It has been a rough week for Randy. He is still struggling to eat.  His stomach is always bloated.  The doctors plan with the new medication is not working to well.  He started with it on Saturday (3 day after chemo treatment) and every time he takes it he is very nauseous and does throw up.  He has taken the new medicines 4 times now and has decided to stop as it is so awful.  I will be phoning the nurse tomorrow to see what we can do now. 


When we were at the doctor's last Monday they really could not give a good explanation for the bloated feeling.  Could be from the chemo, could be from the cancer so the CT scan will give them some answers  see if the cancer has spread to his stomach.  I will be asking tomorrow if some other tests could be done faster because I'm not sure how much longer he can go on with this.  He is very weak and has not much strength left. 

On Friday we had palliative home care come to the house.  We now have a nurse who is there to support us in anyway we need.  Her name is Jodi and is very nice.  With this program we have access to all kinds of help.  Their main goal is to keep the patient at home for as long as possible.  I feel like we now have another advocate for us who we can reach out for help.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                

What they do:

 The Palliative Care Consult Team is comprised of specially trained physicians, nurses and other health care professionals who assist patients and their families with management of complex symptom distress related to palliative needs.
Services they provide:
The Palliative Care Consult Team provides assessment and recommendations for management of complex issues related to palliative care needs, including:

• complex pain and symptom management
• psychosocial or spiritual distress for the patient or family 
• education needs of the patient or family 
• difficult end of life decision making 
• coordination of resources 
• complex discharge planning. 

The team may also be involved in assisting in the transition to an alternate setting of care (i.e. hospice, or continuing care). The team is available to provide specialized education and support to other health care providers regarding palliative care issues.

Almighty and Everlasting God, the eternal salvation of those who believe in You, hear us on behalf of Your servants who are sick, for whom we humbly beg the help of your mercy, so that, being restored to health, they may render thanks to you in your Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Have finished the appointments for this week.  We had the blood work and doctor's visit on Monday at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.

Randy was down some more in weight as he continues to struggle with eating.  The doctor has given him two new medicines to help.  One is a pill to take 1/2 before eating to help the stomach drain the food faster into the intestines.  The other is thru needles, 3 times a day, to help the "bowel mobility" as morphine and the cancer cause the bowels to stop working. 

I'll have to make a chart to keep track of all his medicines and when to take them......

It was the "big" chemo day today so Randy has decided to wait with the new medications for 3 days until he is done with all the anti-nausea drugs.  Doesn't want to do to much to his body.  Let the chemo do its thing then he can start fresh on Saturday with the new routine.

We will be going for a CT scan at the end of March to see how the new dosage of chemo is doing.  Pray for positive results so this struggle Randy is going through will be worth it!! 


May all be loved.
May all be healed.
May all be sheltered.
May all be free from fear.

May I be loved.
May I be healed.
May I be sheltered.
May I be free from fear.

Amen

May all be loved.
May all be healed.
May all be sheltered.
May all be free from fear.
My I be loved.
May I be healed.
May I be sheltered.
May I be free from fear.


Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/chatteringmind/2007/02/prayers-that-help-with-chemo.html#ixzz2vnrIWlPn

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/chatteringmind/2007/02/prayers-that-help-with-chemo.html#qx14YlU2sOZGwZ33.99

May all be loved.
May all be healed.
May all be sheltered.
May all be free from fear.
My I be loved.
May I be healed.
May I be sheltered.
May I be free from fear.


Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/chatteringmind/2007/02/prayers-that-help-with-chemo.html#ixzz2vnrIWlPn

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/chatteringmind/2007/02/prayers-that-help-with-chemo.html#qx14YlU2sOZGwZ33.99

May all be loved.
May all be healed.
May all be sheltered.
May all be free from fear.
My I be loved.
May I be healed.
May I be sheltered.
May I be free from fear.


Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/chatteringmind/2007/02/prayers-that-help-with-chemo.html#ixzz2vnrIWlPn

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/chatteringmind/2007/02/prayers-that-help-with-chemo.html#qx14YlU2sOZGwZ33.99



Here are the group photos we took on Randy's Birthday of all who came over for a visit.



 

 

Back:  Kim, Randy, Bill, Sheila, Brad, Conor, Jennifer, Owen, Kelly, Declan, Danny

Front:  Andrew, Dan, Matthew, Allysha, Clare.



Back:  Tim, Randy, Kim, Glen, Jeff, Kyle, Shelly

Front:  Rhonda Matthew, Andrew, Dan, Jaret.

Well our appointments for this week are done.  Randy still is not doing well.  Very weak.  He has no energy or muscle strength.  Walking out to the car takes all his effort.  Please pray for strength for him.  He continues to struggle to eat.  Some nights he can other's he can't.  I worry about this because as a mom we are always making sure everyone has eaten.  Hard not to push him.  His swallowing still has not gotten much better. 

We have out doctor's appointment on Monday March 10th.  This also includes blood work at the hospital.  So another long day for Randy.  Have to go to lab 1.5 hours before the appointment.  This is not enough time to come home so it's sitting around at the hospital waiting.   :(

We celebrated Randy's 48th birthday this past weekend in the FREEZING cold.  Jeff, Shelly, Kyle & Jaret Pawelko, Tim & Rhonda Frizzell and Glen Puschner came over Friday evening.  Had dinner and nice visit with them all.  Thanks for "cooking" you guys.

Mom & Dad Orr, Brad, Jennifer, Clare & Conor Orr, Danny, Kelly, Allysha, Declan & Owen Marshall came over Saturday afternoon.  Had lunch and a nice visit with them all.  Thanks for the meat/cheese platter Jennifer.  Thanks to all of you for braving the cold to come out and visit with us.

Randy handled all the company like a trooper.  Was worn out on Sunday so we had a "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie marathon.  Hunkered down nice and warm on the couch!!

I want to say a big "Thank you" to Glen's mom, Hilda Puschner.  She has been cooking our meals every Wednesday for the last month or so to help us out.  She lost her husband to cancer and knows what we're going through and wants to offer what help she can.  Wednesday's are chemo days so this helps a lot plus she is a very good cook.  Her meals are delicious and always includes a desert, for the sweet tooth I have.....lol...

Hoping this finds you all well.  Thanks for praying for us.

“The sun shall always rise upon a new day and there shall always be a rose garden within me. Yes, there is a part of me that is broken, but my broken soil gives way to my wild roses.”
― C. JoyBell C.

Randy: 

You are an amazing person and the best friend of mine. May God give you all his love and warmth in every step of yours. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday! Love you!

 

 

I was able to speak to the nurse and we made a plan to help Randy.  It worked and he has been feeling a tiny bit better.   The past 3 nights he has been able to eat a little.  2 cans then 2.5 cans and then 3 cans.  Still feels bloated in the morning but at least he's getting some nutrients.

When we were at the hospital on Wednesday for the bottle change Randy's blood pressure was low.  As we talked with nurse I told her he had not been having enough fluids and asked if they could hang a bag of saline.  They got the ok from the doctor so he had a bag to help hydrate him.  Said he felt better after that.  While we were there Randy was drinking some Ginger Ale.  On the ride home his tummy was suddenly not good.  Probably shouldn't have drunk the Ginger Ale, to fizzy.....

Good new he is able to take 3 sips of juice all at once compared to the 1 small sip he was able to last week.  He so wants to be able to have a glass of water he can "gulp" down.  Small steps are very encouraging.

He has been feeling a bit down this past week.  So tired of the pain and not feeling well.  Would like one day where he feels normal.  If we could add this to the prayers you are all saying that would be great.


Gentle Jesus, who cured the sick and laid a healing hand upon the lame, the blind and the handicapped, look with compassion upon me in my suffering. If it is not your Will to cure me, then give me strength to bear my burden and offer it up to You. You suffered so much for me. Give me grace to offer my sufferings in union with Your own, in reparation for my sins and those of others, for the needs of this troubled world, and for the release of the souls in purgatory. Mary, compassionate Mother, pray for your weary child. Health of the Sick, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for me. Amen.

It has been a rough few days for Randy.  His stomach has not been cooperating and is still very crampy and full feeling (bloated).  Has not eaten the last few days as even having water causes pain and cramps.  The kids and I are worried and struggle because there is nothing we can do to help him.

A wonderful thing happened today...... our family doctor, Dr Bhatla, stopped by the house to see Randy.  We discussed what was happening and he helped us figure out why this is happening.  The regime the oncologist has him on is good but the Lactulose and Lax-a-day are not quite what he needs as the are just "softeners".  The Doctor explained how your stomach, when normal, fluctuates when digesting food and pushes it on its way to the intestines and such.  Morphine stops this action, causing your stomach and intestines to be still  He suggested talking to the nurse/oncologist about using a laxative that "stimulates mobility" in the gut.  So first thing in the morning I will call the nurse to ask for suggestions to use.  Dr. Bhatla wanted us to check first with them as he does not want to interfere with the chemotherapy and they would know best what to use. 


Randy continues to have no energy and spends most of the day sleeping.  He has lost his strength and struggles with stairs and getting out to the car.  We are hoping that once we get his stomach settled he will start eating again and build up his strength.

The only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next.  ~Mignon McLaughlin

Our prayers have been working!!!  Today's doctor visit was good. The results from the CT scan were positive.  Some of the tumors have shrunk and some have stayed the same and just a few have grown.  The original tumor in his esophagus has shrunk by 1.2 mm.  YEAH!!!  Bit of a mixed bag but the doctor was pleased with the results and Randy will continue with his chemo treatments.  He was only at 70% dosage so they are going to increase it by 10% as Randy is handling it well.  This will start tomorrow.  Our appointment is at 8:45 am.  Please say a prayer at that time to ask for the chemo to do it's job. 

The blood clots that were in his lungs have disappeared and the ones in his leg and lower abdomen are still there but not moved or grown.  His body will eventually take care of them. 

Has lost some more weight since last visit due to his eating issues but slowly he is starting to eat again, which should help him gain a bit back.  Last few nights he has been able to have 3 cans.  GO RANDY GO!!! 

Love to all.

                               'Lord,

                                I love you and I need you,

                                come into my heart, and bless me,

                                my family, my home, and my friends,

                                in Jesus' name.

                                Amen.'