Phase 3 Begins (LINK UPDATED)

Patty is here today to begin the first procedure of what will be a 7-8 week process; Radiation Therapy. Once again refreshing in my mind how surreal this whole process has been and still is. I still find it hard to believe that my wife is here at my work for treatment. I never visioned such a scenario. Sometimes there are snippets of time where we can get away from this whole thing but today is not one of them. I was feeling
kind of down this morning as the reality set in that she was coming
today. I needed some encouragement so I turned to Spurgeon's daily devotional and found this,

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed.”

Matthew 26:39

Ok, that seemed to be a rather timely message to read. So, I sat down and did as such. I then read the rest of the devotional and it is another of his gems that can be treasured to read over and over again. Thus, I'm going to provide the link below to the whole devotional. Click HERE to read.

I then begin to wonder what Patty thinks about having to come here for treatment? I'm sure its surreal for her as well. Maybe I'll ask her to post here what it is like. I guess she'll get to know many of my co-workers well.

The day didn't start off well for her. She went this morning for her Herceptin infusion. It didn't go as well as usual. They had to stick her 5 times before they finally got access to her port to do the infusion. Not to mention the pain of being stuck but the bruising will probably be bad as well. Hopefully she'll have a better afternoon. I think her and some other friends are going to go to lunch and take the kids to the park.


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Stepping Out

I apologize for not posting as of late. Katie developed the flu and its made it for a more strenuous week. Today is her first day back to school. Luckily, nobody else has developed it, especially Patty because this week her counts from the last chemo treatment or the lowest.



Last night, Patty spoke for the first time about this ordeal she/we have been traversing. The group she spoke to was the ladies' group from our church. They meet once a month on a Thursday night for a time of discussion and fellowship. There is always a guest speaker and so last night Patty played the part. She said there were approximately 30 ladies in attendance. I asked her how she did and she said, "good." I could infer from her voice it indeed went well. Funny thing how you can infer the real meaning of a spoken word just by the tone. She had practiced it for me the night before and I was soundly impressed. She said she had been practicing ;). Patty's has always been lacking in the self confidence category. Unduly so, as everything she puts her mind to she does it with excellence.



Anybody have any good ideas for a quick Spring Break trip?

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What Come of This?

Patty received her weekly Herceptin infusion yesterday without any issues. She is still feeling a lack of energy from the chemo treatment last week. Chemotherapy is cumulative so its probably the culmination of all the treatments as well as the shots to boost her red and white blood cell counts.



She has started an exercise program we offer at our Fitness Center that is designed with cancer patients in mind. She has already jumped right into the program. Yesterday she said she rode 3 miles on the bicycle and walked another 1.5 miles. Studies have shown that a moderate exercise program while under treatment will improve fatigue levels.



Changing gears, you wonder what God has in store for you on the other side of tragedies such as this. I've wondered that a lot actually. Last night, I met a wonderful lady who had recently underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer. When she learned my profession she had lots of questions about breast cancer of which I was able to help her better understand it and her situation. I was sort of taken back about how thankful she and husband were afterward.



Even though I was in the field before this I didn't know a quarter of what I've learned about breast cancer since. What was ironic about this encounter was I had just spoke to old friend earlier in the day, who through describing a trial of his own, spoke about how God uses events such as this to prepare us for his work and will. On the way home last night I recalled that conversation and wondered if being a resource for others facing this is meant for me. If that is the case, I'm ready to help as many that face this issue as humanly possible.

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The Next Step

Well, Patty showed up at my work today and it wasn't to see me. Today was her initial consult with our Radiation Oncologist. There was some debate about whether or not she should receive radiation therapy or not but after pouring over the latest clinical trial and study results it looks as if there is some benefit to be gained by having the radiation. Small but albeit there. Additionally, it appears that if she opts for reconstruction it is advantageous to perform the radiation before any type of reconstruction. She's going to wait until after Spring Break to get started so that she can recover fully from the chemo and not have to drag all four kids to the treatments.



She looks as if she is on the upswing she is still having some significant back pain but it is bearable if she is on the meds. Having injections to improve both her white and red blood cell counts is definitely a longer recover period for her.

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Doing Better Today

Patty has done much better today. Holly watched the boys for her so she was able to get some good rest. Her back has started to feel better but still is bothering her some.



I took Kendall for her annual eye appointment today. She received a good report on her Amblyopia. We were a little early so I stopped at my "local watering hole," Starbucks, and got her a hot chocolate. She was stoked that she got to sit in the parking lot with me in the front seat and drink her hot chocolate. It took her all of about 3 gulps to finish it.



Katie finally let me pull a loose tooth today. Oh, the horror!

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A Summary of the Latest in Breast Cancer Treatment

Click HERE for a link to a summary of the latest in breast cancer treatment from the 29th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The preeminent cancer conference in the world. It will be a difficult read for those not in the medical field. Patients who have educated themselves will be able to understand much of it.



The synopsis; the state of breast cancer treatment is improving one small step at a time. There is no single magic bullet. The article predicts that overall deaths from breast cancer will be HALF of what they were in 1990. An amazing stat for a twenty year time period. Thanks to all the researchers who have made this a possibility.

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Weekend Update

Patty did ok on Saturday. She was really sleepy due to the pain meds but we actually got out that evening. Today was a different story. She was pretty much wiped out all day. Her red blood cell count was borderline low on Thursday and probably lower after she got the chemo. When that is low it causes you to feel as if you have no energy. That along with the pain meds to combat the Neulasta shot combined for a recipe of grogginess and sleep.



I took the kids on to church so she could get some "quiet" rest. It was a great service. We had 10 people baptized. I have never seen that many at one service. Our worship pastor, Mark preached the sermon. I really enjoy his sermons. He never skirts around the truth. The reason he was preaching was our pastor, Scott, was a feeling a little under the weather because he had donated his bone marrow earlier in the week. He was a match for a leukemia patient on a bone marrow registry he signed up for many years ago. Shane, our children's minister led worship. It was awesome as well. He is definitely talented.



Hopefully, Patty will be on the upswing tomorrow.

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Post Treatment Update

Patty had her last major chemo treatment yesterday. It went as well as it could, no reactions or illness. She also had to get another shot to boost her red blood cell count, Aranesp and she will get the Neulasta for the white blood cell count today. The double shot expresso, chemo style.



She made it all the way through without having to enter the hospital with low blood counts which is a great thing. Many have to delay their treatment until their blood counts increase. Some even have to go into the hospital to have IV antibiotics because they developed an infection that normally wouldn't bother you but do to their white blood cell count being so low it can be extremely harmful. Hopefully, the Neulasta will not wipe her out for 3 days as it has done in the past. Last time it wasn't as bad as the others so keep praying.



Two major hurdles down, surgery and major chemo, one more major to go, radiation, and many minors from here to eternity. The journey now has been almost 7 months. It seems much, much longer.

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Patty's Last Major Chemo Treatment Tomorrow!

Wow. I apologize for the long delay in posting. It seems like things have been extremely busy at home and at work over the last week leaving me little time to "effectively" blog. I know, "yea , right. You couldn't find time throughout the whole week?" I stand corrected and humbly throw myself on the mercy of the readership! I intended to blog yesterday but Blogger was down for most of the day yesterday. But fear not! I'll be consistently posting updates on Patty's condition throughout this next treatment.

Anyway, Patty's last major chemo treatment is tomorrow. #9 in all. (Sidebar: I just erased almost a whole paragraph. I'm beginning to really respect "real" journalists, if there is such a thing anymore, the more I "write" myself. It's tough work to pound out what you're thinking in your head and translate it into a format that doesn't allow expression, inflection, or tone to shine through. And, at the same time 'get the point across.' Not to mention correctly formatting it grammatically. But I digress.) She's done much better than I expected. She seems to be feeling fairly well lately. She'll start the steroids today which can lead to a little irritability so we'll cut a little slack over the weekend ;). Her hair continues to grow back at a fast pace. She even asked me the other day is she should just go without it. I'm kicking myself for not doing a weekly "dome" shot to document the growth for everyone. I don't think it will be long before she sheds the 'artificial locks' and fears the oven no more! lol...

As I contemplate this last treatment, I feel some deep thoughts coming on as Patty enters turn 4 and throws her efforts towards crossing the finish line. But alas, I don't have the time to express them now.

Ironically enough, today I'm meeting with a director from Komen for the Cure Foundation (formerly the Susan B. Komen Foundation) to discuss our Cancer Centers and our services for breast cancer patients. Boy, she'll never know how much I "really" know about our services.

Below you will find some previously promised pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy!

Princess Prep

Snow White & Her Fellow Princesses

The "Real" Princesses

Icicles On The Cabin

Patty, Myself, Beth, & Chuck

Weekend Update

Patty and I had a great time up in the Smokies this past weekend. She did well all except for an extremely sore throat. We're not sure if it is due to sinuses, strep throat, or an ulcer from the chemo. It started to get better on Monday so hopefully that will continue.

We got about 4-5 inches of snow where we were staying. We've always dreamed of going up to the Smokies and getting snowed in. We couldn't believe it actually happened. Of course, it cleared up early the next morning and we were able to get and go eat that afternoon. The night it snowed we got in the hot tub and sat there while the snow fell on our heads! It was great.

Chuck and I went snow skiing Saturday morning. It was the first time I had been in eight years. Chuck is an ol' pro, he never fell until some wild and crazy snowboarder clipped him from behind and blew him out of his skis, lol... The guy hit him so hard it broke the front bindings on his ski! That ended our day of skiing which, was fine considering I had crashed about a dozen times. Some which were worthy of America's Funniest Videos I'm sure. My wrist and neck were starting to feel the brunt of my slaloming ineptness. Actually, I did better than I expected. I worked my way up to Gatlinburg's most difficult blue runs which are probably akin to the bunny slopes of Colorado. Moral victory nonetheless.

While Chuck and I were traversing the slopes of Ober Gatlinburg, Patty and Beth were doing what they do best - SHOP. I believe I got off easy as they didn't visit many stores and when the snow starting falling they begin to make a "bee line" to the cabin. The next day we got out and hiked around in the snow. Patty and Beth built a miniature snowman. The cabin had a real fireplace so we kept a fire going most of the time. It had a definite coziness about it.

It was a great time for Patty and I to get away and not think about the current stresses of life that are constantly on our minds. We hadn't really done that in a long time. Thanks to all of you who helped make it happen. You're the best!

Patty Update & Valentine's Day

Patty is doing well. She got her Herceptin treatment yesterday without issue. Her hair is continuing to grow back. I know she can't wait to first, get rid of the wig, and second, how her hair is going to come back in. Her mood has been improved as of late and she seems to be doing well emotionally. I hope that continues.

I took her out for a special Valentine's Day dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Bistro - By the Tracks. We have only at their a couple of times due to the expense but I love the atmosphere. The fact one of our good friends Tracy works their has nothing to do with it ;).

Anyway, I had to tell her that morning that I was taking her out because she was going to cook a meal for us and I was afraid she would start preparing it before I let the cat out of the bag. I was able to keep one surprise intact though until we got there. I had asked one of Patty's longtime friends Janine and her husband Wayne to join us for dinner so they would get a chance to talk and luckily they took me up on it. So when we got there Patty was surprised to see them pull down their menus to reveal themselves sitting at our table! She was really surprised.

That wasn't the only surprise of the night. Janine had commented that she saw one of the doctor's Patty and her used to work with when they came in and sat down. Patty noticed him as well and nothing else was said after that. Later on during the meal, one of the waitresses comes to the table and hands Janine a folded piece of paper addressed to J-Nine (her nickname). The look on her face was priceless, a total state of 'shock and awe'. What was on it? It had just the simple word 'enjoy' a gift certificate for a rather large amount that covered both of our meals! And dessert to boot! Can't beat that. The giver didn't want her to know who gave it but I think we figured it out. So, all I will say is many thanks Dr. X.

Patty and I are stealing away for the weekend to Gatlinburg with my cousin and his wife, sans kids. Can you believe it? I don't know how she talked somebody into watching the kids but she did. Pray for Darrell & Beth and Ben & Tracy. They'll need it. Patty wanted to surprise me with this getaway but she just couldn't pull it off. It no problem though as I appreciate the effort.

I probably will not have internet access but if I'll do I'll post a snow watch! Have a Great Weekend everyone! God is Good!

Update & Another Visitor From the Past

Patty is still doing much much better than I expected this go around. I'm not sure if she actually feels better or is just toughing it out. She said today that her back is still bothering her but not limiting her to the couch. Her hair continues to grow back. I'm going to see if she'll start letting me do a weekly hair growth picture, lol...

Somebody came by the office today to see me that I hadn't seen in a long time. Patty and I had got know this person through another friend. We had grown to to really respect them for their spiritual walk and was often encouraged by conversations we had. We had lost contact with them just through the normal events of life, (you know, a job change, a move, etc.) but had heard they had experienced some real tough times through the last few years. Tough times that Patty and I had thought we would never imagine this person would have to go through.

So when I saw them today I was pleasantly surprised. I showed them some pictures of the kids and the conversation eventually turned to the recent troubles they had encountered. Some really sad and trying events. I had been concerned about their spiritual walk through these tough times but today, to hear them speak gave me such encouragement. They spoke of how their faith had been strengthened and that God was now their strength and how good that feels to depend solely on Him. I could see it on their face. God is good even through the troubled times. Wow. I want that. Don't you?

Patty Update

Patty is doing better than previous Neulasta episodes. Your prayers are helping! She says she is still very, very sore but thankfully she is not relegated to the couch for an extended period of time. She has been a real trooper and I can't say enough at how well she has handled this whole ordeal.

Last night, we had a community group leader meeting to discuss things going on with our groups. Penny Sparks heads up the leaders and provides us with tips, encouragement, and support in our efforts. Last night, she shared some scripture with us that was like soothing water for my parched soul. I needed it. I needed the encouragement and forgiveness it provides. I thought there may be some of you that need it as well so I'm going to post it below. It is Paul writing to the Philipians starting in chapter 3, verse 12. The bold emphasis is mine.

12 I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13 My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15 All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.

101st Post

I didn't realize the last update I gave on Patty yesterday was the 100th post of this blog. 100 posts, hard to believe.

Oh well, first an update on Patty. She has felt pretty good for the most of the day. We had Kendall's birthday party this morning. It went really well. All the kids had a lot of fun. Patty said her neck starting hurting this morning and now this evening she is starting to get sore all over. I poked her in her side not thinking of it hurting her and was like "ouch!" Ooops!

Most of the girls from our community group came over to help Patty get all the princesses "dolled up" with make-up, hair, nails, and jewelry stations. I'll post a pic as soon as I can find the cord to hook up to the camera. I've got to get me one of those new wireless cameras.

Quick Update

Patty's treatment went well yesterday with no immediate reactions or side effects. She comes back for her Neulasta shot today. This will begin to hit her Saturday afternoon and get progressively worse until Tuesday morning when it will begin to improve. So the next few days are probably not going to be a lot of fun. I keep praying that it won't affect her as bad as the last.



Kendall turns 6 today. We're having a princess pampering birthday party for her on Saturday morning. I hope the Neulasta shot doesn't start to hit Patty before then. I had to take Kendall to the doctor yesterday morning because she had been complaining that her throat was hurting and it turns out she has strep throat. Its the first time ever any of our children have ever had it. So she had to miss school but was able to go back today because we got her on the antibiotics right after her doctor visit. He said she wouldn't be contagious by today.



I'll continue to update on how Patty is doing throughout the weekend.

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Treatment & A Look Into the Past

Patty is getting her treatment as I type. It got started at about 12:30 after visiting with the physician. After speaking with him, it looks as if she'll have one more treatment after this one. He left it up to us because he said the data doesn't say one way or the other but since Patty had the different drugs out of sequence he would do another if we wanted. I asked him what would he do if it was his wife and he said he would probably do the extra treatment since Patty hasn't had any neuropathy side effects. So, that was the clincher. Not great news for the short term, i.e. another Neulasta shot experience but, hopefully better news for the long term, i.e. disease free survival.

While we were waiting for the nurses to hook Patty up I was looking out the window and noticed a person that looked familiar. Upon closer look, I realized it was someone that Patty and I used to know really, really well. We ran around a bunch and had a lot of fun together in the past. Once Patty and I got married and moved to Powell we faded apart as friends due to home distances and then when we had children, and this person was married and had none, we almost never saw them again. We would run into them "once in a blue moon" but that was it. Last year we had heard that this person had asked for a divorce because they had met someone else. It seems we've heard that scenario a lot this year.

The person we saw out the window couldn't see us sitting inside while she talked to a delivery man. As we watched them, I begin to marvel at how far our paths had diverged throughout the years. Here Patty sat, dedicated mom and wife, preparing to be hooked up for a chemotherapy treatment at way to young an age. Outside, sat someone one we knew that had given up a good marriage to experience personal freedom again and supposedly all the great things that come with it. You're probably thinking I'm going to begin expounding on the "life isn't fair" mantra, but I'm not. I never have and I never hope to. I've witnessed it everyday since I've been in the field I work. I knew bad things happen to good people. I just never got my own full taste of it until August 9. Boy, did I get a mouthful.

Anyway, seeing this person stand outside and chit chat and thinking about their circumstances I described above. It brought me back to a question I asked Patty a few weeks ago when we had heard about another friend experiencing unfaithfulness and a seemingly inevitable divorce. I asked her would you rather go through what your going through or be faced with a pending divorce. We both admitted it was a tough question to answer. In the end, we both fell on the side of what we're facing now. At least we have hope that what we have will last.

Another Big Treatment Tomorrow

Patty has another treatment scheduled tomorrow at 11:00 (be in prayer). This could be her last major treatment but we won't find out probably until we meet with the physician. I know she hopes it is her last. Her hair is continuing to grow back and she already considering ditching the wig. She will most likely start radiation treatments after this is completed. Those will last for 7 weeks and are daily except for weekends. So that will be a logistical issue will have to solve.

TomGirl

Saturday Kendall, our 2nd, was playing with her princess and troll figures. Not the troll that you would normally conjure up an image of but yet a small bright big hair troll. If you know Kendall, she would rather play with these by herself. She's always been this way and loses a bit of self control when someone attempts to interject into the play scene. Grant, #3, loves to play with these things as well and that doesn't suit well with Ms. Kendall.

So, on Saturday Grant decided he wanted to play as well and Kendall begin to have a nuclear meltdown. I called her to the top of the steps to discuss the situation. She explains to me that boys aren't supposed to play with girl toys. I explained that she sometimes likes to play with Grant's toys. She then pleaded, "but he's a boy!" I then instructed her to let Grant play. At this point, she thumps down on the step, crosses her arms in a huff, and places a stern look on her face and then shouts out "Grant's a TOMGIRL!"

I had to laugh. Never heard that one before.

Useful Site

For all of you voracious web surfers like myself I recently discovered one of the most useful websites I've seen in a long time. I read about it in the Wall St. Journal the other day and for me it is a great tool. I read a lot of blogs and news websites and this site allows you to customize one page to where it will download all the blog and news site headlines so you can see all of them on one page and then determine if you want to read them. It does it by utilizing a RSS feed. Check it out, Here's the link.

A Hike

Patty received her Herceptin treatment yesterday without incident. One thing she hasn't consistently disliked while being on chemotherapy is what she describes as a "chemical smell." She says after she receives a treatment she smells a chemical smell. I've never smelled anything but she insists she does. I suspect that it may be emanating from her blood vessels in her nasal passages.

I mentioned a that a group of my close community group friends went on a hike in the Smokies. In particular, the Meig's Creek trail behind "The Sinks." Below is a piece that stemmed from that hike.

Recently, I went on a hike. I love to hike. It is one of the times that I feel closer to God. Strangely enough, I've never had a desire to be a park ranger. Probably because I'm afraid if I experienced God's unblemished creation on a daily basis its inspiring affect on me might be dampened. Maybe. More likely, its that I know they don't make much money. lol... As I write that last sentence I wonder what that says about me but, I'll digress.

One of the things I love about a hike is the anticipation of what hiking around the next bed of the trail might bring. An inspiring vista?...a ?...a refreshing brook? God only knows. The bend beckons me to peek around it in a quest of what as to what it holds. More often than not its the view of another bend or maybe another up hill climb. But just when I'm contemplating reversing course and heading back God jumps out in front of me in the form of a cascading waterfall or a breathtaking view of his vast creation.

A hike in a sense parallels the journey of life and boy have I walked down some beautiful trails of life. Over the last year, the hike has been a long, steep, difficult climb especially over the last month for me. My shoes are worn and wet from crossing swift streams and my knees ache from falling on the rocks. My backpack weighs more and more with each hill. But I know that God has a vista, a waterfall or a refreshing brook ahead of me just around the bend and thus I trudge along with confident trust in His providence for us.

For those of you who don't know me I'm in the middle front row