Ring Ring. May I please speak to Kent....

Today , started as your normal typical day.  Wake up , Bring kids to school, come home and hope to begin your solitude house work, laundry and maybe a cup of coffee, well that is where my day totally turns different.

 My 1st phone call started at 9am. Which turned into a 1/2 day of just phone call after phone call.   It was the Doctors office calling for Kent to schedule a Liver Biopsy.  They needed to talk to him himself so I politely gave his phone number and then tried to call him because he only up to recently answered famiilar calls.  They made an appointment for Tuesday June 5th .  One appointment made.

  Monday, June 4th he is scheduled for a Surgeon's appointment as a prelim for further down the line. This is in the case of liver resectioning.  That would be appointment number 2 next week.

  We then have another Doctor appointment scheduled for Thursday, June7th, with our Oncologist to maybe review results of any of the tests earlier in the week???

 Friday, June 8th  I believe Kent meets with his Primary Care Doctor just to meet up and talk how he is doing.

  In between many phone calls today I seemed to fit in a bit of shopping with my mom.  We were on a mission to find a bed in a bag if you will.  My comforter has a rip in it and my sheets are on their way out the door.  We came up empty too :(

The later day brought more things that we looked forward to. Lydia went swimming in Grammy and Papa's lake, we ate a lite bite at their house, and went door shooping for a new deck door off the back of our house.  We are now watching Chipwrecked  with the family.

We are very thankful for all your love and support.  We can't even begin to tell all of you what that means to us.  We are very thankful for each one of you.  God's blessing on you!

 --Leah

A day for Lydia

Today was a great day!  We tried to do as much as we could for Lydia.

 Lydia wanted to go to the Memorial parade, so much against  her dad and my wishes of sleeping in one more day we got ready and headed down to Baldwin Street for the famous Jenison Parade.  We often go to the parade with My family , but due to a Wedding my parents were participating at in Traverse City they couldn't make it and so we went with Kent's parents and aunt.  We left our 12th Ave seats for someone else and headed west to a familiar spot for Lydia.  We sat in her preschool's Yard along Baldwin Street.  Lydia staked her spot and found her bag and well just tell you that I think she found all the stores candy in the middle of Baldwin Street.  That bag must have been 5 lbs.  What a Fun hour for her.

Kent's Mom then invited us for Lunch. There was no Shortage of food for us.  We were treated to Chicken, salad, potato salad, corn, and strawberries.  A feast when we are used to eating small packable lunches. 

We then left our Lunches to settle and made our way to Windmill Island, a favorite of Lydia since she has studied the Netherlands in class went to the Island.  We entered and if you know my daughter and Husband things are done a certain order.  We toured the Island in the same order we saw it when we visited with JCS.  She had a blast watching a video, going up in the windmill, listening to the organ and shopping. 

We then had a daugther that was "Starving" so we made the trek to her Favorite restaurant which if you know our daughter we went to you guessed it OTB! :)   There we had dinner, and she was able to color on there side walk with chalk.  Then her favorite waiter made her a watermelon slush. 

We then made our trip home with a short pit stop at Family bookstore for a devotional for Kent and I and herb garden for kids (Lydia's pick) 

We are now home and resting before our work week for some of us.   We pray you had a great day with Family and a great Memorial Day!   

--Leah, for Kent & Lydia

Dietary Changes!!

When I began meeting with doctors to see what my problem was one of the possibilities thrown on the table was Celiac disease.  Celiac is an intolerance to Gluten.  Although I have been told I do not have Celiac I have been on a Gluten Free diet for about 3 weeks and suspect I have an allergy to Gluten.  I feel 100 % better while on this diet and at this point I have no intention on returning to a "Normal" diet.

While I don't want to be insensitive, we would like to thank you all the food and Meals that have been brought/ given to us over the last 2 weeks it has been greatly appreciated.  If  it has been laid on your heart to bring a meal we ask if you would do your best to make sure it is Gluten-free.  If you have questions on what that might include or if a particular item is Gluten-Free, please ask us through a phone call or Facebook or some good google searches like " is xyz food Gluten free".  I would really appreciate your help in this.

I also would like to ask you to be in prayer for Wednesday, May 30.  I will be receiving a PET Scan.   The Results won't come right away and I am anxious about how treatment will begin. 

Tonight I had the chance to be with my family.  It was good to be with them.  My Mom's Sister came to  have a few days with her and I received the biggest hug and lots of genuine love from her.  For those who don't know my mom's sister has Down's. She was so proud to be my Aunt and she told many of her "Memory stories" about me tonight.  She is just one of those special people in our lives. 


Happy Memorial Day!

--Kent & Leah

Love and support

My Dad has a Hernia in a difficult area and He has been referred to a surgeon.  The difficulty being that Anesthesia progresses Alzheimers.  Surgery would likely make it to difficult for Mom to care for him.  She has a surgical consult scheduled for early July.  I'm sure the surgeon will be posed with many questions.

The last couple of days have been tough for Leah mentally and emotionally.  Last minute we schedule a short time to spend with dear friends who Live in Gaylord.  They were nice enough to offer to meet us in Cadillac.  We had lunch with them and talked for a little while before each going back home.  Our heart does go out to their entire family as Her Grandmother passed away this morning.

We are blessed to have their support and are happy to return our support when necessary.

Have a happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!!!

What next God????

I write this post with much anxiety.  Since late evening on Monday I was informed of My Dad's sore and Bloating Stomach issues.  Tuesday Morning while waiting for his bus at our house he was more confused than normal.  (For those of you who do not know my Dad has Alzheimers.)  After Mom Picked him up that same morning she brought him to the Doctor.  Due to the abdominal pain they did an ultrasound.  He had a lot of pain where his appendix would normally be.  Evidently he must have had that taken out but None of us remember that.  One other thing they saw during the ultrasound they found spots on the liver.  By the point I heard this I started mentally going down the same road I've been in the last week and a half.  Dad was also Diagnosed with an Urinary Tract Infection.

Today Mom and Dad spent time with Doctors and the like.  Mom called this evening and told me they scheduled Dad for an Emergency Cat Scan.  Whether spots on the Liver or Abdominal pain or both they are definitely concerned.  The Doctor requested a read on the "Wet Scan" and wanted report yet tonight.  Mom was told she might get a call from Dad's Doctor either tonight or at the latest First thing tomorrow morning.

We are all anxious about what might be wrong and what decisions that may bring in the near future.  I am personally asking for Prayers not only for me but also for my Mom and Dad.

--Kent

What's up Doc?

Yesterday Leah and I were talking about our situation with doctors.   Over the course of a week and a half I went from having 1 doctor to have a team of  4 + doctors.  The further I get into this process the more my view of doctors improves.   I'm sure it helps to have the "right" doctors. 

My oncologist talked with us about what his Idea of a plan is and answered many of our questions.  The plan he suggested is to start chemo roughly in the next two weeks.  He wants to run chemo over the course of the next couple of months and depending on the response in the liver and colon, schedule me for surgery on both sites and then follow up with more chemo.

This brings me to my 5th doctor who will be a Surgical Oncologist.  One of his specialties is the Liver.  I meet with him early June. 

Per the chemo the regimen would be a 2 week cycle.  4 hours of chemo one day, followed by a pump of chemo for 2 days.  I would have the next 12 days off and repeat the cycle.   The 3 side effects he was sure I would have are - inconvenience - fatigue (especially 2 days following the removal of the pump)  - intolerance to cold.  That would mean room temperature liquids and foods.  He expressed people only make that mistake once.

There are a couple of tests pending in the next week or two before they begin the chemo.  More update on those as we find out more.

Our family is very overwhelmed with all the support we are getting.   Thanks to all those who sent cards or sent over goodies.  We found out in the last few days we heard about 2 or 3 other churches putting me on their prayer chain or praying for me in church.  For this we are very thankful and appreciative.  This will be one of the biggest factors getting me through this fight.

--Kent

Great Day!!

Thanking God for day where I feel well.  I pray these continue as long as possible.  I had a day where I had a friend of ours helped put out our Deck furniture.  I probably did to much physically but felt really well today for all I did.  Thanks to everyone for offering help.  Believe me we will definitely take you up on it as long as there are things we need help with.

--Kent

Everywhere

Yesterday we got a call from "our" doctor's office.  My oncologist and Leah's hematologist.  Since I was at work when the call was received Leah talked with them.  I have met my oncologist once before so I know he's a nice enough guy.

We meet with him on Monday mid morning.  I am anxious to hear what he has to say.  Per the feeling of starting Chemo.  Frankly I'm scared out of my wits.  Mostly the side effects of illness that freak me out.  I have heard they give medications to battle that as well. 

Prayers will definitely be appreciated Monday 11:15 EST.  Speaking of prayers,  Both Leah and I get stopped most places we go and most people tell us they are thinking about us and praying for us.  There is an overwhelming amount of support since last week.  It is great to know there are people everywhere that care.

--Kent

Knife or not to Knife? That is the question.

Today I met with a colorectal surgeon due to the Tumor found in my colon and Spots found on my liver.  After some talking and a very "UNEXPECTED" exam the doctor explained that he thought they would like to begin with Chemo treatments.   At this point he didn't think surgery on the colon was the way to begin the process.  That may be something they look at in the future.

Per the chemo he explained there are a variety of methods and formulas they can try for colon cancer.  Some of these methods don't give you hair loss.  Believe me hair loss isn't a major concern for me at this point.  They referred me to a very good Oncologist who our family happens to know as Leah's Hematologist.  I should be getting a call soon to know when that appointment will be.

Other news I heard tonight which doesn't mean much at this point is they removed a benign polyp from my stomach last Friday.  The doctor wasn't concerned about this at all.  The other detail I heard very clearly is that all my "blood" family members need to get on the books with a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy.  My daughter will be having her first roughly at the age of 20 - 25.

The doctor who performed my colonoscopy called me this morning for a few reasons.  First was to tell me the results of the biopsys they took on Friday.  He told me that the tumor came back as being cancerous.  More about that in a minute.  I asked him if I tested positive for celiac disease.  He said no.  I explained how a gluten free diet for a week now improved the symptoms basically to the degree where the symptoms were gone.    He suggest the symptoms I was having were most likely related to the tumor.  What still puzzles me is why when I take away gluten, symptoms subside.  Tumor is still in there "genious"!!

Per the biopsy on the tumor being cancerous.  When we were talking to the surgeon he asctually said the pathology report says it is Likely cancer.  Still not proven at this point.  He said my Oncologist may have to prove this is cancer before beginning chemo due to insurance.  Or he may take the approach of it looks like a duck and smells like a duck for treatment.  I am anxious to hear what the Oncologist has to say. 

--Kent

Conversations with the Great Physician

After my diagnosis on Friday I went through a CT scan not once but twice.  Evidently when administering a CT you need to bunch tall people up near the end of the "bed" and prop their legs up with a foam wedge.  If you don't do that what is likely to happen is the very top part of the scan will get cut off.  Therefore people like me will (or may) have to repeat the scan.  I'm sorry the Tech had to learn the difficult way but I am very glad they noticed before the scan was read and I had to return several days later.  While repeating the process on Mothers day wasn't the most enjoyable I'm glad it's over. 

This afternoon I received a call from my doctor with the results of the CT scan.  Obviously they saw the 4 spots on the liver that they saw in the previous ultrasound.  They also saw a thick spot in the Large intestine which is consistent with the tumor they found during the colonoscopy.  Besides that the only other thing they saw was a very small nodule in the lungs.  There was almost no concern from my Doctor due to the size.

All the conversations with the Great Physician were very clearly shown today when I received this good news.  The next step in this climb is a meeting with the Colo Rectal surgeon Wednesday.  More updates from me after that consult.

--Kent

Introduction

Here you will find post of my "climb" through life.  Currently with cancer and hopefully someday as a cancer survivor.   Please follow along with me as I continue climbing lifes mountain with my Faith, Family, and Friends.  From time to time you may see posts from other members of my family.

Kent