a week that changed our lives
We feel your prayers, and ask that they continue to be lifted up. Not much has changed in the past day or so, especially in light of all the change that the past week has entailed. Today, at some point, we should get a bit more of the specifics from the oncologist, however, we know that only God knows the plans that He has made for Jim and our family! Pray that we can seek His will, and take assuredness in what that may be!
I came back into Tulsa yesterday afternoon, while Heather stayed in Norman for a bit longer to make sure all was taken care of. This obviously adds a different element for Heather and I to be apart, in a time when she and her family need so much encouragement and support! Pray for Heather's strength.
Jim is recovering from surgery well, however, the pain medication can make him loopy and sometimes a very difficult patient. Pray for Jim to relax and have a peace come about him.
Once again, I am going to send you the words of Heather's last email, as it will hopefully provide some insight in to where we are at, medically speaking.
thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers, like i started this email off with, keep em coming (which coincidently, is the same thing we are telling Jim about his farts, "keep em coming" - read below for explanation)!
rjs
Monday, February 18, 2008
7 days, 168 hours, never the same again
As mom my said this morning, "It's just been a week--7 days--168 hours. How can life change so quickly? It certainly gives new meaning to "Carpe Diem"--SEIZE THE DAY!"
I apologize I have not updated in a few days but once we get home, all I want to do is go to bed and we keep [retty busy at the hospital. Today we completed post operative day 3 and the doctor said this morning dad is "textbook" if not progressing better. He continues to sleep most of the day, being awakened frequently for all sorts of things and quickly dozes back to sleep. Although we would like to take advantage of the time we are spending together, if he is comfortable- we are pleased! Tomorrow the anesthesiologist will remove his epidural and allow him to not feel so sedated all the time. We now pray his pain can be adequately controlled without the epidural!
A nurse aide commented today "he sure hasn't lost a sense of humor!" For those of you who don't know dad, he is quite the comedian! Despite his sleepiness, he continues to keep us all entertained. You never know what he is going to say when he wakes up- usually a guaranteed laugh though which is so comforting in a time like this that we can find something to bring a smile to our faces. One of my favorite stories so far took place the first day after his surgery. Dad had been begging me for something to eat, and I kept reminding him that he could only have ice chips and popsicles until such time that his colon was "working again." He said, "Heather, make me a sign! I want it to say: Will Fart for Food!" Needless to say, my wonderful father in law made the sign which hangs directly behind his bed. Our other good news is his bowels did wake up yesterday so we are moving forward with liquids and hopefully to solids by Monday. Who would have ever thought a fart would bring a tear of happiness to my eye!
We received the pathology back from his procedures and it was consistent with what they had imagined. The cancer in his colon is an adenocarcinoma and the biopsy of his liver was as well. This is a good thing because it means the liver/lungs is a metastasis and not another random kind of cancer that would change everything. Our oncologist is out of town so we met her partner today. She was very nice but said very little so we hope to learn more on Monday when Dr. Dagg returns.
Our plan is to hopefully be discharged from the hospital by Wednesday. The surgeon will put in a port for dad's chemotherapy prior to discharge from the hospital so back to the OR. Fortunately, this is a pretty simple procedure. Rob will head back to Tulsa tomorrow (Sunday) and I am planning on staying at least until dad gets discharged to help mom. Then, lots of road trips to Norman once we start chemo in a few weeks.As always, thank you for everything! We continue to get by each day by the grace of God and the love and support from YOU! I can't wait to share everything we have experienced with dad and for him to be able thank each one of you when we FULLY recover from this...and we will! We love you!
Blessings,
Heather and Rob
As mom my said this morning, "It's just been a week--7 days--168 hours. How can life change so quickly? It certainly gives new meaning to "Carpe Diem"--SEIZE THE DAY!"
I apologize I have not updated in a few days but once we get home, all I want to do is go to bed and we keep [retty busy at the hospital. Today we completed post operative day 3 and the doctor said this morning dad is "textbook" if not progressing better. He continues to sleep most of the day, being awakened frequently for all sorts of things and quickly dozes back to sleep. Although we would like to take advantage of the time we are spending together, if he is comfortable- we are pleased! Tomorrow the anesthesiologist will remove his epidural and allow him to not feel so sedated all the time. We now pray his pain can be adequately controlled without the epidural!
A nurse aide commented today "he sure hasn't lost a sense of humor!" For those of you who don't know dad, he is quite the comedian! Despite his sleepiness, he continues to keep us all entertained. You never know what he is going to say when he wakes up- usually a guaranteed laugh though which is so comforting in a time like this that we can find something to bring a smile to our faces. One of my favorite stories so far took place the first day after his surgery. Dad had been begging me for something to eat, and I kept reminding him that he could only have ice chips and popsicles until such time that his colon was "working again." He said, "Heather, make me a sign! I want it to say: Will Fart for Food!" Needless to say, my wonderful father in law made the sign which hangs directly behind his bed. Our other good news is his bowels did wake up yesterday so we are moving forward with liquids and hopefully to solids by Monday. Who would have ever thought a fart would bring a tear of happiness to my eye!
We received the pathology back from his procedures and it was consistent with what they had imagined. The cancer in his colon is an adenocarcinoma and the biopsy of his liver was as well. This is a good thing because it means the liver/lungs is a metastasis and not another random kind of cancer that would change everything. Our oncologist is out of town so we met her partner today. She was very nice but said very little so we hope to learn more on Monday when Dr. Dagg returns.
Our plan is to hopefully be discharged from the hospital by Wednesday. The surgeon will put in a port for dad's chemotherapy prior to discharge from the hospital so back to the OR. Fortunately, this is a pretty simple procedure. Rob will head back to Tulsa tomorrow (Sunday) and I am planning on staying at least until dad gets discharged to help mom. Then, lots of road trips to Norman once we start chemo in a few weeks.As always, thank you for everything! We continue to get by each day by the grace of God and the love and support from YOU! I can't wait to share everything we have experienced with dad and for him to be able thank each one of you when we FULLY recover from this...and we will! We love you!
Blessings,
Heather and Rob
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Cancer Confirmed
thank you for the prayers!
although today did not hold all the answers that we had originally had hoped it might, the day did bring us up to speed as to what the next step had to be. Jim had his colonoscopy (sp?) this morning, in which they found a large obstruction that was malignant. The good, now we know the source of the internal bleeding, and the cancer, and now we can attack it. The bad, he goes into surgery tomorrow to remove the tumor, and that can obviously carry complications.
So as to what we have ahead of us. First, we need a clean and successful surgery. Then after the source is removed, we wait approx. 3 weeks to begin extensive chemotherapy, to attack the cancer that has already spread to the lungs and the liver. Obviously, the next couple of weeks are imperative that things go well. Also, we need the cancer that has already spread to slow down a bit, to allow for the recovery of the surgery. The oncologist suggests, however, that the bright-side of an aggressive cancer like this, is that it tends to be highly reactive to chemo.
We still have a very steep up-hill climb ahead of us, and need some things to go right, in order to have the successful result that is so badly desired. However, I know that today, both Heather and I felt the Peace of the Holy Spirit, almost as if God was laying the ground work to begin His miraculous healing. I know that Karen also feels His presence, as she attempts to face the days ahead.
I cannot think those of you enough that have continued to outpour from your hearts the love, prayers, scripture, encouraging words, and willingness to do anything and everything. From one perspective we were not prepared for the challenges and obstacles that God has placed in front of us; however, in the same regard, look at how God the Father has prepared us.... (1) From the foundation of our Faith, God began preparing us by directing us to Trust in Him, (2) from the blessings he has showered our family with, with friends that are compassionate and passionate for Lord, God prepared our lives with fellow believers to call on when we need prayers; (3) and with a medical staff that is not only exceptionally trained, but that have a personal and invested interest in doing their very best for their fellow colleague and friend, Jim, God hand picked the staff and prepared them for the duty at hand. It is truly amazing, when you look back, seeing just exactly how God has prepared us for this challenge.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (New International Version)
v9. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"[a]— 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
thank you for being apart of the preparation, and thanks again for being apart of the here and now! As things change I will continue to try and keep you updated.
thanks again!
rjs
thank you for the prayers!
although today did not hold all the answers that we had originally had hoped it might, the day did bring us up to speed as to what the next step had to be. Jim had his colonoscopy (sp?) this morning, in which they found a large obstruction that was malignant. The good, now we know the source of the internal bleeding, and the cancer, and now we can attack it. The bad, he goes into surgery tomorrow to remove the tumor, and that can obviously carry complications.
So as to what we have ahead of us. First, we need a clean and successful surgery. Then after the source is removed, we wait approx. 3 weeks to begin extensive chemotherapy, to attack the cancer that has already spread to the lungs and the liver. Obviously, the next couple of weeks are imperative that things go well. Also, we need the cancer that has already spread to slow down a bit, to allow for the recovery of the surgery. The oncologist suggests, however, that the bright-side of an aggressive cancer like this, is that it tends to be highly reactive to chemo.
We still have a very steep up-hill climb ahead of us, and need some things to go right, in order to have the successful result that is so badly desired. However, I know that today, both Heather and I felt the Peace of the Holy Spirit, almost as if God was laying the ground work to begin His miraculous healing. I know that Karen also feels His presence, as she attempts to face the days ahead.
I cannot think those of you enough that have continued to outpour from your hearts the love, prayers, scripture, encouraging words, and willingness to do anything and everything. From one perspective we were not prepared for the challenges and obstacles that God has placed in front of us; however, in the same regard, look at how God the Father has prepared us.... (1) From the foundation of our Faith, God began preparing us by directing us to Trust in Him, (2) from the blessings he has showered our family with, with friends that are compassionate and passionate for Lord, God prepared our lives with fellow believers to call on when we need prayers; (3) and with a medical staff that is not only exceptionally trained, but that have a personal and invested interest in doing their very best for their fellow colleague and friend, Jim, God hand picked the staff and prepared them for the duty at hand. It is truly amazing, when you look back, seeing just exactly how God has prepared us for this challenge.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (New International Version)
v9. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"[a]— 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
thank you for being apart of the preparation, and thanks again for being apart of the here and now! As things change I will continue to try and keep you updated.
thanks again!
rjs
Monday, February 11, 2008
Where it All Began...The First Email
Dear friends-
Dear friends-
We just got home from another full day of emotions at the hospital. As of today, I still feel like we know very little from when we began just 48 hours ago.
To brief those of you who do not know, my dad has been intermittently "under the weather" over the last month. His pain seemed to be progressing this week as the color in his skin diminished. Our wonderful doctor and best friend ran dozens of lab tests earlier this last week to see what was causing this. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be writing an email like this. The main thing we learned from the lab results was that dad was having significant bleeding internally. Friday he had a CT scan of his abdomen to determine where the bleeding was coming from because his pain was primarily in his abdomen. We were hoping for a bleeding ulcer- unfortunately what they found was a large mass on his liver and several spots on the bases of his lungs. We learned all this information on Saturday.
He was admitted to the oncology floor yesterday in order to perform more diagnostic tests, receive several units of blood, and for assistance with pain control. Since his admission he has had a CT of his chest in order to see if the cancer was anywhere beside the base of his lungs (the first CT showed only the bases). We got the results today and it showed multiple pinpoint spots covering both his lungs but no progression in his liver. Our first bit of good news came this morning after an EGD (scope of his upper GI tract) and it all came back negative. Tomorrow morning he will undergo a colonoscopy (for those of you who know Big Jim you know he is not excited about that!) The doctors concern at this point is that the liver and lungs are both secondary sites in which the cancer has metastasized too. This is mainly because dad has little to no reason he would have ever developed either liver or lung cancer. Our fear is that the cancer originated in his colon and has spread to these two additional sites rapidly. If the colonoscopy is negative (please pray), they will perform a needle biopsy of his liver tomorrow afternoon so we can learn more about the cancer and what the treatment may entail.
I write this email not to just inform you of all that is going on, but to ask for an outpouring of prayer over my father tomorrow and all the days ahead. Tomorrow is a huge day for our family and we are asking for strength as we learn what God's will is for my daddy and our family. I am terrified, deeply saddened, and struggling to stay strong for my family and especially my dad. Thank you to each and every one of you who have called, text, and most importantly prayed. I truly believe in the power of prayer and the miracles God is capable of. We have witnessed His goodness in so many ways and hope these miracles are showered upon dad.
I always knew God had blessed me with the best friends in the world but each and every hour of the last two days, that has become more and more evident. I will be in touch tomorrow evening and let you know how the day goes. Thank you again for being a part of this time.
Blessings,
heather sher
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