Carol's Prayer for Today

Lord, I know that you have a plan for my life and as I am on this journey, don't
see those plans or see how I fit in. But Lord I thank you today so much for our
family and friends who have prayed me back to health these last few weeks in
California. It is bittersweet to leave, and I don't know why you kept me here in
California, but please make it someday clear the blessing that you had planned.

For today I  ask for your protection and just to "be in the details" as we
travel back to DC. You know that I am worried about the logistics of this trip
and the crazy things like swelling in my body and getting me into tip-top shape
for the important medical stuff I have coming up at Johns Hopkins next week
with Dr Giday on Monday and Dr Laheru on Wednesday and their teams. But I also
KNOW from Your Word that I don't HAVE to worry about next week or even tomorrow.
..that you will give me just the strength I need.
You tell me so clearly that You will be there for all the tomorrows, and next
weeks, just as You have been.

I thank You that You worked out the travel details that both Chip and Andrew
will be at the airport in cars when we arrive on the East Coast. I don't know
why You have our whole family brought together over 3000 miles -Chip from San
Diego, Andrew from Maine- for this Saturday night pick up/Sunday in DC, but I
thank You for that.

Lord, there's what is on my heart tonight. I'm going back to sleep now. Thanks
for this time with You.

Holding on to these veses of Yours: --

Deuteronomy 33:12 "Let the beloved of the Lord rest 
secure in Him, for He shields "her" all day long, and the one the Lord 
loves rests between His shoulders."

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his
word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto
me." - Psalms 56:3-4

Your daughter,
Carol
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Today's News Straight from Carol!

Hello all!
I have my Blackberry back under my thumbs again, so I  thought I'd send
an update. Although I know that Christine and Frank have been giving real-time
updates.  I am happy to say that, although I am still in Hoag Hospital in
Newport Beach (there goes the vacation!) I have been transferred out of ICU to a
regular unit on clear liquid diet. (Mm-mmm Ensure is my new best friend!!) Just
need to get to the place where I can get my muscles back, get out of the bed,
get the infection cleared up and then we can get back to DC and Johns Hopkins to
get the stents fixed up. (Did I tell you they think the internal bleeding was
caused by the stent/s moving?) Glad they got that patched up!

It is nice to be feeling back into the swing of things. I can't thank you enough
for your prayers during this specific time when you were getting blog updates
though Sally, Christine and Frank.  Whew it has been quite an 11 days. A bit of
a blur there for a while I was fully relying on God guiding the decisions of
every doctor, nurse, assistant, family and friend!  As always, He Was Faithful.
The result at this point is no more ICU, no internal bleeding, infection
clearing up, tests, tests, tests, but hopefully I will be out of the hospital in
a few days and then scheduled back to Johns Hopkins for "clean up" surgery on
the stent/s. I have to say though, if we had to extend our "vacation" with
Frank's family, Hoag Hospital has been wonderful. I feel as though I have had
great medical care here and while I have been hospitalized (no surprise) our
family has been so, so, so amazing. Chip has been able to drive up here to
Newport Beach from his base in Miramar (San Diego--about an hour or so). He
spent "night watch" in my room early during the ICU phase when I was pretty much
out of it. Christine took a night on the lovely vinyl cot also!  Christine and
Erik also extended their stay out here and she has set up a little office right
here in the corner of my hospital room with her laptop, mouse, etc etc and she
hasn't missed a beat! Gotta love this new technology and understanding
colleagues who are also out there in cyber space!! Andrew calls almost each day,
feeling frustrated that he can't be out here, but there doesn't seem to be any
reason to make the trip here from DC.  Family and 2 girl friends from Oak Park
have spent many daytime here just helping me get back, encouraging, keeping
notes, and being eyes/ears to all the docs and medical-types who come by with
messages and updates that all, candidly, become a blur. Our biggest challenge is
to get Frank to take SOME time away from this hospital and get some rest!

Oh, speaking of Frank though and time at hoag Hospital--- I have to tell you the
funniest story. The other night Johnny and Michele (Frank's middle brother) had
made some of their signature enchilda sauce (!) And invited everybody over for
enchilada dinner. Well somehow, when they arrived at John and Michele's house,
Chris tripped, fell down and hit her head on the payment and a little bump
raised on the back of her head. So in an abundance of caution, Paul (youngest
brother) brought her in to Hoag Emergency Room! They checked her out, gave her a
bandage and sent her home and said to wake up in the night just to be checked.
So Frank says "Mom, I get up a couple times during the night anyway, I'll come
check on you. Besides, been through this with Carol, I know all the questions
they want asked." So at midnight he wakes up, pads downstairs and whispers "Mom,
how are you doing?" And she sits up in a loud voice and hollers:"CHRIS MARSHALL;
BALBOA CALIFORNIA; AUGUST 2009."  Ha ha. It sounds so funny. Frank thinks she
was laying in bed since 10pm just waiting for him to come downstairs!!  Good
news is that she is just fine, although we are considering requesting a Marshall
Discount at Hoag!

As to me, we are still looking Up. Not sure when we head back to East Coast for
the "Clean Up surgery" depends when I am released from Hoag and declared "ready
to fly". We will keep you posted on THAT prayer request for me+Frank+American
Airlines!!
Love,
Carol
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Answered Prayer . . . In a Different Way

Just got this email from Christine. Carol's procedure has been postponed until it can be done back home at Hopkins. Apparently the doctors at Hoag and Hopkins conferred last night and made the decision. Thanks for all the prayer!
Sally

From Christine . . . . .

Just talked to Dr. Lee – the gastroenterologist – who had a long conversation with Dr. Giday (the gastroenterologist at Hopkins) and they have decided not to do the procedure today because of complications that can arise from trying to manipulate the stent. CT scan showed no evidence of perforation and the contrast flowed freely to the intestine so there is no obstruction there. They plan to put her on a full liquid diet for nutrition, let her recover from the trauma of the bleeding, and readdress the stent in a few weeks time (at Hopkins).

Both doctors agreed that at this point it’s better for her to completely recover from her initial bleeding episode and then do the procedure later when she’s stronger. There is no emergency threat right now. If she looks as good as yesterday they plan to transfer her out of ICU. The goals before releasing her from the hospital are to manage pain and get her strong. The moved stent is not what is causing her pain, it is most likely aggravating what pain already existed. Dr. Lee is not worried about internal bleeding again - he irrigated the area a lot when he was in there yesterday and often times that can cause a bleed, which it didn’t.

If there is continual pressure pushing the stent out there is a risk of perforation with time, however the risk of perforating her while performing the procedure is higher. Dr. Giday was surprised it had moved – both doctors agree the tumor in-growth within the bile duct had pushed it out. Fixing this issue will be a challenge wherever she goes to get it addressed. Right now she needs to progress well with a diet and get pain under control. Fixing the issue is really a timing issue – they need to find a window of opportunity to do this when she’s at her most optimal health – right now her platelets are low and she’s weak from the internal bleeding.

Still in California

Hello . . . from Sally. Just wanted to let you know that Carol isn't home yet. It's been a week of ups and downs . . . but here's the bottomline. The internal bleeding, which took Carol to the hospital in the first place, has been stopped. Seems Carol's stents were the culprit. Once the bleeding was stopped, she remained in ICU where they gave her blood and monitored some suspicious liver functions. Today, her vitals are strong and the liver tests are looking more normal. But pain persists. An endoscopy revealed that the stent which was inserted in July - inside the original stent - has slipped and is somewhat precariously resting in the duodenum now. Something that must be corrected.
So . . . ramp up the prayers, warriors. Carol will undergo a procedure tomorrow to move or remove part of the trouble-causing stent. Not just a routine procedure . . . so I ask your prayers that all goes well. A CT scan this evening will provide more information to guide the physicians at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California.
Frank, Christine and Erik remain in California with Carol. Please keep them in your prayers as well.
I will report back tomorrow as soon as I know something.
Sally

From Frank in California

Well, as usual with my lovely spouse, California has been an adventure! We have
had a great time with my family in non-humid Newport Beach. My Dad's 89th
birthday was a blast!  Christine and Erik came out and Chip was up from San
Diego for the weekend. Carol was in her element. Unfortunately she continued to
have lower back pain throughout the 10 days, but with medication and sleep she
was able to control it.  This last Wednesday we saw some wonderful friends from the
CBS board for lunch and then went out to dinner with my family where Carol
looked as our British friends would say "smashing". We were looking forward to
seeing all our dear friends in Oak Park and strategizing how best to
insure Carol would be in top shape to see everyone.   (By the way we delayed the
trip by a day so that I could go with my brother Bob to a men's prayer breakfast
at Saddleback Church yesterday morning. It started at 6:30 so we left at 6:00am - hey,
I'm retired and not used to early hours but it was worth it! That church is
really on fire.  As you will see following it was most definitely a "God thing")

When I returned just before 9, Carol complained of being nauseous and then in a
span of five minutes twice vomited only blood and couldn't get up. One of my
wonderful sisters-in-law (Michele) came running from her home, took one look and
called an ambulance. At the same time the fiancees of my two nephews showed up to  stay
with my folks. Long story short, the ER folks at Hoag Hospital, a great regional hospital,
stabilized her and gave her blood. She was "scoped" early in the afternoon to stop the
bleeding  but had bled so much that they could not see the source. She was then taken to
Interventional Radiology where they were able to stop the bleeds thru a catheterization
process.  Praise the Lord!  Carol spent the night in the ICU where they will monitor her
to make sure they stopped all the bleeding and then at least another two days
for healing and observation.

Needless to say we did not make Oak Park and will be in California a bit longer.
This all has been very scary but the Lord is watching over us and as always
blessing us here with family and a great nearby hospital. Though we wish we were
at Johns Hopkins! We will keep you posted on this at times bumpy journey. I
cannot begin to tell you how much your continued prayers mean to us-please pray
for a speedy recovery and ultimately a complete healing. We are  in good hands . . .
our Lord's.

Carol asked to add this verse:  "Great is Thy faithfulness. Morning by 
morning new mercies we see."

Frank

California Here I am!

Trip was great! Any pain twinges were sporadic with no biggies. Hey I was so 
excited to be taking this trip even the airplane food tasted good! (Maybe THAT 
was the miracle of the day!)

I was all prepped to show off my "Certificate Of Implant" to someone at TSA, but 
when they took me aside for the hand-screening they said "oh yes, we have people 
come through all the time with stents!" So much for any drama! Ha ha. And such 
service when we got here, Frank's youngest brother Paul picked us up at LAX and 
brought us right to the parents! 75 degrees, no humidity, just relaxing, reading 
and hanging out enjoying Southern California. 

Thanks so much for covering that plane trip in your prayers--again, again, 
again! 

Love,
Carol

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Back in the Fight & Steppin’ Out!

Let’s see…update first. It doesn’t seem that the block was a “slam dunk” no pain whatsoever, but it certainly is much, much better than before I went in. I still am having the weird break through pain now and then that I just can’t figure out the cause or the explanation. I had lots of tests and the very best news is that the CT scan they did while I was at Johns Hopkins and during my time off chemo showed No Growth or Spreading of the tumor. I can only give God all the credit for that. He DID take care of me during that time just as we prayed.

So, I was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, then immediately went downstairs to outpatient and started up on Chemo again. It is the same combination of Oxyplatin/Xeloda that was working. –AND the good news continues that I have no nausea after the first few days. That is the best! In fact, I am feeling so spunky that we decided to FLY to CALIFORNIA, leaving tomorrow! for 10 days to see friends and family before we have to be back here again for the next chemo infusion. (I get the chemo- the Oxyplatin- by IV every 21 days and then take it (the Xeloda) orally every morning and every evening in a pill for 14 of the 21 days).

Friday (the party is on Saturday), Frank’s dad has his 89th birthday! That’s a family party we don’t want to miss! And of course…we get to see Chip, who is driving up from San Diego for the weekend in Orange County!

At some point during the following week Frank and I are going to drive up to Thousand Oaks to visit all of our friends there. In fact, Paul and Mary Anne Alexander have offered to have everyone close by to the old neighborhood come by for dessert one evening that week. (I know I am being so selfish asking you to come to me…but it would be so great to see friends! I think it might be on Wednesday evening but I guess I should check it out with Mary Anne and Paul! Hee hee. -- SOoooooo, watch this space and I’ll just put it on the blog and spread the word so we can see you!) Friday morning we are back to DC in time for chemo IV the following Tuesday.

So, either this is going to be so freeing, or I am an idiot for taking on a big trip 3,000 miles from Dr. Dan and the team! I admit feeling a little nervous. I was looking at some wedding snapshots the other day and thought, WOW what an answer to so so so many prayers that God gave me such energy on that day. Now I am asking for TEN days! Hey…your prayers were so effective for the wedding..can I ask for your prayers again as we step out on this adventure? I am praying that I will listen to my body and rest when I need rest, and don’t overdo it so that I hit the wall and later chastise myself saying “well, you did that to yourself Carol!” Although I think I am most nervous about the long flight itself.

But when we told Dr. Dan that we were thinking of doing this, he was so supportive. And I get it…at some point, I need to Live Life during the 21 days between Hopkins appointments. So here we go.

That’s the news! I will keep you posted from my blackberry!

Love,

Carol