Hurry Up and Wait!

The phrase, "Hurry Up and Wait" has become our slogan. It has already been one month (October 28th) since we found out about the cancer. One month in cancer time is too long! I thought it would be interesting to list some of things we have had to wait on.

*RESULTS: Obviously, this is the most critical. As of today, we still do not have a definite diagnosis. Kidney vs. Adrenal Gland seems to be a toss up these days. As many of you may know, Al developed a case of pneumonia last week and we were in the hospital for 6 days. While in the hospital, the doctors suggested that he have his new biopsy here in Corpus and not wait another week to get to Houston. After thinking about it, it made perfect sense to do that. We have saved at least a week in getting results. Our primary care physician today told us that the tissue slides were sent Fed Ex to MD Anderson Monday. They should be there today. Now, two groups of pathologists can get involved and maybe come up with a majority diagnosis.

It will be at least a week before we know anything further.

* LAB WORK: My poor husband has been poked and prodded for the last two months. It is normally difficult to find his veins, but it is even more so now. In the hospital, we were interrupted every morning at 4:00 am so they could draw blood. The lights came on and they began the process of looking for a vein. At one point, his IV became infiltrated and the only vein they could find was on his upper arm. Poor thing.

Outside of the hospital, we have blood drawn at least three times a week. This is primarily done to check Al's potassium level. Once the blood is drawn, we wait at least 45 minutes to get results so we know whether to change medicine. Today, during the waiting period, we both became irritated with the whole process. I just think it's getting old.

* DR'S OFFICE: Ok, I'm not going to gripe too much about having to wait on Al's primary care physician because we both love him. But, as we all know we ALWAYS have to wait on our doctors, even at MD Anderson. He makes up for the wait by showing special attention to us while we are there. Here's a picture of our very sweet doctor the day before Halloween. Don't judge a book by its cover, he's one incredible M&M!

* TESTS: It blows my mind how long these very sick people have to wait for a scheduled test at MD Anderson. Our week there we had evening tests scheduled. One test was scheduled for 8:00 pm. We began the test at 10:30 pm and left the building at 11:45 pm. We were literally the last patients there. Even valet parking had to bring our car around and park it in front of the building so it would be waiting for us when we got out. Valet parking closed at 10:00 pm.

* CHRISTMAS GIFTS: I thought I'd end this "gripe session" on a high note. Waiting on the delivery of Christmas gifts is not a bad wait, but one I looked forward to all week. While Al was in the hospital and all of you were charging through the crowds on Black Friday, I went online and ordered all the grandkids' gifts. I came home today to find this...YIPEE... something fun to wait for!

What a Difference a Day Makes

Since my last update, we have had quite an adventure. MD Anderson was unable to schedule the core biopsy by Friday, so we left Houston Friday morning and came home. I must say that the phrase, "Home Sweet Home", never meant as much to me as it did Friday. We relaxed, washed clothes (at least I did) and went through a week's worth of mail. Al was still quite weak, but appeared to be glad to be home.

Saturday morning, he seemed even weaker. I grew concerned, but it didn't seem critical. After a round of cleaning, I sat on the couch and was getting ready to watch Longhorn football. I casually asked Al if he felt worse than the day before. He said, yes. I asked him to let me know if he took a turn for the worse. You will not believe what he said! He said, "I think I need to go to the hospital". WHAT?????

He then told me that he had been spitting up blood for the last 12 hours. An ambulance was called and off to the ER again. His preliminary blood work appeared normal, no fever or chills and no pain. A CTscan of his lungs was scheduled and the "thing" I had mentioned on the last update in his lung appeared to be the problem. It is an infarction of the left lung. The definition of an infarction is: an area of tissue death due to a local loss of oxygen. They were concerned that a blood clot had caused the infarct and was the reason he was spitting up blood.

They started Al on steroids, breathing treatments and antibiotics. It is now 24 hours later and he is a different person! He is smiling, laughing and as far as I'm concerned, back to normal...as good as normal is these days. His lack of energy has rebounded and the CTscan showed no blood clots. He does have pneumonia, but he is responding very well to treatment.

Now here's the point to this update. We were extremely disappointed that the core biopsy could not be scheduled on Friday and that we would have to wait until after Thanksgiving. But, if they had done the biopsy (under general anesthesia), it could have been extremely dangerous with the impending pneumonia. Once again, God is right on time.

Al in the ER:

24 hours later:

Just a Quick Update

First of all, we would like to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes during this time. It is wonderful to know that so many people love us. We appreciate each and every one of you.

Al had several tests run this week, including an MRI of the brain, CTscan of abdomen and pelvis, Xrays and tons of lab work. These tests were repeated from the ones done in Corpus because Al's case is a bit of a puzzle. There is a 9cm tumor sitting near his adrenal gland and kidney. The pathologist in Corpus could not determine where it originated - the adrenal or the kidney. Well today we had an appointment with the doctor here in Houston to get the results of all the tests run this week and guess what? They still don't know where the tumor originated. In Corpus, Al had a needle biopsy, but apparently that didn't do the trick. A core biopsy is being scheduled here in Houston. This biopsy goes a little deeper and will retrieve more tissue than the earlier biopsy. It will take about 72 hours after the biopsy to get the final results.

Please pray for a quick appointment. The preliminary estimate to get this biopsy done is after Thanksgiving. We can't wait that long...we are ready to begin treatment now. Al is still in great spirits, but is weak. The tumor needs to shrink for him to feel better, thus treatment is a must!

Also, there appears to be some problem with his left lung, totally unrelated to the cancer. He is being scheduled to see a lung specialist. Pray that the lung is clear.

Some good news...the brain scan was clear as was bone scan.

Once again, thanks to everyone and thank you to our Pastors that made the trip today. It was a blessing to see them and Ashlynn. We appreciate all the prayers.

Al Speaks

Our church recently elected a new pastor. I immediately felt a strong connection to him and his wife.The Lord began dealing with me about slowing down at the dealership and perhaps become more involved with some additional ministries in the church. I love our church. I have actively been involved in the church since 1982 when God gloriously saved me. 

As soon as I decided to commit to more works with the church, the adversary began attacking me. First it was small annoying issues with my health, then interferences with the building of a new body shop, to finally the diagnosis I am facing today. This trial is just another attempt by Satan to destroy my resolve. However, I know that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

One thing is for sure, whatever happens, God is going to get the glory and I'm going to get the benefit.

Let us all welcome our new pastors: Jacob and Carolynn Smith and daughter, Ashlynn:

"What is it?"

Those are the words I spoke as the doctor came into my husband's hospital room. The doctor looked at me and I asked again, "What is it?" He looked at my husband and said, "you're scan is abnormal, you have cancer". According to The American Cancer Society, 1.5 million Americans will hear those words in the year 2010. I guess it was our turn.

It had all started 6 days earlier. But if I really tell the truth, the signs had been there for months. My first real memory of him being sick was the first week of August, 2010. He was retaining a lot of fluid in his legs and he appeared to fatigue towards the end of the day. Towards mid-August, his fatigue appeared to begin earlier in the day and last until bedtime. A trip to his cardiologist suggested congestive heart failure. He changed some medication and Al perked up. He went back to work and had a great two weeks. Suddenly again, his legs started swelling and we went back to the cardiologist. Same diagnosis. His doctor and I tried to convince him that he needed a heart procedure that would reverse his symptoms. Thankfully, Al refused the procedure. He has subsequently tested negative three times for congestive heart failure.

I convinced him that he needed to see an internal medicine doctor and I suggested my doctor who I visited for annual physicals. I made an appointment for him but the earliest time they could see him was November 22nd. I asked them to call me if they had a cancellation. This request may have saved his life.

We received a call in mid-October that the doctor had an opening. I literally had to convince Al to take the appointment. The first order of business was blood work which revealed that his potassium was extremely low. So low, in fact, that the doctor said he was on the verge of cardiac arrest! For the next two weeks, the doctor adjusted meds and again Al perked up. We thought he was finally on the road to recovery.

In the meantime, his legs was still full of excess fluid and they began to "weep". Fluid would (and still is) literally dripping out of his pours.

It is now my birthday, October 22nd. Al was doing really well and went to the doctor that morning on his own as I had a funeral to attend. About 1pm I received a call from Al and he said that he thought his leg was getting infected. I rushed home to find this; BEWARE IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH:

That leg kept us in the hospital for 6 days. The good thing was that Al was in the hospital and they could keep him still long enough to run some required tests. CT scans of his legs and lungs proved normal - no blood clots causing the edema in the legs. His legs were getting wrapped every other day and he was on IV antibiotics. He seemed to be getting better.

We were scheduled to go home on October 28th (6 days after being admitted) when the doctor came in and said that he wanted to run one more test. He wanted to do a CT scan of his abdomen. Even though he thought Al was on the road to recovery, he said he had a dream about him and felt he needed to do this last test. I packed while he went off for the test. When he got back, he was obviously ready to go. My first indication that there was something wrong came in this order:

1. Nurse told us the resident (that worked for our doctor) had not signed the discharge papers.
2. Nurse says that resident is waiting to talk to radiologist.
3. Nurse says radiologist is waiting to talk to our doctor.
4. Nurse says our doctor is on his way to talk to us.

So, as soon as he walked in the door, that's when I asked, "what is it?" What it is: a tumor on his adrenal gland, kidney and some spots on his liver. So here we are, packed again, on the eve of our visit to one of the world's best cancer hospitals, MD Anderson. Our appointment Monday morning will finally give us some answers and will allow us to begin this battle. Pray for us as it will be a tough battle, but one WE are ready to fight because these kids need their PawPaw.