Update from Frank

Carol is home resting. All the prayers for the procedure were answered, thank you so much. Her blood pressure was great, vitals perfect and she quickly recovered after the procedure. The plastic stent is out and they again "roter

rooted" out the tumor in the duct and installed a new metal stent.  We hope she will be able to restart chemo when she gets her strength back. The nurses had estimated that it would take about a week from her hospital release last

Saturday evening to regain her strength. Please keep praying for a total healing.

News Flash!!!

Breaking news: Just got a call from Johns Hopkins. They are doing the ERCP, replacement of the plastic stent, TOMORROW, July 8^th at 10:30 am. So please pray for successful insertion of the stent and the general anesthetic. We’ll keep you posted.

Love,

Carol

Lots of News!

I’m home! Ahhh, resting lots at the shore, on the screened porch with wonderful fresh air –so thankful to the docs at JH that got me back from that infection. I am still on some big antibiotics (Cipro and something else) so I’m sleeping lots. Also, they infused LOTS of fluid in me to get blood pressure up and fever down, so I came home from the hospital 27 pounds heavier! I told my doctor I look like the Michelin Tire Man with sausage toes! But I have been “draining”, constantly, it seems and soon I will be back to normal. Over the weekend, I was such a baby at the hospital. I was actually afraid to come home, that we would “miss” something (like a fever!) and get me back into the same mess again. There was a certain comfort about having my “vitals” checked every couple hours. But other than the bloating I was okay to come home, but I didn’t want to! They were great, and said, “sure, stay.” But after a day of lying around there, I had a real contentment that it would be just fine to go home and take my own temperature, antibiotics, etc! We are now in charge of me and doing our best to get me well again to get back into the fight!

 

Now we wait to hear from JH about a couple things: 1.when I go back in to resume chemo. 2. when they do the endoscope to replace the temporary plastic stent in the bile duct that goes from the liver, through the pancreas, to the duodenum with a fatter permanent metal one. (Apparently the infection was caused by “tissue blockage” of the stent they put in the bile duct a few months ago. That backed up and caused the infection.) The emergency plastic stent they put in to relieve to blockage is good for at least 6 weeks and my GI doctor (who is in China at meetings right now and emailed me from there!! Impressive!) is going to schedule me for a permanent replacement (he did the original stent and is fabulous-like the rest of my care team at JH).

 

Thanks so much for your prayers for me…and thanks for your comments on the blog! I can’t tell you how each one encourages me! I realize that I have friends who are funny, encouraging, uplifting, silly, LOVING, and most of all…thinking and praying for me. I am sorry that I don’t have the energy to answer emails and phone calls, but those comments really are just hugs, hugs, hugs.  I know I just have to keep up my part of “us” and not let too many days go by without a blog entry.

 

SO, other family news! Frank retired after 37 years of the practice of law! (Army JAG; Lockheed; Litton; Northrop Grumman) Yep! He had originally intended to retire on his birthday next March, but moved the date up to July 1^st! He is now officially full time Nurse Ratchett and doing a great job at that! Last week his office had a wonderful, very meaningful, going away get-together for him. He came back to the hospital full of stories and comments and things folks had said to him. He was very, very touched. AND he is now the owner of Ping Golf Clubs! Frank has always said he wanted to learn to golf…now he has beautiful clubs and no excuse! Oh….and now he is after me to join him in his golfing adventures. I told him “first things first….I need to get the right outfits if I am going to look cute driving him around in a golf cart!”

 

Many of you have asked about Chip. Well, we just got an update from our favorite Marine Aviator yesterday. He will NOT be deployed to the Middle East in the next few weeks after all (THAT is a gift to mom! Praise God for that!) but instead he will stay stateside and has been selected as the pilot in his squadron to attend an elite school. (mmmm, proud mom moment!) called WTI. It means he will leave San Diego and will be at school in Arizona for six weeks this Fall (3 weeks academic, 3 weeks flying).  He also found out that he was selected for a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit – combines troop units and elements from all the different Marine aircraft on one ship.  They pick the ‘best of the best’ pilots to go on a ‘float’ and are expedited to hot spots around the globe as needed. Needless to say only a few helicopter pilots are selected, so that’s very cool.) The timing is perfect b/c they don’t ship out until next Spring.  It will also enable him to finish all his “Qualifications” as well as his WTI which then makes him one of the senior instructor pilots (I think I have this all right, but then I’m a Mom).

 

Newlyweds are doing great. Christine back at work, Erik is in for Summer School, teaching Latin to those lucky boys! No word yet on the “on line” photos from the wedding photographer, but I will let you know as soon as her website is up. I bet she got some great photos of the special day! We can’t wait to see them.  

 

Specifics:

Please pray boldly with me that:

• God will heal this cancer while I am off chemo…and for peace of mind for me during this time.
• all the infection will clear out of my system asap
• when I get back on chemo, I selfishly hope it will be the same “no symptoms”/ no growth. (That was wonderful b/c I truly felt as though I was in the maintenance mode)
• God will bless my wonderful husband who is AMAZING in caring for me and just “being there” through the ugly stuff with such grace and love
• Keep the kids safe

 

Thanks!

 

Much love to you all,

 

Carol

 

Today's Update

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

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

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

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