The good news is dad's on two very strong antibiotics. The bad news is he has a staph infection in his lungs and his blood. His sugar is coming down and he looks and feels SO much better so we believe the antibiotics are doing their job.
Thanks for your prayers!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Tough Day ...
We met with the oncologist, pulmonologist, and surgeon today. The good news is the tumors in the brain are responding to the gamma knife and are getting smaller. The lung, however, was a source of bad news today. There is no way right now to tell definitively what is cancer and what is infection in the lung. The lung is 3/4 full of a mix of fluid, infection and tumor. It has grown out of the lung, through the ribs, and into the soft tissue. This is what is causing the increase in pain. There is also a pocket of fluid outside the lung that they believe is also a mix of fluid, infection and tumor. We met with the surgeon to see if anything could be done with that, even just to drain that pocket. The answer was a firm no, it's too dangerous at this point and could cause more problems. The only course of action is IV antibiotics. The pulmonologist said if we can't get the infection under control with antibiotics, down the road we may want to talk further about that option.
The oncologist said he was very disturbed by the fact that dad had one chemo treatment and the cancer is growing so rapidly. Even just one chemo treatment should have helped. It clearly did not work.
So, the bottom line now is this ... The oncologist is running out of options. Nothing can be done while there is infection. IF they are able to get the infection under control, and they aren't sure if they can, there is only one possible option and it's a very dangerous chemo drug. It has extremely serious side effects. The oncologist is going to take the weekend to "mull it over" and decide if he thinks it's even something talk about it. If they aren't able to get the infection under control, or the chemo isn't an option, we aren't able to do anything and dad will have six months at best.
We will meet with his oncologist and pulmonologist again on Monday. They will do another catscan to determine if the infection is improving. At that point we will discuss our next steps.
Mom and dad have spent the last couple of days making some very difficult decisions about level of care and life support as well as making sure other things are in order. Dad has broken down a couple times but is being strong and staying as positive as he can as it all settles in. He is feeling and looking much better today than he did earlier in the week. His balance and memory have improved and he is talking and joking and being his usual ornery self. We hope this is a sign the antibiotics are helping.
Today was tough and not the news we had expected so soon. The rest of us I think are still in shock to some degree and just taking it all in and processing it at our own pace.
Your continued prayers are what we need most and mean so very much to all of us.
Blessings to you all!
The oncologist said he was very disturbed by the fact that dad had one chemo treatment and the cancer is growing so rapidly. Even just one chemo treatment should have helped. It clearly did not work.
So, the bottom line now is this ... The oncologist is running out of options. Nothing can be done while there is infection. IF they are able to get the infection under control, and they aren't sure if they can, there is only one possible option and it's a very dangerous chemo drug. It has extremely serious side effects. The oncologist is going to take the weekend to "mull it over" and decide if he thinks it's even something talk about it. If they aren't able to get the infection under control, or the chemo isn't an option, we aren't able to do anything and dad will have six months at best.
We will meet with his oncologist and pulmonologist again on Monday. They will do another catscan to determine if the infection is improving. At that point we will discuss our next steps.
Mom and dad have spent the last couple of days making some very difficult decisions about level of care and life support as well as making sure other things are in order. Dad has broken down a couple times but is being strong and staying as positive as he can as it all settles in. He is feeling and looking much better today than he did earlier in the week. His balance and memory have improved and he is talking and joking and being his usual ornery self. We hope this is a sign the antibiotics are helping.
Today was tough and not the news we had expected so soon. The rest of us I think are still in shock to some degree and just taking it all in and processing it at our own pace.
Your continued prayers are what we need most and mean so very much to all of us.
Blessings to you all!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
To the Hospital We Go
Dad went straight from the pulmonary doctor to the hospital a short while ago. His lung is 3/4 full of something. There is no way to tell from an x-ray for sure. It's either tumor or infection. They will do a catscan tomorrow to determine what's going on. Please pray it's infection. Dad is in bad shape right now, please keep him covered in prayer.
I'll post updates as I have them. We are headed there soon.
God bless!
I'll post updates as I have them. We are headed there soon.
God bless!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sorry, Larry, Not This Week
Our birthday celebration for my sister-in-law was wonderful over the weekend. It was a good day for dad and he was able to join us for dinner. We were blessed to have Nat, Adam, and Casey all there. Sometimes I look at how grown up they are and it almost takes my breath away. The time has passed so quickly. They have become three beautiful adults, inside and out. I enjoy every second I spend with them! Dad wasn't up to joining us to bowl but had a nice time at dinner and was able to spend some time with the whole family. We were all so thankful to have him with us.
I didn't realize just how blessed we were that dad was able to join us on Saturday. He is having a really tough time right now and it's really amazing he felt up to going on Saturday at all. God is good! I went along for his chemo appointment today and we had a host of things to discuss with his oncologist. Dad is having problems with his memory and balance which could be caused by swelling in the brain from the tumors. His sugar levels have skyrocketed even with insulin. We have no idea what is causing that right now. He is in a great deal of pain which the doctor believes is being caused by the tumor. He is having a hard time with swelling in his legs and feet because of all the steroids he's taking for the swelling in the brain. He was carrying a low grade fever today and was up all night last night with a cough. So you can guess what the answer was regarding chemo today - sorry, Larry, not this week. The oncologist made some medication changes to help with the pain. Our family doctor made some additional medication changes later today to help with the diabetes. The oncologist is scheduling another MRI of his brain and catscan of his chest. He said we need to figure out what's going on and try to get some things under control before we move forward with his chemo. Dad is very weak and very unsteady right now. And overall just not feeling well. John describes him as fragile and that is a good description right now. Tomorrow we see his pulmonary doctor and he will do an x-ray to check to see if there is still pneumonia or possibly a new infection in his lungs. We see his oncologist again next Tuesday. We hope to have the test results then and a plan for how to proceed. Please keep dad in your prayers.
The Irish in me couldn't resist an Irish Prayer for you on this the eve of St. Patrick's Day.
An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
May you be blessed each and every day.
I didn't realize just how blessed we were that dad was able to join us on Saturday. He is having a really tough time right now and it's really amazing he felt up to going on Saturday at all. God is good! I went along for his chemo appointment today and we had a host of things to discuss with his oncologist. Dad is having problems with his memory and balance which could be caused by swelling in the brain from the tumors. His sugar levels have skyrocketed even with insulin. We have no idea what is causing that right now. He is in a great deal of pain which the doctor believes is being caused by the tumor. He is having a hard time with swelling in his legs and feet because of all the steroids he's taking for the swelling in the brain. He was carrying a low grade fever today and was up all night last night with a cough. So you can guess what the answer was regarding chemo today - sorry, Larry, not this week. The oncologist made some medication changes to help with the pain. Our family doctor made some additional medication changes later today to help with the diabetes. The oncologist is scheduling another MRI of his brain and catscan of his chest. He said we need to figure out what's going on and try to get some things under control before we move forward with his chemo. Dad is very weak and very unsteady right now. And overall just not feeling well. John describes him as fragile and that is a good description right now. Tomorrow we see his pulmonary doctor and he will do an x-ray to check to see if there is still pneumonia or possibly a new infection in his lungs. We see his oncologist again next Tuesday. We hope to have the test results then and a plan for how to proceed. Please keep dad in your prayers.
The Irish in me couldn't resist an Irish Prayer for you on this the eve of St. Patrick's Day.
An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
May you be blessed each and every day.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A Week in Review
Aunt Marian's services were simply beautiful. It was a wonderful day of celebration of her life and the beautiful woman she was. We spent time with family, we remembered, we laughed, and we cried. Our tears were a mix of sadness and joy. We are sad because we miss her but there is great joy in knowing she is finally where she wants to be - with the Lord. I have to tell something funny the pastor said. He knew my Grandma Lucille quite well and those of you that did, will truly appreciate this. He said Marian and Lucille were together again and that Lucille would talk for the first 10,000 years! All I could do was laugh because I had earlier said I was sure she'd already talked at least one of Aunt Marian's ears off. :) It was wonderful to hear stories of my Grandma through the weekend and remember her. It brings a smile to my face when I picture them together again.
The weekend was so hard on my dad. He did so well and was able to be there and spend time with family but it really took a lot out of him. He wasn't well enough on Tuesday to have his second chemo as scheduled. We learned at that appointment that when we were in the ER with him the week before he had pneumonia. We're not sure how the doctor in the ER missed that but thankfully the oncologist on call put him on an antibiotic anyway. He is still having a tough time, he's not feeling well and is so weak. He could use an extra measure of prayer right now. We hope he will be well enough for chemo this coming week. My dad desperately wants to attend Adam's (his youngest grandson) college graduation in Washington DC in May. Every setback in his schedule discourages him in his chances of making that trip for Adam's big day.
Last week when I had my ultrasound and blood work they did a screening for Down Syndrome and two other chromosomal abnormalities (Trisomy 13 and 18). The joys of being pregnant over 35! We got our screening results back this week. Before the screening the baby had 1 in 874 chance of having Down Syndrome. After the screening it’s 1 in 3,461. The risk of a 20 year old mom – not bad for a 37 year old mom! Before the screening the baby had 1 in 331 chance of having Trisomy 13 or 18. After the screening it’s 1 in 6,601. Again, the risk of a 20 year old mom. Now, if I just had the body of a 20 year old mom I’d be set. LOL If I hadn’t been strapped into my seat belt I think I would have just floated right out of my seat I was so happy. After the CF screening results this was pretty awesome news. One challenge of that magnitude is more than enough!
Tonight we are spending time with family for my sister-in-law's birthday. Adam and Casey are both home from college and I hope Nat will be off work and able to join us. It's great when we can all be together, they have all grown up too fast!
Have a blessed weekend!
The weekend was so hard on my dad. He did so well and was able to be there and spend time with family but it really took a lot out of him. He wasn't well enough on Tuesday to have his second chemo as scheduled. We learned at that appointment that when we were in the ER with him the week before he had pneumonia. We're not sure how the doctor in the ER missed that but thankfully the oncologist on call put him on an antibiotic anyway. He is still having a tough time, he's not feeling well and is so weak. He could use an extra measure of prayer right now. We hope he will be well enough for chemo this coming week. My dad desperately wants to attend Adam's (his youngest grandson) college graduation in Washington DC in May. Every setback in his schedule discourages him in his chances of making that trip for Adam's big day.
Last week when I had my ultrasound and blood work they did a screening for Down Syndrome and two other chromosomal abnormalities (Trisomy 13 and 18). The joys of being pregnant over 35! We got our screening results back this week. Before the screening the baby had 1 in 874 chance of having Down Syndrome. After the screening it’s 1 in 3,461. The risk of a 20 year old mom – not bad for a 37 year old mom! Before the screening the baby had 1 in 331 chance of having Trisomy 13 or 18. After the screening it’s 1 in 6,601. Again, the risk of a 20 year old mom. Now, if I just had the body of a 20 year old mom I’d be set. LOL If I hadn’t been strapped into my seat belt I think I would have just floated right out of my seat I was so happy. After the CF screening results this was pretty awesome news. One challenge of that magnitude is more than enough!
Tonight we are spending time with family for my sister-in-law's birthday. Adam and Casey are both home from college and I hope Nat will be off work and able to join us. It's great when we can all be together, they have all grown up too fast!
Have a blessed weekend!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Home At Last
Aunt Marian is home with her Lord and Savior tonight. I can only imagine the rejoicing! I have many times over the last weeks thought of her reunion with my Grandma. They spent more than 90 years on this earth together and now have an eternity together in Heaven. I smile when I picture their embrace.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. - Matthew 25:21
Until we meet again ... You are loved and will be missed Aunt Marian.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
It's a ...
It's a very stubborn baby!
Ultrasounds are very hard for me and I go with anxiety each time and flashbacks of losing our first one. I went that day with not a thought of a problem and now can't help but go with anxiety. The techs are awesome and quickly find and show us that beautiful beating heart. It is always such a tremendous relief to see this one doing well. We should have been able to sneak a peek between the legs today but our little one was napping and not letting anyone peek at a thing! LOL The tech tried everything to get the baby to turn or roll over so she could see what she wanted and s/he wasn't having it. The plus to that was a very long ultrasound! I could watch all day. :) A little pee pee is visible by now and we hoped today to see if there was one. I guess we'll wait a few more weeks! Everything looked good today. Praises!
We had a wonderful meeting with our genetic counselor today as well. She has already contacted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Dayton and Children's Hospital for us. They are making sure we have all the information and resources we need and we are so thankful. We now have a contact at Children's that can assist us in finding a pediatrician and answering any questions we have. She shared with us that we both have the most common gene that is affected and if the baby has CF this particular gene carries with it the most severe of symptoms associated with CF. Tough to hear but we are holding on to the 75% chance our little one will be just fine and will be preparing for all possibilities. We also learned today they can spot a couple things on later ultrasounds that could indicate CF in the baby. We will have a third trimester ultrasound with our high risk doctor to look for those things. Our genetic counselor, Rachel, has been a blessing!
We had planned to have all four grandparents with us today for the ultrasound. Steve's parents are both sick and weren't able to come. Dad is so sick so he missed it as well. Bless my mom's heart, she made it and I know was hurting with every step she took.
Dad is one sick pup right now. Shortly after mom got him home from the hospital on Sunday he started to feel really bad. He is still fighting a fever and weakness. They gave him another antibiotic today and we hope tomorrow will bring some relief. He's had a really rough few days. Mom is still in extreme pain and has been miserable for days as well. She got into the doctor today and he said in a day or two she should start to experience some relief.
Our sweet Aunt Marian will be going home to Heaven soon. Hospice expects only a couple more days. I feel sadness for our loss but joy for her as she meets her Lord and Savior and has a wonderful reunion with loved ones gone before her. I know my Grandma will be just giddy with excitement to be with her again! Dad is to be a pall bearer. Please pray he is well enough, it will break his heart not to be able to do that.
Thank you all for your continued prayers.
Blessings to you all!
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