John had his last radiation treatment on Monday. It was actually a bit of a surprise cause I thought he was scheduled for several more. Dr. Ballenger, his radiologist, was very pleased with the progress she had made. Her mission was to zap the growth that was strangling one of the main trunks to his lungs so it would allow for good air flow. Prior to all of this, when John would breathe, there was a gurgling sound. Since the radiation (and chemo) started, that has gone away and his lungs now sound really good. Can we relax....well, no. Cancer is sort of like the bad guy in one of those horror films. He gets shot, head cut off, blown up, cut, and buried, but somehow, he manages to come back and scare the BeeJesus out of you. That's what it is like. You know it is still out there. Cancer, the true horror film!
But, all in all, he is doing remarkably well....considering everything he is dealing with. He is really having trouble eating and drinking now that the radiation has burned his esophagus. That will continue for two weeks after the last radiation treatment and then the healing process starts. But, always remember, when other things start healing, so does the cancer. And it will get what it needs first.
I didn't realize till we talked with Dr. Ballenger how sneaky cancer really is. She told us cancer releases an enzyme when you eat that tells the brain you are full. "We've had plenty thanks....don't need any more food". But, what is really happening, the cancer cells grab the first calories, release the enzyme to say we are full, and the rest of the body goes without and gradually starves. That is why one of the first questions someone is asked when cancer may be involved is, "Have you lost weight recently?"
John has lost some weight. I keep thinking a lot of it is from all the procedures he has endured. Seems as though every one of them is always scheduled early in the day, but never get done till way late! He goes without food and drink from 12 the night before till after the procedure is complete. So, he should have lost some from that.
But anyway, that is where we are, waiting for the healing to start on his throat. Life is pretty tough when you can't eat or drink with any pleasure. Take my word for it.
Wagon still moving....
PCQ
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
NC State Fair
I didn't get to go to the State Fair this year. Really sorry about that, but, it just couldn't be helped. And, to tell the truth, I do the same things every year. But this year, the attendance broke the one million mark and I am sorry that I wasn't one of the clicks on the turnstile that helped break that record.
Growing up, I always went to the fair. Sort of took it for granted. Anyone who lives in North Carolina, needs to go to the fair, but I never realized what a great fair we have till our girls were showing horses and we ended up at horse shows at other state fairs. Wow, we are so lucky. Most state fairs are pretty wimpy, but not ours. It is just too much fun.
Several years ago, I decided I was old enough to do what I wanted to do, and thought spending a week working at the state fair would be fun. So, I set about finding a job. Didn't take me long. Before I knew it, I had the grand job of handing out free samples of Neese's Liver Pudding! (It is called liver mush in some places.) All the liver pudding I could possibly want, plus, I got in free, and was paid to do it! How cool is that? I also discovered the underground economy at the fair. You give me some maple cotton candy and I'll trade you a pound of liver pudding. Done deal!
I loved being at the fair. But it was hard work. It is amazing how many people actually LIKE liver pudding and don't think their fair visit is complete until they have been by the Neese's booth and grabbed a few samples of the puddin'. And with thousands of people going to the fair every day, that adds up to a lot of liver pudding being dished out!
Got to make new friends while I was there too. Even allowed me an invitation to be a SPAM judge. Yes, the state fair has a SPAM cooking contest and believe it or not, people enter it.
So, put that on my list of "Certified to DO!" North Carolina State Fair SPAM judge.....the joys of life.
PCQ
Growing up, I always went to the fair. Sort of took it for granted. Anyone who lives in North Carolina, needs to go to the fair, but I never realized what a great fair we have till our girls were showing horses and we ended up at horse shows at other state fairs. Wow, we are so lucky. Most state fairs are pretty wimpy, but not ours. It is just too much fun.
Several years ago, I decided I was old enough to do what I wanted to do, and thought spending a week working at the state fair would be fun. So, I set about finding a job. Didn't take me long. Before I knew it, I had the grand job of handing out free samples of Neese's Liver Pudding! (It is called liver mush in some places.) All the liver pudding I could possibly want, plus, I got in free, and was paid to do it! How cool is that? I also discovered the underground economy at the fair. You give me some maple cotton candy and I'll trade you a pound of liver pudding. Done deal!
I loved being at the fair. But it was hard work. It is amazing how many people actually LIKE liver pudding and don't think their fair visit is complete until they have been by the Neese's booth and grabbed a few samples of the puddin'. And with thousands of people going to the fair every day, that adds up to a lot of liver pudding being dished out!
Got to make new friends while I was there too. Even allowed me an invitation to be a SPAM judge. Yes, the state fair has a SPAM cooking contest and believe it or not, people enter it.
So, put that on my list of "Certified to DO!" North Carolina State Fair SPAM judge.....the joys of life.
PCQ
Monday, October 18, 2010
Busy Week
John has had a busy week. And if John has had a busy week, I have too. During this past week, he has had radiation every day, three days of blood tests and X-Rays, two trips to outpatient services at the hospital to get a total of 4 units of blood and one unit of platelets. Thankfully, Friday's blood test said he was full of joy juice and all his numbers were great.
Thursday, I took a partial day off of taking care of John and went to the ECU Women's Roundtable at the Greenville Convention Center with my friend, Ann. The purpose of the event is to raise money for ECU scholarships. It was a grand conference.
Our friend, Tony, stepped up and took on my responsibilities for the day, with regard to John. The conference started at 9 a.m. Tony picked John up around noon and took him to his radiation appointment, and then lunch. Afterwards, he took John to PCMH Outpatient Services to get his last two units of blood. I joined them there.
Earlier that day, I was enjoying the wonderful speakers at the conference. Of course, my favorite was Jeanne Robertson, humorist speaker and past (tallest by the way) Miss North Carolina, who spoke after lunch. She is a hoot and you can view her Bungee Jump speech she did for us at the link below. Given all that I have had going on recently, it was nice to enjoy the day with my friend and have a few belly laughs....I really needed that.
Jeanne Robertson's Bungee Jump
Here's a photo of me and Jeanne Robertson with urinals behind us. The convention center had converted the men's rooms into women's rooms for the conference since mostly women were attending. When I went into the "Ladies' Room" before lunch, Jeanne Robertson, was in front of me and she looked at me and said, "Now who are you?" We started talking and I told her coincidentally, I had just viewed her Pound Cake video on YouTube the weekend before when my daughter, Lauren, was home. I told her my husband had been sick and my dear friend Joan had brought one of her mother, Cleo's, pound cakes to us. We laughed about pound cakes and sick people and she said, "So many people have told me they have heard my pound cake story, I don't think I will do that one today. Think I'll do the Bungee Jump." I didn't tell her I had just viewed that one recently too. "You know," she said, "we decided to put these on YouTube and we have had millions of hits. Who would have thought that many people would listen to clean humor?"
I grabbed my camera and asked if she would pose for a photo. "Sure," she said, "and make sure you get the urinals in the picture, cause years from now, when you are dead and gone, your children will be going through your photos and they will see this and say, 'What in the world was she doing in the men's bathroom?'" So, I got a friend to snap the photo above.
It was a fun day. But I did hear some startling statistics about women and money. Need to call our financial advisor and plan a meeting.
Wagon still rolling.
PCQ
Thursday, I took a partial day off of taking care of John and went to the ECU Women's Roundtable at the Greenville Convention Center with my friend, Ann. The purpose of the event is to raise money for ECU scholarships. It was a grand conference.
Our friend, Tony, stepped up and took on my responsibilities for the day, with regard to John. The conference started at 9 a.m. Tony picked John up around noon and took him to his radiation appointment, and then lunch. Afterwards, he took John to PCMH Outpatient Services to get his last two units of blood. I joined them there.
Earlier that day, I was enjoying the wonderful speakers at the conference. Of course, my favorite was Jeanne Robertson, humorist speaker and past (tallest by the way) Miss North Carolina, who spoke after lunch. She is a hoot and you can view her Bungee Jump speech she did for us at the link below. Given all that I have had going on recently, it was nice to enjoy the day with my friend and have a few belly laughs....I really needed that.
Jeanne Robertson's Bungee Jump
Here's a photo of me and Jeanne Robertson with urinals behind us. The convention center had converted the men's rooms into women's rooms for the conference since mostly women were attending. When I went into the "Ladies' Room" before lunch, Jeanne Robertson, was in front of me and she looked at me and said, "Now who are you?" We started talking and I told her coincidentally, I had just viewed her Pound Cake video on YouTube the weekend before when my daughter, Lauren, was home. I told her my husband had been sick and my dear friend Joan had brought one of her mother, Cleo's, pound cakes to us. We laughed about pound cakes and sick people and she said, "So many people have told me they have heard my pound cake story, I don't think I will do that one today. Think I'll do the Bungee Jump." I didn't tell her I had just viewed that one recently too. "You know," she said, "we decided to put these on YouTube and we have had millions of hits. Who would have thought that many people would listen to clean humor?"
I grabbed my camera and asked if she would pose for a photo. "Sure," she said, "and make sure you get the urinals in the picture, cause years from now, when you are dead and gone, your children will be going through your photos and they will see this and say, 'What in the world was she doing in the men's bathroom?'" So, I got a friend to snap the photo above.
It was a fun day. But I did hear some startling statistics about women and money. Need to call our financial advisor and plan a meeting.
Wagon still rolling.
PCQ
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Full Time Nurse
Think I became a full time nurse today. At least it seems that way. John had an appointment at 1:30 to check his blood. Chemotherapy is deadly on blood cells....and we hope it is deadly on cancer cells too.
Today was two weeks since the first chemo with the new drugs. As we walk through all of this and learn, today was when things start to happen. Well, they have. John had been getting weaker since Sunday. We had such a great time while Lauren and Jake were home, he just kept going. But today, I could tell, he was losing steam, and losing it fast.
Before he had the blood check, he had a radiation appointment at 1 o'clock. We arrived at the radiation appointment a few minutes early. He was taken in right away and zap, he was finished and ready to meet with Dr. Ballenger. She always meets with patients at least once a week and today was the day. She talked about the cancer and how it was restricting air flow in John's lung. Radiation should allow better air flow soon. At least that is the plan. She noticed he was looking a little pale and asked that we bring a copy of the blood tests Dr. Lee would perform, so she could have the info on file.
The appointment with Dr. Lee was immediately following the radiation appointment, so off we go. My red headed girlfriend Watusi (with blonde highlights) was meeting us there to deliver a beautiful potted mum from our friend Mayhew. And it was beautiful....and now gracing our fireplace Halloween scene. Thanks Mayhew!
When we got to Dr. Lee's office, we were quickly taken to the "vampire room" for blood withdrawal. But, now that John has a 3 lead PICC line, (which was installed during his hospital stay to allow easier access for blood withdrawal and delivery of meds) the process has changed. We had to go to the chemo room for blood withdrawal. While I was there, I questioned them on my responsibilities of maintaining the PICC line. The 3 lines must be flushed daily and the dressing and caps changed weekly, they said.
When the home health folks came on Friday and Monday to train me and change the dressing, I was given different answers. My concerns are having been told different things by the home health folks that came to "train" me. When I ask a trained home health care professional a question that I think would be commonly asked, such as, "How often should the lines be flushed?" "I don't know," is not what I want to be told. After several more unanswered, or less than clear answers, I called our very competent nurses at Physician's East, in the chemo room. With both of us having chemo, we have come to know them all very well. Remember, I told you, it's like Cheers when we walk in.....everybody knows your name.
Anyway, they answered my questions and offered suggestions. I will make sure the highly trained "health care professionals" do their job correctly when they return this Friday! You can be assured my baby will have the care his is supposed to have.
Back to our original purpose, to get John's blood checked and X-Rays taken. Blood work showed low hemoglobin and very low platelet count. Platelets are those wonderful little fellas that cause your blood to clot. Not having enough is very dangerous if something happens, so, John is now scheduled for a blood and platelet transfusion on Tuesday at 1 p.m. While we were at Dr. Lee's office, they also took a blood sample that will be delivered to the hospital for cross matching so the correct type of blood will be infused. That process must be done each time he has a transfusion because, having a transfusion can change the chemistry of his blood. I didn't know that and I questioned why it had to be done everytime. Seems as if you know what the blood type is, then, just hook him up and let'r rip. Not quite that simple. As I said, this has been a big learning curve for us and I hope it helps some of you too. We can't all know everything, but we can learn more all the time.
So, we pull our wagon over to Pitt County Memorial Hospital to the Out Patient Services to get my baby gassed up with a few pints of "premium" soon. Hopefully, that will help him and his body continue to heal from the negative effects of the chemotherapy treatment.
Stay tuned...
PCQ
Today was two weeks since the first chemo with the new drugs. As we walk through all of this and learn, today was when things start to happen. Well, they have. John had been getting weaker since Sunday. We had such a great time while Lauren and Jake were home, he just kept going. But today, I could tell, he was losing steam, and losing it fast.
Before he had the blood check, he had a radiation appointment at 1 o'clock. We arrived at the radiation appointment a few minutes early. He was taken in right away and zap, he was finished and ready to meet with Dr. Ballenger. She always meets with patients at least once a week and today was the day. She talked about the cancer and how it was restricting air flow in John's lung. Radiation should allow better air flow soon. At least that is the plan. She noticed he was looking a little pale and asked that we bring a copy of the blood tests Dr. Lee would perform, so she could have the info on file.
The appointment with Dr. Lee was immediately following the radiation appointment, so off we go. My red headed girlfriend Watusi (with blonde highlights) was meeting us there to deliver a beautiful potted mum from our friend Mayhew. And it was beautiful....and now gracing our fireplace Halloween scene. Thanks Mayhew!
When we got to Dr. Lee's office, we were quickly taken to the "vampire room" for blood withdrawal. But, now that John has a 3 lead PICC line, (which was installed during his hospital stay to allow easier access for blood withdrawal and delivery of meds) the process has changed. We had to go to the chemo room for blood withdrawal. While I was there, I questioned them on my responsibilities of maintaining the PICC line. The 3 lines must be flushed daily and the dressing and caps changed weekly, they said.
When the home health folks came on Friday and Monday to train me and change the dressing, I was given different answers. My concerns are having been told different things by the home health folks that came to "train" me. When I ask a trained home health care professional a question that I think would be commonly asked, such as, "How often should the lines be flushed?" "I don't know," is not what I want to be told. After several more unanswered, or less than clear answers, I called our very competent nurses at Physician's East, in the chemo room. With both of us having chemo, we have come to know them all very well. Remember, I told you, it's like Cheers when we walk in.....everybody knows your name.
Anyway, they answered my questions and offered suggestions. I will make sure the highly trained "health care professionals" do their job correctly when they return this Friday! You can be assured my baby will have the care his is supposed to have.
Back to our original purpose, to get John's blood checked and X-Rays taken. Blood work showed low hemoglobin and very low platelet count. Platelets are those wonderful little fellas that cause your blood to clot. Not having enough is very dangerous if something happens, so, John is now scheduled for a blood and platelet transfusion on Tuesday at 1 p.m. While we were at Dr. Lee's office, they also took a blood sample that will be delivered to the hospital for cross matching so the correct type of blood will be infused. That process must be done each time he has a transfusion because, having a transfusion can change the chemistry of his blood. I didn't know that and I questioned why it had to be done everytime. Seems as if you know what the blood type is, then, just hook him up and let'r rip. Not quite that simple. As I said, this has been a big learning curve for us and I hope it helps some of you too. We can't all know everything, but we can learn more all the time.
So, we pull our wagon over to Pitt County Memorial Hospital to the Out Patient Services to get my baby gassed up with a few pints of "premium" soon. Hopefully, that will help him and his body continue to heal from the negative effects of the chemotherapy treatment.
Stay tuned...
PCQ
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Lauren and Jake Were Home
Has been a wonderful weekend. My daughter Lauren, and her partner/boyfriend, Jake, flew in from St. Louis Thursday morning for the weekend. Lauren had visited with us the weekend before when John was still in the hospital, but it was good to have her back and enjoy her at home, away from the stress associated with a hospital stay.
Jake stopped off with her at the end of August, when they were flying back from their two month stay in Paris. Jake has an internet business and luckily, that does allow him some flexibility with work. With a laptop, phone and internet, he can set up his office. Doesn't make it easy, but somehow, he manages it very well. He is such a sweet and loving young man. His mother and father should be very proud of him. But, I know they already are.
Lauren had sent an email earlier in the week requesting a list of things we needed to have done around the house. Most all of us have a 'job jar' that stays full of chores that need to be completed. Most don't have to be done right away, but it sure feels better when they are. With all we have had on our plate the past few weeks, my job list was long and Lauren and Jake immediately began getting them all checked off.
First on the list was, filling holes in the yard. Our sweet Lab, Holden, was successful a few times this summer in finding voles and moles in the yard and that was a very good thing. I was ever so proud of him and made a really big deal when he presented me with the dead critters he had found. Apparently, that praise is highly sought by him, cause now, he digs all over the yard looking for 'something' to bring me. So there are holes all around. When John was feeling better, that was one of his tasks each day, walk around and fill Holden's holes. I was taking care of it for a while, but the hospital stay interrupted our daily patrol. So, Holden had gotten ahead of us with all of his "search holes". Jake set about getting those filled and properly hidden. Most were easily seen, but I was worried about the safety of someone coming to visit after dark. They may not know Holden was working hard to provide me with a "Mole Free Zone" and could take a tumble.
Like I said, my list was long. Nothing that had to be done, but things that made me feel much better when they were done. And neither of them complained. They took the list, checked them all off one by one, and actually seemed to enjoy the physical and mental activity of seeing how much better things looked after they were done.
Windows washed - done
Garbage removed - done
Burned out flood light - done
Pine straw replaced - done
Garage cleaned - done
Plants repotted - done
Dogs brushed - done
Holes filled - done
Dead limbs picked up and removed - done
Hummingbird feeders taken down and cleaned - done
and the list goes on.....
(Oh yeah....and the most important thing, Jake fixed my living room television. While John was in the hospital, the sound just disappeared. Thought I had hit the wrong button on the remote, but no. Appears the sound card was bad. So he googled it, and sound came spilling out of the speakers. Amazing how much better television is with sound.)
How thankful I am to have such a wonderful caring daughter....and her fine boyfriend selection, Jake. What a great weekend we all had together, enjoying the beautiful October weather. There is no doubt in my mind, that John feels so much better having them here, busy, laughing, and working. I know I do. Working to reduce the stress we sometimes feel from not being able to get chores around the house done.
Lauren and Jake pulled hard on our little red wagon this weekend and that was a very good thing. Oh how I miss them so.
PCQ
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Update on John
John was home from the hospital just a few days before he began to feel very weak again. After visiting his doctor, it was determined his hemoglobin was extremely low from the chemotherapy treatment and he needed a blood transfusion. Since that time, he has had the transfusion and several other procedures. I will update soon.
Just wanted everyone to know, John is back home after another exciting visit to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and doing well. He is weak, but getting better every day. (I think we have enough points now to get at least one night free, or an upgrade, if we have to go back!)
Wagon still rolling. But couldn't have done it without all the prayers and faithful help pushing.
PCQ
Just wanted everyone to know, John is back home after another exciting visit to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and doing well. He is weak, but getting better every day. (I think we have enough points now to get at least one night free, or an upgrade, if we have to go back!)
Wagon still rolling. But couldn't have done it without all the prayers and faithful help pushing.
PCQ
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