Miracles DO happen!

Mom got the results today from her CT done on February 24th, 2008.

Findings: No clinical evidence of ANY metastatic disease is present. This includes, lungs, mediastinum, liver....everywhere!

She is officially in complete remission! After 5 years in remission, she will be considered cured!

Keep them prayers coming for her!

Dr. Madden will be keeping a very close eye on her, appointments every month and very frequent CT scans. We asked about prophalactic chemo treatments and unfortunately there are no chemo's developed for maintanance of this type of cancer. Dr. Madden is very pleased with how well she has responded to chemo and appears very optimistic. He told mom that she needs to live each day like she was given a second chance at life. He mentioned that there is only a handful of people with this type of cancer that he gets the opportunity to give such good news to.

I think we can all agree that this is nothing short of a miracle....looking back at where she was at her first doctors appointment on October 28th, to where she is today...only 4 months later. Amazing!

Here is a picture of mom and me on the way home from the doctors appointment.

Add on to Movie Day

I tried to edit Movie Day at my house but I couldn;t figure it out . So I'll do a new post.

I realized after I posted it , that I had said nothing about the movie lol.
I bought Mary Poppins & with Jeannies help we put it together for the girls . ( Derrick was not interested). Anyways we had drinks , popcorn . scoops, cheese , & Denise done up a plate of cheese sticks w/ sauce ( ohhhhhhhhhh yummy ). The girls stayed interested for a good while then they started goofing off . That was ok tho we just goofed off with them . We had a ball. They had fun trying on my wigs , dancing around & of course making a mess. Best mess I ever had to clean up .
Jeannie or I one will be back in a day or so with my results from my CTScan done Tuesday . My appointment is with Dr. Madden at11:30 today. I'm scared , I don't know really how to explain it because it seems no matter whatI hear I'm scared . Be back soon hope you all have a great T.G.I.F. !!!!!@

Movie Day at my house

This is a pic of my 3 granddaughters & my 3 nieces ( my younger brothers girls who passed away 3-02 will be 1 year ) & of coure me .

LOL Jeannie is taking the pic so she don't see her.

This is what I call making memory's .

On 1-29 I went to the ER by ambulance I had a very severe pain shoot from my lower right back up to my shoulder . Well I happen to have been on the phone with Jeannie when it happened , next thing I knew it her & Emmy Belle were here and she called 911. Well it turned out to be really nothing , said I may have just turned the wrong way or something but called it a pulled muscle . Then on 2-04 I had a fever of 101.8. Carlos checks me every morning before he goes to work .So E.R. again ( 2x in 6 days ) I was admitted pneumonia both lungs but the left had more but it was still not alot. Spent 1 week in the " Big House"

I had had a head cold for a couple weeks , I thought I could get rid of it on my own. Carlos and Jeannie both were on me to go to the doctors but I told them 1 more day . Well I will never do that again . I have to realize with cancer you do not treat anything on your own. Besides $25.00 co-pay sure would have been cheaper then 7 days in the hospital.

Now for what may be some good news . I just finished cycle 6 of chemo today . So I am set up for a CTscan on 2-24 results with Dr. Madden on 2-27 and this could very well be the appointment that he puts me as stable . They will have to watch me closely ( not sure how that will be done but I quarentee I will know on the 27 th lol ) Wow it just seems to have gone so fast . By the time I get these results , It will only be 4 months since I was diagnoised . To go back and read the beginning of this blog to now . WOW I have come 1 helluva long way .

Thank- you everyone for keeping up with this and again and always thankyou all so much for all the thoughts and prayers I love you all

Did you know.....

That November was National Lung Cancer Awareness month? I just found that out today.
Ironically Mom spent the whole month of November in the hospital after just being diagnosed with Lung Cancer.

CT Update - Friday January 16th 2009

GREAT NEWS!
Mom went to see Dr. Madden today for the results of her CT scan earlier this week. I am pleased to announce the the results were beyond amazing! The report shows "significant to near complete resolution of previous mediastinal (chest) and hilar (lung) adenopathy. Lungs are completely clear. She still has seven tiny subcentimeter low density lesions on her liver but the doctor seems very confident that with the next two chemo's those should be gone as well. He will do another scan at the end of the second chemo to see where that stands then they will just watch her very closely ....no more chemo! Woot Woot!! I asked if she would be considered in remission after the chemo is over and he said that he could almost say NOW that she is in remission (not yet though). So, she isn't quite yet in remission but so damn close I can smell it! lol
Her heart is normal sized now. The first scan she had (on 10-17-08) showed it was enlarged due to the pulmonary hypertension. Since that huge mass that was sitting on her pulmonary arteries is gone the hypertension and cardiomegaly is resolved!! YAY!
This is the best news we could have gotten (aside from having complete remission of course).
Dr. Madden mentioned that had we not gotten ahead of the cancer when we did she would not have made it. Her recovery from when she was first diagnosed until now has been miraculous!

Alot of the reason for this blog about me

Yes this sign is on my back door, and not an ashtray to be seen once you are inside. Anyone who knows me knows I always said that would never happen in my home , guess the old saying is right never say never because you never know.

The other pic is just what Jeannie said it was its a reminder of my fight . I know that the good lord has given me a 2nd chance at life ,because I made it threw to Thanksgiving. I don't believe they had to much hope that I would. So ... This fight is between me and the devil ( cigarettes). In my mind I think that because I made it threw that bad time , that if I do light up a cigarette the good lord is going to say , "I gave you a chance you blew it , you let the devil win" and poof I'll be gone because I will choke to death on that puff I obviously just had to have. So what you are seeing in that pic sits on my entertainment center so I am always seeing it . I also keep an open pack with a lighter in my purse , I take it out sometimes open it smell it even have taken the lighter out , but then I put it right back again . LOL

I have had long hair for years and when I knew I had to go threw chemo I knew my braid had to be cut off . Thats what you see hanging with the beads on it , I wore it for dang near 18 years ( it hung down the left side of my head) Well Jeannie hated it was always hoping someone would cut it off me , Well I told her she had to do it of course then she didn't want to lol . Well she had Derrick and Shea with her so I told her all 3 of them could take a cut at it . Oh the gleam in Sheas eyes really scared me , she was ready . LOL Anyways Derrick had his snip and Jeannie finished it off (I believe she had the last cut , rough days back then bad memory)

Hope this was not to boring . Jeannie is much better at this stuff then me. I hope my pics come out ok . I'll find out in a minute .

I want to thank everyone again so much for all the thoughts and prayers. One of us will repost after the 16th to update Dr. Madden's visit and ct results.

Guess we were thinking about the same thing today Jeannie

I do have 1 correction to make on yours tho , This is just round 4 of chemo. Yes it has been 71 days of no smoking and no 1 is more surprised then me ( after 43 years and for a long time a 2 pack a dayer.)
I do feel good , I tire pretty easily some days , but thats ok
I am set up for another ct scan on Jan. 13th . The results from it will be on that Friday the 16th . I hope my blood work being so good the last 2 times , is an indication that things are going ok . I only hope and pray .
I also have to tell about my lunch date today . Bailey invited me for a bologna sandwich awhile ago but today it came together. She made the sandwiches herself,& she served it to me with a glass of milk. It was really nice , next time I guess its my turn at my house lol lol Gotta love them !!!!

Is there anybody out there?

Yikes! Looks like I've been neglecting the blog! The good news is that there hasn't been too much to report on. Mom has been doing so well at home! Tomorrow she'll be starting round 5 of her chemo. She has been tolerating them so well....her bloodwork is coming back great and everything.
She is on day 71 without a cigarette. Yes, you read that correctly SEVENTY-ONE days! I am so proud of her!!!! She still keeps her cigarettes around but only to remind her of her fight. I'll let her post later to tell everyone what she's done with them lol.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I'm glad to be getting back to a somewhat normal routine!!

Until next time!
Jeannie

This is from Jo-Anne

Hello everyone . Jeannie showed me how to come on here and make my own little notes, which I feel are long overdo. I would like to thank each and everyone of you's that have taken the time to come on here and keep up with my progress. My daughter has done an outstanding job on this blog and I can't thank her enough. I appreciate all the love and prayers that are being sent my way . Thank you all from the bottom of my heart

Doctor appointment update and some other ramblings

Well, the doctor appointment went well! All of her bloodwork came back good and Paula could not believe how much better she looked then the day that they admitted her. After she went to the doctor, Me. Farrah Bailey, Emily and Mom went to our favorite shrimp place (The Harbor Inn) and had lunch. Man was it good! The last few times we went we were a bit disappointed bt they pulled through for us this time!! Yummy yum yum!!

Mom went the other day and bought her some hair! She said she doesn't mind being bald but would rather have something to cover her head when going to the store and stuff so she did and it looks fabulous!! Of course, you know I will attach a picture. ;)

Oh yea, Chemo is set up for December 17th and after that she will have another scan to see how things are progressing on the inside!

Until next time!

Jeannie

Farrah and Jo....don't they both look great???!!!

Update, Sunday December 7th

Hello All!

Sorry it is taking me so long to update again.

Mom got out of the hospital on Wednesday! She has done so well since she's been out. She tells me some days that she's having an "August Day", which means she feels as good as she did in August lol. It is wonderful how quickly she is gaining her strength back. She's now able to do small tasks such as light housework etc. I know it must feel so good to her to be able to get back to doing things that would have been nearly imposible 6-8 weeks ago. Since being out of the hospital she has had an unsatiable appetite! She reported to me this morning that it is starting to slow down a bit. At her lowest weight she was down to 108 pounds and now she is back up to 120! WONDERFUL. She may kill me for posting how much she weighs though hehe.

Mom has an appiontment with Dr. Madden on Wednesday...I will report back as soon as we get home to give an update on how she is doing medically! :-)


You know I can't go this long without an update without posting at least one picture. Shea had her winter dance Friday night and we stopped by mom's house before we went. Here is a pic of Shea and Granny!

COMING HOME TODAY!

More details later!! :-)

New pictures!

I asked Farrah to please get a picture of her and the girls with "Jo" the next time she visited the hospital for the blog and she did!
Mom can't wait to get out of the hospital so she can start getting her daily visits from "all her kids" again! I'm positive that Kimmie and Taylor (and Farrah too) are missing their visits with her every day as well!

Here are some pics of Jo with the girls~

December 2nd Update

Well, chemo effects are starting to hit but it doesn't look like it's going to keep her away from home for too much longer. She has a bit of diarrhea so she can't come home today but as soon as that clears up she is COMING HOME! What a wonderful day that will be! I'm sure that little 8x8 room (it might be bigger but it sure doesn't seem to be at times) is starting to close in on her. Especially now that she is feeling so good and wanting to be up and about more. 5 weeks is way too long to be stuck up in a little tiny hospital room.
I must say though, she has had wonderful care. The nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and techs are so nice and caring. I know mom will miss alot of the staff.
Some of the nurses have even expressed how remarkable mom's recovery has been. It is quite amazing looking back at how sick she was.

"However long the night, the dawn will break."
Author: African Proverb

Sorry no new updates

Hello all....

I'm so sorry there has been no updates on mom for a couple of days.
I've been a frequent flier at the ER, battling gallstones since Friday afternoon and haven't been able to visit. I've talked to her on the phone a couple of times.... she sounds wonderful and tells me that she is feeling great! I hope the doc sends her home soon...I know that would make her feel even better!

I promise a more informative update after the doctor visits her tomorrow morning. :-)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

~Jeannie

Thanksgiving Day.....

Was Fabulous! Mom is still talking about what a wonderful day she had yesterday! We all (Matt, Debbie, Pam, Jim, Dodie, Bree, Me, Trey, Derrick, Shea, Bailey and Emily) all piled in the car(s) after dinner and headed to the hospital. We fixed Carlos and my mom up with a ton of food and then brought Thanksgiving to them. I told her that if she couldn't make it to dinner we would bring the dinner to her.

Mom had specific requests....mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, macaroni and cheese and most importantly CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE!

I'll tell you...for a woman that has barely eaten anything in the last 6 weeks she sure had no problem devouring most of her dish and most of the PIE! LMAO! The best thing about it is that everything went down and stayed down! She feels so good today. She has daily weigh in and weighed 3 pounds more today then yesterday! Carlos said he never met a woman that was so happy to put on 3 pounds in one day lol!

If she keeps on like she was yesterday and today she should be home very soon. I just know it!

I took lots of pictures yesterday. The family room was packed so we all congregated at the sitting area next to the elevators. We had a blast hanging out and munching on fruit while mom ate her dinner.

Getting ready for a group shot

Group shot of all of us!
Wheres Waldo......err, JoAnne?

Time for Meds....And Vitals...
Granny gets a picture with Derrick

And of course he doesn't get away without some good ol' Granny lovin'.

The little ones like to ride on the wheelchair

Devouring the Chocolate Cream Pie that Derrick made for her.

Mom and Carlos

Derrick taking a picture of Granny and Poppa

This is what her view is from her hospital room window! Isn't it pretty? You can see Columbia off in the distance.

Wednesday, November 26

Hello all! :-)

No news on the MRI yet. They say, "No news is good news", right?
Mom is starting chemo again today and TPN.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN), is the practice of feeding a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion. The person receives nutritional formulas containing salts, glucose, amino acids, lipids and added vitamins.

Hopefully that TPN can help her to gain some of her strength back. It is a temporary solution....she will continue trying to eat real food and will hopefully be getting a majority of her nutrition from food very soon.

We went to visit briefly this morning. The kids were out of school today so I took the girls with me. We had a really good visit. Mom didn't have a headache this morning. She's been wearing those terry cloth hats to bed and waking up with a headache so she decided to leave it off last night...low and behold, no headache this morning. She may have just been on to something!

Anyway, of course I got a few picture of her and the girls this morning and she told me I could share them on here with everyone.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Today is one month since they admited mom into the hospital and I am very disappointed to report that the doctor will not be releasing her before Thanksgiving. I asked him if she could at least be let out for a couple of hours on Thanksgiving day and he told me that he couldn't do that because he would have to discharge her and then re-admit her and overall he felt like she is much better off staying in the hospital for right now. I can understand that....she has been a very sick lady. He did say that she will more then likely be out for Christmas though (well, goodness...I sure hope so!).
She has been getting frequent headaches...this morning being a bad migraine so he set up another MRI of her brain today. Hopefully that comes back good. Eating is still a major concern. He said that he will probably feed her through the IV starting tomorrow...I'm assuming he meant TPN, but that is nothing more then an assumption. He wants to go ahead and start the 2nd round of Chemo asap even with the other stuff still going on. I think that will probably happen this week as well. I will continue to update as I know more.

Until next time...
Love to all!
Jeannie

Sunday , November 23rd Update

Sorry to leave everyone hangin' on the scope results! Everything looked good except a bit of gastritis (inflamation of the stomach). This could be caused by either some of the medication that she is on or the fact that she hasn't eaten anything significant in weeks. I can't remember what Carlos told me they are doing for it.

I went to the hospital tonight and she was feeling a bit puny again. She was sick to her stomach and just feeling crappy. I hate to see her go from feeling really good the other day to feeling like this again. I hope she is feeling better tomorrow.

Dodie was up there and I managed to get a smile out of mom for a picture with her sis. I practically had to pull teeth (from the both of them) to get smiles but here it is lol. (sorry for all of the torture mom)

Just to show everyone what we have been doing with all the cards....here they are!! :-) We've been hanging them on the outside of her bathroom door in the room so that she can look at them all day from her bed!

And here is the shelf and mirror above her sink in the room.

BTW, she is LOVING all of the comments ya'll are leaving for her!! THANKS!!

Sleepover last night!

Yep! We had a sleepover at the hospital last night! :-) I brought grapes, apples and pretzels....sounds good right? Well, I forgot that mom is on a clear liquid diet until they find out what is going on withher stomach. They are doing a gastroesophageal duodonoscopy today to try to find out why her food isn't moving the way is should. So...I was nothing more then a tease coming in last night with grapes the size of small plums. Mom's mouth was watering just at the sight of them. I left a large container of them in the freezer for her for today when she can eat again. I'm hoping that she enjoys them and they taste as good as they look.
The doctor has her on an appetite stimulant as well as prednisone and both seem to be working well on increasing her appetite. The only problem now is that the food is just sitting on her stomach and not really going anywhere. They realized this the other day when they did the radioactive eggs test. Mom said that she thought she was glowing that night after eating them things (kidding of course lol).
We are hoping to have her home by Thanksgiving. Dr. Madden says that they wont keep her in the hospital for the second round of chemo as long as she is able to eat. Keep your fingers crossed that the scope that she gets today goes well and we can pinpoint what the problem is (and of course that it is an easy fix).

Here is a pic of us from last night! Doesn't she look great?!