Survivor week 37 day 7

Today we just rested. Barbara still has leg pain but is getting stronger. Her voice is stronger. So the high blood platelets are letting her get stronger. Tonight we start chemo.

We will see how she reacts to the chemo since she had the avastin on Wednesday

Survivor week 37 day 6

Barbara slept the best she has slept in months. We left OKC to drive home to Altamont. So we made it home about 5:30. We ate dinner and then sat on the front porch to watch the birds. Just a nice evening

Barbara still has leg pain but it isn't the sharp pain of last week
Hopefully she will continue to get better

We just praise God that she hasn't had any adverse side affects from the avastin.

Please keep the prayers coming

Survivor week 37 day 5

Today we met with the oncologist and found out that Barbara's platelets were at 136,000. Yippie.

So he said that Barbara should take the drug avastin. So we had a iv and took the drug. Well it is done. We will need to take another session in 3 weeks. So thanks for the prayers. We are back at Leanna and Brian's

Tomorrow we drive back to Altamont.

Here is Barbara watching Leanna plant flowers at her house

Survivor week 37 day 4

Oops they may have to put me in a home for old people. Last night I said that Barbara had myopathy. Well that Is not true. The word is neuropathy Maybe I need a hearing aid. Hopefully you all knew better and didn't go to the Internet and think where did that come from. So it is neuropathy that is causing Barbara the leg pain yep now you can go to the Internet to find out what causes neuropathy.

Thank you all for the prayers. It is so wonderful. Each day we get calls from from friends that they are praying for us. Never the same people but friends from all over the world. Yes we have been blessed by God with having good friends. Thank you

Today we had a blood test to get ready for the oncologist. Barbara still has the pain but the medicine seems to be helping her lessen the pain

Survivor week 37 day 3

We got up and had a protein breakfast. Then we had a doctors appointment with the leg doctor. He said no broken bones. No sprain. He did x ray and it showed no arthritis. He wants Barbara to do a bone density test.

He felt that the pain was from myopathy He was surprised that Barbara was not using any pain medicine. He suggested one medicine but the oncologist did not want to use it as it would cause blood issues. So he prescribed a medicine that may not take the pain away but it will take the edge off the pain. So that is where we are tonight. Barbara has taken one dose of the medicine and it did not take the pain away. We will talk to the oncologist on Wednesday to see if we can go to the other pain medicine.

Barbara is still eating good and is having lots of protein. She gets blood work done tomorrow. We travel to Dallas tomorrow and have an appointment at 9:00 Wednesday.

Leanna and Brian were planting flowers and Barbara was just watching. At least she got some fresh air.

Thanks for all your prayers

Survivor week 37 day 2

We are at Leanna and Brian's. Barbara and I stayed home while Leanna and Brian went to church. Barbara's leg is still bothering her a lot. Her energy level
Is getting better. We pray that will continue. We are still eating to grow her platelets. Lots of proteins.

In the morning we go see the leg doctor. Pray that he will be able to help her pain

Survivor week 37 day 1

Got up this morning and headed to OKC. We are going to celebrate Sarah's birthday tonight. Barbara slept the first half of the trip the jeff leg began to bother her so no more rest. Ed got to Leanna's and she went to bed.

I got her up to go to david and Sarah's. We had a good time but Barbara wore out so we came back to Leanna and Brian's.

On the way here we received s call from dr Parikh's office. She had a family emergency so our appointment has been canceled. We still two other appointments so it was not a wasted trip. Besides we got to see friends and celebrate Sarah's birthday.

We will rest tomorrow.
Sunday is coming

Survivor week 36 day 7

We had to get out of the house because the electric company turned the electricity off. They put in a new meter so we were without electricity. I called the oncologist this morning and found out that Barbara's platelets had gone up to 109,000. That is good news. They called later and rescheduled Barbara's appointment so that she would be able to take the drug avastin. We do still have to have Barbara's blood checked to make sure the platelets are still over 100,000

She is getting stronger but is still having a lot of leg pain. We do see the doctor about her leg on Monday

Thanks for all your prayers.

Survivor week 36 day 6

Barbara is getting stronger but still needs more energy. We gave blood but did not hear from the oncologist so we don't have a platelet count.
Barbara's leg is still hurting her. We will be seeing a leg doctor on Monday

So we will be traveling to OKC this weekend. We will celebrate Sarah's birthday then have three doctors in three days

Survivor week 36 day 5

Barbara is still tired but getting more strength. She still has a lot of pain in her right leg. She is trying to do more walking. Tomorrow she gets her blood checked. Hope her platelets are over 100,000

Survivor week 36 day 4

After breakfast Barbara asked if she could walk a little. Wow that is the first time in weeks that she has wanted to walk. She must be getting more platelets to allow her a little energy. Now her leg still hurts but it was good to hear her ask to walk

Leanna left this afternoon. Something about wanting to be with her husband. We appreciate her and Brian for helping both of us.

The oncologist called and we have an appointment for Wednesday aug 29. So we have three days in a row of appointments with doctors. We will be in OKC or Dallas next week depending on which day and which doctor

Sure is nice to sit outside and watch nature Thanks God for giving us days we can sit outside comfortably.

Survivor week 36 day 3

Barbara seems to be getting stronger but her right leg still is causing her a lot of pain. I think her platelets are increasing
A friend brought a devotional cd to the house and Barbara has been listening to it. She said that she was able to sing with it and that most of the songs were just bible verses that she needed to memorized anyway

We still don't know when we see the oncologist next. Should find out tomorrow

The fawn came into the yard without her mother. She just seemed to enjoy being in the yard. Hope you can see her in the picture

Survivor week 36 day 2

Barbara talked about going to church but realized that she was too tired to make it to church and then to attend church so she stayed home with Leanna and had devotions here

When I got home from church we all took a nap

Her leg is still causing her pain most of the time.

Brian has been getting Barbara to eat broccoli So this evening while we were outside she was doing her broccoli cheer

I think that Barbara enjoys being outside

I hope she continues to build platelets

Survivor week 36 day 1

Barbara still very tired and her leg hurts. There are times during the day that the leg pain stops. Praying that we get more of those moments. Barbara is still eating a lot of potassium and protein. We have read that helps to grow blood platelets.

Was outside watching wild life. We had a deer and her fawn come into the yard from the bean field. I was trying to get a picture and a car drove by on the road and the deer and her little one went back into the bean field and all I could see was their white tail as they ran for cover.

Sure is nice to be able to enjoy the world that God has provided

Remember Sunday is coming

Survivor week 35 day 7

Barbara was very tired as we didn't sleep very well last night. She rested all day. She prayed that the leg pain would lessen. Today her special prayer is for strength. She wanted to go outside and get fresh air. We stayed up almost 2 hours later tonight because Barbara was trying to feel better

Received a call from the oncologist. They canceled our meeting for Monday. They said the blood platelets were too low for avastin or chemo. They want us to make a new appointment on Monday for after next Thursday's blood test. They thought it would be good to have an appointment then take the avastin infusion and then start chemo. They think Barbara's platelets will be over 100,000 by next blood test

It is all in the Lords hands

I don't think leanna can see many birds from her vantage point. It is fun to watch the killdeer try to get us to not watch her babies

Leanna tried her hand at oyster stew so that Barbara can have good platelet growing food. Barbara said it was good

Survivor week 35 day 6

Today we got up and Barbara did not have any energy she was not sure that she could make it to give blood. Well we made it in the car and gave blood. Then the home health care nurse called and said that she was headed to the house. So we hurried home. The nurse came and took Barbara's vital signs. Her blood pressure was a little low. She advised that I check her blood pressure each morning prior to breakfast

She said that they were lining up aids to come to the house daily to help Barbara bath and possibly help clean the house. Also they are lining up a therapist that will help Barbara with range of motion excercises

We then got a call from the oncologist The blood count was 74,000. Almost double of last weeks count but not to the 100,000 needed for avastin or chemo. So we have to wait another week.

Barbara is still very tired and has that persistent leg pain

Thank you for all the prayers. You guys are awesome

Survivor week 35 day 5

Barbara is still very tired. She also still has pain in her right leg. We ate lots of proteins and potassium Remember I said that we had asked for a miracle and they just kept coming. Well today an angel brought some liver and onions for Barbara and I. The article I read yesterday said that oysters and liver were good for building platelets. So today an angel brought liver for us. Another angel called to say that she would bring over some oysters later.

Thank you both for your thoughtfulness.

Tomorrow is test day. Please pray that the blood platelets have increased and are close to 100,000

Survivor week 35 day 4

Barbara just rested and hopefully grew platelets. I read on a web site that oysters are a good food source for growing blood platelets. So I rushed to town and bought all the oysters the store had. Now I need to figure out how to cook them so they are edible. Oh I will get on line for that.

Barbara is still having pain in her right leg. Sometimes the pain lessens but it never goes away

It rained this afternoon so the temperature never got hot. Not enough to measure in the rain gage.

Survivor week 35 day 3

Another slow day. Barbara is still very tired she still has pain in her right leg. She did eat a lot of protein so hopefully she is growing platelets. We will find out on Thursday

35 weeks ago Barbara and I asked for a miracle. Well we have continued to have miracles in our lives. Yes she has pain but she has not had many seizures or any strokes like to books say you will have with this kind of tumor

Survivor week 35 day 2

Got up and fixed Barbara breakfast. She took a nap and I went to church
Barbara still has a lot of pain in her leg. Of course she is very tired. But that is because of the chemo she has taken. The doctors have all thought that she should have been having pain , seizures and such a long time ago They have been amazed that she is just now having pain. Still it is no fun for Barbara.

We went outside this evening and we watched kildeers and humming birds. Very relaxing. Pretty amazing how God put all the creatures of nature on earth so that we can enjoy them

Survivor week 35 day 1

Barbara got up and said she hurt all over. We ate breakfast and she took a nap. Then she felt better. Not great but better. The pain seemed to lessen a little today. Then this evening it came back.

Bottom line is that she continues to grow platelets so that when it reaches 100,000 she will be eligible for chemo and or avastin

She just has to live one day at a time and

She did go outside and get some fresh air and a little sunshine. Vitamin d comes from sunshine

Remember Sunday is coming

Survivor week 34 day 7

Barbara is still having leg pain and still very tired. She spent most of the day napping and eating we hope that she is building platelets

We had people either call or come by and want to pray with Barbara. It is neat to see people openly praying for others. Thank you

Survivor week 34 day 6

Got up this morning and Barbara did not want to go give blood. After a short nap we went and gave blood. By noon we received a call from the oncologist thatcher platelets had risen to 39000.

We are really glad they are going up. We will continue to work on building platelets so that next week they will be at or over 100000

Leanna arrived this evening. She will spend 4 days with us then go back home on Monday

Barbara has continued to have leg pains today. Not the knife cutting type but just regular leg pain.

She continues to eat a lot of protein and potassium

Thanks for the prayers for the platelets to increase.

Survivor week 34 day 5

Today was another day of growing platelets. Barbara did not have any big pain episodes. Her legs just ached all day. She ate a lot of protein and also potassium

Tomorrow we go to have her blood tested

Pray that Barbara will continue to get
more energy and that the platelets are increasing to reach the goal of 100,000

Survivor week 34 day 4

Another day where all Barbara did was build platelets. That is her job. She is still very tired but is eating potassium and proteins to help build her platelets

The home health care nurse came to visit Barbara. She will come once a week. She checks Barbara's vital signs. She also determines if Barbara's health is changing. Then she can contact our doctors

Barbara is still in a lot of pain she has only had 1 leg attack today. Maybe all the protein and potassium is working

Thank for all the prayers

Survivor week 34 day 3

Pretty slow day. Barbara was trying to build platelets Nashe ate lots of potassium and proteins. She still does not have energy all we did was eat and rest.

Leanna went home today so it is just Barbara and I here in Altamont

thanks for your prayers

Survivor week 34 day 2

Barbara got up and she even had a sense of humor. When Leanna got up she said Barbara's voice was stronger. Maybe we are getting more platelets

I went to church and the first thing that Barbara said to me when i got home was that she needed to tell more people about Jesus Christ. She said that she had to get some strength so she can get out of the house.

She only had 3 leg spasams today. I think that having some potassium and protein helps. Must be growing some platelets.

Keep praying that she will continue to improve and that the pain will be minimal

Survivor week 34 day 1

Another day of rest. Barbara got up this morning and said that it was a day of p's. Potassium protein platelet So today we are about building platelets. Trying to eat a lot of protein and potassium

We have had 4 times today of the sharp pain in her leg. Yesterday we had 8 incidents. Thanks for the prayer to get Barbara through this.

Brian came up to see Barbara (maybe it was to see his wife Leanna). He brought some items for Barbara. Thanks

Remember Sunday is coming

Survivor week 33 day 7

Pretty slow day. Barbara is still very tired but the platelets are rising so she should start having a little more energy.

She is trying to eat a lot of protein

It is nice to have Leanna here. Thanks Brian for letting her spend time with Barbara and I.

Survivor week 33 day 6

Went to give blood today. Barbara very tired. Then we applied for home health care. They said they would set up an evaluation appointment

We came home and took a nap. Then 2 nurses came to the house and did an evaluation of Barbara

Just as they arrived Barbara had one of her big pains (knife cutting pain. 20 on a scale of 1 to 10)

So they got to see that. they spent over 2 hours with Barbara. Bottom line is that a nurse (probably one of the ones that were here today) will come visit Barbara at least once a week. Then they set it up that an aide would come 2 times a week to help bath Barbara dress Barbara and just help wherever needed

While they were here dr fink called to tell us that Barbara's blood platelets have begun rising. They are at 29000 so no chemo this week and no avastin.

Barbara's new prayer is that she will not be afraid and that she will have peace

Survivor week 33 day 5

Well we got up this morning and made a chick fi lay run today is appreciation day for chick fi lay.

Then we got ready to head to Kansas. We made several stops but made it home by 4 pm. Barbara did good. I stopped every 2 hours and made her get out of the car and stretch.

She definitely wanted to lie down when we got home. I fixed her a protein meal because that is what the doctor requested. We have potassium pills but I need to heh as much protein in her as possible. We need to do all we can to get her blood platelets up and increase her energy level.

She is such a fighter.

Leanna took Family medical leave so she will be here a lot to help care for Barbara and to relieve me.

Pray for her and Brian. He is continuing to work in OKC