Over (well almost)

Wow...so I really dropped the ball here didn't I!

Mom had her last chemo a few weeks back. She did have to postpone her last two rounds for low platelet counts, but she got all six in!

She is feeling good and looking forward to her hair growing back in. She says it's all white. We'll see if she colors it! She did her lab work for the genetic markers indicating certain cancers. This was more for our benefit than hers (obviously). If the first one is negative, they will test one more. If those are negative, then there is no reason for Kara, Ben or I to be overly concerned for our health.

She has a scan coming up that will serve as a baseline in case any other lumps, bumps or abnormalities appear in the future. I don't know when they will take her port out. She hasn't mentioned that to me.

Praise God for the way He brought her through chemo! Mom only missed a few days of work throughout this whole process. You better believe I would have stayed at home in bed as many days as I could!!

We are so grateful for your prayers, and for those that helped drive mom to Wichita. Mary Magathan and Sharon Harshman. Thank you! For all the food, gifts and notes that were given. Truly, mom is grateful. This may be my last update. In a few weeks, if nothing more has happened I may take the blog down. It doesn't need to stay for all eternity. I'm glad that there wasn't more to say!

Blessed,

Valerie for all

A positive spin

For all intents and purposes, mom has been doing great with chemo. She hasn't missed a day of work an has been feeling pretty decent. But after talking with dad yesterday, he said that she struggled a bit this weekend. She had worked 3 shifts and by Friday was feeling pretty fatigued and nauseous. Her legs also hurt her this weekend. She missed church on Sunday so she could stay home and rest. She was back at work Monday and is supposed to work 4 in a row. We leave Friday for Nashville to visit Kara. I'm guessing she'll sleep in the car a bit! Keep praying for stamina. And that she recognizes when she needs to rest and takes it easy.

Update

I wish there was more to say, but...well, I'm pleased there's not more to say! Mom continues to do awesome! She worked 4 in a row after chemo, three the next week, four this week, and will have her third round Monday. Continued prayers for stamina. She hasn't missed a day of work yet, so it looks like the prayers are being answered!!

Valerie

I'll make it quick

Today is 3 in a row for mom working. She also works tomorrow. I'll tell you, after working in a unit for years, 4 in a row is brutal for any nurse - let alone a nurse on chemo. But, she seems to be doing well. She said she was pretty tired last night, but after talking with her briefly this morning she seemed chipper as ever. Praise the Lord!

Valerie

Round 2

Mom had round two of chemo today. Her friend, Mary Magathan, took her. That was so nice of her! The infusion went well. She said she slept through most of the infusion. I talked to her this evening and she still sounded sleepy. She wasn't sure if it was the benadryl or if they put some more ativan in her infusion (sleepy medicine).

Her hair looks good too! Mom and dad were up this weekend to watch Allison's soccer game. They had a great time and her wig withstood the fierce April winds. Of course, she looks different, but I would say for a wig it looks pretty darn good! Might have to get me one for those bad hair days :)

Thanks for all your prayers. Remember her this week as she's planning on working the next 3 days. Not sure how that will go as she is awfully tired. Pray for stamina and that she'll know when to call it quits if she needs to rest.

Valerie

Wigged out

Mom got fitted for her wig this morning. She said she will have dad cut her hair tonight. Yikes!

She won't get her wig until Tuesday, so I guess she'll just have to tough it out until then. So glad her friend Marsha could go with her. The wig is a "nice one." Mom laughed that it was a bit expensive, but when you add up what she's going to save on hair cut and color for the next year...it more than makes up for it!

Continued prayer for emotional stability. Mom has always been a rock...but this can't be easy for anyone.

I have been talking a lot about Kara and I, but I thought I should mention that Ben has been awful sweet lately as well. He's been calling mom to see how she is doing, and I know this is just as upsetting to him. Kara and I have always been the emotional outlet though :) Dad seems to be handling it fine. He says he'll just be a whole lot happier when it's all over. Amen to that!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Valerie

Hair

Mom went back to work Monday and everything has gone great. She seems to have enough energy. Today is her 4th in a row and she sounds great!

However, her hair started falling out on Tuesday :(

We had heard that once it started, there was no going back. This is so true. It is just falling out in handfuls. She said she barely has enough hair today to spray in place and look remotely normal. She has a good friend at work who is going with her in the morning to visit the "wig lady." There is a charity in Wichita that work with cancer patients to fit them for wigs and offer other support. I'm so glad she has a friend to go with her. It can't be easy. She said that she will have dad help her this weekend to cut the remainder of her hair off.

This has been hard on Kara and I. Yes, we know she is having chemo and the diagnosis, but this outward reflection of the inward problem is just sad. So, if any of you reading this see her next week, give her a hug and tell her she looks beautiful :)

Praise the Lord for the energy to get through this week. So grateful that she is feeling well. We pray that this continues so that she can work. Pray for the hair situation. That she would know that she is loved no matter how she looks, and that this too shall pass. Pray for dad, as I know this is hard on him too. And if he is indeed the one that has to shave her head, that he would be brave!!

Thank you for your prayers. They are very important to us.

Valerie

Who knew?

There are things happening with mom we just didn't expect. She did really well the first 3 days after chemo, then the fun started. General feelings of fatigue (expected), a little achy (expected), numbness in the fingers (what?), and a rash that broke out Thursday morning from the top of her head down to her waist (weird). The first day the rash was not itchy, but starting Friday morning she started to scratch. Her skin was bright red and her arms and legs were a little swollen. The doc called out a steroid and atarax (for the itch). This morning she's finally feeling a little better. The nurse told mom there's no good explanation for the rash. Some people just break out, and it's not every time. She may not do it next time, we'll just have to see.

Mom has continued to smile and say she's doing great, even though at times we know it's not true. But we are blessed she is doing as well as she is. A close family friend was injured pretty bad this week in an electrical farm accident. We are surrounded by God's goodness and mercy to protect and sustain.

Pray for energy for mom as she is headed back to work Monday morning. And for our friend Charles and his family as he continues to heal.

Valerie

The day after

So far, so good. Mom feels great. Says she doesn't have any symptoms whatsoever. They will put her on 3 days of zofran and decadron as well as phenergan for back up. The trifecta for helping out nausea. They discourage taking Advil/Ibuprofen/Motrin as it can cause issues with clotting, but if she is experiencing any pain, they are more than happy to provide a script for something stronger.

The current plan is to maybe have chemo on Monday and ride out the medication for 3 days hoping that she won't have significant symptoms until later in the week. Then she can rest the weekend and start back up again. She has no plans on sitting at home! Of course, only time will tell. She isn't naive in thinking this will be easy, but she is hopeful that she will be able to maintain as normal a schedule as possible.

Psalm 13:5-6

But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord's praise,

for he has been good to me.

Despite it all, we serve a good God. He loves mom more than all of us combined and He will work all of this to His glory!

Valerie

Round one

Had a doctor's appointment with Dr. Delmore this morning at 10:30. Unfortunately, he was running late and we didn't get called back until 11:45. He explained that the cells found in her saline wash of her abdomen are from either the ovarian or uterine cancer and there's no way to tell which. He said he got a good look at mom's abdomen and it is highly unlikely there are any other tumors that could be the source if the cells. The recommended treatment is 3-6 rounds of chemo. It is his feeling that if 3 is good, 6 is better. The cells are essentially little microscopic tumors floating around and need to be eliminated before they grow to something more substantial. After 3 rounds of chemo, all the side effects will have already happened (hair loss being the big one) so 3 more rounds makes sense.

After the appointment they got her hooked up to begin her first round. They start with a cocktail for treating side effects. Pepcid, benadryl, dexamethasone (steroid), and aloxi (for nausea). The chemo is mixed in a carrier fluid that is made from the bark of a pine tree (weird) so allergic reactions are common. That is also why she cannot drive herself. The Benadryl (50mg) will make her sleepy.

Then comes the chemo. Taxol is the first, and carboplatin is next. Followed by an infusion of fluid. Total of 4-4 1/2 hours each time. She will be given a script for anti-nausea medication but the nurse said that nausea is usually not the biggest problem. Patients usually complain of fatigue and constipation. Long bone pain can also be an issue if she needs medication to boost her immune system (amping up bone marrow).

Mom is halfway through her taxol. She has a nice private room with a big recliner and tv if she wants to watch movies. Mostly she's just resting her eyes and texting all her friends! Dad and I grabbed lunch and I'll be heading home soon. Leah took my oldest 2 to the zoo with her kids today. Isaac has been a good boy. Currently rolling around on a blanket on the floor.

The nurse said her hair will start to fall out as early as 2 weeks from now. She is debating on whether she should just shave it and whether she should wear a hat or get a wig. Decisions decisions...

Pray for her body. That it would respond well to the chemo and she would be able to get by with just the minimum of side effects. We know she'll have some, but pray they will be mild and bearable. I know she wants to get back to work.

Valerie

Portacath

It's 9:15 pm and mom just texted to say her and dad are on their way home from Wichita after successful port placement. In her words, "it went very very well, she slept like a baby, feels great, and it couldn't have gone better." Another Praise the Lord! They had gotten to the hospital around noon hoping it wouldn't be too long before the doc got there, but unfortunately he got held up at another hospital and they sat for nearly 5 hours before they took her back. The nice thing was that they hung out in the unit mom works in, so it was almost like being home. They got to chat with all her friends and that made it more bearable. Tomorrow she has an appointment with the gynecological oncologist that did her surgery and then will start chemo directly after that. I'm here on the farm and will go to the appointment and sit through most of the chemo infusion with

mom and dad.

Prayers are appreciated as always. Specifically that dad would stay strong for mom and that mom would be able to face this knowing that God is in control. We covet your prayers.

Valerie

How we got here...

Hello all,
While I wish we didn't have to create this blog, we'd like to be able to direct our concered family and friends to a place for regular updates on Carol's progress. But let me catch you up on why we're here. Mom (Carol to the rest of you) went in December for a routine look at her bladder. During the ultrasound, they discovered a mass on her ovary. It was not believed to be a tumor at the time but for saftey sake, she scheduled to have the ovary removed at the end of January. Upon biopsy of the removed ovary, a small amount of ovarian cancer was discovered. With this knowledge, the doctor felt it best to move forward with a full hystorectemy on February 21st. During the hystorectemy, biopsies were taken from 20 different areas of tissue for screening. In addition, fluid was pumped into her abdomen and flushed out for testing. If there was nothing left in the biopsies, she would be finished with the process. If not, the doctor proposed 3-6 rounds of chemotherapy. Results showed a small tumor in her uterus. Oddly, this was not connected to the ovarian tumor in any way. Thus, she had ovarian and uteran cancers at the same time. All other biopsies of her tissue came back clean. However, the results from the fluid they placed in her abdomen did not. Free floating cancer cells are still present. Difficult news to swallow, mom now faces 6 rounds of chemotherapy.
I have to say the most difficult parts (outside the obvious) about this news for us as family are a) where are these cells coming from? b) how many cells are we talking? We hope all that will be cleared up for us by the doctor and/or a PET scan.
Today, mom is having a portacath inserted sugically into her chest area for chemo treatment delivery. This will prevent her from having to be continually stuck with needles. Her first treatment of chemo will take place tomorrow.Will you join us in prayer for mom? Specifically the following:

Insertion of the portacath and 1st round will go smoothly and without incident.
That the details of what exactly is happening inside Carol's body will be revealed so the best approach can be taken.
Grace and peace be poured out on Carol and her concerned family members. This is very new and scary.
That Christ be glorified through our trust and dependence.

Thank you for visiting, Valerie and I will do our best to update each time new information is available. While we love that you all have called and texted mom, this is a way to get the whole scoop without her repeating it each time :) We love you all!

1 Peter 5:10 - "After you have suffered a little while, the God of ALL grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, stregthen, and establish you."

In Christ our Savior,

Kara