Been kind of a hurry up and wait week, but we've made some progress looks like.
Just got back from the hospital and got the chemo port installed. No sweat, just got some ice on it. The big blessing is that they drained all the fluid off my abdomen after the port was installed when I hit the recovery room. I thought I would be out for that but was conscious, tuned out not to be a big deal at all. A local in my side and they stuffed a tube in there and in about 20 minutes the drained off FIVE AND A HALF liters of some nasty looking green and then brown toxic waste. So I left the house this AM at 180 lbs and got home at 167 lbs. The over inflated beachball that was my gut looks normal again, heck I haven't been this size since we got married 30 years ago.
Cancer: great way to lose weight, not recommended.
It will only last a few days before the fluid comes back but by then the chemo will start and hopefully that will help keep it from accumulating. The meds I got to keep the fluid from building up weren't keeping up so the last couple days were pretty rough.
Had the PET scan Tuesday night and the crud has not spread anywhere else so there's a praise! Charlotte headed home yesterday and it was a blessing to have her for a week. Carter called work and got another week here so another praise.
Thanks for the prayers for my Mom, she called the kids when they were here so I answered the phone and broke the news, as to be expected, it was hard to take for her, but the good news is she jacked her flights around so she's with us for right now for 4 or 5 days (working on a Chuck roast for dinner, which I will inhale tonight!) So I'll get a good chance to load up on some good food, get some good sleep and be about as best as I can before the chemo starts, then we'll break out the juicer for some power food. Ginger tea will be on the menu. :)
Also, all the test results, data, and everything else in on the way to MD Anderson.
So The next fun little step in this adventure will be the first chemo experience, which will be two hours of pure joy I'm sure, then the fallout for the next couple days after.
Thanks again so much for all the prayers and support! Blessings to all.
Jeff and Lisa
Keeping you and your family in my prayers.
Thank you for the update. So glad your mom’s there. Prayers continue.
Best wishes Jeff, and prayers up for your and your family.
Just a short note.
I've had the best four days in six weeks since that fluid was pulled off! I've felt great considering. I actually got two nights in a row of great sleep. I'm eating almost normally (smaller portions, but more of them.)
Mom had a good visit here and she cooked lots of comfort food trying to get some meat back on my bones. Lisa and Carter took her to DFW this morning so she can finally see her Husband after four weeks. Carter is heading out back to home at O'dark hundred in the morning for Riverside. As much as I enjoyed all the company, Lisa and I could use some quiet time together.
Real a great Little book today - Don't Waste Your Cancer. By John Piper. Great perspective for us Christian Folks.
God has got this totally under control! i.e.: I talked with the CEO of my Company today on a new job I was assigned (small but important, may lead to lots of future work.) She was told last week briefly what was going on with me health wise.
We spent about ten minutes discussing the new job (new college housing, types of inspections we will be doing) and 15 minutes talking about Cancer (She's a 20 year survivor) and her story (just had a baby, plus two toddlers.) It was a fantastic conversation and she left it with,
"Whatever you need personally or professionally, just let me know."
Not bad for being with the company for 3 1/2 months.
Tomorrow is Chemo Day!
As always, Thanks for the prayers,
Jeff and Lisa