Tonight Leah and I went to a wedding of someone Leah Babysat when She was growing up. It was a good time spent with Family and Friends. Due to cancer many people did not expect the Bride's mom to be able to attend this event. We are happy to say She was there and as happy as a mother could be. She is an great inspiration and someone who I look at as a cancer survivor. Congratulations to the Bride and Groom as they begin their new life together.
On the medical front for me, we are waiting results from a Pet Scan which will show any other locations the cancer may or may not have spread. I meet with my Oncologist later next week to discuss the result from both the scan and the liver biopsy happening next week. This conversation will solidify my treatment plan and schedule.
--Kent
Friday, June 1, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
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
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
Monday, May 28, 2012
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
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
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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
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
Saturday, May 26, 2012
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!!!
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!!!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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
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
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
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
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
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