Ring...Ring... Hello...YIPEE...HOORAY..YES...YES...
That phone call was Friday January 15, 2010. Joyce's oncologist's nurse calling to say the c-t scan looked very good. Joyce said does that mean I am cancer free, and she said--
"THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF REOCCURRING CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
She said she didn't want us to wait and wonder over the weekend. Wasn't that just the greatest?
We have been laughing and hugging and (even)kissing, ever since!
Tuesday we met with the oncologist and he said he didn't have to see Joyce for 6 months!
So we are good to go on our usual 2 week vacation to Grand Cayman.
Once again, we thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts!
Just keep them coming!
Joyce and Doug
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
I just had to tell you . . . . .
New Years Eve,midnight, well 10:00 pm-- Joyce started chanting "I am cancer free! I am cancer free!" I joined in "Joyce is cancer free! Joyce is cancer free!"
Yesterday--
Joyce had a sparkle in her eyes I have not seen for so long!!
We fixed eggnog french toast together.
Joyce made banana bread.
A sparkle....
We talked about our annual vacation to Grand Cayman February 27th!
A sparkle....
We talked about shopping,ugh.
We talked about church at 15 below!
Maybe seee you this morning!
I just had to tell you!!
D
Yesterday--
Joyce had a sparkle in her eyes I have not seen for so long!!
We fixed eggnog french toast together.
Joyce made banana bread.
A sparkle....
We talked about our annual vacation to Grand Cayman February 27th!
A sparkle....
We talked about shopping,ugh.
We talked about church at 15 below!
Maybe seee you this morning!
I just had to tell you!!
D
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thanks to the transfusion, Christmas was great!
You may remember that Joyce and her nurse practitioner set up a blood transfusion for Dec 22, so she would be in better shape for Christmas, and it worked! We had a great time with family and friends during the holidays and Joyce’s body did well keeping up with what she wanted to do.
She is done with chemo, and next week she will have a C-T scan and another visit with the oncologist to determine what is next. Both of us will be starting PT in January. Both at Methodist Hospital, but in different programs, it will be very interesting to see if we can get them scheduled at the same time, so we can “ride together”.
We look forward to 2010, and many good things. We wish you a happy New Year and good health through the year.
We may see the New Year in on TV in England, but not the New York “ball!”
Doug and Joyce
You may remember that Joyce and her nurse practitioner set up a blood transfusion for Dec 22, so she would be in better shape for Christmas, and it worked! We had a great time with family and friends during the holidays and Joyce’s body did well keeping up with what she wanted to do.
She is done with chemo, and next week she will have a C-T scan and another visit with the oncologist to determine what is next. Both of us will be starting PT in January. Both at Methodist Hospital, but in different programs, it will be very interesting to see if we can get them scheduled at the same time, so we can “ride together”.
We look forward to 2010, and many good things. We wish you a happy New Year and good health through the year.
We may see the New Year in on TV in England, but not the New York “ball!”
Doug and Joyce
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The last scheduled chemo is coming tomorrow!
Yes, I am slow to get you updated again! Joyce's chemo was rescheduled again, but it is finally tomorrow. She really wanted it a week ago as you know, but her blood was not right. Her last test came out better now, and the Dr did not want to wait til after Christmas. We met with the Nurse Practitioner and we got a transfusion set for Dec 22, so we hope that will help her be OK at Christmas!
My back is much better, not so good in the morning, but much better as the day goes on and I walk more. I even have some "aha" times when I am totally pain free--It is coming!
Talk with you again soon.
Doug
My back is much better, not so good in the morning, but much better as the day goes on and I walk more. I even have some "aha" times when I am totally pain free--It is coming!
Talk with you again soon.
Doug
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Joyce said “Yahoo, I can walk!” “Praise the Lord for yesterday!”
Doug said “Amen!”
Yesterday morning Joyce was so weak she would get tired out just walking across the room. A couple of weeks ago, Joyce had asked to get a blood work-up. She was scheduled for that yesterday, but didn’t think she could make it. She called the Cancer Center and they said to come in for a saline IV, so we did. We went to the IV and transfusion center about 10:30. After the saline IV Joyce mentioned that we had canceled the blood work, and the nurse said “you should never cancel blood work, they should not have let you do that; let’s get some blood and get it done.”
We went home and just when we were done with lunch, the nurse called back and told us Joyce’s hemoglobin was 5.4 and to come in for a transfusion as soon as possible!
So about 11:45 Joyce was getting 3 units of blood and a unit of platelets! We left the hospital about 8:30 pm, the two nurses had stayed an extra hour for us!
What if Joyce had not scheduled a blood work-up?
What if she had not mentioned it to the Nurse?
What if the two Nurses were not Angels in disguise and had not responded like they did?
How many Angels were with us yesterday?
D and J
Doug said “Amen!”
Yesterday morning Joyce was so weak she would get tired out just walking across the room. A couple of weeks ago, Joyce had asked to get a blood work-up. She was scheduled for that yesterday, but didn’t think she could make it. She called the Cancer Center and they said to come in for a saline IV, so we did. We went to the IV and transfusion center about 10:30. After the saline IV Joyce mentioned that we had canceled the blood work, and the nurse said “you should never cancel blood work, they should not have let you do that; let’s get some blood and get it done.”
We went home and just when we were done with lunch, the nurse called back and told us Joyce’s hemoglobin was 5.4 and to come in for a transfusion as soon as possible!
So about 11:45 Joyce was getting 3 units of blood and a unit of platelets! We left the hospital about 8:30 pm, the two nurses had stayed an extra hour for us!
What if Joyce had not scheduled a blood work-up?
What if she had not mentioned it to the Nurse?
What if the two Nurses were not Angels in disguise and had not responded like they did?
How many Angels were with us yesterday?
D and J
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Baxter is back…… Thanksgiving……Giving Thanks
Joyce had not been able to keep any food down since Sunday, so yesterday we were at the Cancer Center for an IV for nausea and for dehydration. They really helped Joyce feel better immediately. Just as we were leaving the center, staff and friends were assembling for a Christmas service for the Frauenshuh Cancer Center. We kind of got caught in the flow of people going to the event, so we went also. It was actually the Christmas dedication of a special tree in the garden coupled with lighting of the Christmas Lights. We have often wondered if the people who the center is named after are still alive, and they are, they were sitting right in front of us. Mr. Frauenshuh told us that the tree in the garden was just transplanted recently and is a Swamp Oak, picked especially because it is close to a marsh area, because it can live to over 100 years old and because it grows very tall. It will be a symbol of a long life. There was a short program with an incredible singer who sings with the Minneapolis Orchestra, and also the Hospital choral group. That is probably the only Christmas program we will be attending, so it was perfect.
11/27/09 - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Joyce’s daughter had her tonsils out recently and is still recovering, so we will spend some time today with her and her significant other and then come home to rest and relax.
We have many blessings to count, and one of them is our family and friends! We are very thankful for everyone’s support and prayers through all of our health problems. We are both on the way up now and look forward to being home and with friends rather than at the hospital with doctors!
Doug & Joyce
Joyce had not been able to keep any food down since Sunday, so yesterday we were at the Cancer Center for an IV for nausea and for dehydration. They really helped Joyce feel better immediately. Just as we were leaving the center, staff and friends were assembling for a Christmas service for the Frauenshuh Cancer Center. We kind of got caught in the flow of people going to the event, so we went also. It was actually the Christmas dedication of a special tree in the garden coupled with lighting of the Christmas Lights. We have often wondered if the people who the center is named after are still alive, and they are, they were sitting right in front of us. Mr. Frauenshuh told us that the tree in the garden was just transplanted recently and is a Swamp Oak, picked especially because it is close to a marsh area, because it can live to over 100 years old and because it grows very tall. It will be a symbol of a long life. There was a short program with an incredible singer who sings with the Minneapolis Orchestra, and also the Hospital choral group. That is probably the only Christmas program we will be attending, so it was perfect.
11/27/09 - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Joyce’s daughter had her tonsils out recently and is still recovering, so we will spend some time today with her and her significant other and then come home to rest and relax.
We have many blessings to count, and one of them is our family and friends! We are very thankful for everyone’s support and prayers through all of our health problems. We are both on the way up now and look forward to being home and with friends rather than at the hospital with doctors!
Doug & Joyce
Sunday, November 15, 2009
I am finally “back” to give you an update.
Since our last meeting, Joyce has had two more Chemo treatments, so she has had a total of four with two to go November 19 and December 10. She still has not been able to gain any weight, so she is still way under her weight from before the chemo. Her eating habits are just the opposite from her normal diet—high fat, sugar, lots of protein, and eat, eat, eat! Meanwhile her “Chubby Hubby” can’t cut down!
As you may know I have had back problems since Adam and Eve, but PT put me in traction one session, and I ended up in the ER October 18. I had surgery for two protruding discs and a cyst November 6th and home on the 7th. Not a good time for me to be on my back, but if we didn’t do it now we probably would want to wait until January, so we went for it! I am recovering well. Joyce was in the hospital over a month, and I could hardly stand it one night!
Since our last meeting, Joyce has had two more Chemo treatments, so she has had a total of four with two to go November 19 and December 10. She still has not been able to gain any weight, so she is still way under her weight from before the chemo. Her eating habits are just the opposite from her normal diet—high fat, sugar, lots of protein, and eat, eat, eat! Meanwhile her “Chubby Hubby” can’t cut down!
As you may know I have had back problems since Adam and Eve, but PT put me in traction one session, and I ended up in the ER October 18. I had surgery for two protruding discs and a cyst November 6th and home on the 7th. Not a good time for me to be on my back, but if we didn’t do it now we probably would want to wait until January, so we went for it! I am recovering well. Joyce was in the hospital over a month, and I could hardly stand it one night!
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