Sept. 30 (Tuesday)
Joel has had several good days now that he is home. He has been walking around the house, in the yard and in the street. He has gained 6 pounds now and is feeling quite good. He went back to Baptist today for lab work, a bone marrow test and to meet with Dr. Powell. The lab results were very good and we should hear from the bone marrow test tomorrow or Thursday. Depending on the results from that test will determine if he has to continue on the chemo by mouth while taking the IV treatments. He will return to Baptist on Friday of this week to have the "port" put in so they will not have to stick him whenever he gets his IV's. Dr. Powell said he will probably start his IV treatments about a week and a half from now. He can take these next few days until then to rest and regain strength. We are very grateful to the Lord for his continuing care and love and also to our friends and family who have been so faithful to keep us in their prayers.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sept. 26 (Saturday)
We have been home 2 days now and Joel is feeling stronger each day. He has gained 4 pounds in 2 days (he had lost 30 pounds) and is looking much better. We took a ride today through the school grounds. He wanted to see the new fencing on Eastchester and the new playground. He is resting during this brief respite until he starts his 2nd phase of treatments on Tuesday. We will be going back to Baptist for lab tests, a bone marrow test, and a doctors visit. From then on, we hope he will be able to get his IV treatments in High Point. Please keep praying that the bone marrow test will show no cancer cells and that he will have minimal if no side effects from the new treatments. Thank you all for your continued prayers. I will post to this blog every few days instead of each day just to let you know how he's getting along.
We have been home 2 days now and Joel is feeling stronger each day. He has gained 4 pounds in 2 days (he had lost 30 pounds) and is looking much better. We took a ride today through the school grounds. He wanted to see the new fencing on Eastchester and the new playground. He is resting during this brief respite until he starts his 2nd phase of treatments on Tuesday. We will be going back to Baptist for lab tests, a bone marrow test, and a doctors visit. From then on, we hope he will be able to get his IV treatments in High Point. Please keep praying that the bone marrow test will show no cancer cells and that he will have minimal if no side effects from the new treatments. Thank you all for your continued prayers. I will post to this blog every few days instead of each day just to let you know how he's getting along.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sept. 25 (Thursday)
If you ever doubted the power of prayer, then you need to hear this. WE ARE HOME!!! The doctors released Joel today and said he was in good enough health to go home. His blood counts are going up steadily, he has no infection or fever. He will go back to Baptist next Tuesday to have a bone marrow test, and a port put in his chest so that they will not have to stick him every time they give him an IV. He will start the 2nd phase of his treatment then, with IV's every day for 5 weeks, then 2 weeks rest and another 5 weeks. During that time he has to minimize areas where he might pick up a cold or virus. In order to keep him as healthy as possible during this 2nd phase, visitation will have to be limited to immediate family and pastors. We would still appreciate your prayers that the treatments will be successful.
Thank you for your prayers. They worked!
If you ever doubted the power of prayer, then you need to hear this. WE ARE HOME!!! The doctors released Joel today and said he was in good enough health to go home. His blood counts are going up steadily, he has no infection or fever. He will go back to Baptist next Tuesday to have a bone marrow test, and a port put in his chest so that they will not have to stick him every time they give him an IV. He will start the 2nd phase of his treatment then, with IV's every day for 5 weeks, then 2 weeks rest and another 5 weeks. During that time he has to minimize areas where he might pick up a cold or virus. In order to keep him as healthy as possible during this 2nd phase, visitation will have to be limited to immediate family and pastors. We would still appreciate your prayers that the treatments will be successful.
Thank you for your prayers. They worked!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sept. 24 (Wednesday)
Today is a great day! Joel is feeling much better and we are so excited about that. He has been walking around the halls today, eating much more than before and is slowly getting his strength back. His doctors are encouraged by the rate in which his cells are rebuilding and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Today is a great day! Joel is feeling much better and we are so excited about that. He has been walking around the halls today, eating much more than before and is slowly getting his strength back. His doctors are encouraged by the rate in which his cells are rebuilding and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sept. 23 (Tuesday) Well, we have been here 3 weeks today. There have been a lot of ups and downs but it looks like Joel is on the upward move. He feels better today and actually walked 5 laps of the entire hall today. He ate a good sized lunch and is regaining his strength slowly. He has not received platelets in 2 days or blood in several days. That means that he is on the mend. We will not know whether the chemo killed all the cancer cells for another 2 weeks or so. They need to wait until his bone marrow starts producing more cells before they can test it. But, we are hopeful, through God's grace, that the bad cells are gone and only good ones are rebuilding. His hair is about 2/3 gone. He sends his love and appreciation to everyone.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sept. 22 (Monday)
Each day is getting a little bit better. Joel is eating more and walking around the halls. His voice is very weak because of hoarseness and sores. His hair is now falling out fairly quickly. We have such wonderful nurses and staff here and one of the nurses told me she thought he looked cute! So, between my big fat "chick" suit and his balding head, we really make a weird looking couple. But,as long as we're still a couple, I'm happy with that. Every day he improves gets us that much closer to going home, which still may be another 2 weeks away. All that will depend on his counts rising to close to normal. We are praying for the earliest release possible. Thanks again for all your prayers.
Each day is getting a little bit better. Joel is eating more and walking around the halls. His voice is very weak because of hoarseness and sores. His hair is now falling out fairly quickly. We have such wonderful nurses and staff here and one of the nurses told me she thought he looked cute! So, between my big fat "chick" suit and his balding head, we really make a weird looking couple. But,as long as we're still a couple, I'm happy with that. Every day he improves gets us that much closer to going home, which still may be another 2 weeks away. All that will depend on his counts rising to close to normal. We are praying for the earliest release possible. Thanks again for all your prayers.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sept. 21 (Sunday)
Today has been a good day. Joel is feeling better and his appetite and taste are beginning to come back. I went to Panera's today and got him a bowl of chicken noodle soup and 1/2 turkey sandwich. He ate all the soup and almost all the sandwich, then had Cheetos for dessert. He walked around the halls twice today and his gastric problems have also seemed to improve. The doctors say he will be up and down with his white cell count and platelets this week and they hope he will experience very slow progress soon. His hair is just beginning to fall out. So much for our hopes that he got his buzz cut for nothing! (And, Patti, I did not wear my "chick" suit to Panera's to get his chicken soup!) He still cannot have visitors so you have no idea how much your cards and prayers mean to him. Thank you all.
Today has been a good day. Joel is feeling better and his appetite and taste are beginning to come back. I went to Panera's today and got him a bowl of chicken noodle soup and 1/2 turkey sandwich. He ate all the soup and almost all the sandwich, then had Cheetos for dessert. He walked around the halls twice today and his gastric problems have also seemed to improve. The doctors say he will be up and down with his white cell count and platelets this week and they hope he will experience very slow progress soon. His hair is just beginning to fall out. So much for our hopes that he got his buzz cut for nothing! (And, Patti, I did not wear my "chick" suit to Panera's to get his chicken soup!) He still cannot have visitors so you have no idea how much your cards and prayers mean to him. Thank you all.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sept. 20 (Saturday)
Joel is still feeling a little better. However, his platelets and red blood cell counts are down and he is receiving whole blood and platelets today. His color is much better and the swellling seems to be slowly going down. His voice is weak today and he says its because he has a lot of sores in his mouth, which, again, is one of those ugly side effects of chemo. But, each day brings us closer to getting well and going home. Thanks again for your prayers.
Joel is still feeling a little better. However, his platelets and red blood cell counts are down and he is receiving whole blood and platelets today. His color is much better and the swellling seems to be slowly going down. His voice is weak today and he says its because he has a lot of sores in his mouth, which, again, is one of those ugly side effects of chemo. But, each day brings us closer to getting well and going home. Thanks again for your prayers.
Sept. 19 (Friday)
Joel is feeling a tiny bit better today. I am now having to wear this beautiful, large yellow gown and gloves. The gowns only come in one size XXXXXXL. I look just like a big fat yellow chick. But, everyone has to do this since his resistance is so low and this is a precaution so that no one brings any germs in. We will have to do this until he goes home. Do you realize how hard it is to type with latex gloves on? He walked a little today around the floor and is eating slightly more than before. I have to make a Chic-Fil-A run every day because he does not like the chicken in the Food Service dept. Today he ate yogurt for breakfast, a half a chicken breast for lunch and yogurt for dinner. He still cannot have any visitors especially during this critical time. I bought him a personal CD player and he has been listening to his favorite Southern Gospel group Signature Sound. He still hasn't lost much of his hair and he was commenting yesterday that wouldn't it be a hoot if he didn't lose his hair after we gave him the buzz cut. I still think he looks great with short hair. But, whatever comes his way, he never complains.
Joel is feeling a tiny bit better today. I am now having to wear this beautiful, large yellow gown and gloves. The gowns only come in one size XXXXXXL. I look just like a big fat yellow chick. But, everyone has to do this since his resistance is so low and this is a precaution so that no one brings any germs in. We will have to do this until he goes home. Do you realize how hard it is to type with latex gloves on? He walked a little today around the floor and is eating slightly more than before. I have to make a Chic-Fil-A run every day because he does not like the chicken in the Food Service dept. Today he ate yogurt for breakfast, a half a chicken breast for lunch and yogurt for dinner. He still cannot have any visitors especially during this critical time. I bought him a personal CD player and he has been listening to his favorite Southern Gospel group Signature Sound. He still hasn't lost much of his hair and he was commenting yesterday that wouldn't it be a hoot if he didn't lose his hair after we gave him the buzz cut. I still think he looks great with short hair. But, whatever comes his way, he never complains.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sept. 18 - Thursday
Joel had a better day today. His feet and legs are still terribly swollen but his jaundice is subsiding. He felt more like talking today. In fact, he was using my cell phone and I couldn't get him to stop talking long enough to use it myself. He is still very weak, but hopefully he will be able to walk some tomorrow. He is beginning to eat just a little, mostly yogurt and still says nothing has any taste. We are now past the 2 week point, which we hope is the halfway mark. He is no longer bleeding but still has gastric problems. His doctors say he is right where he should be in the treatment period and say that the swelling and gastric problems will ease up with time. He has received over 250 cards. We have taped about 150 on his walls and I have at least another 100 + that we cannot find room for. He is reading every one and really is encouraged by your many prayers and concern. Keep praying.
Joel had a better day today. His feet and legs are still terribly swollen but his jaundice is subsiding. He felt more like talking today. In fact, he was using my cell phone and I couldn't get him to stop talking long enough to use it myself. He is still very weak, but hopefully he will be able to walk some tomorrow. He is beginning to eat just a little, mostly yogurt and still says nothing has any taste. We are now past the 2 week point, which we hope is the halfway mark. He is no longer bleeding but still has gastric problems. His doctors say he is right where he should be in the treatment period and say that the swelling and gastric problems will ease up with time. He has received over 250 cards. We have taped about 150 on his walls and I have at least another 100 + that we cannot find room for. He is reading every one and really is encouraged by your many prayers and concern. Keep praying.
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