Some "Good Things"

I can't believe its been almost a month since I last posted here.    We have a lot going on these days - things that I never dreamed we would have to deal with at some point.  Its easy to lose track of time.   But not everything is hard - there are many "good things" that we enjoy and are thankful for - I'd like to share a few of those "good things".

I HAD MY FIVE BEST FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL OVER FOR OUR ANNUAL SLUMBER PARTY.  This is always the highlight of the year for me.  I love spending time with these ladies who have now been my friends for over 50 years.  And we all still look so cute - don't you think?

DENNY HAD HIS 3RD CHEMO TREATMENT, and there were no unexpected visits to the ER, and only mild fatigue and loss of appetite.  Basically, an uneventful couple of weeks, and we'll take it!

THE STIFLING HEAT OF SUMMER HAS FINALLY BROKEN.  The leaves are turning and the air is cool - maybe still a little warmer than normal, but its wonderful to be able to open the windows and let some fresh air into the house!   Fall has always been my favorite season.

I AM RECONNECTING WITH MY CREATIVE SIDE.    I still enjoy coloring in my coloring books, but have also rediscovered how much fun it is to play with stamps, dies, paints, and even paper dolls. My most recent creation was a canvas for Kate who had a birthday last month.

TRAVIS VISITED, AND HE AND DENNY WENT TO THE TITANS/OAKLAND RAIDERS GAME.   Titans lost.  But it was nice to have Travis here for a couple of days.

I FINALLY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN EYE EXAM.   Its been probably a little over 2 years since I had the prescription for my eye glasses updated,  and I've been saying for what seems like forever that I can't see squat.  Well, now I know why.  I have a macular hole in the retina of my left eye (making me legally blind in that eye).  See!!!  I told you I couldn't see anything!   I know this doesn't sound like something that should be included in a list of "good things", but . . .

1.  It WAS good to find out about it.  As busy as we've been, I could easily have continued to postpone scheduling the eye exam, and that might have made surgery less effective.  

2.  After meeting with the first surgeon, I sought a second opinion.  And THAT also qualifies for the "good things" list.  The first surgeon said I would have to be face down for seven (7!!!!) days after surgery - 55 out of every 60 minutes for seven days - face down!     The second surgeon (who I really liked!) said I would only have to be face down for 3 days.  I really liked this doctor (not just because of 4 days less of what I imagine to be a really uncomfortable few days post surgery, but because he seems to really care about his patients.  Plus, he looks like Ross, on Friends).  It was hard finding a date for surgery that would work between everything we have going on with Denny, but we came up with a date in December that we think will work.  I'm not sure how long the hole has been there, but that does effect the outcome/success rate of the surgery.   I'm hopeful to get a good percentage of my sight back.  

Again, I know this doesn't sound like such a "good thing", but the fact that I feel very comfortable with the surgeon and knowing that I won't have to be face down for seven frigging days helped me make my decision to do the surgery.  I was initially leaning in the other direction - seven days is a long time.

DENNY WAS ABLE TO TAKE AN OVERNIGHT GOLF TRIP that he had committed to a year ago.  This was something he really wanted to do, and thanks to a longer than normal space between chemo treatments, he was able to go.  He was exhausted when he got back, but it was one of those good kinds of tired.  Another good thing about it is that it gave me some time to myself. . . and that is always a good thing.

WE FINALLY GOT A HANDRAIL INSTALLED AT THE ENTRANCE TO OUR FRONT DOOR.  Geeez Louise!  The guy who did our landscaping was suppose to install it but since its been almost a year now since the yard was completed, we got tired of waiting and found someone else to take care of it for us.  They did it very quickly and we're very happy with it.  It makes it a lot easier for me to navigate up and down the stairs, and I can quit worrying about my aunts falling when they come to visit.  :)

So, that should kinda catch you up on what's been going on with us lately.  Denny has a stent replacement scheduled for next week and his fourth round of chemo is scheduled for the week after that.  His chemo rounds are suppose to be 21 days apart but that hasn't happened yet - they've always had to be pushed back for one reason or another (mostly the stent thing - the procedure can't be done during the first two weeks of the 21 day cycle).  I think they plan to do another scan after this upcoming fourth round to check on progress.  

GOOD NEWS - DENNY UPDATE

Denny finished his second round of chemo and had a scan done a few days later to check progress on the tumor.  The result was a little confusing in that it states that it is largely unchanged BUT when we compared the size of the tumor before and after treatments, it is definitely smaller.

Yay for Denny!  Yay for us!   

The doctor told us upfront from the very beginning that the tumor cannot be cured, but we are very happy to know that it is responding to treatment, and Denny is definitely feeling better and more comfortable and wants to continue down the chemo path for awhile.

We appreciate all the prayers that have gone up for us, and have no doubt that they have made a difference in our lives.  Please continue praying.

WORSE SUMMER EVER

I can hardly believe that today is the first day of August!  As time goes on, I will either have absolutely no memory of the summer of 2016 or I will always remember it as the worst summer ever.  So far, I'm leaning toward "worse summer ever".

Since my last post, Denny had a bile duct stint replaced, I had surgery, and Denny began his second round of chemo.    Its been such a busy two weeks that I haven't had a chance to make my regular "life lately" posts., but will try to bring everything up to date in this one.

Denny Update (and Me, Too)

I needed an operation to fix a hernia (the result of a hysterectomy that didn't heal properly), but had put it off for several months while we tried to figure out what was wrong with Denny. Then, after we got the cancer diagnosis, I put if off a little longer.  Finally, Denny and I sat down with the calendar and carefully chose what dates would work best for both of us - he needed to feel well enough to take care of me for the few days I would need help, and I needed to be up and around so I could take care of him after he began his second round of chemo.  

Two weeks ago tomorrow, I went to the hospital for same day surgery.  Unfortunately, what was suppose to be a 4 incision laparoscopic procedure turned into 11 incisions and a two night stay at the hospital.  What's that old saying about "best laid plans"?

Prior to my surgery, Denny had the stint in his bile duct replaced.  (This is something that has to be done every 2-3 months.)  The procedure went fine, and everything was normal until about 15 minutes after we got home when Denny started having bad shivers/shakes.  I called he doctor, and he told me to take him to the ER.  Turned out that he was severely dehydrated.  After that issue was resolved, we returned home.  It was a long day. (We spent almost 4 hours in the car that day!)

Fast forward two weeks.  Denny was scheduled to begin chemo, but (because of my surgery), I was unable to take him.  I don't know what hurt worse - the pain, or my disappointment of not being able to go with him.   

This was one of those times that we needed to accept help from friends, and we were glad to take "Sweeney-Man" up on his offer to take Den to his chemo session.  Yep, that's right,  his name is "Sweeney-Man" (or at least that's what Denny calls him),  and he not only drove him there,  but he also kept him company the entire 4 hours before delivering him back home.    After being home for awhile though Denny began having symptoms that concerned me enough to call the doctor.  My instincts were correct and off to the ER he went again.  Only this time we needed someone to take him (talk about feeling useless!).  My sister-in-law Bee picked him up within minutes and took good care of him.

Evidently, he was experiencing allergic reactions to the nausea medicine in the chemo.  They fixed him up, prescribed medication, and sent him home.  Again, it was another long day.

So . . . for the most part, that brings us up to date.  So far, Denny seems to be tolerating the chemo a little better than last time (answers to prayers maybe?) and I am making progress at recuperating from surgery.  

It's a hard lesson, but we're learning that we are not in control of much of anything anymore (not that we really ever were), and that we need to just accept it for what it is and try to make the best of it.  The Lord is in control and we are in his hands.  Please keep us in your prayers.

DENNY UPDATE 7-5-16

A bunch has happened since my last post, so let me catch you up on most of it.  Denny had his first chemo treatment on June 24.  The process wasn't as bad as we expected, and his first few days afterwards weren't that bad.  We were encouraged and thinking to ourselves that this wasn't gonna be so bad after all.  

Then reality showed up on day 3.  And, for what its worth . . . reality can hit pretty hard.  For a week, he felt terrible.  Fortunately, though, he was able to hold off nausea with magic pills the doctor prescribed, and he didn't have some of the more undesirable symptoms we were warned about.  But take my word for it, fatigue can hit just as hard as reality can, and they both knocked him on his butt.  I will spare you details - just know that he had several bad days.  

As time goes on, however, we see improvement and he feels better each day that is further from the chemo date of June 24.   His body is now back to the point where we are thinking that this might not be so bad after all.  He doesn't need the nausea medicine right now and pills to relieve pain keep him comfortable.  Knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel will help us as he goes through the next round of chemo.

We learned fast that I had to come up with a system to keep track of all the pills, food, fever, misc symptoms, fatigue and pain levels.  But that kind of thing is right up my alley, so a log book was created and it works like a charm (if I must say so myself).

I am in awe of Denny's attitude through this.  His body is weaker than normal, but his faith is strong.  He has so much support from friends and family that it makes me weepy just to think about it.  Apparently, I am not the only person who recognizes what a truly special person he is, and for that I am thankful.

So . . . this is where we are as of today:  His energy level is up, and he actually has somewhat of an appetite.  Yay!!!   His Chemo treatment was 12 days ago.  He has 3 1/2 more days of chemo pills to take (he takes 4/day) and then he has a week off before beginning the second round of chemo.   He is scheduled to have  a stint in his bile duct replaced next week, and his next round of chemo will begin shortly after that - the date is yet to be determined since we have to schedule it around a surgery that I have to have week after next.  

The love and support we've received from everyone has been overwhelming.  Please keep us in your prayers.

THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN. . .

CANCER.

Daddy had it.  Mama had it.  Jeffrey had it.  And now Denny has it too.  No doubt about it - cancer is a terrible thing.

Denny experienced stomach problems off and on for a year or so, but symptoms worsened earlier this spring.  If you look back through my Life Lately posts, you will find photos that document some of the process he's been through during the last few months.  After enduring test after test after test,  we finally got a diagnosis on June 7:  Biliary/Gallbladder cancer that metastasized to the liver - stage 4 - inoperable and terminal.  Certainly not what we wanted to hear.  We were stunned.  I cried.  I'm still crying everyday.

Denny is being brave and proving, once again, what a strong man he is.  His attitude is one of being grateful for time to make preparations and determination to enjoy life the best he can for however much time he has left.  He played a couple games of golf since the diagnosis, but has now put golf on hold since he decided that he's not just going to let cancer win without putting up a fight.  He had a port implanted in his shoulder earlier this week and will begin chemo in a couple of days.  

We've heard some really bad stories about chemo, so we're naturally worried about how it will effect him, but we're hoping (and praying) for the best.  

We have been overwhelmed with an outpouring of love and support from friends and family.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

I am now devoting all my time to caring for Denny - that's where my focus needs to be - there is nothing else more important.  I will, however,  try to keep this blog current with updates for those who are interested.