Last year about this time Roy had his left knee replaced. It was easy for him to have the surgery and for him rehab wasn't as hard as he expected. His left knee felt so good afterwards that he knew that he would go ahead and have his right knee done sooner rather than later.
Then we ran into the little problem of discovering his cancer. Thank you knee replacement for finding that sooner rather than later! I don't think he really realized how bad his right knee was until the left knee felt so good. He made the decision about a month ago to go ahead and have the right knee replaced, which he did today. He is back in his room, not feeling any pain. Ofcourse, his knee is still numb and will be until sometime tomorrow. Then we'll see if there is no pain. They will have him walking in the morning and in the afternoon. He will come home from the hospital on Monday. We really like his doctor and if you live in the metroplex we would recommend Dr. Taunton to anyone. He has been used by many of our friends and we haven't heard anything negative about him. The only negative thing that could be said, and this is really only Roy's negative, the food is catered at the hospital he is in. They only have 16 beds and they bring food in from Cafe Express....foo foo food according to Roy. Now, I love shrimp/avocado salad...tuna sandwiches...pesto chicken. I'm going have to take him Whataburgers!!!
So, here we go with rehab for the next several weeks. There will be someone who comes to the house 3 days a week for awhile. If the knee has no more problems than the other knee, he will do fine.
Two weeks after surgery last year was when Stan and Sherri's house burn and Roy was walking around looking at the results of the fire without using a cane or walker..so, we feel good about the future results of this surgery.
As far as the cancer is concerned, we have appointments the middle of March. Please keep us in your prayers that the next set of tests show no cancer. If so, we might beable to go 6 months without going to Houston. We are so thankful for being allowed to enjoy our family at Christmas and have the quality of life that we have had this past 6 months...pretty cool, considering what we were facing last April...God is good to us.
God is in control and holding our hands
Linda
Friday, December 28, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
I have to laugh
Well, we got the call today that the results of the biopsy had come back. It seems everything is clear. Such a wonderful feeling that we don't have to go back to Houston for surgery. We had wanted to make sure we had surgery in December. Now, we will just worry about knee replacement and I know that sounds like a lot but after all that Roy has been through this past 9 months, this is a surgery that is not uncharted grounds. He knows what it is like to have a replacement and knows he can do his rehab and feel so much better after the fact.
Now, what I meant by "have to laugh". I thought I would update the blog but before I did I'd go to the M.D. Anderson's web site. Sure enough there it was...the next appointment for another petscan and endoscopy. You would think they'd give us at least a week to celebrate that we've made it 3 more months of no cancer cells being seen. So, we go back to Houston March 15th. (Ryan's birthday!)
How do I really feel about it? I'm thankful that we have this opportunity to have tests done. It could be so much worse. Had we chosen not to go to Houston Roy would have already had his stomach removed. We would be dealing with a whole lot worse situation than just...more tests. I'll go to Houston every 3 months for the rest of our lives if that's what it takes to have the life we live. We are so blessed by our family and friends. Unbelievable support in different ways and from different people. Roy is a true testamony of friends who love and pray for him on a daily basis. I'm just in awe each time someone says "I'm praying for you"...Wesat down in front of an older couple (yea, there are people older than us!) at church the other Wednesday night and the lady asked how he was doing....I had never met these people. The Lord is awesome...and definitely blesses our lives.
God is in control and holding our hand.
Now, what I meant by "have to laugh". I thought I would update the blog but before I did I'd go to the M.D. Anderson's web site. Sure enough there it was...the next appointment for another petscan and endoscopy. You would think they'd give us at least a week to celebrate that we've made it 3 more months of no cancer cells being seen. So, we go back to Houston March 15th. (Ryan's birthday!)
How do I really feel about it? I'm thankful that we have this opportunity to have tests done. It could be so much worse. Had we chosen not to go to Houston Roy would have already had his stomach removed. We would be dealing with a whole lot worse situation than just...more tests. I'll go to Houston every 3 months for the rest of our lives if that's what it takes to have the life we live. We are so blessed by our family and friends. Unbelievable support in different ways and from different people. Roy is a true testamony of friends who love and pray for him on a daily basis. I'm just in awe each time someone says "I'm praying for you"...Wesat down in front of an older couple (yea, there are people older than us!) at church the other Wednesday night and the lady asked how he was doing....I had never met these people. The Lord is awesome...and definitely blesses our lives.
God is in control and holding our hand.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Can't Wait Any Longer
I just wrote a whole blog about where we are now...and the only thing that posted was the letter "d". Now how did that happen???
So, here I go again. I had wanted to wait until we had received all the results of the tests that were done this last week in Houston. The petscan and endoscopy reports we received immediately. They did a biopsy during the endoscopy and that is the results that we haven't received. It's pretty important to get a good clean biopsy and I truly think he will, but it's aggravating not to know for sure. If there is something on the biopsy he will need to have surgery. I'm claiming a clean biopsy..hope the Lord agrees with me!
We have a very nice oncologist, Dr. Blum. The oncology department feels that the best thing to do in Roy's situation is to have the surgery whether anything shows or not. As he was visiting with her on Tuesday he made the statement that he was having surgery. Her face lit up and a big smile was there until Roy said that actually it was going to be a knee replacement. Burst her bubble big time but she just smiled and went on with the treatment plan. If everything is good we do not go back until sometime in March.
He has had so many problems and so much pain in the right knee this last year that after visiting with the orthopedic doctor the decision was made just to go ahead and get it done. Ofcourse, it was the left knee replacement that helped us discover the cancer. He did so well with the surgery and rehab that he felt there was no reason not to go and have the other knee replaced. He will have that surgery Dec. 28th...making sure we get surgery in this year since we have definitely made all our deductibles for insurance.
So, here we are. Praising God that everything looks good. But if something happens and surgery does become necessary, we will face it and know that it is God's will and part of the journey He has given us to travel. We have been blessed so much knowing how many people are praying for us. I just can't imagine making the decisions we've made and taking the steps we've taken without the support of all our friends and friends of friends...thank you...thank you...thank you....
God is in control and holding our hands..
Linda
So, here I go again. I had wanted to wait until we had received all the results of the tests that were done this last week in Houston. The petscan and endoscopy reports we received immediately. They did a biopsy during the endoscopy and that is the results that we haven't received. It's pretty important to get a good clean biopsy and I truly think he will, but it's aggravating not to know for sure. If there is something on the biopsy he will need to have surgery. I'm claiming a clean biopsy..hope the Lord agrees with me!
We have a very nice oncologist, Dr. Blum. The oncology department feels that the best thing to do in Roy's situation is to have the surgery whether anything shows or not. As he was visiting with her on Tuesday he made the statement that he was having surgery. Her face lit up and a big smile was there until Roy said that actually it was going to be a knee replacement. Burst her bubble big time but she just smiled and went on with the treatment plan. If everything is good we do not go back until sometime in March.
He has had so many problems and so much pain in the right knee this last year that after visiting with the orthopedic doctor the decision was made just to go ahead and get it done. Ofcourse, it was the left knee replacement that helped us discover the cancer. He did so well with the surgery and rehab that he felt there was no reason not to go and have the other knee replaced. He will have that surgery Dec. 28th...making sure we get surgery in this year since we have definitely made all our deductibles for insurance.
So, here we are. Praising God that everything looks good. But if something happens and surgery does become necessary, we will face it and know that it is God's will and part of the journey He has given us to travel. We have been blessed so much knowing how many people are praying for us. I just can't imagine making the decisions we've made and taking the steps we've taken without the support of all our friends and friends of friends...thank you...thank you...thank you....
God is in control and holding our hands..
Linda
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Here we go again...
It really doesn't seem possible that it has been exactly 2 months since I wrote a posting on the blog.
I had maintained that this blog was just to keep everyone updated as to how the journey of Roy dealing with cancer was going.
For the last two months we have basically lived our lives as though the cancer that we spent all summer dealing with is gone. We went to ballgames every week-end. I looked on our calendar and noticed that we were gone 7 week-ends in a row. And, we wouldn't have change a mile we drove! We were blessed to watch Justin play football in Canyon,Tx...Abilene, Tx...Commerce, Tx...and San Antonio, Tx. It really was so much fun. The trip to San Antonio was fun because we took Caleb and Tyler with us.
But I guess we are back to our "new normal". We leave tomorrow for M.D.Anderson again. Roy will have a petscan on Monday and an endoscopy on Tuesday. We should have the results of the test before we leave Houston on Tuesday.
It would be ludicrous to say we want any results other than a totally clean petscan and endoscopy. We are praying for that result. Roy has felt so good the last two months. I think that is one of the insidious things about cancer is, at least for Roy, there are no ill effects so therefore one feels fine until sometime it's too late. So, please hold us up to the Lord. He has been amazing holding our hands and keeping our spirits up and feeling good about our journey because of Him.
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
I had maintained that this blog was just to keep everyone updated as to how the journey of Roy dealing with cancer was going.
For the last two months we have basically lived our lives as though the cancer that we spent all summer dealing with is gone. We went to ballgames every week-end. I looked on our calendar and noticed that we were gone 7 week-ends in a row. And, we wouldn't have change a mile we drove! We were blessed to watch Justin play football in Canyon,Tx...Abilene, Tx...Commerce, Tx...and San Antonio, Tx. It really was so much fun. The trip to San Antonio was fun because we took Caleb and Tyler with us.
But I guess we are back to our "new normal". We leave tomorrow for M.D.Anderson again. Roy will have a petscan on Monday and an endoscopy on Tuesday. We should have the results of the test before we leave Houston on Tuesday.
It would be ludicrous to say we want any results other than a totally clean petscan and endoscopy. We are praying for that result. Roy has felt so good the last two months. I think that is one of the insidious things about cancer is, at least for Roy, there are no ill effects so therefore one feels fine until sometime it's too late. So, please hold us up to the Lord. He has been amazing holding our hands and keeping our spirits up and feeling good about our journey because of Him.
God is in control and holding our hands.
Linda
Monday, October 1, 2012
A Decision was made..
One nice thing about Roy is it doesn't take long for him to make up his mind once he feels he has all the information that he can gather. That's what has happen for us today.
He made up his mind that he will not have surgery...just yet. He visited with the PA (physicans assistant) again this morning about all the statistics and what they really mean. She, in turn, spent time with the surgeon and called him back. Actually, I think the Lord had a little more to do with this than what I initially gave Him credit for! (I know, Ryan, don't end a sentence with a preposition). When she called back we learned that the surgery was having to be postponed until sometime in November due to the surgeon's schedule. November is the same time as they would schedule another petscan/endoscopy if we had initially said no to surgery. Now, if something shows in those test we will have surgery immediately. No chemo/radiation will be done. I say that, and the next report maybe totally different...
I know that we are both relieved that a decision has been made. I pray that it will be the correct one and I have to have confidence that it is. The Lord has paved the way for all that we have been through and has always given us a peace of mind...basically. Obviously we are not oblivious to all the challenges we have been through but I pray we can look back someday and say to eachother that we are proud of the way we conducted ourselves. It was important to both of us that we beable to share this journey with our friends. I plan to someday walk this road with someone who is just learning that they have cancer and give them the support that they need. (I know I can get them to elevator A,B,and C at M.D.Anderson!!)
I'm not sure how often I will write on this blog. There again, it really was meant to be an update on Roy. There will be more information as we learn new things but pray that maybe it won't be until the end of November! Praise the Lord!
BTW..if you read the other blog...about 10:00 that night after I wrote it..it came to me. "It's manner..not manor"
God is in control and holding our hand
Linda
He made up his mind that he will not have surgery...just yet. He visited with the PA (physicans assistant) again this morning about all the statistics and what they really mean. She, in turn, spent time with the surgeon and called him back. Actually, I think the Lord had a little more to do with this than what I initially gave Him credit for! (I know, Ryan, don't end a sentence with a preposition). When she called back we learned that the surgery was having to be postponed until sometime in November due to the surgeon's schedule. November is the same time as they would schedule another petscan/endoscopy if we had initially said no to surgery. Now, if something shows in those test we will have surgery immediately. No chemo/radiation will be done. I say that, and the next report maybe totally different...
I know that we are both relieved that a decision has been made. I pray that it will be the correct one and I have to have confidence that it is. The Lord has paved the way for all that we have been through and has always given us a peace of mind...basically. Obviously we are not oblivious to all the challenges we have been through but I pray we can look back someday and say to eachother that we are proud of the way we conducted ourselves. It was important to both of us that we beable to share this journey with our friends. I plan to someday walk this road with someone who is just learning that they have cancer and give them the support that they need. (I know I can get them to elevator A,B,and C at M.D.Anderson!!)
I'm not sure how often I will write on this blog. There again, it really was meant to be an update on Roy. There will be more information as we learn new things but pray that maybe it won't be until the end of November! Praise the Lord!
BTW..if you read the other blog...about 10:00 that night after I wrote it..it came to me. "It's manner..not manor"
God is in control and holding our hand
Linda
Friday, September 28, 2012
180 degree turn.....
I started my last post stating that I'd spent some time "thinking of what I wanted to say". Well, I've really been "thinking" this time.
I had made the decision when I first started this blog that it wouldn't be just about what was happening in our lives, but what was happening as far as Roy's journey with the diagnosis of cancer. That being said, we've had a pretty normal 3 weeks. Going to ballgames, church, work and whatever else we have always done.
That changed this last week. We were in Houston at the hospital for 3 days getting more information about surgery. When we left the first of September it was a "done deal" that Roy would have the surgery. The oncologist basically said there was no choice. And, I gave the statistic in the last blog. We got a call last week that surgery was set for Oct. 10th and that we had appointments with the surgeon and radiologist this week.
After visiting with both of them we came away thoroughly confused. The surgeon gave us statistics that showed whether having surgery or just watching and monitoring the area of cancer did not make that much difference. So, the chances of cancer coming back are basically the same either way....go figure. If Roy chooses not to have surgery he will have a petscan and an endoscopy every 3 months for awhile then yearly. If they find cancer they would do surgery immediately. No radiation or chemo again. The question is do we risk the chance of there still being cancer cells that didn't show up on the last test results and they multiply quickly. Or does he have surgery, and we were told is not an easy surgery and a very long recovery on the chance of there being cancer...still. Recovery from surgery can be as long as a year. It would definitely be a 10 hospital stay with a feeding tube for an extended period...depending on how well he does.
Both of the doctors (surgeon and radiologist) said they supported whatever decision that he makes. We have not cancelled the surgery, so he has about a week to make the decision. I am trying really hard to let it be his decision.
I appreciate what Shana has said. Whatever the decision is we cannot 2nd guess what is decided. And, that is so true. I was getting dressed to go to the hospital the other morning and had an overwhelming feeling that the Lord said to me, "Just make a decision , I'm with you whatever you decide". I have a tendancy to "humanize" God and when I hear His voice it's in a manor I can understand. So, I think that Roy will decide and it will be good. Pray for us....pray that we make the right decision and thank God for being with us through out the journey.
And, on a personal note, keep Justin in your prayers. ACU played a team in Mississippi last night. We could watch it on the computer and during the 2nd quarter we watched him pull his hamstring muscle. It was very obvious. We both yelled "No"!! at the same time. Roy talked to him this morning and it is just a pull not a tear. Thank you Lord for that!
God is in control and holding our hand
Linda
I had made the decision when I first started this blog that it wouldn't be just about what was happening in our lives, but what was happening as far as Roy's journey with the diagnosis of cancer. That being said, we've had a pretty normal 3 weeks. Going to ballgames, church, work and whatever else we have always done.
That changed this last week. We were in Houston at the hospital for 3 days getting more information about surgery. When we left the first of September it was a "done deal" that Roy would have the surgery. The oncologist basically said there was no choice. And, I gave the statistic in the last blog. We got a call last week that surgery was set for Oct. 10th and that we had appointments with the surgeon and radiologist this week.
After visiting with both of them we came away thoroughly confused. The surgeon gave us statistics that showed whether having surgery or just watching and monitoring the area of cancer did not make that much difference. So, the chances of cancer coming back are basically the same either way....go figure. If Roy chooses not to have surgery he will have a petscan and an endoscopy every 3 months for awhile then yearly. If they find cancer they would do surgery immediately. No radiation or chemo again. The question is do we risk the chance of there still being cancer cells that didn't show up on the last test results and they multiply quickly. Or does he have surgery, and we were told is not an easy surgery and a very long recovery on the chance of there being cancer...still. Recovery from surgery can be as long as a year. It would definitely be a 10 hospital stay with a feeding tube for an extended period...depending on how well he does.
Both of the doctors (surgeon and radiologist) said they supported whatever decision that he makes. We have not cancelled the surgery, so he has about a week to make the decision. I am trying really hard to let it be his decision.
I appreciate what Shana has said. Whatever the decision is we cannot 2nd guess what is decided. And, that is so true. I was getting dressed to go to the hospital the other morning and had an overwhelming feeling that the Lord said to me, "Just make a decision , I'm with you whatever you decide". I have a tendancy to "humanize" God and when I hear His voice it's in a manor I can understand. So, I think that Roy will decide and it will be good. Pray for us....pray that we make the right decision and thank God for being with us through out the journey.
And, on a personal note, keep Justin in your prayers. ACU played a team in Mississippi last night. We could watch it on the computer and during the 2nd quarter we watched him pull his hamstring muscle. It was very obvious. We both yelled "No"!! at the same time. Roy talked to him this morning and it is just a pull not a tear. Thank you Lord for that!
God is in control and holding our hand
Linda
Sunday, September 2, 2012
A Prolonged Journey
I've spent some time thinking of what I want to share and how I'm feeling about the news that we received this last week in Houston.
Roy had the PETSCAN and endoscopy this last week. We met with the oncologist on Friday afternoon. Even though the scan showed there was no cancer cells that could be seen she still recommended that he have the surgery. They did a biopsy on some of the tissue in the esophagus but we won't know the results of that until later this week. It will not change the recommendation of surgery.
It has been difficult to accept. We have prayed so hard that they would say "no cancer, no surgery" but the studies do not support that theory. And, truthfully, they never really did give us much of a chance of that. What we were told by the oncologist was that 2/3rds of the people who make that decision are back in 2 years with cancer. So, it sounds llike a no brainer...but the recovery from surgery is not easy. It is a long and hard recovery...possibly as long as a year before he can eat what he is use to having.
So, now we are in a waiting game of learning when we will see the surgeon. We have an appointment the 26th of September with the radiologist but the oncologist will not let us wait that long to see the surgeon. We will just be checking the web site to see when we need to go back. We were told that usually it takes 2-3 weeks to schedule surgery. There is so much going on this fall that we hate to miss but guess we will.
We know that this is just part of the journey that God has set for us. Do we understand why the prayers for complete healing have not been answered? No, but we will accept the journey and give God the glory. Had a wonderful experience in our class at church today and we will appreciate the friends in class for the rest of our lives! There has been so much support from all our friends and I have confidence that God will keep those people in our lives and they will continue to support us...please, continue to pray.
It wasn't only "gloom and doom" this week-end. After we left Houston we went directly to Ryan's in Temple and had such a good time. Tyler and Georgia Kate were so much fun to be with this week-end. Georgia Kate is 10 months old and loves to give open mouth kisses and then just laugh. And Tyler is all boy and loved rough housing with me...or me with him...I'm not sure which.
We left on Saturday and drove on to Abilene to watch Justin play football. He is a starting linebacker this year. And, he did great!! He was in on a lot of tackles and had a forced fumble (I had to ask what that was). What I thought was even neater was that there were 19 of us who were there to cheer him on! Holly and GK decided not to try to make the trip. It was a glorious time...hot but fun!
So, here we are...just waiting to make the next move. However we have to do it we will do it with the confidence that it is the right decision!
God is in control and holding our hand.
Linda
Roy had the PETSCAN and endoscopy this last week. We met with the oncologist on Friday afternoon. Even though the scan showed there was no cancer cells that could be seen she still recommended that he have the surgery. They did a biopsy on some of the tissue in the esophagus but we won't know the results of that until later this week. It will not change the recommendation of surgery.
It has been difficult to accept. We have prayed so hard that they would say "no cancer, no surgery" but the studies do not support that theory. And, truthfully, they never really did give us much of a chance of that. What we were told by the oncologist was that 2/3rds of the people who make that decision are back in 2 years with cancer. So, it sounds llike a no brainer...but the recovery from surgery is not easy. It is a long and hard recovery...possibly as long as a year before he can eat what he is use to having.
So, now we are in a waiting game of learning when we will see the surgeon. We have an appointment the 26th of September with the radiologist but the oncologist will not let us wait that long to see the surgeon. We will just be checking the web site to see when we need to go back. We were told that usually it takes 2-3 weeks to schedule surgery. There is so much going on this fall that we hate to miss but guess we will.
We know that this is just part of the journey that God has set for us. Do we understand why the prayers for complete healing have not been answered? No, but we will accept the journey and give God the glory. Had a wonderful experience in our class at church today and we will appreciate the friends in class for the rest of our lives! There has been so much support from all our friends and I have confidence that God will keep those people in our lives and they will continue to support us...please, continue to pray.
It wasn't only "gloom and doom" this week-end. After we left Houston we went directly to Ryan's in Temple and had such a good time. Tyler and Georgia Kate were so much fun to be with this week-end. Georgia Kate is 10 months old and loves to give open mouth kisses and then just laugh. And Tyler is all boy and loved rough housing with me...or me with him...I'm not sure which.
We left on Saturday and drove on to Abilene to watch Justin play football. He is a starting linebacker this year. And, he did great!! He was in on a lot of tackles and had a forced fumble (I had to ask what that was). What I thought was even neater was that there were 19 of us who were there to cheer him on! Holly and GK decided not to try to make the trip. It was a glorious time...hot but fun!
So, here we are...just waiting to make the next move. However we have to do it we will do it with the confidence that it is the right decision!
God is in control and holding our hand.
Linda
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