We continue to choose the road less traveled. Our stories started in New York and Michigan. We took an detour to New Jersey, and had a most excellent adventure to Ethiopia. In July, 2013 we moved our family from Detroit to Texas. People can say a lot about us, but they can't accuse us of being boring....
Monday, April 17, 2006
Bad Day Yesterday
I tried calling last night between 8.30 and 9.00 and didn't get an answer, so I tried Jen on her cell phone. She said that Mom wasn't up to taking any phone calls yesterday. She was feeling really nauseous and tired. She was normally hosting a constant stream of visitors and phone calls, but yesterday she needed to rest. Hopefully it will pass in a couple days and then she'll have a couple weeks to recover before she has to have it again.
Craig
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Treatments have started
Mom's best friend, Anne Tanguay, has been staying at the St. Luke's Home which is just across the parking lot from the hospital. She has been having a rough time with her dialysis lately, but is determined to visit Mom today. I guess Anne's sister DiDi is going to come and get her and have one of the doctor's sign off so that Anne can go on the visit. Anne has designs on a great escape from the whole hospital scene, but I think they both require additional care, and are getting the help they need.
We added Jen as an official contributor to the blog, so that we won't have confusion like we did the other day when a number of people thought I popped over from Michigan on Thursday to go with Mom to Faxton. Jen will be able to post under her own identity now so it will be easy to know who is who.
With tomorrow being Easter, there will be lots of people in church tomorrow, so anyone that has a church with prayer lists, please make sure that Mom is on there. Maybe it will be like at the beginning of "It's a Wonderful Life" and so many people will be praying for her that God won't know what else to do but deliver us a miracle!
Happy Easter!
Love
Craig
Friday, April 14, 2006
Chemo starts today
They haven't said anything about going home yet, but depending on how her system reacts to the chemo, it might be possible that she could go home next week. One doctor mentioned to her, "sorry to keep you through the Easter weekend," which seems to me that she might be able to go home soon thereafter. She'll need to get back up to Faxton for the radiation treatments each day, and Jen has been able to arrange her schedule to be there a lot during the day and will be able to assist with transportation. (Good thing she got her driver's license!)
Gail and I will be traveling back to Happy Valley next weekend with Nate, so we're looking forward to spending time with Mom again and letting her see how Nate has grown.
As TJ's almost 5, he's understanding more and knows that something is up, and he's having some difficulties. He seems to have some kind of bug right now as he's running a fever, but the stress has likely impacted his immune system and made him more susceptible to illness. Please include him in your prayers as he's going to need support through all this as well.
Craig
Thursday, April 13, 2006
second radiation treatment today
Jen
Progress
She also had the port installed that will be used for the chemotherapy regimen. She will likely be in the hospital until their at least finished with the radiation and to see how she reacts to the overall treatment plan. If all goes well, she'll be able to go home in between chemo treatments to rest and recuperate.
The staff at the hospital told her that they can't believe how healthy she looks, so we're considering that to be a positive. The radation and chemo will be challenging for her body to take, so it's good that she's in good health otherwise.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Bad News
I spoke to Mom last night and she got the results that the growth on her adrenale gland is also cancerous. She didn't hear any results from the lung tap, but since the cancer has spread to the adrenale gland, then that rules out surgery to remove her lung.
The next step is radiation treatment to hopefully reduce the size of the tumor in her left lung and allow it to function normally again. The concern there is fluid developing in the lung that can't get cleared because it's currently collapsed. After that, she'll start some type of chemotherapy regimen and should be able to do most of that from home.
Her spirits are high and she's going to hang onto every hope for a miracle so that's what we'll all have to hope for.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Tests were run as planned
We're hoping that the cancer HAS NOT spread, as surgery is the preferred option at this point. Gail read that the non-small cell cancer is slower to advance, but it sounds like this tumor has been growing for some time, and the doctors have just had difficulty in diagnosing it.
We'll just keep thinking positive and hope for the best. The test results should be back by tomorrow, but since they performed the test yesterday morning at 8.30a, then we might hear something back later today.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Latest News
There is a tumor in her left lung which has closed off the windpipe, and the lung collapsed as a result. This made it difficult to determine how big the tumor is at this point. We heard yesterday that it is a non-small cell lung cancer, which is the type which is supposed to be slower to spread, but it's still questionable as to whether or not it has.
There is fluid around the lung which is not typically present, and there is a separate growth on her adrenale gland. Each of these things could be unrelated, or they could also be cancerous. Mom is having both of these tested today. They will be drawing fluid from the lung, and performing a biopsy of the growth on the adrenale gland.
We're hoping that these both come back as negative, which will mean that the cancer has not spread beyond the lung. If not, then it sounds like they plan to do a radiation treatment to reduce the size of the tumor to allow air into the lung. This will reduce the chance of pneumonia developing and allow them a better view of how big it is.
They will then proceed with removing the one or both lobes of the left lung. She has been breathing with one lung all week and by this past weekend, her body has seemed to adapt well, and her pulse ox was normal with no supplemental oxygen and just one lung!
If the cancer has spread, then they will proceed with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
The results of today's tests should be available by Wednesday and that will outline what the next steps are.
Please keep her in your prayers and we'll hope for the absolute best. She is determined to beat this and will need lots of support to do so.
Love
Craig
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Liz Backus updates
The doctors have determined that the cancer has spread and therefore will NOT REmove her lung. So that doesn't sound good. However, they will be doing treatments chemo and probably radiation - I assume all over. We do not know where the cancer has spread at this time.
Liz is staying at FAxton - St. Luke's hosptial in Utica, NY and her room number is 173.
Please tell friends about this website that may know Liz. I realize most people that check may be our family - but we'll pass this along to the Backus gang as well.
Its important we keep her in our prayers - she's a wonderful woman and very strong. If anyone can beat this cancer- its Liz. She's a fighter and has a LOT to look forward to in life and she's young. So we are focusing on all those positives right now.
Love,
Gail
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Woo HOo
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Wednesday, February 01, 2006
new year
Anyhow - you can check out Nate's 18 month pictures on the picture link. We are still going to download all the ones from the holidays.
Hope this new year is good to everyone so far.
Yes - Nate is 18 months - and starting the "terrible 2's" a little early. He's also teething - hence not as many happy smiles in his pictures this time around. He refused to pose. But enjoy - we have a few - bruises on the forehead and all. He's all over the place and a true boy! Its great.
Love,
Gail
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas!
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Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Merry Christmas
anyhow - we are ready for the holidays - and just can't wait to spend some time with family and just chill out and relax. I have all next week off to spend with Nate and visiting friends and family.
We wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy (and safe) New Yaers!
love,
Gail, Craig and Nate (and even Fudd)
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Mmmmm ice cream
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Thursday, December 01, 2005
First Hair Cut & More
We hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving holiday with family, friends and loved ones. As I mentioned - we were in Ny with the Backus clan - it was fun. Just a LONG 12 hour drive home sunday. We are all trying to get caught up from that. Its amazing just sitting in a car makes you tired and worn out. Not fun.
This weekend we are hoping Nate won't be afraind of Santa - we are attending my works Breakfast with Santa party. It should be fun - sold out - so I'm sure TONS of kids! i can't wait. Hopefully my friend Barb's kids will help Nate visit Santa for a quick picture. Hopefully
Alright - just had to send a quick update. Other than all that - we joined a new church a few weeks ago - really happy about that. Work - its work for us both. Craig's swamped at his job - and me - just plugging along.
I'll hopefully post more this month.