Abby again. This time I'll be much more informative, I promise. I'm currently on the phone with Kim and Dicky, who are stuck in Houston traffic (which means they're on their way home). They asked me if I'd type as they dictate and update. Here goes:
"Thanks for the answered prayer about Dr. Yao (that we would feel like we could ask him questions and understand everything he said). All of that was totally answered above and beyond. Even though we got there at 2:00 and didn't see him till 5:00--when we finally did, he was personable, patient, sat with us and was willing to answer questions.
Basically, the report is pretty much what it was when we left Ruston. There are still cardinoid tumors on my liver, but the liver function is normal and all the blood work came back good, meaning none of my other organs are affected. Since this type of tumor isn't responsive to certain treatments and they tend to be very slow growing, Dr. Yao just recommends watching them. Starting 3 months from now, we'll schedule another appointment, do another CAT scan (don't worry, nothing nuclear) and as long as they haven't grown, we can probably go another 4 months from then, and so on.
Meanwhile, THANK YOU for your prayers. It really helped during three hours of waiting, just knowing that ya'll were praying. Dr. Yao seemed relatively unconcerned--for a person that has extensively studied carcinoid tumors--which makes me feel better. This trip established our baseline, and everything after that will be reevaluated. If they're not growing, we'll go longer between visits. If they are, we'll take it from there.
All that being said, we can still pray for them to GO AWAY! But right now, God's answer is just to watch and wait. Thank you again for all your trucking with us during all this."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Hooray! 1st Thursday Prayer Answered
Hello Hello,
It's Kim saying Thank you for all the prayers for my scan this A.M.. Don't worry about any "rays' coming at you I asked the cute tech, from Gonzales, La(I recognized his accent). He said You have to be closer than 6 ft. for more than 30 min. but it does last for 5 or so days. The glorious answer to your prayers is that the part of the scan the passed over my head felt like it only lasted half as long AND I was able to open my eyes several times so that helped alot. Also, they only had to do the scan once over instead of a second run like yesterday. Maybe it is because there wasn't anything to see, right?
Dicky is packing because he spoke to the nurse in the Dr.'s office and she thought there wouldn't be anymore to do on this trip. We are waiting for the official words from Dr. Yao at 2:30.
Those middle-of-the-nighters who have told us you were praying, thank you. We have had restful nights which helps a ton the next day to face so many new directions. Kacey B. came by this morning and found a weepy Kim, but I have experienced God's comfort and assurance constantly. When I came out of my scan I saw two ladies hugging [staff, not patients] and I asked if one needed a hug. She hugged me thinking I asked for a hug, and said everything would be all right. When I walked away she said, "No everything IS all right. And I said "Yes."
When I walked out to the front, I hugged her and said, "We serve a mighty God." And she smiled and looked up to heaven. And I felt Jesus there.
Keep praying for this afternoon. Y'all are awesome.
I love you,
Kim
It's Kim saying Thank you for all the prayers for my scan this A.M.. Don't worry about any "rays' coming at you I asked the cute tech, from Gonzales, La(I recognized his accent). He said You have to be closer than 6 ft. for more than 30 min. but it does last for 5 or so days. The glorious answer to your prayers is that the part of the scan the passed over my head felt like it only lasted half as long AND I was able to open my eyes several times so that helped alot. Also, they only had to do the scan once over instead of a second run like yesterday. Maybe it is because there wasn't anything to see, right?
Dicky is packing because he spoke to the nurse in the Dr.'s office and she thought there wouldn't be anymore to do on this trip. We are waiting for the official words from Dr. Yao at 2:30.
Those middle-of-the-nighters who have told us you were praying, thank you. We have had restful nights which helps a ton the next day to face so many new directions. Kacey B. came by this morning and found a weepy Kim, but I have experienced God's comfort and assurance constantly. When I came out of my scan I saw two ladies hugging [staff, not patients] and I asked if one needed a hug. She hugged me thinking I asked for a hug, and said everything would be all right. When I walked away she said, "No everything IS all right. And I said "Yes."
When I walked out to the front, I hugged her and said, "We serve a mighty God." And she smiled and looked up to heaven. And I felt Jesus there.
Keep praying for this afternoon. Y'all are awesome.
I love you,
Kim
Immediate Prayer Requests--Thursday Morning
Kim has asked me to get her [and OUR] two most urgent prayer requests out you praying people:
[1] FOR CALM: In the claustrophobic space of this octreotide scan at 11:00 today, that she could keep her calm, especially for the 6-8 minutes it is an inch or so in her face, and
[2] FOR COURAGE: For the visit with Dr. Yao at 2:30 today. He now has a lot more info than he did two days ago and we are both feeling more-than-a-little angst for what he now knows and what lies ahead for her [and us]. We want the courage to address whatever it is and the faith to believe that God's best is wrapped up in this.
Thanks for checking in. You don't need to blog back, but we do need the prayer.
I'll check in after both of these "events".
Dicky
[1] FOR CALM: In the claustrophobic space of this octreotide scan at 11:00 today, that she could keep her calm, especially for the 6-8 minutes it is an inch or so in her face, and
[2] FOR COURAGE: For the visit with Dr. Yao at 2:30 today. He now has a lot more info than he did two days ago and we are both feeling more-than-a-little angst for what he now knows and what lies ahead for her [and us]. We want the courage to address whatever it is and the faith to believe that God's best is wrapped up in this.
Thanks for checking in. You don't need to blog back, but we do need the prayer.
I'll check in after both of these "events".
Dicky
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Still radioactive after all these years.
Kim is back from her first "octreotide" scan. She is still loaded with the radioactive isotope of said name and I am keeping my laptop and my cell phone and my self at a safe distance. [Just teasin']
Today was an easier day in the sense that it was not hurry, hurry, hurry to the next procedure, ...AND Kim got to eat anything she wanted [uh...though no bananas, berries, pineapple, plums, avocadoes, eggplant, tomatoes and nuts]. This latter prohibited list was part of another 24-hour procedure that I will not elaborate on. Just trust me.
As to CCC-ers from days gone by: I had a fun cellphone visit today with Kacey Stubblefield Boagni, who lives here with her husband Rob and a pair of daughters I am pretty-sure we won't recognize. We have been in regular contact with Kacey's sister-in-law, Monique Boagni Nilsson [Rob Boagni's sister], who works at MDA. Monique is another former CCC collegiate married to another former CCC collegiate, Chris Nilsson. We love these extra necks to hug and are so indescribably grateful for all the love that gets poured our way.
We are in search of things to eat that are legal for Kim and--on a simpler dieting front--for me. I suspect neither of us are long for the conscious world tonight. Thank you for logging on and reading and caring. We are overwhelmed with your love and ongoing affirmation. If you are not comfortable with the public aspect of blogging, just email me at jrlove@gmail.com and I'll find it.
If you are of the praying sort, we'd love to have you pray for us to be cancer-free, cancer-nuke-able, or that all this testing will give us definitive information for a clear, obvious next step.
That's where we are. We have another octreotide scan in the morning at 11:00 [it is a little scary that I can type that word without looking at a piece of paper somewhere]...this is what cancer "does" for you. So many who are reading this blog are far-too-familiar with the drill. Thank you for enduring your hard journey on this front and coming along with us on ours.
We are grateful for LIFE today and for friends to enjoy it with. Thank you,
Dicky
Today was an easier day in the sense that it was not hurry, hurry, hurry to the next procedure, ...AND Kim got to eat anything she wanted [uh...though no bananas, berries, pineapple, plums, avocadoes, eggplant, tomatoes and nuts]. This latter prohibited list was part of another 24-hour procedure that I will not elaborate on. Just trust me.
As to CCC-ers from days gone by: I had a fun cellphone visit today with Kacey Stubblefield Boagni, who lives here with her husband Rob and a pair of daughters I am pretty-sure we won't recognize. We have been in regular contact with Kacey's sister-in-law, Monique Boagni Nilsson [Rob Boagni's sister], who works at MDA. Monique is another former CCC collegiate married to another former CCC collegiate, Chris Nilsson. We love these extra necks to hug and are so indescribably grateful for all the love that gets poured our way.
We are in search of things to eat that are legal for Kim and--on a simpler dieting front--for me. I suspect neither of us are long for the conscious world tonight. Thank you for logging on and reading and caring. We are overwhelmed with your love and ongoing affirmation. If you are not comfortable with the public aspect of blogging, just email me at jrlove@gmail.com and I'll find it.
If you are of the praying sort, we'd love to have you pray for us to be cancer-free, cancer-nuke-able, or that all this testing will give us definitive information for a clear, obvious next step.
That's where we are. We have another octreotide scan in the morning at 11:00 [it is a little scary that I can type that word without looking at a piece of paper somewhere]...this is what cancer "does" for you. So many who are reading this blog are far-too-familiar with the drill. Thank you for enduring your hard journey on this front and coming along with us on ours.
We are grateful for LIFE today and for friends to enjoy it with. Thank you,
Dicky
NOT from Dicky....sorry
Hi all, Abby here. I've been instructed to don the blog-mantle between Dad's oh-so-informative posts. After reading all your comments--especially those that say new posts remind them to pray--I'm wondering why we haven't been doing this every four minutes.
Unfortunately, I'm not in Houston, but I am in frequent contact with those who are. Radioactive life is going pretty smoothly, according to D&K's last report. And by that, of course, I mean mom is glowing like Obi Wan's light saber zapping mosquitoes in July at twilight. I'm picturing something like a nuclear pinball machine that lights up every time it passes a carcinoid.
Actually, only part of that is true (you can guess which part...s). Mom got the goods this morning, then they take one reading this evening and another tomorrow. Waiting aside, MDA has been a pleasantly patient-o-centric place. But we're all anxious to hear what Dr. Yao has to say tomorrow.
I know this post isn't anything close to informative, but I really just wanted to take a minute to say something to everyone reading (and posting on) this blog: Thank you. Thank you, thank you. I recently told a colleague of mine about mom, and she was very empathetic (having lost her own mother to cancer several years ago). One of her first questions was, "Does your mom have a support system?" It took me a minute to answer because it had never occurred to me that someone wouldn't have a support system, never mind the incredible one that you all comprise.
I also know you can't help yourselves, because my parents are pretty amazing, and even if you feel for them only a fraction of what Carrie and I do, that's quite a bit. I just wanted you all to know that an anxious daughter in Boston (and another in NYC) are afforded a little bit of peace knowing they have such a vast safety net. And when Dad says how much they appreciate you all, they really really really mean it.
And so do I.
Unfortunately, I'm not in Houston, but I am in frequent contact with those who are. Radioactive life is going pretty smoothly, according to D&K's last report. And by that, of course, I mean mom is glowing like Obi Wan's light saber zapping mosquitoes in July at twilight. I'm picturing something like a nuclear pinball machine that lights up every time it passes a carcinoid.
Actually, only part of that is true (you can guess which part...s). Mom got the goods this morning, then they take one reading this evening and another tomorrow. Waiting aside, MDA has been a pleasantly patient-o-centric place. But we're all anxious to hear what Dr. Yao has to say tomorrow.
I know this post isn't anything close to informative, but I really just wanted to take a minute to say something to everyone reading (and posting on) this blog: Thank you. Thank you, thank you. I recently told a colleague of mine about mom, and she was very empathetic (having lost her own mother to cancer several years ago). One of her first questions was, "Does your mom have a support system?" It took me a minute to answer because it had never occurred to me that someone wouldn't have a support system, never mind the incredible one that you all comprise.
I also know you can't help yourselves, because my parents are pretty amazing, and even if you feel for them only a fraction of what Carrie and I do, that's quite a bit. I just wanted you all to know that an anxious daughter in Boston (and another in NYC) are afforded a little bit of peace knowing they have such a vast safety net. And when Dad says how much they appreciate you all, they really really really mean it.
And so do I.
Wednesday Morning
Good morning, fellow bloggers,
It is 7:44 on a cold, clear, crisp Houston morning. Thanks for the prayers and posts. It was a quiet night and Kim is still sleeping. I was up early to call the radiation lab [by 6:30 a.m.] to confirm we would be there at 11:00 a.m. and get the protocols for the test today. Looks like Kim can eat anything she wants today [with a few exceptions], so she won't be on the "no food" program.
Looks like we will have a bit of a less harried day today, too, and a better fed one for the patient. The only things scheduled [so far] for the day are a "Octreotide Administration" at 11:00 and an "Octreotide scan" at 3:00 p.m. The "administration" is simply an injection of a radioactive element that is more conducive to absorption by carcenoid tumors. She'll get a scan 4 hours after and a scan 24 hours after.
We'll be around, EATING, and waiting to see what else pops up on the patient schedule.
Thanks for finding us...and, for you virgin bloggers, thanks for trying it out. It is fun to find your comments and encouraging to hear from so many that have "come" with us here.
We love you,
Dicky [for the both of us]
It is 7:44 on a cold, clear, crisp Houston morning. Thanks for the prayers and posts. It was a quiet night and Kim is still sleeping. I was up early to call the radiation lab [by 6:30 a.m.] to confirm we would be there at 11:00 a.m. and get the protocols for the test today. Looks like Kim can eat anything she wants today [with a few exceptions], so she won't be on the "no food" program.
Looks like we will have a bit of a less harried day today, too, and a better fed one for the patient. The only things scheduled [so far] for the day are a "Octreotide Administration" at 11:00 and an "Octreotide scan" at 3:00 p.m. The "administration" is simply an injection of a radioactive element that is more conducive to absorption by carcenoid tumors. She'll get a scan 4 hours after and a scan 24 hours after.
We'll be around, EATING, and waiting to see what else pops up on the patient schedule.
Thanks for finding us...and, for you virgin bloggers, thanks for trying it out. It is fun to find your comments and encouraging to hear from so many that have "come" with us here.
We love you,
Dicky [for the both of us]
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Late night CT scan
I am sitting here in the dwindling CT scan waiting room which had 40 people in it when we got here at 7:15 and has dwindled to just 4 of us. The "jumbotron" on the wall tells me that Kim's scan is done and she should appear soon...laden yet again with barium. Tomorrow she gets the radiated stuff. I'm giving my electronic gear wide berth!
Thought I would send while still coherent. The 3:45 a.m. wake-up this morning combined with being up WAAAY past my normal bedtime [it is 9:20 for goodness sake!], means this will be my last post of the day.
I'll be up early but don't expect "tested girl" to be too chatty. If we have anything, I'll pass it on. We have to make a phone call to the nuclear lab at 6:30 and show up for the "administration" of the glowing stuff at 11:00. Pictures at 3:00 and at 11:00 on Thursday. Plan at this point is to meet again with the doctor on Thursday and all is unclear from that point on.
We'll keep you posted. Thanks again for your sweet words. It means the world...
G'nite. We love you.
Dicky
Thought I would send while still coherent. The 3:45 a.m. wake-up this morning combined with being up WAAAY past my normal bedtime [it is 9:20 for goodness sake!], means this will be my last post of the day.
I'll be up early but don't expect "tested girl" to be too chatty. If we have anything, I'll pass it on. We have to make a phone call to the nuclear lab at 6:30 and show up for the "administration" of the glowing stuff at 11:00. Pictures at 3:00 and at 11:00 on Thursday. Plan at this point is to meet again with the doctor on Thursday and all is unclear from that point on.
We'll keep you posted. Thanks again for your sweet words. It means the world...
G'nite. We love you.
Dicky
Tuesday breather [of sorts] for a bit...
Hello Friends,
We are finished with PART ONE of our first day at M D Anderson and are in a small break before we head to PART TWO in a couple of hours. Kim's CT scan is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. tonight and [with the prep work] will last till about 9:00.
We scurried from pillar to post and for you guys who said MDA is all about waiting, I did not have time to open the laptop today before somebody came for Kim or both of us, before it could spool up! I actually banged out the noon blog and was called away before Icould post it. On a passing phone call with Carrie about 2:30 she offered to post it and did.
We met with our main doc about 1:30 [after meetings with the "front person," the nurse, the Physicians Assistant...all of whom were wonderful]. He was willing to answer our questions and we discussed it all quite candidly. We have an appointment with him on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. to assess it all after he reviews the results of the testing between now and then, and we decide on future treatment. I'll send updates as I have information and the opportunity to send them.
We have so loved your posts to the blog and feel like we are in touch with home and those that love us. We check the blog regularly and so appreciate your coming there and praying. If I can keep my head up, I'll send something after tonight's CT scan. Otherwise, I will be up early and I know there are at least EIGHT GUYS who will be up working on their memory verses!
We love and appreciate you all,
Dicky
We are finished with PART ONE of our first day at M D Anderson and are in a small break before we head to PART TWO in a couple of hours. Kim's CT scan is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. tonight and [with the prep work] will last till about 9:00.
We scurried from pillar to post and for you guys who said MDA is all about waiting, I did not have time to open the laptop today before somebody came for Kim or both of us, before it could spool up! I actually banged out the noon blog and was called away before Icould post it. On a passing phone call with Carrie about 2:30 she offered to post it and did.
We met with our main doc about 1:30 [after meetings with the "front person," the nurse, the Physicians Assistant...all of whom were wonderful]. He was willing to answer our questions and we discussed it all quite candidly. We have an appointment with him on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. to assess it all after he reviews the results of the testing between now and then, and we decide on future treatment. I'll send updates as I have information and the opportunity to send them.
We have so loved your posts to the blog and feel like we are in touch with home and those that love us. We check the blog regularly and so appreciate your coming there and praying. If I can keep my head up, I'll send something after tonight's CT scan. Otherwise, I will be up early and I know there are at least EIGHT GUYS who will be up working on their memory verses!
We love and appreciate you all,
Dicky
We hit the ground runnin...
We're here. Made the trip in less than 5 hours [in the rain again!] , checked in across the street at the Rotary House[a Marriott-run hotel at MDA] and raced across the walk-way to get registered. We have already run into FOUR former or current Christ Community Church members!
We have somewhat of a schedule so far. Kim is getting her blood taken as I type and is headed from there to x-ray. We have our first appointment with our main doc--Dr. Yao--at 1:00 p.m. today and a CT scan starting at 7:10 tonight, lasting till about 9:00. Dicky plans on a nap sometime in there. Actually Dicky will have a nap, whether he finds a place to lie down or not.
Tomorrow something starts at 6:30 a.m. [the schedule is unclear what it is] and then Kim begins prepararion for a series of scans called an "Octreotide Scan." We spend the day tomorrow in "Nuclear Medicine" at the Mays Clinic, which I haven't found yet. This Octreotide scan goes on through Thursday morning. So far nothing else has been scheduled, but we'll know more when we've seen the doc.
By the way, as I typed the patient rearrived from blood work and we are waiting her turn in X-ray. I'll have time to give another shout out this afternoon between doctor visit and CT scan. There's a patient orientation somewhere in there and a move into our room, which was not ready when we got here. I am sure Kim will try to eat a bite in there somewhere, since she had nothing this morning prior to bloodwork and can't eat anything 3 hours prior to CT scan.
I'll keep you posted. Thanks for coming along...
Dicky
Monday, January 28, 2008
We are off...
This is my first "post" to the blog site that Carrie created. I am a bit new to it, but I am convinced that it is a great way to keep you all posted [pardon the pun] and give you a chance to give us your thoughts and prayers and such.
Here is the deal as far as we know it. We leave tomorrow morning [Tuesday, January 29] around 4:30 a.m. to get signed in to M. D. Anderson in Houston by 11:00 a.m.
Kim will be "mostly" NPO after midnight tonight for her bloodwork at 1:00 p.m. and CT scan around 4:00 p.m.
The rest we are waiting to find out about. Be assured...by this time tomorrow Dicky will have a lay of the land and we will know at least a little more about our schedule. Carrie or Abby or I will be posting updates regularly.
Here is the deal as far as we know it. We leave tomorrow morning [Tuesday, January 29] around 4:30 a.m. to get signed in to M. D. Anderson in Houston by 11:00 a.m.
Kim will be "mostly" NPO after midnight tonight for her bloodwork at 1:00 p.m. and CT scan around 4:00 p.m.
The rest we are waiting to find out about. Be assured...by this time tomorrow Dicky will have a lay of the land and we will know at least a little more about our schedule. Carrie or Abby or I will be posting updates regularly.
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