Marilyn...

I'm so sorry that I'm just now getting aquainted with this thread. Things here at home have caused me to become a sometimes member lately, but I can't believe I missed this. I just finished reading all of the posts for the first time, and it's so obvious that goodness is surrounding you and Keith, and everyone else involved. It's plain to see that Jesus is strong within you. I am so sorry that you and your loved ones have had to go through all of this frightening stress. I will certainly be sending prayers your way as long as it takes. May God bless you all, and hold you in His healing hands.

God is in CONTROL!

Hello to all,
Wanted to once again say PRAISE GOD and thank EVERYONE for all the prayers. Today Keith finished with his first of 2 rounds of chemo. As of today, he has had very little side effects. He had the hiccups a little bit when he'd first wake up the first couple days, a slight bit of nausea the first day, and rest of week it's just been a tired feeling.
He had more trouble from his stubbornness on Wednesday than from chemo..LOL. Here in Ohio, we've been blasted with some awful weather the past week. Tuesday brought 2 inches of SLEET, then about 5 inches of snow on top of that.
Keith didn't want Mom and his girlfriend to be the ones shoveling his driveway since Dad was at work, so Wed. afternoon he thought he could come out and help. After half an hr worth, he was so weak that he was having to hold onto the fence and side of house to get into the living room. By time we got our boots off, his hands were shaking so bad he could hardly hold the glass of juice that we handed him!!!! It took him the rest of Wednesday and most of Thursday to get over the shakeys so he now KNOWS that he's GOT to just let others do some things.
We have met a very wonderful couple in the chemo treatment room. The guy in his 50's is having his SIXTH chemo round for lung cancer. I talked quite a bit with his wife yesterday, as well as with his daughter today and they're all wanting us to stay in touch. I told them that it'll seem "odd" seeing them come summertime when he has his hair and beard grown back, and our son has LOST his hair!!!! LOL Amazing how friendships are made sometimes isn't it??? Also, the daughter works at a hotel, just like my husband!
Because of the bad weather, Keith's shot that he was to have tomorrow (not sure what it's called but something that's supposed to boost the white blood cell production) is postponed until Monday because they feared that with this snow storm we're getting tonite (round two for us this week), they wouldn't be able to get the parking lot cleared sufficiently at the center.
God bless ya all, and my goodness but the power of prayer is amazing glorious this week!!!!





Marilyn

Hi There CorkyBird!! Please know that you and yours are in my prayers as well tonight! Lots of hugs for youTake Care, Love Dorrie

I don't know if it's the kind words, the graphics, or a combination of both in this thread that I love to just go in and re-read regularly. Y'all are just so wonderful and caring.
Keith's doing better. We now know that the chemo shot he had Tuesday reacts very quickly and that's why he vomited within an hr and his fever shot up to 103. It resulted in a 5 hr period in ER. They basically just did a ton of tests and made sure everything was within normal limits in conjunction with his cancer & chemo. He still has his throat infection that he's taking the antibiotic for, but at least we'll know what to expect next week when he has the Bleomycin shot (knowing that it reacts quickly and is the harshest of the 3 chemicals in his chemo treatments).
His co-workers went together and donated money that he's going to put towards either a sweatshirt or tickets to a hockey game. He never played hockey (thank God for that, I'd smacked him if he knocked out the teeth after spending $4,000 for braces to straighten them !!) but has always loved the game.
Hugaroos to everyone,

Marilyn

Keith says to me today..."Hey Mom, I truly think that it's because of all your friends that are praying for me that's why I seem to be going thru the chemo without too many side effects". I could feel my heart racing when he said that...such a blessed feeling knowing that he is realizing the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer during all of his trials.
Tomorrow's the Bleomycin again, or the "demon chemo" as the oncologist called it. This week we'll know what to expect and hopefully be a bit more prepared for it to kick the rear and kick QUICKLY and hard.



Marilyn

Keith had that Bleo last Tuesday and no effects from it as he knew what to do and what not to do! LOL His spirits are up, he's feeling pretty good for the most part, was out to church this morning..many members were so pleased to see him there. He begins the second round of chemo tomorrow, will keep you all posted.

Marilyn

Hey Corkybird!! Hope things go well....more prayers are being sent up for you and your son!! God Bless!!

Continue to keep us posted! He's on my
prayer list! God is ever-faithful and true!

Keith had his last full chemo treatment yesterday (3-28). Today he had the white blood booster shot, which he's really glad he got because he's just feeling ever so "wiped out". He's to point now where it's just a loss of appetite, says nothing sounds good, smells good...once he starts eating something he discovers "hey, this tastes pretty good!!"
Our other son and his girlfriend came in from Chicago for part of the wknd, we had an awesome day with them today. They bought Keith an umbrella for his patio table for his "cancer survivor plus early birthday gift". I think this thing"s big enough to cover his whole patio, never seen one that's 10 ft across!!!
Other than two more Tuesdays of the Bleomycin, he's totally done with chemo now. I got a good picture of him today outside with his bald head, his new baseball jacket on that co-workers took up donations to buy for him, also with his brother and the brother's girlfriend. Keith's gal wasn't here, it was her wknd to work.
We all just feel like saying "WE DID IT !!" even though HE is the patient, we're all family of a survivor, and ever so thankful for all our friends.