6-25-09 Another visit from the kids
6-25-09 6:00 P.M. — Well, we survived the last couple of weeks pretty well. All the kids and grandkids were in town for Fathers day and we had a good visit. The week before I was terribly busy and Shana had her chemo treatment so for much of the time that the kids were in town she was feeling poorly or more accurately very weak and wore out. Her blood counts are getting very low so they have cut back on the frequency and the strength of her chemo treatments and that may not be good in the long run. There appear to be some signs that the tumor may have begun regrowing and possibly spreading but we really won’t know for sure until we have a CT scan sometime in July. But I see little things that may not indicate that the tumor is under control and I can tell that Shana is concerned about those things as well. She remains a trooper but since she became allergic to Cisplatin, the replacement drug Carboplatin just does not seem as effective as the other. We both got a bit concerned when I asked the doctor what treatments were available if she becomes allergic to Carboplatin and he said that no other treatments work as well and that we would have to try some trial treatments if it comes to that. He then pointed out that almost no one does research on this cancer and the treatments we have been receiving have been just a “best guess” of what would work based on similar tumors. Seeing that we may have to take a shot with experimental treatments in the not too distant future is worrisome. I hope for some breakthrough soon so that we continue to have alternatives. Please pray for a science breakthrough on this disease so that we can fight this some more. I’ll take a live Shana anyway I can get her so I need some help from the medical field. Please pray for Shana.
Jeff McKim is doing better at Baylor rehab in Dallas and Bee Rippy is in very serious condition in Mineral Wells Regional Hospital. Larry Williams is finally getting some intravenious nutrition and hopefully he will begin to recover some of his weight and his health. Please pray for and think of all the sick persons who need help.
Jim
June 26th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Shana and Jim, If I Could Catch A Rainbow If I could catch a rainbow I would do it Just for You And share with you It’s beauty on the days your’re feeling blue If I could build a mountain you could call your very own A place to find serenity A place to be alone If I could take your troubles I would toss them in the sea But all these things I’m finding are impossible for me I cannot build a mountain or catch a rainbow fair But let me be what I know best A Friend That’s Always There. Abbracci Hugs in Italian Doris, Bob, Bryan and Justin Bradley
June 27th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Shana and Jim, We lucked out and have the greatest home health nurse, but today I was on my own for the first time. I admit I was a bit nervous about getting Larry all hooked up. Thank goodness, it went well. Counting the hospital time, he has been on TPN for almost two weeks. So far no weight gain and that is a concern. He is scheduled to start back on chemo on July 1. It has been nearly 9 weeks since he last had a treatment because he has just been too weak. In January we had bought airline tickets to meet up with most of the kids for a Florida vacation this past week. Needless to say that did not happen. They are scheduled to come here around July 20, and we look forward to the visit. Dr. Duer is trying a new chemo cocktail this go round. Medicare denied the alimta a third time. I don’t know if that is the reason he is not using the alimta or that he is thinking the cancer has grown resistant to the drug. We will see how the new treatment goes. I am not beyond fighting for the alimta again if necessary. Larry has a lot of fatigue and still deals with nausea on a daily basis. It grieves me to see him struggle so.
I, too, wish we had more answers to treating this disease.
Love, hugs and prayers sent your way.
Sandy
June 27th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Hi Jim, Shana and family,
I apologize that for the lapse in-between posting. I think of you and your family all the time, and find solace in prayer and meditation. I would love to see Shana. I will call her to check on her….see if there’s anything I can do, if only just to listen to her and maybe share something fun to talk about with her. I know how much she loves those Grandchildren!!! I would be more than happy, any time, to take her shopping. I’m not good on my feet for long periods of time, but I seriously doubt that she is either. I do have permanent handicapped parking, so I’d have her at the front door. I’m so sorry regarding the fender bender, but praise Jesus she wasn’t seriously hurt.
Jim, I want to do whatever I can do for you and your family. Please, please….if YOU need food or whatever, don’t hesitate to ask. There was a visiting Priest tonight at St. Vincent’s who said that when we are very ill, we need to learn to ASK for what we need, instead of worrying about burdening anyone. Know that it is NEVER a burden to be asked to help. It is a joy to know there might be some simple thing that I could do to ease your life.
I will pray for science to advance; most definitely. It seems impossible that after all of these years, and countless dollars, and research, that we still do not have a cure for cancer. I also want to let Sandy know that I read her comment concerning Larry and my heart goes out to her. I want to assure her that I will increase my prayers. I cannot begin to tell you how rampantly increasing this disease is affecting so many people that I personally know, love and care about. My cousin who is 54 years old, is fighting liver cancer.
Again, please, forgive me. I’ve had a strange bout of really swollen feet, legs..up to my knees and have been keeping my nerve damaged feet up and going through tests, tests, specialists, docs, etc…lost 6 pounds in two days of a diuretic…and two more today…lots of swelling but I’m blessed and I feel so silly even telling you this but I wanted you to know that I haven’t forgotten you, nor your family. I should have picked up the phone and called. Please know that you’re always in my heart and prayers.
May God bless you and all that are suffering and watching their loved ones suffer, abundant strength and His endless love, mercy.
With love and sincerity,
Cathi Steffens
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Hi there Shana and Jim - Your courage is such an example to the rest of us. I only wish I could bear some of your pain. You two are such wonderful examples of parents and friends. Please keep up you faith and keep up the fight. We all love you - Barbara and Jack Murphy and all the other friends from St. Vinent.