Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A loving husband. . .
My dad has been a real trooper. He has taken over the laundary, the dishes, the cleaning, the cooking and every other chore my mom did that she can't now. He has been at her side every step of the way. He makes sure she gets her pills on time and her food when she's hungry. He's there in an instant whenever she needs him. And today I witnessed another quiet act of love that he rendered to show how much he loves her. Before they left for Mesa to go see the radiologist and hopefully start a treatment this week, my dad tenderly placed his hands on her head and called upon Heavenly Father through his priestood power to help my mom make the trip as comfortably as possible. By the time he was finished he was in tears along with Kanani, Kuliana, and myself (Lehua). This was the first time throughout this trial I have seen my dad cry. I am so grateful for my dad and the worthy man he is. He hasn't turned from the Lord, but has turned to Him for help and strength. What a good example of faith he is to me.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Diagnosis 12/23/08 by Marc Natividad
I went with Mom and Dad today to visit with the Doctor(Oncologist) and find out Mom's diagnosis. This is what we found out. She has stage 4 cancer in her lungs and bones with a large tumor between her stomach and lungs. She also has blood clots in the main arteries in her legs. The Doctor told us he didn't believe that there is a cure at this point, but hopes to get it under control. He also wants to be able to manage Mom's pain.
His immediate concern is that the cancer is eating her bones in her legs. He is very concerned that she is going to have a hip or thigh break. He doesn't want that to happen at all. He suggested radiation and medication to stop it. Mom agreed to immediate treatment so the radiation therapy will start next Wednesday(December 31,2008) in Phoenix, Desert Banner Hospital. It is amazing what they can do today. With today's technology they can target the specific bones with pin point accuracy. The radiation will kill the cancer in those specific areas and leave the rest of her body unharmed. She will receive treatments in Mesa 5 days a week for 4 to 5 weeks. In addition to the radiation they will also be giving her a drug for osteoporosis which will hopefully strengthen the bones and increase their density.
After the radiation they will let her rest for 2 or 3 weeks and then start chemotherapy. The chemo will treat the rest of her body. He said they would use a standard chemo for lung cancer. He also suggested that Mom be a part of a clinical study for a new drug being tested for its ability to enhance the effectiveness of chemo. The chemo will require 2 or 3 treatments.
The doctor didn't say what would happen after that. I can only assume they will make an assessment at that point and decide what if anything else they can do. At this point we ask for your prayers and fasting on her behalf. Dad and I gave her a blessing of healing Saturday night, so please combine your faith with ours that the Lord will accept the blessing and heal her completely.
We appreciate the love and concern of everyone. In the end we know that God's Will, will be done.
His immediate concern is that the cancer is eating her bones in her legs. He is very concerned that she is going to have a hip or thigh break. He doesn't want that to happen at all. He suggested radiation and medication to stop it. Mom agreed to immediate treatment so the radiation therapy will start next Wednesday(December 31,2008) in Phoenix, Desert Banner Hospital. It is amazing what they can do today. With today's technology they can target the specific bones with pin point accuracy. The radiation will kill the cancer in those specific areas and leave the rest of her body unharmed. She will receive treatments in Mesa 5 days a week for 4 to 5 weeks. In addition to the radiation they will also be giving her a drug for osteoporosis which will hopefully strengthen the bones and increase their density.
After the radiation they will let her rest for 2 or 3 weeks and then start chemotherapy. The chemo will treat the rest of her body. He said they would use a standard chemo for lung cancer. He also suggested that Mom be a part of a clinical study for a new drug being tested for its ability to enhance the effectiveness of chemo. The chemo will require 2 or 3 treatments.
The doctor didn't say what would happen after that. I can only assume they will make an assessment at that point and decide what if anything else they can do. At this point we ask for your prayers and fasting on her behalf. Dad and I gave her a blessing of healing Saturday night, so please combine your faith with ours that the Lord will accept the blessing and heal her completely.
We appreciate the love and concern of everyone. In the end we know that God's Will, will be done.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Journal entries from the beginning
November 5, 2008 Wednesday.
On our way to the Temple we stopped in Miami to use the bathroom. When I stood up I had a sharp pain go across my upper thigh and I could hardly walk. I though it would go away. When we got to the Temple I held onto Stan and did fine until I started climbing the stairs. Lots of pain. I limped on into the Temple, managed to go downstairs to my locker, changed for the day and limped into the prayer meeting. Afterwards I went into the cafeteria to eat my lunch then limped to my first station which was AR (Assembly Room). The sister with me was on a cane so we could see that we were going to have a rough time taking care of the session that would start in about 30 min. The other sister went to talk to our Coordinator. Sister McFarlane, seeing me in pain sent me to the sister’s study room downstairs to rest for the day. I slept, read the scriptures and a book by Boyd K Packer on the Temple. It was a very relaxing day. I was not in pain as long as I did not step on my leg.
After our shift we went to Bob and Philis’s house to change our clothes and find directions to an urgent care facility. Bob gave me a cane to use that had belonged to Dale Inman. It really helped a lot. We went to the Urgent Care on Gilbert, just a few blocks from the Bryce's’ home.
The Dr. had my leg X-Rayed but there was nothing to see. He gave me an 800 m Ibuprofen and sent me home with a prescription for a pain pill and muscle relaxant, which I did not fill.
November 6, 2008 Thursday
I stayed at the Bryce's’ hoping that staying off my leg would help. When we got home I called the pain management clinic in Tucson hoping to be able to get an epidural for the pain like I did last year. I was informed that because I was now on medicare I had to get a referral from my primary care Dr. It was too late to call the Clinic.
November 7, 2008 Friday
I called to get an appointment so I could get a referral. I see Mr. Tuttle on Monday.
When Leora saw the cane I was using she just hooted. She informed me it was way to tall for me and got me her adjustable cane. It really was better!
November 10, 2008 Monday
Mr. Tuttle feels that I need another MRI before going to the pain specialist, so now I wait for that.
November 12, 2008 Wednesday
Went to the Temple today. I was glad to be going. I started driving as usual and was just about to the bridge when I fell asleep. Thanks to the Lord’s tender mercies, Stan woke up to find us on the wrong side of the road. He grabbed the wheel and woke me with his “where are you going”? I pulled off the road and he drove the rest of the way. With Leora’s cane I made it through the Temple. After our shift we ate with the Bryces then went to see Dr. Gracey, my chiropractor. He really hurt my back when he tried to pop it.
November 13, 2008 Thursday
I completed my day at the Temple. I was assigned to be an assistant to the Initiatory Coordinator. It was very slow at first so I was sent to be a patron on a session. That was good. I then returned to Initiatory and did whatever I was told. I got to step in and do initiatory work which was good. It was a good day.
November 16, 2008 Sunday
Barbara and Don Thatcher told Stan and I that an elbow pushed into the Sciatic nerve will open it up and stop the pain. This evening Stan tried it on me. It hurt but didn’t cure me. Stan then decided that a back massage might help. He worked on me for quite a while, then draped himself across my back. I immediately heard a “pop” and felt a pain that I was sure was a rib breaking. All week I had felt a tightness in my chest and had been in a lot of pain when I tried to sleep. I determined that I would go back to see Mr. Tuttle the next day.
November 17, 2008 Monday
I had complained about a tightness in my chest for a couple of months but the Dr. could never hear anything in my lungs. When I saw Mr. Tuttle the same was true. He said that I probably had a broken rib but that there was nothing to be done for it. After I told him of the pain I was in, especially when laying down, he sent me to the Hospital for an X-Ray. He also gave me a prescription for strong pain pills. I hurried home after my appointment because Buzz was bringing Miki an down for her birthday. They also brought Marja and Tracy and had invited Leora and Doug and Clarence and Joan to meet us here or a Pizza Party. We had a great time eating and visiting.
After they left I called the clinic for the results of the X-Ray and was told to come back tomorrow for the results.
November 18, 2008 Tuesday
Mr. Tuttle showed me on the X-Ray of my lungs. There is a white shadow on the left lung. He said I need a CAT Scan to determine if it is an infection or something else. The Medical Center will make me an appointment.
November 19, 2008 Wednesday
I planned on going to the Temple today but started throwing up so I stayed home. Stan went without me.
I have an MRI scheduled for next Monday and the CAT Scan for next week Wednesday.
November 24, 2008 Monday
I went to bed with my left foot hurting and my ribs on my right side. I wasn’t surprised because I quit taking the Pain medication. Friday night after taking it I had a panic attack. I knew I couldn’t tolerate the medication. Anyway I woke up about 3:00 a.m. with my foot hurting so bad I could barely stand on it. At 4:00 a.m. I woke up Stan and we headed for the hospital. After hearing all my problems they determined they could X-Ray the foot and do a CAT scan. Then we waited and waited. About 9:30 Dr. Wright came in. The X-Ray was negative but the CAT Scan showed a mass in the lung. Stan and I kept our composure, but there were some tears when he left. I will need to have a pulmonary specialist put a tube down my throat and into my lungs to see what’s going on. It will also snip off a piece of the mass so they can determine if it is malignant.
I’m sure that it will be. I just need enough time to teach Stan how to take care of finances. I have no worries about the next life. I have a strong belief in the plan of salvation and know that I can be with my family again someday. I do worry about Stan and Robert alone together. We will take this one day at a time and do whatever is necessary to have a few more years.
That afternoon I went back to the hospital for the MRI.
November 26, 2008 Wednesday
Marie, Amy and Traci made it here from California. They’ve come for Thanksgiving. They had a rough time getting here...lots of rain! I had an appointment to see Dr. Wright at 1:30 p.m. More bad news. The MRI shows a tumor in my leg. My next step is to see the Oncologist (cancer Dr.) and get a bone scan to see if there are any other cancer spots in my body. GOOD GRIEF!!!!
Stan and I then went to the DMV and got a handicapped parking placard then on to medical equipment where we got a shiny new wheelchair. We made it to the Casa just in time to meet Clarence and Joan, Marja and Tracy, Leora and Doug and Marie and her two girls. We had a good time but I went home exhausted.
November 27, 2008 Thursday
Along with Marie, Amy, and Traci, we also had Leora and Doug, Kelvin, Craig, and Sundee’s families as well as Tonja; Kanani’s family; Marja and
Tracy with Dewin and his two kids (he’s divorced) and Thomas (Jon’s son) and his fiance; Clarence and Joan; Philis and Bob with Amy. All in all we had 43 people for Thanksgiving. It was a great day! We were only missing Miki and Gary who each had their families coming for Thanksgiving. Marja, Leora and Joan brought things for the dinner, Clarence cooked the turkeys in his pit, Philis brought yummy cranberry sauce, Marie’s daughters made some special mashed potatoes, and Kanani fixed the things I was supposed to make, including home made lemon meringue pie. YUMMY!! I just sat around and watched everyone work!
November 29, 2008 Saturday
Went to Olas Carter’s funeral. It was very nice. It was funny sitting down and not singing in the choir. I couldn’t make it up the stairs.
Sat. afternoon Kanani and Lehua came with their kids and put up our inside Christmas decorations. What wonderful children we have. It really made my day!
December 2, 2008 Tuesday
This morning Stan took me to the hospital to pick up a hard copy of my CAT scan. Afterwards we went to the carpet place on Main street and picked out a couple of tiles to bring home for the bathroom.
After resting the kids came for piano lessons. I was glad to be able to give them.
On our way to the Temple we stopped in Miami to use the bathroom. When I stood up I had a sharp pain go across my upper thigh and I could hardly walk. I though it would go away. When we got to the Temple I held onto Stan and did fine until I started climbing the stairs. Lots of pain. I limped on into the Temple, managed to go downstairs to my locker, changed for the day and limped into the prayer meeting. Afterwards I went into the cafeteria to eat my lunch then limped to my first station which was AR (Assembly Room). The sister with me was on a cane so we could see that we were going to have a rough time taking care of the session that would start in about 30 min. The other sister went to talk to our Coordinator. Sister McFarlane, seeing me in pain sent me to the sister’s study room downstairs to rest for the day. I slept, read the scriptures and a book by Boyd K Packer on the Temple. It was a very relaxing day. I was not in pain as long as I did not step on my leg.
After our shift we went to Bob and Philis’s house to change our clothes and find directions to an urgent care facility. Bob gave me a cane to use that had belonged to Dale Inman. It really helped a lot. We went to the Urgent Care on Gilbert, just a few blocks from the Bryce's’ home.
The Dr. had my leg X-Rayed but there was nothing to see. He gave me an 800 m Ibuprofen and sent me home with a prescription for a pain pill and muscle relaxant, which I did not fill.
November 6, 2008 Thursday
I stayed at the Bryce's’ hoping that staying off my leg would help. When we got home I called the pain management clinic in Tucson hoping to be able to get an epidural for the pain like I did last year. I was informed that because I was now on medicare I had to get a referral from my primary care Dr. It was too late to call the Clinic.
November 7, 2008 Friday
I called to get an appointment so I could get a referral. I see Mr. Tuttle on Monday.
When Leora saw the cane I was using she just hooted. She informed me it was way to tall for me and got me her adjustable cane. It really was better!
November 10, 2008 Monday
Mr. Tuttle feels that I need another MRI before going to the pain specialist, so now I wait for that.
November 12, 2008 Wednesday
Went to the Temple today. I was glad to be going. I started driving as usual and was just about to the bridge when I fell asleep. Thanks to the Lord’s tender mercies, Stan woke up to find us on the wrong side of the road. He grabbed the wheel and woke me with his “where are you going”? I pulled off the road and he drove the rest of the way. With Leora’s cane I made it through the Temple. After our shift we ate with the Bryces then went to see Dr. Gracey, my chiropractor. He really hurt my back when he tried to pop it.
November 13, 2008 Thursday
I completed my day at the Temple. I was assigned to be an assistant to the Initiatory Coordinator. It was very slow at first so I was sent to be a patron on a session. That was good. I then returned to Initiatory and did whatever I was told. I got to step in and do initiatory work which was good. It was a good day.
November 16, 2008 Sunday
Barbara and Don Thatcher told Stan and I that an elbow pushed into the Sciatic nerve will open it up and stop the pain. This evening Stan tried it on me. It hurt but didn’t cure me. Stan then decided that a back massage might help. He worked on me for quite a while, then draped himself across my back. I immediately heard a “pop” and felt a pain that I was sure was a rib breaking. All week I had felt a tightness in my chest and had been in a lot of pain when I tried to sleep. I determined that I would go back to see Mr. Tuttle the next day.
November 17, 2008 Monday
I had complained about a tightness in my chest for a couple of months but the Dr. could never hear anything in my lungs. When I saw Mr. Tuttle the same was true. He said that I probably had a broken rib but that there was nothing to be done for it. After I told him of the pain I was in, especially when laying down, he sent me to the Hospital for an X-Ray. He also gave me a prescription for strong pain pills. I hurried home after my appointment because Buzz was bringing Miki an down for her birthday. They also brought Marja and Tracy and had invited Leora and Doug and Clarence and Joan to meet us here or a Pizza Party. We had a great time eating and visiting.
After they left I called the clinic for the results of the X-Ray and was told to come back tomorrow for the results.
November 18, 2008 Tuesday
Mr. Tuttle showed me on the X-Ray of my lungs. There is a white shadow on the left lung. He said I need a CAT Scan to determine if it is an infection or something else. The Medical Center will make me an appointment.
November 19, 2008 Wednesday
I planned on going to the Temple today but started throwing up so I stayed home. Stan went without me.
I have an MRI scheduled for next Monday and the CAT Scan for next week Wednesday.
November 24, 2008 Monday
I went to bed with my left foot hurting and my ribs on my right side. I wasn’t surprised because I quit taking the Pain medication. Friday night after taking it I had a panic attack. I knew I couldn’t tolerate the medication. Anyway I woke up about 3:00 a.m. with my foot hurting so bad I could barely stand on it. At 4:00 a.m. I woke up Stan and we headed for the hospital. After hearing all my problems they determined they could X-Ray the foot and do a CAT scan. Then we waited and waited. About 9:30 Dr. Wright came in. The X-Ray was negative but the CAT Scan showed a mass in the lung. Stan and I kept our composure, but there were some tears when he left. I will need to have a pulmonary specialist put a tube down my throat and into my lungs to see what’s going on. It will also snip off a piece of the mass so they can determine if it is malignant.
I’m sure that it will be. I just need enough time to teach Stan how to take care of finances. I have no worries about the next life. I have a strong belief in the plan of salvation and know that I can be with my family again someday. I do worry about Stan and Robert alone together. We will take this one day at a time and do whatever is necessary to have a few more years.
That afternoon I went back to the hospital for the MRI.
November 26, 2008 Wednesday
Marie, Amy and Traci made it here from California. They’ve come for Thanksgiving. They had a rough time getting here...lots of rain! I had an appointment to see Dr. Wright at 1:30 p.m. More bad news. The MRI shows a tumor in my leg. My next step is to see the Oncologist (cancer Dr.) and get a bone scan to see if there are any other cancer spots in my body. GOOD GRIEF!!!!
Stan and I then went to the DMV and got a handicapped parking placard then on to medical equipment where we got a shiny new wheelchair. We made it to the Casa just in time to meet Clarence and Joan, Marja and Tracy, Leora and Doug and Marie and her two girls. We had a good time but I went home exhausted.
November 27, 2008 Thursday
Along with Marie, Amy, and Traci, we also had Leora and Doug, Kelvin, Craig, and Sundee’s families as well as Tonja; Kanani’s family; Marja and
Tracy with Dewin and his two kids (he’s divorced) and Thomas (Jon’s son) and his fiance; Clarence and Joan; Philis and Bob with Amy. All in all we had 43 people for Thanksgiving. It was a great day! We were only missing Miki and Gary who each had their families coming for Thanksgiving. Marja, Leora and Joan brought things for the dinner, Clarence cooked the turkeys in his pit, Philis brought yummy cranberry sauce, Marie’s daughters made some special mashed potatoes, and Kanani fixed the things I was supposed to make, including home made lemon meringue pie. YUMMY!! I just sat around and watched everyone work!
November 29, 2008 Saturday
Went to Olas Carter’s funeral. It was very nice. It was funny sitting down and not singing in the choir. I couldn’t make it up the stairs.
Sat. afternoon Kanani and Lehua came with their kids and put up our inside Christmas decorations. What wonderful children we have. It really made my day!
December 2, 2008 Tuesday
This morning Stan took me to the hospital to pick up a hard copy of my CAT scan. Afterwards we went to the carpet place on Main street and picked out a couple of tiles to bring home for the bathroom.
After resting the kids came for piano lessons. I was glad to be able to give them.
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