Dear friends,
It's been quite a year.
Before this one fades into the next, Andrew, Kevin and I want to again thanks everyone for their kindness, love, prayers and support. The past couple of weeks have not been easy ones, but they have been manageable due in part to the support that you have provided. I'm not going to name names,but do especially want to call out in a general waythe huge support from my Intelink and Church of the Holy Apostles "families".
As I write this I'm smack in the middle of one of the worst colds I've had in years. Really. None of us came down with so much as the sniffles during Betsy's struggle and now my body is making up for the lost time. On the up side, I'm sleeping better than I have in a long time.
It's all kind of bittersweet. But we're moving forward. Andrew and I are taking more and more about him buying a home in this area, hopefully in the next couple of months. Kevin is on track to finish up at the community college in May. Where he'll be after that is up in the air.
As for me, I'm at the crossroad, pondering what I'll do in the next phase of my life. I've had a great professional career; being and FBI Agent for 25 years was my dream job. I had a great marriage--Betsy was a most wonderful spouse, friend and partner, for 25 years. What's in store for the next 25 years? I'm sure Betsy will help me figure that out.
Happy New Year!!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
My First Christmas in Heaven
This poem was written by a 13 year old boy named Ben who died of a brain tumor that he had battled for four years. He died on December 14, 1997. He gave this to his mom before he died. Sharon, one of the parishioners at the Church of the Holy Apostles passed it to me this past Sunday and I have read it countless times since then.
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular,please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you,the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones,You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift,from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
was always most important the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other,my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular,please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you,the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones,You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift,from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
was always most important the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other,my Father said to do.
I can't count the blessing or love has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and Wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Life Celebration UPDATE
Apparently Betsy exercised some pull. Last night I learned that our Parish, The Church of the Holy Apostle's despite not having our own permanent worship space came up with a way to have Betsy's Mass there. The School of the Incarnation, where we regularly hold Mass, will be closed by then for Christmas.
This is truly a blessing for us all.
Mass will still be on Wednesday at 10:00 but it will be held at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 2601 Symphony Lane, Gambrills, MD 21054 http://www.holyapostlesmd.org/
Please spread the word.
TR
This is truly a blessing for us all.
Mass will still be on Wednesday at 10:00 but it will be held at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 2601 Symphony Lane, Gambrills, MD 21054 http://www.holyapostlesmd.org/
Please spread the word.
TR
Friday, December 17, 2010
Life Celebration
Hello all,
It's taken a little bit of effort to put all of the moving pieces together for Betsy's life celebration. Now that I've got all the details I can pass them on.
Betsy will be waked at the Beall Funeral Home in Bowie, MD on Monday December 20th and Tuesday December 21st each day from 2:00 Pm to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to9:00 PM. Please visit the Beall site for directions and area accommodations.
On Wednesday December 22nd at 10:00 AM we will celebrate Mass for Betsy at St. Bernadette, 801 Stevenson Road, Hanover, MD.
Andrew, Kevin and I truly hope all of our and Betsy's friends, coworkers and associates can stop by to visit wit us.
TR
It's taken a little bit of effort to put all of the moving pieces together for Betsy's life celebration. Now that I've got all the details I can pass them on.
Betsy will be waked at the Beall Funeral Home in Bowie, MD on Monday December 20th and Tuesday December 21st each day from 2:00 Pm to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM to9:00 PM. Please visit the Beall site for directions and area accommodations.
On Wednesday December 22nd at 10:00 AM we will celebrate Mass for Betsy at St. Bernadette, 801 Stevenson Road, Hanover, MD.
Andrew, Kevin and I truly hope all of our and Betsy's friends, coworkers and associates can stop by to visit wit us.
TR
Light in the darkness
My dear friends,
Betsy passed away last light around 9:20 PM. As many of you had already surmised from the previous posting it was apparent that Betsy's body was wasn't able to keep up the fight. I can tell you her spirit never wavered.
I got her to Mercy Hospital yesterday morning. Her blood work showed that her kidney's had failed and her system was shutting down and it was just a matter time.
We gathered with Betsy, letting her know that it was ok to go. We cried, we prayed, we laughed.
There were times when Besty smiled the most beautiful sweet smile any of us had ever seen. I will always keep that smile in my heart.
The Mercy staff cared for Betsy and all of us in the most compassionate way and her transition from this life to the next was a very comfortable one for us all.
By the time I got home last night our outdoor Christmas lights had turned off. I turned them back on to honor my Betsy, my light in the darkness .
TR
Betsy passed away last light around 9:20 PM. As many of you had already surmised from the previous posting it was apparent that Betsy's body was wasn't able to keep up the fight. I can tell you her spirit never wavered.
I got her to Mercy Hospital yesterday morning. Her blood work showed that her kidney's had failed and her system was shutting down and it was just a matter time.
We gathered with Betsy, letting her know that it was ok to go. We cried, we prayed, we laughed.
There were times when Besty smiled the most beautiful sweet smile any of us had ever seen. I will always keep that smile in my heart.
The Mercy staff cared for Betsy and all of us in the most compassionate way and her transition from this life to the next was a very comfortable one for us all.
By the time I got home last night our outdoor Christmas lights had turned off. I turned them back on to honor my Betsy, my light in the darkness .
TR
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
NUTS!
I've kind of lost track of when Betsy came home from the hosiptal...I think it was Tuesday of last week. Yeah, that sounds about right, seven bags of TPN ago.
The disease continues its aggression and we are resolutely fighting to keep the symptoms at bay. Our arsenal of prayers and hope hasn't diminished and those have been fortified by mega doses of pain meds and other palliative products.
We are trying to make Betsy as comfortable as possible but have reached the point where its time to call for re-enforcements, starting with home care, then bringing in other cohorts as needed.
Like General Tony McAuliffe back in December, 1944-- Besty, says that she isn't surrendering.
The disease continues its aggression and we are resolutely fighting to keep the symptoms at bay. Our arsenal of prayers and hope hasn't diminished and those have been fortified by mega doses of pain meds and other palliative products.
We are trying to make Betsy as comfortable as possible but have reached the point where its time to call for re-enforcements, starting with home care, then bringing in other cohorts as needed.
Like General Tony McAuliffe back in December, 1944-- Besty, says that she isn't surrendering.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Caesar's that we all hate
No doubt many of you have heard of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus , commonly known as Caligua. By a show of hands how many of you have ever heard of Caligua's, vile, rotten, despicable distant cousin Fistula.
I never heard of Fistula until earlier this week when Besty was admitted to Mercy Hospital with one.
A fistula is simply a hole between an internal organ and the outside world that should not exist. In a previous surgery Bestsy's plumbing was altered. Apparently her cancer didn't much care for that and has punched a hole in her intestine. I'll spare the details, suffice it to say the current situation is far from optimal. While surgery is the usual course of action in these cases, that's not advisable for Betsy.
To mitigate the effects of this fistula, for the foreseeable future, Betsy will not be getting nutrition through solid food, instead she will be through a daily chemical concoction called total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
Betsy has started this regimen and well be able to continue it at home when she is discharged later this week.
Though the deck seems to be stacked against her, Betsy continues to choose life. Please keep us all in your prayers.
I never heard of Fistula until earlier this week when Besty was admitted to Mercy Hospital with one.
A fistula is simply a hole between an internal organ and the outside world that should not exist. In a previous surgery Bestsy's plumbing was altered. Apparently her cancer didn't much care for that and has punched a hole in her intestine. I'll spare the details, suffice it to say the current situation is far from optimal. While surgery is the usual course of action in these cases, that's not advisable for Betsy.
To mitigate the effects of this fistula, for the foreseeable future, Betsy will not be getting nutrition through solid food, instead she will be through a daily chemical concoction called total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
Betsy has started this regimen and well be able to continue it at home when she is discharged later this week.
Though the deck seems to be stacked against her, Betsy continues to choose life. Please keep us all in your prayers.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Happy Anniversary and Thanksgiving
Hello all,
After almost three weeks in the hospital, Betsy came home on November 18th with a couple stents in duodenum. That seems to have helped with her chronic nausea, but her ability to eat is greatly diminished. Pain is still an issue, but we're dealing with that.
On November 24th Betsy and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. For a whole lot of reasons we weren't able to return to St Martin where we honeymooned. When I asked Betsy a couple of months ago what would be an acceptable plan B , she said she would go for Happy Hour in the family room of the new home.
While the medical team was doing their thing, the whole construction team stepped up their efforts to make that happen. This past Wednesday the 24th, the plumber, the electrician, the painter, the HVAC guys and trim crew finished construction to the point that I could declare things "DONE". Here's some updated pictures.
Sure, there's a myriad of little things to do before we occupy the place, but that evening Betsy enjoyed wine and cheese in her new home's family room!
But wait, there's more, the next day, Thanksgiving, Kevin and Andrew joined us at "A shore Thing". We had planned to do Thanksgiving dinner at the carriage house. I figured I'd do the turkey on the grill, and the we'd use the toaster oven and microwave for the other stuff.
Instead we did this .
Now that the place is built Betsy needs to live there. Please keep her in your prayers.
After almost three weeks in the hospital, Betsy came home on November 18th with a couple stents in duodenum. That seems to have helped with her chronic nausea, but her ability to eat is greatly diminished. Pain is still an issue, but we're dealing with that.
On November 24th Betsy and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. For a whole lot of reasons we weren't able to return to St Martin where we honeymooned. When I asked Betsy a couple of months ago what would be an acceptable plan B , she said she would go for Happy Hour in the family room of the new home.
While the medical team was doing their thing, the whole construction team stepped up their efforts to make that happen. This past Wednesday the 24th, the plumber, the electrician, the painter, the HVAC guys and trim crew finished construction to the point that I could declare things "DONE". Here's some updated pictures.
Sure, there's a myriad of little things to do before we occupy the place, but that evening Betsy enjoyed wine and cheese in her new home's family room!
But wait, there's more, the next day, Thanksgiving, Kevin and Andrew joined us at "A shore Thing". We had planned to do Thanksgiving dinner at the carriage house. I figured I'd do the turkey on the grill, and the we'd use the toaster oven and microwave for the other stuff.
Instead we did this .
Now that the place is built Betsy needs to live there. Please keep her in your prayers.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Ralph
Ralph? "Who's Ralph" you say and what's Ralph got to do with Betsy. In this case Ralph isn't a who or a what, rather it is this. Though Betsy hasn't had chemo in sometime, the effects of it as well as the disease itself is playing havoc on Betsy's system. Previous posts have chronicled the dehydration and such.
For some time now Betsy has been afflicted with chronic nausea. We've been trying to figure out what's going on while also trying to rule out certain foods. So far, the best things are the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) diet. YUCK, you would think after all this woman has been through she should be able to eat and drink whatever she pleases. Cholesterol be damned we're talking high end artery clogging stuff!
So here we are, once again at Mercy Hospital where the team is taking cultures, samples, vital statics, and performing all manner is ministrations to figure this out.
Betsy is tough, but she is tired. She's tired of the constant nausea, she's tired of felling like crap, she's tired of constantly feeling wrung out and she's tired of being literally tired. It used to be I was the only one not sleeping at night!
Please continue to keep Betsy in your thoughts and prayers.
For some time now Betsy has been afflicted with chronic nausea. We've been trying to figure out what's going on while also trying to rule out certain foods. So far, the best things are the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) diet. YUCK, you would think after all this woman has been through she should be able to eat and drink whatever she pleases. Cholesterol be damned we're talking high end artery clogging stuff!
So here we are, once again at Mercy Hospital where the team is taking cultures, samples, vital statics, and performing all manner is ministrations to figure this out.
Betsy is tough, but she is tired. She's tired of the constant nausea, she's tired of felling like crap, she's tired of constantly feeling wrung out and she's tired of being literally tired. It used to be I was the only one not sleeping at night!
Please continue to keep Betsy in your thoughts and prayers.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Latest
MRI showed nothing significant... no obstruction or tumor growth. Kidney function is improving and I may be going home tomorrow. The medical opinion is these are all side effects of the various chemos I have had over the past year.
I am not the writer in the family... I will leave any further blogging to Tom. Check the link to 'A Shore Thing' for updates on the house.
Love, Bets
I am not the writer in the family... I will leave any further blogging to Tom. Check the link to 'A Shore Thing' for updates on the house.
Love, Bets
Friday, September 17, 2010
Not a Fun Month
I am ok. I have had a rough month with 4 or 5 hospitalizations for dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. I have had allot of vomiting over the past several weeks and some abdominal pain. Many tests later and we still don't know for sure what is causing all of this. I had nephrostomy tubes placed yesterday to help drain my kidneys, and will probably have an MRI later today. I'll keep you posted.
Love, Bets
Love, Bets
Monday, July 19, 2010
BALD AGAIN!
Hi all!
I received my latest chemo last Tuesday and have just begun to feel like myself again.
That was the second dose three weeks apart, and my hair is mostly gone. I was just beginning to feel like it had a little style, too!
I will be getting 3 more doses of the adriamycin, each 3 weeks apart. My next one is scheduled for 8/3. I will also get Melphalan which will be harsher on my immune system. I will need to avoid big crowds and sick people.(Again!)
Aside from that, I am officially retired from the Health Dept as of July 1st. This coming Thursday the staff has invited me back for a farewell reception. This has been the most caring group of people I have worked with. In addition to cards and flowers and prayers, this group donated almost 10 weeks of leave time so I could continue to get paid. I am overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness that has been shown to me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart! I wish their was someway to repay you. Please know that I will remember you all with much gratitude!
Tom promises to update 'The Shore Thing' blog including lots of pictures, this week, so stay tuned...
Til next time. :-) Bets
I received my latest chemo last Tuesday and have just begun to feel like myself again.
That was the second dose three weeks apart, and my hair is mostly gone. I was just beginning to feel like it had a little style, too!
I will be getting 3 more doses of the adriamycin, each 3 weeks apart. My next one is scheduled for 8/3. I will also get Melphalan which will be harsher on my immune system. I will need to avoid big crowds and sick people.(Again!)
Aside from that, I am officially retired from the Health Dept as of July 1st. This coming Thursday the staff has invited me back for a farewell reception. This has been the most caring group of people I have worked with. In addition to cards and flowers and prayers, this group donated almost 10 weeks of leave time so I could continue to get paid. I am overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness that has been shown to me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart! I wish their was someway to repay you. Please know that I will remember you all with much gratitude!
Tom promises to update 'The Shore Thing' blog including lots of pictures, this week, so stay tuned...
Til next time. :-) Bets
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Bump in the Road
Hi everyone!
Just got home from a three day stay in Mercy. I told you I began to have symptoms; well an xray was done which showed "something suspicious" like an obstruction in the early stages. I was admitted from the doctor's office on Wednesday afternoon and began testing to find out what was going on. Of course I couldn't eat or drink anything which added to the discomfort.
Thursday afternoon I had a "gastrograph" done (an xray of the intestines using radio opaque dye) That was not fun!!! It took about an hour and a half and by the time I was done I was exhausted. The procedure can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, and it was both.
The results were that whatever was there was cleared by the procedure, and who knows if it will ever happen again?
I dodged the bullet of another surgery this time, thank God!
I am home eating lightly, relaxing and building my strength again.
Chemo will probably resume in 3 weeks, after follow-up with Dr. Sardi.
Till next time :-) Bets
Just got home from a three day stay in Mercy. I told you I began to have symptoms; well an xray was done which showed "something suspicious" like an obstruction in the early stages. I was admitted from the doctor's office on Wednesday afternoon and began testing to find out what was going on. Of course I couldn't eat or drink anything which added to the discomfort.
Thursday afternoon I had a "gastrograph" done (an xray of the intestines using radio opaque dye) That was not fun!!! It took about an hour and a half and by the time I was done I was exhausted. The procedure can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, and it was both.
The results were that whatever was there was cleared by the procedure, and who knows if it will ever happen again?
I dodged the bullet of another surgery this time, thank God!
I am home eating lightly, relaxing and building my strength again.
Chemo will probably resume in 3 weeks, after follow-up with Dr. Sardi.
Till next time :-) Bets
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Here we go again!
Just to update everyone on my status...
I have been recovering well and getting back on my feet. Tom and I have been to the shore several weekends and it is great to see progress being made. Tom is there today and will post the latest pictures tomorrow or Monday. The electric, HVAC, rough plumbing, and gas lines are almost finished. The garage doors have been installed (Thurs.), and the porches are done(as of this week)! I can't wait to see that!!!
My doctors have finally decided on treatment (it took a while to find chemo that would be effective.) So I will begin on Tuesday with outpatient chemo @ Mercy in Baltimore. I will also have radiation to the pelvis after several chemo treatments.
I have begun to have more symptoms (ie: abdominal pain and bloating, pelvic pressure, etc.) so this treatment can't start soon enough!
I will blog when I have news (it won't be daily) Hopefully it will all be good!
Keep praying especially for Tom and the boys. Love to all.
Till next time :-) Bets
I have been recovering well and getting back on my feet. Tom and I have been to the shore several weekends and it is great to see progress being made. Tom is there today and will post the latest pictures tomorrow or Monday. The electric, HVAC, rough plumbing, and gas lines are almost finished. The garage doors have been installed (Thurs.), and the porches are done(as of this week)! I can't wait to see that!!!
My doctors have finally decided on treatment (it took a while to find chemo that would be effective.) So I will begin on Tuesday with outpatient chemo @ Mercy in Baltimore. I will also have radiation to the pelvis after several chemo treatments.
I have begun to have more symptoms (ie: abdominal pain and bloating, pelvic pressure, etc.) so this treatment can't start soon enough!
I will blog when I have news (it won't be daily) Hopefully it will all be good!
Keep praying especially for Tom and the boys. Love to all.
Till next time :-) Bets
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Home at Last
I came home last Wednesday, and have been adjusting to the "new normal" routines of daily life. It has been trying, to say the least. But with the help and loving support of family and friends, I am getting through this! I am feeling stronger everyday and with time will be ready to help Tom build a house!
Our dream continues with progress daily. I haven't been to the shore since our "Happy Hour" on the porch, but Tom went down this past weekend to check on construction and reports that things continue to move along. The electrician has begun working and the HVAC guy is doing his thing, as well as the plumber. Hopefully I will be able to ride down there in a couple of weeks.
In the mean time, I will be at home and welcome calls and visits. As always, thank you for your prayers and thoughtful good wishes.
Til next. :-) Bets
Our dream continues with progress daily. I haven't been to the shore since our "Happy Hour" on the porch, but Tom went down this past weekend to check on construction and reports that things continue to move along. The electrician has begun working and the HVAC guy is doing his thing, as well as the plumber. Hopefully I will be able to ride down there in a couple of weeks.
In the mean time, I will be at home and welcome calls and visits. As always, thank you for your prayers and thoughtful good wishes.
Til next. :-) Bets
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Maybe its the drugs
While visiting with Betsy today she told me about a dream that she had about a store called "Things are not what they appear" hereafter, referred to as "Things" .
"Things" is a store in the village (sounds like The Prisoner to me) that caters to the hoity toity-- it sells furniture that the villagers all think that is just the best.
One day Betsy was drawn to "Things" by the crowd coming and going from the place. As she approached "Things" Betsy was struck by the perfect little girls in their perfect little frocks who were making their perfect little dogs (Yorkshire terriers) do tricks in front of the store. Oh my, how this delighted the crowd!!
Betsy purchased a few pieces of furniture from "Things": a sofa and an armed dining room chair. The pieces were exquisite. Or so it seemed; the arms on the chaired separated from the frame every time the chair as moved and the sofa cushions were as hard as rocks.
This pissed Betsy off to no end and she returned to "Things" to give them a piece of her mind.
Once again as she neared the place, Betsy was struck by the crowd. Everyone was oohing and aahing about the merchandise (and I suppose the puppies.)
Well, Betsy wasn't going to have any of that. She told everyone about the crappy furniture. She said they needed to open up eyes. They needed get real and to see things for what they were, not what they appeared to be.
There's a lot more to the story and as I listened to it I thought it could be a cool short story. I know a couple of writers monitor this blog (Greg, I think this is more you than Mary Jo) the first one to invite Betsy to dinner gets the story.
"Things" is a store in the village (sounds like The Prisoner to me) that caters to the hoity toity-- it sells furniture that the villagers all think that is just the best.
One day Betsy was drawn to "Things" by the crowd coming and going from the place. As she approached "Things" Betsy was struck by the perfect little girls in their perfect little frocks who were making their perfect little dogs (Yorkshire terriers) do tricks in front of the store. Oh my, how this delighted the crowd!!
Betsy purchased a few pieces of furniture from "Things": a sofa and an armed dining room chair. The pieces were exquisite. Or so it seemed; the arms on the chaired separated from the frame every time the chair as moved and the sofa cushions were as hard as rocks.
This pissed Betsy off to no end and she returned to "Things" to give them a piece of her mind.
Once again as she neared the place, Betsy was struck by the crowd. Everyone was oohing and aahing about the merchandise (and I suppose the puppies.)
Well, Betsy wasn't going to have any of that. She told everyone about the crappy furniture. She said they needed to open up eyes. They needed get real and to see things for what they were, not what they appeared to be.
There's a lot more to the story and as I listened to it I thought it could be a cool short story. I know a couple of writers monitor this blog (Greg, I think this is more you than Mary Jo) the first one to invite Betsy to dinner gets the story.
Detubified
"Detubified" is a highly technical medical term . So technical in fact, that if you Google it you won't find but one reference and that doesn't explain it. Be that as it may as of this morning Betsy is fully detubified. Her NG tube was removed which means that she can begin to take in some real food and her "pain purse" has also gone by the way side. Bets really didn't like using the pain meds as they made her hallucinate, plus her pain level was generally down around a 1 or 2 on a 10 scale anyway.
Being detubified makes it real easy for her to do laps around the unit. She's been up walking a lot over the past several days, but now without the IV pole she can really move out. We suspect that discharge is only days away and that will depend mostly on how well she tolerates food.
I want to go back and revisit something I said in previous post . When Dr. Sardi assessed Betsy's condition during surgery he removed all of the tumors that he could, but that wasn't all of the tumors. There was no benefit to doing the chemo part so so he didn't. The Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is most effective when the tumors are small, Betsy's didn't meet the definition of "small"--whatever that is.
Once the pathology is done on the tumors, Betsy's medical oconologist will determine what course of chemo will follow.
None of us is giving up. Betsy
Being detubified makes it real easy for her to do laps around the unit. She's been up walking a lot over the past several days, but now without the IV pole she can really move out. We suspect that discharge is only days away and that will depend mostly on how well she tolerates food.
I want to go back and revisit something I said in previous post . When Dr. Sardi assessed Betsy's condition during surgery he removed all of the tumors that he could, but that wasn't all of the tumors. There was no benefit to doing the chemo part so so he didn't. The Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is most effective when the tumors are small, Betsy's didn't meet the definition of "small"--whatever that is.
Once the pathology is done on the tumors, Betsy's medical oconologist will determine what course of chemo will follow.
None of us is giving up. Betsy
Friday, April 16, 2010
What's up with the picture?
The new picture is Betsy enjoying happy hour on the back porch of a Shore Thing last weekend. Our project manager Ed, his wife and "the amigos" building the home orchestrated cleaning up the place and putting the pieces in place so Betsy could enjoy the moment, indelibly etch it in her mind and focus on it for the future.
See more happy hour pictures here.
See more happy hour pictures here.
Cancer Sucks
Dear friends
Betsy's recovery from the surgery goes well. She was moved back to a regular room late yesterday afternoon and I've been with her since then. That's given us a lot of time to sort through things.
Despite a very aggressive treatment of multiple surgeries and intensive chemotherapy, Betsy's cancer just won't die.
The surgery this past Tuesday was suppose to be another HIPEC procedure which would have included Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. When Dr. Sardi assessed Betsy's condition during surgery he removed all of the tumors that he could, but that wasn't all of the tumors. There was no benefit to doing the chemo part so so he didn't.
Right now the focus is on recovery. Betsy will start PT today which will have her walking at least one lap around the unit. Some semi solid food will be introduced into her diet and the "de-tubing" process will start as well.
We, like you, want to know what's going to happen next.....
Please keep Betsy in your thoughts and prayers and if you can spare an extra one for me and the boys that would be greatly appreciated.
Tom
Betsy's recovery from the surgery goes well. She was moved back to a regular room late yesterday afternoon and I've been with her since then. That's given us a lot of time to sort through things.
Despite a very aggressive treatment of multiple surgeries and intensive chemotherapy, Betsy's cancer just won't die.
The surgery this past Tuesday was suppose to be another HIPEC procedure which would have included Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. When Dr. Sardi assessed Betsy's condition during surgery he removed all of the tumors that he could, but that wasn't all of the tumors. There was no benefit to doing the chemo part so so he didn't.
Right now the focus is on recovery. Betsy will start PT today which will have her walking at least one lap around the unit. Some semi solid food will be introduced into her diet and the "de-tubing" process will start as well.
We, like you, want to know what's going to happen next.....
Please keep Betsy in your thoughts and prayers and if you can spare an extra one for me and the boys that would be greatly appreciated.
Tom
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
On the road to recovery
Betsy's stay in ICU is approaching an end -- tomorrow morning she'll move back to the oconology unit. She's still a little groggy but says she feels fine. The staff has had her out of bed a couple of times and from all reports Betsy welcomed the opportunities. Aside from me she had a couple of other visitors today; her mom and her sister, Margaret. I think they will both back me up when I say that Betsy looks great.
If you find yourself in the neighborhood please don't hesitate to stop by a visit for a while.
Well that's pretty much it for today. Please keep Bets in your thoughts and prayers.
Tom
Hey Angelo--it was great to see you today. Thanks for the support!
If you find yourself in the neighborhood please don't hesitate to stop by a visit for a while.
Well that's pretty much it for today. Please keep Bets in your thoughts and prayers.
Tom
Hey Angelo--it was great to see you today. Thanks for the support!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Where do we go from here.
Dear friends,
As I write this I'm sitting with Betsy in Mercy Hospital's ICU. There was some discussion that maybe she could do her initial recovery in an intermediate care unit, but ICU won out. This is not unexpected and is consistent with the last time Bets went through this. Bets is totally zonked out but looks very comfortable.
So what happened today. Betsy's surgery started at just about 8 o'clock this morning and ended about 5 o'clock this afternoon. Not nearly the 16 hour ordeal from the last time but still an awfully long time to be on an operating table.
The focus this time was the cancer in Betsy's bowel and the surgery showed that while the cancer was localized to the bowel it had created an almost total obstruction in one area. Dr. Sardi removed a significant amount 0f tumor, but to do so he had to remove a significant amount of bowel. We knew going into this that a colostomy may be one of the outcomes.
So where do we go from here. Well from here, the ICU, in a day or so Betsy will go back to the regular oncology unit to fully recover. During that time we'll have any number of conversations with her team to discuss Betsy's future.
"The future", those are sweet words. Please keep Betsy in your thoughts and prayers and stay tuned. As we learn more we'll share it.
Tom
As I write this I'm sitting with Betsy in Mercy Hospital's ICU. There was some discussion that maybe she could do her initial recovery in an intermediate care unit, but ICU won out. This is not unexpected and is consistent with the last time Bets went through this. Bets is totally zonked out but looks very comfortable.
So what happened today. Betsy's surgery started at just about 8 o'clock this morning and ended about 5 o'clock this afternoon. Not nearly the 16 hour ordeal from the last time but still an awfully long time to be on an operating table.
The focus this time was the cancer in Betsy's bowel and the surgery showed that while the cancer was localized to the bowel it had created an almost total obstruction in one area. Dr. Sardi removed a significant amount 0f tumor, but to do so he had to remove a significant amount of bowel. We knew going into this that a colostomy may be one of the outcomes.
So where do we go from here. Well from here, the ICU, in a day or so Betsy will go back to the regular oncology unit to fully recover. During that time we'll have any number of conversations with her team to discuss Betsy's future.
"The future", those are sweet words. Please keep Betsy in your thoughts and prayers and stay tuned. As we learn more we'll share it.
Tom
Saturday, March 13, 2010
In case you were wondering....
What does a person do after all that?
Well, on 3/1 when I was admitted for my last dose of chemo, I started having mild symptoms of a problem with the colon. So on Tuesday morning I had a colonoscopy done and a biopsy was done, which was positive. On Sat I had another CT scan which showed nothing in the lungs, liver or lymph nodes that they could see, but I still have a local area near the bowel, which we knew about. Apparently the chemo didn't reach the area.
Tom and I met with the surgeon this week, and I am scheduled for another HIPEC procedure on 4/13. (Yes it's the same surgery that was done in August, but with a focus on the localized area near the bowel and deep in the pelvis)
I did return to work full time on Wednesday 3/10, and will work until 4/9. It will be a great distraction and I will feel productive and useful.
Thank you all again for your prayers and support. Please keep the prayers coming!
Till next time :-) Bets
Well, on 3/1 when I was admitted for my last dose of chemo, I started having mild symptoms of a problem with the colon. So on Tuesday morning I had a colonoscopy done and a biopsy was done, which was positive. On Sat I had another CT scan which showed nothing in the lungs, liver or lymph nodes that they could see, but I still have a local area near the bowel, which we knew about. Apparently the chemo didn't reach the area.
Tom and I met with the surgeon this week, and I am scheduled for another HIPEC procedure on 4/13. (Yes it's the same surgery that was done in August, but with a focus on the localized area near the bowel and deep in the pelvis)
I did return to work full time on Wednesday 3/10, and will work until 4/9. It will be a great distraction and I will feel productive and useful.
Thank you all again for your prayers and support. Please keep the prayers coming!
Till next time :-) Bets
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Last of Inpatient Chemo
Good morning all!
On Friday I saw the Oncologist and all is well. Monday AM I will be admitted to Mercy for my last dose of inpatient chemo. He has cleared me to return to work on Wednesday MARCH 10th. Yahoo!!! It will feel good to get back into a regular routine.
Of course there will be regular follow-up, probably monthly "maintenance chemo", and periodic scans. But for now things will return to a new normal.
I will keep you updated as things come along.
Until then... :-) Bets
On Friday I saw the Oncologist and all is well. Monday AM I will be admitted to Mercy for my last dose of inpatient chemo. He has cleared me to return to work on Wednesday MARCH 10th. Yahoo!!! It will feel good to get back into a regular routine.
Of course there will be regular follow-up, probably monthly "maintenance chemo", and periodic scans. But for now things will return to a new normal.
I will keep you updated as things come along.
Until then... :-) Bets
Thursday, February 11, 2010
SNOW!!!
We are snowed in! 28 inches last weekend and another 19.5 yesterday!!! Tom and the boys have been home all week and we are all getting cabin fever (even the dogs!)
I am doing well... Haven't gotten any word yet about my next treatment or otherwise. I have an appointment next week and should know more than. (I was scheduled yesterday, but canceled due to blizzard #2.) My hair is starting to grow back and I'm announcing a new fad for the spring. I'm calling it the "Kiwi cut" Believe it or not, just this small amount of hair and I already feel warmer!
If you haven't seen the last blog done by Fr. Michael, I'd like you to go back and look at the second comment. If anyone can read Chinese, please let me know what it says! (Fr. Michael, known for his far reaching impact, is probably interested also.)
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes. Keep the prayers coming!
Till next time :-) Bets
I am doing well... Haven't gotten any word yet about my next treatment or otherwise. I have an appointment next week and should know more than. (I was scheduled yesterday, but canceled due to blizzard #2.) My hair is starting to grow back and I'm announcing a new fad for the spring. I'm calling it the "Kiwi cut" Believe it or not, just this small amount of hair and I already feel warmer!
If you haven't seen the last blog done by Fr. Michael, I'd like you to go back and look at the second comment. If anyone can read Chinese, please let me know what it says! (Fr. Michael, known for his far reaching impact, is probably interested also.)
Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes. Keep the prayers coming!
Till next time :-) Bets
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Guest Blogging for Betsy!
Hi Friends,
Betsy is doing great! She had a CAT scan just after Christmas and everything looks great. Thus far no signs of the CA and she is feeling pretty good! So she will have one or two more chemo treatments to help seal the deal. Now lets talk coiffure. GI Jane she aint, but she says she'll lose what stubble is left with the next treatment - then we buff and polish! So her head is chilly so send hats! She sleeps with a cap now! When I shaved my head when my sister had chemo, my head got cold and I got cold so I get the need for the hat. I actually used a pull-on cap to sleep as body temp drops during sleep and I would get cold. So the hat is critical.
Tonight we had a great dinner with friends in Baltimore. Betsy has had a little wine and some great food and we have had a lot of laughs. So keep pulling and praying for our friend.
Now one last item. Betsy's doc, Dr. Sardi is going to be on Grey's Anatomy, featuring the HIPEC procedure, on Thursday Jan. 21 locally in Baltimore, perhaps elsewhere. So be sure to watch Grey's Anatomy and see the great work the docs at Mercy are doing.
Finally, the house on the Eastern Shore is under way so check that out at A Shore Thing
Cheers and here's to a blessed and graced New Year!
Fr. Michael, c.o.
Betsy is doing great! She had a CAT scan just after Christmas and everything looks great. Thus far no signs of the CA and she is feeling pretty good! So she will have one or two more chemo treatments to help seal the deal. Now lets talk coiffure. GI Jane she aint, but she says she'll lose what stubble is left with the next treatment - then we buff and polish! So her head is chilly so send hats! She sleeps with a cap now! When I shaved my head when my sister had chemo, my head got cold and I got cold so I get the need for the hat. I actually used a pull-on cap to sleep as body temp drops during sleep and I would get cold. So the hat is critical.
Tonight we had a great dinner with friends in Baltimore. Betsy has had a little wine and some great food and we have had a lot of laughs. So keep pulling and praying for our friend.
Now one last item. Betsy's doc, Dr. Sardi is going to be on Grey's Anatomy, featuring the HIPEC procedure, on Thursday Jan. 21 locally in Baltimore, perhaps elsewhere. So be sure to watch Grey's Anatomy and see the great work the docs at Mercy are doing.
Finally, the house on the Eastern Shore is under way so check that out at A Shore Thing
Cheers and here's to a blessed and graced New Year!
Fr. Michael, c.o.
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