Still plugging along

Life is good even with all the cancer fighting.   My CT scan shown no visible sign of cancer right now but my Doctor told us at my last visit that he is sure it will return  within  4-6 or 24 months.  Great news thank you.  He has me going on oral chemo and told me that it would maybe add a few years to my life instead of a few months.  The drug works great on breast cancer and somewhat on ovarian cancer.  We are just hoping it will do the trick.   If the evil "C" comes back we will just deal with it again.  "Done it before, do it again"

We are enjoying spending time with children, grandchildren and our new little great-grand baby.  We feel so blessed to have such a caring and loving family.  We are always being watched over and checked on. I know I can call any of them at any hour of the day or night and they would come running.  What more could we ask for?

Ben had more skin cancer removed from his forehead and has a beautiful new scar right next to the last one.  This is becoming a new hobby for him.  Thankfully it was not melanoma. 

We keep on with life and do as much as we have energy and it always feels great to accomplish even small tasks around the house. 

50th Wedding Anniversary (March 27th)

 

Our children decided they wanted to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary with a bang by throwing us a party.  They had a fantastic meal prepared with our son-in-law Jeff's specialty of smoked pork and turkey.  It was a meal fit for royalty.

 

The dessert table had a wicked chocolate cake and a mouth watering marzipan cake. In additions we had the beautifully decorated cupcakes made by our grand-daughter Shaniah.  

 

 

Cutting the cake brought back memories of cutting our first cake at our wedding reception.  The children had even snuck our wedding pictures out of the house to have them displayed.

Taking a family picture took some real maneuvering.   Try getting 24 grand children as well as grand nieces and nephews to stay still for the camera. It was a real riot.  The only ones missing were our grandson Brent who was at BYU  Idaho and our oldest grand-daughter Alison and her husband Russ (they stayed home with our new little great-grandson Porter just a few weeks old)

Ben's sister Rina, my baby brother Ron and his cute wife Janet, and my brother Paul and his talented wife Jody came to help us celebrate the big event.

Our devoted children, Debbie, Michelle, Tim, Rachel and Kim worked really hard to pull this together for us and we can't forget their spouses who are always willing to jump in to help.  We could not ask for greater kids.  They are always telling and showing us how much they love us.  What more could we ask for? We love them more than we could ever show or express.  The Lord has truly blessed us with a wonderful family.

Along with sneaking out or wedding pictures, they were even able to put together a collage of some snaps that were taken over the last 50 years.   I can't believe how everyone has changed. 

Still plugging along

Yes, I did go into surgery and had a ton of cancer removed again.  Also I had my Spleen removed along with a lobe of my liver and a small part of my pancreas.   It took a long time because there was so much scar tissue to cut out that had developed since my last surgery in 2010. The surgeons were planning on just removing the cancer that showed up on the CT scan between my navel and my sternum but after doing some searching with a scope more cancer was found below the navel as well.  They were able to scrape the cancer off of my bladder, stomach, lymph nodes, small intestines and also the abdomen walls without doing too much damage.    They should probably just have installed a zipper last time that would have made it easier to access this time.     My incision is healing beautifully and so I will not have the same problem as last time of having to have wound care three times a week for 11 months.  Hurray for miracles.

I started up on Chemo again yesterday and am starting to feel the nausea along with the pain from surgery but I usually start feeling like a truck ran over me on the third day.   I am avoiding going to sleep so that tomorrow won't come for a little while.  I had better pull the crackers out of the cupboard and keep them on my night stand so I won't have to have Ben get up and get them for me.  He would be happy to do that for me but it would sure make me feel guilty.  Besides, he is doing tons for me and he needs his rest also.

We have tulips and daffodils coming up in the yard and I love all the green sprouts.  This is a great time of year to be recuperating and perking up. A good time to sit in the sun or take a short walk around the block.  Sunshine always makes me happy.

Thanks everyone for the great meals, cards, flowers, calls, visits, e-mails and prayers.  I know the Lord has heard all of them and I am planning on staying faithful to earn all the blessings and miracles we have seen again this time.   I am planning on serving again as soon as I am back on my feet.

Miracles do happen

My CT scan showed that my cancer has shrunk by one third.  What fantastic news.  I will go into surgery on Feb 5th to have the rest of the cancer removed.  After a short recovery time I will continue with Chemo for another three treatments and then I should be home free.

My surgeon told us that if the chemo had not worked he would not have made me go through surgery because it would only have bought me a very short time.  I am so grateful he did not mention that before we started chemo or I really would have been depressed.

I can't begin to tell you how happy we are with the news and know that without the prayers of all those around me (all over the world) we could not have made it this far.  I have really been in the hands of the Lord.  Thanks again for caring for us and taking such care of us during this time.

Holding my breath

I go in for a CT scan Friday to see if the Chemo has worked on the cancers.  When the results are in  the Doctors will then decide on what  steps need to be taken next.  Maybe more Chemo and then Surgery or just jump in and start cutting me open.   The original plan was for me to go for surgery when I was first diagnosed but then it was decided that perhaps Chemo first might be a better plan.   My surgeon had planned at first to remove my spleen, two sections of my liver, part of my stomach and part of the pancreas.    Another mass between my stomach and liver was too close to a main artery so it was going to be left alone.  Something that was very upsetting to me.    When the decision was made to start with Chemo first we all started praying that the treatments would shrink that mass enough to pull it away from that main artery.  

I know I am in the Lord's hands and pray that the Doctors will be guided to make the correct choices. We have friends and loved ones all over the world and in many Temples who are praying for us and I know their prayers are being heard.  

I am feeling stronger lately and have even started cooking meals (something I really enjoy)   We have some great cooks in our ward and I will miss their meals but now it is time for me to step up and take charge of the kitchen again because microwave meals just do not hit the spot  We will never be able to thank everyone for the love and support we receive constantly.  Not a day goes by that someone does not call, send a card, a text or stop by just to see how this crazy Dutch couple is doing.  I feel so loved.   How will we ever be able to show our appreciation for all the blessings and miracles we have received?