I hate to even ask...

I sent this around to a few people at work. Then I thought maybe I ought to post this here, too. Someone asked for a link for online donations, so I created one and posted it here:

Neither Misty nor I have medical insurance, but we're applying for several different funding programs, including Medicaid and Parkland Hospital's own program, as well as others. We're expecting that by the time all of the medical costs are added up, it will equal something between a small house and a large hosue. Her employer, a local chiropractor, has created a bank account for her and will be soliciting donations from his patients.

We have received lots of help from family, friends, and members of our church toward taking care of many of our immediate needs dealing with childcare and meals--especially in these recent weeks when I've been traveling. I have received more offers of help than I know what to do with. I am nearly overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support being offered to us, and am deeply appreciative of it. I know many of you genuinely want to help in some way--in addition to your prayers on our behalf--but I haven't been able to put most of your offers to any use. So... if you feel so inclined, and have the means, any monetary donations would be helpful--at least to help cover some of Misty's medications. If you are unable to contribute monetarily, I understand, and your prayers will be sufficient.

Thanks again, for anything you can do.

Doctor's Appointment

We had an appointment with Misty's oncologist earlier this week--on Thursday. He seemed to think things were ok--neither worse nor better than expected. We were told that the worst nausea is in the first few days after a chemotherapy treatment, and then subsides somewhat after that. That seems to be how it happened for Misty. Those first few days after chemo, she seemed to be getting worse, which had me a little worried. But then she seemed to be getting a whole lot better. In fact, Misty felt good enough on Friday to go out and about for a little while, running errands (with her mother--not all by herself), and then out to a dollar-movie after I got home from work. Yesterday, Saturday, she was still feeling well enough and went to LeAndra's soccer game (LeAndra's team won, and LeAndra even scored one of the goals!).

At the doctor's office, we were also informed that rather than being home for three weeks, and then back in the hospital for five days of chemo, that it's a three-week cycle. Or, in other words, home for sixteen days and then chemotherapy for five days. So, it looks like she's going back early next week.

Again, thanks for all the support. Thanks for the meals this week. The meals you prepare for us gives me a little more time with Misty and the kids, and a little less to stress about. Thanks especially for the prayers.

Misty's Haircut

Misty wanted me to post a picture of her new hairdo.

She actually had it cut a couple weeks ago, while I was in Louisana. When she told me she chopped all her hair off in preparation for chemotherapy, and for easier management while in and out of the hospital, I was a little worried. When I finally saw it a few days later, I was much relieved to see that it was a really cute haircut. This picture was taken a few days after her haircut.

I figured I might also post a "before" picture, too. This bottom picture was taken November '07--eight months before her cancer diagnosis. By this time, she had already lost a good amount of weight by her own efforts--which is why she's smiling and allowing someone to take her picture! The dramatic weight loss since that time is obvious.

Home Again

Misty is home again. She doesn't seem any worse for wear after her first session of chemotherapy. Yes, she's nauseous and weak, but not much more so than she was before chemo. She's happy to be back at home, in her own bed.

That sure seemed like the longest six days ever--for all of us. Misty wasn't as doped up for this trip, so she was antsy to get up and move around. Keep in mind this is the woman who can't sit through a two-hour movie without getting distracted and putting her finger in my ear. I can only imagine how tough it was for her to stay in a hospital bed for nearly a week! And then, when she did get up and walk the halls, she was too weak to get very far--not to mention, the scenery in the hospital halls is pretty bleak. I, at least, have to go to work and keep focused on something else for a few hours every day. Misty, on the other hand, can just lay there, immersed in her situation with scarcely anything to keep her mind on something else. Watching TV and playing cards only work so well as diversions.

All of us are happy and relieved to see her home. The kids especially are happy to see her, and I think when they saw that she was home this morning, they're stress levels automatically dropped. Just knowing she's around is a comfort--even though she's not functioning to the level that she used to.

So, in three weeks, she's supposed to return to the hospital for another five-day chemo session. In the mean time, we're going to enjoy having her home. For those of you who would like to come and visit Misty while she's home, please call first. She is still very tired much of the time, and has her moments when she's feeling fine, and many more moments when she feels lousy. She does like having visitors, but only when she's feeling well enough to actually visit.

Again, thank you all for the prayers and the offers of help and support. Thanks for the services like mowing the lawns and watching and transporting the kids. These are enormous services that have alleviated a lot of the pressure, and made it possible for me and for Misty's mother to spend more time with her at the hospital.

Starting Chemo

Misty starts chemotherapy on Tuesday. yay.

One the one hand, I'm glad she'll be getting treatments with proven results. On the other hand, I know that this starts a very difficult road.

It also means that, with Misty's immune system compromised from her treatments, we'll all have to be extra careful when dealing with her. We're all going to have to get flu shots, and use lots of anti-bacterial hand gel. In fact, they've also informed us that hospital visits during chemo treatments will be limited to immediate family. This is really a bummer because Misty has enjoyed the visits and card games and flowers and conversation from everyone who stopped by to see her. (At least she enjoyed it until the pain meds kicked in and then she would either doze off or start saying silly things.)

On an entirely positive note, we got word that Misty qualifies for one of the Medicaid programs, regardless of my income. This takes a huge amount of stress off of our financial concerns--but not entirely.

Thanks to all who helped with turning our messy office into a downstairs bedroom for Misty, and (almost) finishing our downstairs bathroom remodel. With the shape Misty's in, it wouldn't do her well to keep going up and down the stairs for everything. Again, I can't thank everyone enough for the prayers. Please continue to pray for Misty and our family. We still need all the help we can get.

She's home

Misty left the hospital today and is now at home. Too bad I'm not. :(

ICU

Misty had a real scare last Wednesday. She was supposed to have her laporoscopy (where they make a few incisions into her abdomen and look around using a camera), but something didn't go quite right with the anesthesia. After getting knocked out, her trachea collapsed and she couldn't breathe for about a minute, and some fluid from her stomach came up and went into her lungs.

Wednesday night was a really bad night for Misty. Early Thursday morning I took off from Louisiana, where I have been working, and drove back to the hospital to see her. Thursday was rough, but she slowly, steadily progressed throughout the day. For the past several days Misty has been in the ICU getting her lungs back in usable condition. She has gone from a breathing tube into her lungs (which she removed herself) to a CPAP machine (a machine with a mask that forces air into her mouth and nose), to an oxygen mask, to just a tube running under her nose. It's expected that she'll be out of the ICU today, and back into a regular hospital room.

As for the laporoscopic surgery, it looks like they're going to put that off for a little while and just get started on the chemotherapy. Chemo is expected to start within the next few days.