Treatment 10

I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.  Psalm 166:1

All of this started last August and now has finished on August 31st.  What a year!  Without the Lord hearing my cries for help and the prayers and love of my family and friends, I never would have made this year.  Thank you again.

Treatment 9

Last night was so long!  I finally dropped off to sleep at 6 a.m. in my recliner.  I only nodded off for a few minutes; just long enough to get a sore neck.  I get a steroid with my infusion on Wednesday, and some weeks it really does a number on me.

I saw my oncologist yesterday and we agreed on a plan:  one more infusion next Wednesday and then a CT scan in November and visit with him.  I also have to have my port flushed in October (once a month).  He wrote orders so I can find an oncology office somewhere and have it done while we are in Colorado.

I am not feeling great, but was able to have a big sale shopping afternoon at Dillards with Dana yesterday.  Haven't been able to do that in a long time.

First day. First year. What a lonely road!!

Adrien Wolfgang

Treatment 8

8 treatments down and so far this one is going well.  We arrived at 7:20 yesterday to give blood and then finished with the treatment at 10:45.  It seems to get slower every week.  I didn't have to see the nurse or doctor yesterday so I expected to finish earlier, but ...

Marianne, my 6 year old granddaughter, spent the night last night. We sewed animal blankets and did pedicures.  I now have the nicest purple toes in town.

Lousy Day

Well, I am feeling the full effects of treatment 7 today.  On these days I can only hope that tomorrow will be better.  Today was graduation day for our new daughter-in-law, Katherine (delayed from May because of the tornado).  I feel badly that I was not able to attend the graduation ceremony and luncheon party afterward.  Some days I do fine and some days I cannot leave home.  This has been one of those days!


I am hoping that this evening will be better and I will be able to go to church tomorrow.  I do hate to miss my wonderful Sunday School class.  As always Gary is faithfully patient whatever each day brings.

Treatment 7

Yesterday was treatment 7 after a 2 week rest/recuperation time.  My blood work was improved but still in pretty poor shape.  I don't know how I have any energy after looking at the results.  But I am feeling fairly well.  I'll let you know in a couple of days how things are going.  Gary is having some work done on the jeep in the hopes that we can go to Colorado in September.  In the mean time he and the grandchildren are keeping the pool busy.

Anniversary

Today is our 42nd wedding anniversary!  Wow, that sounds like a long time.  Gary must be getting old.  But this last year has shown me that he still loves and cherishes me as much as 42 years ago.  No one could have taken better care of me than he has this last year (and a lot of it hasn't been pretty).  Gary, I love you very much.

Sorry, it has been so long since my last blog.  I have just been recuperating from the first round of treatments.  The last few days I have been feeling much better with more energy.  My enteric system still acts up at times, but I am managing.  Tomorrow starts my last round of chemo.  I dread starting up again but am anxious to get it finished.  We hope to take the motorhome on a trip when I finish. We love Colorado and Wyoming in the summer.



Treatment 6

This treatment was a bugger!  I had diarrhea twice during my treatment--just lovely. I spent half the time with my IV pole in the bathroom.  Then I had nausea in the evening to beat the band.  But I did manage to sleep it off and have felt better today.

Today was my big dentist appointment this morning.  It went well and I like my new dentist.  I did not like writing that big check though.

prepping for Disney World?



Closer

My prayer each day is to draw closer to my Master and in so doing I have been thinking about all the blessings of the last ten months.  Since being diagnosed in September and October with  two stage 4 and stage 3 cancers, there have been unnumbered trials and tribulations.  I've had six surgeries and been hospitalized five times.  I have had 28 radiation treatments and am currently taking my second round of chemo.

A year ago I would have thought all this was an insurmountable mountain of pain and suffering, but my Lord has brought me through it all and I can still smile.  There have been so many blessings along the way:  too many to even write them all down.  My family has shown me how much they love and cherish me in so many ways; even the little children have drawn me pictures and brought flowers.  My Sunday School class has been wonderful, and I love each of them. Every card and call that I've received has lifted me up above the pain and blessed me.

I had the blessing of having my whole family at Christmas and feeling like enjoying them.  I even had the joy of being present at the birth of grandchild number 7 in May.

Melanoma is so insidious that there is no way of knowing when it may recur, but I know now that with all of you and my Lord I can face even a painful death without fear.  Thank you again for being my faithful family and friends.

J. H. - 50 days and growing

Treatment 5

Well, I've had 3 dr appointments this week--way too many.  Monday I went to my "primary care physician" to refill my hypertension meds.  My blood pressure is all over the charts but generally in good shape.  Then we went on to my six-month followup with the radiation oncologist.  She was very pleased with the path report after my colon surgery and my progress in general.  I go back in another six months.  I love how all my doctors still converse with each other about my case.

Wednesday was treatment 5 and the medical oncologist.  My anemia is getting worse (seems like I give a pint of blood every Wednesday), and he insists that I need to take about 2 or 3 weeks off after my next treatment to let things "catch up".  I was hoping to go straight through with the 12 treatments and get them over with, but ...

The treatment went well.  I left off the steroid; so I slept better Wednesday night.  Still no nausea but the fatigue is definitely getting worse.

Any wet spot will do in Texas

Sebastian and Juliette



Treatment 4

Still counting down the treatments!  Now only 8 more to go!  Things are still going well.  Wonder if I'll sleep tonight?  So far the first couple of nights after a treatment are pretty sleepless.  But I get a good bit of reading and quilting done.

Next Monday I see my radiation oncologist for a follow up; then an appointment to see the medical oncologist before my Wednesday treatment.  Hope my blood work will still be good.

Dana calls this their 'retro baby'

John Harvey Taylor

4 weeks



Treatment 3

Made  my third treatment this morning starting at 7:15 and leaving at 10:15.  My blood counts are still good and I am still not having any terrible side effects.

Then this afternoon I went to a new dentist (referral by my oncologist) to take on some dental work that I have been delaying with everything else that is going on.  In July I'll have 2 crowns and an extraction.  Think I'll go for the nitrous oxide.

Sebastian Alexander - 11 months



Number Two

Today was treatment number two and so far everything is good.  I saw the Dr. (handsome and compassionate--what a combo) before the treatment and my anemia is improving also.  My port is great and got through everything with no pain.  That is such a winner in my book.

Unless I have problems tonight, we are going to head out to Arkansas in the morning for a short visit with Gary's mother and then on to Texas to see our three little babies.  But I will be back on Tuesday for a 7:00 a.m.  Wednesday treatment.

I feel so blessed that things are going so well.

One Down

So far so good.  It has been two days now since my first 5 FU treatment, and I still feel wonderful.  No side effects at all.  I am still holding my breath and praying hard.

We had a visit with the surgeon yesterday and had a few last stitches removed.  Everything looks good and I don't go back for four months.  I am off all restrictions, but I am still going to try to be careful about what I eat ( no fresh, raw, or leafy foods).  But I think it is about time for lobster again!

First Treatment

This morning was my first treatment of 5 FU and leucovorin with kitril and steroid.  My appointment was 7 a.m. and I thought it was for 30 minutes only.  But it ended up being almost 3 hours and will be almost that long every week.  So far I haven't had any side effects (8 p.m.).

More tomorrow. 

New Plan

On Thursday, we met with the medical oncologist and agreed with a plan for adjuvant therapy.  I will take IV injections of 5 FU weekly for around 6 months.  I start next Wednesday, June 15.  I must say that I dread this.  My new digestive system won't let me take anti-nausea medication so I am expecting the worst. 

Unbelievable

I haven't written much about the results of my neck resection.  They removed 67 lymph nodes and the surrounding tissue from the left side of my neck, around my left ear, and into my shoulder.  Five days after this surgery, I started chemo/radiation.  Therefore, I didn't have much time to deal with the after-effects of this surgery.  It was just on to something else horrible.

My ear was completely numb along with the surrounding area.  Now the "feeling" has come back completely.  One of the most disturbing things was that I couldn't lift my left arm at all.  It was very painful and impossible to raise above shoulder height.  I did try some exercises on it but was not very consistent with it because of all the other issues that were overwhelming me.

This week I realized that I was raising my arm!  It is completely restored and feels great!  Praise the Lord!  I felt very handicapped before and now it is great.
My neck still bothers me a good deal.  It is very sunken and gets stiff and tight.  Hope it will improve also.  God is good.

No Appointment

I was supposed to meet with the oncologist on Wednesday to decide on a plan of action for further treatment.  But somehow the appointment time was deleted or something and my appointment disappeared.  Now I'm scheduled (I hope) for June 9 for the same routine.

I am feeling very good these days, in spite of the heat wave.  My energy is improving and so is my appetite.  Life is good.

Lobster

Finally, that lobster I've been so hungry for.  I didn't find a restaurant; so we decided to cook our own.  We bought two beautiful tails and baked them to perfection.  It was wonderful and now we are planning a repeat performance.



Feeling Better

Each day this week I have felt a little stronger and better.  My plumbing seems to all be in good working order which surely makes me smile.  It has become so delicate that I worry about every little thing.  But the Lord makes me strong in my weakness.

Dana, our daughter, had a postpartum problem and had to spend a night in the hospital.  She is home now and we are all enjoying the baby.

This is our oldest Texas grandson; he's almost four.

Adrien Wolfgang Hodges

Followup

After posting yesterday, I had another attack--more pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.  It continued until midnight.  Misery!  But after midnight I was able to sleep and this morning I feel a little better.  I ate a piece of toast an hour ago and so far so good.  Hopefully today will be a better day.

On a brighter note, the baby is doing very well and settling into the family.