Time for Surgery #4

I had my PET scan which didn't show any overtly cancerous spots. There are a couple of nodules that didn't light up like my cancer normally has. It did show that my intestines were still inflamed despite it being three weeks since I had been discharged from the latest bowel obstruction. 

So the plan is to have surgery on 7/26 with my oncologist, Dr. Skinner, and my general surgeon, Dr. Stuart. They will try to go in laproscopic in my upper abdomen first. If they are unable to get to my lower abdomen with the scope, they will have to open me up like my previous surgeries. I will have another bowel resection and take down of adhesions. The rest will have to be decided when they get in there and are able to visualize more. 

The risk for having to have a temporary or permanent colostomy or illeostomy increases with this being my third bowel resection. That is where they would have to divert my GI tract through a hole in my abdomen where a bag catches the stool. 

Again, my work family and boss have been simply amazing and supportive during this entire process. God placed me here for the perfect time. 

Recovery time will depend on if they are able to perform the whole surgery laproscopic or open abdominal. The likelihood of being able to get the scope to my lower abdomen is slim, as Skinner said - the miracle of miracles surgery. Worst case, in the hospital for 5-7 days with 6-8 weeks out of work. 

Adoption Unleases Purpose

Prayer requests:

1. For the God of miracles to allow this surgery to be the least invasive as possible. 

2. To keep me healthy until surgery (COVID cases are rampant). 

3. For peace for the pain of recovery (really not looking forward to it). 

4. For wisdom and guidance for my whole our medical team. 

5. For strength for Wil as my caretaker and shouldering a heavy burden during my recovery. 

6. For God to use us to be able to help someone else and point others to Him. 

Same God in the hills and the valleys

 First of all, thank you all for the prayers of the past week. We have wonderful God, family, friends, medical team, and support system that makes tough days manageable. 

Now to give you all the back story of the latest medical journey. It all started last Wednesday night (6/1). I had the day off of work and was uber productive. We had Parker's birthday party cookout planned for the weekend and I wanted to have everything ready. 

While putting the kids to bed, I started having upper belly pain, cramping, and painful burping. I thought maybe it was just from something I had eaten and it would pass. Unfortunately, the pain was just getting more intense. Thankfully, Wil's parents (Ted and Connie) live down the road from us and were able to come over and get the kids and dogs before everyone fell asleep. 

Wil and I packed our bags in case this would end up in a hospital stay and wouldn't have to be in a bind like the last admission of not having what we wanted and needed. It was hard to say goodbye to the kids not knowing when we would see them next. We had the reassurance they were in good hands and would be well taken care of. 

We head over to the main hospital (Forsyth Medical Center) to be evaluated in the emergency room. It was a MAD HOUSE, I mean standing room only in the waiting room. My pain at this point is getting worse and I'm thinking we won't be evaluated or medicated for hours. We sign in and sit down to wait to be triaged. One lady said her son had been here since 1 pm and it was almost 9:30 pm and still hadn't been to a room. He had tests run and needed discharge papers but was still waiting. 

We go back for triage and my blood pressure is 180's/110's, just due to the pain. We are back out to the waiting room. After Ted driving to the Clemmons ER and poking his head around, we decide to leave Forsyth ER and head over to Clemmons in an attempt to be seen sooner. There were 48 patients waiting at this point and didn't seem like it was a good use of time to just sit. 

Clemmons ER was a night and day difference. Was triaged by one of the first amazing nurses (Michelle M.) and had several tests ordered. I had labs drawn and an x-ray of my belly. I was first on the list for the next open room. Michelle brought us back, hooked my port up like a pro, and went back for a CT Scan. Our ER physician was great as well. He needed to rule out anything with my gallbladder so that was ultrasounded as well. I have known gallstones but needed to make sure that they weren't blocking anything or could be the cause of the pain. 

Then we get the CT results... it is another obstruction. "Findings consistent with small bowel obstruction with multiple dilated loops of proximal small bowel and collapsed distal small bowel." There was also some bowel wall thickening that had increased since the last obstruction in April. We have to be admitted to Forsyth and get that nasogastric (NG) tube down to suck the contents of my stomach out to let my bowels rest. Thankfully, Michelle is a super nurse and got the tube down. 

1st NG tube in the ER

I was given pain meds and anti-nausea meds and was able to sleep some during the night. My superman of a husband got to try to sleep in a straight back chair, resting his head on my stretcher rails. Mind you, not complaining a bit. He truly is a saint! 

After a night in the ER, we had to wait for Critical Care Transport to take me to Forsyth when my room was ready. Despite having the NG tube to suction, I still was throwing up around the tube. Probably one of the worst parts of having the tube and the obstruction. Makes your throat burn, chunks get stuck around the tube, and you are heaving with a garden hose down your nose. In the flails of wretching, I hear a familiar voice and a cold towel on my neck. One of my transport nurses was Jessica who I used to work with in ICU many years ago!

Wil wasn't able to go with my in the ambulance but it was a quick 15 minute ride. Unfortunately, it felt like much longer because I was still so nauseated and gagging a lot. Once I got up to my room on the 9th oncology floor, my nurse came to assess me and hook my NG tube back to suction. Something didn't feel right and sure enough, I had heaved so much and so hard that the NG tube had come out and was just sitting inside of my nose. So I got to have ANOTHER NG tube shoved down my nose to my stomach. 

1st tube out, waiting for the 2nd

2nd NG tube back in place

The plan was close to the same as the last obstruction. We needed to rest my bowels for a few days. I was also put on IV steriods to help with the inflammation that was seen on the scan. I had IV meds for pain and for nausea which I mainly slept for the first several days. With that tube in your throat, it is uncomfortable to talk, swallow, move, just exist. 

Our room did have an amazing view and we were able to see God's gorgeous sunsets each night. Wil and I took many walks around the floor and even did a puzzle one day. He is convinced they were chihuahuas but they were foxes. 

1st real food in 5 days

Finished puzzle!

Dr. Skinner (oncologist) and Dr. Stuart (surgeon) colloborated on a game plan. We were going to do the same imaging on Sunday (6/5) to see if my bowels were moving. They inject contrast down the NG tube (which made me dry heave) and take x-rays to watch it move through. If the blockage was still there, then that meant I may have to have surgery then to open it up. Well I aced that test and it was already in my colon within an hour! 

Dr. Stuart came by and said I could get my NG tube out. So I'm holding it out to him and he thought I was crazy when I wanted him to do it then. He told me that I was a nurse and could do it, Wil tried to jump up and wanted to give it a whirl. But Dr. Stuart pulled it for me and it is instant relief. I was able to start on clear liquids slowly and make sure I tolerated it well. 

Now the hard part, what's next?? What is causing this to keep happening? How to do we prevent it from ocurring again? 

The first step is to get a PET scan in 1-2 weeks. A PET scan lights up any cells that use a lot of glucose like cancer. 

The results will determine which route we consider. It if is cancer/tumor growth that is causing the obstruction, then we will go back on IV chemotherapy. The one that Dr. Skinner is leaning towards is Carboplatin. I had this for my first two bouts of cancer. It is the one that I had a reaction to and had to complete my infusions as inpatient to sneak it in without my body reacting to it. It comes with a lot of steriods, IV and oral, and is just time consuming. 

If it is NOT tumor related then we would consider surgery. The option was to wait to do surgery until another obstruction happens or to do it electively to prevent just waiting for trouble to come. We would try to do laproscopic but may have to change to an open abdominal surgery since this would be my 4th surgery. The more you mess around in the belly, the more I make adhesions which is scar tissue and hard to move around laproscopically. This would allow Skinner and Stuart to remove the affected small bowel that keeps getting obstructed and remove any ahesions. 

We were discharged home yesterdy (6/7) which was a huge praise. We got to pick the kids up from daycare which just made me cry happy tears. It was such a sweet time to be able to celebrate Parker's 3rd birthday and be reunited as a family. 

For the THANK YOUs- as there are a lot!

1. Thank you to our God in heaven who provides for each of our needs. To grant us the ability to use this cancer journey to help others, deepen our faith, and to teach our kids about trusting in God's plans. 

2. To my co-survivor, my favorite caretaker, and my husband. Thank you for the sleepless nights, never complaining about the food, coffee, lack of bed, boredom as I'm passed out. For being what I need, when I need it. 

3. To our wonderful medical providers: Dr. Skinner, Emma (our PA), Dr. Stuart. To our nurses who went above and beyond- especially Michelle M at Clemmons ER & Ashlyn and Danielle on 9th West.  Mahogany from Surgical Services who was a unit secretary who lit up the room and always had a smile on her face. 

4. To Ted and Connie for caring for our kids and dogs- and even having to de-stink Daisy after getting sprayed in the face by a skunk our first night away. 

5. For the friends and family who brought snacks to the hospital for Wil, decorated our house for Parker's birthday, brought us parking passes, and took care of us in tangible ways. 

6. To my work family: thank you for being so amazing and caring for me despite only knowing me for a few short months. You all are wonderful and I am blessed to be part of Lewisville Laser! 

For the prayer requests:

1. That my bowels stay unkinked and behave while we await the PET scan. 

2. For wisdom and guidance for deciding on a treatment plan. 

3. For my body to rest, gain strength, and prepare for the next leg of this journey. 

I write this blog so that God can use my story to help others. This is in no way a means to gain attention for myself, to show how "strong" I am, because I am not. This is not for pity but to show you the strength of a God who cares for my every need. That you can see him working in the valleys and because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice for me, I don't fear evil! I know that Christ has already overcome it and has the victory. That doesn't mean that I don't struggle. There were days in the hospital that I couldn't even pray because I would just start to cry, which would irritate my tube. But I know that the Holy Spirit intercessed for me when my groanings were too much for words. 

I hope that when you see me, you see how big my God is. 

Not what we expected

As I type this, I am finally back at home, in my own bed. This wild ride started a couple of weeks ago when I traveled solo up to Pennsylvania to say goodbye to my Grammy before she passed. 

I was able to be there for a full day in her hospital room, and spend time with my aunts and uncle. After Grammy passed on a Saturday night, I decided to go ahead and hit the road home. I spent the night in West Virginia to help break up the trip. On my drive home, I was having some bad gas pain. I thought it was just from eating junk food and traveling. 

The following weekend was Grammy's funeral service. This time my dad, husband, and kiddos all get to pile in the Swaggerwagon (aka my minivan) and we make the 8 hour trip back up to Pennsylvania. I'm still having some gas pains and little appetite but still thinking it is just from traveling. 

We got to spend a lot of time with my cousins who we don't get to see often at all. I met my dad's Aunt Ruthie who took care of dad when he was a baby. She lovingly calls him Chuckie and said he was her very own baby doll. 

The funeral service went well but I was still having belly pain and now nausea. After the service, there was a big meal at a restaurant but I felt so bad that I bailed on Wil and just laid down in the back of the van. We went back to to hotel and let the kids play in the pool some more and I'm popping GasX and antinausea pills like they are going out of style. 

We got the kids down to sleep, all sharing the same hotel room, but I just couldn't get comfortable. Wil, with all his wisdom, said we needed to go ahead and head to the ER. My stubborn butt said "Ah nooooo it's just gas. I'll be fine." 

My husband is a saint with patience to deal with my stubbornness. I called my oncology on-call service and was directed to, can you guess it??, head to the ER... So at 10 pm, my dad comes down to spend the night with the kiddos so we can make it to the hospital which is about 30 minutes away. At this point, I'm in excruciating pain. 

We get checked into the hospital and get taken back pretty quickly to a room. I'm told they can't access my port (my permanent IV) because only a special team can do it. Our nurse was amazing and got me an IV in my forearm and got me pain meds. After an exam and a CT, I was diagnosed with colitis (inflamed bowel). The doctors thought it was from a bacterial infection so I got a dose of IV antibiotics. They wanted to keep me overnight for observation (it was around 3 am at this point) and Wil and I just wanted to get back to the hotel. 

The best part of this story was that Wil was waiting outside the bathroom while I tried to give a urine sample (both of us sleep deprived). And a nurse comes down the hall, looks directly at him and says, "Wil, I need you to be second on a trauma, 5 minutes out." Being the southern gentleman that he is, Wil just nods and says "Yes ma'am." Poor guy was trying to figure out how to Google what to do in five minutes. Then quickly realizes the nurse behind him was also named Will. 

So we made it to the hotel at 4 am, got a few hours of sleep and waited for the CVS to open to pick up my meds. We still had 8 hours of travel to make it home. Wil was such a trooper and did all the driving and my dad say in the back with the kids and entertained them. I was just comatose in the front seat walking up for bathroom breaks only. 

I had ten days of antibiotics that I completed this past Tuesday. Wednesday morning, I woke up at 5 am with sharp upper abdominal pain. The pains before were in my lower abdomin. I messaged my GI doctor and oncologist. Dr. Skinner messaged me back and said I needed to be seen. One of the PAs, Emma, called me at 8 am just after we were dropping the kids off at daycare. She told me I needed to be seen at the Forsyth ER in case I needed to be admitted. 

Wil and I head onto to the emergency room and get placed in a room and see a doctor pretty quickly. He ordered antinausea meds, pain meds, and a CT scan. The rest of the day dragggggs on. My nurse didn't feel comfortable accessing a port, so we had to wait for another nurse to come access me. 

Finally things get moving with meds, labs, and the CT scan. The scan showed  "Suspect high-grade small bowel obstruction in the right abdomen adjacent to prior resected bowel along the suture line." The emergency room doctor came in and said that this was going to be a surgical intervention, we were devastated.

Then, the great news came from Dr. Skinner and her team that I would NOT need surgery, that we were going to try bowel rest first. It didn't take surgery off the table, if things worsened but it wasn't our first step. I would need a Nasogastric tube (NG tube) to drain my stomach fluids then nothing to eat or drink. The hope would be that my bowels would unkink on their own after a few days. 

Dr. Skinner happen to come to the ER room to visit right when the NG tube was about to be placed, so her and Wil got to witness that lovely event. Going off of how it felt alone, it was a garden hose being shoved through my fragile nose gagging me all they way in. Because I'm prone to nosebleeds, I got one of those as well. I had the NG tube in for almost 12 hours and despite it being in the stomach, it wasn't draining anything. 

We were admitted to the oncology floor and the night shift nurses advanced it further. During that, I was throwing up around the tube. But finally, the tube was suctioning all my stomach contents. 

I always thought that once the NG tube was in, you wouldn't feel it anymore. That is NOT the case. It sometimes would make me gag, like if your toothbrush gets you in the back of the throat. You can't swallow easily around it. Nose breathing is difficult because it jostles the tube around. So I was just miserable, I was able to get IV antinausea meds that knocked me out and I tried to just sleep it off. 

I had another test done to make sure this wasn't my gallbladder acting up which was ruled out. During this time, I wasn't passing gas or having any bowel movements. Then finally, I FARTED !  Strange to say when you are praying for gas to move but God answered our prayers. This reminded Wil and I of one of our favorite nurses, Mama Sharon. She was one of our night nurses after my very first cancer surgery who threw us a "farty party" in the middle of the night when I finally pooted after having my first bowel resection. 

I was admitted Wednesday and by Friday it was time to test my bowels again! Radioactive fluid was injected into my NG tube and then I got a series of X-rays to see it flowing through my GI tract. This would show if the blockage was still there or if the dye was able to pass through into my large intestine. This process took about four hours to keep getting all the X-rays at the correct time. I kept refreshing my phone from 1:30 pm when the last x-ray was to get the report. If it showed no blockage, I could get the tube out of my nose. To say I was cranky was an understatement.

Dr. Skinner, out of town at the time, still called to check in on me. She worked her magic with her PA. Emma to get my report read which did show no further blockage. So at 5:00 p.m, I was able to get my tube out. 

Wil said it looked like she was starting a lawnmower, nurse's hand on my forehead and pull the cord ! It was over two feet of plastic tubing getting yanked out of my stomach through my nostril. But that first sip of ice water was pure delight. I could swallow, I could blow my nose, I could clear my throat! What simple pleasures we take for granted. 

I was started on a clear liquid diet and did well with no nausea or pain, so was advanced to full liquid. Doing well with all of that, I got a soft GI diet (no fruits or veggies) and had breakfast. Doing well with that and after Dr. Skinner's partner, Dr. Wallace, examined me, we got to be discharged! Wil and I were ecstatic. We were able to go home before Easter Sunday.

I've been reading a book by Joni Eareckson Tada "A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty." I had read before this hospital stay that God commanded us to give thanks in all circumstances, not be thankful. That the more you give thanks, it changes your attitude and mindset and transforms you.

 I did not do well with this in the hospital with an annoying tube in my throat, but I tried. I gave thanks for a loving and support husband who never complained about sleeping in a recliner or having nasty hospital food, eaten by himself since I couldn't eat. I gave thanks for wonderful in-laws who were watching our kids and dogs . I gave thanks that I had my port, so I didn't have to be gentle with a peripheral IV.  I gave thanks that I have full use of my arms and legs to reposition myself. I gave thanks for wonderful medical staff and oncologist who provided great care for me. I gave thanks for a work family who love and support me and take care of me (go see Lewisville Laser & Aesthetics!). I gave thanks for friends who tried to distract me while I waited in the ER and shopped via text while hopped up on IV drugs and don't remember it until a purse shows up to my house (love you Maegan). 

It felt amazing to see our kiddos and sleep in our own bed. I felt good enough to be able to go to church and celebrate the reason we can have joy in suffering, that my Lord conquered death and sin and I will have a renewed body one day. I will be free from cancer, free from pain, and basking in the glory of God. 

Prayer Requests :

1. For protection for my guts from another obstruction. 

2. For wisdom and guidance for my future cancer treatments as we may have to stop my infusions for safety. 

3. Praise for healing and not needing surgical intervention. 

Faith Over Fear

 When we start looking into the future and try to rely on our own provisions, fear starts to take hold. I don't know what the future holds but I have an amazing God who does. He has promised me that he will give me what I need for each step of this journey. God has proven his love and provision time and time again over the last 9.5 years of this cancer journey. 

We have had to change our mindsets as we have transitioned into this maintenance phase of treatment. Over the last 1.5 years, we have been tied to my cancer markers, scans, and exams. Dr. Skinner has told us that we need a break and to enjoy life and try not to focus on the numbers as much. That is easier said than done sometimes. We are going to focus on whether or not I have symptoms, physical exams, and scans (that will be less frequent than when in active chemo). My cancer marker- CA125- keeps slowing raising but we are just monitoring it for now. 

The way my cancer works, as it is low-grade, is that is grows slowly. It is treated more like a chronic illness than the high-grade, or fast growing, cancers. I will always have to deal with this thorn in my side and be in and out of active treatment depending on what the tumors are doing. Right now, we are focusing on giving my body a break from the hard-core chemotherapy and enjoying life. 

My maintenance infusions having been going very well with minimal side effects. I have treatment once every 3 weeks. Wil is still able to go to my treatments with me which is a huge praise. I still get two premedications- oral Tylenol and IV Benadryl. I usually sleep a lot that day of the infusion and am a bit more tired for the rest of the week, but that is it as far as symptoms go. 

Now onto managing my GI issues... God had made our bodies so perfectly and when we start whacking away at it, it doesn't work as well as it once did. I've had three abdominal surgeries and two of them on my bowels. Since my last surgery, I've been dealing with what my friend Mae calls the "cha-chas." I have to eat like a toddler otherwise (and still happens regardless) I have diarrhea. I can't eat high fiber, whole wheat, most fruits and veggies, spicy food, beef, or pork. So like I said, chicken nuggets and french fries, just like a kiddo. This does get frustrating when I crave a salad, a crisp apple, steak, etc. My GI doctor does want to do a colonoscopy but this has to be timed right with my IV infusions since those can cause bleeding issues. 

For an update on our family since I last posted: We had an amazing Christmas and New Year's. We have all enjoyed the snow and sledding. Parker prefers to be pulled around in what Wil called her chariot, instead of having to walk or stand in the snow herself. 

Wilson started playing basketball at the local YMCA and Wil is the assistant coach. It has been fun for the whole family!

        

I also started a new job. I have an amazing colleagues, boss, and clinic! I am enjoying learning new services and techniques. It was hard to leave a job that I've been in for over 8 years but I am so glad that we did. Wil and I prayed long and hard and God fully answered our prayers with this position! 

Prayer Requests:

1. For effectiveness of my infusions and for many years of health ahead of us. 

2. For management and control of my GI issues. 

3. Praise for a wonderful new job and work family. 

4. Praise that our family was protected from COVID and Wilson's case resolved quickly and without symptoms. 

Moving into Maintenance!

 The last nine months have been a whirlwind. It was weekly treatments, waiting to feel better from the treatment, time to do another treatment. God continues to show us blessings despite the circumstances we face. 

I had my CT scan and cancer markers done last week. We met with Dr. Skinner this past Monday to go over the results and the game plan moving forward. 

The CT scan did still show some small tumors around the bladder, which we expected. They have shrunk since we started chemo and the plan is to keep them at bay using the maintenance IV therapy. This is the Avastin generic which prevents the cancer cells from creating their own blood supply, which keeps them from growing bigger. I have gotten this medication over the last 9 months every 2 weeks. I've tolerated it very well which only some minor nosebleeds. The major potential side effects are high blood pressure and kidney issues, neither of which have been a problem so far. We will continue to monitor my labs and blood pressure. I will get this IV infusion every three weeks indefinitely moving forward. 

The new cancer marker we have been trying to monitor over the past year has proven not to be effective as it jumps all over the place. Since it doesn't match with what is seen on the CT scan, Dr. Skinner decided to stop monitoring it. We agreed since it isn't adding any value to my treatment plan. 

We will see Dr. Skinner every 3 weeks with the infusions for the first bit of this maintenance phase to make sure that I'm tolerating it well. We will scan again when needed based on symptoms, labs, or time. 

Lately, we have enjoyed trick or treating with the kids and our family. Wilson had come up with the idea to do a group costume and he decided what everyone would be. He chose to be Peter Pan, Parker as Tinkerbell, me as Wendy, Wil as Captain Hook (hence the handlebar mustache that he trying to convince me he needs to keep), Grandma as Tiger Lilly, and GranTed as Smee. Wilson did want the dogs to be the mermaids from the lagoon but I didn't get around to making that costume. I am quite proud of Wil's jacket as I made that from a suit coat I got from GoodWill. I also made Smee's costume from shirts from GoodWill. Parker initially was not a fan of wearing her wings, hence the crying, but she got use to them. We went around with our friends, the Hemphills, and some in our neighborhood as well. We all had a blast!

Wilson also had his last Quickball game of the season. They got to play on the turf field, so less kids played in the dirt that game! Wil was a great coach and pitcher for the season too. Coach Adam was kind enough to bring ice cream sandwiches to celebrate at the end of the game. Next sport up will be basketball in December at the YMCA. Wilson is very excited to get started. 

Prayer Requests:

1. Praise for good CT results!

2. Pray for continued protection for my kidneys and blood pressure while on the maintenance IV therapy. 

3. Pray that my port-a-cath (my permanent IV in my chest) continues to work without issues. 

4. Pray for the long acting side effects from chemo to wear off quickly (fatigue, GI upset to level out, weight gain). 

Starting Round 8

 Round 7 is completed and started the first week of Round 8 this week. We met with Dr. Skinner on Monday. My cancer markers were both down and my exam was good as well. 

The plan is to do a 3 week cycle this round instead of 4 weeks. We planned a family vacation to the beach on what would have been my off week on the 4th week. That got all messed up when a few rounds ago, my counts were too low for treatment and it was held for a week. We are still going to the beach and just will miss one week of Taxol. Next Monday, I will get the Taxol infusion then the following week will be off and enjoying the beach. October 4th, we will start the last month of active treatment. After that, we will transition into just the Avastin every 3 weeks. 

My nails have been an issue for the last few months. They are coming off of the nail bed. I keep gel polish on them (that I do myself) to harden them to prevent them from bending and breaking. They are sore most days. Taxol is causing this and hopefully will resolve. 

I was also able to get my COVID booster shot on my off week. That night, I had the sweats and had a headache for about a week. I feel back to normal now!

We were able to celebrate my 35th birthday at the local baseball game- the Winston-Salem Dash. We had a suite, lots of food, and fellowship. Thank you for all the texts, cards, and messages for my birthday! I was surrounded by love! Wil surprised me with flowers at work the day before my birthday. 

I went to see my GI specialist this week as well. I'm on a lot of medication and it is trial and error a lot of days trying to manage swinging between constipation and diarrhea. The plan with my medical history is to do a colonoscopy in December, after I have had some time to recover from finishing chemo. 

Prayer requests:

1. Praise I was able to get my COVID booster shot and tolerated it well. 

2. Pray for my cancer markers to continue to decrease and CT Scan to show improvement. 

3. Pray for a good week off at the beach. 

4. Pray for some relief from my nails and GI upset. 

Walk by faith, not by sight

Our schedule was moved up a week for my CT scan and meeting with Dr. Skinner. I had my CT scan last week and we met with Dr. Skinner yesterday for the game plan. 

They are able to use my port (my permanent IV in my chest) for the scan, saves my poor arms from a stick. I haven't trimmed my hair in a couple of weeks so you can see, I still have some but it is really thin. My eyebrows and eyelashes are basically non-existent at this point. 

The CT scan showed the one nodule that could be felt on the physical exam is completely gone, the chain of tumors in my bladder wall and around it have shrunk, and the area in the front of my abdomen is smaller. 

We were given the option of doing three more rounds of the Taxol and Avastin or changing to just the maintenance Avastin infusion. After discussing it with Dr. Skinner and prayer, we decided to continue with the Taxol and Avastin for 3 more months. 

The goal of my treatment is to knock my cancer down for as long as possible knowing that it will rear its ugly head again. Then we reassess and go back into active treatment to knock it back down. There are still a lot of treatment options in our arsenal for the future. 

Obviously, our prayer had been to be done with the Taxol but are so very blessed to have a treatment that is working. There are many we know that aren't in our same boat. 

With my IV iron and hemoglobin coming up, I have had more energy and felt better. I have been trying to jog and walk. It is slow as a turtle moving through peanut butter - but I'm moving! I love my new shirt from Emily at Fleet Feet! 

Prayer requests as we continue treatments:

1. Praise for a wonderful medical team (Dr. Skinner, Rachel our pharmacist, our chemo nurses, Dr. Skinner's nurse and assistant- Debbie and Tesha) . For handling everything from chemo and side effects to insurance approvals to all of my paperwork. 

2. Pray for endurance for the months ahead for me and our whole family. Especially pray for Wilson as he has been praying for us to be done with treatment and Mommy's hair to grow back. 

3. Pray for my white blood cells to stay up and for me to continue to tolerate chemo well. 

4. Pray for us to see glimpses of God's goodness in this journey.