November 2008 Archives

Last Saturday was the Yard/Bake sale fundraiser that our friends, and members of our ward held for us.  It was an amazing day.  Luc wanted to be there from the time it opened.  When we arrived we were overwhelmed with all the items that had been donated.  There were also quite a few people already in attendance.  It was so fun to see so many people come throughout the day.  Even Ron's 86-year-old grandparents attended.  It was such a boost to our morale to see all the people that care for and support us.

We feel so blessed to live in such a unified community.  Even the mayor's office has become involved.  We want to thank all of you who were involved in any way.  The gratitude we feel is inexpressible.

I loved hearing comments, throughout the day, of how helpful this was for others as well.  I heard mothers say how many great clothes items they found for their kids.  One of the things that made me feel so good was that this fundraiser not only benefitted our family, but many other groups as well.  The clothes that were left over are going to a village in Mexico this winter (50 garbage bagsful), the leftover coats went to the city's coat drive, the leftover stuffed animals went to a family who is doing a service project for the kids at Shriner's Hospital, the leftover suits and suit coats went to the homeless shelter to help those who are getting back into the workforce, and all other items were donated to the D.I.

It was truly an amazing day.  We literally saw the "body" of Christ at work.  We were ministered to in every way.  It will be one of those never-to-forget memories.

Marley

P.S. The flyer below is from some friends that I work with in my real estate office (actually they were my friends even before any of us went into real estate) who wanted to help.

Luc is doing so much better today. He feels happy and has a bit of an appetite back.  He is so excited for two things.  The first is for the yard sale tomorrow.  There had to be a little change and they have to have it outside.  That is a good thing for Luc because it is safer for him to be outside, less chance of him "catching" a bug.  The second is a wild boar hunt that has been arranged for him and his grandpa next Saturday.

We have been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that we have received from encouraging comments on this website, e-mails, meals, to everyone who is contributing their time and things for the yard sale.  Our ward, from what I understand, has been amazing.  It doesn't surprise me because I have seen them in action.  They are true disciples of the Savior.

We are enjoying the beginning of, what we hope will feel like, a L-O-N-G break from the hospital.  It came at such a great time.  We feel very positive and grateful for the challenges we have.  I had a thought the other day.  Even if we can't feel grateful for what we are in the midst of now, we can certainly look forward with faith and be grateful for the Lord's purposes being fulfilled in us.  We know we will look back and see how far we have come and how different we are and be so grateful for those changes in us.  I love the quote by C.S. Lewis called The Living House:

It's been a rough couple of days.  Luc has been open to trying pretty much everything to alleviate the nausea.  He ends up more nauseous than before.  We are now trying some aromatherapy and I am going to contact someone that lives in our old neighborhood who may be able to help me with some accupressure.  If he can just endure this then he will be able to enjoy the holidays and not think about any of this.

This morning a high school singing group came to perform a few songs.  They were singing in the hall.  Luc was too sick to go out, but I went out.  There was just one little girl, about 4 years old, just standing mesmerized in the middle of the hall.  The group was singing "I Can Only Imagine" (which is one of my favorite songs).  A few of the teens were almost too choked up to sing.  It was a very touching scene.  It was all I could do to choke back my own tears.  I know that these kids up here are in the presence of "the Son" even though they can't see Him with their eyes.  He would never allow them to do this alone.  What a wonderful world it will be when He reigns and there is no more suffering!!

Marley

I am so proud of Luc.  He did so much better Thursday night and Friday morning than he usually does.  He stayed much calmer and tried to focus on positive things and the things he has to look forward to.  His nurse, Mitch, and the Child Life Specialist, Mike, also noticed how much calmer he was.  This made accessing his port and preparation so much easier.

Dr. Lemons came in to see us yesterday.  He gave Luc an early Christmas gift.  He told Luc that, after this treatment, he gets a break for the holidays.  He doesn't have to have his next treatment until January!!!!!  Luc had a perma-grin on his face.  I'm with Luc, I could not be happier.  In January he will have another MRI to see if there has been any tumor progression. 

Luc decided to allow them to give him the "sleepy" meds because he wanted to just sleep through his treatment.  These meds are for nausea, but seem to cause Luc to be more nauseated.  At least he can sleep more and the time will pass more quickly for him.  It took him a little longer to get hydrated this time and so I hope we will be able to go home on Tuesday.

Ron is doing very well in his training in NY.  He has received a 92% on both the tests he has taken so far.  We really miss him and can't wait for him to arrive home on Friday.

Cecilia and Zac are being spoiled by their grandparents while we are in the hospital.  I am so grateful for their willingness to help us.  They love their grandkids so much and so their grandkids love spending time with them.

I am so grateful to be a mother.  There could be no greater blessing than being entrusted with these "noble and great ones" of our Father in Heaven.  What a sacred honor and responsibility it is.

Marley 

Yesterday was a really rough day.  Luc has been having stomach pain.  It was really bad on Monday.  Yesterday morning he started having it again.  On the way to the hospital it became excruciating for him.  I called the oncology clinic to see if they could ask the doctor if they could have some pain meds ready for him when we got there.  We went straight up to clinic when we arrived.  Luc was just writhing in agony.  After about 40 minutes they were able to access his port and give him something for pain.  They called a surgeon over to examine him because they thought he may be having appendicitis.  He ended up having a CT scan of the stomach and bowel area.  It was extremely painful because of the way they had to give the contrast.  Luckily the appendics looked normal, so we avoided a surgery. 

Later that afternoon they were able to get him in to have the MRI.  After that they admitted him and we got to a room with a bed.  He had been through so much that they decided to watch him overnight and give him i.v. fluids and some i.v. meds for the stomach pain.  The dr.s think that the pain is caused by one of the medications he takes at home in-between chemo treatments.  It can cause inflamation of the stomach lining and ulcers.  A combination of this and his anxiety is most likely what caused the intense pain.  This morning Dr. Lemons came to see us.  He recommended that we postpone the treatment a week.  He wants to try to get the stomach healed and for Luc to regain some of his strength.  Luc was happy to hear that.  He was so weak he didn't feel like he could take having the treatment after all he had been through.  So, we are home.  We are glad to be here.  It was a very long day yesterday.

Dr. Lemons gave us the results of the MRI this morning.  The tumor is slightly larger, but he said that the growth could have come in the time between the last MRI and when we started the chemo.  He said he was encouraged by the report because the rate of growth has been drastically diminished.  Hopefully at the next MRI we will actually see some shrinkage.

Ron is leaving tomorrow for a 2 week training for his job in New York.  We will miss him so much.

Marley