Rayce’s Story

Site created on January 15, 2019

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


Rayce had picked up what he thought was a stomach bug as others at work had been out sick too.    He had been sick for six days (Saturday, January 12th) and asked a friend to take him to the walk-in clinic in Waverly.  Per Rayce, he said within five minutes he was admitted to the ER there and within an hour was being sent to Mayo Clinic Hospital - Methodist Campus.   His white count was around 150,000 at that time (normal being less than 10,000).   On his way he was diverted to the St. Marys Campus because of elevated heart rate.   By 2 a.m. (Sunday, January 13th) he was getting transferred to Methodist.


White count continued to rise as testing was being done.  Influenza was ruled out as well as other things while they continued to find a diagnosis.  They had started him on a type of oral chemo therapy in pill form in the hopes of reducing that count; however, when it had reached 165,000 decision was made to do apheresis (removing blood, cycling out the "bad", and putting the "cleaned" back).  After that they started chemotherapy.  His chemo will run straight for 24 hours for 7 days.   Side effect is fever which they are working to keep an eye on.  This morning his count was at 74,000 and "shouldn't" increase with this treatment.


Today is Tuesday the 15th,  diagnosis is Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Bone marrow biopsy has been done but we won't know the results for a few days which will define in greater detail the genomics (genetic make up) of it which can help in finding the right therapy for him.


Will try to up date this site when we have more to share.  For now, he has been mostly sleeping.  Will wake up and respond, but is exhausted.   Thank you for all the prayers for us all as we need them!!!  (Stacy)

Newest Update

January 18, 2020

Journal entry by Stacy Tapp —

A year already since the AML journey began.   Hard to believe how quickly time passes.  I just read through the whole journal.  I am so thankful Rayce is looking to be kicking his cancer!

Still at three week intervals between the ECP (photopheresis).   He goes back to Iowa once his appointments are done. 


Ways to Help above to GoFundMe still appreciated.  


2019 was a year of hope, strength, patience, loss....  Praying daily for a better 2020.  

Read More of the journal titled "January 18, 2020"
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