We are home from the Pain clinic.  It was a long visit for Randy,  3 hours, but they are very nice and are going to try and get Randy feeling more comfortable.  When we first met the nurse she recognized our last name and said she remembers, from a long time ago, the name.  Found out she graduated with Randy!! 

We learned more from the pain doctor then we have from our oncologist.  He figures the pain and trouble eating Randy is having is because his stomach is squished.  The tumors that are on and around his liver cause inflammation and swelling which could double the tumor size.  This would then push on nerves and the stomach.  The first treatment, plan a, that they recommended is to hit it hard with steroids to reduce the inflammation.  He told us Randy should feel better within 3 -5 days.  We will be calling him on Thursday to let him know how it is going.  If nothing is better we will try plan b.  Not quite sure what that is yet, maybe some nerve blockers or different narcotics.  Fingers crossed this works so Randy can start to feel bit better.

Randy is also being referred to a GI specialist to talk about a stent insertion.  If it is viable, the stent would be put in to help with quality of life.  Randy would not have to spit into a cup anymore.  May or may not be able to eat solid foods.  Will be seeing him next week. 

That's all for now. 

Gracious God,
You have given us many healing remedies
that are a benefit to us when we are sick.
Through the miraculous intercession of St. Anthony,
we ask Your blessing upon the medication prescribed for
Randy
so that he may experience healing,
and be restored to full health in mind and body.

Amen.

 

It's been a bit since I updated the blog so here goes:

Randy is still suffering with lot's of abdominal pain and pain through out his body.  The only relief he gets is when he is able to find a comfortable position and fall asleep.  The nurse told us that the pain clinic should be able to help but it may take trial and error to get the right combination of medicine to work.  I am praying that they get it right quickly as it is very, very difficult to watch Randy suffer so much.  Our appointment is on Tuesday at 1:15pm at the Foothills Hospital.

He is still struggling to eat.  Was doing 2 - 3 cans a night but these past few nights he could not tolerate any as he is in so much pain.  Does manage to sip on chicken/beef broth through out the day and keep up on his water intake.

Dan's graduation banquet was this Saturday and Randy so wanted to attend but was unable to.  We surely missed having him there to celebrate this awesome accomplishment.  It suck's so bad that this disease has to ruin special moments for Randy.  We all had a good cry and allowed ourselves to work through the anger and sadness.  It was good to release these feelings which allowed Dan to have a good time.  He worked hard these past two years!!


Our next big event will be Andrew's 18th birthday and graduation in May.  My prayers are that the pain clinic doctor's will help Randy so he can attend these special moments. 

Lord Jesus Christ, by your patience in suffering you hallowed earthly pain

and gave us the example of obedience to your Father's will:

Be near me in my time of weakness and pain;

 sustain me by your grace, that my strength and courage may not fail;

 heal me according to your will; and help me always to believe that what happens to me here is of little account if you hold me in eternal life, my Lord and my God. 

Amen.

 

Things have not improved much for Randy.  The pain does not go away.  It can go from a constant ache to sharp shooting pains so to try and diminish it Randy sleeps a lot.  Our home care nurse is coming on Thursday to see what can be done.  Randy doesn't have much hope they can do anything for him but will keep trying what ever we can.  We are also having the Physiotherapist come to see him.  Maybe he can try acupuncture or massage to try to ease some of the pain.  He is willing to try anything.

We have good news,  Dan has been offered a job with Avmax Aviation Services here in Calgary.  He accepted the offer yesterday!!  This is truly a wonderful opportunity for him as be begins his career in Aviation Maintenance.  Thanks for all the added prayers.

 Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, for health and for grace. May we live this and every day conscious of all that has been given to us.

Randy started his new chemo treatment on Wednesday Apr 2.   Takes an hour now instead of three.  He did, and is still going through some of the side effects which are flu like symptoms and joint pain.  Wednesday afternoon/evening they started and continue till today.  He feels bit better today.  The fatigue is back too.  This new chemo drug is going to also, pretty certain, cause Randy to lose his hair, eyebrows and possibly his eye lashes.  He has already lost some of his hair but the doctor warned us it will all go now.  He will have 3 cycles of this new drug and then a CT scan to see if it is doing anything.

He continues to struggle with stomach/lower abdomen pain.  The morphine does not help that.  If it becomes unbearable we will call our home care nurse.  So far Randy feels he can handle it.  It's a constant annoyance for him.  We do have an appointment now with the pain clinic on April 15th.

“Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for this day. Thank You for blessing us with it and in it another opportunity to serve You. Thank You for being the light in this dark world. We thank You for the enormous blessings that You send our way. Thank You for the opportunity to serve others in Your name. 

 

I lift up all cancer patients to you. Please be with them and give them comfort and peace during this battle. They need Your care and attention. Please be with them in this journey and where it’s Your will, bring about healing to their bodies. Please be with their families as well as they join their loved ones on this journey. 

 

Amen

Our visit with the doctor today was another long day for Randy.  We talked about the CT scan that was done on March 19th.  I'm afraid it was not very good news.  The tumors have not shrunk much and the ones on the liver have increased 25%.  In talking with Dr. Tam they expect a 30 - 35% decrease in tumor size with the treatment plan Randy was on.  Randy has decided to stop the current chemo treatment of the 3 drugs and start the second line chemo treatment.  It will be one drug administered every 3 weeks thru the IV port and will start this Wednesday.  There will still be side effects for Randy but the new chemo drug, Docetaxel, is a bit easier on the body and hopefully the side effects aren't as severe.  Still hoping and praying it will either halt the tumor growth or even shrink them. 

We decided that quality of life is more important then quantity.  The 3 drug plan was knocking the S**T out of Randy so he did not have much "quality" of life.  These past two weeks have been so nice.  Randy is a bit more like his old self.  Still gets tired but at least he's a bit more awake for longer stretches of time.

Dr. Tam is also sending Randy to the Pain Clinic to see if they can help control the stomach pain better.  The morphine does not alleviate it at all.  Every time Randy hiccups its like a knife being stuck into his side.  He hiccups every time he moves positions!!

The CT scan is not needed on Wednesday and will be re-scheduled in two months time to see how the new chemo drug is doing. 

Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers. 

O Merciful Infant Jesus!
I know of Your miraculous deeds for the sick.
How many diseases You cured during Your blessed life on earth,
and how many venerators of Your Miraculous image
ascribe to You their recovery
and deliverance from most painful and hopeless maladies.
I know, indeed, that a sinner like me
has merited his sufferings
and has no right to ask for favoUrs.
But in view of the innumerable graces
and the miraculous cures granted
even to the greatest sinners
through the veneration of Your holy infancy,
particularly in the miraculous statue of Prague
or in representations of it,
I exclaim with the greatest assurance:
O most loving Infant Jesus, full of pity,
You can cure me if You will!
Do not hesitate, O Heavenly Physician,
if it be Your will
that I recover from this present illness;
extend Your most holy hands,
and by Your power take away all pain and infirmity,
so that my recovery may be due,
not to natural remedies,
but to You alone.
If, however, You in Your inscrutable wisdom
have determined otherwise,
then at least restore my soul to perfect health,
and fill me with heavenly consolation and blessing,
that I may be like You, O Jesus,
in my sufferings,
and may glorify Your providence until,
at the death of my body,
You bestow on me eternal life.

Amen.

Since Monday Randy has started having tummy troubles again, the issue has never really been resolved.  He says its like a constant ache, he has been struggling to eat.  He did weigh himself and gained some weight back, which is great.  Our nurse, Jodi, was here on Wednesday and said to keep up with the routine that was established while in the hospital but this could be how it is as they are unsure what is causing it.  Not sure if the CT will tell them anything??  Guess we will find out Monday.

The time has flown by.  Dan will be graduating from SAIT, has started to apply for jobs and go for interviews, another one next Wednesday.   Andrew turns 18 and graduates from High School and Matthew will have successfully finished grade 10.  Seems like yesterday they were all toddlers enjoying being kids without the stresses of growing up!!

It has been 5 days since Randy was in the hospital.  He is doing a bit better.  More energy and less lightheadedness. We've talked for longer in these last 5 days then in the past few months.   The kids are happy to have him more alert.  He has been walking around the house scaring me, it's been a few months since he had the energy to do this.  Sometimes I come into the living room and he's gone somewhere.....lol    Still working on his model.  Does a little bit at a time then rests. 

The feeding is still a bit of a struggle, his bloating has become less severe but he still gets pain later during the night.  Has to stop feeding.  At least he is eating every night.  :)

He is scheduled for another CT scan on Apr 2nd to see how not having chemotherapy has affected the tumors compared to the last CT done on Wed March 19th. 

Please pray the tumors have not grown so much. 

Almighty and Eternal God,
You are the everlasting health of those who believe in You.
Hear us for Your sick servant Randy
for whom we implore the aid of Your tender mercy,
that being restored to bodily health,
he may give thanks to You in Your Church.
Through Christ our Lord.

 

Amen