Trip to Louisville

Sue and Marnett went to Louisville Friday morning to see Scott and Brayden.  Beth and Jalen were not home, having gone to Kansas City for the celebration of Beth's grandmother's 95th birthday.

Here are some photos Scott sent.  Brayden playing basketball.  Brayden and Tristan just out of the pool.  Marnett, Tristan, Sue, and Brayden in a huddle.

  

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UPDATE FROM STEPHANIE

Stephanie sent this update for the Gazette this evening:

"I went today and had my next round of blood work done.

My numbers have rebounded and are back in the normal range. That means I still need to be careful, but no more masks when I go out. Hand washing, avoiding those with colds or the flu, and being extra cautious when I am around crowds (I believe the exact words were "This doesn't mean you can run out and go to Target."), and extra care to make sure I don't catch anything are still required, but I can now eat fresh fruits and veggies again and if I am feeling up to it, go to church. So yay! Thank you all for the prayers.

After my blood draw, I went and got my hair cut, since it is going to start falling out, and with it cut it won't look quite so scraggly. Then my neighbor and I went to lunch and had a margarita to celebrate the good blood work.

I came home then and took a 3 hour nap. I am still exhausted...but they have told me to expect that.

Next week I have doctor appointments on Monday, then a lumbar puncture with chemo on Tuesday, then Wednesday another visit with the oncologist, followed by my 2nd round of Chemo.  If that goes well, chemo will be done on Wednesday, and then the Neulasta shot on Thursday.  If there are too many complications then they will spread the chemo over Wednesday and Thursday like the last time, with the shot on Friday.  Regardless it is going to be a long week, and I would appreciate prayers.  I have rides arranged for every day, with Jacob and my church family.  They are so awesome.

Friends provided dinner tonight...pork roast, potatoes, carrots, salad, with chocolate pudding for dessert.  They will be providing dinners every Wednesday as long as I am in treatment and will also be cleaning my house for me every other week.  I got an amazing gift from a very special person of a Roomba iRobot, and it works awesome for between times.  Dan is doing all the work around here, as I am not allowed to do ANYTHING, with the exception of eating, sleeping, and playing games.  It gets boring for me and I am sure it is overwhelming for him, so please lift him in your prayers.  He is an exceptional man.

Thanks so much for the thoughts and prayers.  God bless all of you!

Stef

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Thank you, Stephanie.  So good to hear uplifting news--both about your progress and about your wonderful support system.

UPDATE FROM STEPHANIE

Stephanie sent this update for the Gazette:

Thank you to all the prayer warriors who stormed the heavens last night and today

I had a minor issue last night that landed me in the hospital. We are still not sure what caused the chest pain that I was experiencing, but I was SURE it was a heart attack. I have never had anything hurt that severely before. It felt like someone was beating me in my sternum with a ball bat. Anyway, they ran all the tests and they came back fine, so no heart issues. After spending the whole night awake and in immense pain, they finally got the pain back under control, and I was allowed to come back home. I am still unable to go anywhere without a mask, and visitors have to wash their hands thoroughly, even if they have no signs of illness (if you come by and are sick, I am sorry but we can't let you in). In advance, I say THANK YOU! I am truly blessed by each and every one of you!

Love you all,

Stephanie

First Visitor

First Bird at our Finch Feeder

Very cold this morning

UPDATE FROM STEPHANIE

Stephanie sent me this update for the Gazette:

"I just wanted to update everyone.  I finished my first round of Chemo on Thursday and got my first Neulasta shot on Friday.  I have been very run down, having fevers off and on, lots of pain and tummy issues (mostly nausea).  I have been eating lots of saltines and tea with no sugar, and small portions of food as I can take it.  My sense of taste and smell are really messed up and lots of scents upset my stomach.  Poor Dan had to rewash the laundry in a non-scented laundry detergent due to this.  I went today for my first round of blood work, and it appears that my immune system is pretty much non existent right now.  The white blood count and neutrophils are almost 0 and my platelets are also pretty low. I am relegated to the house, no stores, no town, no church :'(, and anyone who is in any way ill is not allowed near me.  So, basically, isolation.  :(  I had to buy some new medical equipment today, a new BP cuff, new temporal thermometer, and...TADA...masks!  My newest fashion accessory.  If my temperature gets to 100.5 I have to go to the hospital for admittance and IV antibiotics.  They will check the levels again next week, and move on from there.  I can't have my next course of chemo until the counts rebound, so that is my request for now...please pray for those numbers to climb back up!  Thank you!"

Thank you, Stephanie.  I know there are many in our far-flung family who appreciate getting your updates and who are praying for your full and fast recover.  We may not be able to move heaven, but if there is anything on earth any of us can do, please, call on us.

UPDATE FROM SUE

Sue e-mailed me this update for the Gazette:

"I've had dinner with my old  buddy, Jack, will again tonight. My roommate will join us tonight. Rose been  here everyday, and Chris almost every day.  My phone isn't working, so Pete called Rose because he wasn't sure it was Saturday.  She and I called him and Janet back later just to catch up.

One of the therapists here asked if I  was still keeping up the Gazette, which of course I try to do.

Scott bought a Ford Explorer, and Chris has shingles.  Good news/Bad news.

Sue"

UPDATE FROM STEPHANIE

Stephanie's diagnosis and treatment are happening at a breakneck speed.  Here is the update she sent for posting on "The Family Gazette":

Here is the latest:

With the help of a wonderful friend from church, Shawna Rogers, I made it to my appointment this morning at 8:30. I met with the oncologist, and he told us that the MRI of the brain showed that although there are numerous tumors in my skull, it has not spread to my brain, and as an added gift, it is also not in my bone marrow. This is the first really great news we have gotten since God started us on this journey, and I know that it is due to the prayers that you have been storming the heavens with. Thank you!

I enjoyed a day with Dan and Shawna, including some time at the Sunny Skies Cafe and a trip to Michaels. I got some coloring books and crayons as a way to help pass the time and calm my nerves. We then went to hospital and I had my first Lumbar Puncture chemo and then the placement of the port. The RCHOP chemo will start tomorrow morning. I have be there at 7:30 and it will take about 5 hours for it to run. Then I have to go back by radiology and let them look at the port as it is unusually sore. Jacob is going to take us tomorrow.

I cannot express the depth of my gratitude and love for my ROC family. Shawna spent 12 hours running us around today...what a treasure she is. Thank you God for sending her into our lives. Not only do I have an amazing sister in Christ, but also a wonderful friend!  I am also beyond blessed to have the family and friends that God has provided me.  There are so many who face this battle alone, and for them I cry.

Again, thank you so much for you love, your prayers, your messages, and your kindnesses. God has blessed me beyond measure!

Stephanie

BACK AT BJEC

I'm back at BJEC and hope I don't have to stay so long this time.  Many of the people remember  me and tell me I'm better when I came in than I was last time.  Rose has already been here today.  I talked with Pete and Janet on Saturday and Shelly brought me a goodie on Sunday.  Chris came to the hospital several times, Rose every day.  I moved to BJEC by ambulance yesterday.  I got a shower today for which I am very grateful!

Jalen Invites Sophia to the Prom

Brayden Playing Basketball

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UPDATE

Turns out Sue has pneumonia.  She is much better, back to herself.  She is in the Queeny Tower section of Barnes-Jewish Hospital on the 11th floor in a room with a spectacular view of Forest Park. The nurses there are extremely thoughtful and kind.  Looks like she will be there until some time tomorrow (Saturday) for treatment with IV antibiotics.

NEWS

Stephanie sent me the following update for posting here:

"Hello, all...I am now home from the doctor. It has been a long day, and the news is not the best. I have a rare type of non hodgkins lymphoma, stage 4. They still need to do an MRI of the brain and a lumbar puncture to make sure that it has not spread to the brain or spinal fluid. They also need to do an echo cardiogram to check my heart, and once these are done, they will start a chemo regimen. The PET/CT scan shows that the cancer is throughout my whole body and there are lots of bones involved. Thank you for your prayers. With much love, Stef"

Many of you have been following Stephanie's FaceBook Page and have seen the outpouring of love, prayers, and well wishes folk have sent her way.  We add ours.  Stephanie has a fine team of physicians plotting out her care and treatment.  We, too, hold her in our hearts and in our prayers.

In other news in the same category, Sue became very ill yesterday, sleepy, unable to walk, generally bad.  By 5:15 pm her fever was 103.3 degrees, so I called her primary care physician for the second time that day.  Her orders:  take Sue to the emergency room by ambulance.  By 6:00 pm She was in a bay in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in the Central West End.  The ER was bedlam, so much so it looked like ones in Iraq I've seen on television.  By11:00 pm the ER physician had decided to admit Sue, but there were no rooms available.  Finally today around 6:00 pm she was moved to a room.

So far, there is no definitive diagnosis of this problem.  Certain possibilities have been ruled out, but Sue is getting antibiotics.  

Snow Last Night

But it didn't amount to much.  I'm sure kids will still have school. They're probably disappointed (Goldman too).  Rose is up and brought me my usual breakfast of fried egg and toast.

I'm sure the Stephanie and Dan are anxiously awaiting Wednesday as we all are.  We're praying for a favorable report.

Sis has a guitar lesson today and I have therapy.  One of my little pleasures is sitting in the kitchen where can watch the squirrels eating the bird food.