Weekend Update...

I am back in Texas and after seven days with Dominic & the Ambriz family here are some observations I took away:

1. Dominic is getting the best care in he possibly can. The nursing staff has been so caring & attentive, while he has more doctors than we can count looking over his situation.

2. Dom has an incredible support group; starting with his family, girlfriend and his friends who are located in Southern California. There hasn’t been a time when he has been left alone at any point since Sunday when he was admitted. In fact some of the aforementioned nurses asked us if we wanted a job seeing we were fast becoming fixtures on the 4th floor.

3. Dom has a tenacious will. On Thursday I stayed the night with him, and to say it was a long night doesn’t do it justice. He wasn’t even able to keep ice chips down earlier in the night as we played Yahtzee with a few visitors. Yet on this night he was to begin his new chemotherapy treatments. I had no idea how he was going to keep these important meds down. We slowly feed them to him, he choked them down as best he could and then I witnessed him for the next four hours strain from vomiting up his meds. It was incredible, and miserable, to watch your friend struggle but he kept fighting, as the sun came up, and he prepared for radiation, the chemo never came up. It was a small victory, but one that should a great sign as to Dom’s will to win.

4. When you are really sick you don’t care what’s on TV – I have seen more TV Land Classics, Disney Channel and I can memorize the channel guide of Cedars by now.

5. There is a long way to go. When I left Dom was drenched in sweat from a fever that was unaccounted for. After copious tests were run, it appears there is a slight tear in his esophagus, which probably has led to an infection. Can my boy catch a break please?!? Anyways, he is on antibiotics, and the procedure to fix the problem seems routine & non-invasive. So that problem should be fixed shortly. Last update I heard is he isn’t communicating yet & the infection has really zapped his strength so walking hasn’t happened too much either.

So many stories from week-one in the hospital; some serious and some downright hilarious. It’s important for us all to keep our wits, sanity and faith in these times. Thanks again for all your continued words & blessings; please keep them coming. I can’t hear enough how much Dom has affected y’all (I must be back in Texas).