The FINAL escape (also known as)-- Oops! It was so exciting I forgot to tell you!

Well, I’ve been scolded by a very elite group of folks for not posting an entry on Daddy’s blog about the get-a-way to Albuquerque! So – my apologies and here goes!

Well, here’s Mama and Daddy flying out of Houston (use your imagination now) and heading to Albuquerque!  Wow – were they happy – and I know because I was on the plane with them!!!! Wow – was I happy too!

We left on Tuesday morning, March 9, 2010.

Here’s what the view looked like when we landed!!! What a sight for sore (Albuquerque deprived) eyes. Mama and Daddy couldn’t stop grinning they were so happy to be home. Daughter Stacie picked us up at the airport and whisked us home in a jiffy. I think Mama didn’t stop walking around looking at things in the house for a week – she was so happy to be home. They wanted to see the views that they missed and just be home – some of you probably know that feeling too! I’d catch them just wandering around the house, enjoying the experience of home.

Here are a couple of the wonderful views from close to their house that are so magnificent and inspiring. these are the Sandia (Watermelon) Mountains.

You all have been wonderful during that past two months, supporting our family and especially Mama and Daddy, with your prayers and cards and emails. Each and every one was dear to us when we got them, and each one was read and cherished. As many of you know, it’s during the difficult times that friends and family are so important and can make such a difference.

Daddy has been blessed with wonderful doctors during the entire experience of his cancer diagnosis and then the heart failure. Each one has been so caring and concerned about his health as well as how Mama is doing.

Daddy is not even two months from the day of his open-heart surgery! The surgery was on February 1^st. It is hard to believe that it was such a short time ago and yet so long ago. His recovery is not over, but each day I believe that he is getting stronger. There will always be some impact on Daddy’s health because of the cancer treatment – radiation and chemotherapy – as well as the toll that heart surgery can take on anyone – old or young. However, as many of you know from personal experience – each day we have on earth is a blessing. Each day we have with our loved ones is a blessing. Each day we experience the love of our friends is such a blessing.

Here’s Daddy - Home in Albuquerque! I think he looks great.

Thank you all so very much for your thoughts and prayers.

With love, Laura

Stan, Carol, Stacie, Kathryn, and Kenneth

The Second Escape

Here’s Daddy this past Tuesday the 2^nd scoping out the escape routes from the Select Hospital (the one after St. Luke’s) he’s been in since February 18^th.  He was packed and ready to go before they could even get the wheelchair to the room!

Here’s Daddy making his break! He was halfway to the fence -- uhhh - I mean --  down the hall before the aide could catch up with him with the wheelchair! Fortunately - we all left safely!!!

Here’s Daddy once we got him to Kenneth’s house.
V E R Y happy. Just relaxing and enjoying uninterrupted time.

Mama and Daddy are so happy to be out of the hospitals and into a house. They went walking outside yesterday. It has been beautiful here for the past few days. The more exercise the better.

Now we are just making our plans for the final escape to Albuquerque.  I’ll keep you posted on the day for that.

If any of you ever need a hospital and doctor for heart surgery, we would highly recommend Dr. Coselli and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. He is a world class surgeon and the quality of care we received from the nurses and staff at St. Luke's was wonderful. 

Thank you so very much for your thoughts and prayers.

With love, Laura

Stan, Carol, Stacie, Kathryn, and Kenneth

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Well, great news. Looks like Daddy's breaking out of the hospital today and heading to my brother's house in League City!!! We have all the paperwork in and just have to make sure the doctor clears him this morning. Our bags are packed and sitting by the door too!

Talk about excitement in room. Bigger than the Houston Rodeo that's going on in town right now I'll tell you that!!!!  

I'll update again after a few days to let you know his progress, but in the meantime - here's a picture of Daddy breaking out - by whatever means he can. He's worked so hard to get better that he even has a halo!! That can't be right?? Stan Hall???  ;o)

With love and gratitude for all of you, Laura

Starting to feel a little cooped up!

See the bird flying high on the wall – just about to fly into the blue sky? That’s Daddy – he’s just about ready to break out of here and run. Cooped up can be a great motivator.

This is a shot of the magnificent wide open sky at Lake Powell this past October when we were out there. I think that Daddy is ready for some of the wide-open sky out in Albuquerque.

This new place is v e r y did I say v…e…r…y slow paced! One nurse came in today and was shocked that Daddy is in his pj’s and robe.  Wait ‘til he’s up and dressed. They’ll wonder who he’s visiting.

Seriously though, we are so blessed because most of the other patients in this hospital are not nearly as mobile as Daddy. We are so grateful for the prayers of everyone on Daddy and Mama's behalf, we know that they make a difference. 

Dr. Casar came by at mid-day today and said that Daddy’s X-ray from last week looks really good. They continue to monitor the fluid or lack of – around his lungs. The hope is that with the stronger heart from the bypass that his heart will get stronger each day.

Most days now Daddy is up and walking at least five times and sits in a chair most of the time. If he’s not too cranky then we let him take a nap.

The next step from here will probably be to go to son Kenneth’s house and have in-home physical therapy or outpatient therapy. We should know more by the end of the week. I think it will be sometime between Friday and Monday when he is released. Then – from there Mama and Daddy will go home to Albuquerque and have some more physical therapy and then – he won’t need it any more!! 

It’s supposed to get cold here in the next couple of days. We aren’t used to cold winters down here close to the Gulf Coast. Usually it’s already spring by now! So I’m leaving you will a photo of one of our nightly fires from last October at Lake Powell. Hope it warms you up like your love and prayers warm our family.

With love, Laura

         Stan, Carol, Stacie, Kathryn, and Kenneth

A little progress report for you today

My last update was Thursday, February 11^th.  On Friday the 12^th Daddy was good to go to get the fluid drained from one lung and then on Saturday he got the other lung drained.

When he came back from the first one he already had great relief and could breath much better. Then on Saturday it was again much easier to breathe!

One of the things that I’ve learned during my time spent at the hospital watching the activity of the doctors and nurses, is that there is a great deal of trial and error with the treatment (of course it is educated trial and error). One of the things that happened with Daddy is that they had been treating him with medicines to get the fluid off of his lungs and then when it was suddenly gone the result was that his blood pressure dropped dramatically. So we spend Saturday and Sunday working to get his blood pressure back up to normal.

This is what Daddy looks like when his blood pressure is too low! Well, not quite – his eyes weren’t open. Absolutely no energy – and very, very sleepy the whole day. Today it’s back up and he has already gotten up and walked a couple of times, so we are indeed making good progress.

All of the incisions are healing great. The doctors and nurses here at St. Luke’s are fantastic. I come in with a list of questions every morning and they listen to each one and address it with care.

Dr. Casar, the pulmonologist here and the follow up doctor for Dr. Coselli the surgeon, is wonderful and tells me that Daddy is making good progress. So we feel that we are in great hands.

Please continue your prayers, they are felt and so deeply appreciated by Daddy and our family.

With love, Laura

We are still hanging out at the hospital

Well, I know I’ve been a little remiss about updating you all. It's been a little busy around this joint! I’ll briefly bring you up to date.

Daddy is still here at St. Luke's because he has some lung congestion. He has three things. First he has pulmonary edema that they are treating with medicine; second he has some COPD that they are also treating with medicine; finally he has some fluid building up in the sac around his lungs. He’s having some difficulty getting his breath, but not all the time. The medicines are helping most of the time.

He’s going to have the needle aspiration procedure again to drain one lung and then the other one the next day. Most likely this will happen between Friday and Sunday sometime.

Other news is that he’s getting more physical therapy and getting a little stronger each day. He is walking about three times a day and that makes everyone so happy. Who knew walking could put such a giggle in everyone!

I want to let you all know that when I get an email or comment on this blog, I print them out when I’m at home and take them to him to read. He and Mama really appreciate all of your love and prayers.

love, Laura

Tough day but Moving in a good direction

Thank you all so much for your kind words and prayers for Daddy and for Mama. We have felt  them and fell so blessed. 

This is what Daddy is looking like these days. He’s doing whatever it takes to make this work!! By the way this is Stubbie our friendly and very cute backyard squirrel. She thinks she is a bird most days though.

Daddy had his most physically active day so far. He was up walking three times today, as well as doing some chair exercises. He is practicing his "getting in and out" of chairs faithfully. How about any of you? Practicing??? Better get to doing them -- turns out to be very important.

He is being treated for his pulmonary edema with breathing treatments every four hours. They have really helped open his airways in his lungs. He’s breathing much better and not wheezing.

He watched the Super Bowl yesterday and rooted for the underdog who won! His favorite commercial was the Betty White one, of course.

I want to let you know that any emails that you have sent to me, I take to the hospital and we read them to Daddy. He is so grateful for all of his friends and family.

So - on to a new day tomorrow.

love, Laura

Saturday a tough day

Daddy had a little bit of a tough day yesterday. More pain and discomfort. He very quickly developed pulmonary edema, but the doctors got on it pretty quickly and he's doing better today.
I'm on a slow computer at the hospital - so no picture today.

Please keep Daddy/Stan in your prayers.

Love,
Laura

It's a Good Thing

Stan and Carol’s daughter Kathryn stayed at the hospital most of the day today and had a lot of exciting progress to report for Daddy!

Do NOT tell Daddy, but this is kind of what he’s looking like. Kind of like a baby heron learning to get up and walk around. A little bit of a shocked look on his face! But just like this little heron, pretty soon he’ll be up running the halls and the nurses will be wishing he were just a little less mobile! 

Say “just a little less moe-bile” with a southern accent – it sounds really cool. Just about anything you say with a southern accent sounds pretty cool. Y’all have probably noticed how Daddy can put on a thick southern accent when he wants to. (Don’t tell him I said that either!)

He got out of bed today a couple of times today and walked over to his chair. The more he sits up the better it is. He took a couple of short naps. He got to eat solid food!

The physical therapist came in and did an assessment of where he is now and what he needs to be doing. She helped him with some exercises and showed him how to get up out of the bed and out of a chair. Apparently we are all doing it wrong. Never use your arms, only your legs. Who knew?

It’s important that he not use his upper body for anything, only legs. You can imagine that big old incision in his chest and what using his arms for things would feel like and might cause happen.

The physical therapist had him walk just a little bit today. And each day it will increase a little more.

You can’t imagine how wonderful it is to see him up. This time 17 years ago, he wasn’t even close to this far along. We may have to get a lock for the door if he gets too sure of himself. He’ll just walk out and find a ride to the airport if we’re not careful. 

 

This is what the spirometer looks like. This is what he sucks many, many times a day to make sure that his lungs stay clear from the surgery. It also helps him build up strength and keep infections away. It’s a good thing. 

Kathryn got to see the surgeon today, Dr. Coselli. That was such a relief. We have only been talking to nurses or doctors we didn't know, but Dr. Coselli was able to answer many of our questions about the surgery and the plan for treatment.

We are grateful for each new day, and appreciate the friends and family who love and pray for us.

love, Laura

Anniversary Day

Wow, today was Daddy's 17-year anniversary for getting his mechanical heart valve - February 4, 1993. Here he is in the hospital again with open-heart surgery - a little different this time. The valve was still good - so they didn't replace it. 

He's tired, but good. He's doing his breathing spirometer and beginning to get up and sit in a chair for short periods of time. 

May he'll walk tomorrow - we'll see! They get you going a lot faster than they used to.
     

This is going to be Daddy when they try to get him up walking! He'll be holding onto the bed rails with all his might!!! He’s such a rascal! ;-)

love, Laura

Third Day!

Well, heart surgery is light years ahead of where it was 17 years ago! Daddy was already moved to a room today. When he had his valve replaced in 1993 - he was still flat on his back and pretty much out of  it. He didn't get moved to a room for many, many days after surgery.

He's already been sitting up in a chair since yesterday. He's had some of his tubes removed and pain medicine given. He's fussed at the nurses and then told them they were angels!  They will have him up and walking soon. That's going to be the really tough part.

He is in pain, but the medicine is mostly controlling it.

The most important thing is that he's very, very happy. He knows there's pain involved in the recovery, but you know Stan - he's a fighter!

Our family loves you all and your support and prayers.

love, Laura

February 1st - Surgery Day

Mama and Daddy got to St. Luke’s this morning at about 5:40 and when they got upstairs the nurses took him right into a room.  The four of us kids and Mama got to visit with him in his room and give him encouragement and love.  Then at about 8:00AM they took him into surgery.

We all settled into the CardioVascular waiting room where a nurse comes in every 1½ hours and gives an updated report of what is going on with each patient. At 9:15 she said he was asleep and they were beginning the surgery preparation.

At 10:40AM they had opened up Daddy's chest and were getting ready to put him on the heart/lung bypass machine. She told us that they were going to do the Dacron aortic sleeve and then one bypass. No new valve.

At the 1:40 visit they came in and said that they were in the "drying up" phase - stopping the blood flow, etc. and then would wire him closed, and then close the muscle and tissue.

At 3:20 the nurse told us that he is in ICU Recovery and we would be able to see him in just a little while. Boy were we happy to hear that!

It took a little while but they took us back to see Daddy at 4:05PM. We got to visit with Dr. Oliveira his Cardiologist (the surgeon is Dr. Coselli). Dr. Oliveira had asked me to email him when Daddy was just about finished. He said that the surgery was around 6 hours long. He said that Daddy was not bleeding (as of 4PM) and that he was sedated. Daddy had the Dacron aortic graft put in, no new valve, and a SVG bypass to the left side of his heart. They did not use the mammary artery. The SVG is the saphenous vein from his left leg and the ‘G’ stands for graft once they use it in his heart for the bypass.

We got to see Daddy for just a few minutes and left to go back to the waiting room. He was asleep and on pain meds, and of course had a breathing tube in his throat. They will most likely take it out in the morning around 7-8AM.

We got to go back in at 5:15PM and learned that after our 4:05 visit was over, they woke Daddy up and had him wiggle his fingers and toes. He was in some pain so they gave him some more pain medicine. There were specialized pacemaker technicians at his bedside “interrogating” or checking on his pacemaker to see how it came through surgery. Because of all of the electrical activity during surgery, they are trained to make sure that it is still functioning properly.

The nurse said that Dr. Casar (Dr. Coselli’s eyes and ears in ICU) would see daddy in the morning and decide what course to take after the night is over. He will assess how Daddy is and decide when to take out the breathing tube and when to wake him up. The nurses were thinking that it would probably still be around 11AM. 

The nurse suggested that we come back in the morning for the 10AM visit and we will be able to find out more about the plan for Daddy’s recovery. At this time they think that he will be in ICU for up to four days, then possibly another six or so in recovery.

That’s what we know so far. Thank you so very much for your emails and encouraging words of faith and love.

Laura

Have a Heart

Friday, January 29^th Daddy had an EKG, blood work, Chest X-ray, Pulmonary function test-Spirometry, and Carotid Duplex Scan. It was certainly a busy day.

In between all of these things Mama, Daddy, and I met with Dr. Coselli’s Nurse Practioner, Kathy Loring, for quite some time – and then with Dr. Coselli for a brief visit between his surgeries.

We learned many things about hearts. One of Daddy’s problems is an aortic root problem. There are a few ways that they are going to address his aneurism and blocked valve. This is how I understood it:

They will go in through the front chest wall, where he had his previous surgery 17 years ago to have the mechanical aortic valve put in.  When the surgery begins they will have reviewed all of the test results, x-rays, echocardiograms, and the PET/CT scan that Daddy had done on January 21^st after the fluid was drained from his lungs. All of these things will help the doctor determine the best treatment and surgery once he opens daddy’s chest wall.

Depending on where the aneurism is on the artery will depend on whether they replace the St. Jude’s valve. If they do replace the valve then they will use a tissue valve (they are far more advanced than they were 17 years ago) and there is a chance that Daddy could stop taking the Coumadin! That would be great for sure.

They are going to replace the part of the aorta that is too large with a Dacron graft. As mentioned above the new valve will depend on where exactly the aneurism is located in reference to the valve. The doctor is also going to most likely take in internal mammary artery and attach it to the left side of Daddy’s heart where the blocked artery is and that will take care of the blockage. If there turns out to be a problem on the right side, there are a few things that they can do for that. The one most likely is that they would take a vein from one of Daddy’s legs and use that for a bypass to the right side of his heart. 

The entire process of prepping for surgery, anesthesiology, surgery, and then closing up, etc. will probably take about 6-7 hours. They estimate that the actual time he will be have the surgery itself is about an hour or little longer. They will put him on a cardio pulmonary bypass machine through his right shoulder for the actual operation itself.

Daddy’s probably going to be in ICU for about three days and then will move to the 10^th floor for up to about seven more days for his recovery.

As far as recovery, it will take about six months for the ablation to take effect and it must form scar tissue to get to a normal sinus rhythm.  Because there is scar tissue from his previous surgery and from the Proton radiation he received in 2008, the recovery could be a little harder. Nurse Kathy talked about something called “Dressler Syndrome” – which is an inflammation of the sac around the heart – it not uncommon for patients to have this after heart surgery. She said it sounded like Daddy had this the last time he had heart surgery too.

Dr. Coselli said that Daddy is a good candidate for this surgery because of the lack of signs of cancer [we have not been specifically told it’s in remission – but they say that the scans look good and there is no evidence of cancer] and also three other things: Daddy’s left ventricle is in good condition, his lungs are up to handling the recovery, and his physical condition is good.

One of the really cool things for his recovery pain is a thing he is going to have implanted just under the surface of his skin where the incision is. It’s called an ‘ON-Q PainBuster Catheter Placement’ and it will work for four days on it’s own and then the nurses just pull it out like a suture. It automatically administers a continuous, regulated flow of local anesthetic through a specially designed catheter to the site.

So – the surgery is set for Monday and Mama and Daddy will be there before 6AM!!!

Thank you for your love and prayers,  

Stan, Carol, Laura, Stacie, Kathryn, and Kenneth

Monday - is Surgery Day

Daddy's new cardiologist calls him "Doc" and made an appointment with the cardiac surgeon under the name Doctor Hall! All of you who know Daddy will totally understand. He is a take-charge kind of man and had already made some conclusions and decisions about what they were going to probably tell him - he had done his research on heart disease already.

The tests from last week indicated very strongly that Daddy indeed has congestive heart failure. His pulmonologist referred him to a great cardiologist (mentioned above!) and there is lot’s of action going on right now. There was a heart cath scheduled for Wednesday, January 27^th, with the understanding that most likely Daddy would be transferred to Hermann Hospital the same day, when it was completed, to have one or two stints put in. That plan changed quickly as you can see after reading on a bit.

Mama, Daddy, Kenneth, and I were at the hospital all day yesterday - January 27th. Dr. Oliverira went into Daddy's heart yesterday with the cath and found 80% blockage in one major artery -- but then they found a surprise -- he has a large aortic aneurism in that main artery feeding his heart. It's just above his mechanical (St. Jude's) heart valve. So they did not put in any stints and he's now been referred to a cardiac surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital - Dr. Coselli. He sees Dr. Coselli tomorrow morning/day sometime between the doctor's surgeries and then will probably have the surgery on Monday.  We have been told that Coselli is one of the best in the world. 

The doctors are looking at several options and may not know exactly what they do until they get in. They can replace the aneurism with a dacron graft, and do a stint on the blocked artery; they can replace the aneurism with a dacron graft, and do a bypass on the blocked artery; they can do the aneurism graft, and/or stint/bypass, and replace the 17 year old heart valve. So you can see that there are lots of possibilities. Part of this depends on the surgeon and how he feels Daddy can handle the surgery, how long daddy will be open, and other possible contingencies. Obviously the most optimum would be for the shortest time in surgery -- makes for the least trauma and a safer and easier recovery. They all have said that Daddy is in remarkably good condition for his age and so that helps with the surgery and recovery.

As far as we can tell from the other doctors that Daddy has seen recently -- because we have not heard this from the oncologist specifically -- Daddy's PET/CT scans are clear and not showing any evidence of the cancer at this time. So that is a good thing for sure. 

One of the best traits that my parents have, among their many others, is their unbelievable ability to look at life in the most positive light possible. Included in this is their always looking forward to new adventures and challenges, not back at life's mistakes. Sure there might be some -- but they always look forward to a bright and positive future. 

So, for those of you out West in Albuquerque, they won't be home for probably at least few more weeks. We will know more as Daddy recovers from the surgery and will keep you up to date.

Please keep Daddy and Mama in your prayers and thoughts and thank you for your love.

Laura

We know it’s been a while . . .

With our last update – nine months ago – you read about Daddy getting some surgery on his back.  I’ll sort of pick up there. The surgery to repair the fracture in one place was great for a very short time and then caused another fracture – so the cure is to leave it alone and not do any more vertebrae surgery!  Osteoporosis runs in the family and then the chemo/radiation just exacerbated the condition. With some pain medicine, Daddy is able to control it. He just has to be very careful not to lean over bathtubs to scrub and the backs of car seats to grab stuff – and things of that nature!

Daddy and Mama came back to Houston a couple of times for tests and consultations with the doctors. With the end of September visit, there was some fluid discovered on his right lung. He was advised to go back to Albuquerque and have it drained. Daddy also had a carotid artery ablated and because of some erratic heart activity – he had a pacemaker put in at the end of September. No more whizzing through security at the airports – that’s for sure.

Now for some fun news – in October three of their four kids and spouses if possible – were able to take Mama and Daddy on a houseboat adventure out on Lake Powell. Lake Powell has a very long history in our family. We first went there in the summer of 1970. It was love at first sight. In subsequent years Mama and Daddy bought boats, houseboats, jet skis, different boats, different other boats . . . you get the picture! So this was a real dream trip.

I’ve included just a few of the thousands of pictures taken by everyone combined – to show you how great the trip was.

___________________________

Piloting us out of the marina and into the wilderness!

Daddy coming up to the top of the houseboat for a look around.

The houseboat in a really ugly setting!!!

Daddy pulling Kathryn one more time while she skis!!!!!

Mama and Daddy enjoying one of our evenings at the lake.

Daddy - bringing the ski boat back to the houseboat!!!  Just like falling off a horse.

_________________________

After the trip, Daddy had his right and then left lung drained. The results came back great with no malignancy showing up in the fluid.

Mama and Daddy are in Houston right now. Their last appointment is this coming Monday, January 25^th. On the 12^th Daddy had all the tests run that they normally come for and then on the 13^th met with Dr. Blumenschein, his oncologist. Daddy had just recently – probably around the 9^th or so, been having more trouble breathing. The night of the 12^th, he ended up going to the emergency room – with no relief provided – because he could not get enough air. This is with him using oxygen most of the time. It turns out that both of his lungs had filled up again. Dr. B wanted Daddy to get a “Denver” catheter put in by a pulmonologist. So the appointment was set for Tuesday, January 19^th. Dr. Jimenez was very thorough and took a detailed history from Daddy. He ended up declining to do the catheter because his opinion at that time was that the fluid is due to congestive heart failure. That can be treated with medicine, and so the catheter may not be necessary. Tuesday Dr. Jimenez took x-rays and then did an ultrasound guided thoracentesis (drain the fluid) on the left side. Then the next day Dr. Jimenez did the right side. He had the results tested and his opinion is that the fluid is related to congestive heart failure.

Thursday, January 21^st, Daddy had the PET/CT scan again for his lungs and then today he had an echocardiogram and resting EKG. They have an appointment with a cardiologist on Monday to find out the results of the tests today and to determine a plan for treatment.

I believe that the results of the PET/CT scan will be talked about over the phone once Mama and Daddy get back to Albuquerque. They will be going home on Wednesday! 

Other than being very tired from a longer than expected trip – both Mama and Daddy are in really good spirits. We got to celebrate Mama’s birthday here in Houston and that was so much fun and an unexpected treat.

As a family we thank you for your continued and ongoing prayers. We know that they make a difference and so very much appreciate your love and concern.

After the Surgery

Well, Daddy came through the back surgery from this past Tuesday with FLYING COLORS. He's out and about today and Stacie just sent out this email to all:

"Just wanted to let you all know I just got a call from daddy.  He is out and about 'cause he called from his cell phone.  He said he had just gotten a call from Dr. Faccini.  She told him she's just gotten a verbal that the biopsy showed no tumor!!!!  It's a great day!"

Next up is the trip to Houston for CT/PET scans and a wedding!  It's ALL good. 

Thank you all for your prayers, we all feel them and Mama and Daddy deeply appreciate them.

Talk About STANding STRONG!!!

So, here is what the Doc at MD Anderson said after studying the new tests taken on Tuesday!!!!

 

"THE NEWS IS ALL GOOD!!!!"

"GO HOME AND ENJOY LIFE AND COME BACK IN 3 MONTHS FOR ANOTHER CT SCAN AND WE'LL DO THAT EVERY 3 MONTHS FOR A WHILE.   AT THE MOMENT YOU HAVE NO CANCER AND THEREFORE THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON YOU AT ALL."

WE HAD A BIG CELEBRATION DANCE RIGHT THERE IN HIS OFFICE AND THEN A REALLY FINE PRAYER OF THANKS SAID BY DAUGHTER KATHRYN.

THE DR. SAYS THAT THOSE THINGS, PRAYERS, ATTITUDE,  CHEMO, AND RADIATION ALL DID THEIR PART ON CLEARING OUT MY CANCER.  

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS!!

 

 

Update

I talked with Daddy today and he said that his white blood cell count was UP today when they checked it. He got the shot anyway - and will take steroid pills tomorrow in preparation for the BIG dose of Chemo on Wednesday.   Laura

Sunday, January 4, 2009

I have had a definite lack of energy since restarting the Chemo here in ABQ and it has certainly taken a toll on my hair.  Still have some on top of the head and around the edges, but it is fading fast as have my eyelashes as well as all body hair.  Only good thing is that it also slows beard growth and only need to shave about every 3rd or 4th day!!!   Also, I must stay away from all crowds and anyone who is coughing or sneezing because my white cell count down means immune system is at a low ebb.   The first update since we came home from Houston and actually started Chemo here at home in Albuquerque.   As I have stated before, we really like our Woman who is the Oncologist here at MD Anderson in ABQ .  The plan from Houston was to get two very large doses of Chemo three weeks apart and then have three weeks before going back to Houston for the tests and reports on how well the treatment has done for me.    That schedule is being followed except that she broke up the first Chemo session into three because to take that big a dose, one really needs big doses of steroids just prior to the treatment and there was not time to do that at the time of the first session.  So, I have been getting Chemo  three weeks in a row including Christmas eve and New Years Eve !!  This past Friday I had to go in for a shot and I will do it again tomorrow (Monday) . A shot to stimulate my bone marrow into making more white blood cells because my white cell count is way down due to the Chemo.  On Tuesday I will have blood test and if the count is still down will get a third shot.  I will receive two big doses of Steroids Tuesday Nite and Wed Morning and then receive the BIG dose of Chemo.  That will be the last treatment for now and on Jan 27 MDA Houston will perform a Pet scan (determines if cancer is present and if so, exactly where) among other tests to determine if all this since near the first of September has worked or not.  I SAY IT WORKED!!  From those results the Dr. there will determine if anything else is needed or when to return for further testing.  

I have had a definite lack of energy since restarting the Chemo here in ABQ and it has certainly taken a toll on my hair.  Still have some on top of the head and around the edges, but it is fading fast as have my eyelashes as well as all body hair.  Only good thing is that it also slows beard growth and only need to shave about every 3rd or 4th day!!!   Also, I must stay away from all crowds and anyone who is coughing or sneezing because my white cell count down means immune system is at a low ebb.  

These shots that I am getting to stimulate my bone marrow most of the time makes the person's bones hurt all over the body.  So far, no such thing has happened to me.  Perhaps a second and/or third shot will do that!!  

Till next Update, Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  Stan

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Carol and I went to Houston 12/9, saw the oncologist (Chemo Dr.) on 12/10, and returned home this evening 12/11.

The Dr. was verrrry pleased with the way I look and stated that I do not appear as if I have received treatment. However, he says that I now will receive two Chemo treatments 3 weeks apart. I asked him if we could start that day because we have plane reservations back to Albuquerque today. "OH Yes, I forgot you are from New Mexico. Would you like to take the Chemo there at home?? " Wow, would we prefer that!! So, within a matter of minutes he had arranged with the doctor here at home to give me the Chemo on two occasions. The first will be December 16. and the second dose will be probably JAN 6. Then we will go back to Houston on Jan 27 for a PET SCAN and meet with the Dr. the next day for the results. PET Scan can tell the Dr. if there is Cancer anywhere, and thus how well they have or have not done with the treatments.

The Chemo doses that I will get are 3 times as large as the ones I got in Houston during the Radiation/Chemo treatments. The ones I got there did a number on my stamina and made me sick at my stomach. Guess we will see what the much larger dose will do!!!

We are thrilled that we can do this here At MD Anderson-Albuquerque because it will be much easier logistically for we only live about 5 miles fro MDA here. Also, We really like the Woman Oncologist we have here. MDA Houston has been sending her all the reports on me thru my whole treatment. She is the one that told us we were doing the right thing when we went to Houston for the Proton treatments.

Thats the current news from here and we wanted to share it with you. - Stan