Thursday, 9:00 pm Update

Steve started his chemotherapy yesterday. He was given an infusion which lasted about an hour. He will have to have this repeated every three weeks. He will also take a pill twice a day for the next 14 days, he will stop taking them for 7 days and then will take them again for another 14 days. He will continue with this routine until the tumors start to shrink and hopefully disappear. So far he has had no side effects. Oh, I almost forgot....more good news - Dr. Harvey pulled Steve's PIC line yesterday. No more TPN......yea!!!!!! His appetite has improved and he is having less and less discomfort when he eats. Thank you, God! Steve is getting stronger and stronger with each day. We went to a wedding last Saturday and believe it or not he got on the dance floor and we danced. I'm really starting to see the old Steve that we all know and love. I am busy once again with wedding plans. January will be here before we know it and there is still so much to do. Thank you God for all our blessings. With your help we will continue along our journey.

Friday, 10:30 pm Update

We received a mixed bag of information from the oncologist today. Some good news and some not so good. The bad news is that the scan showed some very small tumors in Steve's liver. These spots did not show up on the scan he had two months ago (right before his surgery). They are very new and while they are small and developing a new blood supply, the doctor feels that there are a couple of chemo drugs that will be very effective. The good news is that Dr. Harvey feels that he can get Steve back into remission. He says that the drugs he wants to use should cause no side effects. They will work to destroy the blood supply to these new tumors. Steve is scheduled to start chemotherapy on Wednesday morning. Dr. Harvey also said he wants Steve to discontinue the TPN. He informed us that the longer you go without eating normally the more sluggish your digestive system gets. Since Steve's system is working now he wants him to stay off the TPN this weekend and if all goes well he will pull his PIC line on Wednesday. We still need lots of prayers. Steve and I thank each and everyone of you for those prayers, your phone calls, cards and visits. "One day at a time, Dear Lord!"

Friday, 3:20 Update

Hi everyone. There has really been nothing to report in the last week or so. That is, up until now. We are going to see the oncologist in about an hour to talk about what is next with Steve's treatment. If you read this blog please stop what you are doing and say a big prayer for Steve. Pray for good news! But... if he has to have more treatment please pray that he will be open to what the doctor has to offer.

Tuesday, 8:45 pm Update

What an absolutely exhausting day!!! We arrived at the imaging center at 9:00 this morning. They took Steve in right away and did his PET scan first and then his CT scan. He finished there at about 11:30 and since his doctors appointement wasn't until 1:45 we decided to get some lunch. We went to a little Italian restaurant in Crestline Village which was fabulous. Right after finishing lunch Uncle Paul and Aunt Bo called and we met them for coffee at Starbucks. At last it was time to see the doctor!!! Now for the frustrating part.....! The night before a PET scan the patient is not supposed to have any carbs. Since Steve receives his TPN at night and it is full of carbs I called the imaging center on Monday and asked if I should skip the TPN on Monday night so that it wouldn't mess up the test. They said "NO". Give him his TPN as directed, it won't make a difference. WRONG!!! The test came back inconclusive so now we have to wait until Steve is off the TPN and repeat the tests in a couple of weeks. We didn't get home until after 3:00 this afternoon and needless to say Steve is not happy with having to go through this all over again. Please continue to pray for us.

Monday, 4:15 Update

Hey Yall! Sorry.... I don't know what happened to the last blog. I just got a notice saying my last blog didn't go through. I sent it on Thursday and this is Monday (they're just now telling me?!?) Anyway, Steve is OK. Recovery is still slow and there's still alot of questions as to what he can and cannot eat. Some things upset his stomach so right now we're trying to figure out what agrees with him. He's still on the TPN 12 hours in the evening. We go in the morning for a PET scan and a CT scan. After that we see the doctor. I'f we're not too exhausted after spending the whole day at the doctors office I'll update you tomorrow evening.

Tuesday, 3:00 pm Update

I know I haven't posted anything in several days but there really hasn't been anything to post. Thankfully, Steve continues to get stronger every day. His eating has improved. Though he still has to eat small portions his appetite has increased. He has been on his TPN for only 12 hours a day this past week. We see the nutritionist tomorrow and hopefully he will take him off the TPN for this upcoming week. If he does well they will pull the PIC line next week and Steve will be a free man!!!! Please pray that all goes well.

Wednesday, 11:00 pm Update

Just when you think everything is great....WHAM....something else knocks you for a loop. Yesterday, after I posted the last blog, Steve said, "please take my temperature." I did and from out of nowhere came a fever of 101.5. I called the surgeon who put Steve on oral antibiotics. Something told me to call the nurtritionist and I'm glad I did. He was very alarmed and immediately called Lincare and ordered IV antibiotics. Steve did not receive his first dose until around 9:00 last night and by then his fever was 102.7. Needless to say he was pretty miserable, not to mention the fact that the oral antibiotics had upset his stomach pretty bad. Somewhere around midnight Steve's fever broke and it hasn't risen above 99.5 since then. He has to have the IV antibiotics twice a day for the next 5 or 6 days but he is feeling much better so I thank God for the PIC line. Without it we would be back in the hospital for at least a week. Kay and Stewart came over tonight with steak and potatoes which Steve thoroughly enjoyed and for dessert he had CHOCOLATE MOUSSE BOMBS!!! They have amazing healing qualities. Thanks Kay!