Friday

Still Fighting however will be going home soon.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Wednesday

Life is so Delicate.  John is resting comfortably and has been surrounded by family and friends.  This has been a truly humbling experience to see my children and the love they have for their father and his friends and the outpouring of support.  He is resting and peaceful and there doesn't seem to be any pain so for now we comfort.  Please take a minute and grab your family and hug them and tell them they are loved. John always did.  Family and friends always knew they were loved.

Heavy Heart

I come to you all with a heavy heart.  After John doing so well to fight and the zelboraf helping clear the cancer in John's body it seems the brain just had a few to many lesions that have left him not able to care for himself.  We have brought him home and placed him in hospice in our home.  He seems so much more relaxed.  We also had to explain the harsh reality to our children that their father is very ill and will not be here long and hopefully not have to suffer.  Sometimes when life seems the bleakest there comes a light.  He was able to see one more game, lexi run a race, see all his friends and tell them he loved them, Jenni's baby girl, Josh's first son and Jessica graduate from college and finally cuddle with his wife which might have been for the last time. 

This will be a difficult time for all of us. 

Escape Artist

Just got off the phone with Anne.  They tried to do an MRI of his brain today.  They sedated him and had him tucked in pretty tight, but some how he managed to get himself out of the tube.  The nurses have no idea how he did it.  So unfortunately, no tests were successfully performed today.  We are hoping they try again tomorrow.  They will also do the EEG tomorrow.  He is still very disoriented and somewhat combative.  He didn't know who Anne or any of us kids were, or that it was the boys birthday today.  Please pray that they find out what is going on, because so far, they have no explanation.  Please also keep Anne in your prayers.  She is doing such an amazing job taking care of our dad, but it is definitely taking its toll.  She really is amazing.  She has a few of our Aunts up there with her, so tonight, hopefully she will be able to get some rest.  Again, I will post as soon as I have updates.  Good Night.

Nothing to report

We didn't forget about updating.  There is nothing new to report.  Waiting on tests to come back.  He was sedated most of the day, so that he could rest.  Hopefully we will have some news tomorrow.  Have a great night and keep him in your prayers. 

Update

Just spoke with Anne.  The neuro surgeon said, she didn't see any sort of bleed, and even if there was, it was minor and she wouldn't operate, due to his brain just going through radiation.  She said the swelling wasn't severe either.  They will meet with the neurologist later today to see what she thinks may be altering his state of mind.  They are going to do an EEG, to see if he may be having seizures.  His cancer doctor(Dr. Samlowski) and his radio oncologist will review the MRI they will be doing today and then come up with a plan of treatment.  They are giving him steroids to help the swelling go down in his brain.  I am just kind of rambling, trying to remember everything.  I hope this makes sense.  As soon as I hear more, I will post it on here.  If you have any questions, just post in the comments and I will answer them for you.  Please just keep praying for him.

Speed Bump

This is John's daughter posting.  I told Anne I would do an update for her.  My Dad was feeling weird and weak today.  In more pain then normal, also.  This evening he became more weak and disoriented.  They decided to take him to the ER.  After some tests, it was revealed that he had some swelling on the brain, so he was air lifted, once again, to Sunrise Hospital in Vegas.  Anne and Aunt Fran went down to be with him tonight.  As soon as we have more information, we will post it on here.  As long as things go as planned, we will still be having the twins birthday party at the bowling alley on Saturday.  Please keep our family in your prayers.  Will update as soon as we hear something.

Tuesday

I know I haven't posted however we haven't had alot of news.  It looks like the MRI doesn't show much of a change so we will meet with the radio oncologist on Friday.  We'll see We will also meet with Doctor on Friday all of which are on the boys birthday.  It looks like the blood work has improved however we will not know everything until Friday.  I am back at work hoping that this will bring John even more independence.  Please say a prayer for us something has to improve at some point.  He is to good for it not.  Good night.

Sunday

Nice weekend was feeling a little under the weather so did not have time to post.  John had his MRI yesterday and it went well.  He was relaxed so it made it a bit easier then is being a cloudy cool day we stayed in and took naps.  All of us Kids included.  We will get details when we see the doctor on Friday.  He has been feeling well and has his eyes on opening baseball cermonies.  The boys turn 11 this week and I am returning to work so it will be a busy week.  I believe going back to work will allow John to become even more independent.  Here is John wearing his lucky shirt hopefully it did the trick!!!!

Friday

John had a noneventful day!  He has his MRI in the morning so please pray that the brain is stable and amh lesions that were there are gone.  Not feeling well myself tonight hopfully it is nothing...

This article brought John to tears.  It has been an emotion filled day.  He has been sneezing and sneezing.  Once again john is overcome by the graciousness of the community.  Kingman is such a great community and the spirit with which you have rallied behind our family
is  amazing.  Thank you Thank you!!!!!!

Golf tourney's success is like a scene from a movie

JC AMBERLYN/Miner John and Anne Bathauer smile during the John Bathauer charity golf classic Saturday at Cerbat Cliffs Golf Course. The event raised $35,000 for the Bathauer family as John is battling an aggressive form of melanoma cancer. Rodney Haas Miner Sports Reporter KINGMAN - Forgive John Bathauer if he feels a bit like George Bailey from the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." And forgive him if Kingman feels like Bedford Falls to him after the success of the John Bathauer charity golf tournament, put on by the Kingman Firefighters Association Saturday at Cerbat Cliffs Golf Course. With 42 teams and 168 players playing, the firefighters association had hoped to raise $15,000 for the Bathauer family as John is currently battling an aggressive form of melanoma skin cancer. But as the tournament continued and the money was being counted from donations from local businesses, a raffle and the tournament itself, the amount started to climb, reaching $20,000 while the tournament was still being played and peaking at just over $35,000. But what happened after the tournament concluded was a scene straight out of "It's a Wonderful Life." Players donated their prize money back to the Bathauer family, just as the people of Bedford Falls gave what money they had to help Bailey when they found out that George was in trouble. "For me, it did bring those thoughts," said Kingman High Athletic Director Tim Casson, who played in the tournament. "Standing out there when they were doing the prizes and awards, and the tournament winners were saying, 'Here take our tournament winnings and donate that too.' It did bring that to mind." The tournament was just one of many fundraisers that have been put on to help John and his family with the various expenses that have come up since John was first diagnosed back in January and will continue to come up as he moves forward with his treatment. "What happened on Saturday was amazing," John's wife Anne said. "How did this small community raise $35,000 for a family? John says, 'Anyone who bags on Kingman, I-40 is right there and you can get on it.' Because what the community has done this weekend and what they have done is just amazing." The success of the tournament has also sparked conversations about turning the John Bathauer Classic into an annual event to help raise money for a family or families in Kingman battling cancer. And as for John, he has a goal of playing an even bigger part in the tournament next year. "I was told that John's plans are to do this next year and he wants to play in it," said Tom Flanagan of the Kingman Firefighters Association. "If that's his plans then I will put together the best tournament possible." While next year is a long ways away, the focus on Saturday was John and his family as par scores took a back seat to the money being raised. And as Bailey discovered his true worth to Bedford Falls, so has John and Anne to Kingman through their 20 plus years of service with John's dedication to youth sports and Anne's coaching. On Saturday, the community had an opportunity to show how thankful it is. "That's what John said. If you get involved with the community, the community will pay you back," Anne said. "If something happens, the community will pay you back. So get involved with your community." Want to help? The family has set up an account for John Bathauer at National Bank of Arizona, 3825 Stockton Hill Road, 2605 E. Andy Devine Ave., and at 4263 Highway 68, Suite A in Golden Valley. Folks who want to set up a fundraiser can contact the Bathauer family at abathauer1@gmail.com

Went on an adventure today and had a great time.  I like going to Laughlin with John now because when I ask him to cash out he listens.  Im sure this will not last.  I was just excited he wanted to go.  He just wanted to get away from the hostpitals and appontments.  He was also feeling good.  For those of you wondering if he won, yes he did.  He is always a winner no matter what the odds:)

Tuesday

Boredom sets in.  John says, Why am I sitting here day after day I am wasting my time.  I have been waiting for this.  I think I hit it 3 weeks ago. He had physical therapy and is back to speech so he is already in bed at 8:00.  He has really enjoyed all his visits with everyone.  Trying very hard to stay focused and positive however doubts creep in.  Just want him better now and patience has never been my strong point.  We have spoken about either heasing to laughlin tomorrow or playing dice and cards hopefully he has a good night.  He has been sleeping well.  Good night...

Monday

Down to 1 mg steroid so he has a low grade temp.  He had a great day with lots of visits.  Seeing him happy helps me to focus on the positves.  Anyone who wants a shirt from this weekend have should get ahold of Fran or facebook me and let me know.  John will have his MRI on Saturday may the luck of the Irish be with him and may the lesions be gone after whole brain radiation.  Please keep praying. 

Pictures

Thanks again for a great day.   We are still recovering.

Amazing

Thank you,  I would have posted something yesterday however I was emotionally spent. To see my husband surrounded by his friends and family and for our family to be lifted up like it was, Was in one word Amazing.  I m not sure all of you know this however 7 weeks ago my husband could not have stood let alone laugh and smile for more than a half of an hour and yesterday made him more happy than I can remember.  He was very tired when we arrived home, and his legs were tired from standing however late last night he said, " I had a dream my friends put on the best golf tourney ever and next year I will golf in it"  What a fantastic day!  People coming together for a family and putting eveything aside and just having fun.  Our family is so blessed because we have all of you in it.  I thank everyone and Like Tom Flannigan said it would be difficult to name everyone as I would miss someone.  All I can say is thank you for surrounding us with love.  My Family is so thankful and the community and their father has taught them a valuable lesson, "You get out of a community what you put in."  Kingman is a place one should be proud to live and 20 years ago when I made my choice to live here I made the right decision and to my husband he has always loved this community and understood the worth of a place is in its people and through the relationships on creates. 

I will stop blathering now thank you for teaching my children a lesson about community support and for lifting us up.

Friday

GOOD MORNING!!! We are heading to Las Vegas today and who knows what the doctor will say.  Clinically John is so much better however his blood work still needs work .  We are working on protein intake and electrolyte intake by drinking pedialite(Thanks kasie and Joe juelfs) and high protein shakes and vitamans and he has only been on Chemo for 2 weeks.  We have to focus on the positives amd move forward. 

this weekend will be a big one the gold tourney and family and friends coming together.  John will be on hole 14 at curtis Cutshaw's house.  John has been pretty emotional and so thankful for the great people in his life.

We also want to remind anyone about the baby in our community that has been diagnosed with cancer.  We do not know all details however we want to support her as well.  People can make donations to Wells Fargo for Morgan.  I'm not sure of the details I just wanted to think of others who are struggeling with this Monster.   

Finally to all those friends that come and hold my husbands hand while he goes through this I appreciate it.  He is a different man when you come and visit.  Thank you!!!!!! Thank you!!!!

Wedneday!

SWASS.  The word of the day!  John has developed sweating in the rear area he says it doesn't bother him until he gets up.  He has been pretty  tired today and he wants to be progressing faster than he is.  I am trying to get him to eat more and putting more proteins into his body.  I also have him drinking high protein shakes.  We are going to kick this thing.  Everything has been getting better however he wants it faster.  He just wants to to feel better everyday and gets angry when he doesn't feel he has made progress.  We have big weekend coming up and continue to be amazed by this community and are only hoping to get better one day at a time.  It seems like it has been forever and it has been  two months today.  It takes time to get better and hopefully we are getting there.  BETTER EVERYDAY!!!!

Monday down day

John had a sleepless night which is understandable as we have a big week with the Doctor Appointment and golf tourney this weekend.  He was emotional which has not yet happened until today.  He just said,"its been such a long time and I am so tired.  He is feeling good but wants to be further along than he is.  His stats on EKG looked good and his lungs sound good he is just tired.  He has been on an upswing and wants to stay on this path.  Once he gets some sleep he will be ok.  Me too!  Hats off for Cancer at KHS tomorrow.  What a great community!

Sunday

Today was a great day!  Slept in an and had a pain free productive day.  John played poker for about 2 hours and workied his brain.  He also went out for a walk as it was such a beautiful day.  the Kingman Daily Miner did a great article on his fight however forgot to mention his other 3 very important children Jenni, Josh, and Jessica.  No one could ever forget you. 

Finally it will be a very busy week we have an EKG and blood work tomorrow hoping that the blood is better and a doctors appointment on Friday in Vegas and finally the golf tourney this weekend that he is hoping to be able to attend or at least sit at Curtis's house to say hey to the golfers. 

Once again we can not say thank you to the community enough.  Praying for an even better week ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Saturday

Had a great day with lots of visitors.  This is all hearsay as I was watching Lexi at a track meet.  It is 8 pm now and he is sleeping until I have to wake him at 10 to give him his pills.  What little hair he had is now falling out quickly and his head is dry from the WBRT whole brain radiation.  U have to Thank the Webbs and Newberry's for a great day.  Also to Fran, Sandy and Mary for taking good care of my husband.  Finally a huge thank you to Frozen Yogurt Island for supporting our Family once again the Kingman Community Coming together.  .  It was a good day!

Friday

It has been a week since John began his chemo treatments and his changes are remarkable.  He has set a goal to beat this this disease and get to No evidence of disease.  Yesterday he set goals for himself to get stronger and work his PT even more. We are so thankful to the Kingman Community and the outpouring of support we get daily.  We could not ask to be part of a better community.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support and I will continue to update his progress which today is great!!! We will get blood work done this next week and meet with The oncolgist on Friday the 9th.  Once again Thank you!!!