Keep Praying

Mom and dad could use some prayer and encouragement. Dad continues to lose weight. He said he even ate 1/2 a bag of M&Ms in just a couple of hours - the Costco size bag!! He hasn't had much energy and gets winded pretty quickly. His hands are always cold. Dad also believes he can feel the tumor that is on his liver. For awhile he thought it was shrinking but now he thinks it has gotten larger.

I think the stresses of everything they are dealing with, health as well as loss of income, are starting to make them more irritated with each other. The little things are starting to be frustrating and emotions are fragile. Dad mentioned that he and mom realize his time on this earth is very limited and they should be making the best of the time and not fighting.

Steve, Kaity and I drove over to spend a bit of time with them on Father's Day. Several times dad mentioned this could be his last one and how much he appreciated us coming over. We were going to go out to lunch but decided to BBQ instead. Dad is a really good BBQer. He and Steve had TBone steaks while we ladies had hamburgers. We watched some racing and did some visiting and then headed home.

This week is a treatment week. This is the first time he has gone 3 weeks between treatments and it does seem to affect him in a negative way. He has a list of questions to ask his doctors and is really looking for some answers to what is happening. Pray for boldness and persistence that he would get the TRUTH to his questions. We will let you know what he finds out.
With appreciation and thankfulness for such caring friends and family.

Update

It has been quite awhile since we updated the blog. Last week was dad's chemo week which also was Emily's graduation week. At his treatment they told him they they are changing his treatments to be every 3 weeks instead of 2. We would like to think that this is a good thing. Hopefully this will give him more time to recoup before undergoing the process again. If things start getting worse, I would assume that they will go back to the every 2 week treatment.

Mom and Dad along with Steve's mom and 2 of his 3 sisters came to Sisters for Emily's graduation. It was so nice having family together. On the weeks dad has chemo he is extremely sensitive to cold internally (drinking/eating) as well as externally. Unfortunately, Sisters has been having some yucky weather for the last 2 weeks; lots of thunder and lightning storms and windy. The weather had dropped at least 20 degrees from the beginning of graduation to when it was over and everyone went outside to take pictures. We kept mom and dad inside and brought Emily back in to get pictures.

The rest of the weekend was pretty hard for dad just because the chemo takes so much out of him. Well, technically it puts a lot into him but you know what I mean. He was trying to be conservative with his oxygen because a few of the bottles he brought some how leaked on the drive and so he didn't have as much as he thought. We did have a family BBQ on Saturday and that was nice.

It has taken dad the majority of the week to recoup from the weekend trip but was thankfully he was able to come. No new doctor appts that I am aware of. Just doing the chemo treatments and trying to get well.

Thought I would try updating the blog. Larry had a good week last week. In fact he said last week was the best week he has had this year. It start on Sunday May 23rd when our daughter, Melody and granddaughter Kaity surprised us and came to spend the day with us. We thought they were in Bend clothes shopping and they approached our van to see if we needed help carrying in our groceries. We enjoyed the afternoon visiting with them. I used my power chair and went across the street with them to Starbucks which I had not done since I have been in the wheelchair last August. Monday, Memorial Day was my 63rd birthday. We had breakfast with Billy, Cathy, Charlene and Chuck. Than Larry took me shopping at Frye's, his favorite store. He bought me a new mp3 player. We than had dinner with our friends Jim and Caroline.

Larry felt well enough and paced himself and was able to accomplish some things he had been wanting to do in the garage and around the house. He used my power chair that I have at home and worked for a while than rested. He also used his oxygen per the doctor's orders. Thursday when I came home we went to pick up some prescriptions at Target and did some shopping at Costco. He was wanting to go to Banks on Saturday to the races but I didn't want him to go alone as I worried about how long the race lasted and the length of the drive to Banks. Friday we were discussing it when Melody called and asked how I felt about Steven, her husband, coming over and going with him.

Steve drove over Saturday and we took him to our favorite breakfast restaurant (Miller's) and they went to the races about 2:00 and didn't get home until 11:00 that night. Larry was so excited he couldn't stop talking about the races. It meant so much to him for Steve to come over and take him to something that Larry is very passionate about. Steve went with us to church yesterday and we took him to another one of favorite restaurants, Macaroni Grill in Tualatin. He went back home about 3:30. I want to thank him so much for taking Larry.

Today the weather isn't as nice and Larry is hurting a little bit. He seems tired today. Hopefully when the sun comes back out he will feel better. Seems he is learning to pace himself a little more. He has chemo again this week. Also our granddaughter, Emily is graduating Sister's High School Friday. We plan on going over for her graduation so we hope that the chemo doesn't make him to sick this weekend.

Hope you all have a good week and I want you all to know that Larry and I appreciate all your prayers and support during this very difficult time.

Sherry

Support for Laps for Larry

(This is a message from mom's sister, Cathy Lowell, who is walking for the American Cancer Society in dad's honor. Dad is going to do the survivors lap in his scooter and then mom also wants to take him to the candlelight ceremony to participate in that as well. If you can support Aunt Cathy that would be awesome. Let's find a cure!!)


This year, hundreds of thousands of people will hear the words "You have cancer". In fact this year I have had two family members that have heard these very words, and there's a good chance that someone you know and love has heard these words too. We have all been touched by cancer in some way ... and we all have the power to make a difference. That's why I have chosen to fight back right here in my own community by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®.

I want to invite you to join me in the fight against cancer by making a donation in support of my efforts. Further down in this message is a link to my personal Relay For Life® web page where you can make an online contribution. Every amount, no matter how small, makes a difference and provides hope. I have pledged to raise $500.00. If 100 people will just donate $5.00 than I have met my goal.

Relay For Life® brings more than 3.5 million people from across the country together each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. This fun-filled, overnight event empowers everyone to help fight cancer by raising money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission.

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we will celebrate, remember, and fight back.

HOPE STARTS WITH ME AND HOPE STARTS WITH YOU - TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Cathy

For state fundraising notices and the American Cancer Society's Privacy Policy, please paste the following link into your browser: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SU/su_0.asp.


Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
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Click here to view the team page for Disco Ducks
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
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Update

Dad had his chemo treatment today; 7 or 8 bags he thinks. When he went to the appointment his oxygen level was too low. The minimum should be 90, ideal is 95 and his was 88. The doctor has ordered him to use his oxygen 24/7. The shortness of breath is not from the chemo killing red blood cells like dad thought. Hopefully, he will do what the doctor says and use it all the time. The doctor also told him to start using the scooter a little bit more so he doesn't get out of breath so quickly. He also recommended that he use a walker to keep from falling. He told dad that a broken hip would not be a good thing to add to his medical resume.

Just in case we don't get a chance to update the blog again before the weekend, I wanted to let everyone know, May 25th is mom's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope that it is a special one.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.

Quick Update

Just a quick update to let you know that dad fell again on Sunday, on the pavement. They had gone out to dinner with Chuck and Aunt Charlene. It was Aunt Charlene's first outing since her surgery and by the time she got in the restaurant, she was in tears from the pain. When they got home, dad just wanted to sit in the car and enjoy the sun and told mom to go ahead and go in so she did. A bit later, the dogs start barking and dad walks in with blood dripping down his forehead. He is pretty scraped up and so I don't think the doctor will have any trouble noticing he is having some balance issues.
I will update again after dad sees the doctor on Wednesday for his chemo treatment. Hang in there, dad. You have many people cheering you on and praying for you. I love you.

It's Been Awhile

Yes, we haven't updated this blog for awhile, but that doesn't mean things aren't happening. Dad has had a tough week. The latest round of chemo has left him more dizzy and shaky than others in the past. He is also very short of breath. He hasn't been taking his oxygen at home as much but doesn't think that has anything to do with his shortness of breath. Apparently the chemo is killing his red blood cells and that is what is causing his shortness of breath.
With the nice weather, mom and dad were hoping to be able to get out and do something fun this weekend. Yesterday, they went out for breakfast and to Walmart and after that dad felt he just needed to go home and rest. In walking from the car to the house he took a big spill on the asphalt. He is ok but very bruised and skinned up pretty bad on his arms and he said his shoulder hurts really bad.
With not having his plumbing business, he has started to focus on his photography. He is working on selling his pictures through various venues. He is working on a website and a few other internet outlets for his pictures. He is even talking about doing some weekend art fair type of opportunities when he is feeling better.
This week is chemo week. He says that he is going to talk to his doctor with both barrels loaded. He is hoping to get some relief for his shortness of breath and the dizziness. We'll keep you posted as the week progresses. Thank you again for your prayers.