We are just in from Houston and the news is good. Thank you for your prayers.
We met with Dr. Yao today around noon and he said there is "zero growth" of the tumors on the liver and we do not have to come back for 4 months. If there is not growth then, it will be one more 4-month visit, and then possibly go for 6 months at a time. He seemed happy with the results of the tests.
We had an informative exchange about the behavior of carcinoid tumors. It is good to talk to somebody who really knows them and could give us more solid insight into what we are dealing with.
Of course many were hoping and praying for the absence of ANY tumors, but this is not totally bad news. Dr. Yao assures us that future CT scans will discover tumor growth and that there is treatment protocol once that happens. He was, of course, knowledgeable on what treatments might be available--I am pretty sure most of the cutting-edge treatments come from his laboratory. There are no known treatments that "kill" the tumor, but some that can arrest its growth or stop it altogether.
Thanks for your prayers. Knowing that you were there with us means the world...
From when we got up this morning until we got back, even though we are in different zip codes and time zones, God's Spirit brought your presence and prayers to carry us through. Thanks doesn't even seem to touch the depth of what we feel from your love and support.
Dicky [and Kim]
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
April 29 Launch
We are headed to Houston today for the big meeting. We would appreciate your prayers. Our generous nephew Jason Bullock and family are providing an airplane out of Monroe to fly us to Houston's Hobby airport which is not far from M. D. Anderson.
Our appointment is at 11:00 a.m. and we'll leave Monroe by 8:00 a.m. We are hoping that the wait time is not the 3 hours that it was last time, but, as my friend Chad puts it, the "M. D." stands for "Make it a Day."
It will be quite a day for us. We are more-than-a-bit nervous. We know we have a good God, but are not sure what his kingdom-come-Your-will-be-done wishes are at this point.
We'll keep you posted.
Our appointment is at 11:00 a.m. and we'll leave Monroe by 8:00 a.m. We are hoping that the wait time is not the 3 hours that it was last time, but, as my friend Chad puts it, the "M. D." stands for "Make it a Day."
It will be quite a day for us. We are more-than-a-bit nervous. We know we have a good God, but are not sure what his kingdom-come-Your-will-be-done wishes are at this point.
We'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Home From Houston
We had an uneventful journey home from Houston today. We left, as expected, with NO results from yesterday's tests. We had asked, but were told we would have to wait on Dr. Yao.
Our solace was in serious Mexican food for lunch and serious SAME for supper. We eat on all occasions and in all emotions. We might be Jewish.
The big meeting we expected tomorrow has been--as most of you already know--postponed until 11:00 a.m. next Tuesday [April 29]. We will meet with Dr. Yao at that time, who is, as we understand it, one of the country's top specialists in carcinoid tumors.
We will scoot back to Houston next week for that all-important meeting and would appreciate prayers pointed toward that time. Thank you all for your prayers to get us so far. We are hoping for some real insights into "where we are" next week.
This will be the last blog posting for this week. I will fire it up Sunday or Monday and for sure keep you "posted" on the events of next Tuesday. Thanks for checking in.
Dicky
Our solace was in serious Mexican food for lunch and serious SAME for supper. We eat on all occasions and in all emotions. We might be Jewish.
The big meeting we expected tomorrow has been--as most of you already know--postponed until 11:00 a.m. next Tuesday [April 29]. We will meet with Dr. Yao at that time, who is, as we understand it, one of the country's top specialists in carcinoid tumors.
We will scoot back to Houston next week for that all-important meeting and would appreciate prayers pointed toward that time. Thank you all for your prayers to get us so far. We are hoping for some real insights into "where we are" next week.
This will be the last blog posting for this week. I will fire it up Sunday or Monday and for sure keep you "posted" on the events of next Tuesday. Thanks for checking in.
Dicky
Late Night Post
OK, Dicky fell asleep at the keys.
The post was lost.
Oops. Long day.
Kim survived the CT scan. She had a first IV [iodine] that sort of exploded in her arm so they shifted arms and the other one took okay. Other than that the CT scan and chest xray were uneventful. She was starving post scan, having not eaten since before noon. She wanted "out of this place" [as nice as it is], so we went out to dinner at a place not too far away.
We don't expect any results today and plan on easing toward Ruston after a few hours with our friend who flew down from Nashville to be with us.
Thanks for your continued prayers. I'll write you something when I have it.
The post was lost.
Oops. Long day.
Kim survived the CT scan. She had a first IV [iodine] that sort of exploded in her arm so they shifted arms and the other one took okay. Other than that the CT scan and chest xray were uneventful. She was starving post scan, having not eaten since before noon. She wanted "out of this place" [as nice as it is], so we went out to dinner at a place not too far away.
We don't expect any results today and plan on easing toward Ruston after a few hours with our friend who flew down from Nashville to be with us.
Thanks for your continued prayers. I'll write you something when I have it.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Waiting Rooms
Hello to all...just a quick update, since one of the things you do have at M. D. Anderson is lots of waiting room time. We made the trip fine this morning, just in time to check in and race to the first test at 2:00.
We are in our 2nd waiting room, the first being the blood work. Kim is sipping on her not-so-delicious "berry smoothie" in anticipation of a 4-something CT scan with a chest X-ray following. A friend sent me a Dave Barry piece that described this concoction more colorfully than I can:
"It tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon."
All is well so far. Kim's got "game"...and we are in a room with about 50 other people, many of whom are very sick and need your prayers as well. We anticipate being all wrapped up by 6:00 or so. I'll get back on later tonight.
As most of you know, our appointment with the major doctor dude, which was scheduled for this coming Thursday, has been postponed until next Tuesday. We asked his nurse today if anyone else in the practice could give us any of today's results and she said no. So...we'll probably move back toward Ruston late tomorrow and come back next week.
Thanks for your prayers. We'll keep you posted.
We are in our 2nd waiting room, the first being the blood work. Kim is sipping on her not-so-delicious "berry smoothie" in anticipation of a 4-something CT scan with a chest X-ray following. A friend sent me a Dave Barry piece that described this concoction more colorfully than I can:
"It tastes - and here I am being kind - like a mixture of goat spit and urinal cleanser, with just a hint of lemon."
All is well so far. Kim's got "game"...and we are in a room with about 50 other people, many of whom are very sick and need your prayers as well. We anticipate being all wrapped up by 6:00 or so. I'll get back on later tonight.
As most of you know, our appointment with the major doctor dude, which was scheduled for this coming Thursday, has been postponed until next Tuesday. We asked his nurse today if anyone else in the practice could give us any of today's results and she said no. So...we'll probably move back toward Ruston late tomorrow and come back next week.
Thanks for your prayers. We'll keep you posted.
Monday, April 21, 2008
We're off to see the Wizard...
Tomorrow [Tuesday] we cruise to Houston, M. D. Anderson, for our follow-up visit. We have [OK, KIM has] tests starting at 2:00 p.m. and going through 5:40 p.m.
The original schedule had us meeting with the renowned Dr. Yao on Thursday. That was all changed a week ago, and we have to go back next Tuesday [April 29] to find him.
Our sweet friend Gail Pitt is coming from Nashville to join us. She will give us her Wednesday.
Thank you all for your prayers. I will post updates as I have them. I think this week is a testing "no-brainer" and the bigtime fireworks will be after next Tuesday [April 29] after our visit with Dr. Yao.
You are so kind to even visit this blog...and to send up your fragrant prayers is a gift beyond what I know how to express. Thank you.
Dicky
The original schedule had us meeting with the renowned Dr. Yao on Thursday. That was all changed a week ago, and we have to go back next Tuesday [April 29] to find him.
Our sweet friend Gail Pitt is coming from Nashville to join us. She will give us her Wednesday.
Thank you all for your prayers. I will post updates as I have them. I think this week is a testing "no-brainer" and the bigtime fireworks will be after next Tuesday [April 29] after our visit with Dr. Yao.
You are so kind to even visit this blog...and to send up your fragrant prayers is a gift beyond what I know how to express. Thank you.
Dicky
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