Sad times ahead

[CASHCOW]

Jeff and Donna,
Please know that Mike and I are keeping you close in our prayers. HE can work miracles.......I know we are far away, but if there is anything we can do, let us know. We so enjoyed visiting with yall at LCG.....Keep the faith

Brenda and Mike McAnear
Amarillo

[Gaelen]

:? Well, we made it back to Houston. How do people live like this, if you call this living. We have a Dr. appointment in the AM and preliminary tests after. More scans Tues. and after that who knows. As far as I know, we'll be here all week. Maybe we can get away from this madhouse early next week. I'll update as we know more.

We live like this one day at a time, one appointment in a row, from one scan to another living as completely as possible in the time in between.
First visits to a cancer center and the rounds of docs and testing can be overwhelming; try to find some quiet time every day when you two can be together. Try to find small, simple things that you can enjoy, and find them and enjoy them -- every day.
My strongest thoughts to both of you.[/u]

[mechmagcn]

:? Well, we made it back to Houston. How do people live like this, if you call this living. We have a Dr. appointment in the AM and preliminary tests after. More scans Tues. and after that who knows. As far as I know, we'll be here all week. Maybe we can get away from this madhouse early next week. I'll update as we know more.

We live like this one day at a time

Gaelen, I was really speaking of "city life" We have been at the run from one appointment to the next long enough to get used to that This country boy wasn't meant to be stuck in the middle of a city of this size One could get really lost real quick.

[Miriam C.]

:? Well, we made it back to Houston. How do people live like this, if you call this living. We have a Dr. appointment in the AM and preliminary tests after. More scans Tues. and after that who knows. As far as I know, we'll be here all week. Maybe we can get away from this madhouse early next week. I'll update as we know more.

We live like this one day at a time

Gaelen, I was really speaking of "city life" We have been at the run from one appointment to the next long enough to get used to that This country boy wasn't meant to be stuck in the middle of a city of this size One could get really lost real quick.

I can certainly understand the "city" thing. However, most big cities are made up of little towns or communities. Get a map and learn them. Then you are only going from one small town to the next. Nice quiet project. That is the only way I can even think of being in a large Metropolis.

We are still praying for you both. Our hearts really go out to you.

[mechmagcn]

:? Well, we made it back to Houston. How do people live like this, if you call this living. We have a Dr. appointment in the AM and preliminary tests after. More scans Tues. and after that who knows. As far as I know, we'll be here all week. Maybe we can get away from this madhouse early next week. I'll update as we know more.

We live like this one day at a time

Gaelen, I was really speaking of "city life" We have been at the run from one appointment to the next long enough to get used to that This country boy wasn't meant to be stuck in the middle of a city of this size One could get really lost real quick.

Then you are only going from one small town to the next.

BUT....BUT....but.... Miriam, How do you know when you leave one for another

[Miriam C.]

:? Well, we made it back to Houston. How do people live like this, if you call this living. We have a Dr. appointment in the AM and preliminary tests after. More scans Tues. and after that who knows. As far as I know, we'll be here all week. Maybe we can get away from this madhouse early next week. I'll update as we know more.

We live like this one day at a time

Gaelen, I was really speaking of "city life" We have been at the run from one appointment to the next long enough to get used to that This country boy wasn't meant to be stuck in the middle of a city of this size One could get really lost real quick.

Then you are only going from one small town to the next.

BUT....BUT....but.... Miriam, How do you know when you leave one for another

Well I was going to tell you to learn the way they are numbered/named but I looked at a map...... No numbers!

Buy a tom tom?????????????

[Gaelen]

Gaelen, I was really speaking of "city life" We have been at the run from one appointment to the next long enough to get used to that This country boy wasn't meant to be stuck in the middle of a city of this size One could get really lost real quick.

LOL is right, Jeff--and I'm glad you're finding room to laugh through all of the appointment run-arounds (I think pre-op and pre-treatment appointments are the worst!)

Miriam is right...big cities are just a lot of small neighborhoods/small towns strung together. I got my treatments in NYC...and even though that's city to the tenth power, for me it's several neighborhoods in which I feel very much at home (and where all of the deli people, doormen, coffeeshop, restaurant and grocery people in each one know my name and treat me like a neighbor.) I've got a couple midtown neighborhoods: 53rd & 3rd, 34th and 7th, and 37th and Madison; a west-side neighborhood by the Intrepid pier on 43rd and 11th Ave; uptown at 82nd and Mad where my brother lives over Greenberg's bakery a block from the park; and of course my bedpan alley 'hood at from 71st and 1st down to 68th and York, the home of the MSKCC day spa. I can get a hello, a newspaper, a good meal, and a good conversation at several places in each area, and feel completely a home in each of them.

So find your neighborhood(s), or make them from what's available, and that city-feeling will start being more comfortable.

[mechmagcn]

Gaelen, I was really speaking of "city life" We have been at the run from one appointment to the next long enough to get used to that This country boy wasn't meant to be stuck in the middle of a city of this size One could get really lost real quick.

that city-feeling will start being more comfortable.

Gaelen, I have lived in several cities, New Orleans when I was a kid, Memphis after I graduated college, so city life is nothing new. But...but I will never learn to like it
I agree about the appointments, the ones before you know exactly what is going to happen are maddening. Once treatment starts, you are usually busy enough not to think about it.
We saw the Dr. yesterday, he actually gave us a little hope. A Cat scan early this AM, another heart test sometime this week and then back home for another round of chemo. If this one fails, the next step is clinical trials, Non-FDA approved drugs.
More later, Jeff & Donna

[razorback]

Macy and I are keeping you guys in our thoughts and prayers. Glad the drive to Houston was a safe one. Good luck with the new procedures.

Larry and Macy

[ARKPAT]

razorback
PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:48 pm Post subject:
Macy and I are keeping you guys in our thoughts and prayers. Glad the drive to Houston was a safe one. Good luck with the new procedures.

Larry and Macy

The same here Jeff and Donna.



Pat

[McTeardrops]

Prayers continue for you. God is able!!!

The environment of Houston and MD Anderson is overwhelming to everyone. Add in the stress of the situation that brought you there in the first place, and it really can swarm on you! The staff at MD Anderson is top notch in dealing with not only the body but the rest of a person too. Someone there knows answers to questions like "Where is there around here that's quiet? Green? Peaceful?" Places exist; you just need someone to direct you to them.

It takes a ton of physical and emotional energy to deal with a city like Houston and the medical center area. And it takes another ton of energy to deal with a very stubborn and aggressive enemy like her cancer.

God's best for both of you.
Joanne

[Catoosa Grani]

Hi Jeff & Donna,

Just wanted to let you know that you were thought of at Cloudcroft.

Grani

[mechmagcn]

Hi Jeff & Donna,

Just wanted to let you know that you were thought of at Cloudcroft.

Grani

Thank you Grani.
Well, we are back home and started the new chemo today. No ill effects yet, but time will tell. Overall, Donna is not doing well at all. Lots of pain and very little appetite. The Drs. in Houston told us that the next step for pain relief is morphine, but she doesn't want to go there just yet. Seeing her in such pain hurts me deeply too but I try to keep it to myself so that she doesn't see.
I cornered the Dr today after Donna went in for chemo, his outlook didn't give any encouragement at all. If this line of chemo helps, maybe a year, if not, maybe a few months. This I'll never tell her, at least she can have a little hope.
Thanks all for listening and we can't even begin to thank everyone enough for the prayers and well wishes from all of our friends, ones met and ones we hope to meet someday.
Jeff & Donna

[Coca Cola Teardrop]

Jeff, we will all continue to pray for you and Donna. You have been put on many, many prayer lists. We are still asking for a miracle or break through in treatment.

Linda

[Miriam C.]

One of these times when you wish the government would get off it and legalize things that really work instead of the stupid Marinol. (spelling) You might check with an herbalist and see if there is something that can help..