It has been an extra hard time emotionally for me over the past few weeks as another CC patient had complications with a surgery and passed away June 9th. This family is the All American family with so much love, hope, faith, and inspiration that you could ever dream of. They were all right there for each other through it all. My prayers will continue to go out for this family. I truly believe Lauren didn't die, she moved to a place where there is no pain, no sin, no enemies. Just God's love....so I know Lauren is in good hands. It still doesn't make it easy for her family so everyone please pray for her family to have peace in their heart knowing Lauren is with God in His kingdom. Even though I haven't actually met this family, we Facebook back and forth a lot and are always reading each others blog and giving encouraging words. I feel like I have known them for a long time....and I hope to meet them real soon!!
My first grandson (my only grandson so far) turns one today. He is so easy going, so loving, and just a happy little fellow. Tomorrow we will celebrate his Birthday with food, cake, and gifts!!
At chemo on Monday, my dr pushed on my tummy and I had a spot on the left side that was a tad bit tender...then, throughout the last few days, it has still been there. So Thursday, I went to Effingham and got a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. I was worried about it spreading to my pancreas....call me paranoid but when you have cancer, you are paranoid (or I am) even if my nose itches. I called and talked to the nurse and she said the report states all was clear except for a couple cysts in my spleen but they have been there every since I started this cancer journey. I am relieved all sounds ok. I will get a PET scan in about 3 1/2 weeks at MD Anderson, so we will have a better picture then. The nurse said I had a CT scan two years ago in June and the tumor has actually shrank 2 cm. according to their findings compared to the scan this week. I'll take that!!
Pat and I, along with Samantha, Chris, Jennifer, Amy & Braeda had lunch at the park today. I like those informal days when you can come dressed as you please and just enjoy each other's company.
We will hopefully have more picnic lunches in July after I resign June 30.
Jenn, Amy, and Braeda went to Chicago with their Grandma Cummins to visit their Uncle Chris, Aunt Teri, and kids. They also went to shop at IKEA. Jenn came home with a baby bed, dresser, I am not sure what all she got but I think the baby's room is about set! I always wondered after I found out I had cancer if I would be alive to see her and Bart have a child. Well, Jenn is into her 6th month of pregnancy and I believe God is going to grant me the great honor of meeting my next grandchild.
I was in a 5K last Saturday and plan to go to Evansville for a 5K Color Blaze next weekend (June22). Jill Weiler, Amy Kirby, Debbie Weiler and I plan to be the people to meet with our great attitudes and loud cheering!!! And LOTSA chalk!! Linda Burgener will be with us cheering us on from the sidelines!! Yeah Linda! I thank God for giving me the energy, the health, and the will to walk in this. All proceeds benefit The Ronald McDonald House. I will post pics but please no comments if they are bad....many surprises to come in those photo's. That I AM SURE OF!! Stay posted!! We are spending the night and having a girls night dressing up for supper (like important people do....phewy). We are eating at a place called Madeline's in Evansville. A big thank you to Pat Foust for helping with our outfitting for the 5K.....you know she is famous for making costumes...so as I said, stay tuned for pictures. :-))
So, as I try to wrap up this post, know that I am floating along....like a butterfly trying to take in everything possible as far as life experiences with friends and family. Most (not all) butterflies die each year as we enter winter. They flutter, they fly, they are more than beautiful to watch all summer....floating from one flower to the next...full of life and color. Then they die. I hope as I flutter and float along in this cancer journey, I keep flying from one memory to the next. That death is still very far away from me. I thank the Almighty God above for everything and everyone in my life...you all have been brought to me as I have floated along for a reason.
Peace be with all of you as you enjoy the summer.
HUGS!
Patty Corcoran
A journey that no one wants to experience but I hope it keeps family & friends up to date on my battle with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (a rare liver cancer). Sometimes it's humorous, sometimes it's serious, but most of all, I hope it shows how much God is with me through this journey.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Does It Really Matter What Day Of The Week It Is?
As I sit here at almost 5:15 p.m., I sit with a heavy, worried heart. A fellow Cholangiocarcinoma patient is fighting for her life after having her tumor removed from her liver. She is appr. 27 years old. Her mother, Pam Kunklier, writes a blog to keep everyone up to par on her daughter's (Lauren) health status. I have been following the blog for about a year and have posted back and forth with Pam. They live in Uniontown, Ohio....but it seems I have known them a lifetime. When you have this rare cancer, you kinda all pull together and you are a family. The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation lets you talk to a lot of people (through their blog) and you can learn about their "walk" through this monstrosity of a disease (and share your story). Please keep this wonderful family in your prayers.
I had chemo Monday and every once in a while, I jokingly ask Dr. Dy if I will be around for another year. He said "oh yes...of course" I said..."No, really..I want to know" His response was..."I don't lie...I will tell you if I think you are going in the wrong direction health wise....I do think you will be here in a year. OK....made me feel better but really.....how does he know. Lab wise, physically, he might think I will be but he is not God and he doesn't have the date stamper for my foot! I thank God so many times in a day for letting me be apart of this wonderful place he has made....and that I ask for more time with my family if it is in his plan. If it is not, I will see them later in a better place. I have seen a lot of rainbows posted on Facebook lately.......it makes me smile and thank God for each one of them.
I am on the countdown status of resigning from my job on the last Friday of June. Gonna have to tighten the old belt financially but Pat does a great job of budgeting. I could sell my liver but...oh well...who'd want it and even though I have a monster inside my liver....I still need it right now. This is kind of a boring post but just wanted to let you know I am stable....chemo is going fine although it took 5 needle pokes before getting a good vein for chemo. Not including the 2 sticks for blood.
Every month, I give myself 66 shots, and no, that doesn't include all the chemo sticks. But you know what, I am living. I am going to walk in a 5K June 22 in Evansville, Indiana (minus Michelle Kauble....you clutz :-)). Hugs to you, Michelle as you continue to recover.
I thank God for my family, friends, and even people I don't know who pray for me. I don't want to wait until I am on my deathbed before I tell everyone I appreciate them and I love all of my friends and family. I have heard talk people think I am quitting my job due to my cancer getting worse....do they know something I don't? All is calm....and I go to MD Anderson in July (9-11) for tests and to see Dr. Javle. I do this every 3 months.....so let's all pray for more stability for a looong time.
Pat and I babysat Leslie's two kids Saturday from about 7:30 am to 10:30 p.m. as she had a wedding she had to do hair for (she used to be a cosmetologist). Then she went to the wedding and we had them a little longer....they left Sunday for church and Pat and I were exhausted. Today, I watched Braeda so Amy & Rylan could mow....just an hour or so. Then came home and am dog sitting for Jenn and Bart. The pay is good.....in memories.
One more thing, as I was getting out of my car at work this am at about 8:02......there was a young girl with a backpack sitting in the parking lot along the curb. I smiled and started to walk towards my workplace when something told me to turn around and see if she needed anything.
As I walked up to her, she kinda looked the other way as if to hide from me. I asked if she needed something...if she needed me to go get her some food for breakfast...she said no, she was working at The Salvation Army (I am assuming juvenile hours she has to work for doing something wrong). I told her they didn't open for another hour and if she needed a warm spot-to go inside where I work and I'd even get her some coffee or chocolate milk. She turned me down. She couldn't have been over 17. I pray working the hours at the SA helps her realize there is more to life than making BAD decisions and to find better ways to donate back to the community BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO and not because she is in trouble.
As I close, one thing I know for sure...God is there. He is in my heart, he is in every rainbow, every good deed you might do. My heart overflows with faith....and the fact that I will never die, I will move on to the best place a person could ever be. Yes, I still ask for more good time on this earth to be with my family but if I start to head in the wrong direction....let me run to God with his arms open for me. Let it happen swiftly and without pain for me....and for my family. Because, let us remember, God is great....ALL THE TIME no matter what day of the week it is!!
Hugs and prayers for Lauren!!!!
Patty
I had chemo Monday and every once in a while, I jokingly ask Dr. Dy if I will be around for another year. He said "oh yes...of course" I said..."No, really..I want to know" His response was..."I don't lie...I will tell you if I think you are going in the wrong direction health wise....I do think you will be here in a year. OK....made me feel better but really.....how does he know. Lab wise, physically, he might think I will be but he is not God and he doesn't have the date stamper for my foot! I thank God so many times in a day for letting me be apart of this wonderful place he has made....and that I ask for more time with my family if it is in his plan. If it is not, I will see them later in a better place. I have seen a lot of rainbows posted on Facebook lately.......it makes me smile and thank God for each one of them.
I am on the countdown status of resigning from my job on the last Friday of June. Gonna have to tighten the old belt financially but Pat does a great job of budgeting. I could sell my liver but...oh well...who'd want it and even though I have a monster inside my liver....I still need it right now. This is kind of a boring post but just wanted to let you know I am stable....chemo is going fine although it took 5 needle pokes before getting a good vein for chemo. Not including the 2 sticks for blood.
Every month, I give myself 66 shots, and no, that doesn't include all the chemo sticks. But you know what, I am living. I am going to walk in a 5K June 22 in Evansville, Indiana (minus Michelle Kauble....you clutz :-)). Hugs to you, Michelle as you continue to recover.
I thank God for my family, friends, and even people I don't know who pray for me. I don't want to wait until I am on my deathbed before I tell everyone I appreciate them and I love all of my friends and family. I have heard talk people think I am quitting my job due to my cancer getting worse....do they know something I don't? All is calm....and I go to MD Anderson in July (9-11) for tests and to see Dr. Javle. I do this every 3 months.....so let's all pray for more stability for a looong time.
Pat and I babysat Leslie's two kids Saturday from about 7:30 am to 10:30 p.m. as she had a wedding she had to do hair for (she used to be a cosmetologist). Then she went to the wedding and we had them a little longer....they left Sunday for church and Pat and I were exhausted. Today, I watched Braeda so Amy & Rylan could mow....just an hour or so. Then came home and am dog sitting for Jenn and Bart. The pay is good.....in memories.
One more thing, as I was getting out of my car at work this am at about 8:02......there was a young girl with a backpack sitting in the parking lot along the curb. I smiled and started to walk towards my workplace when something told me to turn around and see if she needed anything.
As I walked up to her, she kinda looked the other way as if to hide from me. I asked if she needed something...if she needed me to go get her some food for breakfast...she said no, she was working at The Salvation Army (I am assuming juvenile hours she has to work for doing something wrong). I told her they didn't open for another hour and if she needed a warm spot-to go inside where I work and I'd even get her some coffee or chocolate milk. She turned me down. She couldn't have been over 17. I pray working the hours at the SA helps her realize there is more to life than making BAD decisions and to find better ways to donate back to the community BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO and not because she is in trouble.
As I close, one thing I know for sure...God is there. He is in my heart, he is in every rainbow, every good deed you might do. My heart overflows with faith....and the fact that I will never die, I will move on to the best place a person could ever be. Yes, I still ask for more good time on this earth to be with my family but if I start to head in the wrong direction....let me run to God with his arms open for me. Let it happen swiftly and without pain for me....and for my family. Because, let us remember, God is great....ALL THE TIME no matter what day of the week it is!!
Hugs and prayers for Lauren!!!!
Patty
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Funk Wedding
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| Rehearsal with four flower girls!! |
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| Uncle Jon Cummins walking Leslie down the aisle |
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| My husband, Pat, and Leslie |
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| My brother, Larry, and I |
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| Hoovie, my daughter, Samantha, and Kinnick Funk (the ring bearer) |
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| The warming of the rings. Immediate family members held Leslie and Rhett's rings and said a small prayer before passing them on. Then, Rhett's mom and I handed them to Pastor Jerry Bush. |
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| The marriage nuptials..... |
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| Six Bridesmaids |
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| Lil Braeda....She lost one shoe as she started down the aisle so she had one shoe on and one shoe off. Didn't bother her a bit! |
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| Not their first kiss and I am sure it won't be their last!! ;-) |
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| Mr. & Mrs. Rhett Funk |
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| Kate Corcoran and Anthony |
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| Leslie, a very tired Kinnick at the dance, and MOI! |
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| Samantha Cummins and McKenna Grace Funk |
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| Some of my favorite friends...Jill Weiler, me, Debbie Weiler, and Sharon Jones |
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| Trying to light the fire at the end of the night....everyone was winding down! I was pretending to be a queen....lol!! |
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| Jennifer Cummins-Zuber and Bart Zuber (and baby is hiding in Jenn's belly for a while longer til he is big and strong) |
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| Jennifer, me, and Samantha |
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| Dancing with my favorite man, Pat |
I have had three of the five girls in the Cummins/Corcoran house get married, and each one is the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.......it helps when they are already beautiful in my eyes. Each dress fits the brides personality to a tee. That's what makes them over the top beautiful. The rehearsal dinner was upstairs at The Gypsy and we had great waitresses who were on the spot with serving people beverages/water. Susie Trupiano catered the event and it was SO daggone good. AND very reasonable. We just finished up the lasagna tonight. She also had baked mostaccioli and fetticcini alfredo served with garlic breadsticks and salad.
The only other vendor I want to mention is Ivy's Cottage. I truly believe in shopping locally for as much as a person can when your town is small and local businesses struggle to keep afloat. Ivy's is one of my favorite local flower and gift shops. We might have paid a little more but dang was it beautiful. I didn't have to drive out of town or take a day off of work to worry about it, we just gave Sam the reins and he hit a home run on the flowers!! Emily Combs did the photography and I have only seen one picture of Leslie and McKenna but if they are all that good, we are gonna have a hard time choosing. This blog is suppose to be about me BUT my family is all about us as a whole so I just wanted to share the above with you.
I am feeling wonderful. My bloodwork is good. Dr. Dy in Effingham is amazed and delighted that I am still doing so well on the Irinotecan. It is still working well, as far as keeping me stable with no bad side effects.
Sometimes I pinch myself and tell myself mentally I shouldn't feel this good. I remember the day at Mayo Clinic when there was a dark cloud over my head. I never would have believed I would get up this morning and ride my bike 10.5 miles with a good wind for most of it. God is good to me. After my brain bleed, I never doubted I would get back to a normal life, but when I first came home, I couldn't get off the couch without assistance or get off the toilet by myself. Little by little, I pushed a little harder, and was back at work in three months. God is good to me all the time. I never have doubted this and I believe that is one of the reasons I am in as good of health that I am today. I am thankful daily for my family, friends, and cholangiocarcinoma friends that I am slowly meeting in person. When Lauren Kunklier gets better from her struggle after her surgeries, I am driving...hitch hiking, somehow.... going to meet her and Lisa Salem Craine (who is also a CC fighter that lives about 30 miles from Lauren). Then on to Memphis to meet Becky Couture who just started treatment not so long ago for this ugly cancer.
A HUGE shout out to our own Relay For Life that was the same day as Leslie's wedding. Our team came in third for money raised. Not too shabby for not even being there that day. They do a wonderful job and I so wanted to go out and run around the track in my mother's dress........ They called it the streak......yibba dow yibba dow........ Does anyone remember that song? I just giggled thinking about me doing that and that song being played as I ran "the lap". I'd have waved my queen wave and everything!!! Sometimes I dream the craziest stuff up in my head and I laugh so hard I pee my pants......and there is no one else laughing with me!! I think the chemo is eating my brain cells!!
As I sit here this evening at dusk, I look at the Oklahoma tornado that has taken lives in seconds. Not only do I ask God to be beside these families, but it makes me realize for a sick person, I am so lucky to be here today. Every day that a person is on this earth is a blessing....or maybe I should say....a gift from God. Life in itself is a miracle....then to add a family or spouse. Everyday life.....it is all such a huge gift from God. When I hear people complain about "the little stuff in life", I just wanna shake them. I guess I just want you all to be thankful for your life. If you have God and good health......everything else will fall into place if you let it........Yes, there will be bumps on the journey of life, but it makes you stronger and will draw you closer to God for strength. Whether you die from cancer, a heart attack, from a disastrous tornado.....life comes and life goes. It's the "in between" that counts. The dash~
Like I said, I feel great and no complaints at this time. Pastor Jerry Bush said....If I didn't know that you had cancer, I wouldn't know you did. You look completely healthy. I'll take that!! :-))
God be with you!!
Hugs and butterfly kisses~~
Patty
Monday, May 20, 2013
Time with Mckenna
Just a really cute picture of McKenna taken on our bridge across the creek. She is drawing with chalk. Such a joy in our life on Suntone Beach!!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Time is a ticking.....
Time....life is all about time.
Tomorrow is my brother Larry and sister Lisa (twins) 50th Birthday. HUGS to both of you and I had lunch with them along with my mom, sister Sarah, and Larry's wife ~Sheila after my chemo treatment today. Then a little shopping to finish off the day!
Three weeks (May 18), will be my daughter Leslie's wedding to Rhett Funk.
Life is all about time...in many ways. Time you spend with your family, friends, time you work at doing your best at your job, and most importantly, time spent with God.
I want to share a precious moment I will cherish that happened Saturday as Pat and I spent the day watching Leslie's kids in Lawrenceville. It was about 8:00 p.m. and McKenna had her bath, and was wanting to watch a movie with me on her bed. As I sat on the edge and she jumped all over the bed, she came up behind me ever so gently, wrapped her arms around my neck and said in the most innocent voice "I love you, JaJa!" About 3 tears ran down my cheek. She asked: "Do I need to take you to the Dr?" and I said no, it's ok. She again insisted SHE could take me to the dr, I told her I was just so happy she loved me!...... Out of the mouth of babes, right?
Back to my chemo today. My bloodwork is all good and alk. phosphatase was at 176....down from MD Anderson bloodwork. I am scheduled for chemo the Monday before Leslie's wedding. It will be ok.
I have approximately two months before retirement (I am not old enough to retire...so I guess I am resigning....or does it really matter?) I will still have a hard time turning over my keys....shutting the back door for the last time, for the 110 appreciative people who walk through the door and not looking forward to the one hundred eleventh person who is rude and you just wanna poop on their head!!! You don't get rich money wise working for a CAA (Community Action Agency) but you do get wise and appreciate the job. People who work at ERBA....usually stay there for years and years because we are treated as a great big family. When one aches, we all pull together. MY employer/family has been so good to me and believe me, alot will say I am not the easist bird to work with....feathers do fly at times. But you know where you stand with me. I am sure a few will not miss that trait in me. Enough said. There have been less than about 8 times in almost 18 years that I didn't want to go to work....otherwise, I was ready every day due to the enjoyment of helping people get a hand up...not a hand out.
I have a prayer request for a shining beam of light...her name is ASA and she is 1 1/2 years old with a tumor on her adrenal gland. It is cancerous more than likely and will have surgery in two weeks. Pray HARD she will overcome this bump in her life at such a young age. Her surgery will be in St. Louis. The mother and father are friends with Leslie and Rhett. Bless her little body, Lord.
I feel good, I feel like I am living a high quality of life that I am oh, so thankful to our God. He is good All the time and my Faith overflows that he is right beside me at all times.
Blessings and HUGS to you all!!
Patty
Tomorrow is my brother Larry and sister Lisa (twins) 50th Birthday. HUGS to both of you and I had lunch with them along with my mom, sister Sarah, and Larry's wife ~Sheila after my chemo treatment today. Then a little shopping to finish off the day!
Three weeks (May 18), will be my daughter Leslie's wedding to Rhett Funk.
Life is all about time...in many ways. Time you spend with your family, friends, time you work at doing your best at your job, and most importantly, time spent with God.
I want to share a precious moment I will cherish that happened Saturday as Pat and I spent the day watching Leslie's kids in Lawrenceville. It was about 8:00 p.m. and McKenna had her bath, and was wanting to watch a movie with me on her bed. As I sat on the edge and she jumped all over the bed, she came up behind me ever so gently, wrapped her arms around my neck and said in the most innocent voice "I love you, JaJa!" About 3 tears ran down my cheek. She asked: "Do I need to take you to the Dr?" and I said no, it's ok. She again insisted SHE could take me to the dr, I told her I was just so happy she loved me!...... Out of the mouth of babes, right?
Back to my chemo today. My bloodwork is all good and alk. phosphatase was at 176....down from MD Anderson bloodwork. I am scheduled for chemo the Monday before Leslie's wedding. It will be ok.
I have approximately two months before retirement (I am not old enough to retire...so I guess I am resigning....or does it really matter?) I will still have a hard time turning over my keys....shutting the back door for the last time, for the 110 appreciative people who walk through the door and not looking forward to the one hundred eleventh person who is rude and you just wanna poop on their head!!! You don't get rich money wise working for a CAA (Community Action Agency) but you do get wise and appreciate the job. People who work at ERBA....usually stay there for years and years because we are treated as a great big family. When one aches, we all pull together. MY employer/family has been so good to me and believe me, alot will say I am not the easist bird to work with....feathers do fly at times. But you know where you stand with me. I am sure a few will not miss that trait in me. Enough said. There have been less than about 8 times in almost 18 years that I didn't want to go to work....otherwise, I was ready every day due to the enjoyment of helping people get a hand up...not a hand out.
I have a prayer request for a shining beam of light...her name is ASA and she is 1 1/2 years old with a tumor on her adrenal gland. It is cancerous more than likely and will have surgery in two weeks. Pray HARD she will overcome this bump in her life at such a young age. Her surgery will be in St. Louis. The mother and father are friends with Leslie and Rhett. Bless her little body, Lord.
I feel good, I feel like I am living a high quality of life that I am oh, so thankful to our God. He is good All the time and my Faith overflows that he is right beside me at all times.
Blessings and HUGS to you all!!
Patty
Sunday, April 14, 2013
What lies ahead for me?
As Amy reported on the last blog post, my report from Houston couldn't have been any better UNLESS they would have said it was shrinking or dying.......BUT it is still stable, not growing, and my CA 19-9 dropped from 56.11 to 26.56 (in just three months time). That means it is within normal range of a person without cancer.....how crazy is that? I asked the Physician Assistant what happened if I came back in 3 months and it was zero? Would it be dead? Would it THEN start to shrink? She said I would still have the mass inside my liver but it would be non-active.The cancer would put less antigens in my blood....but the mass would still be cancerous. BUT STILL CANCEROUS. The PA thought Dr. Javle might change his plan of action at that point. But right now since this Irinotican is working so good, they will keep me on it.
My spleen is slightly enlarged and has been for some time. My platelets have been dropping after chemo. The spleen sequesters some of the platelets and that keeps the platelet count from coming back as quickly. If it keeps being a problem, they could embolize the spleen (if the platelets stayed below 50,000 for a long period of time). Not a big deal and you can live without a spleen. My kidney function is normal, and the liver is showing a very slight damage to the liver....probably from all the chemo. He is not concerned with it but says to stay away from Tylenol as much as possible, stay away from fried foods, exercise atleast 1/2 mile a day to build lean body mass, stay away from alcohol (which I do anyway). White count is 6.7 which is within normal limits of a healthy person. My alkaline phosphatase is high at 203...not so good since the normal range is 38 to 126.
So, I believe the next visit to Md Anderson will be when they will want me and encourage me to go to St. Louis to start on a clinical trial. Dr. Javle talked very highly of the trials for my two mutations. I kinda feel like I'd be a lab rat but if it is what I have to do to stay healthy and at a high function as far as living, I will do it.
July1, I have decided to retire from my job of almost 18 years at Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc. I just want to enjoy life before I would/if I would start to go downhill. I don't believe in BUCKET LISTS....they seem like "end of life...hurry up and do it" kind of lists. I just believe in quality time with family, friends, and to be able to take a week off to go wherever Pat and I want to go. Heck, we might get brave and take mom to Niagara Falls this fall....don't pack your bag yet mom. My sister Sarah is off on Fridays and we can go rummage in antique stores or go flower hunting if we please. Or if "The Beach Girls" want to go to a fire in the country to see if the firemen need any help, we can...and already did that! :-) If we wanna go 110 on a country road...we can. I want to donate some time back to the community, maybe be a Big Sister....volunteer at a food bank, plant flowers for the city.....I just want to enjoy what time I have left...or if God has a longer plan here on earth for me....say another 20-30 years.....boy the list I could make. My list is more about living...not about dying. I have faith that God has a plan for me and it's not going to end anytime soon.
People say I inspire them....pooh! People who beat this disease are the inspiration that keeps me hoping for a cure. Lauren Kunklier is inspiration for us CC patients. She has had one surgery and awaiting a second to take "the bad part" of her liver out so she would hopefully be cancer free. The more people who beat our type of cancer, the better odds for funding clinical trials and a cure. And if I have to be a lab rat to help find a cure, so be it.
When I was little, I was taught to STOP...LOOK....LISTEN....and now 40+ years later, I STILL STOP, LOOK, LISTEN AND THANK GOD for all the wonders in this world. I live in a woods and I can just STOP and LOOK out our extra large windows, open the patio doors, and LISTEN in amazement at the spring that has sprung, the birds so happy to have warmer weather, people just seem happier to be able to get out and enjoy the day that God has made for us. So.....get out there and enjoy the day...forget about the little gripes in life....you really don't know when your expiration date is going to be stamped on your own foot!
Hugs and more hugs to you all!!
God Bless~~
Patty
My spleen is slightly enlarged and has been for some time. My platelets have been dropping after chemo. The spleen sequesters some of the platelets and that keeps the platelet count from coming back as quickly. If it keeps being a problem, they could embolize the spleen (if the platelets stayed below 50,000 for a long period of time). Not a big deal and you can live without a spleen. My kidney function is normal, and the liver is showing a very slight damage to the liver....probably from all the chemo. He is not concerned with it but says to stay away from Tylenol as much as possible, stay away from fried foods, exercise atleast 1/2 mile a day to build lean body mass, stay away from alcohol (which I do anyway). White count is 6.7 which is within normal limits of a healthy person. My alkaline phosphatase is high at 203...not so good since the normal range is 38 to 126.
So, I believe the next visit to Md Anderson will be when they will want me and encourage me to go to St. Louis to start on a clinical trial. Dr. Javle talked very highly of the trials for my two mutations. I kinda feel like I'd be a lab rat but if it is what I have to do to stay healthy and at a high function as far as living, I will do it.
July1, I have decided to retire from my job of almost 18 years at Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc. I just want to enjoy life before I would/if I would start to go downhill. I don't believe in BUCKET LISTS....they seem like "end of life...hurry up and do it" kind of lists. I just believe in quality time with family, friends, and to be able to take a week off to go wherever Pat and I want to go. Heck, we might get brave and take mom to Niagara Falls this fall....don't pack your bag yet mom. My sister Sarah is off on Fridays and we can go rummage in antique stores or go flower hunting if we please. Or if "The Beach Girls" want to go to a fire in the country to see if the firemen need any help, we can...and already did that! :-) If we wanna go 110 on a country road...we can. I want to donate some time back to the community, maybe be a Big Sister....volunteer at a food bank, plant flowers for the city.....I just want to enjoy what time I have left...or if God has a longer plan here on earth for me....say another 20-30 years.....boy the list I could make. My list is more about living...not about dying. I have faith that God has a plan for me and it's not going to end anytime soon.
People say I inspire them....pooh! People who beat this disease are the inspiration that keeps me hoping for a cure. Lauren Kunklier is inspiration for us CC patients. She has had one surgery and awaiting a second to take "the bad part" of her liver out so she would hopefully be cancer free. The more people who beat our type of cancer, the better odds for funding clinical trials and a cure. And if I have to be a lab rat to help find a cure, so be it.
When I was little, I was taught to STOP...LOOK....LISTEN....and now 40+ years later, I STILL STOP, LOOK, LISTEN AND THANK GOD for all the wonders in this world. I live in a woods and I can just STOP and LOOK out our extra large windows, open the patio doors, and LISTEN in amazement at the spring that has sprung, the birds so happy to have warmer weather, people just seem happier to be able to get out and enjoy the day that God has made for us. So.....get out there and enjoy the day...forget about the little gripes in life....you really don't know when your expiration date is going to be stamped on your own foot!
Hugs and more hugs to you all!!
God Bless~~
Patty
Thursday, April 11, 2013
News from Houston
Mom asked that I update everyone on her news from MD Anderson today.
Everything is stable. Her cancer marker dropped 25 points, which means that the cancer is a lot less active. All other organs are in good shape and there is no sign of the cancer spreading elsewhere in her body. Her labs were good and her chest x-ray was clear. GOD IS GOOD!! They are boarding as I type this and heading home.
There have been a LOT of ups and downs over the past two years since mom has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, but I thank the Lord each day, not for the downs(as they come from the devil), but I thank him for the ups and for being with us through the downs, as they have all made us stronger and closer to each other and God. I love seeing how mom has inspired so many people and been able to meet new friends, all because of something so horrible. She is the true meaning of 'joy'.
Written/Posted By: Amy
Everything is stable. Her cancer marker dropped 25 points, which means that the cancer is a lot less active. All other organs are in good shape and there is no sign of the cancer spreading elsewhere in her body. Her labs were good and her chest x-ray was clear. GOD IS GOOD!! They are boarding as I type this and heading home.
There have been a LOT of ups and downs over the past two years since mom has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, but I thank the Lord each day, not for the downs(as they come from the devil), but I thank him for the ups and for being with us through the downs, as they have all made us stronger and closer to each other and God. I love seeing how mom has inspired so many people and been able to meet new friends, all because of something so horrible. She is the true meaning of 'joy'.
Written/Posted By: Amy
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