Happy Anniversary!!

Today is our anniversary.  15 years ago we were married and so normally we would celebrate that in some way and then go to the relations Birthday/Christmas get together in the evening.  For several days both Leah and I expected to spend this anniversary very different.  We expected to have a conversation while I was sitting in the Chemo suite getting my 4th treatment.  What you have to understand is the normal procedure on a typical visit is first a Lab Blood draw, second a visit with the Doc or Nurse Practitioner or Chemo Nurse, then third and finally you get your treatment.

So today I had my blood draw and then met with the Nurse Practitioner expecting counts to be somewhat low but high enough for treatment.  We talked about how the last couple of weeks went and what to do about certain symptoms like the Neuropothy (numbness in fingers and toes).  She prescribed a Medication that should begin to help with that symptom.  I was told in 3 or 4 weeks I may start to notice some improvement.  Here's hoping I actually feel some improvement.

After the usual once over the Nurse Practitioner did she looked at my counts.  My neutrophils or Infection fighting white blood cells were at 600.  For a reference 7,000 is the low end of a normal range and the high level of normal is 15,000.  I have teetered around 1000 or 900 for the last several treatments both in this round and the first round this summer.  Due to the extremely low count today they decided to send me home without treatment.  I will return next week with hopefully wbc being high enough to do treatment.

In the meantime my off day allowed Leah and I to have a small celebration of our 15 years together.

To everyone thank you for your continued prayers.  They are much needed and greatly appreciated.

--Kent

who you touch!!

Leah and I stopped in at the grocery store tonight to pick up some much needed Milk.  I stayed in the car as Leah went in and picked up a couple items.  While Checking out the cashier asked Leah how her husband was?  Leah asked what she meant since we really don't know her that well.  The cashier told her the last time we were in together I was about to begin my chemo round.  The cashier remembered Leah and what we had told her almost a month and a half ago.  She continued to tell Leah she was praying for me. 

Of all the people you talk to many of them you never expect to impact.  It just goes to show you that if you share your story, people are listening whether you think they are or not.  Sharing "His" story seems like the right thing to do whenever possible.  It intersects with each persons story so sharing your story seems like the natural transition.

I have completed my third treatment of this round.  Once again they pumped it through 4 hours faster due to us arriving around noon.  When they do that it is much harder on my stomach but I still manage to keep all my food down and have to eat every couple of hours.  My symptoms usually turn around and come back to "normal" on Tuesday after treatment.  Therefore I am looking forward to tomorrow.

As for the Cashier in the store.  Thanks much for your thoughts and prayers.

--Kent

Thanks and LOVE!

Greeting to all as December is upon us!

Sorry we have not written in such a long time!   Kent had Chemo on Thursday, November 29th and seemed to not tolerate as well as the last round.  Kent is in the second treatment of round 2 chemo.  This past week his Chemo nurse was on a much deserved vacation to Ireland and so we had another wonderful chemo nurse! (many Thanks! to these chemo nurses for all they do!)   To fill you all in a bit... Kent receives Chemo for about 4 hrs plus pre medications in the Cancer Treatment Center and then wears a pump home to continue the chemo  over 41 to 46 hrs and then returns to get the pump removed on a Saturday.  This week the nurse ran the chemo pump faster and Kent felt some of the side affects more than other treatments.  He was weak and had a bit of nausea.  When he felt like this he would eat, and it "cured" the nausea for the most part.  Over all he did pretty well and we are thankful that he is still able to carry out work as well.  Many of you ask how he works on Chemo weeks.  He works the first part of the week at work and then the day of Chemo depending on how he feels does a little work or play ~ ( he loves to watch videos,do games or a snooze.) He then works on Friday at home and returns to work on Monday.   This seems to work well for him and we are thankful for that. 

I hope you all are able to enjoy getting ready for the Holiday's as we are at our house. It is starting to look like Christmas ! ( at least inside ) :)   This year we will look at Christmas a little differently.  This year we have been reminded to Cherish LIFE!  We are thankful to Kent's mom who put a wreath out this Thanksgiving setting the stage for this Christmas!   She put a foam wreath that was bare and put many foam leaves out so we could write what we were thankful for..... Kent wrote LIFE! I wrote the many Christian Doctors that  GOD has placed in our lives to sustain LIFE! and Lydia wrote her Christian School and Church which she loves!   My Dad has also set the tone for us this Christmas as his sermons have been on LOVE!

This year I think of many people and family that Struggle this holiday season....and need LOVE!  This year Kent's dad struggles with daily tasks that we take for granted as he struggles with a form of Alzheimer's .  We also think of his mom whom has the task of giving him the love and care he needs to be cared for.  We pray for Strength for her and we say to them, "WE LOVE YOU!   We pray for our niece who struggles with Diabetes at age 9 and all that goes with that! WE LOVE YOU!  We also pray for grandparents, in Jenison who that in their 80's and  90's are somewhat independent and can care for themselves. WE LOVE YOU!  Then I am thankful for my Gram in Chicago who went for Independence to dependence  in early NOV. after a fall and major brain injury.  I am thankful for her because she has been a great role model for me and my faith.  Her life and faith has touched many people and now it is our time in her time of need to say, WE LOVE YOU gram!   I also would like to say to my parents who caretake for their parents and children and who also are walking with cancer themselves, WE LOVE YOU! 

Lastly at this Christmas Season, WE LOVE YOU JESUS!

Much Love~ Leah for Kent and Lydia

Lasting Legacy

Happy Thanksgiving

We would like to wish our family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving.!

 This year we have a little twist in our Thanksgiving plans, due to my Gram De Boer's fall a couple of weeks ago. We will stay here with Kent's family for Thanksgiving, as the rest of my family will go be with my Gram De Boer.   Kent's family is getting together, and it is important due to Kent's dad still cherishing time together as his memory of family is fading due to a form of dementia. We will catch up with my Gram either this weekend if the weather cooperates or we will plan another date around Kent's Chemo schedule.

I have had many questions  of how Kent is doing and How Gram is doing.  I will try my best to tell you my account of both.  I apologize if I get wordy.

Kent is doing well.  He had Chemo on Thursday Nov. 15th.  Kent goes in to the treatment center and receives Chemo and then wears a pump home for 2 days.  He was quite nervous this time around.  He is on a new regimen which had some side effects that could have potentially brought a halt to normal life.  To date, we have not encountered those side effects.  A couple of things that have happened, were every 4 hours or so he gets a feeling like he doesn't know if he needs to eat or wonders if it is nausea?  It is a pain that we realized after a few days that is hunger.  My only wish is that we could get him to gain weight. At 6'3 ish and 140ish lbs.  I get a little nervous with the scale dipping down instead of up.  The other thing we are working with is that Kent is easily fatigued. Lydia often finds Daddy laying on the couch resting.  This seems to get him renewed to spend time with us later.    We will be visiting the Chemo nurse tomorrow.  When Kent went in to get his pump removed, they could get the blood clot meds in to prevent the clots but could not get a blood return, this could be a problem and we just need to make sure he won't get clots.   Over all we are grateful that he is doing well. 

On to Gram,  Gram's health varies day to day.  She currently reside in Marianjoy Rehab Center in Chicago area.  That is until tomorrow when she moves to a Skilled Nursing facility.  It is unsure at this point what lies ahead for Gram.  She has been through a lot and has a long way to go to regain strength.  Gram is very weak and tired but her faith is very strong and living example for many people around her.  At this point it is hard to say how much she will gain back to what she was before the fall, but I honestly can say that is not my concern right now.  I want to see her whether sitting or standing enjoying each day the Lord has given her.  Both Gram and Grandpa De Boer have given all of us grandchildren examples of how to live for Jesus. To be generous with what we have been given and to care for those around us.  I am honored to have them as grandparents and so thankful for how they have touched my life. Gram, we love and care for you now in your time of need as you have cared for so many in their time of need.  We Love You !

~ Leah

There and Back.

Once again I need to rewind to begin this post.  It was a week ago Friday that Leah's Gram fell in her driveway while trying to open her garage door.  To make a long story a bit shorter it was discovered she had bleeding in the brain.  Due to the bleeding she had brain surgery to relieve pressure and drain the blood.  She came through surgery well and the surgeon was glad they had done the surgery.  The last week she has improved gradually.

Today Leah, Lydia and I went along with her parents to Chicago to see Leah's Gram.  After the long ride down there we spent a few hours visiting with her when she wasn't dosing off.  She was super glad to see that I had come along and was glad to see that I looked good and that I was smiling.  We informed her I was feeling well at the moment and my treatments begin this Thursday. 

Before we left Leah's dad read scripture and before he was finished Gram began praying out loud for me and my health. She prayed that I would continue to do well and get better from my treatments.  It was obvious during our stay she focused on me being there and how I was doing health wise.

It was extremely touching to me that an 87 year old woman who had brain surgery several days before was more concerned about me with my journey than she was about herself in her situation.  One thing I can assure you is We love her very much and are Praying as much for her health as she is for me.  We pray she recovers to a point where she can continue to bless her family and friends.

Gram thank you for your continued concern and prayers.

--Kent

Fingers and Toes!!

To begin this post correctly I need to rewind roughly 2 weeks and explain what began happening.  I began feeling numbness in my toes.  I chalked it up to the shoes I was wearing at the time.  After 2 days with symptoms more or less disappearing at night I took the shoes and placed them deep in my closet until further notice.  Since then I began experiencing similar numbness in my fingers only to a lesser degree.  For those technical people the term for this is Neuropathy which you often get from chemo especially one of the medications I had the joy of receiving. 

Since my symptoms of Neuropathy in my fingers subsided before surgery I wasn't really sure why it came back worse and also in my toes.  I asked my liver surgeon at my follow up yesterday.  His response was that it was due to the chemo I had before surgery.  I was still skeptical so when we met with my Oncologist today we asked again.  He confirmed it was due to the chemo before surgery.  He said in a few patients he has seen the symptoms show up a few months later.  Oh Joy I get join the ranks of those "not Normal" patients who get symptoms late.

What does this mean for treatment was the question that followed.  The Doctor said due to not wanting to cause permanent Nerve damage he would change my Chemo regimen.  For most of you reading this will get more detailed than you really need but I feel this will best explain the future.  I was on a Chemo combination acronymed FOLFOX  I don't know exactly what the FOLF is for but after today I clearly understand the OX was the short name for the drug which causes Neuropathy as well as sensations to cold things.  My new regimen will be FOLFIRI.  It is the IRI that replaces the OX.  It's major side effects are diahrea and hair loss. 

I always said from day 1 I wouldn't care if I lost my hair or not.  As of right now I still feel that way.  That feeling may change after it starts happening but I won't know until it happens.  The doctor said it would likely be thinning of hair not necessarily the point I would need to shave my head.

The one thing that bothers me at this point is the thought of Diahrea.  I don't know if my pattern of Chemo and the process of returning to work a few days later will be the same.  A lot of unknowns that scare me at the moment.

So what about My fingers and toes you ask?  The Doctor said I should continue to take Vitamin B12 and feeling should return to normal.  It will likely take a couple of months but should return.

The timetable is to start Chemo next Thursday and have treatments once every two weeks for a length of 2.days.

--Kent

Back to normal!!

For the past two weeks I have been on antibiotics to cure "diverticulitis" and also clear the fevers and Night Sweats.  Those things it has done but those meds whacked me out.  I was a different person both Physically and Emotionally.  I Normally laugh at most things but during this time along with all the other side effects I could find very little if anything to laugh about.  Of course the Medications messed with the Digestive system from the top side all the way to the bottom side.  I finished those medications on Wednesday noon.  I waited to see what would change after the meds stopped.  My attitude improved on Thursday as did bodily functions back to the normal range.  You can ask Leah but as we left for Gildas club on Thursday evening I was as giddy as a young schoolboy.  It's amazing what those medications can do to you.

This next week we have a final follow up with the Surgeon and then we have another meeting with the Oncologist.  He will tell us when we start chemo treatments again.  Likely it will be the week prior to Thanksgiving.  This will give me the chance to feel somewhat "normal" during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Onward and forward with treatment.  I will be really happy when I can say I am cancer free and can live like a normal person on a semi consistent basis.

--Kent