Things are looking better everyday. Ed is now eating, or swallowing I should say, creamed soups and protein shakes, plus the feeding tube twice a day. Also, still keeping Kentucky Fried Chicken mashed potatoes in business. All this is helping to gain his strength back and his humor. We went to the doctor Tuesday for the one month check-up. A little good news and bad. No teeth for 6 months, not a good news item. I guess the radiation causes the mouth to change a lot and awhile to return to normal. They will be leaving in the feeding tube until they do another pet scan which will not be for another two months. The tumor will hopefully continue to shrink and if there is any left over tumor they will try to surgically remove it. The lymph node on the left side is still very swollen, if it remains that way when they do the pet scan they will just remove it. He is having some hearing changes, high frequencies hurt him, guess we will wait it out. Amidst all the pain and and suffering God is still using him for his glory.
He is in the October issue of Blade magazine, two orders so far came out of that. Awesome.......he is very encouraged by something to drive him to get well. Keep praying, it works.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Two weeks out from radiation
The last few weeks have been getting a little better every day. Last week the feeding tube got clogged and he was throwing up everything we put in the tube. We went in on Friday the 15th they gave him a new feeding tube. It has been uphill from there. Yesterday, Sunday he actually ate, or drank some cream of pureed celery soup. Yes, we celebrated the small miracles. Today he drove to West Valley, big outing for him. He drove home past Kentucky Fried Chicken and was pulled inside to have a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy. Wow, what a milestone. I think we are on the way. He is still very weak and has lost about 30 lbs. (more gravy I say). Thanks to all the kind people and your prayers are still coveted. He will be needing teeth and a long recovery.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Update June 28, '11
Today was the last day of radiation for Ed, chemo finished last Tuesday. He has been very sick from the all the chemotherapy and radiation treatments. His throat is burned inside and out from the radiation, which means he can't swallow anything but water because of the burns inside his throat. We are feeding him through a feeding tube in his stomach every 2-3 hours. He has lost a total of 16lbs., not bad considering. He will start to feel an improvement in being so sick within the next two weeks.
The doctors seem hopeful at his progress, the tumor has shrunk significantly. We now wait for the tumor to continue to shrink. We will see the doctor in two weeks, then a month, then two months to check on the progress of the tumor. At that time they will do another PET scan to see if there is any residual of the tumor or new tumors that have grown. If they do see any hopefully they may be small enough to surgically to remove.
In the process of all that is happening here there has been an outpouring of love and such incredible kindness from our friends and family. We have had the entire outside of our house painted and repaired, the front porch rebuilt, which by the way is nicer than my kitchen floor, new flower beds, tree trimmings and just all around kindness beyond belief. We are so blessed by the support we have of our friends and family. This is going to be a long road and I am so grateful for the support we have around us.
The doctors seem hopeful at his progress, the tumor has shrunk significantly. We now wait for the tumor to continue to shrink. We will see the doctor in two weeks, then a month, then two months to check on the progress of the tumor. At that time they will do another PET scan to see if there is any residual of the tumor or new tumors that have grown. If they do see any hopefully they may be small enough to surgically to remove.
In the process of all that is happening here there has been an outpouring of love and such incredible kindness from our friends and family. We have had the entire outside of our house painted and repaired, the front porch rebuilt, which by the way is nicer than my kitchen floor, new flower beds, tree trimmings and just all around kindness beyond belief. We are so blessed by the support we have of our friends and family. This is going to be a long road and I am so grateful for the support we have around us.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Week 3 Chemo
Thank goodness we can continue to rely on the wisdom of God and not on our understanding of the situation.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Welcome to our Blog!
Hello everybody,
As many of you know, Ed was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (neck cancer) in April - and that just after having an extra two stents (for a total of ten all together) in his heart the week before. Because of great strides in the medical field against cancer in recent years and the good people at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in recent years, his prognosis looks really great - 80% compared to 25% two years ago - so this is a profound inconvenience rather than a big tragedy.
After months of preparation, Ed started an aggressive six-week regimen of radiation and chemotherapy yesterday. It's been a little traumatic - we were reeling from the cancer diagnosis when we were told that most of Ed's teeth had to be removed and a feeding tube inserted into his stomach right away - that's two surgeries last week before we even got started! So we're officially launched into the treatment phase. It hasn't been easy, and it will get a lot tougher before we're done, but we get to keep him in the end, and that's what matters.
Thank you for all your prayers and support, and to all of you who have given support through help, financial blessings,** or a kind word or card; it means more than you will ever know. We'll keep you posted on progress through this blog, and keep the prayers coming!
Love,
Susan
** A charitable fund has been set up through Adventure Liberty Park for Ed. For more information go to http://adventurelibertypark.org/, or call 801-973-0088.
As many of you know, Ed was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (neck cancer) in April - and that just after having an extra two stents (for a total of ten all together) in his heart the week before. Because of great strides in the medical field against cancer in recent years and the good people at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in recent years, his prognosis looks really great - 80% compared to 25% two years ago - so this is a profound inconvenience rather than a big tragedy.
After months of preparation, Ed started an aggressive six-week regimen of radiation and chemotherapy yesterday. It's been a little traumatic - we were reeling from the cancer diagnosis when we were told that most of Ed's teeth had to be removed and a feeding tube inserted into his stomach right away - that's two surgeries last week before we even got started! So we're officially launched into the treatment phase. It hasn't been easy, and it will get a lot tougher before we're done, but we get to keep him in the end, and that's what matters.
Thank you for all your prayers and support, and to all of you who have given support through help, financial blessings,** or a kind word or card; it means more than you will ever know. We'll keep you posted on progress through this blog, and keep the prayers coming!
 |
| Ed and I with Kyle and Adrienne in Arizona! :D |
Susan
** A charitable fund has been set up through Adventure Liberty Park for Ed. For more information go to http://adventurelibertypark.org/, or call 801-973-0088.
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