Hey, look who's back!!!I know, we've been absent from here for quite some time.
Lots going on, and summer is here. We've been enjoying the birds, and the breezes, and the nice days, and the stormy ones, too. Rob's hair has been growing back slowly, and other than the never-ending headaches, and a few new pains here and there, he is a bit more chipper than he has been in some time. He's decided to grow his beard back for a while, too. The pics interspersed are from this morning... never ask a 'ham' if he wants his picture taken! LOL!
I'll fill you in a bit on what's been happening in our part of the world, here in crazy Michigan. We'll just touch on the mountain tops, and keep the valley areas more private. Just seems appropriate and needed.
As you remember, Rob had just begun his fourth cycle of chemo in April... scheduled for another several months of treatments. While at the second Medical Short Stay visit, he received a phone call from his oncologist in the room, IV already started, explaining why she was stopping the chemo effective immediately. His liver numbers were continuing to rise and she was afraid he'd go into liver failure. So we stopped, went home early (that was nice) and waited a week or so to go see Dr. B. When we went for the appointment, she explained in more detail why she did what she did, and asked him to go see a nephrologist (liver specialist) within the next 1-2 days, her office to set it up for us.
Here in lies some of my frustration...
We finally got the gals to get the appointment set after six phone calls and four weeks. You know how I got it done? I called her office that sixth time and said, "I was wondering if you could do me a favor... Can you leave a message for the doctor explaining that the reason Rob hasn't gotten in to see the liver specialist within 48 hours of the appointment is because I've made six phones calls to the office and have yet to get anyone to help? Just so she knows."We got a call with the appointment within a day, and that was that. :)
So Rob had LOTS more tests done over the course of the last few days, and we have found out that the chemo had a detrimental effect on his ol' liver. So the liver man, Dr. A, talked to Dr. B, and they are not going to do anymore chemo until they see what, if anything, they can do to help the liver.
Next week Rob will go in on Monday for the CT of his chest, abdomen, and pelvis so we can see what the cancer is doing, and we'll meet with Dr. B the next day to go over the results. Then, as Dr. A explained, he and Dr. B will have to get together to figure out which to treat, and what the action plan will be.
In the meantime, we are just going to enjoy each day, even during the thunderstorms inside and out. They are days to enjoy, days to cherish, and days that we will be thankful for, come what may.
Thank you all so very much for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts over these last couple of years... You have no idea what an impact you have all had on our lives through everything. Yes, there are overwhelming days still, filled with anger and tears, phone calls, and not-so-understanding bosses... but they pass quickly. And when we stop getting lost in the muck, and just let it all go, the peace of God is ever so present -- giving us strength and optimism and the spirit to go on. Grace. Yes.
Thank you is not enough... but thank you, to eternity and beyond. ;)I'll be back next week (or so) to let you know what our action plan is. In the meantime, your continued prayers would be so appreciated.
Have a blessed day, week, and summer!!! Even here in Michigan where there seems to be more rainy days than sunny ones lately!
At least we have the days! :)
May God richly bless you all.
In Love and In Peace,
Cheri ♥
