Please forgive me for taking so long to post an update- our lives have been 90 to nothing lately. So, here goes...
Mom's birthday was last Thursday. We had her and Ken over for dinner. It was so fun and Haidyn Rae officially likes birthday cake and icing:) Friday morning I left work to meet mom and Ken at West for her visit with Dr. B. It was Dr. B's birthday too so mom gave her a card and a braclet for lung cancer research and awareness. She put it right on. We love her.
So the chemo is over. Mom calls it her "no month chemo party" these days. The fluid is still gone, the nodules- gone, the two tumors they are monitoring are 38% smaller than diagnosis. Amazing results! God has been so good. She will continue on the clinical trial drug as "maintenance" as they call it. They will increase her dosage slightly since she no longer has the chemo and she will only go for treatments every other week. The Erbitux will continue to starve the cancer cells thus shrinking them, at a much slower pace, but most importantly prohibit them from recruiting healthy cells to becoming cancer cells.
We asked about the disease in the rib bone. She said all she can tell us for sure is that it is not progressing. Bone disease is like any other bone injury. Like my broken ribs will always appear broken but I am healed. Mom said some days they feel numb and others they feel itchy. Either way Dr. B is confident they are not worse but is unable to give any diagnosis of real healing. At this time, future chemo is off the table. No conversation for radiation or surgery either.
Mom wanted to know what she can do to regain her energy. The answer for that was quick and simple- nothing. Only time will help the effects of the chemo, poison, in her body wear off. Then she will begin to regain her energy. Please pray for her patience with herself as she allows God and time to do their healing. Ken and mom are anxious to travel so I know mom's energy will become more and more important as they look to schedule some much needed vacation time.
Mom's friend Kathy from college came and spent a few nights at their house over the weekend. Mom was so excited leading up to the weekend and enjoyed every minute. She said they just sat and talked and laughed for hours. They even when through their lists of boyfriends from college days. Kathy's visit was so theraputic for her. I got the honor of meeting her and spending some time getting to know her, you will never meet a sweeter soul. Thank you Lord for so many sweet friends who have encouraged, prayed for us and loved us through the last 6 months. He has been so good. We are looking forward to clebrating our first Easter with the baby girl. I am sure there will be some silly pictures we can post after the weekend. Unfortunately I don't think Haidyn will be able to fit into her first Easter dress that Aunt Erica got her. Even though it is a 6 month dress and she is officially 7 months old- at less than 13 pounds she is wearing size 3 month dresses. Todd calls his baby girl "travel size"- LOL. What a huge blessing in such a little body!
Thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray for the cancer free miracle- we refuse to give up. With CT scans every 8 weeks we will be able to know exactly mom's progress and give God specific glory for the healing she will be continuing to do on the maintenance program. God is good always!!!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
March 22,2010
Todd loves it when he gets information before me, especially when it is this important or exciting. Mom went and had her CT scan today. Her research nurse, Angela, emailed her this evening and told her preliminary results indicate a 50% decrease since the last CT scan in the tumors! Mom said she was so overwhelmed when she read it she had to let Ken read it for himself, she couldn't. What a blessing. Thank you so much for your prayers!
The devotional today said "trust in Me." For those who know the name of the Lord trust in it, He has never forsaken those that trust in Him. It has not been easy. He has stretched us to what we thought were our limits. He has challenged our faith with this diagnosis but he has never left us. He has continued to have so many minister to us all, not just mom and ken. He has guided the doctors and nurses through treatments. He has answered thousands and more prayers lifted begging for healing. We are so thankful.
Mom is feeling pretty strong most days. She's working everyday but treatment days. She is even expecting some company this coming weekend. We have her appointment with Dr. B Friday to go over everything. For right now we believe the plan will be to maintenance treatments of the Erbitux every other week. We will know for sure on Friday. For those who may not know, Mom's birthday is the 25th, Thursday. What better gift to be given than your health!
Thank you so much for your continued love, encouragement and prayers. We are a richly blessed family.
The devotional today said "trust in Me." For those who know the name of the Lord trust in it, He has never forsaken those that trust in Him. It has not been easy. He has stretched us to what we thought were our limits. He has challenged our faith with this diagnosis but he has never left us. He has continued to have so many minister to us all, not just mom and ken. He has guided the doctors and nurses through treatments. He has answered thousands and more prayers lifted begging for healing. We are so thankful.
Mom is feeling pretty strong most days. She's working everyday but treatment days. She is even expecting some company this coming weekend. We have her appointment with Dr. B Friday to go over everything. For right now we believe the plan will be to maintenance treatments of the Erbitux every other week. We will know for sure on Friday. For those who may not know, Mom's birthday is the 25th, Thursday. What better gift to be given than your health!
Thank you so much for your continued love, encouragement and prayers. We are a richly blessed family.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March 16, 2010
What a busy week and a half we have had! Mom went last Thursday to have her treatment. As usual she was kinda loopy from the pre-meds. She and Todd can't take benadryl the way I can so I always think its funny so their physical reaction to it. Her numbers were good and she had so much strength the few days before that when she got in the car- well, Ken just kept driving all the way to Virginia. They got to grandmommie's late but it didn't matter to them.
Friday they spent the day visiting with the Mitchell family and bragging on their baby girl. I'm sure Erica and I were atleast mentioned but there's a new girl in town-haha. Grandmommie has gotten a laptop and they downloaded over a thousand pictures onto it. I'm sure there were a few pics of somebody other than Haidyn Rae in there but whoever it was was probably holding her:)
Saturday Uncle John, mom's brother, and aunt Barbara drove down from DC. They were able to eat and visit with them for a few hours before heading home. They said it was so good to see everyone. Since we had to skip our usual trip to VA at Thanksgiving it had been over a year since they had seen her. I think they were all probably amazed at how well mom is doing, and looking! I'm so glad they were able to make the trip. It meant so much to mom.
Sunday she was just plain exhausted so she didn't make it to church but she did sneak by in the afternoon to rock Haidyn for her nap and tell me about their trip. She was so excited still as she told me all about their visit.
She is still working about everyday but treatment days. Everyday I think she feels a little stronger than the day before and somedays she stays longer than others. She has one more weekly treatment then next week we have her results appointment. I can't wait to know in numbers the answers to our prayers in her test results.
God is good, always! Thank you so much for your prayers. We are such a blessed family. We are still praying for the miracle of cancer free and counting our blessings and thanking God for loosing count.
Friday they spent the day visiting with the Mitchell family and bragging on their baby girl. I'm sure Erica and I were atleast mentioned but there's a new girl in town-haha. Grandmommie has gotten a laptop and they downloaded over a thousand pictures onto it. I'm sure there were a few pics of somebody other than Haidyn Rae in there but whoever it was was probably holding her:)
Saturday Uncle John, mom's brother, and aunt Barbara drove down from DC. They were able to eat and visit with them for a few hours before heading home. They said it was so good to see everyone. Since we had to skip our usual trip to VA at Thanksgiving it had been over a year since they had seen her. I think they were all probably amazed at how well mom is doing, and looking! I'm so glad they were able to make the trip. It meant so much to mom.
Sunday she was just plain exhausted so she didn't make it to church but she did sneak by in the afternoon to rock Haidyn for her nap and tell me about their trip. She was so excited still as she told me all about their visit.
She is still working about everyday but treatment days. Everyday I think she feels a little stronger than the day before and somedays she stays longer than others. She has one more weekly treatment then next week we have her results appointment. I can't wait to know in numbers the answers to our prayers in her test results.
God is good, always! Thank you so much for your prayers. We are such a blessed family. We are still praying for the miracle of cancer free and counting our blessings and thanking God for loosing count.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
March 6, 2010
Yesterday mom had her final round of chemo administered. That was her long 3 day medicine that we look forward to and dread at the same time. The chemo is what kills the cancer but it also runs her down and makes for such a long day in the clinic. This time it didn't seem to take as long to me though.
Her blood work was good. They will wait a few days to see how low her white count gets before giving her the shot. On the 26th (the day after mom's birthday:) we will have another update complete with CT scan results to see where we are. Then she will have two more consecutive weeks of the clinical trial drug before we are on to the next plan.
At this point her body needs a break. It will need time to recover from the months of chemo she has endured. The plan, as we know it today, will be that she go on maintenance. That means she will continue to have treatments of the Erbitux, which is the inhibitor drug, every other week. After every fourth treatment they will scan her and update us. Its a little scary to think there is still tumors in her lungs and we won't be aggresively attack them with the chemo but its in God's hands. Also, to my understanding not only does the Erbitux continue to inhibit communication with healthy cells to prevent spreading but also it has the potential to continue to shrink what is there just on a much smaller scale at a much longer pace.
After her treatment yesterday she and ken went to Fridays to eat. That is over by our house so I told mom she had to swing by. When I got home with the little diva they were already there waiting. Granddaddy got to steal all Haidyn's sugar while entertaining her as mom and I went nuts over all the precious clothes I got at the church children's clothes sale. Not that our fashionista really needed a think but I got her about 20 outfits, mostly smocked and/or dresses. Mom cannot get over how prissy and pretty I dress Haidyn. After all I was her daughter who took firm grip of any hair bow ever placed in my hair, gave it a jerk and announced "no bow!" before throwing it in the floor and running off. Haha. I'm sure some of you who remember me as a child can validate these stories of my non-prissy ways. GiGi is certainly doing her part to spoil and priss. She bought a princess walker completely pink and accessorized with a castle that lights up and sings, a princess dress and other dainty things. I told her if any boys come along they will certainly feel slighted if they have to walk around in that.
God is so good. We have put our trust in him and he continues to bless us with mom's healing, the faith and encouragement of friends, overwhelming love and prayers and strengthen faith daily. Although the answer of cancer free has not come, we continue to pray for that miracle. We continue to believe it is possible and we are blessed with each day to make memories, serve him here on earth and hopefully show other's Jesus by our actions and example of living by faith. Cancer is terrible! I new understanding, respect and empathy has been learned through this experience. Also, we have a tremendous appreciation for those doctors and nurses who treat and research to develop treatments and cures and who are saving lives. God bless them. Thank you can't be said and expressed enough for all your prayers. Please continue to pray for cancer free!
Her blood work was good. They will wait a few days to see how low her white count gets before giving her the shot. On the 26th (the day after mom's birthday:) we will have another update complete with CT scan results to see where we are. Then she will have two more consecutive weeks of the clinical trial drug before we are on to the next plan.
At this point her body needs a break. It will need time to recover from the months of chemo she has endured. The plan, as we know it today, will be that she go on maintenance. That means she will continue to have treatments of the Erbitux, which is the inhibitor drug, every other week. After every fourth treatment they will scan her and update us. Its a little scary to think there is still tumors in her lungs and we won't be aggresively attack them with the chemo but its in God's hands. Also, to my understanding not only does the Erbitux continue to inhibit communication with healthy cells to prevent spreading but also it has the potential to continue to shrink what is there just on a much smaller scale at a much longer pace.
After her treatment yesterday she and ken went to Fridays to eat. That is over by our house so I told mom she had to swing by. When I got home with the little diva they were already there waiting. Granddaddy got to steal all Haidyn's sugar while entertaining her as mom and I went nuts over all the precious clothes I got at the church children's clothes sale. Not that our fashionista really needed a think but I got her about 20 outfits, mostly smocked and/or dresses. Mom cannot get over how prissy and pretty I dress Haidyn. After all I was her daughter who took firm grip of any hair bow ever placed in my hair, gave it a jerk and announced "no bow!" before throwing it in the floor and running off. Haha. I'm sure some of you who remember me as a child can validate these stories of my non-prissy ways. GiGi is certainly doing her part to spoil and priss. She bought a princess walker completely pink and accessorized with a castle that lights up and sings, a princess dress and other dainty things. I told her if any boys come along they will certainly feel slighted if they have to walk around in that.
God is so good. We have put our trust in him and he continues to bless us with mom's healing, the faith and encouragement of friends, overwhelming love and prayers and strengthen faith daily. Although the answer of cancer free has not come, we continue to pray for that miracle. We continue to believe it is possible and we are blessed with each day to make memories, serve him here on earth and hopefully show other's Jesus by our actions and example of living by faith. Cancer is terrible! I new understanding, respect and empathy has been learned through this experience. Also, we have a tremendous appreciation for those doctors and nurses who treat and research to develop treatments and cures and who are saving lives. God bless them. Thank you can't be said and expressed enough for all your prayers. Please continue to pray for cancer free!
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1, 2010
Our lives have been so busy lately but God has really been showering us with blessings. Mom went last Wednesday, I think it was, and had her Erbitux treatment. Her white count is back up higher than before she started chemo- yay, praise God! She is feeling stronger everyday. They put her on antibiotics more as prevention I think than anything else. Tuesday Ken and I both were put on antibiotics then mom on Wednesday! Ken has that same ole sinus stuff and I have had ear infections. I think we have all turned the corner now and on our way to health. Now if we could just get Mother Nature to work with us and decide if it will be winter or spring I think we could proclaim better health. Our weather here has been crazy this year and they are calling for snow again tonight.
Mom has made it to church two weeks in a row now and we've even been able to go out for lunch. She is really enjoying the company as much if not more than the meals that continue to come a couple times a week. I can't say enough about how thoughtful and helpful that is and continues to be for them. Mom has absolutely loved getting to know some new people but old friends better as they come to bring food and now she can visit with them. Cards and emails continue to come as well. We are such a rich family!
Mom stayed at work atleast one day till about 5:30 last week. She didn't go in until about 9 she said- haha. She had what seemed to be a really productive week at work. I hope this week goes just as well. She got emotional one day telling me that she just had to stop after she left the office and pray. She not only thanked God for her supportive office staff but also for the job she enjoys. She got teary telling me she just prayed to God that this cancer will not shorten her life because she has so much life left to live and things she wants to do. She really enjoys working for Dr's Turner and Ijams and loves her team there. She also feels that personally she still has a lot of being a wife, mom, GiGi and friend left to do before she goes to heaven. I agree! I told her God is using all of us but especially her in so many ways. We have put our faith in Him and he continues to amaze us with his love, grace and healing.
Thank you all so much for your prayers! He is answering. As we celebrate our baby's 6 month birthday today I can help but think back on all the ways God has challenged and blessed me personally in just 6 months. Its exciting to have benchmarks to look back so clearly and be able to see, "yep, that was God on that day and that day" and know that God willing he will give us all tomorrow to praise Him and look for the blessings embedded.
Mom has made it to church two weeks in a row now and we've even been able to go out for lunch. She is really enjoying the company as much if not more than the meals that continue to come a couple times a week. I can't say enough about how thoughtful and helpful that is and continues to be for them. Mom has absolutely loved getting to know some new people but old friends better as they come to bring food and now she can visit with them. Cards and emails continue to come as well. We are such a rich family!
Mom stayed at work atleast one day till about 5:30 last week. She didn't go in until about 9 she said- haha. She had what seemed to be a really productive week at work. I hope this week goes just as well. She got emotional one day telling me that she just had to stop after she left the office and pray. She not only thanked God for her supportive office staff but also for the job she enjoys. She got teary telling me she just prayed to God that this cancer will not shorten her life because she has so much life left to live and things she wants to do. She really enjoys working for Dr's Turner and Ijams and loves her team there. She also feels that personally she still has a lot of being a wife, mom, GiGi and friend left to do before she goes to heaven. I agree! I told her God is using all of us but especially her in so many ways. We have put our faith in Him and he continues to amaze us with his love, grace and healing.
Thank you all so much for your prayers! He is answering. As we celebrate our baby's 6 month birthday today I can help but think back on all the ways God has challenged and blessed me personally in just 6 months. Its exciting to have benchmarks to look back so clearly and be able to see, "yep, that was God on that day and that day" and know that God willing he will give us all tomorrow to praise Him and look for the blessings embedded.
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