UPDATES...

Monday, March 2, 2009
Omar has had a bit of a rough week this past week. As expected, his blood levels were dropping as a result of his chemo. This leaves him very low on energy. He had a couple of bouts with a bloody nose and had to those tended. Then he went to Flagstaff for fresh blood and had a reaction to his blood platelet transfusion, but because he has been paying attention all along... he was able to identify the symptoms before they were too far along with the session. They let him return home so that they could rematch his platelets and get it sent up from Phoenix. Omar drove back to Flagstaff the next morning and has a successful platelet session.

Both Omar & Sashea are doing as well as can be expected (actually... better than one might expect!).

The benefit is moving forward... we now have about 18 artists and merchants donating items. This week we will start picking them up and putting photos here on the web site for you to see! Donation jars should be ready to go out into the community later this week and we'll let you know about that as well as when we get the special bank account set up. We're still hoping more performers will sign on!

Check back for more details...

Monday, February 16, 2009
As of this writing, Omar has successfully received 3 chemotherapy treatments with several more ahead of him. He started his treatment in Phoenix at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.

He is now under the care of Dr. Deborah Lindquist in Sedona and receiving hospital care at Flagstaff Medical Center (when he needs to be in a hospital setting).

Monday, January 5, 2009
Home for the Holidays... Time for an 'Omar Update"... Omar was released from Good Samaritan Hospital on Monday, December 15th for what was to be only a few days. They told him 'Not to plan on being home for the holidays." They had performed another bone marrow test that morning but the results would take a couple of days.

The following Wednesday his oncologist phoned Omar with the test results... basically, the results were good enough to let Omar stay at home over the holidays and report back after the new year! Obviously, your prayers & good wishes have been working!

We are waiting on the doctors to determine the next step. Omar is still not able to work at this time but the day-to-day expenses continue. The benefit is to help pay the bills of maintaining a household and family.

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OMAR HAS LEUKEMIA

December 9, 2008
Omar had been dealing with a strange malady for several weeks.

At first his doctor thought he was fighting some sort of infection and put him on broad spectrum antibiotics but his condition did not really improve. On November 14 he had blood work done and he tested anemic so he was sent to the emergency room where they ran more blood tests. The tests showed that his overall cell count was extremely low. The decision was made to transport him to Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix that night by ambulance for more extensive testing.

He was put in a private room due to his challenged immune system and was given a bone marrow test after receiving blood transfusions.
On November 18 Omar was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He began a 14 day chemotherapy treatment to try to beat this thing.
His attitude is very positive and he feels the staff at Good Samaritan Hospital are top notch and providing very good care.

Of all the sub-categories of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, the one that Omar has is "the one you want" (according to his oncologist) as the prognosis is good and the cure rate is evidently good as well.

As of today, he is making progress and another bone marrow test is scheduled within the next week.

Omar & Sashea are expecting their first child in April.

Link to a recent Yavapai Magazine article about Chef Omar HERE