Thanks for all your prayers and loving thoughts.
Hugs and kisses
carrie
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
We are down at the cancer center...Scott finished hus first round of three days of chemo last week. Each day he is finding a little more strenght, we are here since his ear keeps filling up with ffluid and causing pain, they plan on a c-t scan soon as they are drawing blood. His veins are brusing from the chemo with one spasing, the doctor will check that out too. He was told next round of chemo he will have to have a portal to receive. We feel very blessed that these ae the only effects so far...this morning Scott was a wake before me when I came out he was cooking everyone ham and eggs...a very nice surprise considering he has been in bed since tuesday...only waking for a couple hours.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday
Last Friday Scott finished the whole brain radiation, over the weekend he began to lose his hair as it came out in chunks. The girls and I cringe every time he pulls out a chunk but he smiles saying "It's only hair." We are getting many calls and visitors, Julie and Jesse began baseball and t-ball practice this week. They have their first game Thursday, both of them love playing. Although, Julie gave us a hard time not really knowing if she would like it. Hopefully we can get Scott to see a game or two, he is tired most the time. The kids and I have joined a pool not to far away, so we have another place to get out this summer so that Scott has a quiet house to rest in. I can hop in the car and arrive home in ten minutes.
Today we saw his oncologist doctor- they are still concerned with the type of cancer they believe it is small cell but it has variables of another cancer. The treatment may differ depending on if it has spread from the lungs and lymph node, we will find this out in three weeks after his first round of chemo, then a MRI to see if it had spread and see how the cancer reacts to the chemo. His treatments begin on Tuesday for three days, but we will get a better plan tomorrow after they have a conference with the pathologist, radiologist and oncologist. It looks like either way he will have chemo treatments for twelve to eighteen weeks. It's a bit of a shock for Scott and I but what ever it takes!
I'm going to have to get the kids out of the house since they can't keep their voices down and he needs to sleep. We get so much comfort in knowing that you are praying for us.
Also, we learned a couple of weeks ago that my Paperthreads co-designers have put together a Vacation & Getaways Membership, in which some of the designers are creating files of five each to offer fifty files in the membership. We can't thank them enough for putting this together in our time of need. If you would like to read more about the membership which the money will go to help our family you can click on the link.
Thank you all for your concerns and prayers! It gives us much strength in knowing so many care.
God bless!
Hugs & kisses,
Carrie
Today we saw his oncologist doctor- they are still concerned with the type of cancer they believe it is small cell but it has variables of another cancer. The treatment may differ depending on if it has spread from the lungs and lymph node, we will find this out in three weeks after his first round of chemo, then a MRI to see if it had spread and see how the cancer reacts to the chemo. His treatments begin on Tuesday for three days, but we will get a better plan tomorrow after they have a conference with the pathologist, radiologist and oncologist. It looks like either way he will have chemo treatments for twelve to eighteen weeks. It's a bit of a shock for Scott and I but what ever it takes!
I'm going to have to get the kids out of the house since they can't keep their voices down and he needs to sleep. We get so much comfort in knowing that you are praying for us.
Also, we learned a couple of weeks ago that my Paperthreads co-designers have put together a Vacation & Getaways Membership, in which some of the designers are creating files of five each to offer fifty files in the membership. We can't thank them enough for putting this together in our time of need. If you would like to read more about the membership which the money will go to help our family you can click on the link.
Thank you all for your concerns and prayers! It gives us much strength in knowing so many care.
God bless!
Hugs & kisses,
Carrie
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday 7, 2009
This morning Scott had a little bit harder time waking up, most likely due to his radiation treatments. He was welcomed by Lexi his two year old granddaughter who always brings a big smile to his face. We had breakfast then left for his sixth radiation treatment, knowing we would see his radiation oncologist afterwards. His treatment lasted five minutes as it radiates both sides of the brain. Scott considers it a blessing since we have met others who have much longer treatments.
Scott had gained thirteen pounds but when he told the doctor he wasn't impressed saying it was the steroids and we will begin to ween you off of them starting this week. He also told us that this next week the effects from the treatments will begin. He will experience more fatigue and start losing his hair. He was cautioned on being outside in the sun even for short periods since the sun can burn his skin. After this week he will have a week or two of rest then he will begin chemo treatments. I tried to get an answer about the chemo on the length but he once again told us his oncologist will inform us when we see him at that next appointment. Although he did give us a little hint when he mentioned that after his first month of treatment he will need an MRI before his next treatment begins. I figured that must mean he will have at least two months of chemo. After our visit we arrived home to a full household, with all the kids so we are now getting ready to go to the park to give dad some quiet time.
hugs and kisses to all!
Carrie
Scott had gained thirteen pounds but when he told the doctor he wasn't impressed saying it was the steroids and we will begin to ween you off of them starting this week. He also told us that this next week the effects from the treatments will begin. He will experience more fatigue and start losing his hair. He was cautioned on being outside in the sun even for short periods since the sun can burn his skin. After this week he will have a week or two of rest then he will begin chemo treatments. I tried to get an answer about the chemo on the length but he once again told us his oncologist will inform us when we see him at that next appointment. Although he did give us a little hint when he mentioned that after his first month of treatment he will need an MRI before his next treatment begins. I figured that must mean he will have at least two months of chemo. After our visit we arrived home to a full household, with all the kids so we are now getting ready to go to the park to give dad some quiet time.
hugs and kisses to all!
Carrie
Friday, June 5, 2009
On May 11th news that changed our life...
Well let me back up here a bit...four years ago Scott was diagnosed with first stage lung cancer. It seemed so devastating, everything took so long to get information, the type of cancer, the treatments, the test involved then finally surgery. Which was more than a success! Moments before they took Scott away to remove the cancer we were told only two things were possible when removing this cancer. One he would lose half a lobe or two the whole lobe it all depended on the position of the tumor.
After a four hour surgery the surgeon came out he walked straight up to me and said "I tried something new, it worked and was a success, Scott still has his lung." then he turned and left the room. I couldn't believe what he had said as I shared the news with the family we rejoiced yet we had no idea what the surgeon actually did. Later, at Scott's first check up the surgeon explained that he tried something new, to split the lung, remove the tumor and fuse it back...that was his success and it made a huge difference in Scott's recovery. With in a couple of months Scott was back out working, although he experienced chronic pain.
For the next four years Scott visited his oncologist on a regular bases. He had one ct-scan early on but could not afford the many others that his doctor was wanting. At his check ups he would have a chest x-ray and blood work, which everything looked good. As of March this year his oncologist dismissed Scott saying he was cancer free. We were all celebrating the good news.
Shortly after the news our family had a bad cold come through the house, the kind that effects the sinuses. Scott and our oldest son Jason had it for the longest but with Scott's "bad" cold he had mild headaches and as he started feeling better from the cold the head aches seemed to stay.
We then thought he had a sinus infection so he tried some over the counter meds. over the next couple of weeks his headaches continued. He would put in a full day of work to find that when he got home he was exhausted so he would sleep. The headaches remained and another wave of spring sickness came through, it was so hard to determine that the headaches were from another source.
On May 11th Scott woke that morning telling me he needs to go to the hospital, he said his head felt like it was going to split open and then he started vomiting. As I prepared to get one of the older kids home the phone rang and it was Jennifer's school wanting to know where she was. When I checked her room she was laying in bed with a terrible headache saying she felt as if she was going to vomit. I began to wonder if we had the swine flu? I made an appointment with Jennifer's pediatrician for that evening and waited for Katie to arrive as she cut her college exam short.
When we arrived at the hospital I saw a young man holding his head and vomiting so I really began to worry that the swine flu was here. The hospital staff moved quickly to isolate us. With in a few minutes they were taking Scott's vitals when the doctor came in the room she immediately said she did not think he had the flu, since their was no fever. She ordered a ct-scan on Scott because of his history with cancer, then asked the nurse to give Scott morphine. I really began to worry but I didn't allow my thoughts to go to far waiting to find out what they had found. With in an hour the doctor came back and told us they saw a mass in the ct-scan and had called to have Scott transported to St. Louis University hospital. We called our oldest son to let him know what we had just found out and he arrived with in a half an hour with his girlfriend.
I then left with Andrea to go home to get Scott's personal belongings and to tell the other children. I was full of so many emotions on that drive home it felt like hours to get there and when I arrived and Katie didn't see dad she knew something serious had happened. As for Jennifer up stairs, I figured it was her migraines and called to cancel her appointment making sure she got her rescue medicine. From their on I kept close time to when she needed it next.
By that evening Scott was being transported to SLU followed by family and friends who had already gathered. He was feeling good at this time since they had given him so much morphine, I could hear him talking to the paramedic in the back.
As the news spread that evening a flood of family and friends started coming to visit, in his room at one time I counted fifteen of us all around his bed. We heard the door open as I saw the nurse walk behind the curtains of the patient next to Scott. We assumed we would get in trouble for having so many in his room, so we all stood still holding our breath. Finally, the nurse popped out from behind the curtains saying "Hi Family!" What a cute way to help us feel comfortable, from then on no one said a word about the many visitors. And the next day they let Scott take walks with us.
The next day Scott had all kinds of test, the doctors were worried why the mass in the brain? They assumed he must have lung cancer again. After a MRI they discovered a mass in his other lung and lobe, which was surprising that he had this cancer in the right lung not in the left. AS they shared their plans with us it became clear that the mass in his brain was most critical and that they had to remove it rather quickly. We then knew it was a matter of a couple of days before surgery and from the surgery they could get a biopsy. But before they needed one from the right lung.
That evening we met with the most humble brain surgeon. He stood before all of us in a crowded room presenting his plan but he made sure that we were all understanding that he was only a tool, that God above was the master of life and death and that it was his decision on the success of the surgery. I stood their in total disbelief that we would have such a surgeon by our side, some how I knew God had waited for this moment that we could have him. Everyone was at ease when he left all feeling as if we knew this was going to be successful.
On Friday Scott had surgery it was so hard to say good bye I felt like I shared him with so many and we didn't have any time since the moment we arrived at the emergency room. They rolled him down a stretcher and I waved as he went into the elevator. We then were told to wait on the third floor in the surgery waiting room, once I got settled down there a nurse came out asking for me. She said Scott wants you back here with him. When I saw him, he said we didn't have any time for our selves since this whole thing started, will you stay with me until they put me under. Of course I would! It was such a delicate time as we faced life and death once again, our love shinned through. We laughed, we cried and we told each other how special each one was to the other, knowing we were never perfect but we knew we tried. I told him he couldn't leave me for he was the only person who ever really understood and loved me. He said he wouldn't!
The surgery was expected to last six to twelve hours. By eleven I was tired and the staff had provided a private room for us. Everyone left to find lunch as I laid down on a couch falling asleep. It seemed like just a few moments later I was being woken and told I was wanted on the phone. When I answered I was told the surgeon was finished and closing up Scott that he would be out to speak to us with in an hour. I began making phone calls for everyone to come back, telling them with disbelief that they were about finished. Very close to an hour later our humble surgeon came to tell us how successful the surgery was, saying that the tumor just seemed to fall right out in one piece. We all cheered and clapped as he gently gave a gesture of bow and left the room. Another miracle...surgery lasting four hours!
~~~~~~
I will finish my update tomorrow as it is getting late...
hugs & kisses
Carrie
After a four hour surgery the surgeon came out he walked straight up to me and said "I tried something new, it worked and was a success, Scott still has his lung." then he turned and left the room. I couldn't believe what he had said as I shared the news with the family we rejoiced yet we had no idea what the surgeon actually did. Later, at Scott's first check up the surgeon explained that he tried something new, to split the lung, remove the tumor and fuse it back...that was his success and it made a huge difference in Scott's recovery. With in a couple of months Scott was back out working, although he experienced chronic pain.
For the next four years Scott visited his oncologist on a regular bases. He had one ct-scan early on but could not afford the many others that his doctor was wanting. At his check ups he would have a chest x-ray and blood work, which everything looked good. As of March this year his oncologist dismissed Scott saying he was cancer free. We were all celebrating the good news.
Shortly after the news our family had a bad cold come through the house, the kind that effects the sinuses. Scott and our oldest son Jason had it for the longest but with Scott's "bad" cold he had mild headaches and as he started feeling better from the cold the head aches seemed to stay.
We then thought he had a sinus infection so he tried some over the counter meds. over the next couple of weeks his headaches continued. He would put in a full day of work to find that when he got home he was exhausted so he would sleep. The headaches remained and another wave of spring sickness came through, it was so hard to determine that the headaches were from another source.
On May 11th Scott woke that morning telling me he needs to go to the hospital, he said his head felt like it was going to split open and then he started vomiting. As I prepared to get one of the older kids home the phone rang and it was Jennifer's school wanting to know where she was. When I checked her room she was laying in bed with a terrible headache saying she felt as if she was going to vomit. I began to wonder if we had the swine flu? I made an appointment with Jennifer's pediatrician for that evening and waited for Katie to arrive as she cut her college exam short.
When we arrived at the hospital I saw a young man holding his head and vomiting so I really began to worry that the swine flu was here. The hospital staff moved quickly to isolate us. With in a few minutes they were taking Scott's vitals when the doctor came in the room she immediately said she did not think he had the flu, since their was no fever. She ordered a ct-scan on Scott because of his history with cancer, then asked the nurse to give Scott morphine. I really began to worry but I didn't allow my thoughts to go to far waiting to find out what they had found. With in an hour the doctor came back and told us they saw a mass in the ct-scan and had called to have Scott transported to St. Louis University hospital. We called our oldest son to let him know what we had just found out and he arrived with in a half an hour with his girlfriend.
I then left with Andrea to go home to get Scott's personal belongings and to tell the other children. I was full of so many emotions on that drive home it felt like hours to get there and when I arrived and Katie didn't see dad she knew something serious had happened. As for Jennifer up stairs, I figured it was her migraines and called to cancel her appointment making sure she got her rescue medicine. From their on I kept close time to when she needed it next.
By that evening Scott was being transported to SLU followed by family and friends who had already gathered. He was feeling good at this time since they had given him so much morphine, I could hear him talking to the paramedic in the back.
As the news spread that evening a flood of family and friends started coming to visit, in his room at one time I counted fifteen of us all around his bed. We heard the door open as I saw the nurse walk behind the curtains of the patient next to Scott. We assumed we would get in trouble for having so many in his room, so we all stood still holding our breath. Finally, the nurse popped out from behind the curtains saying "Hi Family!" What a cute way to help us feel comfortable, from then on no one said a word about the many visitors. And the next day they let Scott take walks with us.
The next day Scott had all kinds of test, the doctors were worried why the mass in the brain? They assumed he must have lung cancer again. After a MRI they discovered a mass in his other lung and lobe, which was surprising that he had this cancer in the right lung not in the left. AS they shared their plans with us it became clear that the mass in his brain was most critical and that they had to remove it rather quickly. We then knew it was a matter of a couple of days before surgery and from the surgery they could get a biopsy. But before they needed one from the right lung.
That evening we met with the most humble brain surgeon. He stood before all of us in a crowded room presenting his plan but he made sure that we were all understanding that he was only a tool, that God above was the master of life and death and that it was his decision on the success of the surgery. I stood their in total disbelief that we would have such a surgeon by our side, some how I knew God had waited for this moment that we could have him. Everyone was at ease when he left all feeling as if we knew this was going to be successful.
On Friday Scott had surgery it was so hard to say good bye I felt like I shared him with so many and we didn't have any time since the moment we arrived at the emergency room. They rolled him down a stretcher and I waved as he went into the elevator. We then were told to wait on the third floor in the surgery waiting room, once I got settled down there a nurse came out asking for me. She said Scott wants you back here with him. When I saw him, he said we didn't have any time for our selves since this whole thing started, will you stay with me until they put me under. Of course I would! It was such a delicate time as we faced life and death once again, our love shinned through. We laughed, we cried and we told each other how special each one was to the other, knowing we were never perfect but we knew we tried. I told him he couldn't leave me for he was the only person who ever really understood and loved me. He said he wouldn't!
The surgery was expected to last six to twelve hours. By eleven I was tired and the staff had provided a private room for us. Everyone left to find lunch as I laid down on a couch falling asleep. It seemed like just a few moments later I was being woken and told I was wanted on the phone. When I answered I was told the surgeon was finished and closing up Scott that he would be out to speak to us with in an hour. I began making phone calls for everyone to come back, telling them with disbelief that they were about finished. Very close to an hour later our humble surgeon came to tell us how successful the surgery was, saying that the tumor just seemed to fall right out in one piece. We all cheered and clapped as he gently gave a gesture of bow and left the room. Another miracle...surgery lasting four hours!
~~~~~~
I will finish my update tomorrow as it is getting late...
hugs & kisses
Carrie
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