Funkyjimmer's Blog

Saturday, July 29, 2006

REPORT ON MY WIFE’S CANCER JOURNEY

Our trip to the doctor this week revealed that the tumor count had gone back up just a little--but mainly the doctor said it had hit a plateau. His conclusion was that the chemo drug she was taking was no longer effective. He started her a different drug with the chemo treatment this week. One of this drug's many side effects is that it effects the heart. So before she could start on the drug, she had to have some kind of heart scan to be sure her heart is functioning normally. It was normal so they could go ahead and give her the treatment that will mess up her heart! Doesn’t really make sense to me but I’m not a doctor. (Thank goodness!)

The doctor said the bone scan showed no new lesions on any of the bones--in fact they looked somewhat improved. The CT scan showed that the spot on the liver had increased in size. The scan also showed something in the lungs but he didn't think it was cancer--probably something from the infection she recently contracted. That’s what put her in the hospital for a couple of days two weeks ago. She has to have a lung X-ray before her next chemo treatment to be sure that it isn’t anything serious.

We had a lengthily consultation with the doctor. I was the most satisfied ever with the amount of time he gave us and with the discussion. He wasn't able to answer all our questions but he at least discussed them with us. He said the reason she hasn't bounced back this time as always before is explained by several factors: the cancer is active again, her body is experiencing some residual effects of such long-term chemo treatments, she had that episode with the infection in her body, etc.

So she had the treatment Thursday. Now we are entering the time when she’s going to feel really lousy for a week or so. Then comes the period of time when her immune system is really low. We’ll have to be careful not to infect her with anything. And she has to stay away from eating green vegetables during this time.

The “Journey” continues.

Regards,

Jim

posted by jim 12:04 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

AN HONOR, A PRIVILEGE AND A PLEASURE

A recent college graduate friend (he graduated at the top of his class from a very tough academic college) has decided to marry. He is excited and happy. I am happy and excited for him.

I do not know his fiancée. I hope he has chosen well. Knowing him as I do, I am confident that he has done so. He has never done anything impulsively or irrationally. He always thinks things through and weighs everything carefully. Of course, when it is a matter of the heart, it is a good thing not to be too rational! :)

I have grown to highly respect this young man. I greatly admire him and trust his judgments implicitly. Rarely have I known a person of any age to have the love for, and dedication to Christ and His Kingdom that this young man has demonstrated throughout his college years. During this time he has willingly given untold hours of service to the Kingdom through his campus ministry organization. And he held a part time job and graduated at the top of his class! He has his priorities arranged in proper order: God, family, school/career. He and possibly 4 other young men I know and love truly demonstrate that they are 1 Timothy 4:12 young men.

This young man has highly honored and deeply humbled me by offering the privilege of officiating at his wedding ceremony. My prayer is that I will honor him and glorify Christ as I fulfill his request.

Thank you, my friend, for this privilege.

posted by jim 9:34 PM 0 comments

Monday, July 24, 2006

SUMMER

Whatever happened to the “lazy, hazy days” of summer? For me, life continues at the same pace, if not faster. I guess that’s because of the lifestyle of activities and obligations, which I have either chosen or accepted.

After a good trip to Louisville last month (see Post for July 6), life settled into its usual hectic pace. Unfortunately, it appears that I gave Karon the cold I picked up on vacation. The doctor said that he couldn’t determine what kind of infection she had, nor could he tell when, where or from whom she got the cold. However, the doctor, his nurses and Karon all agree that I probably gave it to her. So I am the villain!

She got it at the time when her resistance was the lowest following her last Chemo so she couldn’t fight it off. That resulted in a few days in the hospital while they pumped her full of antibiotics and other stuff. She has almost recovered – just in time for another Chemo treatment this Wednesday. We have noticed that, even discounting getting the infection, she really didn’t recover much from affects of the last Chemo treatment. All this is beginning to wear on her emotionally. We sometimes wonder whether the treatment isn’t killing her faster than the bone cancer! She had a CT scan and a bone scan last Wednesday. We’ll get the results this Wednesday when we see the doctor.

For the last few years I have taken a “study leave” the month of August. That just meant I didn’t preach on Sundays nor did I attend meetings during the week. I used the time to plan and prepare for the fall – winter preaching schedule and programming.

I’m not taking one this year. We have so much going on at our little church. We have the building project and capital Stewardship Campaign this fall to raise money for the project. There is a lot of planning and organizing this summer to be able to have the actual Campaign this fall. It didn’t seem like a good time to “lay off” this year, especially since I have so little time to give anyway because I work full time.

Selfishly, I’m a bit disappointed because I have looked forward to a break from the rigors of weekly preparation, along with the weekly presentation. About this time of year I am extremely tired. That tiredness is demonstrated in several undesirable ways. I don’t like it but I don’t seem to break the mold—at least not so far. I also seem to have been in a “spiritual desert” for several months. That’s not a pleasant place to find oneself. I’m praying that I will come to a “spiritual oasis” soon!

posted by jim 3:59 PM 1 comments

Thursday, July 06, 2006

A GOOD TIME

Last week was good. Everything was as planned. I hate it when, even after careful thought and planning, things don't turn out as expected. Often reservations are lost, things are not at the location originally stated--things like that. But most everything was good. The hotel didn't give me the type of room requested. But in this case what I got was even better! It was on the top floor and had extra services without extra charges. One of the best of the "extras" was a full breakfast each day only for those on the top two floors. It was in a special room on the floor below ours. And the breakfast was huge. All you could eat of scrambled eggs, link sausage, bacon, oatmeal, a huge variety of fruit and juices, plus the usual breakfast beverages. Nice!

The Convention we attended was excellent in every way. Well.....every way but one. The Convention and Exhibit halls were freezing. I think it must have been 32 degrees in there. And the hotel lobby was just as bad. I came home with a terrific head cold and lost my voice over the weekend. I am still suffering from the effects of the cold.

Karon has a good idea. Just as public places use to have smoking and non smoking areas, she said Convention Centers and restaurants should have "cold" and "warm" sections! The weather outdoors was great all week but we wouldn't know. Our hotel was connected to the convention center. That made it really nice for us with the wheelchair. Karon did great all week. We didn't get up very early and she managed a nap every afternoon. She was tired when it was all over but did very well.

Yesterday was "doctor day" again. We got another good report. The tumor marker had decreased quite a bit from the last test a month ago. So we're encouraged by that. The doctor said that all the symptoms she is feeling is due to the Chemo. She has been on some type of Chemo consistently for a couple of years and her body is saying, "I don't like this!" Before her next Chemo treatment in three weeks she will have a CT and a bone scan. We're not anticipating any adverse results from these because the tumor marker is continuing to come down.

I'm glad to be back to our "routine"once again. I like my life and and grateful for health to do what I do.

More later,

Jim

posted by jim 12:16 PM 0 comments