Welcome to my site. This is a great way for everyone to stay connected! Thanks for all the support and comments. We enjoy reading them all and feel the love! Feel free to upload some pictures if you'd like.
I would like everyone to hear this message from Jimmy V!
Dan's mom (Mary) has order support bands that say "Have a heart for Dan Hartzell". Please post on the blog if you'd like to order one or would like to help sell some for us. Thank you! Mary is a vet tech and is also selling dog and cat bracelets/necklaces. If you're interested in helping please E-mail her at griz@cableone.net .
Round 11 starts tomorrow. Dan had his blood drawn already for that. He's taking the probiotics for his stomach and hoping that helps out this round. Dan found some interesting sites on the internet. A concept we heard before. Below are some links for an article and video. We watched part of Farrah's story the other day. She had an important message to get out that we totally agree with. Awareness and research is what is needed for a cure. Certain types of cancer aren't researched enough and she was wondering WHY? Why doesn't the US have the treatment here that other countries have? It was a good documentary. Anyhow, this will be a tough week with round 11 of the poison. Keep Dan in your prayers. Luv, Dan and Julie ps-you'll have to copy and paste the first site below
http://www.braintumornews.com/2009/05/marijuana-chemical-may-fight-brain.html After reeding this article look at the bottom where it says "When will there be a cure for cancer" and read that article also (informative).
Whoo hooooo! YES! The letter came yesterday for the approval. I have a few other questions, but other then that Dan is back in the system. You're right Mumzie I don't take NO for an answer. NO always means YES one way or another. lol Dan and I are happy that they decided to do the right thing. Loving the good news! I tell you patience is a virtue, but one that I don't have when it comes to justice. Anyhow, glad that part is over. It's been a 3 week waiting period which I'm assuming is relatively short considering they could have you chasing your own tail if you didn't know their job! -Now we can focus on this months 11th round and the blood work that will have to be done with in the next few days. Just in time to get some tests done. Whew, that's a relief. :) On that note, TTFN. Thanks for checking in and supporting. Luv to you all xoxo Dan and Julie ps- We have the probiotics. Hope they do the trick. pss-BIG THANKS AND HUDDGGE HUG TO DAWN (our social worker). You'll never know what a source of inspiration you truly are!
I was ready to march down to the office again and see what was going on with the med spend down on Mon, but they called me right as I was getting ready to leave. The lady was trying to tell me to re submit bills all the way from May, but I already submitted one bill that alone would qualify him for the med spend down limit. I told her that and asked how long the paperwork would take. I think she was shocked on some level that I knew exactly what I was talking about and she said we should receive a letter in the mail by the end of this week. We better or Mon. I'll be down to that office again (with bells on)! Persistence is key and knowledge is power! Needless to say, I'm impatient for justice as always. -Anyhow, Dan's Temodar (chemo)should be coming in the mail today. Last week we go the zophran (anti nausea). It's been great to have the drug companies sending us the medicine Dan needs. -He starts his 11th round in just a few days. 2 more to go. Our partners in crime just posted a comment saying to take some pro biotic for Dan's stomach and that it helps. So that's something I will put on the list to get especially if it helps. -Other then that I'm getting domesticated and it's scary. lol I'm working full time and starting college in the fall (qualified for FASFA). Get 'er done. Dan's staying busy with his hobbies (cooking, sports, and gardening) and the boys (Jester and Sebass). Hope all is well with everyone. Wishing our close friends Melissa and Charlie a safe and happy move back to CC, TX. Miss and love you guys! Luv, D&J
The title of this blog is one of our friends famous sayings on their blog (Sherry and Tony). :) -Dan is feeling a bit crummy the past few days (a bit tired and nauseous). Today he seems to be a little better. He's watching sports of course (Golf). -I will be going back to AHCCS tomorrow with another medical bill and see if I can't light a fire under them to push the paperwork along. Move it along folks! Pronto! -Dan's garden is doing well. -Dan's weight is still ok. Probably helps that he is a cook and a foodie for sure. -Happy Fathers Day to all you fathers out there today! Congrad's to Jason on being a new father. It's been quite a year! -Other then that we are just enjoying the nice weather out here and lots of sun shine. Luv, Dan and Julie
Went down to the AHCCS today and they will process the paperwork to get the med spend down rolling. Keep your fingers crossed that this will plan will work out. They have the bills necessary to qualify him, so they better do it! -Anyhow, Dan was busy cooking for us for dinner. :) Other then that we are good. Just doing our thing. Thanks for checking in with us. - The 11th round of poison starts the last week of this month. We have to make sure the medicine is coming soon and call the doc's office tomorrow. Hope all is well with everyone. Luv, Dan and Julie
That song came on the other day on our way back from PHX. It's a Philly thing! LOL -So, the insurance ran out a few days before the doc's visit. It works out in our favor. Couldn't have planned it better if we tried. Turns out those bills can qualify Dan for the med spend down for the insurance. So, we have a plan. Wish us luck. Don't know until we try. I will go there next week and see what happens. The med spend down lasts for 6 months and then we do the same thing all over again. Sticking to the cycle of the plan. -Dan cooked dinner tonight. We watched the hangover last night. Glad to see him up and out. :) -Other then that just keeping the eye of the tiger. Luv, Dan and Julie
This time the lack of insurance for real. It all takes time to process and when I picked up the one medicine that isn't covered by the drug companies we had to pay for it yesterday. This means that the appeal is over and process. Dan is officially with out health insurance. Sounds crazy right? But true! I'm use to the YoYo effect they try to pull with you. I'll be paying their department a visit again to get the inside scoop on the "med spend down." Luckily we have an awesome social worker (Dawn you are the best) on our side who advises us on the next step. We are working on a plan right now that sounds like it will work! Dan will be back on the insurance again soon (before the next doc's visit in July). It's all a game, but that's how the system is I guess. -Dan has planted a vegetable and fruit garden out back. He keeps a careful watch on his plants and has been re planting some of them lately so they will grow better. At least there are a few green things that are good for him. -The chemo is over and that's good. Another month free. -Keep our partners in crime in your prayers also; Amy and Jason, Sherry and Tony, Jeanette and Kent, Nita and Ron, Mike, and Jake also! Thinking of all of you often. Keep up the fight! Well, until next time. Luv, Dan and Julie
Dan passed all the tests and his blood work came back fine. -The next doctors apt. is at the end of July=the last cycle of Temodar. -Amy you are right, if you swallow poison your stomach feels like you are swallowing it. Dan is in bed sleeping and his stomach is a wreck. Not sure what happens after the last cycle.... It's something we will discus at the next doc's apt. -Seems like it's getting harder to do the 5 day cycle the further along he goes. -2 more rounds to go. -3 days left for cycle 10. -Keep Dan in your prayers. He's interested to see what he will feel like with out taking the chemo any more. Wondering if some of his energy level will come back. He's a fighter for sure! Love, Dan and Julie
Hey, we just got back from PHX. The doctor and nurse (BFF Norissa) were very happy with the same results. She says it's excellent news. :) We'll take it. Keep the prayers coming for sure. Dan is happy and so am I. -We're enjoying the weather in Prescott. -Glad to see you all on the site. Sorry we haven't posted more. Just living life. -Good to spend a few days with Trish and the kids. -Great to see you Kim and the house is beautiful. :) -TTFN Luv, Dan and Jewels
and she said we should receive a letter in the mail by the end of this week. We better or Mon. I'll be down to that office again (with bells on)! Persistence is key and knowledge is power! Needless to say, I'm impatient for justice as always. -Anyhow, Dan's Temodar (chemo)should be coming in the mail today. Last week we go the zophran (anti nausea). It's been great to have the drug companies sending us the medicine Dan needs. -He starts his 11th round in just a few days. 2 more to go. Our partners in crime just posted a comment saying to take some pro biotic for Dan's stomach and that it helps. So that's something I will put on the list to get especially if it helps. -Other then that I'm getting domesticated and it's scary. lol I'm working full time and starting college in the fall (qualified for FASFA). Get 'er done. Dan's staying busy with his hobbies (cooking, sports, and gardening) and the boys (Jester and Sebass). Hope all is well with everyone. Wishing our close friends Melissa and Charlie a safe and happy move back to CC, TX. Miss and love you guys! Luv, D&J