfless devotion to her family and friends.
Christi was born in Abilene, Texas, on March 8, 1963, to Layton and Melba Holt. She attended Abilene schools until the family moved to De Soto, where she graduated from De Soto High School in 1981.
Christi married the love of her life, Rick Bleile, on October 10, 1987, and the family made their home in Midlothian, Texas. She was a stay-at-home mommy to her precious daughters, Lisle, age 17, and Julia, age 10. In addition to her husband and daughters, Christi will be deeply missed by her parents, Layton and Melba Holt of Lake Cedar Creek; sister Marcia Pair and husband Morris of Clyde, Texas; sister Marianna Fielder and husband Eugene of Oklahoma City; brother Gary Holt and wife Penny of Plano, Texas; seven nieces and nephews; and many dear aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
A celebration of Christi’s life will be held on Saturday, July 11, at 2:00 P.M. at The Oaks Fellowship in Red Oak, Texas, 777 South Interstate 35E, Red Oak, Texas. Click here for a map.
*To get directions to the church, after clicking the link to the map, you may click "Get Directions" and enter your address.*

"It is finished"

Christi slipped peacefully into heaven this morning at 4:15 am surrounded by Rick, Julia, and Lisle. We will update this later as to the time and place of her memorial service which will most likely be on Saturday.
Thank you for your continuous prayers for her and for all of us.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Christi's journey still continues, although not without bumps in the road. As of this date, her leukemia blasts make up 85% of her white blood count, and continuing to increase. Yesterday, the doctors increased her medications for pain and anxiety so that her pain is under control. She is now sleeping most of the time.

Marcie and Marianna stayed with her the last two days and nights, and have now gone back home. Someone stays with Christi around the clock. We are so grateful for a strong supportive family.

Julia spent several days with Marianna in Oklahoma City, and just returned Monday with a new 11 week old puppy, a Bischon Frise, for the family. He is so cute, and will give them lots of pleasure in the future.

Please be in prayer that God's will be done over the next several days or weeks, and that Christi's suffering can be ended. Her faith has been strong throughout this whole ordeal, and she is comfortable with whatever God has in store for her.

Thank you all for your support.

Layton

: (

Friends and family who have faithfully followed this blog - I apologize for the great delay of this entry. We were told on Friday, July 3, that Christi's leukemia is once again active, and her peripheral blood leukemia blasts were measured to be 25%. We hoped and prayed that it had lost its energy, with this application of Mylotarg, which we had hoped to call the 'Wonder Drug', and the answers to our problem. Unfortunately, this disease, as I have described as 'relentless' in other writings, has a grip on my loving wife, and won't let go. We have had conversations with the doctors, and they tell us that they have run out of tools in their arsenal at Baylor to stop this. They are presently looking at other possible alternatives to try and drive this thing away, but have said that they haven't seen anything that would fit the criteria that we need. Christi has had so much chemotherapy at this point, that the next round would certainly prove fatal, thus leaving us short in the quest for the possibilities of another transplant. I am not saying that another transplant would NEVER be possible, but Christi would have to gain tremendous strength, in a very short period of time, for that to even be considered. Christi's sister-in-law, Penny, has scoured the internet for possible alternatives, and has presented her findings to Dr. Vance this morning, for his review. We are hoping that there could be something that he possibly overlooked or didn't realize, that may help us. We will be looking at any and all possibilities, in the next few days in a futile attempt to find anything that may save her life. One of the biggest tools, and quite possibly, the ONLY weapon we ever did have, is the Power of Prayer. God has brought us a long way through this journey, and and I refuse to say that His work is over. In the past 48 hours that I have spent with Christi, I have certainly felt His presence. However, I am reluctant to say what I have experienced in fear that I may be creating false hope. In short, I am not afraid to say that I do believe in miracles, and one could be in the works as I write. Let us pray . . . .

Zero blasts, day 13/14

June 29th- I arrived yesterday and Christi was feeling pretty well. We chatted and she took a couple of naps. I ate the most magnificent salad from her tray. Christi is still having difficulty eating and is still on IV nutrition. Blood counts were still at the bottom, so she's receiving blood. We watched The Bachelorette and she was able to stay awake for all but the final rose ceremony. Go figure. Monday night we both got a pretty good sleep as Christi was up only a few times.

June 30th- Still zero counts today, so Christi received donor platelets. We got out of the room and walked downstairs and outside for a little bit and to the gift shop where Christi picked out a cute new purple knit cap. She walked most of the way and finished the trip in the wheel chair. She took a good nap after that and drank a little broth for lunch. At supper time she was able to eat a bowl of cantaloupe and watermelon without any trouble. Yeah!!! We saved the rest in the frig in hopes to make a repeat performance tomorrow. I will go back to Oklahoma City in the morning and will be taking Julia, Christi's youngest, with me for the July 4th weekend. We have big plans with a parade, fireworks, picnic, Rachel's birthday party and a theme park and concert at night. Rachel is excited to have Julia visit.
Marianna

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Today is better. Christi is feeling good, and we took her in a wheel chair over to the Truett Cafeteria where she watched us eat a late breakfast. Since I have been massaging her feet, some of the swelling has gone down. Christi's friend, Renea, who lives near Huntsville, Texas is coming to see her this afternoon, so she is looking forward to that. Very little, if any, bleeding today. Blasts still zero, as is everything else. We expect her blood counts to start up in about another week, then the DNA tests to see whether it is her system or the donor's which is taking over. All in all, it's been a good day so far.

Layton

Zero blasts, days 8&9

Friday and Saturday have been challenging for Christi. She is receiving blood and platelets almost constantly because her counts are zero. Her feet and legs are swollen from all of the fluids that she is getting, so they have given her lasix, and she spends much of the day on the potty.
Please, God, heal Christi...she is tired and frustrated but is not giving up! Help us, her family of caregivers, to continue our vigil over her which we know is paramount in her will to survive. We seek your will...

Marcia

Zero blasts, day 7

Christi had a really good day today, beginning with the news that her blasts are still at zero. Early in the afternoon, she was able to drink and eat very small amounts without getting sick, and she was quite pleased with herself!
However, as has been the ritual, her nights aren't quite as good as her days. I'm sure most of you can relate because it's the same with anyone who is sick...the evenings and nights are when fever kicks in, nausea returns, and overall aches and pains seem to enjoy the fact that we're just not going to get much sleep tonight! Bring on the pain/nausea meds!
She did get a special visit from Holli and her boyfriend, Clay, who (per Christi's request) brought a dish of chicken and dumplings! I totally enjoyed sampling the dumplings, but Christi chose to wait until tomorrow when her tummy isn't so rumbly.
Good night, friends...gotta catch a few z's while she's snoozing!
Marci

June 24th - better today

After two days and nights of intense pain, which appear to have been caused by a kidney stone, Christi is considerably better today. Her blood counts are still practically zero, but there are no leukemia blasts in the peripheral blood. We're anxiously awaiting the blood counts to start up, and when they do, the doctors plan to do a DNA test to see if the new cells are from the stem cell donor or from Christi. If they are only from the donor, that may mean that the transplant was not a failure after all.

There is no projection on when she might get out of the hospital, and since this is the 14th week of continuous hospitalization, it's beginning to get rather old. We hope things have improved within the next two weeks for her to go home. We'll just have to wait and see. Someone continues to stay with her around the clock, and that has not been too bad as there is a chair-bed in the room which is pretty confortable.

We still covet your prayers that she will start to produce good blood cells and be in remission.

Thank you all for your cards and notes. Christi is now feeling like reading them.

God bless you all,

Layton

Zero Blasts, Day 4

As most of you know Christi's transplant failed, and we were given very dire news. One of the doctors suggested a new treatment drug, mylotarg. Christi has been given three infusions of this drug which is to target cd33 leukemia cells,the kind Christi has. We are to wait until Wednesday or Thursday of this week to see if the treatment will work. We are again in a wait and see situation.
I am writing this tonight to ask for your prayers that the donor cells will start working under the mylotarg. They will do a DNA
test to see if it is working.

Thank you for your love, your prayers, the many cards and the terrific support that we have received during this time.
We continue to rely on Tom and Estella Lyon's generous offer of their condo. It has given us a haven for much needed rest.
Tonight we would ask that you again contact your prayer chains that they may send prayers to God on Christi's behalf.
With much love,
Melba

Post Mylotarg, Zero Blasts Day 3

Not much change...Christi has gone 3 days with ZERO leukemia blasts. Penny reminded me tonight that this hasn't happened since she finished her first chemo back in November! Her numbers are all near zero, meaning that she has no immunities AT ALL. We pray that she stays immune to anything that may find its way into her body and wreak havoc. Each day is a gift.
Marci

Mylotarg, Days 8&9

On Day 9, Christi's blasts have been blasted to ZERO! Yes, this is absolutely great news, but will they stay blasted? That's the million dollar question right now, so we wait.
Today was a little bumpy for Christi. She didn't eat or drink much and talked about going home. We patiently tell her to hang in there. Since her counts are basically at rock-bottom, she has little energy and just sleeps. That's fine with me! Sleep it off, little sister, and maybe you'll wake up to a healed body, God willing!

I hope you'll continue the wait with us as we pray for a miracle.
Marci

Mylotarg, day 7, the final dose

The past few days have us almost ecstatic although we are also holding our breath. Christi's "blasts" (bad stuff) have gone from 71% to 2% of her white blood cells. The mylotarg is doing its job. The doctor said that we have to sit back and wait for one of three things to happen:
1) her own body to produce its own good marrow/blood/etc
2) the donor's stem cells to do what they are supposed to do--cure her
3) her leukemia will come back
We like options 1&2. (don't you?!)
Marianna spent Sunday and Monday night, which were a little rocky, then Mom spent a better night on Tuesday, and it's Penny's turn tonight.
Two very dear, long-time friends from high school, Sydney and Robyn arranged to visit Christi today, and she was happy to see some new faces. I'm sure that after 13 weeks in the hospital, she has heard every story that her family has ever told and welcomed the change!
Afterward, Penny and Christi WALKED (pushing the IV, of course) from her room in Collins hospital to the Roberts hospital atrium and back! That was a huge feat in itself since just walking down the hall has been exhausting! It's way more exciting than seeing a child take its first steps!
Friends, thank you for being faithful followers in our blog and faithful in praying for Christi. Your presence has been a comfort to us, and your prayers uplift us 24/7.

Marcia

Plan 'B'; Days 3 and 4

I had the pleasure of spending most of the weekend with my best friend and wife, as she continues to be a relentless warrior in her fight against this disease. I am still in awe to see her remain happy and bright, even though she doesn't feel very well. Her spirit has never failed during this whole adventure, and everytime I'm around her, God touches my heart, and lets me know that He is not more than a whisper away, watching over our situation.

We started the weekend with the handoff from Penny on Saturday afternoon, after a near terrible Friday night, caused by the after-effects of the 1st dose of Mylotarg. Christi will receive 3 doses - one each on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th days. Neither Penny nor Christi got any sleep at all, and it was nothing but tough on both of them. Fever set in, along with nausea, a bladder infection, and other unmentionables that are probably best left out of this forum. Like Christi's brother Gary said, "The good news is that the Mylotarg is working, and the bad news is that the Mylotarg is working !" We knew it was going to take a toll on her, but it's not always pleasant to see. We just have to keep telling ourselves that the chemo, or in this case, the antibody, is doing its job. Anyway, Penny was glad to get home and start a well- deserved evening of rest and relaxation. God bless her for all she has done for us.

My afternoon started by 'firing up' the DVD player to watch the movie 'Fireproof' - a movie I recommend, starring Kirk Cameron. Christi said she'd like to watch it, but I think she only made it through the Titles and Credits at the beginning of the movie, which I well understood, after the night she'd had before. Her vital signs and temperature were being closely monitored by our nurse on duty, Sarah, so she had small breaks in her rest every 15 - 30 minutes. I also had a visit from Dr. Hobbs, who is from the Palliative Care team - it nearly broke my heart to hear what she had to say, but their team provides an excellent service to help move on and try to insure a person's legacy. We talked for a few minutes, and I got her card and told her I would call her back. I have to say that I just wasn't ready to move in that direction, but I know I will have to. It is not speculating 'the end', but will help us with some loving preparation just in case. The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful, except that Sarah, our nurse, realized that everytime Christi needed to go to the restroom, she was over-exerting herself in her trek to get there, and nausea would set in when she got back in bed. So she gave Christi some nausea medicine that seemed to help a great deal. Saturday night had some challenges, but not near what was described as Friday's Fiasco. She had a high fever of 103.8, and the nurse came in quite often to check on her. Christi slept, but not that comfortably, and I woke up everytime she went to the bathroom, just to make sure she was okay. They are giving her a good amount of fluids to keep her system flushed, and it keeps her going to the bathroom quite often.

Sunday is a whole new day - she seems to feel pretty well, and things are looking good to start off the day. Her blood counts are showing that the Mylotarg is doing it's job and that's all we can ask for. Her leukemia blasts went from 72% to 60% which is what we want to see. Her white blood cell count went from 8.4 to 1.4 which shows a significant improvement as well. Gary and Penny came to the hospital about 10:00 am, and Gary and I had the pleasure of spending about 10 minutes talking to Dr. Piniero, about the possibilites of Mylotarg, and he indeed assured us that there is hope, that this has a 33% chance of working. It may sound slim, but at this point, we will take anything. He told us that this will not cure her, but it could put her in a position of biding time to get her back to health to withstand more treatment. He also said that it could possibly kick start her immune system to do the job it is supposed to, or even possibly rejuvinate the transplanted cells. The 3rd possibility wasn't one I wanted to hear, so we'll keep praying for the first 2. The rest of the day was pleasurable for both of us. I noticed that Christi seems to be breathing better, and her speech has gotten a lot better, indicating that her mouth and throat are healing. She also asked me to go and get her a Burrito Supreme from Taco Bell WITH NO RED SAUCE. She took a couple of bites of it, and couldn't stand any more. Oh well, I'll take that couple of bites. I need to find a way to get more food in her. She's getting fed interveniously, but she needs to eat real food. The doctor said eating and getting out of bed is important to her recovery. Later on, we went for a walk to the Family Meeting Room, and sat for a bit, just for her to get out of that room. On our way back, Marianna walked in with a big smile on her face, and ready for the shift change. She was glad to see that Christi was out of bed, and seemed to be doing so well. At that time, we also realized that Christi's speech was getting better as well, knowing that her mouth was healing. Anyway, I handed off with a few hugs and kisses with Christi, and left them with a DVD of 'Young Frankenstien'. I hope my little sweetheart made it through more than the first 5 minutes ! Keep fighting Christi - I'm so proud of you for the showing us the determination of how to fight big battles !

Her Loving Husband,
Rick

Plan "B" Day 2

Whew! What a roller coaster ride we are on! Today Christi is feeling pretty lousy from the Mylotarg, but that is to be expected. Dr. Piniero told us that nothing has changed since yesterday, meaning her leukemia didn't go up OR down, so that is a good thing. We'll take ANY good sign! He's taking her off the pain meds and putting her back on some oral meds, another good thing since she can swallow. Last night she asked for a "burrito supreme, no red sauce," and Gary, Penny, and Holli were more than happy to oblige! She ate about a fourth of it after Holli fixed her a "burrito pudding," and she drank some Dr. Pepper.
So today, mom & dad (Melba & Layton) are here again, and we await new results from Plan B, Mylotarg. She will get another dose on Sunday and then again on Wed.
Thanks for checking in!
Marcia

Day 22

Today, Thursday, June 11th, Christi began receiving the Mylotarg which we hope that will begin to knock down her leukemia blasts. Her white blood count will begin to go down so she will once again be very suseptical to infection. We will resume wearing masks when we are in her room to prevent infection. Christi seemed to feel pretty good today and walked down the hall and sat with Marcie, Gary, Penny, Holly, Melba and me for about 45 minutes this evening. Now she is receiving a bag of platelets.

If the Mylotarg is successful, Christi may be able to go into remission long enough for a second stem cell implant in a few weeks. There is no guarantee, of course, but it is our best great hope. The doctors say that it is only effective against the type of leukemia which Christi has with about a 1/3 success rate. We'll take that.

Layton

Wed. Day 21

I was prepared to give a gloom and doom report because the Grim Reaper (Dr. Vance, no personality or bedside manner) told us last night that they have done all that they can do for Christi. He said that her leukemia is so aggressive that the transplant didn't stand a chance.
BUT today we have a glimmer of hope. Dr. Piniero came in today to explain a drug called Mylotarg (google it if you are interested to know more). The purpose of this drug is to suppress the leukemia, but it's not chemotherapy. There is a 33% chance that it might work. If, in fact, it does work, she would have to undergo another transplant. This drug is not a cure, but it may put her into remission until more stem cells can be harvested from Hilda in about 5 weeks or so.
This morning, however, she is running 101.4 temperature, and they have done tests to see what's going on.
I read aloud to Christi from the Bible today...my favorite passage, Psalm 139. Check it out sometime.
So here we are again in the family room, just being a family, hoping and praying for a miracle. Christi's faith is unbelievably strong!
Blessings on all of you, our friends and family!
Marcia

Day 18/19

Not so good news...leukemia is still present, and we are waiting for the doctor's new plan. Christi's throat is still unbelievably sore/painful, and she cannot swallow. She is limited to ice chips today. She sleeps most of the time.
Marianna was at Sam's on Monday in OKC and had a "God moment." I had called to tell her about Christi's condition, and she was crying as she was loading her car. A man and woman walked by and said, "How do you like your Buick Enclave?" She turned around, and they saw that she was crying. They apologized, and Marianna explained why she was crying. The lady said, "oh, honey...I had a friend who had the same thing, and her second transplant worked!"

We continue to believe that God can heal her. Pray ceaselessly!

Marcia

Sunday, Day 17 after transplant

Sunday was a day of continued improvement. Christi sipped iced tea, and was able to drink a little chicken soup. She was even able to drink some Dr. Pepper which is probably the best indicator yet that the white blood cells are attacking the throat sores. Blood counts continued to climb again today with her white blood count doubling to a whopping 2.4 (almost 20% of the low normal range). Penny (sister-in-law) stayed Saturday night, all day today, and will stay through tomorrow evening when Marcia takes the next shift. Penny said Christi had a good day, but she is not looking forward to another bone marrow biopsy and MRI that will probably be scheduled for Monday.

Gary

Saturday, Day 16 after transplant

Christi was feeling a little better today as her body slowly, but surely, starts the process of developing new blood cells. She is starting to see improvement in her blood measurements every day. She was finally able to swallow some cold water after over a week without eating or swallowing any liquid. It is still painful for her to swallow, but we expect to see great improvement over the next few days as the new white blood cells attack the sores in our throat and esophagus. Her voice made a lot of improvement today and she was able to talk very well. We haven't heard her speak above a very light whisper in several days, so it was great to hear her again. She is still experiencing a lot of pain, but she is dealing with it bravely, with great determination. We are told that once the bone marrow starts producing good blood cells that cell development will become exponentially faster, and she should be seeing greater, faster improvement.

Our parents, Layton and Melba, have been true heroes who have tirelessly stayed at the hospital with Christi for most of the last three months. They had made plans early this year to take a European cruise June 9 to celebrate their 58th anniversary thinking that Christi would be out of the hospital before the trip. They were making plans to cancel the trip as recently as today, but now that school is out for the summer, and it's much easier for everyone in the family to share in the hospital time, they decided to go. Christi told Penny this evening that she was very glad mom and dad were sticking to their travel plans. She wants them to take a breather and have a much-deserved break away from the hospital.

It was a good day exposing greater hope for tomorrow.




Gary Holt

DAY 15

There seems to be some progress in Christi's recovery. The white blood cell count which has been 0.0 since the heavy chemo,has come up to 0.4. That's not much, but it means that her bone marrow is beginning to make cells. The white cells will recover first, then the red cells, and finally he platelets. The white cells will cause the ulcers in her system to start to heal. It will probably be several months before she can make enough of these blood components to sustain herself without transfusions and infusions. About 4 days ago, they started giving her Neupogen (spelling???) which stimulates the blood production. As was expected, this causes Christi's bones to ache and be very painful. She knows, as we all do, that this is a good sign and something which must be endured. She is receiving pain medication which helps some.

Her mouth and esophagus seem to be a little better, and she can softly say a few words. Christi cannot swallow anything, so she continues to receive nutrition through a central line into the bloodstream. The mucousitis is better, so she is not having to suction her mouth and throat as much.

Over-all, things are looking up, and we pray that her suffering will be relieved soon, and that she can put an end to this hospital stay which has been nearly 3 months this time.

Please continue to pray and send your good thoughts.

Layton Holt (Dad)

Day 14

Christi has had a better day today, in my opinion. She had a pretty good night, just getting up a couple of times to address the mucousitis issue. She has not struggled as much with that today. Her throat hurts but the nurses and doctor agree that her mouth is not as red and angry as it was before, hopefully indicating healing is taking place. The doctor said that her blood should start building up at any time and then she will start to heal.
Rick, Julia, Mother and Daddy all came this afternoon. Rick wheeled Christi down to the family room and she sat with us for about 30 minutes. Christi said she was hungry and tried to eat some banana pudding but couldn't quite get the first bite down. At least she had an appetite. I went with Mother and Daddy to the Lyon's condominium to shower. What a wonderful condo and so great of them to let us use their place. Thank you Lyons!!! I will go home tomorrow and will take Julia home with me for a visit. Penny will stay Saturday and Sunday. Marcia will be here Monday.
Marianna

Day 13 after transplant

I arrived from Oklahoma City about 1 PM today and found Christi battling her mucousitis with the suctioner. It consumed her most of the day, and it makes communication difficult but she can write her requests and sometimes clears her throat enough to say a couple of words. I climbed in bed with her and we prayed. I sang some praise choruses and just enjoyed cuddling. We have all been hesitant to get too close to Christi for fear of spreading germs, but I did have on my mask and gloves. Gary came up this evening and brought some cards from the 7th grade class of one of Penny's teacher friends. Gary and I took turns reading them to her and showing her the artwork on each one. Then, I hung the cards on the wall and they seemed to give a little brightness to the room.
Today, we got a little good news as we learned that she finally has a count of lymphocytes for the first time in a week and a half. The number is 8 and is an indicator that the stem cells are getting ready to produce white blood cells. Hopefully, we will see the numbers grow by tomorrow. When the white blood cells arrive, they will begin to heal her mouth, throat, etc. In the meantime, we hope she will just be able to sleep and be comfortable.

Marianna

Tuesday morning , Day 12 after transplant

Layton and I couldn't sleep on Sunday night, so about 3:00 AM I called her nurse and she said that Christi had been vomiting and had trouble waking due to low oxygen so they gave her oxygen which brought her back around. They have since cut down on the medication so that her sleep will not be as deep. She has lost all her hair, eyebrows, and eye lashes. Her skin is beautiful, but she does look a little "naked".
but beautiful. We fight hard to get her to smile. I got a little smile when I told her about a couple of my adventures. She is getting nutrition through the IV.
When she uses the aspirator to extract the mucous from her throat before she sits up, she doesn't get nearly as nauseous. She had been gagging and vomiting and causing such a strain on her espohagus because the mucous would rise to her pharynx and cause her to gag and choke. When she sleeps, you can hear a gurgling sound that
sounds like mucous rising. The mucous is natural to form and it usually helps with swallowing.
We came in from the lake to stay the night with Christi. Rick and the girls came up and Christi was actually able to visit with them. She was so anxious to see her family. She got frustrated because she couldn't reach Rick. Her cell phone battery was out of juice.
Tuesday morning, we await the doctor. Dr. Fay has been her doctor and we prefer that he stay on, but due to rotation a Dr. Pienero is supposed to take over. Rick and Christi feel comfortable with Dr.Fay, so we will see. We will request that he stay on.
Marianna will probably come on Wednesday and Marcie will come on Friday, I think. She does benefit from having new faces come in.
After talking to some of the other care givers, everyone is in consensus that someone needs to be with the patient during this time, because so much comes up. Also, it gives the patient a sense of comfort and it relieves some anxiety. Twenty-four hr. care may not be necessary, but several hours during the day does help.
Our comfort and well being comes from all your prayers and concerns. Christi has appreciated the cards. She asks that you keep praying "hard" as she has faith that prayer will pull her through. Your prayers help to sustain the family, too. Thank you. May God bless each of you.
Melba(The Mom)

Sunday, Day 10

I dropped in on Christi at about 1:00 today. I had called before I left the house, so she was awake sitting on the edge of the bed when I arrived. If it wasn't for the sores that line her throat and mouth, I think she would be feeling a little better today. She is only able to talk at a very light whisper, and it's painful, so she communicated by writing on a note pad. This is the seventh day since she has had any food or drink by mouth. She is able to take small sips of water, but she can't swallow it. She can only sip to wet her mouth, but then has to remove the water from her mouth with a suction tube. The soars are very painful, but she now controls her pain medication by pressing a button. The pain drug is a strong narcotic that knocks her out and affects her memory. One of her doctors told a nurse that he expected the sores to gradually improve over the next few days, and he hopes she can start taking small sips of water in about four days.

She is frustrated that she can't remember what day it is, or have any concept of time. She knows it's the drugs causing all this, but it's still frustrating. I told Christi to keep her thumb on the pain button, and just sleep off the next few days, and I think that's her plan... sleep for four days and wake up to a big gulp of cold water.

Gary Holt

Saturday 8 o'clock goodnight call

I called Christi to see about her day. She said that Rick and Julia came up and she was able to walk to the family room to visit awhile. She said that she had lost a lot of hair. Rick and she will again have the same "head do". No hair just head.
She said that she could talk better today and she sounded a lot stronger.
Gary and Penny will probably visit her tomorrow evening.
Melba

It is about nine o'clock on Saturday morning. I "communicated" with Christi by phone and she could talk just enough to let me know what is going on. They are going to feed her today and I said"swallow" and she said "No, tube". I suppose it will be IV. I asked her if it would be steak and potatoes and she said"No, Mexican food". She also said that she was better today, so maybe the steroids helped to heal some of the ulcers.Rick and the girls were going up today, so it will be "snuggle time".
Melba

I got a pretty cute picture of her via my cell phone. She has a new hairless doo, so now she and Rick are twins, minus the beard...
Marci

Day +8 after Christi's transplant

I spent Wednesday and Thursday nights with Christi because she was unable to communicate with the nurse when her IV pump needed attention. She is experiencing lots of pain throughout her torso region...lots of sores in her mouth and esophagus. She hasn't eaten in about six days nor has she drunk any liquid in four. She places liquid in her mouth and then
aspirates it with a device similar to that used by the dentist. She is producing lots of mucous so she uses lots of kleenex.
I asked her today if this was worse than ICU and she said "no way". She didn't feel as if she were going to die every minute.
Dr. Fay decided that since Christi was feeling so badly that he would wait until Monday morning to do the bone marrow biopsy.
Christi seemed relieved.
They have Christi on two medicines given simutaneously that prevent nausea and relieve the pain. She eagerly awaits the mail as she can now read the cards and appreciates all the prayers and good wishes. I gave her a note pad and she can now write a note to let me know what she needs or what she is thinking. She is so shaky that it is difficult for her to text on the phone, but that is improving.She cannot talk on the phone.
Her hair started falling out today. She had hoped it wouldn't, but this chemo was just too strong. We are curious about the color it will be next time. It may be straight instead of curly. It may turn out to be really blonde and someday she will look cute in pig tails.
We remember every hour of each day that we have come this far by the grace of God and the prayers of all our family and friends.Now we are praying hard that the leukemia cells are gone from the bone marrow and that the tiny stem cells have started to grow and multiply.
Melba

a post by Melanie

I was in Dallas today, so I stopped by the hospital with Marci, Mitsi, Lincoln, and Lexi (my mom, sister, son, and daughter respectively) but we were unable to visit with Christi. She was sleeping quite soundly in her room, so we just hung out in the family room with Mom-Mom and Dan-Dan. Lincoln was a little sad about not being able to visit Christi (which he probably wouldn't have done even if she had been awake). I think he was looking forward to wearing a mask as much as being able to actually see Christi! :)

Lincoln "worked out" on the stationary bike in the family room.

Lexi and Mom-Mom had some girl time.

Day 7

Today is pretty much the same as Wednesday. Miserable. BUT she did have a CT scan which told the doctors that her body is in good shape...she just has to heal. I dropped in on her for about 2 minutes, but she was sleeping, which is the best thing she can do right now. Tomorrow's bone marrow biopsy will hopefully give us some good news. Pray hard.

Marci Holt Pair

Mitsi here, reporting in from the Family Sheet.

I think it's safe to say that Christi's feeling pretty beat-up today. The sores in her mouth and throat [resulting of the chemo] are really painful, making swallowing and talking pretty agonizing. They've connected a port in her jugular through which they've been able to give her IV medications (instead of having to swallow pills). She was pretty nauseous throughout the night last night, unable to keep down even liquid Tylenol, so the IV medications are a good change.

We had a pretty quiet day and Christi was able to get some rest in between doses of pain medication. We watched Benjamin Button, but she wound up dozing off part way through. She got one unit of blood today and will get one other tomorrow. Dr. Fay mentioned that the current plan is to check her bone marrow this Friday.

She's really unable to talk on the phone due to the sores in her throat and is sensitive to noises in general. It seems like getting rest is of primary importance right now.

Keep those prayers coming, particularly during this challenging part!

-mitsi pair willard, niece of christi

My Mommy

Hey! My mommy is only fair today, but i think that everyday she gets a little stronger. She is starting to get up a little more often and is hoping she can get out of the hospital very very soon [of course everybody does] She loves when i come and see her and i love when i see her. But the thing i like most is when she smiles!


Julia

FUN WITH MOMMY

I was so very happy that I could spend time with my mom this past weekend. We got to talk a lot (which I REALLLLYYY REALLLYYYYY miss and watch some TV and snuggle. :} We also stumbled upon the scary subject of.... *DUN DUN DUN*....

the future.

Mostly, we talked about what I want to do for the rest of my life. :P I think I have decided to go to nursing school. After seeing what the nurses have done for my mom since October, I have realized that it is what I want to do. I am also good with people and I think that I could be good at it.

My mom is very encouraging and I know she'll support whatever I do. Even if things don't go as planned, I know she'll be proud of me. She is such a wonderful person and a wonderful mom.

Lisle Bleile

Post Transplant Update - Day 5

Christi is feeling a little better than 'okay' today, and as we patiently await her stem cell engraftment, she continues to recover from her last round of chemotherapy. At this point, she has no cancer or leukemia blasts showing in her blood, but the determining factors for actual remission are the results shown from a bone marrow biopsy - although cancer or leukemia blasts do not show in her blood, they may exist in her bone marrow, and have not yet been passed into her blood stream. We assume she will be having a bone marrow biopsy in the next week or two, although a definite date has not been set.
At present, her blood cell levels are very low as the chemo continues to do its job of taking her down to rock bottom. She is very tired, and takes naps quite occasionally, but over time, as her new immune system begins to take effect, she will slowly build herself back up. She was told, prior to the chemotherapy, that she would probably experience irritation and ulcers internally, starting with her stomach, up through her esophagus, and into her mouth, and as of this writing, it is taking its toll on her. She is in a lot of discomfort, and cannot eat any solid food, which she hasn't in about 3 days, although she is drinking broth as much as possible. Sometime today, the medical team will be adding a central line to her PICC line arrangement, to be able to give her all of her medications intraveneously, because she cannot swallow any pills. As grim as all of this may sound, her spirits are amazing, and I continue to remind her that a lot of people are praying for her, which keeps her uplifted. Keep up your strong determination, big girl ! We love you . . . This too, will pass !

In Him,
Rick Bleile

Memorial Day

Today I was at the hospital with my mommy - she has been doing great! My mommy and I went and looked at all of the movies. Unfortunately, we did not find one we liked. My family has been struggling, but we believe that God is taking care of her. When I look at my mom, I wonder how she has been getting through all of this junk. But when I remember that it was God, I almost start to cry. My mom knows that the family loves her very much. She, for sure, loves us too, no matter what happens. She is very strong and is fighting very hard so that she can be home again!

Julia Bleile

Day 3 after transplant

Morris and I drove over to Dallas for a short visit along with Matt, Candace, and wiggly little Layton. Christi and Lisle, who had spent the night with her mom, walked down to the family room to see us all for about an hour. Everyone is being very careful not to touch Christi or breathe/cough near her by wearing masks and using the cleansing foam on our hands. She does not touch anything outside her room. The only difference today is that her "blasts" are all gone, which is a good sign. Otherwise, there is nothing much to report. At this point, it's a waiting game.

Marci & Morris

Saturday May 23, 2009

We went back to Dallas last night to be with Christi overnight. She was still having some nausea and discomfort with her back and esophagus, both chem related we think. We stayed overnight and have returned home to the lake today. She was feeling well enough that she does not need anyone with her at this point. The nurses and doctors are taking good care of her needs.

They gave her a weak chemo treatment which is supposed to reduce the effect of the "graft versus host disease" which is common when the donor's DNA does not perfectly match Christi's DNA. This has been a part of the treatment plan since the stem cell infusion. This will be repeated on days +4 and +6.

The doctors have told her that she should not eat any solid food until they can get her platelet count up. This should reduce the nausea and prevent straining which could cause hemorraging. She is drinking Gatorade and water to keep hydrated, and was given a bag of whole blood and another of platelets today.

They are encouraging her to walk as much as possible, and this morning she walked to and from the family waiting room which is quite a way down the hall. She made that fine, but was a little tired and glad to get back in bed just before we left.

Doctor Fay says she is doing very well, and is pleased with her progress and condition at this point. We are certain that God is watching over Christi, and has His hand upon her through this whole process. We look forward to engraftment of the stem cells which should take place within the next one to three weeks.

Posted by Layton & Melba Holt, Christi's parents.

Day 1 after transplant

I was privileged to be at the hospital for Christi's stem cell transplant along with much of our family yesterday. It was a sweet time for us and mind boggling to think about the potential in that little bag of cells, which included 483 MILLION stem cells, TWICE as many as they needed! We feel certain that "Hilda", the donor, sent her strongest, most potent cells!

I stayed overnight with Christi and she had a rough night, experiencing nausea and pain resulting from her previous chemo, but meds allowed her some sleep. The doctor said that the leukemia situation looks good today and that her blasts are down. Christi had a sonogram this afternoon just to make sure that there are no surprises regarding the pain in her stomach and esophagus. Marcia came back up this morning, and Anna and Sayre visited, too. Christi was able to visit with us and has been pretty comfortable this afternoon, just a little sleepy. After a nap, Christi was feeling pretty well and we took a walk to the end of the hall and got a good view through a window of the outdoors. We sat and talked while waiting on Eugene and Rachel to arrive. After visiting with them for a while, Christi walked back to her room. All in all, a pretty good day.

Looking forward to day 2!
Marianna, Christi's #2 sister

It's a GO!

At 3:50 pm, Christi began receiving the most precious gift that she has ever had or will ever receive. Our family surrounded her and prayed with her, and then Alana, her nurse, hung the bag, and connected it to her PICC line in her right arm. Slowly, the millions of stem cells began their journey into her body where they will miraculously find their way into her bones and attach themselves. The whole process will take only an hour. Over the next 8-28days, these cells will divide and, God willing, Christi will be cured of this horrible disease.I cannot adequately describe this experience.

It's HERE!

The day has arrived. Christi is nauseous again, but we are glad she had 3 good days to get pumped up about the transplant. The stem cells arrived safely, so we are breathing a huge sigh of relief. There's not much for us to do, and there's not much going on, but we are here together for Christi. It is an emotional day.

Julia and Lisle did not go to school today so they can be with their mom. We hope to see the treasured stem cells around 2 or 3 pm. I just wish "Hilda" from Europe could be here so we could thank her...

A stem cell transplant is nothing more than hooking up the bag to her PICC line just as an IV. The stem cells must find their way to her now-dead bone marrow and go to work. It is one of God's miracles, and we are thankful for the doctors who enable this to happen.

Upside Down ??

WOW !! is the only way that I could think to start this entry ! It has been 7 months and 11 days since that fateful day in October, when we found out that Christi, the love of my life, had gotten AML, or Acute Myeloid Leukemia. We would immediately embark on a journey that we thought, at the time, would turn our lives upside down. The darkness of what may lie ahead of us was unprecedented to anything we had seen before. We knew that our future endeavor wasn't going to be easy, and as Christians, placing this situation in God's hands and praying hard was, what we felt to be, the only choice we had.
As I sit here, a little more than 7 months after this began, and 1 day before her stem cell transplant, I can honestly say that I am in awe of what the Lord God Almighty has done to bring us to this point along the roads we've traveled. Christi and I have always thought that this situation has been put in our lives for a reason, and we have found many along the way. I praise Him for everything He has done to keep our lives intact during this whole adventure. He has taken us over the highest of mountains, and through the lowest of valleys. He has held our hands through the storms we battled, and comforted us during the calm. He has placed a countless number of people in our path, that can only be known as true 'Prayer Warriors' of faith, to help us fight this battle. He put people there, that were blessings to have, in the right time and the right place, to help us overcome one obstacle or another. There have been blessings that took place, that could not have been a matter of coincidence and were clearly a sign that He was watching over us. And there have been blessings that we think were intended to happen at the onslaught of this whole encounter with crisis. I am one of them! Was MY life turned upside down ? Nope, just turned Right Side Up, and I have never been more faithful that everything is going to be okay !

Stay tuned for His next miracle; it's going to be a big one !
Christi's Loving Husband,
Rick

Tuesday, May 19

I arrived this evening and found Christi to be her old self again! Wow, but it's been a long time since she looked and felt this good! She says that she feels normal but just really shaky and weak. We discussed what she might/might not feel during the transplant process, and she's hoping to feel just like she does now. That would be amazing!
So we sat here and ate my chicken salad and pasta salad while watching the Dancing With the Stars finale. Tanesia, her nurse, is really nice and attentive. Her room has a special HEPA filtering system to help prevent germs and other creepy crawlers from climbing into her PICC line.
This morning they started her on anti-rejection medicine which she will take for at least a year, but she's finished with chemo...hopefully forever.
I'm happy just to be here with her all alone, laughing, talking, hoping...

Marci

The Countdown continues...

I visited with Christi again tonight, and all is still well. She finished the last bag of chemo that she must have before transplant day on Thursday. She starts her anti-rejection drugs tomorrow. She looks beautiful, and the new nausea medicine seems to be magical. As an observer, she seems to be moving through this stage of the ordeal in great shape... just good 'ol Christi. I don't think anyone can predict how her body will react to the chemo and the bucket full of drugs she takes every day, but she has a "let's get in on" attitude. Christi said that some of her nurses were not familiar with the new anti-nausea medicine she is getting, and just maybe this drug will keep doing the job. Prayers are working, folks. Thanks to all of you who are contributing to her recovery. Be sure to remember her donor, the East German, female arm wrestling champion whom we have named "Hilda." She's not much of a looker, but she's got some bad **s stem cells on the way. Let's get it on!

Gary

Super Sunday!

Christi is having a great day. Penny and I took a chicken pot pie from Jason's Deli. I selected the small size figuring she wouldn't eat much. I figured wrong. She had taken some new drug for nausea, and it seems to be working very well. It's been a long time since I have seen her eat without feeling sick afterward. We stayed a couple of hours, and she seemed well enough that I could have pulled the car around to take her out for a margarita and a movie. I can't wait to do that!

It's very encouraging to see her this well right now. We all know she is going to get sick and weak, but she is in good shape with five bags of chemo down and just two to go. She says her lungs are in much better shape because she can take long, deep breaths with only a little annoying pain. We're in the home stretch to Thursday's scheduled stem cell transplant, but so far, so good.

Gary

Melanie explains comment posting.

hello, all. if you have a blogger account (which you can get using ANY email address) or if you have a google account, you can post comments using that information. if you do not have one of those accounts and don't care to, you may post a comment by selecting "anonymous" in the drop-down selector thingy. my mom (marci) added that she didn't WANT to be anonymous, so i told her to type her name at the end of her comment :)
hope this clears up some confusion!

Gary's Saturday Report

Penny and I visited with Christi for about an hour this afternoon and took her some lunch. She requested a chicken muchaco and cheesecake chimichanga from Taco Bueno. She looked great, and acted liked she was feeling good (relative to the situation). She didn't get much sleep last night because she has a constant I.V. of something that makes her have to go to the bathroom every thirty minutes. If that's not enough to keep her awake, she also has a constant parade of nurses coming in the room to replace I.V. bags, take blood pressure, and fiddle with machines. Sometime the nurses wake her up by coming in the room to see if she is sleeping.

I asked if her doctor has told her what to expect over the next couple of weeks, and she said that she will get very sick, and weak from the chemo. She doesn't seem too worried about the chemo sickness. She said that the scary weeks she had in ICU may have been a blessing of sorts- if she can make it through that, she can deal with the nausea and weakness of chemo. I'm really hoping that the worst part of this experience is behind her, not in front of her. She's got a great attitude, and is ready to get tough. She says the next few weeks can't be any worse than the last few have been. She made it through that, and I think that has given her confidence for this next round.

Now that we know her donor is in Europe, we are picturing a big, strong, East German woman named Hilda with super human stem cells. She has long, blonde, braided hair sticking out from under her Viking helmet. Rick may have to start shaving Christi's back after getting Hilda's cells, but I know he won't mind.

Love,


Gary Holt

Chances of Rain

When one looks at the 20-30% chance of Christi's beating this dang leukemia, it seems that one can compare this to West Texas rain. As our philosopher friend, Curtis, puts it: West Texas gets its best rain when the chances are 20-30%. It's true!
Thanks for those words, Curtis. You're starting to sound like Harry Holt. (no kin to Christi's family)

Marci

Penny's Posting

Hey friends and family,
I just talked to Christi, and she still sounds good and upbeat. She said she had one incident when she was up changing her clothes and ended up having a coughing fit and getting sick. The nurse told her it was from the chemo, and I thought she was going to be on the fludarabine first and then the bulsulfan, but she's on the bulsulfan first. YIKES! (fyi...bulsulfan is some STRONG stuff) Also, she said she didn't know when they will do the ATG, her anti-rejection drug, but they may wait until after the transplant....they sure change things up a lot. Anyway she was visiting with Rebekah, and had a visitor, Robyn Thomas, whom she hadn't seen since she was at Cooper 30 years ago. Gary and I were in the same grade as her older brother Tracy. Robyn also lives in Midlothian.

Love to all,
Penny Holt (sister-in-law)

Thursday, May 14

Thursday, May 14...
Christi and I texted each other this morning. She didn't sleep well last night...something about steroids, maybe? (She may look good with a beard!) She said that she hasn't checked her email in forever, and I suggested that she just let everyone know about this blog rather than try to return the emails.
Otherwise, she is just hanging out in the Collins transplant hospital, Baylor Medical Center. Today makes EIGHT weeks in the hospital!

Marcia, Christi's #1 sister!

Wed, May 13

Today as we arrived at the hospital, Christi was sitting up in bed as lively and pretty as she could be. She had been so sick each morning, but she believes that it was caused by anti-fungal medicine that she was taking orally. They had to give her so much medicine for nausea and vomiting that it was keeping her pretty well knocked out. They are now putting it in her IV. It takes longer, but who cares?

We met a new doctor who came from Seattle where the transplants were first developed, and he started the transplant unit at Baylor. He is a big man with a very good sense of humor and a great bedside manner. His name is Dr. Fay and he is a partner of Dr. Vance. All the doctors that she had in ICU will be attending her for this transplant: Dr. Ausloos, pulmonary; Dr. Spak, infectious disease; Dr. Holmes, oncologist. Each has come by to visit her since she moved over to Collins and are special to us since they brought Christi through a terrifically difficult time.

Dr. Spak told Rick, Christi's husband, that he had observed that the family has been supportive in taking turns to care for Christi which will play a big role in her healing.

They took blood samples for the Baylor lab, then starting at 10:03, they took blood to send by courier to a lab in Seattle, Washington. They took two successive vials at 11:03 and 12:03 (a courier was waiting at the door of Christi's room to take the vial to another courier) which were also sent by courier to the Seattle Lab. They said there were only two labs in the U.S. that they would send this to. They will have the results tomorrow, and then they will know whether to add or subtract the dosage of chemo. Both chemos are to completely kill her bone marrow...I asked today if all her bone marrow is killed and something happens and the stem cells do not arrive from the donor in Europe, then what is the plan? Dr. Fay said that was a very good question, but he didn't tell me the back up plan. I guess that will be in tomorrow's episode. He did say that had never happened before, but I hope they have a back up in Christi's case.

Christi took a long walk to the family room and sat there for a while and watched tv, then she made the long trek back to her room. She was tired and wanted to sleep, so we returned home tonight instead of staying in Dallas. That was the first time in 9 weeks that she said she felt good and stayed awake all day...

Rick and Rebekah, Marianna's daughter, will be with her tomorrow. Layton and I will drive in about noon.

Love to each of you,
Melba

Chemo Day 1

Thank you for joining us as we report Christi's progress through treatment for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, which was diagnosed October, 2008. Christi has been in and out of Baylor Medical Center, Dallas, since then and is fighting for her life.

Yesterday, May 12, the doctor gave Christi a 20-30% chance that the stem cell transplant will work. We will take those odds after Christi has come through odds less than that these last few weeks with infection and pneumonia. We will know eight to fourteen days after May 21st if the transplant will work. She is now in the Collins Building Room C 449 at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75246.

They will take enough for two transplants from the donor, who lives in Europe, on May 18 and 19th. Can you imagine what can happen to stem cells on the way to Dallas? Our Faith relies on many people and many sources with God guiding them all the way.

We are on our way to Dallas to be with Christi as she begins her chemo preparation. Our dear friends, the Lyons have offered their condo to us, for which we are ever grateful. We have used it the past eight weeks that she has been at Baylor.

Many of you have given blood and now we will put it to good use. Thank you for taking the time to give and for those of you who couldn't, thank you for wanting to give. A special thanks to Estella Lyon, Jean Alexander, Debbie Ellsworth;
and Melanie Prebis for organizing the blood drives. Christi has a better chance at life when blood is available. If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you may go to any Carter Blood bank and give blood under her account number, 047818. If you live elsewhere, give blood anyway, to anyone!

We again covet your PRAYERS: for the donor, Dr. Vance, for Christi, Rick, Lisle and Julia, and pray that those of us who are care-givers will stay mentally and physically healthy.

If you will, pass this need to your churches, your friends, prayer groups, and all who would take the time to pray. Christi and her family will appreciate it.

We are indeed blessed to have each of you in our lives,

Melba and Layton Holt, Christi's devoted parents