Thanks for all your love and support!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Golf Tournament and Help Mark Fight Foundation
All details for the Inaugural Help Mark Fight Foundation Benefit Golf Tournament is on the new Help Mark Fight Foundation website: www.helpmarkfight.org. Please join us in continuing Mark's battle to find a cure for Adult A.L.L.!
Friday, July 11, 2008
In Loving Memory...
Jonathan Mark Benson, 41, was born March 11, 1967. He passed away in the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, UT on July 9, 2008 after a lengthy battle with Leukemia. He was the oldest of seven children born to John and Kathleen Benson. Mark married Michelle Griffin in the Logan, UT temple April 1, 1994 after serving a full-time LDS mission in Raleigh, NC. Mark and Michelle have three beautiful daughters: Madelyn, 12, Mackenzie, 9, and Megan, 5.
Mark graduated with a BA from Brigham Young University, a PTA from University of Indianapolis, and was completing his MBA at Troy State University. He worked as an athletic trainer, part-owner and manager of Mountain Land Physical Therapy clinics in Las Vegas, NV.
Mark committed his life to the service of those around him. His affection for his family, life, and Father in Heaven was apparent in all he did. He was actively involved in his community as a fund- raiser for the Special Olympics and Nevada Diabetes Association. He was an Eagle Scout and held numerous callings in the LDS church including service in the bishopric, young men’s presidency, and as a youth teacher.
He is survived by his wife, parents, three children, six siblings and their spouses. Siblings names are Robert (Marcy), Brett (Lacy), Rebecca Stowers (Ryan), Joseph (Heidi), Deborah Lines (Stephen), and Suzanne Subaitani (John).
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 14, 2008 at 12:00 noon in the Lehi East Stake Center, 900 North 1200 East, Lehi, UT. Friends and family may call at the Wing Mortuary, 118 East Main, Lehi, UT, Sunday evening 6-8 pm and at the church Monday 10:30-11:45 am. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:00 noon in the Southern Highlands LDS Ward chapel, 10970 S. Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV.
Online guestbook and directions at wingmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the LDS Hospital in memory of Jonathan Mark Benson through the Deseret Foundation at 8th Ave. & C Street, Salt Lake City, Ut, 84143, (801) 408-1775.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Special Announcement
We, Mark's family, sadly announce his passing just hours ago at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are sure you would be pleased to know that he was a fighter, making jokes with his eyes, and smiling right up until his last moments.
Michelle was fortunate to be at his side and everything indicates that he waited to take his final leave until she arrived to be at his bedside.
Funeral and other arrangements will be posted on this blog as soon as they are finalized.
Thank you for your love and interest in Mark. His obituary will also be posted here when ready.
With much love,
Parents and siblings of Mark
p.s. - We are sure Michelle would appreciate any feelings you would like to post on this blog about Mark.
Michelle was fortunate to be at his side and everything indicates that he waited to take his final leave until she arrived to be at his bedside.
Funeral and other arrangements will be posted on this blog as soon as they are finalized.
Thank you for your love and interest in Mark. His obituary will also be posted here when ready.
With much love,
Parents and siblings of Mark
p.s. - We are sure Michelle would appreciate any feelings you would like to post on this blog about Mark.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
New Report on Mark
Mark continues to fight cancer and a fight its turning out to be. He is healing from his second abdominal surgery to remove devitalized tissue and cysts from his pancreatitis, which we hope has settled down for good, and we also hope his bowel function will return. But as of yet, he has a secretory diarrhea and gastroparesis (dysfunction of the motility of his gut) which is holding him back in healing, nutrition and progress toward a Bone Marrow Transplant.
The lead doctor Julie Asch, MD, has contacted a super-specialist in gut motility syndromes in Kansas, and has received advice and recommendations which the doctor team is discussing right now and trying to implement in the best way. He has a variety of complex problems which are intertwined and difficult to manage since some seem to exacerbate the other and visa versa. Success, the past two days, applying the recommendations of the specialist in Kansas seem to be having positive effects in reversing Mark’s g.i. problems. We and the doctors are hopeful that that progress will continue.
We all are continuing to support Mark through fasting and prayer while the professionals continue searching for the best possible solutions to his problems. His doctors are optimistic on the protocols that they are now following. We are still hopeful that we can get around these roadblocks and somehow get him to a healthy enough point to receive BM transplant.
The lead doctor Julie Asch, MD, has contacted a super-specialist in gut motility syndromes in Kansas, and has received advice and recommendations which the doctor team is discussing right now and trying to implement in the best way. He has a variety of complex problems which are intertwined and difficult to manage since some seem to exacerbate the other and visa versa. Success, the past two days, applying the recommendations of the specialist in Kansas seem to be having positive effects in reversing Mark’s g.i. problems. We and the doctors are hopeful that that progress will continue.
We all are continuing to support Mark through fasting and prayer while the professionals continue searching for the best possible solutions to his problems. His doctors are optimistic on the protocols that they are now following. We are still hopeful that we can get around these roadblocks and somehow get him to a healthy enough point to receive BM transplant.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Progress Report
Mark's illness takes yet another turn. The fluid collections in his abdomen have been persistent and keep him from progressing. Meanwhile, his Oncologists are getting nervous that they cannot keep the Leukemia at bay forever, and a relapse would be catastrophic. On a CT scan today, the radiologists and surgeons saw some signs on the description of the fluid masses that gave them concern--concern enough to decide to take him back to surgery tomorrow to try to excise the cysts and clean out the abdomen with the hopes that the healing process will be jump-started and he can at last get his bowel function, nutritional status and general health back on track in order to be a recipient of a bone marrow transplant. During the last few weeks as the specialists have been chasing his various signs of infection, it appears one of the antibiotics gave his kidneys a small insult causing his Renal Function tests to rise, which is an early sign of kidney dysfunction. This needs to resolve, his abdominal process needs to stabilize and he needs to get a lot stronger before he'll be ready to go to transplant. All we can do is hope and pray that the doctors provide the best chance for Mark's body to make it's best effort to overcome this illness and it's complications. We're still praying for miracles.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Progress Report
Mark's condition continues to frustrate his physicians. We're looking for any and all small improvements though. At this point, his psychological condition needs attention and going home even for a week or two would be monumentous. So, the decision to put a PEG tube into his abdominal wall continuous with his stomach/jejunum is planned for the next day or two. That way he can remove the tube from his nose, be fed through the PEG tube and hopefully go home and start gaining some nourishment physically and mentally.
The absesses in his abdomen are persistent and largely unchanged; although, the drains are producing a fluid that is a bit more clear which is good news. Our hope is that they are not infected. He continues on antibiotics and is not going back into abdominal surgery right now (hopefully). He has swelling in his knees and ankle, which are hopefully just gout. And, while painful, the gouty arthritis is not a threat as would be an infectious arthritis. The Rheumatologist chose to inject steroids into the knees to alleviate the inflammation with reasonable confidence that the cell count indicated a non-infectious etiology along with some other findings in the aspirate fluid which point to gout.
Mark's spirits are waxing and waning, but he is trying to continue the battle that he's waging against the frustrating and protracted course of Leukemia.The bottom line is that he needs to get a lot stronger and healthier to get the Pre-Bone Marrow Transplant-therapy. We are praying for miracles that will help him do this.
The absesses in his abdomen are persistent and largely unchanged; although, the drains are producing a fluid that is a bit more clear which is good news. Our hope is that they are not infected. He continues on antibiotics and is not going back into abdominal surgery right now (hopefully). He has swelling in his knees and ankle, which are hopefully just gout. And, while painful, the gouty arthritis is not a threat as would be an infectious arthritis. The Rheumatologist chose to inject steroids into the knees to alleviate the inflammation with reasonable confidence that the cell count indicated a non-infectious etiology along with some other findings in the aspirate fluid which point to gout.
Mark's spirits are waxing and waning, but he is trying to continue the battle that he's waging against the frustrating and protracted course of Leukemia.The bottom line is that he needs to get a lot stronger and healthier to get the Pre-Bone Marrow Transplant-therapy. We are praying for miracles that will help him do this.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Progress Report Letter
Dear family,
Today I spoke with John Greer, Director of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Vanderbilt. Dr. Greer is a highly regarded hemotologist/oncologist at one of the excellent cancer centers in the country. Robby put together a case history on Mark for Dr. Greer to read, and then Dr. Greer and I had a lengthy conversation in which he told me his thoughts about Mark's situation. He obviously has not been working on Mark's case and is therefore limited in what he knows. He also inserted caveats here and there. But, all in all, I left the conversation feeling A LOT more optimistic than I was at the beginning of the conversation. This is what I learned:
First, I think we are lucky to have a physician in the family to help us and especially Mark understand what is going on. We have seen how ad hoc this process can be. Most cancer patients and families of cancer patients don't have the luxury of having a physician in the family who can help them feel relatively less frustrated and discouraged about the surprises around every corner. It makes me feel more secure and confident when I get updates from Robby and know he is on the same page as Mark's medical team. It is especially reassuring when objective outsiders like Dr. Greer confirm what I am hearing from Robby.
Second, Mark's medical team is first-rate. Dr. Greer said he knows of the team at LDS and said repeatedly, "He is in good hands." The tenacity ofMark's infection has been frustrating. I am personally anxious to get the show on the road so we can get the transplant over with. I admit to wondering on more than one occasion whether the physicians treating Mark are getting it right. Dr. Greer assured me that they are. He knows of the Dana Farber protocol and thinks it was right to enter Mark into it. Based upon the info he read, he thinks Dr. Asch made the right call to stop the protocol when she did. And, he thinks they are proceeding the right way now working to fight the infection while vigilantly guarding the central nervous system from relapse, routinely testing remission/relapse, and keeping Mark on Glevic.
Third, he wasn't surprised by Mark's infection. He said one of the drugs they often use in the protocol induction is a heavy dosage of PegL-asparaginese. He said it can lead to pancreatitis and infection. In fact, he said one of the top problems cancer patients face is infection of one stripe or another. Survival depends upon patients' ability to prevent infection and to fight it off if they get it. He was very clear that Mark must get healthy in order to transplant and getting healthy is largely a function of Mark's own ability to get his mind and body strong.
Fourth, he is optimistic that Mark will make it to transplant. He said if Mark fights, his body will likely get strong enough to resolve the infection problem. He said it might take a while. When I told him I worry about relapse if it takes too long, he said glevic is remarkably successful at keeping the cancer at bay, Mark is lucky to be young and strong, and Mark's physicians will do everything they can to make sure the cancer stays out of Mark's central nervous system. Dr. Greer said Mark has suffered a terrible set back in the process of getting the bone marrow transplant he needs to stay in remission permanently. However, he seems to think of it as a temporary delay and remains confident that he will get through the infection to the marrow transplant. I feel a lot more confident knowing that Mark's medical team is on the ball and feel reassured knowing that there is a path to transplant if Mark works really hard to strengthen his body and mind.
Robby adds the following:
Most medical doctors are trained very very similarly. In fact, all M.D.'s trained in America take the same general boards twice. Then they go on to train at hospitals, some better than others but nevertheless, the same"medical gospel" is taught over and over like an onion. Even after a specialty is chosen, those physicians cross train with other specialties, especially within the general confines of Medicine and Surgery. Emergency Medicine is unique in that we train within both major branches of medicine and surgery and are required to get a strong general knowledge of both. Then the subspecialization takes place where Medicine doctors decide to become"Hematologists and Oncologists" etc. or Surgeons decide to become Cardiothoracic Surgeons etc. The onion-type layering of over-training continues because of the overlap. But by the time one reaches a sub-specialty they're deep into their sub and mastering very sophisticated levels of nuances of the cutting edge of their sub-specialty. The major teaching hospitals (where most of us train) are the ones that do the research that gives birth to the "protocols" "trials"and "methods" that the Standard of Care picks up and deems as such. The variances from those Standards is very rare and subtle. In fact in most work-ups (diagnosis and treatment patterns), there is a pretty common-to-physicians algorithm that is followed if one is thorough. So the only breakdown is if someone isnt thorough, is aberrent or is stupid. The last two dont last long because they usually dont get boarded, or get thrown out. In Intensive Medicine, Critical Care and Hem/Oncology, there are some pretty bright people because of the amount of material they must master to keep people alive. I would put my trust in any well trained physician in his or her field but would feel really good about a well trained Hem/Onc doctor especially at a reknown institution, ESPECIALLY if they were deemed worthy to work with Harvard's Dana Farber to produce a very important protocol for treating Adult ALL (Leukemia). Through this experience with Mark, I've shared many phone conversations and many, many emails with Dr Julie Asch and occasionally the others on her team. I can't tell you how many times I've made suggestions #1, #2 and #3 and she quickly says "done that", "done that" and "thought about that but didnt do that, we did this for these reasons..." So you see its common among us to think of the first second and third things one well trained would think of and they are not only on task with that but will nuance their work-ups and treatments to best use their knowledge and experience to fight what ails Mark.
Lastly, it's always difficult to cope. To help Mark is difficult since he needs both love, nurturing, help and encouragement at the same time. Its hard to know whether to give him empathy or a shot in the arm. I think all are doing a great job on that. His body needs to fight this disease. Its his immune system that at the end of the day will fight off infections. Its his brain that directs his Neuro Endocrine system which fights disease. The doctors are trying to keep the sharks away so he can swim across the channel. But at the end of the day, he has to swim. His immune system has to fight off the infections and with the best medical care, his system has to accept the BM transplant and stay in remission. I think we're on the right track, its just a frustrating journey with alot of chess moves along the way. I knew from day one it was going to be a very very bumpy road. Families and patients get discouraged every day all over the country fighting similar fights. I've seen it alot.
Brett V. Benson
Today I spoke with John Greer, Director of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Vanderbilt. Dr. Greer is a highly regarded hemotologist/oncologist at one of the excellent cancer centers in the country. Robby put together a case history on Mark for Dr. Greer to read, and then Dr. Greer and I had a lengthy conversation in which he told me his thoughts about Mark's situation. He obviously has not been working on Mark's case and is therefore limited in what he knows. He also inserted caveats here and there. But, all in all, I left the conversation feeling A LOT more optimistic than I was at the beginning of the conversation. This is what I learned:
First, I think we are lucky to have a physician in the family to help us and especially Mark understand what is going on. We have seen how ad hoc this process can be. Most cancer patients and families of cancer patients don't have the luxury of having a physician in the family who can help them feel relatively less frustrated and discouraged about the surprises around every corner. It makes me feel more secure and confident when I get updates from Robby and know he is on the same page as Mark's medical team. It is especially reassuring when objective outsiders like Dr. Greer confirm what I am hearing from Robby.
Second, Mark's medical team is first-rate. Dr. Greer said he knows of the team at LDS and said repeatedly, "He is in good hands." The tenacity ofMark's infection has been frustrating. I am personally anxious to get the show on the road so we can get the transplant over with. I admit to wondering on more than one occasion whether the physicians treating Mark are getting it right. Dr. Greer assured me that they are. He knows of the Dana Farber protocol and thinks it was right to enter Mark into it. Based upon the info he read, he thinks Dr. Asch made the right call to stop the protocol when she did. And, he thinks they are proceeding the right way now working to fight the infection while vigilantly guarding the central nervous system from relapse, routinely testing remission/relapse, and keeping Mark on Glevic.
Third, he wasn't surprised by Mark's infection. He said one of the drugs they often use in the protocol induction is a heavy dosage of PegL-asparaginese. He said it can lead to pancreatitis and infection. In fact, he said one of the top problems cancer patients face is infection of one stripe or another. Survival depends upon patients' ability to prevent infection and to fight it off if they get it. He was very clear that Mark must get healthy in order to transplant and getting healthy is largely a function of Mark's own ability to get his mind and body strong.
Fourth, he is optimistic that Mark will make it to transplant. He said if Mark fights, his body will likely get strong enough to resolve the infection problem. He said it might take a while. When I told him I worry about relapse if it takes too long, he said glevic is remarkably successful at keeping the cancer at bay, Mark is lucky to be young and strong, and Mark's physicians will do everything they can to make sure the cancer stays out of Mark's central nervous system. Dr. Greer said Mark has suffered a terrible set back in the process of getting the bone marrow transplant he needs to stay in remission permanently. However, he seems to think of it as a temporary delay and remains confident that he will get through the infection to the marrow transplant. I feel a lot more confident knowing that Mark's medical team is on the ball and feel reassured knowing that there is a path to transplant if Mark works really hard to strengthen his body and mind.
Robby adds the following:
Most medical doctors are trained very very similarly. In fact, all M.D.'s trained in America take the same general boards twice. Then they go on to train at hospitals, some better than others but nevertheless, the same"medical gospel" is taught over and over like an onion. Even after a specialty is chosen, those physicians cross train with other specialties, especially within the general confines of Medicine and Surgery. Emergency Medicine is unique in that we train within both major branches of medicine and surgery and are required to get a strong general knowledge of both. Then the subspecialization takes place where Medicine doctors decide to become"Hematologists and Oncologists" etc. or Surgeons decide to become Cardiothoracic Surgeons etc. The onion-type layering of over-training continues because of the overlap. But by the time one reaches a sub-specialty they're deep into their sub and mastering very sophisticated levels of nuances of the cutting edge of their sub-specialty. The major teaching hospitals (where most of us train) are the ones that do the research that gives birth to the "protocols" "trials"and "methods" that the Standard of Care picks up and deems as such. The variances from those Standards is very rare and subtle. In fact in most work-ups (diagnosis and treatment patterns), there is a pretty common-to-physicians algorithm that is followed if one is thorough. So the only breakdown is if someone isnt thorough, is aberrent or is stupid. The last two dont last long because they usually dont get boarded, or get thrown out. In Intensive Medicine, Critical Care and Hem/Oncology, there are some pretty bright people because of the amount of material they must master to keep people alive. I would put my trust in any well trained physician in his or her field but would feel really good about a well trained Hem/Onc doctor especially at a reknown institution, ESPECIALLY if they were deemed worthy to work with Harvard's Dana Farber to produce a very important protocol for treating Adult ALL (Leukemia). Through this experience with Mark, I've shared many phone conversations and many, many emails with Dr Julie Asch and occasionally the others on her team. I can't tell you how many times I've made suggestions #1, #2 and #3 and she quickly says "done that", "done that" and "thought about that but didnt do that, we did this for these reasons..." So you see its common among us to think of the first second and third things one well trained would think of and they are not only on task with that but will nuance their work-ups and treatments to best use their knowledge and experience to fight what ails Mark.
Lastly, it's always difficult to cope. To help Mark is difficult since he needs both love, nurturing, help and encouragement at the same time. Its hard to know whether to give him empathy or a shot in the arm. I think all are doing a great job on that. His body needs to fight this disease. Its his immune system that at the end of the day will fight off infections. Its his brain that directs his Neuro Endocrine system which fights disease. The doctors are trying to keep the sharks away so he can swim across the channel. But at the end of the day, he has to swim. His immune system has to fight off the infections and with the best medical care, his system has to accept the BM transplant and stay in remission. I think we're on the right track, its just a frustrating journey with alot of chess moves along the way. I knew from day one it was going to be a very very bumpy road. Families and patients get discouraged every day all over the country fighting similar fights. I've seen it alot.
Brett V. Benson
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Progress Report
This afternoon, Mark has another procedure called Interventional Radiology to drain fluids off of his abdomen. This will hopefully be a resolution to the fierce infection in his stomach, which is also preventing him from moving forward to a bone marrow transplant. A member of his family is trying to be with him constantly. Please remember him in your prayers.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Progress Report Letter
Mark's Family,
Hi. I've been in close contact with Mark's physicians mostly by email
and today got a half-dozen from Dr Asch. Things are tricky right now
for him. Unfortunately, more fluid collections we're found on the CT
today and may be more abcesses. The fluid draining from Mark's abdomen
is looking more and more like pus. I talked with an Infectious Disease
specialist tonight in a Medical Executive Meeting at my hospital about
the perplexing infection. He made some suggestions, which I
immediately emailed to Dr Asch during my meeting. Most of them they've
already covered. They added one new antibiotic tonight however, which
I can only hope will start to kill whatever this elusive infection is.
There may be a need to go back to surgery tomorrow or soon. I
discussed the issue of Mark's surgeon with the lead doctor who thought
it would be ok if I advocated for Mark and asked for a second opinion
from another surgeon. The problem is they're the same group. So, from
a distance all we can do is pray for a miracle that things turn upward
for the better and soon.
Each day is a different story with his case. He needs
encouragement--he has alot of fears. While he's suffering from an
acute infectious process and a surgical abdomen he needs pain
medication and help. As he gets back on the mend he'll need more and
more encouragment of a different sort helping him get strong and
independent again so his own constitution can fight this disease and
so he can survive a BM transplant. I know he loves visitors and I say
come ahead. Michelle can use as much respite as possible. Mark is
aware of the issues and as the fighter that he is, is up to the
challenge and said even today "Im not giving up."
So each day will bring a new twist. But for today he needs a miracle
to heal his belly so he can stand up and fight on.
Love,
Robb
Hi. I've been in close contact with Mark's physicians mostly by email
and today got a half-dozen from Dr Asch. Things are tricky right now
for him. Unfortunately, more fluid collections we're found on the CT
today and may be more abcesses. The fluid draining from Mark's abdomen
is looking more and more like pus. I talked with an Infectious Disease
specialist tonight in a Medical Executive Meeting at my hospital about
the perplexing infection. He made some suggestions, which I
immediately emailed to Dr Asch during my meeting. Most of them they've
already covered. They added one new antibiotic tonight however, which
I can only hope will start to kill whatever this elusive infection is.
There may be a need to go back to surgery tomorrow or soon. I
discussed the issue of Mark's surgeon with the lead doctor who thought
it would be ok if I advocated for Mark and asked for a second opinion
from another surgeon. The problem is they're the same group. So, from
a distance all we can do is pray for a miracle that things turn upward
for the better and soon.
Each day is a different story with his case. He needs
encouragement--he has alot of fears. While he's suffering from an
acute infectious process and a surgical abdomen he needs pain
medication and help. As he gets back on the mend he'll need more and
more encouragment of a different sort helping him get strong and
independent again so his own constitution can fight this disease and
so he can survive a BM transplant. I know he loves visitors and I say
come ahead. Michelle can use as much respite as possible. Mark is
aware of the issues and as the fighter that he is, is up to the
challenge and said even today "Im not giving up."
So each day will bring a new twist. But for today he needs a miracle
to heal his belly so he can stand up and fight on.
Love,
Robb
Friday, April 18, 2008
Simple Pleasures
Root Beer Popsicles!
Mark loves this indulgence when the nurses can sneak him one. It is a real delicious luxury because he is unable to eat through his mouth and only take small sips of ice water throughout the day until they resolve some chemo complications that have crept up.
John and Suzanne Subaitani stopped in for a visit with Mom and Dad. It was exciting to see Mark's determination in increasing his laps around the ward on his frequent daily walks. He actually got to go outside and soak up some sunshine this week. After being inside a hospital room for weeks on end, that was truly pleasurable for Mark. The nurses come in frequently to put new IV bags on his IV tree or as we like to refer to it - "Meals on Wheels"! He gets wonderful care at LDS. We're grateful for such an amazing team of doctors and nurses.
Mark has a tremendous spirit. He experiences a lot of pain, but he manages to make us laugh and host us in his hospital room as he would host us at his home. He loves company and we love being there with him all hours of the day. Mark's three girls love to drop in. They brought him a tall stack of "love notes" and get well cards. They hug his feet and are so excited to see "fun daddy" is back!
Mark loves this indulgence when the nurses can sneak him one. It is a real delicious luxury because he is unable to eat through his mouth and only take small sips of ice water throughout the day until they resolve some chemo complications that have crept up.
John and Suzanne Subaitani stopped in for a visit with Mom and Dad. It was exciting to see Mark's determination in increasing his laps around the ward on his frequent daily walks. He actually got to go outside and soak up some sunshine this week. After being inside a hospital room for weeks on end, that was truly pleasurable for Mark. The nurses come in frequently to put new IV bags on his IV tree or as we like to refer to it - "Meals on Wheels"! He gets wonderful care at LDS. We're grateful for such an amazing team of doctors and nurses.
Mark has a tremendous spirit. He experiences a lot of pain, but he manages to make us laugh and host us in his hospital room as he would host us at his home. He loves company and we love being there with him all hours of the day. Mark's three girls love to drop in. They brought him a tall stack of "love notes" and get well cards. They hug his feet and are so excited to see "fun daddy" is back!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Progress Report on Mark
Kathy and I just spent an extended conference weekend with Mark in LDS Hospital in Salk Lake City. Suzanne and Jon Subaitani were there as well and nurtured him so tenderly. Mark loves the presence of family – O, how he loves family to be right there with him. Fortunately, with Michelle and her family so close and with his own family members who plan visits to be with him, as well as other extended family members and many dear friends who are close or travel to be with him, he receives constant attention for which we are grateful.
He has completed his first regimen of chemo therapy, and tests show that as a result, he is in remission. A second regimen was scheduled to follow. However, several side effects from the chemo and other meds he has been taking have kept his very competent medical team doing what they do so well, managing crisis after crisis. Because he is in remission, the current plan is to get him past his last lingering problem of painful fluid accumulation in his lower abdomen so he can go straight to bone marrow transplants. His tests show that his vital organs are in excellent shape. He looks really good, even bald, and his spirits are high except for the persisting pain in his stomach.
His brother Brett, who has tested to be a perfect match to be Mark’s bone marrow donor, will fly in to Salt Lake City for final screening tests on the 10th of April. When satisfactory screen test results are in and Mark is over his stomach pain, the plan is to go straight into the bone marrow transplant program, which includes 8 days of special chemo and radiation treatment followed on the 9th day by the bone marrow extraction from Brett and the transfusion of it into Mark. With new cancer-free bone marrow matriculating through his circulatory system, a whole new cancer-free immune system will re-develop within Mark’s own bone structure.
We have been clearly advised by Mark’s doctors of the hazards that accompany the “transplant” route, but they are undaunted, and we are clearly aware of the Lord’s tender mercies that have sustained him and his doctors to this point and we only anticipate those blessings will continue. The fasting and prayers from so many have not gone unnoticed by the Lord, and the continuing faithful prayers for the success of Brett’s screenings and the abatement of Mark’s pain so the bone marrow transplants can proceed will be so deeply appreciated.
He has completed his first regimen of chemo therapy, and tests show that as a result, he is in remission. A second regimen was scheduled to follow. However, several side effects from the chemo and other meds he has been taking have kept his very competent medical team doing what they do so well, managing crisis after crisis. Because he is in remission, the current plan is to get him past his last lingering problem of painful fluid accumulation in his lower abdomen so he can go straight to bone marrow transplants. His tests show that his vital organs are in excellent shape. He looks really good, even bald, and his spirits are high except for the persisting pain in his stomach.
His brother Brett, who has tested to be a perfect match to be Mark’s bone marrow donor, will fly in to Salt Lake City for final screening tests on the 10th of April. When satisfactory screen test results are in and Mark is over his stomach pain, the plan is to go straight into the bone marrow transplant program, which includes 8 days of special chemo and radiation treatment followed on the 9th day by the bone marrow extraction from Brett and the transfusion of it into Mark. With new cancer-free bone marrow matriculating through his circulatory system, a whole new cancer-free immune system will re-develop within Mark’s own bone structure.
We have been clearly advised by Mark’s doctors of the hazards that accompany the “transplant” route, but they are undaunted, and we are clearly aware of the Lord’s tender mercies that have sustained him and his doctors to this point and we only anticipate those blessings will continue. The fasting and prayers from so many have not gone unnoticed by the Lord, and the continuing faithful prayers for the success of Brett’s screenings and the abatement of Mark’s pain so the bone marrow transplants can proceed will be so deeply appreciated.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
B.A.L.D. Brothers Against Leukemia Disease
We all want to BE LIKE MARK!
Brother's-in-law, John Subaitani and Stephen Lines have started a trend. Even little Henry is sporting the new do! There is nothing like being B.A.L.D. We're all in this together, Mark - Brothers Against Leukemia Disease! We love you!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
3rd Week - Mark looking his handsome self!
Hanging with Dad and keeping occupied with laptop biz. Keeping a real sense of humor!
What do you know, Mark is receiving calls right and left. No shock to any of us - he's a pretty loved guy! We managed to capture his fabulous rapport with the nurses. They are a great team at LDS Hospital. His positive, dry wit has them all charmed.
Mark's bday celebration - March 11, 08
His nieces and nephews were thrilled to shower him with love and gifts. He was happy to have all sorts of family around -- and we were happy to be around him! The best birthday gift - MARK GOT A BONE MARROW MATCH!!! The miracles from Heavenly Father continue to bless us. That piece of news on his birthday brought us all to grateful tears!
Hanging with Dad and keeping occupied with laptop biz. Keeping a real sense of humor!
What do you know, Mark is receiving calls right and left. No shock to any of us - he's a pretty loved guy! We managed to capture his fabulous rapport with the nurses. They are a great team at LDS Hospital. His positive, dry wit has them all charmed.
Mark's bday celebration - March 11, 08
His nieces and nephews were thrilled to shower him with love and gifts. He was happy to have all sorts of family around -- and we were happy to be around him! The best birthday gift - MARK GOT A BONE MARROW MATCH!!! The miracles from Heavenly Father continue to bless us. That piece of news on his birthday brought us all to grateful tears!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Update on Mark’s Condition
Mark is doing remarkably well thanks to the fasting and prayers of so many, many wonderful family and friends who love Mark and Michelle. I have been amazed. And from that we have witnessed miracle after miracle, not the least of which, Brett out his other five siblings is a total match with Mark for Mark’s bone marrow transplants. We are advised by his very competent medical team that having a sibling match for bone marrow donations greatly enhances the prospect that Mark will be able to withstand the numerous potential complications, which can result from bone marrow transplantation.
He has been through the first round of chemo-therapy, has been in remission and is now starting the second round of chemo. The challenge is keeping him in remission, which cannot happen while he has what is called the Philadelphia chromosome – a chromosome which protects and enables the Leucoplasts to reproduce. This next round of Chemo will be followed by a three week hiatus, during which he will be on an out-patient basis, in the hospital for treatments just three days each week. That will then be followed by the bone marrow transplant and an extended hospitalization to help monitor and maximize the rebuilding of his previously completely destroyed immune system along with the Philadelphia chromosome reproduction capability. It will be a long haul but well worth it for Mark’s health sake and all of our spiritual health sake. Not knowing what the ride will fully entail, I think we and particularly Mark are braced for it, with Heavenly Father’s help and the love and prayers of loved ones. This is totally life altering, which we are expecting will be for the good.
He has been through the first round of chemo-therapy, has been in remission and is now starting the second round of chemo. The challenge is keeping him in remission, which cannot happen while he has what is called the Philadelphia chromosome – a chromosome which protects and enables the Leucoplasts to reproduce. This next round of Chemo will be followed by a three week hiatus, during which he will be on an out-patient basis, in the hospital for treatments just three days each week. That will then be followed by the bone marrow transplant and an extended hospitalization to help monitor and maximize the rebuilding of his previously completely destroyed immune system along with the Philadelphia chromosome reproduction capability. It will be a long haul but well worth it for Mark’s health sake and all of our spiritual health sake. Not knowing what the ride will fully entail, I think we and particularly Mark are braced for it, with Heavenly Father’s help and the love and prayers of loved ones. This is totally life altering, which we are expecting will be for the good.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Dear Friends and Family of Mark Benson,
Recently Mark has become ill and been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was urgently taken to LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to commence a clinical trial protocol to fight this type of Leukemia. The cancer he has requires an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, a prolonged hospital stay and in his case, a bone marrow transplant in order to increase the possibility of remission and hopefully a cure.
His family is rallying around him to help him combat this disease and deal with the challenges that lie ahead. Mark and Michelle’s loved ones are on rotation staying with Mark in the hospital, helping with the children and looking for other ways to help. We are trying to lift some of the burden Mark and Michelle are experiencing by having to relocate temporarily from their home and work in Las Vegas to the Salt Lake region for Mark’s treatment and therapy, which he has been advised will protract over at least twelve to twenty four months.
We are writing this letter as siblings of Mark to let his friends and extended family know of his challenge and to invite any support including faith and prayers you would be inclined to render in his behalf. Several of you have inquired about the possibility of contributing financially towards the substantial costs that he and Michelle will incur regarding his long-term treatments and absence from work. To facilitate such kindness, a Benefit Donation Fund account for Mark has been established at Wells Fargo Bank. The account is titled the Mark Benson Benefit Donation Fund. Donations to that account can be made at any branch of Wells Fargo Bank, or donations can be mailed in a check payable to the “Mark Benson Benefit Donation Fund” to Wells Fargo Bank, 144 W. Brigham Rd., Ste B, St George, Utah 84790.
Additionally, we have established this blog to offer information and updates on Mark and his condition, and give friends and family an opportunity to post a note to him, which we know he will appreciate.
We along with Mom and Dad and Mark and Michelle are greatly encouraged by the highly qualified medical team who are treating Mark, the faith and prayers we know are being offered on Mark’s behalf and the many visits and well wishes which have been extended. Thank you for remembering him.
Sincerely,
Brothers and Sisters of Mark
Recently Mark has become ill and been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was urgently taken to LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah to commence a clinical trial protocol to fight this type of Leukemia. The cancer he has requires an aggressive chemotherapy regimen, a prolonged hospital stay and in his case, a bone marrow transplant in order to increase the possibility of remission and hopefully a cure.
His family is rallying around him to help him combat this disease and deal with the challenges that lie ahead. Mark and Michelle’s loved ones are on rotation staying with Mark in the hospital, helping with the children and looking for other ways to help. We are trying to lift some of the burden Mark and Michelle are experiencing by having to relocate temporarily from their home and work in Las Vegas to the Salt Lake region for Mark’s treatment and therapy, which he has been advised will protract over at least twelve to twenty four months.
We are writing this letter as siblings of Mark to let his friends and extended family know of his challenge and to invite any support including faith and prayers you would be inclined to render in his behalf. Several of you have inquired about the possibility of contributing financially towards the substantial costs that he and Michelle will incur regarding his long-term treatments and absence from work. To facilitate such kindness, a Benefit Donation Fund account for Mark has been established at Wells Fargo Bank. The account is titled the Mark Benson Benefit Donation Fund. Donations to that account can be made at any branch of Wells Fargo Bank, or donations can be mailed in a check payable to the “Mark Benson Benefit Donation Fund” to Wells Fargo Bank, 144 W. Brigham Rd., Ste B, St George, Utah 84790.
Additionally, we have established this blog to offer information and updates on Mark and his condition, and give friends and family an opportunity to post a note to him, which we know he will appreciate.
We along with Mom and Dad and Mark and Michelle are greatly encouraged by the highly qualified medical team who are treating Mark, the faith and prayers we know are being offered on Mark’s behalf and the many visits and well wishes which have been extended. Thank you for remembering him.
Sincerely,
Brothers and Sisters of Mark
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