Good news (finally)

I heard from Jen earlier and it sounds like the trip to see the colonoscopy doctor was a waste of time. they had NO bad news at all - just wanted to tell her again - it all looked alright. So that is good news.

Also - Ron should be getting out of the rehab center today and returning home - yeah!

More updates

Not sure if there are other posts - but just wanted to give a few of my own.

1 - Liz should be coming home today - and will have an appointment about the colonoscopy results tomorrow and Chemo again on Thursday. She'll have plenty of visitors this weekend, Craig will be driving out, and I think both uncles and families are also planning some trips there as well. So this is good. We just want her to be home and not feel sick.

2. Ron is FINALLY getting out of rehab/hospital tomorrow (knock on wood). He's been in one of the two since April 21st! NOT fun at all. He's ready to go home. Its going to be some changes but they are in hope to conserve his energy and not run our of breath. So that is good.

3. We finally got our second kitten - Piper. She is not the original one we wanted, he had too many health issues. So now we have Chloe and Piper - they are doing well and finally getting along. Its fun to watch them - and its so true - get two cats. They totally chase each other around so that they are tired by night time and sleep all night long. Yeah.

Hopefully we'll have more news on Liz tomorrow -
Gail

Saturday June 24

Well, I think almost everyone knows this but here it goes anyway. Upper right lung is getting good air but lower right lung is partially collapsed with fluid surrounding it. The adrenal gland mass grew slightly 1/4 inch, which means chemo didn't really work so well the first round. The radiation helped with the lung though. Mom is on a new chemo which is 4 hours one week then 1 hour the next week with the following week off. This will be her new schedule to the next scan I guess. Mom is not tolerating the chemo very well. Yesterday she ate 2 crackers and barely kept them down.When we returned to the chemo suite for her shot they gave her medicine that was supposed to be better than what she had for nausea but it doesn't seem to be working yet. She is pretty tired and weak so if you call please keep that in mind.

Wednesday June 7

A bit of good news. Mom just got her new wig and it looks really good. Short and sassy! I will try to get a pic on here so everyone can see her new summer hairdo. She also got a graduation certificate from radiation which is over for now. Chemo will continue for 6 mos to a year depending on what the doc thinks.

Anne Tanguay passed away on Sunday

From the Evening Telegram

Anne Doolen Tanguay

Published: Tuesday, June 6, 2006 3:02 PM CDTE-mail this story Print this page
Services for Ilion woman planned FridayILION - Anne Doolen Tanguay, 56 of 72 Spruce St., Ilion, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 4, 2006, at St. Luke's Hospital in Utica after a long illness.Anne was born on June 8, 1949, in Utica, the daughter of the late Owen E. and Betty (Williams) Doolen.

Anne was a graduate of Ilion High School and was employed by Duofold for many years in the accounting department.Anne leaves behind her six cherished sisters, Mrs. Joseph (Bonnie) Pettograsso of Guilderland, Mrs. Richard (Ida) Akullian of Guilderland, Betty Mae Pye of Ilion, Mrs. Lance (Linda) Crisman of Ilion, Mrs. Douglas (Darlene) Bauer of Guilderland and Mrs. Richard (Deborah) Stacks of Apollo Beach, Fla. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Anne was predeceased by her loving husband, Rosaire Tanguay, in October of 2001.

Anne's family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, June 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home, 100 Otsego St., Ilion. Anne's funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Ilion, with the Rev. Kristine Jane Jensen officiating. Interment will follow in the Mohawk Cemetery.Friends have been asked to consider memorial donations in Anne's memory to the Dialysis Center at Little Falls Hospital, the Ilion Ambulance, or the Herkimer County Humane Society.The Evening Telegram, June 6, 2006

Fudd's Final picture. I hope he's at peace.

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Farewell to Fudd

Well I won't be able to do this tomorrow. But after talking to the doctor at the animal hospital and Craig talking to him - its been decided that Fudd will be in kitty heaven tomorrow. We are still in shock with all this - but its the best for him. We don't know all the details -but they can't tell us that quality of his life and the cost would be close to $10,000 - yes 10K. We just can't afford that right now -

We've extended Fudd's life a few times and love him dearly - he's our first son. I know this sounds horrible - but I just want him to be at peace. Its very difficult choice - but we will all say good bye to him on Thursday night.

Gail

Another problem

Ok - now its our cat Fudd. He's not doing well - we came home from a nice trip in NY to find him not eating. He's had problems with his urinary tract system - that is still an issue. But now his liver is the main concern. He's now in a local animal hospital trying to get care and we'll find out more options for his care and life today and tomorrow. Right now - it doesn't look too hopeful - its probably liver cancer or "fatty liver" - which this one is treatable. However, he may not be stable for a feeding tube - and we can't stop working to take care of him full time either. so its just one of those instances where a choice has to be made. As Craig put it - we have extended his life a few times with previous surgeries and treatments knowing he'll have a healthy life. Now - we aren't sure we can say that.

So keep us in your prayers. We at least have Ron out of the hospital - so that is good. And Liz seemed really good this weekend - more good news. Just pray we can do the right thing by our first fur ball and little guy - Fudd. the last thing we want is for him to suffer too.
Love,
Gail

My Dad is moving back to Botsford Common

Dad is moving back to Botsford Common this afternoon
around 1.30p. It's still not clear that they have all
of the answers so that he can move forward, but at
least he'll have an opportunity to gain strength at
the rehab facility with the hopes of going home.

It just seems that they're having a difficult time
regulating everyting with all of the various drugs
they're using, but having him sit in bed all day tied
to a 6' length of oxygen hose isn't helping either.

My Dad has been moved

My Dad has been moved to room 213B. We're on our way back from new york now.

Thursday May 25

Hello everyone. Not too much happening here with mom. Just the same old stuff, radiation and radiation. Chemo is next wednesday. We are looking forward to michgan visiting this weekend.

Dad Update

I realized I haven't updated from Michigan in a while, so I wanted to let everyone know that Dad is in the hospital still. He's at Botsford, but we're hoping that he might be leaving this week. They've prescribed a new medication called Ranexa that is supposed to improve blood flow to the heart and hopefully eliminate angina attacks. This is what led him back to the hospital after being at the rehab facility for a week. It seems that he's still having difficulties getting everything to work right at the same time as yesterday they expressed concern about his white blood cells and platelet counts. They don't understand why these are reduced as they don't feel that there is any problem with his marrow, so I'm not sure if more tests are going to be done.

We're still planning to travel to the Valley for the holiday weekend, and have arranged for additional visits from people at our church, my brother-in-law, Marcus, and my friends Jim and Joyce Warner.

WooHoo

Mom doesn't have to get lovenox shots anymore. We are both quite happy about that! It turns out TJ has Pneumonia not the other thing but mom's oncologist said her white blood cell count was good. Mom went out last night to a church thing and even drove herself. Her appointment went well other than having no shots. I was unable to go so I am not sure of everything that was said.

Wednesday May 17

Mom is doing ok, getting tired again from the radiation I think. She is also either very nauseous or very hungry and she can never decide which it is. I just give her a pill and give her food to eat that takes care of both problems. Her recent appointment with her G.P. Dr Hunsiker went well, still trying to work out getting off the lovenox shots. Hopefully she will be off them by the weekend. She also lost a few pounds, not sure how many I was unable to attend that appointment and she wouldn't tell me. She has another appointment with her oncologist Dr. Razia friday. Hopefully one of her valley friends can take her since Tim, TJ, and I will be in North Creek all day. She has been driving herself but she appears to be getting a titch weak so a drive to utica may not be so good.

TJ recently was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis with apparently is very contagious. He is on antibiotics again I just hope mom didn't catch anything. The doc's keep a good eye on her counts so she should be ok.

Back to Botsford Hospital

Dad is back to Botsford Hopital today. He had some minor angina Saturday night, but had a severe case this morning, and they sent him from the rehab facility back to the Botsford ER. They're going to admit him today, and we should know about a room assignment a little later. They're going to hold the rehab room for 24 hours, and then they'll have to box up his belongings and we'll have to pick it up. This will be a busy week as we're having our annual user conference, and I'm heavily involved in the setup and coordination of the event. Luckily, Gail had already taken today off to get caught up at home, so she's already been to see Dad at the ER, and doped out the situation at the rehab facility.

I'm not sure why he's continuing to have angina pain as they were supposed to be getting him on a new drug regimen to assist with the blockage in the one vein, but it's evidently not doing what it needs to.