August 24, 2016

Steve had a CT scan yesterday that showed some pancreatitis in the tail of his pancreas, a lingering cyst by the spleen and some inflamation. Dr Kawa just called. He thinks there may be scar tissue build up in the duct of the pancreas. (that would explain the pancreatitis) He's ordering an MRI. It's scheduled for next Friday, the 2nd. After we get the results, we'll make a new game plan.

August 17, 2016

Today we went to the oncologist ( chemo doc ) to check in.  He is pleased with Steve's improvement. He ordered a chest CT scan since most of Steve's pain at this point is his lung and stomach. His lung has been hurting since January, and we kind of thought it would be starting to get better by now.

We also discussed Steve going back to work. If they will let him go part time, he is planning to return to work on Sept 15th.  If they make him wait until he can go full time, I don't think he'd go back before October 15th. We'll call about that tomorrow.

August 7, 2016

Today was the first time (since Steve got sick) our entire family went to church in one vehicle and stayed the whole 3 hours together.  yay!  Steve even taught classes during the 2nd and 3rd hours.  He's a champion.  Here's a photo I took on July 2nd. This is Kenneth and John Buck and Steve.

August 1, 2016

10,000 steps.  Today marks 9 months since I dialed 911 and today Steve walked 10,000 steps.  He's slowly improving and getting more stamina.  He still requires fluids 5 days/week to keep his stamina and blood pressure up, but he's definitely on an upward trend.  Thanks for checking on us!

Sad

Sometimes the emotions catch up with you...sometimes they compound...tonight I am sad...

My dear friend lost a dear loved one today, and it makes me so sad.  Sometimes it just hits you how fragile life is....and it reminds you to enjoy every moment....and help everyone around you enjoy life, too.  I'm going to help a friend install a drip system and I'm super excited.  I've missed helping other people outside my immediate circle.  I'm so happy he'll let me help his family.  Yay!  This will fill my cup.  Go help a friend and squeeze your kids and pets today...just for me.

Love,
Joy

July 14, 2016

Steve's birthday party was a huge success (except that dang wind!).  My best guess is that about 220 people came.  Steve was shocked and honored that so many people would come for him.  Thank you!!!  You made his year. :)

Now he's just focusing on getting better.  He requires a nap (usually 3-4 hours) every afternoon, but he's getting stronger and he's been awfully helpful around the house.  He's still getting fluids, iron, and B12, but he's starting to taper off of the morphine.  The doctor said that's a great tell that the treatment likely worked.  Yay!  We'll take it.

Thank you so much for checking on us.

Party!

Everyone who reads this blog is invited to Steve's 46th birthday party tomorrow, July 10th, at Neptune Park in Saratoga Springs. The address is 452 West 400 North. We are going to have a kickin' party to celebrate Steve!

July 2, 2016

8 months yesterday since I dialed 911. Crazy. I took this photo on Thursday because I thought it was funny that Steve was cooking while receiving fluids, but when I looked at the picture yesterday, I realized this is the most genuine smile I've seen on his face in months. Yay!

June 27, 2016

Finished. Steve is finished with his cancer treatment. Yay! We brought flowers and cookies to celebrate. Here are a few photos.

 Katie, Steve and Dana. Katie and Dana were the radiation techs and helped Steve every day. They are standing under the radiation machine.

This is a coin they gave Steve to commemorate his completion. 

I've received a lot of questions about what comes next. We have a follow-up appointment with the chemo doctor on Wednesday. They won't do another pet scan until late September. Our focus will shift to helping Steve regain full health and strength. It is likely he will still get his gallbladder removed this summer. And it's possible he might go back to work before the PET Scan. In the short-term, we received a little bit of discouraging news. They told us that the effects he's feeling today are the radiation from 10 days ago. That means that for the next 10 days he will continue to worsen as far as his side effects and wounds go. However, after the next two weeks pass, they expect him to begin to improve. He will remain on fluids daily to help his blood pressure and his healing. The doctor will not discontinue fluids until his weight is stabilized and his blood pressure is stabilized and his wounds are all healed.

The wounds to which I'm referring are the side effects from the radiation. It first burns your skin like a sunburn and then it blisters and then the blisters pop and then you have open sores.

June 26, 2016

Steve's sister and her family brought Patrick and Caitlin home. We are so happy to be reunited, but they had a WONDERFUL time in California. After a lovely visit with their family, we had a knock on the door and we opened it to this:

Cool, huh? I think the entire neighborhood was out there....and the neatest part....they were there for Steve....they dropped what they were doing to show their love and support. Wow. Thanks everyone! He's got this. Yay! You know what just dawned on me? That photo only represents a fraction of the people who have been sending love and prayers and support to our family.  We have friends all over the United States praying for Steve. We have so much family. Plus.....think of all the angels cheering him on....his sweet mama, his Grandpa, Artie, my grandparents, and so many more. Truly legions of people are praying for Steve.  How powerful that is....and we feel that power. Thank you. Thank you for checking on us. Thank you for caring about us. Thank you for your love. 

June 24, 2016

Another poster...

Steve told me these posters come with songs. Yesterday's was "Final Countdown" and today's was "Stayin' Alive". So clever and fun. So good to see so many notes from so many people in the neighborhood who are thinking about and praying for Steve.  

I'd like to do a quick shoutout to everyone who has helped us over the past 8 months.  My sister has been folding my laundry, we've had countless helps with rides, so many dinners....I'm going to list families....I'm sure I'll miss some, but I'll come back and add to the list as they come to me

Wallace

Fellingham

 Swallow

Watkins

Hoffman

Farnsworth

Godsey

Gubler

Taylor

Hickman

Gardner

Henderson

Hammond

Raff

Harris

Parry

Dewey

Woolsey

Dyering

Cannon

Fellingham

Duncan

Adams

Webb

Gosh, I know I'm missing some....

Also, a big shout out to Dr. Shawn McManus and Dr. Chad Kawa. They are wonderful healers and top notch men. Steve has been blessed to be in their care.  Also, Dr. Greg Chipman and Dr. Jay Clark are excellent oncologists and very patient, caring men. Dana, Katie, Brooke, Gary, Shelly, Shelli, Colette, and Jayme have been compassionate and kind. However, Savanna takes the cake for patient, attentive nursing care. Savanna has been Steve's home health nurse since January, and we love her like family. 

June 23, 2016

This was delivered to Steve early this morning.

It's things like this that help us get through the really tough days....and these are really tough days. Thank you for your prayers and love and support. We appreciate it.

June 22, 2016

Yesterday was super rough.  Today Steve's color doesn't look good, but I called the doc and they aren't concerned enough to draw blood or see him before next Wednesday.  Sometimes I am not a fan of doctors....the receptionist said, "Well, if he's not eating or drinking or if his blood pressure is low or if he's dizzy or faint...then we'd fit him in"...YES YES YES...he's all of those things!!!  I told you that!!!  And....his color is off and he's unusually fatigued!!!  But....they can't fit him in until later, and I figured getting him home from radiation and hooked up to some fluids was the best thing I could do.  So, he's getting fluids and resting in his bed now.  His port is accessed, so it would have taken them about 30 seconds to draw his blood...but I guess they're not concerned.  Geesh.  Sometimes this process is superbly frustrating.

June 20, 2016

Side effects are exponentially ramped up.  Please pray for Steve to be able to get comfortable for the next 2 weeks....and for him to be able to eat.  He's down 18 pounds from diagnosis...

Happy Father's Day

First of all, I think I'm the only person in this day and age who doesn't have easy access to a picture of her father.  I apologize for that.  I love my dad dearly and I am a horrible picture-taker (is this what happens when your sister is a professional photographer and you know that no matter what your attempts, you won't come close to capturing anything remotely as well as she will, so you don't even bother??) I'd like to thank my dad for loving my mom enough to have more than 2 children, for supporting us, for providing us with lots of opportunities for success, and for loving us.

Secondly, I can't let this day pass without also giving my beloved husband a shout-out.  As I scrolled through facebook and saw all the posts it just killed me to not be able to add one of my own, but out of respect for him and his requested privacy, I'll post my shout-out here.  Steve's had one rough year.  I dialed 911 on Nov. 1, 2015 and he hasn't had one single day since then that he hasn't experienced pain.  However, he's fought.  He's fought from the beginning, and he's fought for us...his family.  I think there have definitely been times that if it were up to him, he would have just given up, because it would have been an easier path for him.  However, he loves us enough to fight, and I appreciate that every day.  There was a lady at my bridal shower (I know...a good memory is a gift and a curse...at least I don't remember which lady said it) who said, "I hope you're prepared to be a widow for a long time."  Unbelievable.  I know.  Steve is 6 1/2 years older than I.  However, I am NOT prepared to be a widow before I turn 40 and I've had to stare that reality in the face over the past month.  So has Steve.  That is hard.  Very hard.  I've decided I'm not OK with that, and he's GOT to win this fight.  I know he's not OK with that either, and he's doing everything in his power to come out on top.

Through it all, he's been kind to his caretakers (including me), and gracious in his illness.  I remember a couple of times waking up in the hospital to him telling me how beautiful I am.  I'm telling you what, you don't wake up feeling beautiful after sleeping in a recliner night after night....but it sure feels good to hear someone still thinks you're beautiful.

Steve and I have traversed this parenting journey together.  We've learned a lot, and hopefully we haven't damaged our kids too much. :) Steve has worked very hard to provide a lovely life for our family, and he's even managed to provide for us in his illness.  I feel very blessed to have found Steve.  He's a good man, and a wonderful father.  

My sweet sister sent me this video today.  My grandma passed away on April 8th and this video was taken while Steve was in the hospital (December 2015).  She echos my sentiments exactly.

***I'm working on figuring out a way to shrink the video - it's too big to upload as is***

Just for your reference, I'm going to add 2 photos.  The first was taken at the end of October 2015 on our fantastic family trip to Washington/Canada.  The second was taken 2 Sundays ago.  These pictures illustrate the journey Steve's traveled...and it's not one I envy.

Happy Father's Day, honey.  I sincerely hope and pray we get to continue celebrating Father's Days with you here with us for many years to come.  Thank you for fighting!  It means the world to me and the kids.  I love you.

Chemo is finished!! Yay!!

Steve got to ring the bell!

June 16, 2016

Well....good news and bad news. The bad news is chemo sucks. After radiation yesterday it really hit hard....the nausea that is. Steve slept most of yesterday and today. That dang poison....but....the good news is that it's working, and that's wonderful. He gets it taken off tomorrow at noon, and we're very hopeful that will be the last of the chemo in this house. Steve's last day of radiation will be June 27th and the doctor says he'll feel much better by his birthday. :)

June 15, 2016

Steve is tolerating this round of chemo really well. He coached a few boys through running and bleachers yesterday at the track and he also ran a practice this morning. I think working with his team again gives him more reasons to fight.  Those boys love him as much as he loves them.

He didn't sleep hardly at all yesterday.  He was up and helping a lot of the day. He even grilled our burgers at about 3.

Thank you for checking in on us. We appreciate your love and support.

June 14, 2016

Steve's doing pretty well on this round of chemo so far. Some nausea and lots of sleeping, but managing symptoms so far. Radiation changes today. It becomes more focused for the last 10 sessions. One nurse said the symptoms would get worse, one said he wouldn't notice a change....so.....we shall see.....

June 13, 2016

What a lovely weekend we had. It was so nice to get a break from radiation. Steve had a little more energy. He ran a soccer meeting and this morning he coached a practice. He loves those boys.

Our church service was really really fantastic yesterday. It was really encouraging....just what I needed.  I've found recently that going to church gives me strength in a way it never has before. The sense of community and love and support that I feel really fills my cup on top of feeling the love of my Heavenly Father and the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

Yesterday the overriding theme was "you're doing better than you think you are".  Sometimes we need to hear that instead of all the things we SHOULD be doing.  Our neighbors have been so supportive and loving and we are so blessed.

Steve went down to my parents' with me last night so I could cut some heads of hair and he even watched some soccer with my dad.

We are both dreading this week, but the sooner we get going the sooner it will be behind us.

Thanks for checking on us.