I wanted you all to know that I lost my dear friend Ken today. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at 5 AM. Gwen and his family are comforted to know he is at peace with his Heavenly Father. I am so glad Stan and I had a chance to go visit with them last Sunday. I cannot believe how fast this awful disease took our friend. The funeral is this Thursday at Beechwood Church. Gwen has asked Ross to play at the celebration of Ken's life, and he is honored to be able to do it. They will end with the Hallelujah Chorus!
I have not really felt the best for the past week, and I think I know the reason now. My incision started to balloon out yesterday. I talked to my Dr. and he said it would be ok to put steri strips on it to keep it together. Well today, it broke open and is draining. It is very tender. I stopped to see my Dr. up at the hospital, she looked at it, called it a seroma. She thinks it is like a small pocket of fluid that needed to break open and come out, maybe from a suture. Anyways, I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow at 11:15 to get this all checked out, maybe get on an antibiotic. I don't want any funny business before the wedding.
I went to church last Sunday for the first time since early March. It was good to be there and see so many friends and worship together again.
Thanks Ellen for bringing dinner and visiting Monday. As my Dad said, "she sure has been a sweetheart through this whole thing". I agree!!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Good news....
Update from Dr. appt yesterday. Saw my surgeon/oncologist Dr. Downey. He said he was planning on starting weekly chemo yesterday, but after asking him if we could wait until after Mieke's wedding to start, he thought about it for a minute and then he said," I think we can do that". He also said that because I am doing so well, he thinks that he will do the chemo once every 3 wks instead of weekly. What they do with the weekly is they divide the dosage by three and give smaller amounts. I am a little anxious about this, because I am not sure how I will feel, but I will get through it.
Some people are asking why more chemo? The answer is that the pathology after surgery shows there is cancer in the lining of my colon and there was microscopic cancer cells in the parts of the colon that they removed. So they want to try and get rid of it all. He does not think they will use the Avastin chemo drug. It has not shown to be the "wonder drug" they were hoping it would be.
They are saying I will have a CA-125 count on June 4, the first day of chemo, and then after 12 wks. they will repeat it. So I will have chemo all summer, and then think about more surgery to reverse the ileostomy in the fall.
I am thankful that I can have this time to get ready for the wedding with all my strength and enjoy the day to the fullest.
Many thanks to my neighbors Tom and Cheryl who keep me supplied with homemade soup. So good! Also thanks to Marylin from church who brought us dinner, it was great.
My heart is heavy with more cancer news about our friend Kent De Young. He is married to Leah Breen who babysat Mieke from the time she was born. Please pray for him and his climb. He has a blog called http://kentclimb.blogspot.com/
I am also asking for prayers for my good friends Ken and Gwen. Ken is moving into Holland Hospice House today. Please pray that the pain will get under control. The cancer is very aggressive and there is no more treatment they can do for him. I can hardly believe I am writing this. His cancer is skin melanoma from the sun.
Some people are asking why more chemo? The answer is that the pathology after surgery shows there is cancer in the lining of my colon and there was microscopic cancer cells in the parts of the colon that they removed. So they want to try and get rid of it all. He does not think they will use the Avastin chemo drug. It has not shown to be the "wonder drug" they were hoping it would be.
They are saying I will have a CA-125 count on June 4, the first day of chemo, and then after 12 wks. they will repeat it. So I will have chemo all summer, and then think about more surgery to reverse the ileostomy in the fall.
I am thankful that I can have this time to get ready for the wedding with all my strength and enjoy the day to the fullest.
Many thanks to my neighbors Tom and Cheryl who keep me supplied with homemade soup. So good! Also thanks to Marylin from church who brought us dinner, it was great.
My heart is heavy with more cancer news about our friend Kent De Young. He is married to Leah Breen who babysat Mieke from the time she was born. Please pray for him and his climb. He has a blog called http://kentclimb.blogspot.com/
I am also asking for prayers for my good friends Ken and Gwen. Ken is moving into Holland Hospice House today. Please pray that the pain will get under control. The cancer is very aggressive and there is no more treatment they can do for him. I can hardly believe I am writing this. His cancer is skin melanoma from the sun.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
I'm getting there.....
Hi, I am going to try and write my own post today. Stan went up north to do some work on our place. Lots of trees down from storms, lawn mowed etc. He invited me to go along yesterday, but I am just not up for that yet. Karen did call me to go down to catch a little Tulip Time on Thurs. She dropped me off with my walker close by and I sat on that thing like the queen. It is a handy thing for parade watching. We only stayed a little while, it was a nice day to be out and get some fresh air. Thanks Karen for getting me out.
Wed. the PEO group that Mieke and I are members of honored her with a gift and a shower before our meeting. It was so nice, it was at my friend Nancy's house. It was the most beautiful sunny day. This group has been so kind and supportive to us since the beginning of this crazy journey. It is such a blessing that Mieke happened to join the group last July, right before I got diagnosed. Mieke loves these women who the majority are much older than her, and they seem to feel the same about her. Not sure we have had a younger woman in the group who was getting married before, so that is why they decided to do something so special for her. She was given her orange (persimmon) colored Kitchen Aide mixer she registered for and also a generous gift of money. She was so touched, can't thank you all enough. The speaker we happened to have that day was from WAR (woman at war) and they work with young women who are involved with sex trafficking in this country and others. They have the most beautiful boutique where they sell things that these women make to help support themselves and their family once they get out of that life style. The store is on 44th Street in Grandville. Mieke just happened to be there the day before and purchased all her bridal party gifts from there. She was so happy to support a place like that where 9 out of 10 dollars goes directly to the women. Here are a few pictures of that day:
Had a nice visit with my friend Jodi today who has been in Florida for 6 months. Thanks for the gerber daisies and the cute bag Jodi, so good to have you back in town.
Today Ross and Rumy were in town for a little while, they played at a wedding of our good friends daughter. I knew I couldn't make the whole event, so I was not planning on attending the reception, but I always had in the back of my mind that maybe I could make it to just the wedding. Well, at the last minute I decided why not, I can sit there on pain pills the same as sit here, so I caught a ride with the kids and I am so glad I did. It was a beautiful wedding, gorgeous bride, and mother of the bride. Emily V. sang so nice with Rumy accompanying her. I remember being Emily's mentor when she was in middle school and joining the church. Now she is all grown up, a beautiful young lady and graduating from WMU early the end of this summer.
I took a picture of R & R with their graduation caps on today, they had to turn in the gowns and sashes. Here they are, you have to imagine them in gowns, from last Friday night.
Then they were off to GR where he had to play with the GRS tonight. It is a Pops concert, all Broadway show songs and half of the show is Andrew Loyd Webber stuff. He had a couple extra tickets, so guess what I may try and get to. First though we have to go to Rockford to my brother's church River Rock and hear Ken and Ross play the tune from Rocky, not sure why, but it should be interesting. Then because it is Mother's Day Ken invited us to all to come over for dinner. I am getting stronger, and I figure getting out is my PT and OT workout, right?
I wish all you out there a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow. This will be an interesting week for me, I see my Dr. on Wed. and I find out lots of info that day, like how often chemo, can I drive now, etc??
My friends Jackie and Mel have been in Hungary at our friends Dave Zomer's wedding. He is a missionary in Sicilly. She will be joining him there after the wedding. Wish I could have joined you guys, sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Have a safe trip home tomorrow.
Wed. the PEO group that Mieke and I are members of honored her with a gift and a shower before our meeting. It was so nice, it was at my friend Nancy's house. It was the most beautiful sunny day. This group has been so kind and supportive to us since the beginning of this crazy journey. It is such a blessing that Mieke happened to join the group last July, right before I got diagnosed. Mieke loves these women who the majority are much older than her, and they seem to feel the same about her. Not sure we have had a younger woman in the group who was getting married before, so that is why they decided to do something so special for her. She was given her orange (persimmon) colored Kitchen Aide mixer she registered for and also a generous gift of money. She was so touched, can't thank you all enough. The speaker we happened to have that day was from WAR (woman at war) and they work with young women who are involved with sex trafficking in this country and others. They have the most beautiful boutique where they sell things that these women make to help support themselves and their family once they get out of that life style. The store is on 44th Street in Grandville. Mieke just happened to be there the day before and purchased all her bridal party gifts from there. She was so happy to support a place like that where 9 out of 10 dollars goes directly to the women. Here are a few pictures of that day:
Had a nice visit with my friend Jodi today who has been in Florida for 6 months. Thanks for the gerber daisies and the cute bag Jodi, so good to have you back in town.
Today Ross and Rumy were in town for a little while, they played at a wedding of our good friends daughter. I knew I couldn't make the whole event, so I was not planning on attending the reception, but I always had in the back of my mind that maybe I could make it to just the wedding. Well, at the last minute I decided why not, I can sit there on pain pills the same as sit here, so I caught a ride with the kids and I am so glad I did. It was a beautiful wedding, gorgeous bride, and mother of the bride. Emily V. sang so nice with Rumy accompanying her. I remember being Emily's mentor when she was in middle school and joining the church. Now she is all grown up, a beautiful young lady and graduating from WMU early the end of this summer.
I took a picture of R & R with their graduation caps on today, they had to turn in the gowns and sashes. Here they are, you have to imagine them in gowns, from last Friday night.
Then they were off to GR where he had to play with the GRS tonight. It is a Pops concert, all Broadway show songs and half of the show is Andrew Loyd Webber stuff. He had a couple extra tickets, so guess what I may try and get to. First though we have to go to Rockford to my brother's church River Rock and hear Ken and Ross play the tune from Rocky, not sure why, but it should be interesting. Then because it is Mother's Day Ken invited us to all to come over for dinner. I am getting stronger, and I figure getting out is my PT and OT workout, right?
I wish all you out there a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow. This will be an interesting week for me, I see my Dr. on Wed. and I find out lots of info that day, like how often chemo, can I drive now, etc??
My friends Jackie and Mel have been in Hungary at our friends Dave Zomer's wedding. He is a missionary in Sicilly. She will be joining him there after the wedding. Wish I could have joined you guys, sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Have a safe trip home tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Graduation Days
Stan Here:
Time for a little update. Deb did achieve one of her goals of attending the graduation events of both Ross and Rumy this past Friday night and then on Sunday the graduation for Mieke and Aaron. I had kind of pictured the one for Ross and Rumy being somewhat of a intimate event. I mean how many advanced degrees can there be. I was thinking maybe about 40 kids and a little time putting on the hood, a picture with the president of the university and then on with life. Instead what happened is a packed Breslin Center and a bunch of people (I think about 2200) getting masters and doctorate degrees in their respective fields. Not as many doctors as masters but still a bunch of people getting degrees. They have a doctor degree for about everything. Music, English, Social, Grass Clipping, Hand Signals, Cow Manure, and about everything else you can think of. All I know is that our kids worked really hard for theirs (and I am sure everybody else did too) and we were really proud of them. Ross had a little party in his back yard before hand and we wheeled Deb in a wheelchair. This was her first outing and she made it. A little tired when we got home but still a special event that she would not miss for anything.
Then on Sunday the graduation from Hope for Mieke and Aaron. I do not think they teach much about meteorology at Hope. At the morning Baccalaureate service they announced that they had checked the weather and they were going to hold the graduation service outdoors. By the time the 3 PM graduation service came around it was raining pretty hard and about 4000 Hope faithful were sitting underneath a sea of umbrellas. It was kind of a striking scene. The way this was arranged you had to feel a little sorry for the guy on the end. It seemed to me that the rain from one umbrella would leak on the next and the guy on the end would experience something of the equivalent of Niagara Falls. You really could not see the people in the stands underneath the umbrellas. It looked like a pretty dumb scene for what was supposed to be a pretty smart crowd. At 5 minutes before the thing was to start a huge thunder burst hit and the Dutchmen were running for cover. A quick announcement that they were going to move the thing to the field house and about an hour later they got it started. Shortly thereafter our smiling daughter, and her husband to be Aaron, strode over the platform and picked up the certification that they were now college graduates. Rain or shine it still was a good day. Mieke and her roommates threw a party at their house afterwards and we got a nice backyard cookout finished right before the sky's cut loose again.
Earlier postings mentioned that these events have been very high on the wish list for Deb. Not very long ago I would have told you that there was no way. But they did happen and she was there, so strike one up for perseverance. Not quite what we might have pictured, but as they say a safe landing is one that you can walk away from and we landed at home in each case safely with a few degrees in hand.
Progress is slow but sure now on the health front. She fights some weakness after any type of exertion but you can see improvement each day now. For now that is what I can report. One really nice thing that happened for me is that a group came over from Harderwyk church and helped me with the spring clean up of the yard. These people worked real hard for a couple of hours and when it was done the place looked really sharp. I felt a little guilty receiving this favor but they came over anyway and really helped me out. All I can say is a big thanks to all of them!!!!
The meals have started from friends who have signed up on Mary's Take them a Meal. A huge thank you to Deb and Amanda B. for the great dinner last night. Stan
Hi, Deb adding a few lines to Stan's page. A little neighbor girl came to the door after school today. She was delivering some cookie dough that someone around here must have ordered while I was "out of commission". Anyways, she was so cute and asked how was the lady who was in the hospital. I said, well that is me. She said, You mean she's not going to die?? I said, well I don't think so. She said, I didn't recognize you. I'm sure with my chemo curly grey hair I will get that a lot. There have been so many kind expressions of care and concern, flowers, cards, food, visits and things that I am not even sure about because I was so out of it in the ICU. Please except my sincere thanks for everything.
Time for a little update. Deb did achieve one of her goals of attending the graduation events of both Ross and Rumy this past Friday night and then on Sunday the graduation for Mieke and Aaron. I had kind of pictured the one for Ross and Rumy being somewhat of a intimate event. I mean how many advanced degrees can there be. I was thinking maybe about 40 kids and a little time putting on the hood, a picture with the president of the university and then on with life. Instead what happened is a packed Breslin Center and a bunch of people (I think about 2200) getting masters and doctorate degrees in their respective fields. Not as many doctors as masters but still a bunch of people getting degrees. They have a doctor degree for about everything. Music, English, Social, Grass Clipping, Hand Signals, Cow Manure, and about everything else you can think of. All I know is that our kids worked really hard for theirs (and I am sure everybody else did too) and we were really proud of them. Ross had a little party in his back yard before hand and we wheeled Deb in a wheelchair. This was her first outing and she made it. A little tired when we got home but still a special event that she would not miss for anything.
Then on Sunday the graduation from Hope for Mieke and Aaron. I do not think they teach much about meteorology at Hope. At the morning Baccalaureate service they announced that they had checked the weather and they were going to hold the graduation service outdoors. By the time the 3 PM graduation service came around it was raining pretty hard and about 4000 Hope faithful were sitting underneath a sea of umbrellas. It was kind of a striking scene. The way this was arranged you had to feel a little sorry for the guy on the end. It seemed to me that the rain from one umbrella would leak on the next and the guy on the end would experience something of the equivalent of Niagara Falls. You really could not see the people in the stands underneath the umbrellas. It looked like a pretty dumb scene for what was supposed to be a pretty smart crowd. At 5 minutes before the thing was to start a huge thunder burst hit and the Dutchmen were running for cover. A quick announcement that they were going to move the thing to the field house and about an hour later they got it started. Shortly thereafter our smiling daughter, and her husband to be Aaron, strode over the platform and picked up the certification that they were now college graduates. Rain or shine it still was a good day. Mieke and her roommates threw a party at their house afterwards and we got a nice backyard cookout finished right before the sky's cut loose again.
Earlier postings mentioned that these events have been very high on the wish list for Deb. Not very long ago I would have told you that there was no way. But they did happen and she was there, so strike one up for perseverance. Not quite what we might have pictured, but as they say a safe landing is one that you can walk away from and we landed at home in each case safely with a few degrees in hand.
Progress is slow but sure now on the health front. She fights some weakness after any type of exertion but you can see improvement each day now. For now that is what I can report. One really nice thing that happened for me is that a group came over from Harderwyk church and helped me with the spring clean up of the yard. These people worked real hard for a couple of hours and when it was done the place looked really sharp. I felt a little guilty receiving this favor but they came over anyway and really helped me out. All I can say is a big thanks to all of them!!!!
The meals have started from friends who have signed up on Mary's Take them a Meal. A huge thank you to Deb and Amanda B. for the great dinner last night. Stan
Hi, Deb adding a few lines to Stan's page. A little neighbor girl came to the door after school today. She was delivering some cookie dough that someone around here must have ordered while I was "out of commission". Anyways, she was so cute and asked how was the lady who was in the hospital. I said, well that is me. She said, You mean she's not going to die?? I said, well I don't think so. She said, I didn't recognize you. I'm sure with my chemo curly grey hair I will get that a lot. There have been so many kind expressions of care and concern, flowers, cards, food, visits and things that I am not even sure about because I was so out of it in the ICU. Please except my sincere thanks for everything.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Home but not Alone
Stan Here:
Well the big moment of the return home finally happened at around 11 this morning. Karen helped Deb get her stuff all packed up and by the time I got there it was in the car and ready to go. She walked out to the car without the walker and she looks pretty good. She is now sitting in her chair in the family room talking on the phone. I am going to have her write a few lines so here they come.
Deb Here:
Hi Everyone, I am so thankful to be home. I want to thank you all for the wonderful wishes for my homecoming. It is so special after 35 days to be home. My parents are here to help with my care and to attend our two graduation ceremonies this weekend. I am using a wheelchair both days to conserve my energy. There is a handicapped entrance at the Breslin Center at MSU and so that should be no problem. I was excited to see a beautiful purple hanging plant on my front porch and a bottle of some special bubbly, thank you Deb S. you are a good friend. I had two scares this am. First, the pain med Rx was mailed to my pharmacy and it had not arrived yet......oh no, but thank goodness, it did arrive. Then, the expert from Holland Home Care who was supposed to come this afternoon and finally fit me with the proper appliance for my ileostomy has laryngitis and can't come today, oh no, so the second best person it coming. Will write more later, Deb
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Drive to be Alive
Stan Here:
Day thirty five of this adventure-ordeal would appear at this point to bring a return trip to our home at around 11 in the morning on Wednesday. Looks like it is going to happen. I have tried think of some idea of welcome home but I think it is going to be a day that is going to have enough emotion. One of the issues has been that any exertion has brought with it some worn out feelings and I would expect that to continue for some time. For those of you closest to the situation, what has taken place is one of the more involved and advanced medical events that can happen. I feel that I have been a witness to what I might call a grueling drive to survive. I am sure Deb feels the same and the return home has been long awaited and worked for.
Allow me to post about the return home when it does happen. Even going to see if I can get a picture of it. I might suggest at that time a request of you that we extend some sort of cyber greeting. (e-mail or blog) Those of you that have done this before please know they have meant a bunch and they seem to be important right now. I will keep you posted.
Stan
Day thirty five of this adventure-ordeal would appear at this point to bring a return trip to our home at around 11 in the morning on Wednesday. Looks like it is going to happen. I have tried think of some idea of welcome home but I think it is going to be a day that is going to have enough emotion. One of the issues has been that any exertion has brought with it some worn out feelings and I would expect that to continue for some time. For those of you closest to the situation, what has taken place is one of the more involved and advanced medical events that can happen. I feel that I have been a witness to what I might call a grueling drive to survive. I am sure Deb feels the same and the return home has been long awaited and worked for.
Allow me to post about the return home when it does happen. Even going to see if I can get a picture of it. I might suggest at that time a request of you that we extend some sort of cyber greeting. (e-mail or blog) Those of you that have done this before please know they have meant a bunch and they seem to be important right now. I will keep you posted.
Stan
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