God answers prayers...We just have to pay attention and listen...hear what He is saying!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

As I was sleeping last night, I kept hearing Cancer Treatment Centers of America in my head. Not sure if it was rerunning commercials on TV or I just was thinking so hard about them. It was the one with the lady...Peggy... with no expiration marked on her body and now is fine...living a full life after being told she only had two months to live and was treated at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. I talked with Ken and he said I could call them. When I got on the computer to search for their website, locations and phone number, I saw a comment on my blog and spark page from KAYWEB555 telling me about them also. Thank you, Karen!!! Definitely God talking to me!!! Thank you everyone so much for your encouragement and suggestions on my blog and my spark page. It is friends like you that make our world (and spark people) such a wonderful place.
I found their website quickly and talked with Charyl seconds after posting my email, name and who needed them on their web site...first in an online chat that lasted about thirty seconds. She then asked for my phone number and permission to call to discuss what was going on. I immediately gave it to her and within seconds she called me...Charyl Kibler from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia which is across the state from us as we are south of Pittsburgh, PA...about a six plus hour drive nonstop. Wonderful lady with so much information and sooo very positive. She explained so much to me that I do feel so much better. I talked with her and then she talked with Ken. We both feel so much better...that doesn't mean we are on top of the world yet. But we know there is a positive outlook and that God is carrying us through. He will not forsake us nor give us more than we can handle. I think I almost forgot that last night. (Just a lot weighing on my mind) Praise HIM above all else for being there and YELLING loud enough for me to hear until finally got the message. .
Charyl emailed me the release form and the form for the hospital and doctors information since this started. I completed, he signed and emailed straight back to her. This is the email I received back from her...you will understand why we feel so much better this afternoon. I scrunched this up to save on space...lol (It actually was very professional and friendly....spaced correctly.)

"Hi Helen, Goodness, you are so quick. Thank you for sending these. Ken married the best girl ever!! I will call you Monday as soon as I have an update. Have a restful weekend. I am here to take care of you too! Charyl
Charyl Kibler Team Lead/Oncology Information Specialist"

Just wanted to let everyone know that things are looking up and we may be headed to Philadelphia before next weekend. Things always look the darkest just before the dawn. God brought us another wonderful day and we are living it to the fullest...one more time!!!
Also just wanted to tell everyone that Hope is alive and well. We realize this may not have the outcome we all are hoping for, but The Cancer Treatment Centers of America are definitely about Hope and gave it back to us in spades galore!!!
I will keep everyone updated as best I can. Never, never give up...trust in the Lord with all your heart...and know that He will provide. Praying for all those in need. God hears our prayers and answers them! You just have to be listening and paying attention when He answers!!
May God bless all with a wonderful weekend!!! If I can help or pray for anyone, please let me know.
Blessings, love and hugs, my friends,
Helen

POSITIVES:
God, who is always faithful to me, carrying me when necessary
Great friends who are willing to go the extra mile
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America...several across America
Modern technology and great doctors
McKenzie, who is back at home yesterday and we had a great visit with her
Another heat wave to be broken Sunday when a cold front moves in
Air conditioning
My family and friends both at home and on Spark People
Marla's Miracle and our weight losses
Modern technology and great doctors
Spark People which allows me to keep in touch with many friends
Water...excellent cooling aid

Thank you so much for reading my blogs. Although I seem to be totally overwhelmed at the moment, I will read every comment even if I can't respond individually. May God continue to be with you and bless you!!! I love each of you!!!

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Recovery short lived and not complete. Please pray for Ken!!!

Friday, July 23, 2010

I am going to try to post a blog as Ken is so in need of prayer tonight. I'm not sure if I can get it straight at this point. The doctor that did his breast surgery on Tuesday told me that she was sure that he just had a hard shell hematoma...nothing to worry about. Then she called today as Ken and I are traveling up the interstate at 65 mph. She asked me if Ken was available and I handed him my cell phone. (He's driving.) She proceeded to tell him that she got the biopsy report back today and the mass she removed from his breast on Tuesday was indeed cancer. Malignant...and he needs a complete mastectomy...the sooner the better! They will schedule him as soon as possible although they are on vacation next week and won't be back in the office until August 2. She also said that he has to have his breathing under better control because he will have to be totally sedated, not just twilighted, and he will have to lie flat...no elevated head. It is very important that this be done quickly. She advised me to call his pulmonary doctor (who happens to be her husband) and get to work on the breathing right away. Guess what...that office is closed next week also for vacation (they share the same offices in two different locations) and no one answered the phone. I left a voice mail but no one returned my call. She doesn't want Ken to go back to work until after the mastectomy is completed and healed. However she had already released him to go back to work on Monday with one paper (written by the nurse in her office) and the other instructions were that he could not go back to work until his follow up in her office. (paper work from the hospital on the release forms) Praying that everything works out for the best but not sure what the school district will say or do. He is walking around in a daze this evening. I am praying for him and spending time with our Lord. We have been praying together...but he is having a very hard time with this. It has been slightly more than 3 years since he lost his mom to cancer.
I know that God is walking with us through all these latest trials. He will never forsake us and has carried us through so much!! I praise Him that the technology is available and that issues such as these can be taken care of whether you are male or female.
Praying for all those in need. God hears our prayers and answers them. May you have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings and hugs,
Helen


POSITIVES:
God, who is always faithful to me, carrying me when necessary
Great friends who are willing to go the extra mile
McKenzie, who is back at home today...AWESOME
Another heat wave to be broken Sunday when a cold front moves in
My family and friends both at home and on Spark People
Marla's Miracle and our weight losses
Air conditioning
Modern technology and great doctors
Spark People which allows me to keep in touch with many friends
Water...excellent cooling aid

Thank you so much for reading my blogs. Although I seem to be really overwhelmed at the moment, I will read every comment even if I can't respond individually. May God continue to be with you and bless you!!! I love each of you!!!

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

On the road to recovery at last!!! Thank you God, my friends and family.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Thank you for all your prayers and support for Ken and I during this time of craziness. Ken is doing very well after his surgery Tuesday morning. He has to keep lots of ice on his breast for 48 hours, but it seems to be working. They were not able to put him to sleep because of the breathing difficulties…just did a twilight so he was able to talk with them during his surgery. Or so he remembers. The doctor said everything looks good and will call us tomorrow about the biopsy results. Praying for great results. The cyst was encapsulated in a hard shell and removal was the only way. She said sometimes we get these cysts and our bodies absorb them, but Ken’s was enclosed in this shell…similar to an egg shell and as it was growing, it needed out. Surgery went very well and he is off work until next Monday when he has his follow up with her. They didn’t have to put a drain in. She also said he needs to get his breathing condition and other health issues under control or he will be in serious trouble and it won’t be pretty. He does have a follow up visit with this regular doctor Wednesday afternoon. He is finally following their orders. Praise the Lord!!
McKenzie called early this morning to see how her TA (Ken) was doing. Did he get his operation and was he ok? I told her he was doing fine and I would call her later and talk to her...which I did. She is having a great time. Her parents wanted to parasail tomorrow on her birthday, but she said no. A ten year old boy had gotten bit by a shark during parasailing today. She wants to take ride the ship and go see the dolphins today!!! So I am sure that's what they will do even though they are disappointed. It is HER birthday after all!! They parasailed on their honeymoon and loved it. She is seven today and has her own opinions. Parasailing is not at the top of her to do list. lol
I did go to my ob/gyn Monday morning but had a different doctor as Dr. D was in another office today. This doctor insisted on giving me “magase” and I refuse to take it. That is the medication they gave me six and a half years ago which is a chemical DnC rather than a surgical one…you take it for six months. Within a month of taking it, I was diagnosed as being diabetic. The doctor was hoping the diabetes would “go away” when the megase was completed, as high blood sugars is one of the known side effects. Needless to say, it didn’t just go away. But I will definitely never take megase again. Anyway while in the office, he said that if I were in the ER he would have taken care of the problem but since I can into the office, there really wasn’t a lot he could do. He was a bit upset over the blood that I had gotten on the floor and the exam table including the clotting which was extreme. But I tried to tell them what was going on and they thought I was exaggerating. Duh!! Anyway my DD went with me to Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. My iron count had dropped four points and was one tenth of a point above needing a transfusion. This was in less than four weeks. They gave me provera to take for ten days which is to stop the bleeding and extra iron; and I am to see one of their ob/gyn within the next two days if I prefer over my original gynecologist. I will be talking to my regular doctor in the morning also. The complex cysts on my left ovary could be the cause of all the massive bleeding and clots but no one seems to be paying attention. My ob/gyn wants another ultrasound in four weeks before making a decision. I have been having this “period” since June 20…way too long. I am taking out stock in Kotex and Poise pads for sure. They were going to run all these tests again in the ER and after telling them I just had them done two weeks ago, they are sending me to another gynecologist for follow up in two days rather than my original one. They said it won’t hurt to get a “second opinion.”
When I went to the drug store to get our prescriptions filled, imagine my surprise when they had an extra prescription for me. When I said I only brought in one prescription for me and one for Ken...he didn't need the one filled for nausea...the girl insisted I personally had two. When I asked what the second one was, she told me megase. I asked her where that came from because I was not picking it up, nor would I ever take it again and please put it in your computer that I said so. DO NOT FILL ANY PRESCRIPTION FOR ME FOR MEGASE!! I said I am picking up two prescriptions only...one for Ken and ONE for me!!! The pharmacist, who is a good friend, came over laughing and said I guess you don't want the suppositories for Ken for nausea. I said no he already told me where to stick those. (laughing) He said he already made the reminder on the computer about the megase. I must have been a little upset!!! It turns out the doctor called direct to the drug store even though he had given me a paper script to get filled! Needless to say I refused it and will probably be changing doctors. They need to respect my decisions also. After all, I can go to a higher authority and get advise from our Almighty Healer...He won't steer me wrong. I just have to listen when He answers!!!
I am heading to bed as I am exhausted and need sleep even though I did sleep a lot after getting home with Ken today. I was only able to get an hour’s sleep between getting home for the ER and getting back out the door to have Ken in Pittsburgh at 5:30 for is surgery.
Praying for all those in need. God hears our prayers and answers them. May you have a wonderful sparklin’ week.
Blessings and hugs,
Helen


POSITIVES:
God, who is always faithful to me, carrying me when necessary
Great friends who are willing to go the extra mile
McKenzie, who is at Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation, and called to check on TA (Ken)
My family and friends both at home and on Spark People
Marla's Miracle and our weight losses
Air conditioning
Modern technology and great doctors
Spark People which allows me to keep in touch with many friends
Water...excellent cooling aid

Thank you so much for reading my blogs. Although I seem to be really busy right now...often overwhelmed, I will read every comment even if I can't respond individually. May God continue to be with you and bless you!!! I love each of you!!!!

BTW: I hope this all makes sense. Off to bed now.

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The excitement continues...when does one become alarmed?

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Thank you for all your prayers for Ken and I. One thing just seems to be leading to another. But God is good and is carrying us through the rough times. Ken’s surgery has been rescheduled until this Tuesday, July 20. As he was working in the yard yesterday, the tool he was using broke and flew and hit him in the right breast—the one they are operating on. He said it really hurt.
I was informed on Thursday that the markers for colon cancer, CEA, were more than twice what they should be. This was one of the blood tests they ran trying to figure out about my complex cysts on the left ovary. The uterine cancer marker test, CA 125, was in the normal range. The doctor wants a follow up ultrasound on the ovary in four weeks. I’m not sure yet what they are going to do about the colon markers. Two doctors are involved in this and I can’t see my family doctor until July 27 although I will be calling her Monday. The gynecologist appears to have a wait and see attitude. I may be changing that on Monday. I have been having a period since June 20 with excessive bleeding three of the last four evenings. Thursday evening when I came home I passed enough large blood clots to have had a miscarriage (not possible though). I was home alone and Ken wasn’t due home for two more hours. I don’t normally stress over these issues but after filling the toilet several times, I started to rethink the situation. I called the doctor’s answering service and explained what was going on. They called back and after explaining the situation, she told me to just kick back and drink lots of Gatorade or water and stay hydrated…it probably wasn’t as bad as I thought. However if it got worse or I had blurred vision, vomiting, headaches, chest pains, etc, I was to go to the ER. Otherwise just set the alarm and wake up every two hours to monitor the situation. I didn’t feel well enough to spend the night in the ER so I just continued drinking lots of water. Last night I was at a friend’s house and when I stood up to leave, blood just ran everywhere and all over her floor, soaking two maximum poise pads, my shorts, everywhere. Thankfully I had clean panties in the car and a blue pad that you would put on a chair or bed to prevent accidents, no shorts or pants. My girlfriend went out to the car, found those and I managed to get home with those. Just borrowed a towel from her and wrapped it like a sarong around me and drove home. God does provide for us in the most unexpected ways. I figured I would get stopped by the police on my way home, so I drove extremely careful. lol I did have an oversized t-shirt on and pretended like the bottoms were a bathing suit. I would have borrowed clothing from my girlfriend but she is a size 4. Yep, wouldn’t work. Everything worked out well though. I was a bit embarrassed but nothing I could do. Her young son asked if I had a nose bleed and she just said yes, everything is ok, and sent him to his room to get ready for bed. Thank the Lord that McKenzie wasn't with me. My friend called yesterday and today to check on me. Just very tired and I’m sure there are many things contributing to it. I had another episode again this evening and will be calling the doctor in the morning if all goes well tonight. Just not sure what is causing all this…but it is no wonder I am so extremely tired and my low back is throbbing.
I am packing a small case and keeping it in the trunk of my car with a complete change of clothing. Just never know when I might need them.
Keeping everyone in my prayers and wishing you a wonderful week.
Blessings and hugs,
Helen


POSITIVES:
God, who is always faithful to me, carrying me when necessary
Great friends who are willing to go the extra mile
McKenzie, who is at Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation
My family and friends both at home and on Spark People
Marla's Miracle and our weight losses
Air conditioning
Modern technology
Spark People which allows me to keep in touch with many friends
Water...excellent cooling aid

Thank you so much for reading my blogs. Although I seem to be really busy right now...often overwhelmed, I will read every comment even if I can't respond individually. May God continue to be with you and bless you!!! I love each of you!!

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

McKenzie is on vacation but making sure I don't forget her.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

McKenzie called and woke me @ 7 am to say they arrived in Myrtle Beach safely...although they were still driving but just a short distance now. (a ten to twelve+ hour trip depending on the route they took, stopping times, etc.) She said she didn't sleep but watched a movie instead. They stopped to eat a quick breakfast and were hitting the road again. She called me using her mom's cell phone. Then she had to send me pictures of two toys she took so she would remember me. She said now I can remember her while she is on vacation....as if either of us would ever forget the other. She has been a major part of our lives for the past eight years.





She will be seven on July 21 so her mom and dad planned a vacation to the beach to celebrate this year. Last year they took her to Disney World in Florida with a Princess Birthday Makeover with Cinderella and had breakfast and other meals with all her Disney friends.
It will be quiet at my house this week and I am missing her already, but I think I need a little down time. I know I can't wait to see her when she gets home.
Blessings and hugs to all for a sparklin' great day,
Helen

POSITIVES:
God
McKenzie, who is at Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation.
My family and friends both at home and on Spark People
Marla's Miracle and our weight losses
Air conditioning
Modern technology
Spark People which allows me to keep in touch with many friends
Water...excellent cooling aid

Thank you so much for reading my blogs. Although I seem to be really busy right now...often overwhelmed, I will read every comment even if I can't respond individually. May God continue to be with you and bless you!!! I love each of you!!!

  Member Comments About This Blog Post: