Oct. 25 (Saturday)
Yesterday ended our 2nd week of chemo treatment. Joel is continuing to improve day by day and so far has still not had any side effects. He still has to limit his exposure to crowds or places where he knows someone may have a cold or virus. He has escaped getting a cold so far. We still have 3 weeks to go in this first round of treatments. These will end Nov. 14 and he will then have 2 weeks of rest before starting the 2nd phase, which will begin in December. We are planning to see the grandchildren during the week of Thanksgiving (provided everyone is well) and we cannot wait! We have missed them so much. We talked to them this morning on the phone and Ethan told us he was going to be Elliott, the little boy from the movie ET. Jodi bought him an original ET doll on E-bay. He will ride his bike and carry ET in the basket on the front. He saw the movie and decided that's what he wants to be. Chloe will be Ariel, the mermaid princess.
Thanks again for all your prayers. We are blessed every day by the progress Joel is making, by the new friends we are making at the hospital, and for the wonderful care each person is giving us. We have met so many Christians who share our feelings about prayer and the blessings God has bestowed on us. Please keep praying that not only will Joel continue to improve,but, through this, we may be a ministry through our faith and our lives.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
October 18 (Saturday)
Yesterday (Friday) marked the end of the first week of 5 weeks of chemo. Joel did very well and did not have any side effects. They left the needle in his port-a-cath the whole week and, after the first day, it did not bother him very much. He just had to be careful not to touch it or let anything or anyone get too close. They removed it and his stitches yesterday and now he can take a full shower and be a little more free to move around. We will start again Monday for the 2nd week of treatments. His brother, Jeter, will be taking him since I have training classes for the upcoming elections. I work for the local election precinct and I feel this is something I really need to do.
We received word this week that a very dear friend of ours who serves on the Association of Christian Schools International board with Joel has been diagnosed with cancer. He has a very good attitude about this and we all pray that God will also touch him as He has touched Joel.
Wednesday evening, our church held a blood drive in Joel's honor. They had a goal of 50 pints and reached that goal. We appreciate all the donors and volunteers who helped make this successful.
We are so grateful for our pastoral staff and friends who have lifted us up in prayer during this time.Please continue to pray for Joel. This is just the beginning of a very long process that will take him until April of 2010 at which time he should be finished with all of the chemo. We are so optomistic that his treatments will be successful and that through all this, God will be glorified and that lives will be touched.
Through these next 4 weeks, I will probably only post once a week unless something changes in the routine. Again, thanks for all your prayers. Joel and I really enjoy reading the comments you are leaving on the blog. Please keep this up as it really brightens our sometime routine days.
Yesterday (Friday) marked the end of the first week of 5 weeks of chemo. Joel did very well and did not have any side effects. They left the needle in his port-a-cath the whole week and, after the first day, it did not bother him very much. He just had to be careful not to touch it or let anything or anyone get too close. They removed it and his stitches yesterday and now he can take a full shower and be a little more free to move around. We will start again Monday for the 2nd week of treatments. His brother, Jeter, will be taking him since I have training classes for the upcoming elections. I work for the local election precinct and I feel this is something I really need to do.
We received word this week that a very dear friend of ours who serves on the Association of Christian Schools International board with Joel has been diagnosed with cancer. He has a very good attitude about this and we all pray that God will also touch him as He has touched Joel.
Wednesday evening, our church held a blood drive in Joel's honor. They had a goal of 50 pints and reached that goal. We appreciate all the donors and volunteers who helped make this successful.
We are so grateful for our pastoral staff and friends who have lifted us up in prayer during this time.Please continue to pray for Joel. This is just the beginning of a very long process that will take him until April of 2010 at which time he should be finished with all of the chemo. We are so optomistic that his treatments will be successful and that through all this, God will be glorified and that lives will be touched.
Through these next 4 weeks, I will probably only post once a week unless something changes in the routine. Again, thanks for all your prayers. Joel and I really enjoy reading the comments you are leaving on the blog. Please keep this up as it really brightens our sometime routine days.
Monday, October 13, 2008
October 13 (Monday)
Today Joel and I went to Baptist for the first day of Phase 2 of his chemo treatments. It took a little longer than it will later so that he could get lab work done and see the doctor. He was a little anxious about the procedure but has since calmed down. The nurse had to "stick" him in the port-a-cath area and that hurt him some. She asked him if he wanted to just leave the needle in and not have to be stuck again and he agreed to try it. He is a little uncomfortable with it, but we'll see how it goes. They would remove it each Friday and then re-insert a new one each Monday. He will continue to get blood drawn and have an EKG every Monday and Thursday. He will see the doctor every Tuesday and Friday.
This chemo should not have many side effects. So far, so good. He is beginning to grow a little fuzz on his head and beard. His weight is continuing to improve and his appetite is too.
We still need a lot of prayers. He still has a long way to go before he can be declared cured. Please continue to pray that he will have little to no side effects and that these treatments will result in his complete remission. We thank all of you for your prayers and support. We really need them.
Today Joel and I went to Baptist for the first day of Phase 2 of his chemo treatments. It took a little longer than it will later so that he could get lab work done and see the doctor. He was a little anxious about the procedure but has since calmed down. The nurse had to "stick" him in the port-a-cath area and that hurt him some. She asked him if he wanted to just leave the needle in and not have to be stuck again and he agreed to try it. He is a little uncomfortable with it, but we'll see how it goes. They would remove it each Friday and then re-insert a new one each Monday. He will continue to get blood drawn and have an EKG every Monday and Thursday. He will see the doctor every Tuesday and Friday.
This chemo should not have many side effects. So far, so good. He is beginning to grow a little fuzz on his head and beard. His weight is continuing to improve and his appetite is too.
We still need a lot of prayers. He still has a long way to go before he can be declared cured. Please continue to pray that he will have little to no side effects and that these treatments will result in his complete remission. We thank all of you for your prayers and support. We really need them.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Oct. 4 (Saturday)
Joel had a little minor surgery yesterday at Baptist to insert the port-a-cath that will enable the IV to be inserted so he will not have to be stuck every time. He did just fine and is a little sore today. He has several stitches that will have to be removed in a week or so and we are now waiting for his first IV chemo treatment which will begin on Monday October 13. We will go to Baptist Monday through Friday for five weeks and then have 2 weeks off before the next 5 weeks of treatments. He is gaining weight and eating much better. I am back at work and he rides with me to get out of the house. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and that his treatments will have no side effects.
Joel had a little minor surgery yesterday at Baptist to insert the port-a-cath that will enable the IV to be inserted so he will not have to be stuck every time. He did just fine and is a little sore today. He has several stitches that will have to be removed in a week or so and we are now waiting for his first IV chemo treatment which will begin on Monday October 13. We will go to Baptist Monday through Friday for five weeks and then have 2 weeks off before the next 5 weeks of treatments. He is gaining weight and eating much better. I am back at work and he rides with me to get out of the house. Please continue to pray for us as we travel and that his treatments will have no side effects.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Oct. 2 (Thursday)
What a wonderful God we have! Joel went to Baptist on Tuesday for a bone marrow test and we received the results yesterday afternoon. The doctor said he is cancer free and in remission! She said their job for the next year is to make sure he remains cancer free. He will still start Phase 2 around the middle of October and will continue to take cancer drugs for the next year. After that, if there are still no cancer cells, he will be considered cured. He is regaining his strength every day and is eating just about anything he wants. Thanks for all your prayers. They really do work!!!!!!
What a wonderful God we have! Joel went to Baptist on Tuesday for a bone marrow test and we received the results yesterday afternoon. The doctor said he is cancer free and in remission! She said their job for the next year is to make sure he remains cancer free. He will still start Phase 2 around the middle of October and will continue to take cancer drugs for the next year. After that, if there are still no cancer cells, he will be considered cured. He is regaining his strength every day and is eating just about anything he wants. Thanks for all your prayers. They really do work!!!!!!
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