I had my CT-scan and chest x-ray done last Thurs. I got a call from Amber the nurse at my oncologist's office today and she said my x-ray looked clear but they see a new 11mm spot near my gallbladder. For this reason and the elevated numbers I will need to have some more chemo therapy. My Dr. is going out of town this Wed. I told her I already have an appt. for Monday May 13 which was my 3 month check up. She said perfect, that is when he will be back. I will find out at that time, what the plan will be. As the title says, this is not totally a surprise. I always knew that chances were good that there would be reoccurance and I might need more chemo. I am thankful that the chemo worked before and I hope it does the job again this time.
We had a wonderful day yesterday at the baptism of my niece's baby Charlotte Mary Jane. She is so cute and wore the same dress that her mother wore for her baptism and was wrapped in a beautiful blanket that my sister Krista made for her. We were up north with my Mom and Dad, so we drove down to GR with them and came back up here. Stan is working calling on accounts up here more so he worked today and will work tomorrow am. I have my first post op check with my new surgeon, Dr. Figg tomorrow afternoon. I was very anxious to hear what he had to say about trying to take down this ileostomy again, but now with more chemo that could change those plans a bit.
It was opening Day this past Sat. for Trout fishsing so Alden and a couple of friends were up here Friday night. They had a great day fishing on the Pere Marquette River. Mary's pregnancy is going great and she has 8 weeks to go. She had another ultrasound and the baby is about 4 lbs. now and will gain about 4 lbs. before she delivers. We can't wait to be grandparents!!
Ross and Rumy flew to Philadelphia last Thurs. He had an audition last night with the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra. He said he played good, but he didn't make the cut. There are 4 days of auditions with about 130 people trying out. It is good experience and he has another one in June in Alabama.
Mieke and Aaron are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new puppy "Lambeau" (named after the field where the Packers Play). It is a Golden Doodle.......we will see how that goes. They are very excited.
I
Monday, April 29, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
CA-125 Update
I had my blood drawn yesterday to recheck my Cancer Antigen (CA-125). It is still elevated at 270.5, but it is not rising. It was 278 a month ago. Normal is considered under 35. It was down to 22 when I finished my last round of chemo. So the oncologist office says I need to have another CT-scan. I will have it done next week at Spectrum. The nurse says that if it is negative, they will repeat the blood test in a month. It is still possible that the bowel surgery has had an effect on the results.
I am doing so much better since the revision of my ostomy, three weeks ago tomorrow. I am still not completely without some issues. I have had two episodes of food blockage, so I am very careful with what Not to eat. I am still having a bit of difficulty finding the correct "bag" to wear. I still have trouble with a little leakage and I am not able to wear the appliance 3-4 days as I should be able to. So, the visiting nurse was out yesterday and we keep trying different things.........
This weekend we will be attending the Grand Rapids Symphony. Ross is playing in the 4 shows. It is called Cirque Mechanics and should be a great show. Sunday am Ross and Rumy are also playing at Ferrysburg Church as kind of a farwell for Stan's Mom and Dad. The church is having a luncheon for them after church.
I am very sad these days because of the very serious condition of a dear friend of ours and a former pastor Dave Breen. He is in Spectrum Hospital with complications of his carcinoid cancer of
the liver. We are praying for a miracle and think about Dave, Linda and their family constantly.
I am doing so much better since the revision of my ostomy, three weeks ago tomorrow. I am still not completely without some issues. I have had two episodes of food blockage, so I am very careful with what Not to eat. I am still having a bit of difficulty finding the correct "bag" to wear. I still have trouble with a little leakage and I am not able to wear the appliance 3-4 days as I should be able to. So, the visiting nurse was out yesterday and we keep trying different things.........
This weekend we will be attending the Grand Rapids Symphony. Ross is playing in the 4 shows. It is called Cirque Mechanics and should be a great show. Sunday am Ross and Rumy are also playing at Ferrysburg Church as kind of a farwell for Stan's Mom and Dad. The church is having a luncheon for them after church.
I am very sad these days because of the very serious condition of a dear friend of ours and a former pastor Dave Breen. He is in Spectrum Hospital with complications of his carcinoid cancer of
the liver. We are praying for a miracle and think about Dave, Linda and their family constantly.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Easter with All of Us
Stan Here:
Some of you will recall that last Easter Deb had encountered the event of a very difficult infection, some surgery and a prolonged stay in the hospital and rehab center. I did go back and read a few of those posts and while it is true that at that time we did not know the full intensity of that event it is also very true that we could not have had a better day than this past Sunday brought to our home. By all evidence things were pointing in the direction of spending another Easter at Spectrum. Deb had to have a revision of her stoma which involved some more cutting and stitching but this time we got the result we needed. The surgery could be performed in a minimally invasive way. Deb was given the option of staying one extra day there or going home Saturday and before I knew it she was in the car. Our kids were going to be involved in the service and she was going. Compared to other surgeries she has endured the pain was very much lighter. I am kind of thinking that for her this one did not even get on the charts. Plus everything seemed to be right with the repair job so she was outta there. She did get some strong warnings on driving and lifting etc but when we pulled in the drive she was getting some stuff off the front porch to give the place the look she wanted to have all the kids over the following day. Get that Christmas wreath down, the bucket of sidewalk salt gone and lets sweep this thing off for Easter. Spring is here.
For you readers in other locations we have had a late spring here and I was thinking we might need that salt and the ferns were still looking good and maybe needed but they are no longer there. We also did something to help with the normal preparations needed to have a group over. Some of local stores prepare pre-cooked meals that all you have to do is stick them in the oven and heat them up so we did this. It all worked good. She had the table set and as far as I could tell was not much in the mood for the take the easy mode.
We did get a big treat on Easter day. Three of our children had been asked to provide music for the service. Ross and Rumy played and Mieke sang a lead part in a very touching number that she and the other musicians had prepared very nicely. My Mom and Dad were there and had never heard Mieke sing this way and am I allowed to say it was a very finely done service on all fronts (not just our kids). The way I figured it, lets just go with glow. Not sure about me but I know that Deb did deserve this. This was pretty much the first time she has been able to attend anything like this in a month and it was just the right time to "be back".
We had a nice time all day. Had a nice dinner, and then we all watched Michigan win their game to get to the final four. As things went that day the game was a runaway. Not much tension and that also was one of the things made the day fun. Not sure all of us are fans of Michigan anymore but at this time of year we all pull for the big ten teams.
Monday we went up north. Thought we could see some of the spring come there but frankly that was still an icebox. We did get some things ready but there was still about 18 inches of snow and ice. It is always true that spring is a little later there but I had never seen or thought of it being that far behind. Could not do some of things we had in mind but we had not been there for many months so in that way it was good to see the place still standing and everything still working.
Now this week we are having a few issues. Today Deb is having a bout with some cramping and vomiting. One thing that we have learned is that broccoli will never be on then menu again for our family. With the things that Deb has gone through it does not seem to be a good thing for the system.
So goes the war as they say. If that guy from North Korea decides to get feisty send him this way and Deb will take care of the problem. Getting more like old times I think.
Stan
Some of you will recall that last Easter Deb had encountered the event of a very difficult infection, some surgery and a prolonged stay in the hospital and rehab center. I did go back and read a few of those posts and while it is true that at that time we did not know the full intensity of that event it is also very true that we could not have had a better day than this past Sunday brought to our home. By all evidence things were pointing in the direction of spending another Easter at Spectrum. Deb had to have a revision of her stoma which involved some more cutting and stitching but this time we got the result we needed. The surgery could be performed in a minimally invasive way. Deb was given the option of staying one extra day there or going home Saturday and before I knew it she was in the car. Our kids were going to be involved in the service and she was going. Compared to other surgeries she has endured the pain was very much lighter. I am kind of thinking that for her this one did not even get on the charts. Plus everything seemed to be right with the repair job so she was outta there. She did get some strong warnings on driving and lifting etc but when we pulled in the drive she was getting some stuff off the front porch to give the place the look she wanted to have all the kids over the following day. Get that Christmas wreath down, the bucket of sidewalk salt gone and lets sweep this thing off for Easter. Spring is here.
For you readers in other locations we have had a late spring here and I was thinking we might need that salt and the ferns were still looking good and maybe needed but they are no longer there. We also did something to help with the normal preparations needed to have a group over. Some of local stores prepare pre-cooked meals that all you have to do is stick them in the oven and heat them up so we did this. It all worked good. She had the table set and as far as I could tell was not much in the mood for the take the easy mode.
We did get a big treat on Easter day. Three of our children had been asked to provide music for the service. Ross and Rumy played and Mieke sang a lead part in a very touching number that she and the other musicians had prepared very nicely. My Mom and Dad were there and had never heard Mieke sing this way and am I allowed to say it was a very finely done service on all fronts (not just our kids). The way I figured it, lets just go with glow. Not sure about me but I know that Deb did deserve this. This was pretty much the first time she has been able to attend anything like this in a month and it was just the right time to "be back".
We had a nice time all day. Had a nice dinner, and then we all watched Michigan win their game to get to the final four. As things went that day the game was a runaway. Not much tension and that also was one of the things made the day fun. Not sure all of us are fans of Michigan anymore but at this time of year we all pull for the big ten teams.
Monday we went up north. Thought we could see some of the spring come there but frankly that was still an icebox. We did get some things ready but there was still about 18 inches of snow and ice. It is always true that spring is a little later there but I had never seen or thought of it being that far behind. Could not do some of things we had in mind but we had not been there for many months so in that way it was good to see the place still standing and everything still working.
Now this week we are having a few issues. Today Deb is having a bout with some cramping and vomiting. One thing that we have learned is that broccoli will never be on then menu again for our family. With the things that Deb has gone through it does not seem to be a good thing for the system.
So goes the war as they say. If that guy from North Korea decides to get feisty send him this way and Deb will take care of the problem. Getting more like old times I think.
Stan
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