Mid-Saturday

Good Morning All! Apparently this blog writing thing has gone from daily to semi-daily to approximately weekly, but check back from time to time as you have opportunity because I may surprise you. Cindy has had a pretty good week all things considered. Her feet and legs have been swelling, and the oncologist wanted her to get a doppler ultrasound this week to determine if she has any blood clots. She did have the procedure this week, and it was determined that she does have an area of concern in her lower left leg, where conditions are favorable for the development of a clot. Consequently, the doctor placed her on a series of self-injections to lower the possibility of this occurence. Cindy does appear to be getting a little stronger, and has been able to get out some this week with the help of Shirley, Ann, Betty Jo, and Pam. Still walking with a walker and using a wheel chair for longer distances Cindy had PT only one time this week, but she also taught bible study, got her doppler study, and went to Lowes one day, and Goldsboro yesterday. Shirley has been such a blessing this past week. She doesn't realize how precious she is. I had a meeting on Thursday that ran into the evening, and Ulla came to stay with Cindy. We are taking a relatively slow approach to Saturday, although I will be spending part of the weekend getting ready for a 4-day work-related trip to Iowa beginning this Monday. Cindy's mom is planning to come on Monday, and be here for the duration of my trip, and Shirley will be in and out during the week. Cindy has 3 days of PT scheduled for next week as well as her next to last bible study in this series. We are also planning to attend church tomorrowrio (don't you like that Amy?), and Rebecca is planning to come over Sunday afternoon so that I can practice with the Joyland Chorus. We have not heard from the pharmacy yet regarding Cindy's new oral chemo, but we suspect that we will be hearing from them at any time. Cindy has a stand-up reminder on our computer desk that states: " God is in control." "Our Lord God Almighty reigns." Revelation 19:6, and another that reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6. May we never forget these reminders as we meet life day by day. We hope each of you has a day of rich blessing, hoping in the one who sustains us.

Saturday....And We've Got It in Park

Good Afternoon Everyone! I hope each of you had a good week and are having a good weekend. After a busy week, and a lot of travel, Cindy and I are taking a rest day today. We spent the night in Raleigh with Cindy's parents on Thursday, and got an early start to Charlotte on Friday, where Cindy had an appointment with the medical oncologist. As it turns out the biopsy she had last week was positive, and she has metastatic leiomyosarcoma in her left breast. This is basically the same type of cancer that she has been battling for almost 9 years now, it has just translocated from the original site or from others as they have developed. Dr. Livingston said that it was highly unusual for metastatic sarcoma to show up in the breast, and that this was the first case he has seen in his practice. Leave it to Cindy to be unique, but I guess that does say something about her longevity and battling spirit, and there is a blessing in that. The oncologist is very reluctant to put Cindy on the standard, toxic chemotherapy drugs given her current physical condition, and instead is opting for an oral chemo drug, which has similar properties to one she was on a year or so ago, but has somewhat different molecular pathways. This will have to be ordered from a special pharmacy, and with insurance approval hopefully we can get started next week.
Overall, Cindy had a pretty good week this past week. Her mobility, while still limited appears to have improved somewhat. She continues to have issues with balance, and it is hard for her to position her body and legs when she is in a prone posistion, or lift them up from the floor to get horizontal. She is using the walker around the house, and the wheel chair when she goes out. Friends and family continue helping out by staying with her, which allows me to go to work. Cindy's sister, Anne stayed with her on Monday, taking her to PT, and for a short shopping excursion. Denise also came on Monday, and cleaned the house. Our friend, Ulla was here all day Tuesday. She and Cindy have some interesting conversations, and I was in hopes that they could solve the world's problems while she was here. Ann S. and Betty Jo fixed dinner for us on Tuesday. Ann S. helped Cindy get ready for and took her to bible study and PT on Wednesday. Our friend, Shirley came Wednesday afternoon and again on Thursday. She can do anything, and in addition to being company for Cindy and addressing her needs, also helped with household stuff. Jannet came from Wilmington on Thursday, and was able to spend a good deal of time with Cindy, and she and Shirley helped us get ready for the Charlotte trip. Kim, her dog, Peduncle, (Luci's boyfriend) and Amanda have been taking Luci for walks this week. So you can see that we have had lots of good help. This week will be the first in a while that we have not had an appointment with a doctor, a procedure, or a treatment. Hopefully, things will begin to level out a bit, and we can establish a new routine. It has definitely been something other than routine the last 4 months.
Many of you are aware that my mom is at Mary Gran Nursing Center here in Clinton, and have asked how she is. There have not been any dramatic changes lately. I was with her for a while on Thursday, and she was in a jovial mood. She does enjoy the activities at Mary Gran. They have current events sessions, preaching and singing almost every day, and game and craft activities. They had a mexican-style costume lunch some time back. There are pictures of mom on the bulletin board in a sombrero and moustache that are truly a hoot. They also went to White Lake this summer, and had a big time.
Our son, Adam is living and working in Arizona, but has been traveling quite a bit lately. He has been to California twice and Colarado in the past four weeks. We talk with him on the phone multiple times each week. He is planning to come home for a visit around Thanksgiving, and we are looking forward to that.
We are very grateful for your continued thoughts and prayers, and we know that we are surrounded by them. We are also very thankful for all the wonderful things that folks are doing for us and helping us with. We are being reminded of Paul's letter to the Ephesians: "And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32. May each of you have a blessed day!

The Journey Continues

Good Evening Everyone! It has been slightly less than a week since my last post, and we have covered quite a bit of ground. Cindy had 2 PT sessions last week, and had another scheduled for last Thursday, but she did not feel up to the task. Cindy's mom, Grace stayed with us most of last week (for which we are truly grateful). Cindy got the results of her mammogram and ultrasound last week, which were inconclusive. We drove up to Raleigh on Thursday, and then on to Charlotte on Friday for a visit with the doctor, and a breast biopsy. The doctor was unable to complete the procedure in his office, so we had to go down to the breast cancer radiology unit at Carolinas Medical Center where we were able to finish things up with the additional equipment. We are anticipating receiving the results on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. We have already scheduled an appointment with the medical oncologist for Friday to get the results from the biopsy, and to plan Cindy's treatment going forward, which will likely include some systemic chemotherapy. Cindy's sister, Anne came and stayed with her today taking Cindy to her PT appt. as well as a brief shopping trip in her wheel chair. Beth, Amanda, and Jane, three of the Walking Ladies of Fox Lake came by and took Luci for a walk this weekend (Beth came by twice). Ann S. and Betty Jo F., two of the other Walking Ladies came by today to share some walking time with Luci. Needless to say, she has been a happy puppy. Our friend, Ulla is planning to stay with Cindy tomorrow, which hopefully is going to be something of a rest/Bible study day. Cindy is still moving rather slowly with her walker as she continues to have some balance issues, and is not steady on her feet. I do believe the PT has been helpful, but the progress has been slow.
I had to report as a potential juror today. I knew that we were going to have to go back to Charlotte this week for further planning/treatment this week, and fortunately the judge excused me from serving this time.
We continue to be the beneficiaries of your thoughts and prayers, and are continuing to take things one day at the time. As I read some time back, we are all responsible for the footwork in our lives, and God is responsible for the results. I, for one, am very grateful for that. I hope each of you has a great day and a great week.

October...already!

Good Evening Everyone! It has been a busy week and a half, consequently I have not taken the oppportunity to post a comment to the blog. I don't know how many of you are continuing to check for updates, but our friend, Ulla told me tonight that she was still checking, and she suggested that I continue to post. Thanks for the encouragement, Ulla and thanks for staying with Cindy last Friday morning. Our friend, Rebecca visited with Cindy on Friday afternoon. Cindy's mom, Grace has been with us since Sunday, and is such a blessing to us.
This past week and a half has been something of a mixed bag for Cindy. She continues to walk slowly with a walker around the house, and uses a wheel chair for longer distances. She also requires assistance going up and down the stairs. She has been going (and is continuing to go) to physical therapy, and those sessions help her to feel better, and we hope they are working to make her stronger. She had a mammogram and an ultra-sound last week that were both somewhat inconclusive. We have a pre-procedure appointment scheduled for Friday in Charlotte with a surgeon who will likely perform a needle biopsy probably next week. Cindy has also developed a urinary tract infection, and has had fevers off and on over the last several days, and has of course not been feeling well. She has been on an antibiotic since last Friday that, while hopefully effective can, and apparently has produced headaches. She got a new antibiotic today, so we are hoping that the headaches will diminish, but that the infection will be eliminated.
As you can readily see, the challenges continue, but Cindy maintains her hopeful outlook, and has even been able to teach the weekly Daniel Bible study along with Rebecca. We thank each of you for your past thoughtfulness, and we continue to solicit your prayers for wisdom, strength, and healing. May each of you have a blessed day!