thankful and a birthday...

She was finally able to go home from the hospital on Monday.  Not the way she had planned on spending her off week from chemo, but nonetheless, she was feeling some better.

Today, she's back at it.  With a day full of double drug chemo, labs, and doctor visits, she's hoping to make it home in time tonight to give this birthday boy a hug and eat some cake...

Tomorrow as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family, what a precious, new outlook on life we have.  This time last year, we didn't have the fears that we now have.  We didn't worry about pain levels or medicine or chemo trips or scans.  I hope you and your family have a wonderful day spent together thanking Him for his mercy and grace.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."  Psalm 107:1

all hooked up...

Hey faithful followers!  Sorry for not posting any sooner.  Life has been crazy and busy and hectic.

Mom went to her regular family doctor here at home today to find out that she is dehydrated and has a sinus infection.   That's got her ears head all stopped up.  So tonight, she gets to have a slumber party at the hospital in Troy.  Here she is already hooked up and conked out.

Keep those prayers coming her way.  If it's not one thing, it's another.  She's got to hurry up and get better because she is going to be a GRANDMOTHER!!!  Tullie and Sami Jo are expecting a little blessing in June!  We She's very very excited to meet this little one.  Every stick, shot, cup full of medicine, treatment, and nauseousness has been followed by, "gotta do this for the baby." 

Keep the comments and words of encouragement up on the blog.  She loves reading each and every one. 

Love ya'll...be back tomorrow for another update!

cancer is a PAIN...

She has been in constant pain for years.  YEARS people.  She complained of her arm hurting long before she was re-diagnosed in December.  Constant pain.  So severe pain, that the strongest medicines only ease the pain.  Even on her "good" days, her pain level, at best, is a 3 or 4. 


She headed to Birmingham this week for her weekly dose of chemo.  She also had appointments with her pain doctors.  Here's a recap from dad from earlier this week...

 We are trying to set up an appointment with another pain team for the end of this week or next week when we go back for chemo.  Doctors are talking about doing injections, a spinal block, using pain patches, trying a different combination of drugs, or a combination of of the above. 


I can't imagine how she must feel.  Pray she gets relief soon.  They weren't able to get appointments this week, so it will be next week before anything is decided. 

OH, happy day!

Years ago when my Grandma Christine Stone was living, we would often hear her say, "Happy Day!"  Whether she was cheating playing in a good game of rummikub or celebrating a birthday, we would often hear her shouting those sweet words.  I would give anything to hear her say it just one more time.  I know she was dancing on the streets of gold in Heaven with two good knees shouting "Happy Day!" Tuesday afternoon when we learned the results of mother's scans. 

Mom started her day with a good dose of poison chemo.  Once she finished with that, it was on for yet another biopsy.  I've held her hand and watched the procedure done twice now.  Woah.  Something I will never forget.  I pray that none of you have to ever experience a core biopsy.  She is SO tough, and gets tougher with each stick.

After that, we headed down to Dr. Carpenter's office.  There we heard the words that we have been wanting to hear since she was re-diagnosed in December, the cancer is SHRINKING!!!!!  Our eyes welled up with tears and prayers of gratitude began the very instant the words were spoken.  All the trips to Birmingham, the pain, the uncomfortableness, the tears, the fear, the worry, etc, etc, etc, has been worth it!  Ohhhh, praise Him!

We learned that her scans looked good.  Good, but not gone.  The largest tumor in her arm has began shrinking.  Little spots in her abdomen have completely vanished!  But the pain is still very evident.  Dr. Carpenter thinks there is something else that is causing her so much pain, something else besides the cancer.  She is getting appointments with other doctors at the clinic to try and find out why she is in so much pain.  After a few more minutes of talking and answering questions, he examined her, and then we were on our merry way. 

We were tired.  Physically and emotionally.  Mom was in pain, quite a bit of pain, but that didn't stop her from smiling.  It was such a perfect day, and one that I will always remember.


We are and will be forever grateful and touched for all that YOU do.  Without the encouragement, love, and most importantly, prayers, we could have never made it this far.  Just when we think we are at the lowest of low's, you brighten us and love on us.  We thank you and ask you to continue to pray for mother.  She is showing signs of destroying the tumors, but still has a very, very long way to go. 

it's here...

One of the days we have been anxiously awaiting is finally here!  Mom and dad leave tomorrow for Birmingham.  She has her scan tomorrow afternoon, and meets with her oncologist on Tuesday to find out if/how much the treatment she has been taking is working or not.  

Pray us up people, especially her.  To say we are nervous, scared, excited, fearful of Tuesday is an understatement.  We also know how powerful prayer is.

Be back Tuesday with news. 

xoxo,
c

Champions of Hope

Same song.  Different verse.  That's how we all feel.

Still pain.  Still nausea.  Still an achy body.  Still sleeps for days at a time.

That pretty sums up how her days have been since the last post.



Saturday morning was not the norm.  She made herself get up.  She forced a smile, when really all she wanted to do was throw up.  She went.  She cheered.  She prayed.  She cried.

Saturday was the Champions of Hope Breast Cancer 5K in Dothan.  Since she didn't feel well enough to make the Ozark walk, she was determined to attend this one.  It was the perfect day to celebrate such brave, incredible women.  Even though she was hurting and didn't feel good, she toughed it out at stayed until we all finished.  It warmed my heart so much to see her sitting there, cheering us on like she didn't have a hurt in the world.

It was such a fun morning.  Seeing lots thousands of people decked out in their pink.  Overhearing lots of best friends/sisters/daughters/family talking about their loved one who was fighting or had won the battle.  Catching up with friends.  Having some of THE best friends a girl could have walking/running beside me in my mother's honor.  The encouragement.  The support.  The love.

It was a good morning.  Wish it came more than just one time out of the year.  For those few hours, to see mother out of bed, in the sunshine, made me the happiest girl in the world.

THANK you

Once again, I find myself writing a thank you post.  This time, our hearts and our bellys are full!  Thank you, THANK YOU, thank you is in order for mom and dad's Sunday school class!!  They organized a spaghetti feast for our church this past Sunday.  Plates were sold on mom's behalf.  My only regret is that mom was not able to attend.  I guess chemo is getting the best of her these days.  Thank you so much to anyone and everyone that helped make this possible.  Everyone, from the Sunday school class to the church congregation, you have blessed us beyond measure.  It is exhausting, both physically and emotionally, traveling to Birmingham each week.  The driving, the waiting, the taking care of a sick one, is almost too much to handle at times.  Thank you for showering us with blessings this week.  We love you!



In other news, mom received her weekly chemo this week.  She was there allll day again today, but did outstanding.  They are back at the room, and she is snoozing away.  She also had a chest X-Ray done this morning.  She has gotten to where she will lose her breath and it takes a second for her to catch it.  It scares her, and hurts her chest, so they scheduled this test for good measure.  We weren't sure if this had something to do with the cancer moving to her lungs. We are thanking our lucky stars tonight that it was clear! 


It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  Be committed this whole month to pray for breast cancer research, doctors, patients, and those who have lost the battle.  I challenge you...will you do it?