chemo, day 2

It's short and simple tonight.

Dad's text tonight:

We got her port fixed this morning.  She gave blood and did labs.  She has been feeling sick today, but has not thrown up.  Her arm is hurting really bad.  I have put Bengay and ice packs on it for her.  She has also had flu like symptoms today and her body has ached all over.  That's to be expected though.  It's a side effect of one of the flavors of chemo she is receiving.  She was also really emotional today.  She did not eat a lot, and still does not like the blue room.  CANCER HURTS...I see it everyday!

be still...

and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10


If tonight is any indication of how the next 6 plus months will be, we have an even longer road ahead of us than we thought.

In the words of dad:
It was a long day.  She had two flavors of chemo today.  I think it hit her around 6pm.  She started getting real weak and a little sick.    We got back from the clinic around 6:30 tonight, and she has been in bed ever since.  She hasn't moved, and she is very tired, physically and emotionally.  When she finished her treatment today after lunch, we had to stay and have blood draws every half hour, until 6.  Her port did not work for the last blood draw.  We do not have to be back for more draws until 11 tomorrow morning.

We all remember very vividly the horrible nausea and sickness that followed her treatments last go round.  Our prayer tonight is that the sickness doesn't follow her this time.  Please pray this prayer with us.

This is a pic dad snapped and sent to me before she got her treatment this morning.  She was up early and in the good word before going back.  Sorry for the quality.

That's all I've got tonight.  Please pray for her.  And whatever storm you may be facing, just take a second to be still, and know that He is there and listening.

what's not to love...

Wow!  The kindness and love that you people have shown and continue to show us everyday is truly amazing!  Everyday we are blessed by your kindness.  Our hearts are forever thankful for everything that has been done for us!

Take a look at this...

In the words of Mrs. Vicki Underwood:
 Announcing a very special fundraiser; for a very special family. Selling Pink Ribbon Scarfs and Stretch Rings...Please let me know how many you would like to purchase.  To order, contact me, Vicki Underwood at 334-790-1728 or Nita McGhee at 334-790-2560.   We are both on Facebook if you would rather message us your order.  All proceeds will be donated to Mrs. Peggy Culverhouse. Please share with friends. IICorinthians 6-8 "He who sows with blessings will also reap, with blessings" Share the Love.


Quick update:
She has been in Birmingham all week.  She has had a lot of appointments and tests getting her ready for treatment.  She is going to start chemo on Tuesday.  We found out yesterday that she is going to receive both drugs when she starts chemo.  This is great news!!!  She has a long road to go, but we are excited to see how the tumors react to this experimental drug.  


As always, please keep her in your prayers.  She is not excited about having to take chemo.


She will have to stay in Birmingham all next week too and go everyday for tests.  




Love ya'll.  Update again Tuesday, if not before.

faith is the substance...

of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1



That's moms favorite bible verse and what she told me after our news today. She never ceases to amaze me.

We met with a team of 6 doctors today, and the news was gut wrenching. Of the 6 doctors, 2 were surgeons who totally ruled out surgery. The cancer is in too many places. It would be impossible to get all the tumors. Also the surgery may end up causing her more pain, if that's possible, than she's in all ready.

Then came this news.

Her cancer has spread. Again. How could this be?

It has spread to a spot in between her ribs. It has also spread to both sides of her lungs.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We have all decided that she needs to start treatment immediately. She will have a biopsy on Wednesday in Birmingham to start the ball rolling on the clinical trial there.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

nothing new...

After a day of waiting and appointments, we still don't really know anything. Her doctor reassured us that her cancer has spread to her lymph nodes, and that there are some questionable spots in her chest wall, along with the large tumor.

Our options are clinical trial here in Houston or clinical trial in Birmingham. Two different drugs, both with very different side effects, both are very good. Doctors can't tell us the best one to choose.

It's a very, very hard decision. We are frustrated. The pain is still very much with her. We thought we would have definite answers today.

We meet with a team of doctors tomorrow afternoon. Hope we will have clarity after that.

Sorry if we haven't responded to your text or phone call. It's not that we don't appreciate it or love you. Mother was at a 10 going in to her appointment and now she's at about a 2. Pray for her tonight.

Love y'all.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

you girls ROCK!!

Thank you Mt. Zion Wednesday night girls for making mother's day!  I talked to her after you all left, and wish I could share the excitement and gratitude in her voice.  Haven't heard that in a long time.  I could even tell she was smiling, which made my heart soo happy!  Some days, she hurts so bad, that nothing is worth smiling for.  Thank you for reaching out to the shut-in and sick with your ministry.   What a powerful ministry you have started.   She wanted me to thank you for your prayers, laughs, love, and encouraging words.  We love you!!!! 

His plan, not ours...

God's plan is perfect.  Not mine.  What I think is best, doesn't always align with His.  

"Understanding will never bring peace.  

That's why I have instructed you to Trust in Me, not your understanding." 

We're back home.

I wish so badly that I didn't have to type these words tonight.  Today several people have asked about mother, and I lied.  I lied when I told you we didn't know anything from her tests.  I'm sorry.  I'm still having a hard time with it.  A hard time believing that this is really happening.   I just couldn't say a tiny 6 letter word to you.  It's easier to type it, than to have to say it out loud.

Hear goes... 

Mother's cancer has spread to her lymphnodes near her neck.

I'm not asking you for your sympathy tonight.  Truthfully, there is nothing that you can say or do that will take the fear away from us.  I just ask you to pray.

Heard this song too during my mission trip.  It also came on the radio tonight during my drive home. 



Thank you Lord for subtle reminders.

day 3...

Not too much from Houston tonight.  Today mother had two biopsies, x-rays, and lab work done.  The only really painful part of her day were the biopsies.  We didn't see Dr. Brown today...she won't see him again until the 17th.  Tomorrow will be full of scans.  Fingers crossed, we will probably get to come home this weekend, and then travel back on the 17th to learn the results of all the tests.  A lot of hurry up and waiting today.  I'm sure tomorrow will be the same way.  That's all for tonight...here are a few pictures from today.  Thank you for your encouragement and prayers!!

this is where we spent the majority of the day...

riding the shuttle INSIDE the hospital...told yall it was HUGE!!

telling me about her biopsy...think her face says it all...

happy to be done for the day...

Praying these tests prove the doctor wrong about her cancer spreading.  Be back tomorrow!

days 1 and 2...

Day 1

We made it to Houston, almost pain free.  Here's a look at our day...

Our Plane, which picked us up in Ozark

We are blessed.  Sweet friends and family helped see us off...

Nana, waiting patiently...

"see ya later" is sometimes hard...

 

uncle chuck checking things over to make sure things were just right before we left...

on the plane...mom napping, and dad and I talking to the pilot...

our WONDERFUL pilots...

hurting during the landing...

Finally got her pain under control once we got to the hotel.  That's pretty  much all from day 1.

Day 2

Today she had 3 appointments.  Her last one we met with her doctor, Dr. Brown.  After examining her,  and finding that her neck is swollen, he feels as though her cancer has spread to her lymphnodes in her neck.  He wants to do more tests to see if this is correct.  So now she is scheduled for more biopsies, ultrasounds, and CAT scans.  Not sure when those will be yet...should find out tomorrow.  He wants to know for sure whether her cancer has spread or not before coming up with a game plan. 

Please pray that this doctor is wrong.  Even if she gets all of her tests scheduled for this week, we still will not know the results until 2 weeks from today.  It's going to be hard to wait...again...

Definitely not the news we were expecting today.

short and sweet...

The Internet connection in our hotel room is soooo slow so I will update more in the morning. We made it, had some pain, got it under control, and she's sleeping now. Her appointments start tomorrow afternoon. Dad and I went over to the hospital today to find out exactly where we have to go tomorrow. Holy guacamole!!!! I'm pretty sure a small country could fit inside. It's huge!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone