More information

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society online at www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

For those of you traveling, here is a hotel recommendation in the area:

The Hilton Garden Inn
1951 Taylor Road
Roseville, CA 95661

A group rate of $129 has been arranged for the Trinidads which includes breakfast.

Information about Mindy's Service

The memorial service for Mindy will be held on Wednesday, October 15th at 1:00 p.m. at Valley Springs Presbyterian Church in Roseville.

2401 Olympus Drive
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 786-7940

A reception will immediately follow in the Valley Springs church hall.

To all of our wonderful family and friends,

It is with incredible pain and sadness that I inform you that Mindy passed away early last evening from Acute Leukemia (AML) combined with an impaired immune system that was just too much for Mindy’s body to endure. She was strong and put up one heck of a fight and her doctors were truly amazed at times with some of her progress, but unfortunately time took its toll.

I want to thank you all for the continued love and support that you showed our family through these very difficult times. Your daily thoughts and prayers got us through many days and nights.

Mindy has been so amazed by all of the love that has come forward. I want you to know that she loves all of you. I’m serious. She really loves everyone. For 28 years I have been amazed at how she has demonstrated unconditional love for everyone and that’s probably why she has so many friends.

I have so much more to say, but it hurts a little too much right now.

Dan

Details about Mindy's memorial service will be posted once finalized.

Bone marrow test results

The results of Mindy's bone marrow test came back yesterday and unfortunately still revealed the presence of leukemia. Dan is meeting with doctors today to determine the next course of action. Mindy continues to fight a tough battle and we appreciate your strong support and prayers during this very difficult time.

Update on Mindy

I know that many of you check the blog regularly for updates on Mindy's progress and it is frustrating to go days without news. The truth is that there has been very little change and that is both good news and bad news. Mindy had a bone marrow test on Saturday but the results were inconclusive due to the fact that there were not enough cells to test. Yesterday, an MRI was performed which showed that the fungus had perhaps slightly improved or at least not spread. Mindy's lung condition remains the same and she is still on the ventilator. Another bone marrow test is scheduled for tomorrow so we hope for more conclusive and positive results to share.

It is powerful to read the amazing messages to Mindy and her family on this blog and realize how many lives she has touched and how much support and love reaches out to her. Your uplifting thoughts, prayers, and positive messages are so appreciated.

Mindy's condition critical

As a friend of Mindy's, it is so difficult to hear any news that is not positive about Mindy's condition, and even more difficult to find the words to communicate it to all those keeping up on her through this blog. Mindy is still on the ventilator and her condition is extremely critical and concerning to her doctors. Your prayers for Mindy, her family, and her doctors are needed more now than ever.

Mindy moved to ICU

Mindy's condition unfortunately worsened yesterday and she was moved back to the Intensive Care Unit. She was placed on the ventilator early this morning to assist with her breathing and her doctors are doing testing to determine the next course of treatment. Mindy is resting comfortably at this point and hopefully building the strength and endurance to overcome this latest obstacle. Your continued prayers and support are so appreciated at this time.

Mindy begins her 2nd round of chemo

Mindy underwent a second procedure on Tuesday to remove fungus from her sinus cavity and tolerated it well. She was given a transfusion of white blood cells and remains on anti-fungal medications in an effort to stop any further growth. She began the second round of chemotherapy yesterday so please continue to keep those positive thoughts and prayers going her way.

Update from Dan

The following post is an update from Dan:

It’s been a constant fight with new things every day. As you know, the battle with the lungs and the treatment of chemo has left Mindy with no immune system for over 3 weeks and that is not a good thing because we all need an immune system to fight all of the bad stuff that goes on in our bodies. Well, a few days ago, Mindy complained of some numbness in her left cheek. The numbness turned out to be a problem/infection in her sinus cavity. Then the concern became about a fungus that was showing up. Surgery was performed on Thursday night to determine how far it had spread and what type of fungus it was with the major concern being eye and brain. They did a biopsy of the fungus and now know the type. During the surgery, they removed everything they could in and around the sinus cavity in an effort to keep the fungus from growing. The doctors are also treating the fungus with an aggressive anti-fungal medicine to kill it. So killing and stopping the fungus is Mindy’s new battle. Once she conquers this battle, she will begin a second round of chemo and resume her fight with leukemia.

Please continue to keep Mindy and her family in your prayers.

Slow and Steady...

Thanks to all of you that are keeping up on Mindy through your calls, cards and reading of the blog. Mindy's progress at this point is measured in baby steps as she is still very weakened. We all want Mindy to make a quick recovery but it is important to realize that this will be a slow process, with incremental improvements in strength, mobility, appetite and energy.

At this stage, there may be days when the blog is not updated but be assured that we will post any significant news of Mindy's progress as soon as possible.

Continued progress!

It was another day of progress for Mindy. She is getting a little more of an appetite and gaining the strength to sit up and even get on her feet a bit. After days of no appetite, Dan came into the room to find her sitting up and eating steak and a baked potato. Now if we could just sneak in a Dos Coyotes burrito, we could speed this process up and get her back to her fun & funky self! (Dan is looking pretty funky in this picture too...)

Signs of improvement...and humor...

Mindy had a good afternoon yesterday. She did some physical therapy and was awake and alert throughout all of it. She is getting a little stronger which is a huge relief to everyone, especially Dan. To quote Dan, "Tomorrow I'm going to encourage her to bench press 10 ounces!" Thank goodness, he's still got his sense of humor.

Not much change

As expected after 2 weeks on a ventilator and a round of chemo, Mindy is exhausted, weak and has little appetite. The doctors are trying to get her to eat a little to build her strength and move around a bit more but these simple things are not so simple when your body has been through what Mindy's has. Some comforting news is that Mindy is not experiencing any pain or nausea so hopefully that will allow her to heal and gain strength faster.

For those of you wanting to send cards, they can be sent to the Trinidad's home and relatives or friends can bring them to Stanford with them when they visit. Please know that your cards and messages are much appreciated but, due to Mindy's weakened condition right now, they may not be shared with her for a little while. If you do not know the Trinidad's address, please send an email to katiez@surewest.net and it will be forwarded to you.

Dan and the boys would like everyone to know how much they appreciate all of the love, support, prayers, positive thoughts and energy that you have shared.

Mindy holds strong through the weekend

Mindy was moved from ICU to the oncology floor over the weekend which should provide a more sterile environment during this critical time. As expected, Mindy is weak from the chemo but hanging tough in true Mindy style.

First round of chemo completed

Mindy has completed her first round of chemo and is doing pretty well. She is still off the ventilator and is more alert and able to communicate. Dan has been filling her in on what has happened over the past 2 weeks and the battle she has ahead of her and the reality of what she is facing is beginning to sink in. She has episodes of confusion and Dan described her mood as somber – understandable given her circumstances. He also said that Mindy is touched and grateful for the support, prayers, and messages that have been pouring in from everyone. She has a very long tough fight ahead of her and will continue to need that support from all of us.

Toward the middle of next week, the effects of the chemo will peak, having effectively wiped out all Mindy’s cells, both good and bad, in the hopes of stopping the aggressive reproduction of the cancer cells. At this point, Mindy’s immune system will be in a very vulnerable state and it will be critical to keep her away from germs. They are currently trying to move Mindy from ICU to the oncology floor to ensure a more sterile environment. If all goes as we hope and pray, she will then begin producing good clean cancer-free cells. After about 2 weeks, another bone marrow test will be done to determine if that is true.

Correction to last blog

As a correction to the last blog, Mindy is still undergoing chemotherapy to wipe out the cancer cells so it is premature to see new cell growth at this stage. She is just beginning her battle with leukemia so please continue to keep Mindy and her family in your thoughts.

No more ventilator

Mindy has been taken of the ventilator and is breathing on her own! This is great news and we hope a sign that she has turned the corner. Preliminary signs show that she is beginning to produce new cancer-free cells. Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayers - one can only believe that the positive energy from all of Mindy's friends, family, and extended support network are paying off. Keep on fighting, Mindy!

Mindy showing signs of improvement

Great news: Mindy's lungs are continuing to improve! The ventilator settings are going down with the hope that they will be able to remove it in the near future. Mindy is less sedated, more alert, and starting to try to communicate. In a welcome sign of our old Mindy, she was trying to communicate with Dan and when he failed to understand her, she pushed him away! She's still feisty and that's great. She is not in pain and has no memory of what is going on from day to day so hopefully she will be able to put this difficult part of her life behind her.

This afternoon, Mindy begins her 6th day of chemotherapy with only one day left to go in this round. All visitors other than immediate family are still not allowed to visit Mindy as she continues to be kept in a very sterile environment. Within 2 weeks, the doctors should start seeing the results of the chemo and hopefully evidence of all new cells coming back cancer free.

Next phase of chemo begins today

Mindy rested peacefully last night. Her doctors have seen some slight improvement in her lung condition, most likely due to the steroid treatment she was given. She is still heavily sedated and on the ventilator. Later today, Mindy will begin a more aggressive phase of chemotherapy which is to last for the next 3 days. There are many side effects to be expected at this point and they may last for the next two weeks. Mindy's condition is still critical so your continued prayers and support are much appreciated.

Mindy holding strong

Mindy is on her 4th day of chemotherapy and is still holding strong. Her blood counts are dropping, as is to be expected with this treatment, but because of this, the doctors are no longer allowing any visitors with the exception of Dan and the boys. She is being kept in an extremely sterile environment to avoid any further infection while her immune system is compromised. Though Mindy is still being kept heavily sedated to keep her body calm and relaxed, the doctors are beginning to reduce the sedation more and more so that Mindy can interact with her family.

Valley Springs Church was filled last night as lots of Mindy's friends gathered for a prayer service in honor of her. Pastor David read scripture and prayed for Mindy's continued strength, her family's comfort, and guidance for her team of physicians. Thanks to Mark DeBruin for arranging the service and to Pastor David and his staff for all their help.

Day 1 of chemo

Mindy began her first round of chemotherapy last night and is doing fine. Her doctors will continue to administer the chemo throughout the week and have given her medications that will help combat about 95% of the ill effects. They are periodically reducing Mindy's level of sedation so that she can hear the voices and feel the touch of her family and friends and she has been opening her eyes and moving her arms and toes a bit in response. For the most part, the doctors are trying to keep Mindy comfortable and relaxed so that her body can focus on healing and rebuilding.

Reminder: Prayer service tomorrow night at Valley Springs Church. See post below for details.

Prayer gathering for Mindy

A prayer service has been organized for Mindy this Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Valley Springs Church in Roseville. The address and phone number of the church are:

Valley Springs Presbyterian Church
2401 Olympus Drive
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 786-7940

If you are unable to attend, please keep Mindy and her family in your thoughts and prayers wherever you may be. We hope the love and support of our community brings strength to Mindy as she fights this disease.

Mindy to begin chemo

There has still been no change in Mindy's lung condition, however, the oncologists have decided to proceed with chemotherapy. There will most likely be no change for the next few days but we will keep you posted on her progress. Your continued support and prayers are much appreciated. Keep fighting, Mindy!

Mindy's condition unchanged

Mindy's condition is basically unchanged from yesterday. She is hanging in there tough so let's hope we see some improvement in her lungs soon.

What is ARDS?

Mindy's condition remains the same but Dan wanted to pass on a website that describes ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome) which is the lung condition that Mindy is currently fighting. A brief synopsis of ARDS follows:

Adult (or Acute) Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a medical condition which prevents the normal breathing process from taking place. ARDS occurs when there is severe inflammation in both lungs resulting in an inability of the lungs to function properly. ARDS is a devastating inflammatory lung condition that usually occurs in conjunction with catastrophic medical conditions, such as pneumonia, shock, sepsis (or severe infection throughout the body, sometimes also referred to as systemic infection, and may include or also be called a blood or blood-borne infection), and trauma. It is a form of sudden and often severe lung failure. Lung failure means that the lungs can no longer carry out their normal function of getting oxygen into the blood and removing carbon dioxide from the body. ARDS patients may recover in a relatively short period of time and suffer little if any damage to the lungs. More often, there is a very protracted period of battle with varying levels of lung damage which may require extensive physical and pulmonary rehabilitation. The outcome of patients at this chronic stage depends on reversing the inflammation and preventing or treating further complications, such as infection.

For more information, refer to http://www.ards.org/learnaboutards/whatisards/brochure/.

Please keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming Mindy's way. She has a wealth of love and support behind her. You can also add your personal messages to the Trinidads by clicking on 'comment' at the bottom right side of each post.

Pictures from Spring Break 2008

Ken Lynch sent these pictures of Mindy with Dan and some of her Granite Bay friends, Carolyn, Kalyn, Becky, and Susan, from this year's Spring Break trip to Cabo. It's great to see that smile on Mindy's face - keep fighting, Mindy - we know you can beat this!

Day 3 at Stanford

Mindy's condition is unchanged for the most part. The good news is that her vital signs remain good and her major organs are funtioning well. The difficult part is that Mindy's lungs are still filled with fluid and until that changes, no cancer treatments can begin. Mindy had another bone marrow test this morning and the results should be back by Wednesday. Both Dan and Mindy's families are still with Dan at Stanford. Trevor and Corey came back to Granite Bay and plan to go back to school for the week and head back down to see their mom again next weekend. Ruth and Jamie are going down tomorrow morning to spend some time at the hospital with Dan.

Mindy still stable

Mindy remained in stable condition overnight and is showing slight improvement in her lungs.  She still has a low-grade fever which the doctors see as a good indication that her body continues to fight infection.  They are keeping her on the ventilator so that her body does not have to work to breath and can focus on healing.  She is off the steroids and several of the antibiotics that she was originally given because they are too hard on Mindy's body long-term.  They are also planning to reduce her level of sedation to see if she will respond positively to her family's voices.  Tomorrow the doctors will perform another bone marrow test.  Keep fighting, Mindy!

Cute picture of Mindy hitting the links

Update from Stanford

Dan just met with the doctor that is managing Mindy's care at Stanford. The good news is that she remained in stable condition during her flight from Roseville last night, her vital signs are good and all her major organs are functioning well. Mindy is still fighting an infection and continues to have fluid in her lungs so her new doctor plans to reevaluate her condition by initiating a whole new panel of tests. He was very pleased with the care that Mindy received at Roseville, thanks to Dr. Bosco and his team. Mindy's condition is still too fragile to begin cancer treatments so the plan is to continue to treat her infection, clear up her lungs, and get her strong enough for the next phase of treatment.

Mindy at Stanford

Mindy arrived safely at Stanford last night and has continued to show improvement. They are meeting with doctors currently and we will update the blog once we know what the next steps are.

Mindy's on her way to Stanford

Great news! Mindy's condition stabilized enough that she was released from Sutter Roseville this evening and was flown to the Stanford Cancer Center. Dan, Corey, Trevor, Al & Becky, Dan & Mindy's parents, siblings, and aunts drove down to Palo Alto to be there for support. We will keep you posted as to her treatment once we are updated. Please keep Mindy in your prayers.

Mindy

This blog has been created to keep all of the Trinidad's many friends and family members up-to-date on Mindy's progress. Dan, Corey, and Trevor greatly appreciate the many calls and the offers of support that all of you have given to them. If there are needs that arise over the next few weeks, we will post them here so thank you for the generous offers that you have extended already.

As most of you know, Mindy has been ill off and on for many weeks. Her symptoms began with a persistent cough accompanied by fatigue. Eventually, the cough began to clear up but was soon followed by flu-like symptoms. Antibiotics seemed to help for a short while but within a few days the symptoms returned with much greater severity. Mindy's energy was drained and her joints ached to the point where she could barely walk without intense pain. She developed a fever and Dan admitted Mindy to Sutter Roseville on Monday, August 25th.

A variety of tests have been performed over the course of the week to determine the cause of Mindy's infection. Though many of the symptoms seemed to point to a severe case of Epstein-Barr virus, none of the blood work confirmed this. Mindy's white blood cells and platelet count dropped and she began having difficulty breathing on her own. She developed pneumonia and was put on a ventilator to assist with her breathing. A bone marrow test was performed yesterday morning and the doctors gave a preliminary diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia or AML.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a malignancy that arises in the white blood cells that battle infectious agents throughout the body. It develops when there is a defect in the immature cells in the bone marrow. In a nutshell, AML causes uncontrolled growth of bad blood cells and stunts the production of good marrow cells, causing a depletion of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. More information can be found at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adultaml/patient

The current plan is to get Mindy's condition stabilized enough to transfer her to Stanford to begin immediate treatment for leukemia. Her doctors have put her on several different antibiotics and steroid treatments and, much to everyone's relief, Mindy began to show some improvement this afternoon. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers so that she may continue to fight this battle. We all know how feisty Mindy is so, if anyone can beat this, it will be Mindy.

Many of you have asked if you can provide meals for the Trinidads, however they are spending most of their time at the hospital right now. Gift cards to local eateries (Starbucks, Rubios, The Habit, etc.) may be more convenient at this time.

Also, please keep checking this blog for information regarding a blood drive that Al Snowdon is setting up. Though our blood donations will not go directly to Mindy due to the length of time it takes to process the blood, Mindy will receive credit and notification of each donation. The location of the drive and the information necessary to designate Mindy will be posted here soon.

Thank you again for your kind thoughts and prayers.