Great Weekend!

The weekend was busy with Ray and the boys working at the shop, mostly organizing things to sell--things not to sell. Ray's energy level is steadily improving, and his color (not so yellow) is getting better each day. We were able to attend Mass Sunday morning as a family at St. Joseph's, which we have not done in about three months. Ordinarily, we have been going to Mass at the hospital on Sat. evenings when Ray was up to it. The crowd there is small and he didn't feel so conspicuous wearing a mask.

Wed. morning we'll be returning to the oncologist for more blood work and also results from the bone marrow biopsy done last Wed. Also have an appt. to see the infection spec. There's about two hours between the appts., hopefully we'll be finished with the first so we can rush over to the next appt. and sit and wait some more.

Michele, (my sister) from Bryan, spent Sat. & Sun. here. She's now in Naz. visiting Mom for a couple days. We had a lot of catching up to do. Daniel's words to us were, "Do y'all EVER get done talking?" Eric & Leona came over Sat. night as well as Andy, Ryan, Heather & kids, Mom, Hugh and Nancy. Dropping in was Sr. Mary Michael and Sr. Mary Ana. It was a whirlwind of activity--a real "pick-me-up" for Ray.

Love you all,
Kim

Happenings

Ray received one unit of blood yesterday. This morning he met with an auctioneer at the shop and still trying to figure out what his best option is there. He's trying to gain strength each day and has been up and around quite a bit. Right now, he's helping Ryan with refrigerator problems they're having.

Colleen and Seth spent the afternoon with us yesterday. It was great to have them here! Today Seth is in Lubbock for interviews @ Tech's med school.

Daniel will be playing (well, let's just say he'll be suited up for) his first high school football game tonight. Needless to say, He's PUMPED!

Love you all,
Kim

Biopsy Today

The bone marrow biopsy was done this morning and went smoothly. The next Dr. appt. is in one week, so we won't know the results until then. Tomorrow Ray will be receiving another transfusion due to counts being so low. There are still concerns about the liver damage, but also some signs of improvement being made.

Ray's energy level is also improving. He's been up and around more each day. I've been helping him some at his shop getting ready to sell the equipment. It's been a tough decision for him to make, but he's at peace with his decision.

Love you all,
Kim

Update on Appt.

After waiting for 2 hours to see the Dr., we got to talk to him for about 10 seconds. The main reason for the appt. today was to take a look at the blood counts, most importantly the liver enzymes. The bilirubin is coming back down closer to the normal range, but some of the enzyme counts are still way too high. We're hoping that will get better with time. There's no talk yet as to when (or if ) chemo will begin again. The Dr. plans to do another bone marrow biopsy Wed. morning. This is always a good time to talk to the Dr. while we have him captured for about 30-45 minutes.

Ray is able to do a little more each day, although still very weak. We had a great weekend with most of the kids and all of the grandkids in and out at some point. School is off to a good start.

Love you all,
Kim

Got Him Home!

We just walked in the door. The Dr. came in this morning, told Ray he could go home and be home for the weekend. Monday he'll see the Dr. in his office, have blood work done and talk about where we go from here. This feels like a major accomplishment! It was no small feat clearing out the hospital room. How can we accumulate so much stuff in a hospital room in 11 days?

Thank you for all your prayers. Please don't stop. The liver still has some major recovering to do. Ray's already has a list of "things to do" now that he's home--all the things he wished he was out doing while stuck in the hospital. He'll go til he poops out.

Love you all,
Kim

Fingers Crossed

Still no word as to when Ray will be able to come home. We've got our fingers crossed, hoping for tomorrow. The bilirubin count was down a little today, which is good, but the liver enzyme counts are still climbing which has the Dr. concerned. We're hoping he'll be able to come home and continue having blood counts done as an outpatient. I know it would help all of us tremendously to have him home.

The first day of school went well for Mary & Daniel, and our German travelers are back on U.S. soil. Katie and Rut will be in Amarillo for the weekend, and possibly Steve, Amber & kids.

Love you all,
Kim

About the Same

I didn't post yesterday for two reasons. First, there's not much change. Secondly, it was looking as though he was going home today. So I was waiting to tell you we were going home. But now we know that's not happening, at least for a couple days. Two Drs. have said he could go home and continue recovering there, but the oncologist says, "Whooa, not so soon! Those liver enzyme counts are still too far out there!!" Maybe in a couple days that will level off. It's disappointing but we want what's best for him. He's receiving another unit of blood today, also.

The kids and I are doing last minute errands today, before school starts in the morning. Fr. Nick just brought Communion to Ray. And that's about all that's happening here.

More later,
Love you all,
Kim

Rockin Along

Things are about the same as they were yesterday. He did have to have another transfusion today (#57 by my count), which was a little disappointing. But, by this evening he was looking better. Maybe it was wishful thinking or the transfusion, but he even said he was feeling better, too!

A year ago, the hospital food was really good and he had no problem at all eating it. These past few days, he lifts the lid, takes a peek and falls back into the bed. I've been bringing in homemade chicken soup which really hits the spot. Now he's making requests! A couple days ago his blood counts showed he is malnourished, (did you know there's a test for that) which the Dr. explained to me is part of the whole liver mess where the body is not able to absorb nutrition from food as it ordinarily does. So he's been ordered Ensure--which is almost more than he can bear. But he drinks it like a champ, a couple times a day.

Love you all,
Kim

Drs., Drs., Drs.

We had three Drs. at the same time here this morning. There is now a gastroenterologist on team that we saw for the first time. Ray's biggest problem is a suppressed immune system--which really is nothing new. Adding to his list of problems, he now has a slight case of pneumonia. Drs. are hoping this combo of antibiotics will take care of that before it gets any worse. Then believe it or not, the one Dr. is talking about getting him off ALL drugs (after the pneumonia is healed) and just give his body a chance to recover (rest) for awhile. This Dr. also believes this is a reaction to the latest chemo drug he was on, and has nothing to do with a blood transfusion.

The bilirubin count climbs each day and probably hasn't peaked yet. Needless to say, he's glowing yellow from head to toe, and will be for a while. The Dr. said today that will take a while to go away even after the liver improves. I was so surprised how much more yellow he was just from last night to this morning.

Thank you for your prayers. I ask God to bless all who are praying for our family!
Love you all,
Kim

Results Show...

The latest results show that Ray has hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. It does not mean that he has hepatitis A, B, or C, it simply (simply??) means an inflammation. It is most likely from a virus that he contracted through a blood transfusion. He's really jaundiced this afternoon. As I post, he is being prepared for a CT scan that will be done later this evening.

Blood products are tested very thoroughly, but it's been explained to us that these things do happen. The infection specialist assures us that medication will take care of it. You know, Ray's had an unbeliveable number of transfusions. I've been doing my own counting and record keeping, and I have the info at home; but I think it's around 54 transfusions he's had these past 13 months. I'll have to check that number when I get home.

We know he'll be in the hospital for a few more days. Please keep him in your prayers. I know you do and I can't tell you how much we appreciate it! Thanks from the bottom of my heart for all your care, concern and love. I thank God for each of you!

Love you all,
Kim

Not Much Change

There's not alot of change from yesterday other than there is something abnormal going on with the liver. The oncologist is going to ask the infection specialist to come by tomorrow and the two of them will determine the course of action. Testing was done on the gall bladder today, and all is good there.

Here's what's happening with some of our kids: Jenna moves back to College Station tomorrow. Katie arrived in Germany today, along with Craig, (my brother) Rut (her boyfriend) and Trevor (Rut's friend). Mary and Daniel start school in one week, Aug. 20th, and Daniel is currently trying to get over strep throat. Keeps things interesting.

More later,
Kim

More Waiting

Pain is still a problem; more today than yesterday. The Dr. has become concerned about elevated liver enzyme counts. These enzyme counts were a little elevated Monday morning, and have continued rising significantly each day since. Therefore, today an ultasound was done on the liver. We're told there are many reasons this could be happening. I was hoping we'd have some news from the ultrasound when the Dr. made rounds this evening, but he said it hadn't been read yet-we should know something tomorrow.

Needless to say, we're worried but trying real hard not to be. Once again the chemo has been stopped-- Monday was the last treatment. Not sure when that will resume.

Thanks for all your prayers! Many blessings to you and your family.
Love you all,
Kim

Still a Slight Pain

This evening the Dr. says there is still no "distinct explanation" as to what is causing the pain. He also said he's not comfortable yet even talking about dismissing him, even though the pain is not quite as intense. Right now there's no indication of infection or bacteria, which is great news, but the Dr. says he would feel better waiting until all the blood culture results are in.

Ray is still on some morphine, but using it very, very conservatively. In case I haven't mentioned it before: he's so afraid of becoming addicted to pain killers, that he won't use them when he really does need to be. (possibly due to the media not letting MJ rest in peace? ha!) Even though two different Drs. have explained (at great length) to him it's not very likely for him to become addicted. Sooo, sometimes he's his own worst enemy. But, it's easy for me to judge from bedside.

Love you all,
Kim

What a Day!

We saw the Dr. this morning and found out Ray was dehydrated which may explain some of the fatigue. So in addition to receiving the chemo he was also given 4 hours of "hydration" in the outpatient unit. As good as his appetite has been, I was so surprised that he was dehydrated. I asked the Dr. if there was something we could have been doing to prevent this. He shook his head and said that this is just part of it. He also said sometimes drinking too much water can cause dehydration.

We were only home from the hospital about an hour, when Ray began having this agonizing pain in his bones. He thought it would get better, but of course it didn't-so about 7:00 this evening we called the Dr. and soon we were back in the hospital. To make a long story, short, he's been admitted---x-rays, blood cultures, I.V., etc., etc., are being done. You know this is the exact pain he had last October, which ended up being diagnosed as e-coli. We'll know for sure in a few days exactly what this is. Right now he resting comfortably, thanks to the morphine pump. Things will look better in the morning.

Love you all,
Kim

Extreme Fatigue

Things are steadily moving along. We continue going to the hospital each morning for the chemo treatment. Extreme fatigue is the biggest complaint. Ray has said this drug that he began last Wednesday is really kicking his butt. Before now, he just thought he knew what fatigue was. He has spent most of yesterday and today in bed flat on his back. Lying in the recliner even requires more energy than he has.

He'll see the Dr. in the morning before his treatment. We're thankful there's been no fever (or anything else) to worry about.

Love you all,
Kim

Nothing New

Since Katie called this morning and got onto me for not updating since Tuesday, I thought I'd let you know there's really nothing to update. Everything has been going well with the past few days of treatment. Blood counts have been unchanged. A couple of the counts have been up a little and a couple have been down a little.

The oncologist is on vacation this week, so we're pleased to be just cruisin'. He'll be back next week, so we'll see him on Monday. Enjoy your weekend!

Love you all,
Kim

Chemo Routine

Results from the blood tests today showed that Ray's blood counts are steadily improving, so that means more chemo. We just got in from the hospital where he'll be receiving the chemo on an outpatient basis as long as he has no problems. Each day there will be a two hour observation after the chemo is administered, and then he can return home if there are no problems. If there are problems, i.e fever, chills, nausea, etc., then he'll be admitted and be in the hospital for the remainder of this 14 day treatment. We'll be working (and praying) most diligently, doing everything in our power to keep him healthy. Unfortunately, each drug has a long list of "common side effects."

He's been feeling pretty good. Doing many things that he wished he could do while stuck in the hospital. Right now, he and Daniel are working on a project in the back yard. We're most grateful for the times that he feels good enough to be up and around.

Love you all,
Kim