Sunday February 28th

We did some yard work with our neighbors, Dave and Karen Warn this weekend. Dave got on the riding lawnmower so he was able to get around and oversee the job. It was great to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine.
It is difficult for Dave to get around, his left leg is numb, and although he uses a walker, he has fallen (hard) several times. It is just luck that he didn't hit his head or hurt himself...he continues to lose weight and that makes him more frail too. He still does not complain, but I know that he wishes he could get around more. It helps him that friends fill our house daily.
We have a consult with the Dr. who did Dave's radiation tomorrow, and we see Dr. Reddy, our Oncologist on Thursday, he will receive chemo as well.
Keep him in your prayers. The pain is for the most part under control and his nausea is under control as well. For me, that is a blessing.....and as long as he is comfortable....my prayers are answered.
Blessings to all who continue to support us through this journey.

Thursday February 25th

Dave was really restless this morning so we went over to Cayte's house. He gets a kick out of their puppies.....the lab (Boomer) still thinks that he is a lap dog and spent most of his time in Dave's lap....
The track coaches had their meeting at our house this afternoon...I know that it was good for Dave to think about school and the kids....It says alot about his fellow coaches that they were more than willing to come over here.
Blessings to all....

Wednesday February 24

Dave received his last radiation on the lumbar part of his spine. They are to begin treatments on another part of the spine (soon)....hopefully I will find out tomorrow what the plan is to be....He has done well with these treatments, his pain is less, and he walks better, however still uses a walker.
It will be nice when the weather cooperates and we can get outside. We are both going crazy being inside.....
Blessings to all.....

Tuesday February 23

We are glad to be home...Dave went in for another round of radiation this morning. It takes longer to get there than it does to get the treatment. He is using the walker to get around...he is standing up straighter, but is still very frail. He has not been able to get up and walk around without pain for so long that his muscles are really weak. I have been encouraging him to get up and walk around the kitchen table during commercials...(Nurse Ratchet)....
Our internet has been down..I bought another modem this afternoon and everything seems to be in good working order again. Didn't realize how addicted I was to it until it was not working.....
Blessings to all...what great friends and family we have.....

Monday February 22

We have had a fairly comfortable weekend....we are going home today! There was alot of company in and out all weekend...it was so good to see all of the friends and family.....
My internet has been down at home so I have not posted in a couple of days......

Friday February 19th

Dave is resting well today in the hospital, but was very disappointed to have missed the Maize South High School game tonight. They had a jersey made for him in his honor and were looking forward to him being by the bench as a coach. Although health issues prevented that from happening Dave is humbled by the respect and honor that you young men showed him by your intentions tonight!
Coaching and athletics have been important to Dave his entire life. He is competitive and likes to win.....he is now competing against the most formidable opponant ever. I am in awe of the fact that he has never given up...his ability to face each and every setback is amazing. When scores are posted and the game of life is judged, my husband will have set the bar at a level that most of us can only aspire to match.

Thursday February 18th

This was a really productive day! Dave received his 3rd chemo treatment, his mother and his Aunt Ilene came over from Hutchinson and went with us. It was good to have their company. I was able to visit with our Oncologist and it proved to be very beneficial! He admitted Dave to the hospital right after his chemo treatment in order to control the pain and get Dave some relief and rest. They did an MRI of his body to accurately assess the extent and location of the cancer. The plan is to give him 8 to 10 rounds of radiation in the area of the spine that is aggravating the sciatic. The first couple of treatments will be given here at the hospital and the rest can be given on an outpatient basis. We also got word today that the insurance company authorized the pain catheter. Dave will go to the Pain Center next Wednesday and they will give him the IV meds that are to be delivered in the catheter to make sure he can tolerate them well, the catheter will be implanted on March 3rd.
Today has given me some peace of mind. Hopefully these additions will give Dave quality days to go places and really enjoy himself.
Blessings to all...your prayers helped make these things happen....

Wednesday February 17th

We had a fairly productive day today at the Pain Center. Once again his meds have been changed a bit, but at least today someone actually listened actively to what we (I) had to say. They gave him a shot of morphine directly into the sciatic and they are suggesting that a catheter be placed directly into his back which delivers meds and offers steady pain control. Our insurance company has to approve it...I fully expect another battle. Part of my frustration lately is that I am having a hard time getting meds refilled because we have been "passed around." Each time we see someone else a med is changed or increased....I am not shocked that the insurance company is questioning every script...we are dealing in highly regulated drugs. IF our ONCOLOGIST had been proactive in treating Dave's pain from the beginning, HIS name would be on all of the prescriptions rather than having 3 to 4 different names...causing understandable questions. He is going to hear from me on this matter. Dave and I are handling the "cancer"... we have found strength in one another and unbelievable support from all of you.What I cannot deal with is watching him in pain and knowing that with proper meds it could be so much better.....I have run out of patience and find myself going into situations on the defensive...I just should not be this hard.....
This has been such a learning experience...some good and some bad...
Blessings to all of you who read this each day and comment on it as well....

Monday February 15

Dave developed some fluid on his lungs this weekend, so we were in the Cancer Center first thing this morning. He was given an antibiotic and it also gave me an opportunity to visit about Dave's pain face to face. They gave him a new med that is for nerve pain, so hopefully he will begin to feel relief in the next day or so. We are however keeping our appointment at the Pain Center.....
They also went thru Dave's last scan report with us, which should have been done as soon as the results were in last week. The scans show new cancer in the brain, lungs and the liver. We will have another brain scan tomorrow morning to get a better view of the compromised area. Dave will continue to receive chemo and using these scans as a baseline we will hope for improvement.
Dave is still processing all of this new information...it has been an eventful day.
Blessings to all.....

Saturday February 13th

I am not sure what I can say in this blog tonight that is any different than before. We continue to chase the pain, and hope that with the dawn of a new day Dave will be pain free. I did talk with a pharmacist from Home Health Care and he gave me a suggestion for relief using some of the meds that Hospice left with me. The suggestion did work and Dave actually slept for almost 5 hours. This morning he seemed stronger, I am sure due to the fact that he had slept. He soaked in a hot bath this morning which he said felt great....and was even able to lie on the sofa....after sleeping in a lounge chair for almost 3 weeks that was a delight for him!
Getting care and/or comfort for someone just should not be this hard. Monday I will begin again to make demands of the oncologist....
Blessings to all of the friends and family that read this and send the positive thoughts our way!!

Friday February 12th

Oh my where to begin...chemo seemed to go well this time, I hope today does not throw us any unexpected surprises. We have however been up all night again due to pain issues. This is absolutely unacceptable to me...I will be on the phone today until someone really listens (thanks Laura for the push)....I am not sure how much clearer I can describe the pain level. We were at the Cancer Center yesterday, and when a patient cannot walk due to pain and has to be in a wheelchair......
We will see what today brings......keep Dave in your prayers...he so needs to feel comfort!

Wednesday February 10

Dave does not feel that the pain pump is doing much good, but outwardly his color is really good today and his mobility although still not great seems stronger today. We have an appointment with the Pain Clinic on Wednesday of next week. Home Health will take care of us thru this week. I find myself today making sure we have referrals.....counting pills to make sure when and if I need to have them refilled....Dave calls me Nurse Ratchett, and I am beginning to feel the part.
We go in for chemo#2 tomorrow, hopefully it will go as well as the first.
I did take time for myself today...Chris's girlfriend Bailie teaches 1st grade at an inner city school and I went out to her room and read to the class. We did a "friendship hug" art project too and for a little while I forgot about everything except those beautiful children.....I miss the energy and the affection that the classroom gives to all who enter!! Thanks Bailie for inviting me to share your day and your kids....

Tuesday February 9th

After jumping thru hoops, Dave is now on a pain pump and is receiving Toradol on a regular basis. It has been quite a long day. Rather than going to the Pain Clinic, our family doc sent out Home Health Care to access the pump directly to Dave's port. That was really better for Dave, because he is hardly able to get around and any trip in the car is very uncomfortable for him. Our insurance is "pending"...hope I don't have to jump those hoops too....So far he says that he does not feel any better, but his pain was so out of control that it may take a while to get things to calm down. I certainly hope this works for him.
Thanks to those who called to say that they could possibly push things along for us....Things are always easier to deal with when you know that you have determined people on your team!!
Blessings to all....

Monday January 8th

What a beautiful snow....thanks Sonny?? or whoever it was that cleaned our driveway. When John and Joan got here this AM is was finished.....what fantastic friends we have....
I want to West Wichita today to pick up a prescription and talked with our doc.....he is trying his best to get Dave into the Pain Management Center ASAP.....if anyone can pull strings for us...start pulling! This not being able to get around is really starting to get old fast.....
Blessing to all....thanks for the thoughts and prayers......

Sunday January 7th

Once again Dave's most frustrating worry is his sciatic...he is still nausea free and pain free in his spine. He feels as though he is a prisoner in his own house because he is not able to go anywhere comfortably. He and I went for a road trip to Cheney yesterday just to get him out of the house. We drove around town ...there are alot of great memories....it is where we met....it is still where we have many great friends.
We had Warns and Schultz's over for the Super Bowl...that was fun, but still it is sad that Dave is not able to get up and move around. I am hoping that we will hear the first of the week as to how soon when we can get into the Pain Management Center.
Blessings to all......

Friday February 5th

Thanks to Jessica and Mark Pennington for the wonderful quilt! It was good to see you both..."First Family" has been good to support us thru this!
This has been a tough day for both of us. The day started fairly well but the pain has increased as the day has progressed. I had to use a computer chair on wheels to get him from the restroom back to the family room today. His legs will just not support him. I think I will start sleeping on the couch so that he does get stuck somewhere in the middle of the night...He has been sleeping in a lounge chair for the past week, because that is the only place that he can find a "comfort zone".
Pray that the pain stops......
Blessings to all...

Thursday February 4th

Dave received his first round of Chemo today and as of tonight he does not feel the effects of it one way or another...hopefully that does not change with time. He is still in a great deal of pain from his sciatic nerve. He has been sleeping in the recliner because he can find a somewhat comfortable position. I visited with our dr. today and he increased the pain meds and has called for a referral to a pain clinic here in town. The Cancer Center does start pain pumps, but he is not at all against getting one for Dave. It is so very frustrating for both of us and I can hardly stand seeing him suffer like this! He had even talked about going back to work part time...he was feeling that good......
Blessings to all.....thanks for your support......

Wednesday February 3rd

Pain management has been first and foremost in my mind for the past several days and it is just not happening. I got up in the middle of the night and e-mailed my Dr. to let him know that Dave needed to be pre medicated before the scan today...they did medicate, gladly ,but the pain is so out of hand that it did not really help much. I am going to push for a pain pump tomorrow...Dave is convinced that it is "just his sciatic nerve", and it may very well may be just that .............but he needs some relief and so do I.

Tuesday February 2nd

Tomorrow we go in for Dave's scan. I dread it for him because he is barely able to get around. It is going to be very uncomfortable for him without pre medicating....I hope that this is a very temporary set back for him. He is eating well and other than the sciatic nerve area, he is relatively pain free. Maybe this scan will give us more information.
Blessings to all, thanks (again) for the cards, e-mails, and comments here on my blog......

Monday February 1st

Took Dave in today for the blood work needed prior to his chemo.
We "dismissed" Hospice this morning...that was a let down for me because they took alot of stress out of my care taking......
As far as nausea and pain, it is under control. He is however battling his sciatic nerve. I gave him a muscle relaxer today (after calling dr.) and it didn't do much good so I guess that means it is bone or nerve....hopefully it will work it's way out soon because he can hardly walk.
Chris and Cayte came over today with their dogs to visit....Dave really got a kick out of that....
It is midnight now and I am just now sitting down to pay bills...UGH...there are just not enough hours in a day sometimes.....
Blessings to all......