Sorry I have written. Last Monday we went and saw Ken's primary care doctor and everything looked good except for his blood pressure which was high. She added a new medicine and has increased it since then too. Waiting till end of the week to see if she needs to change type again. On a positive not his sugar level is good and is heart murmur is gone. She couldn't quite figure it out but we are just happy! Mom also went to the doctor on Monday and will be doing chemo and radiation through the end of this year. Most likely she will start next week. Just took her drainage tube out yesterday.
Tuesday we went to see the eye specialist and he said he was very glad we came in or Ken would have gone blind. His diabetes has caused him to have bleeding in the vessels that feed the eyes. Both eyes are affected. He had laser surgery yesterday and did awesome. He has it again next Tuesday and then we wait to see if it works. I made the mistake of asking him about steroid treatment because it talked about it on his website. He told us if this treatment didn't work they would shoot steroids directly into the eye not orally. Slapped myself for asking that question when I saw Ken's face! Prayers it works!!!
Friday we saw the cancer doctor, Dr. Code. He always opens the door looks in and smiles when he sees Ken actually came to his own appointment. He examined Ken and then asked if he was having any trouble breathing. Ken immediately sat up straight and said "why, am I supposed to". Dr. Code just laughed and commented there is the anxious attitude he loves. His preliminary blood work looked good and they called on Monday and said everything appeared fine except for a trace of bacteria. Dr. Code is on vacation but they said it could wait till he returned, so we are not worrying about that! We ordered another round of chemo and scheduled another doctor visit in a month and scans again in 2 months. The scans will tell if the drug is working.
Kids are all fine and preparing for school thanks to my shopping angels. The Rose meals on wheels program still delivers on rough days too. I am constantly amazed at how much love and support we receive daily.
Ca Va Bien,
Christina
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Ups and Downs
Well we managed a small trip to Sam's on Tuesday. I think we've figured out the drastic change in temperature sets him off. He became nauseous on the way but by the time we arrived felt a little better. He decided to come in with me and I convinced him to use the motorized wheelchair. It was the most fun he'd
had in a long time. I shopped and he buzzed up and down the isles without me and with a big smile on his face! Wednesday and Thursday nights he again woke up sick.
Thursday I spent 3 hours on the computer and an hour on the phone the previous day applying for disability. They called me at 8:15 Friday morning with more questions and asked me to bring a signed medical release to their office that day. The worker was extremely nice and said she was trying to get a fast response for us and if so we could expect our first check in January, SERIOUSLY!!! Our system is wonderful. Ken decided to ride to the Social Security office with me. I left him in the parked running car while I ran in. I came out and the car was gone. I looked around and saw the car parked somewhere else and didn't see him sitting in the passenger seat. I ran over panicked and he was sitting in the driver's seat. He had thrown up out his door and moved the car so nobody would see him. Never a dull moment! I managed to sneak away a couple of hours for the first time and visit at the pool with a couple of friends. We sat in the shade and talked. It was soooo nice.
Friday afternoon I decided to take a new approach. Broke out the Better Crocker cancer cookbook. It has a section on chemo side affects. I made some nausea fighting banana bread, fed him grilled cheese and sugar free Popsicles for dinner. He slept the first night all night long without getting sick and waking up! I felt like a new mom checking on him like he was sleeping through the night for the first time. Hopefully, Saturday night will be a repeat!
Today is Saturday. Ken and Patty are sitting on the couch dancing, Jordan is with Sydney, Jared is getting ready for work and Sydney and Kenny are swimming with their friends and my angel moms. I'm getting some cleaning and laundry done. Just another mundane day at the Rose house.
Ca Va Bien,
Christina
had in a long time. I shopped and he buzzed up and down the isles without me and with a big smile on his face! Wednesday and Thursday nights he again woke up sick.
Thursday I spent 3 hours on the computer and an hour on the phone the previous day applying for disability. They called me at 8:15 Friday morning with more questions and asked me to bring a signed medical release to their office that day. The worker was extremely nice and said she was trying to get a fast response for us and if so we could expect our first check in January, SERIOUSLY!!! Our system is wonderful. Ken decided to ride to the Social Security office with me. I left him in the parked running car while I ran in. I came out and the car was gone. I looked around and saw the car parked somewhere else and didn't see him sitting in the passenger seat. I ran over panicked and he was sitting in the driver's seat. He had thrown up out his door and moved the car so nobody would see him. Never a dull moment! I managed to sneak away a couple of hours for the first time and visit at the pool with a couple of friends. We sat in the shade and talked. It was soooo nice.
Friday afternoon I decided to take a new approach. Broke out the Better Crocker cancer cookbook. It has a section on chemo side affects. I made some nausea fighting banana bread, fed him grilled cheese and sugar free Popsicles for dinner. He slept the first night all night long without getting sick and waking up! I felt like a new mom checking on him like he was sleeping through the night for the first time. Hopefully, Saturday night will be a repeat!
Today is Saturday. Ken and Patty are sitting on the couch dancing, Jordan is with Sydney, Jared is getting ready for work and Sydney and Kenny are swimming with their friends and my angel moms. I'm getting some cleaning and laundry done. Just another mundane day at the Rose house.
Ca Va Bien,
Christina
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A glimmer of light
Last night was a good night. We kept waking up waiting for the side affects but nothing happened! We are going to try to venture out into the sunlight today. Ken has been pretty weak so he goes mainly from the bed to the recliner. I know he is frustrated but has come to the conclusion that going back to work full-time is not an option right now while his body is trying to adjust to chemo.
The kids continue to be kids with their skipping chore duty and constant bickering but somehow that brings normalcy to our life at this point. Thank goodness for those who call and remind me of things that need to be done this summer for the boys like summer reading books and senior picture dates. Ken and I have both been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from friends and family. Many of the posts I read from other families in our situation complain how friends vanish because that can't deal or don't know what to say. Our friends don't ask they just DO!!!
Mom is recovering from her mastectomy and hopefully her drain will be removed soon and her strength will build up again before chemo starts. I run back and forth between our houses doing whatever I need to for Patty and mom and then back home for Ken. My grief counselor has said I have moved from shock stage to survival stage which appears is a good think. My coined phrase of "I'm fine" has been disallowed by my cousin. She has created ca va bien which is I'm fine in french. Most days I function on auto pilot until something small sets me off and releases the waterworks.
Ca Va Bien,
Christina
The kids continue to be kids with their skipping chore duty and constant bickering but somehow that brings normalcy to our life at this point. Thank goodness for those who call and remind me of things that need to be done this summer for the boys like summer reading books and senior picture dates. Ken and I have both been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from friends and family. Many of the posts I read from other families in our situation complain how friends vanish because that can't deal or don't know what to say. Our friends don't ask they just DO!!!
Mom is recovering from her mastectomy and hopefully her drain will be removed soon and her strength will build up again before chemo starts. I run back and forth between our houses doing whatever I need to for Patty and mom and then back home for Ken. My grief counselor has said I have moved from shock stage to survival stage which appears is a good think. My coined phrase of "I'm fine" has been disallowed by my cousin. She has created ca va bien which is I'm fine in french. Most days I function on auto pilot until something small sets me off and releases the waterworks.
Ca Va Bien,
Christina
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Day Our Life Changed Forever
I've decided after many different things that a blog is the easiest way to keep everyone informed and clear my mind at the same time. I will start by giving a brief history of the last few months. Ken had been feeling ill for awhile but the doctor thought it was his diabetes. However, after watching him dizzy walk from his car one day I accompanied him to the doctor. She scheduled blood tests and discovered that his hemoglobin was 7 and he need a transfusion. We were sent to a blood specialist afterwards because the thinking was he had a blood disorder. Upon examination the doctor said he heard a hollow sound but said only 20% of the time was it anything serious. So, for a week I did my cheerlearder interpretation that everything would be fine. The first few moments of the next doctor visit will forever live in my mind. He walked in and said "I have bad news, it's cancer, incurable kidney cancer". At that point I heard nothing else, the room began spinning and I kept begging to be woke up from a bad dream. Finally, I asked the doctor to give us a few minutes because nothing was processing. Ken and I spent a few minutes together crying and trying to make sense of it all. The doctor returned and scheduled our next few days with tests. Luckily, he only had spots on his lungs and the tumor in his kidney and no place else. He underwent another transfusion and the removal of a nerf football tumor which included the removal of his left kidney. Last Saturday he started oral chemo which he will take the rest of his life. They have made alot of advancements in kidney cancer over the last five years so luckily there are several different types. We changed from the original choice after finding his heart is beating a little slow for some reason, cardiologist scheduled in August. He has had an up and down week with side affects and just when we think our night parties are over, suprise!
I want to thank everyone for the calls, texts and emails. It seems just when I think I'm going to break I receive one. We both can't express how loved we feel. With all the struggles we still feel blessed in many ways.
Just a side note since I live in a fog most days no comments on spelling or punctuation!
Living For Today,
Christina
I want to thank everyone for the calls, texts and emails. It seems just when I think I'm going to break I receive one. We both can't express how loved we feel. With all the struggles we still feel blessed in many ways.
Just a side note since I live in a fog most days no comments on spelling or punctuation!
Living For Today,
Christina
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