Itchy...huh?

The post "Where do you..." that preceeded this post probably only made sense to those folks from Chillicothe. One of our local newspapers (yes, we have two) regularly shows photos of people in exciting locales, reading the Chillicothe Independent. Here, our kids, Sea World in June 2005, posed for the pic that I didn't send to the paper to be published. I don't remember if I forgot to send it or I just looked at it and thought "I CAN'T send it." Anyway, with the newspaper, camera and Pam all present, I couldn't resist the photo op.

The photo below actually paints a more accurate picture of yesterday. Pam was pretty uncomfortable for all but the last couple of hours of treatment day. She had a horrible time with itching and at some point she thought it was the treatment recliner. Perhaps someone left some strange itching germs behind and it got to her. She gave me the itchy recliner and she took my window seat. I didn't notice any itchiness. By the time Janette Ackerman and FloMom showed (and way after she saw Lori and Gina) however, Pam was feeling better. She was glad Janette wasn't there to see her in the loopy druggy phase that is the start of each chemo day. There are plenty of Pam text message recipients who know what I am talking about. At the end of the day she successfully finished both drugs of the 6th treatment of 12. She gets next week off then begins the third cycle of treatments on April 1st.

Like the "harder" post described, Pam isn't feeling the best. This past week she again battled a lack of energy, lack of the ability to sleep, aches and pains and the sinus infection that isn't. Our buddy and ENT Randy, whose office is just over Pam's left shoulder in the pic, looked at her again last week (not in that office, rather at his kitchen table...how cheap are we?) and saw no obvious infection in the nose or fluid in the ears. The blood continues to persist though. And since last week Pam has had significant ringing in her ears and seems to have lost some hearing in at least one. This is her cancer experience, one thing leads to another. Yesterday she met with her oncologist who said that the neuropathy that is associated with one of the drugs she is receiving is way more common in the arms/finger/legs/toes. Once every five or six years he sees someone have it in their head. Argh, again, Pam is teetering on being in the "rare" group. She has two weeks off to see if the ringing in the ears and the hearing problems increase or decrease. If the problems increase, then it may be decision time. We don't want her ending up like Mary Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie). Except I guess Mary went blind. Bad comparison, but you get my drift.

Thanks to the many who keep her going. She puts on a good face for company and a peppy tone for callers, but it isn't so easy. Thanks to the girls who get her walking, that really helps. Thanks to the unknown woman who came up to her yesterday at the cancer center and said "I know you are sick, but you are so beautiful I just had to tell you. God is good." To which Pam replied, "All the time." He is, you know. Through this trial, He is unchanging and loving and always there. No doubt.

Where do you...

...read your

Chillicothe Independent?

harder

I try to keep these posts a little informative and as light as possible. But since the last post which described treatment #5, Pam has really begun to feel the part of a chemo patient. Chemotherapy is a deep, dark pit of trials. Sometimes, like 4 years ago, the struggle begins instantly and overwhelms the participant(s). And this time it began so well that some of us forgot that the drugs compound week to week, eventually producing the effects we thought perhaps might not surface.

In the past few days the fatigue has really increased. Actually, all the physical difficulties have increased significantly. Sleep is rare and light. Headaches. A sinus infection that her body can't battle is in it's 6th week. And the list goes on and on.

But my plea here is for prayer for her on the emotional level. This physical attack on her body by cancer is accompanied by a terrific battle for her emotions. Lonliness knock s on her door daily now. The fight with cancer weakens you initially, but you can be stronger because of it. Pam experienced this as she fought cancer from 2004-08, growing weaker through 05-06 and stronger through 07-08. Of course the end of 2008 revealed that perhaps the mountain she conquered was actually only a foothill. So, if you happen across this post and read it, I will thank you to say a little prayer for her before you leave.

exCiting treatment day

Big changes today. Really big. Rather than receiving her treatment in Pod B, Pam was treated in Pod C. OK, so actually not so big or exciting, but it was a little different. Very crowded, very noisy. We waited alone in the Pod B waiting room for a while when I noticed no one was around. I looked into the treatment room and it was empty. That's when we realized things were different, like we were in the wrong waiting room. Here is a pic of Pam waiting, she could have waited a very long time before hearing her name called. Time flies when you are asleep.

One drug today, in and out in under 5 hrs. Not bad. Amy Crose came for awhile and the two of them discussed a book (again, a book talk...this time it was Deeper, by Debbie Alsdorf). Who talks about books when there is free wi-fi and we brought our laptop? Amy actually ended up at the cancer center longer than Pam. She had a meeting in her car and we saw her still engrossed in it as we left.

And, what are the chances of bumping into Don Bowen at a cancer center? Must be like 1 in 2. Pretty crazy.

Thanks for the continued prayers. Pam isn't feeling fantastic, but not horrible either. Prayers for her have clearly been answered as this chemo could be a far harder experience. Would appreciate prayers that the last 7 (she just finished #5) go as well. By the time she is done, school will be nearly out and it should be warm. Then we'll start asking for prayers concerning radiation.

(If the pictures seem of lesser quality this time it is because it appears I have broken my third camera in 12 months and had to resort to taking pics with my phone.)

LIVE from the cancer center (almost)

After 14 days off, Pam is back in the recliner taking her medicine. It was kind of a rough couple weeks, not feeling well, mostly due to a virus or infection she just can't shake. Her ability to fight infections is diminishing, but really, she is doing pretty well physically.

This video was taken just minutes ago, so this is almost Live. If Pam were awake, she would thank you for joining her.

We have been continually humbled by how much love and care has been shown to Pam (each of us) through all of this. We shudder to think that she is still on the front end of treatments. But Pam has a faith that is unwavering and knows her Lord is with her through all of this. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9.

Above is a candid shot of Pam from last Saturday evening after church. Notice the hair. Pretty close to original.

And now she is awake and catching up on her computering.