Our Journey through Life (with Cancer)

Hi everyone - 

After a rough, rough weekend (low blood counts, fever, etc), Bill has been transfused and is feeling much better.

Thankfully, chemotherapy is over.  The PET scan is Friday.  Follow up visit in 2 weeks.

Every day we get further away from cancer, the better it is…

I will still be updating this blog periodically, but am ready to say “the end”.

The past 6 months have been stressful to say the least. We need time to recoup, regroup, and continue our journey through life (without cancer).

Our prayers have been answered.  We are immensely grateful.

Thank you all for your kind words, prayers and support.  We could not have done it without you.

Be well, be healthy, and take care of yourself and those you love.

Our greatest hopes and prayers are with you all -

The sixth chemo cycle is hitting Bill hard…

He is having significant gastrointestinal issues/horrible headaches/and anemia issues…

We need to get through the weekend, and then through a possible additional blood transfusion early next week.

Sometimes the chemo side effects are actually rougher than the cancer itself

So glad this is probably the last cycle!  We are so ready to get this all behind us…

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Hi everyone - 

Bill went through his treatments Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week.  It was a long, tumultuous week.  (If you want the scoop, give Bill a call  He probably gave the medical establishment a couple of things to think about)

Monday the 16th is the Vincristine push, and Tuesday the 17th – the Nulasta shot.

Then, hopefully, we are DONE!  HOORAY!

Maintenance seems a little daunting right now.  However, anything is better than BEACOPP! 

Bill’s lungs seem really weak right now.  He is feeling short of breath, and is certainly having “lung involvement”.

However, we can’t wait for Tuesday, and will breathe a HUGE sigh of relief knowing that this health nightmare is OVER…Hopefully never to be dealt with again.

Thank you all for your amazing support and prayers.  The prayers obviously worked

Keep praying, and celebrate with us on Tuesday!  This will be the best St. Patrick’s Day ever!!!

Wishing you all a terrific weekend!

What a long, challenging week…

The good news is that Bill is feeling a little better!

But the long term effects of chemo are really starting to catch up…

On Thursday, Bill went for a pulmonary function test.

His lung function numbers are even lower than before.  However, he spoke to our pulmonologist today, and the pulmonary doctor stated that after chemo, the numbers should go up slightly.  That’s what we are hoping for, as the shortness of breath/lung issues concern us.

On Monday, Bill will start his sixth (and hopefully last!) cycle of chemotherapy.

Monday (the first day of chemotherapy) is always a very long day, so prayers are requested.  We have lots of questions for the oncologist regarding life after chemotherapy/maintenance as well.

On another note, many of you know that Ben is a golfer – but he is also a bowler as well!

He scored his second highest score ever – a 148 – today at his bowling league!

He’ll be in a couple of regional tournaments in March and April as well…

Hooray for Ben!

This blog may be about our journey through cancer, but please know that life, in our home, happily goes on

We are striving, we are achieving, and we are always, always supportive of each other’s goals/wins!

Our home is a happy one, and that is one thing that cancer can’t take away from us!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Look for another update soon…

There is finally color on his face!  

I will update again Friday.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!

Bill’s blood counts went really low, especially the RBC count - 

So…he and my dad are at the infusion center waiting for a transfusion.

They’ve been there since 9am this morning.  It’s almost 2pm now and they are still waiting for blood.

The wait is frustrating on every level.  Especially since he has been so sick, and looks so very pale.

Please pray that he gets “hooked up” quickly, and that the blood transfusion goes well…

I’ll update again soon…

Bill finished his 5th cycle of chemo yesterday.  My parents have been amazing in driving Bill to and from his chemotherapy treatments when I am working  Thank you Mom and Dad!!

The side effects of the chemo have been really difficult this past week.

Bill’s feels like his entire digestive system is “breaking down”.  He’s had headaches and exhaustion….It’s been a really rough week for him.

Hopefully, we’ll see a turnaround this weekend…

I’ll update again soon.

Be well and healthy, and pray for Bill…

Much love to all..

Bill’s cancer has and will always be a huge part of our lives.   My mom’s cancer was the same way.  My mom will say that cancer gave her motivation and courage.  As a caregiver, this illness has given me courage as well.  Cancer has not stopped any of us in this house from doing what we want to do, what we need to do.  Some days, when we felt that the world was crashing on our shoulders, there was strength in still getting up and doing what needed to be done.  Cancer did not take away our joy or our happiness.  We never used “cancer” as an excuse to get out of anything.  If anything – cancer propelled us to create, to live the life that we always dreamed of. Cancer did not, and will not, ever stop us…

On the days we felt weak, there were so many people to lift us up again.

Special thanks to those people…we will always be grateful for you.

We still have a long road ahead….but we will be fine.

Thinking of all of you who have supported us through this journey today….

Be well, and healthy, and live the life you’ve always dreamed of!

Bill’s PET scan is clean!  

Hooray!

That means 6 cycles of chemotherapy is probably all he needs…and he is already in the middle of the 5th cycle.

We are really happy!

We are still not out of the woods yet, however…

Bill still has to finish up the 5th cycle of chemotherapy – as well as the 6th cycle starting mid March…

Blood counts are still an issue, and side effects tend to increase as the chemo “builds up” in the body.

Bill’s lungs are so-so, and he is having some “eye involvement” and exhaustion…

So we do have to be careful…

But we are so happy that there is, indeed, a light at the end of the tunnel!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers…

Pray that Bill gets through these next 2 months with limited side effects and a successful outcome!

I will update again really soon.

Be well and healthy…

Transfusion went well.  One of Bill’s amazing friends spent the day with him at the hospital while he was getting transfused.  We are all so very grateful for that special person.  Thank you so much…

Pulmonary Function Test was so – so.  The numbers came out a little lower than they normally are.  We’ll see what the doctor says next Wednesday…

Today is the PET scan!  We’re hoping and praying for a “clear” one, or at least a “close to clear” scan.  

For Valentine’s Day tomorrow:

Make it a day full of love.  Kiss your partner, hug your child, send love to all.

Stuff happens in an instant.  Live a life of no regrets.

Sending all of you lots of love and gratefulness.

We could not get through this journey without your support and prayers…