Just got word from Frank that Carol's vital signs are stable. They are encouraging her to get up and walk around. And keeping her on broad spectrum antibiotics to fight this infection. No word on when she will be released. But things are lookin' up!!
Sally
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Roto-Rooter to the Rescue
Seems that the high fever of Wednesday was a symptom of a "massive infection" around the area of Carol's stent. Most likely due to a blockage in the stent itself. Last night, in an endoscopic procedure, the blockage was "roto-rootered" out and a small plastic stent was put inside the original stent to allow for drainage. Once the infection is knocked down . . . with heavy doses of IV antibiotics . . . the plastic stent will be removed. That will probably happen next week. In the meantime, Carol will be in the hospital a little while longer til they get the fever down and the infection under control.
So . . . a bump in the road for our girl. But for Carol . . . not a problem! She's eager to get past this one, get back on the chemo schedule and back in the fight!!
Sally
So . . . a bump in the road for our girl. But for Carol . . . not a problem! She's eager to get past this one, get back on the chemo schedule and back in the fight!!
Sally
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Bump in the Road
Had some bummer news at Johns Hopkins today. When I arrived for my chemo it appeared that I had a fever of 104 and jaundice and liver pressure. So, they admitted me and I am in overnight until they they get the fever down and blood pressure up. Also have to keep jaundice clear. Seems that it’s all being caused by a blockage or obstruction in my biliary stent. Basically only thing to do is a “rotorooter” of the stent which will be done when symptoms are gone.
So now I'm waiting/sleeping here in a very private, modern, large, room. Just
had a xray and EKG in my room! What service :). Now for a stroll with Frank
(the male nurse offered to escort me but you know Frank) through the halls-helps lower the risk of bloodclots and stroke. When we get back they put special compression bands on my legs.
Oh, and my blood pressure was very low when I got in here today - they finally got it up to 83/58 throughout the day and they want to get it up to at least 90. Before they can do anything else. But the good news is that my weight (which started at 153, dropped to 127, is now a whopping 143--WITH no sugar, red meat, hormonal chicken. Yay!!!
Not sure how long I will be in here. But they need to get the temp down,
infection cleared, stent cleared out, and chemo started up again so we can keep
in the fight. I want to keep these down times (no chemo) to a minimum!!!!
I realize, my prayer warriors, that I have given you quite a list to pray for!
Love,
Carol
So now I'm waiting/sleeping here in a very private, modern, large, room. Just
had a xray and EKG in my room! What service :). Now for a stroll with Frank
(the male nurse offered to escort me but you know Frank) through the halls-helps lower the risk of bloodclots and stroke. When we get back they put special compression bands on my legs.
Oh, and my blood pressure was very low when I got in here today - they finally got it up to 83/58 throughout the day and they want to get it up to at least 90. Before they can do anything else. But the good news is that my weight (which started at 153, dropped to 127, is now a whopping 143--WITH no sugar, red meat, hormonal chicken. Yay!!!
Not sure how long I will be in here. But they need to get the temp down,
infection cleared, stent cleared out, and chemo started up again so we can keep
in the fight. I want to keep these down times (no chemo) to a minimum!!!!
I realize, my prayer warriors, that I have given you quite a list to pray for!
Love,
Carol
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wonderful News and Answer to Prayer!
"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know, says the Lord."
Well He did!!!!
Today was the Johns Hopkins day for blood draw, CT Scan and appointment with Dr. Laheru - my wonderful, dedicated oncologist.
CT Scan showed NO NEW TUMORS and NO GROWTH OF EXISTING TUMORS. Blood markers are down!! So this is it!!! The new chemo regimen is the Right One!!
As Dr Laheru told us in the beginning, if we can just "stop cells from growing"
that is success--as we continue working on a cure for pancreatic cancer!
So I now have a "chronic condition" that we treat with daily chemo!
Next thing: back to Johns Hopkins next Tuesday for the IV infusion of chemo and I continue to take chemo pills each morning/evening. The first few days there is nausea. Hey! I'm not complaining!! I will go every 21 days for chemo IV
infusion at Johns Hopkins..
CT Scan every 2 months to see that this chemo recipe is still working and has
not been out-smarted by the cancer cells. I will keep you posted.
Please join with us as we Thank God for HIS hand in this wonderful result. --
and please continue to pray for complete healing! -- "Stopping growth" is a
success to the JH team, but hey, I'm selfish!!
Other updates:
My mom drove safely 6 hours back to Cleveland yesterday with a promise to be
back soon.
Christine is back to work at the new rotation assignment at the Pentagon and
really, really likes it - and her new co-workers. Erik is off to Ivanhoe for 10
days with the boys. We saw the little wife yesterday for dinner and she misses
her husband!
Andrew heads out today for the 16 hour drive to Maine to his camp job for the
summer.
Chip is the big news! He just heard yesterday that he will NOT be deployed to
Afghanistan with the rest of his unit in a few weeks-- instead he will stay in
San Diego because he was selected for a Marine Expeditionary Unit that deploys
next Spring. (They send the unit out on a ship to be "expedited" to hot spots
around the globe as needed.). Of course I am thrilled b/c it means Chip is on
our same continent and just an easy flight away for visits!!
Oh, and about eating: I am taking all your advice on healthy eating. Whole
Foods is our new market! Mega fruits and vegetables, all organic, no
preservatives, and cottage cheese/flaxseed oil every day. And no sugar. I keep
reading that Cancer Loves Sugar, so that's no fun b/c so does Carol!
We are still on Cloud Nine with this wonderful news!!! Wahoo! Thank you God!
"In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me. From the depths I called for help. And you listened to my cry." Jonah 2:2
Love to you ALL! Thanks for standing by me in friendship and in prayer. I am
humbled.
Carol
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Better and Better
What’s that Beatles song?? ….
It's getting better all the time, Better, better, better
It's getting better all the time, Better, better, better
Getting so much better all the tiiii iiiime!
This week as been amazing on the new chemo! NO Symptoms. No nausea, vomiting. No weird combo of constipation and diarrhea (tmi, I know!), even the fatigue has disappeared! I have gained 10 pounds! I am feeling so strong and full of energy!
This week was the annual Defense Industry Ethics meeting and so we went back into DC and I went to the meetings every day! In fact, listen to this, yesterday I went to the meeting in the morning, Frank and I had lunch with a friend at Old Ebbit’s Grill, went home to have a visit with Phyllis and Peg (girlfriend time!), immediately went off to a dinner with my best DII pals, home by 9 pm and still ready for action. (Frank was like “okay, energizer bunny, Get To Bed!) ha ha. Anyway, I just couldn’t resist giving you a snapshot of that amazing day!
Honeymooner update: Mr. & Mrs. Maginnis returned last night from their honeymoon in Barbados. I went to the DII meeting this morning then we had lunch, and photo viewing, with the newlyweds before coming out to the shore. They had a wonderful time and are all relaxed and in looooove. Erik leaves Monday to take the boys on the service trip to Ivanhoe for a week.
Tomorrow I am going to a bridal shower for the soon to be daughter-in-law of our sweet neighbors here on the shore. Then on Sunday we are heading back into DC, and I am going with my mom, Christine and Peggy Anne to meeting with Dr. Brenda Hunter a cancer survivor “nutrition guru”. I am really interested to hear what she has to say. I keep hearing more and more and more about helping your body/immune system join in the fight by eating the right things. So I expect to hear lots about raw veggies and fruits, maybe green tea?..who knows. But I am looking forward to it. (Send any advice my way.) When I was in the clinical trial at Johns Hopkins (and I assume now) they were very clear on “No Supplements” since they can actually interfere with the chemo… but they did encourage us to learn more about healthy eating. So I’ve been reading.
Tuesday mom heads back to Ohio, having declared me “Eating just fine!” with a promise to be back the moment we call, or she gets in the mood for a visit.
Wednesday will be a big day. CT Scan to see if this chemo is stalling or even killing the cells (they will measure the tumors on the liver and other organs) and then an appointment with Dr. Laheru. If, if, if it is possible that I can take THIS chemo, in THIS dose and feel like THIS… we are talking huge success and you ALL need to come to the Eastern Shore for a visit b/c I’ll have energy for LOTS of fun times if I can stay on this chemo regime…for years! ☺
So, there’s my latest! Unbelievable that this is the same me of just weeks ago…unbelievable, really. (and so WHY do I say unbelievable?!)….hmmm, guess I’ll just continue to say “Thank You.”
It's getting better all the time, Better, better, better
It's getting better all the time, Better, better, better
Getting so much better all the tiiii iiiime!
This week as been amazing on the new chemo! NO Symptoms. No nausea, vomiting. No weird combo of constipation and diarrhea (tmi, I know!), even the fatigue has disappeared! I have gained 10 pounds! I am feeling so strong and full of energy!
This week was the annual Defense Industry Ethics meeting and so we went back into DC and I went to the meetings every day! In fact, listen to this, yesterday I went to the meeting in the morning, Frank and I had lunch with a friend at Old Ebbit’s Grill, went home to have a visit with Phyllis and Peg (girlfriend time!), immediately went off to a dinner with my best DII pals, home by 9 pm and still ready for action. (Frank was like “okay, energizer bunny, Get To Bed!) ha ha. Anyway, I just couldn’t resist giving you a snapshot of that amazing day!
Honeymooner update: Mr. & Mrs. Maginnis returned last night from their honeymoon in Barbados. I went to the DII meeting this morning then we had lunch, and photo viewing, with the newlyweds before coming out to the shore. They had a wonderful time and are all relaxed and in looooove. Erik leaves Monday to take the boys on the service trip to Ivanhoe for a week.
Tomorrow I am going to a bridal shower for the soon to be daughter-in-law of our sweet neighbors here on the shore. Then on Sunday we are heading back into DC, and I am going with my mom, Christine and Peggy Anne to meeting with Dr. Brenda Hunter a cancer survivor “nutrition guru”. I am really interested to hear what she has to say. I keep hearing more and more and more about helping your body/immune system join in the fight by eating the right things. So I expect to hear lots about raw veggies and fruits, maybe green tea?..who knows. But I am looking forward to it. (Send any advice my way.) When I was in the clinical trial at Johns Hopkins (and I assume now) they were very clear on “No Supplements” since they can actually interfere with the chemo… but they did encourage us to learn more about healthy eating. So I’ve been reading.
Tuesday mom heads back to Ohio, having declared me “Eating just fine!” with a promise to be back the moment we call, or she gets in the mood for a visit.
Wednesday will be a big day. CT Scan to see if this chemo is stalling or even killing the cells (they will measure the tumors on the liver and other organs) and then an appointment with Dr. Laheru. If, if, if it is possible that I can take THIS chemo, in THIS dose and feel like THIS… we are talking huge success and you ALL need to come to the Eastern Shore for a visit b/c I’ll have energy for LOTS of fun times if I can stay on this chemo regime…for years! ☺
So, there’s my latest! Unbelievable that this is the same me of just weeks ago…unbelievable, really. (and so WHY do I say unbelievable?!)….hmmm, guess I’ll just continue to say “Thank You.”
Friday, June 12, 2009
Post-wedding-back-in-the-fight-Chemo Update
I am looking through the Psalms, there has got to be just the right HALLELUJAH verse in there where David just says Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for the blessing. But none seems to be enough!
As you know, we went back up to Johns Hopkins to get going again on the new chemo. You won’t believe this…the anticipated side effects of nausea (NOPE!); fatigue (SOME, but what’s a nice nap now and then); tingling fingers/toes (nope!) are so minimal.
But it’s that nausea! Not A BIT so far. I know they told us that the symptoms can be cumulative and maybe I’ll ramp up a bit as the days go by…but so far, I am tummy happy! (and eating, eating, eating just to prove it!)
They have me on the same dosage level that they say 90% of the folks who are on this combo take. So it is a bit of a down-dosage from last month…so of course you know me…I’m thinking ~ is this working? I am not sufffffffering? (A sign of a sick mind, I know.) But that’s where the patience comes in again. We won’t know until the next round of tests to “look back” and see if this poison is the right poison for my cells. Please keep praying that it is…but I do know that if it is not, then there’s just another plan.
When we were at JH, Sally & Frank & I met the neatest couple. Bill Forbes was told several years ago that he had 6 weeks to live with pancreatic cancer. And there he was! Full of stories. When he and his wife asked which chemo treatment I was on, and we told them, they said, “Oh, Bill had a great year and half on that!” That was so encouraging…. (He also told me that he had had the Whipple surgery that works for some pancreatic patients, but his cancer came back…he also cited that 90% of folks who have the Whipple have returning cancer. So that was interesting. Anyway, in my case, (some of you have asked) I’m not a candidate for the Whipple…too many cancer cells spread around to too many places. That’s okay. God has a different plan for me.
I don’t want to ramble on and on, just wanted to give the good news and ask you to Thank God along with me, Praising Him for continued blessings…who would have thought after the great day of the wedding. Ah, me of little faith…I thought that was a “one day” blessing….but nope! God intended blessing upon blessing and I’m loving it! We are still out at the Eastern Shore hanging out.
Thanks for being there for me. Thanks for your unceasing prayers.
Love,
Carol
As you know, we went back up to Johns Hopkins to get going again on the new chemo. You won’t believe this…the anticipated side effects of nausea (NOPE!); fatigue (SOME, but what’s a nice nap now and then); tingling fingers/toes (nope!) are so minimal.
But it’s that nausea! Not A BIT so far. I know they told us that the symptoms can be cumulative and maybe I’ll ramp up a bit as the days go by…but so far, I am tummy happy! (and eating, eating, eating just to prove it!)
They have me on the same dosage level that they say 90% of the folks who are on this combo take. So it is a bit of a down-dosage from last month…so of course you know me…I’m thinking ~ is this working? I am not sufffffffering? (A sign of a sick mind, I know.) But that’s where the patience comes in again. We won’t know until the next round of tests to “look back” and see if this poison is the right poison for my cells. Please keep praying that it is…but I do know that if it is not, then there’s just another plan.
When we were at JH, Sally & Frank & I met the neatest couple. Bill Forbes was told several years ago that he had 6 weeks to live with pancreatic cancer. And there he was! Full of stories. When he and his wife asked which chemo treatment I was on, and we told them, they said, “Oh, Bill had a great year and half on that!” That was so encouraging…. (He also told me that he had had the Whipple surgery that works for some pancreatic patients, but his cancer came back…he also cited that 90% of folks who have the Whipple have returning cancer. So that was interesting. Anyway, in my case, (some of you have asked) I’m not a candidate for the Whipple…too many cancer cells spread around to too many places. That’s okay. God has a different plan for me.
I don’t want to ramble on and on, just wanted to give the good news and ask you to Thank God along with me, Praising Him for continued blessings…who would have thought after the great day of the wedding. Ah, me of little faith…I thought that was a “one day” blessing….but nope! God intended blessing upon blessing and I’m loving it! We are still out at the Eastern Shore hanging out.
Thanks for being there for me. Thanks for your unceasing prayers.
Love,
Carol
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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