Dr. Nattam Called Back...

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Dr. Nattam called me back yesterday. He left a message with Dr. T. at the Cleveland Clinic but hadn't heard back from him yet. So I don't know anything additional, yet.
However, I asked him if we could take a vacation in February, and he recommended to go in January...just in case I may be having some surgery done.

I talked to mom yesterday, and she has suggested that I ask for very specific prayers. So I've been thinking, I am very nervous about possibly having my stomach and some of it's neighbors removed. I need God to tell me, without a doubt, what he wants me to do. We've prayed all along that the cancer would shrink so that I could have this surgery...now we may be near to this reality and I'm apprehensive. Stomach cancer is highly recurrent, so even though it appears to be shrinking, it could come back quickly. Surgery would help slow this down and hopefully delay it for a while. I really need prayers for guidance, and peace with whatever lies ahead for us.
It's difficult to talk about this to you all and to humbly and graciously ask for such prayers, but I believe in you all and the power of prayer. So that is why I'm asking this request specifically. Thank you. Love, Becca

Friday

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Dad & Rachel...I'm laughing my head off! I recall that necklace that had a "gamey smell" to it. I threw it out into the bean field, but Chopper found it and brought it back to the back porch and tore it apart! So, no, I don't want another soft and fluffy necklace this year...thanks for the offer.

Darci, I'm cracking up at the halloween candy comment! Too funny. Good luck with your labs, I hope everyone remembered to fast at least 8 hours.

I woke up this morning and noticed that my infusion bag was really light. So I opened up the fanny pack and it's almost gone. It looks like I will be unhooked this afternoon instead of tomorrow, yeeha! I called Laurie and I will give Nattam another call...I called yesterday to find out what the plan is from now on, but his nurse never called me back...kind of frustrating! So I'll bug her again today.

Kids are feeling much better...running around the house like a wet dog after a bath. I'm so relieved! They've got a play date at Mary Beth's today, they can hardly wait.

I'm feeling pretty good, except I have to go get my license renewed today....without hair should be fun. At least I don't use my license very often.
Thank you for your prayers and support! Have a great day. Becca

Normalcy at our house

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Woke up this morning to see Jackson throwing up at the foot of our bed on the floor. Then 2 hours later, Lauren was doing the same thing! Except that time, Jade was already at work. So each of them continue to get sick every 20 minutes or so, but I have to say, I'm doing pretty good with the vomit. I don't feel too bad this morning, I imagine that helps. I didn't take my steroid dose last evening and I don't know if I'll take it today...sometimes it upsets my stomach too much (it's supposed to help with nausea). So today will be an interesting day.

My heart rate is also coming up, I think cleaning up after the kids has brought it up (haha).
I pulled some vegetable soup out of the deep freeze last night and Grandma Hurd made some more tapioca, so we're set on food, at least if we're not all sick by tonight.

I am thankful for so many friends and all the prayers. God is so great. I am being called by Lauren again. Bye for now.

Wednesday

SWUMC News: 2006-11-15

Feeling kind of gross today. Jade took the kids to Judy's so I could get a little rest. They were fighting like crazy this morning. I am feeling really queazy again, but have not gotten sick yet. My heart rate is in the 40s and 50s again, but I'm keeping my head elevated and it seems to keep those other weird symptoms away--no chest pressure.

Writing down my blessings yesterday helped keep me be more focused and attentive on what God does for me every day--that I often take for granted. Just like today, my mother in law called at just the right time and offered to watch the kids, or a cute little picture the kids make, or having such a supportive family and boss...the list goes on and on.

I'm also blessed b/c I plan on seeing my 33rd birthday next week and wasn't so sure that I'd make it there. So Rachel, you still have to share that day with me, remember we blow out the candles on the count of 3...no cheating. The kids are looking forward to spending that day with you. Well, I'm going to try and take a cat nap before Jade gets home and Jackson wakes up. Love, Becca

Tuesday's Devotions

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Here is the important stuff of this note, I coudn't believe my eyes when I read the Upper Room this morning. Hebrews 12: 11-15 will be of interest to all of you, I'm sure. : "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed". Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
I interpret this to mean, don't pout and feel sorry for my ailments and imperfections, but do what I can so that I can be strong as I can be--inspiring others with ailments to do the same? Also there is much more than physical healing, maybe the author of Hebrews wanted the weak and feeble to stand so that others can be healed spiritually and emotionally? What do you think?

Today during chemo, a man had a bad reaction and tried to code on them. I think he even was unresponsive. They called 911, grabbed a crash cart, and all of the docs came flying in to care for this gentleman. He came around, but they went a head and took him to the hospital. Thankfully, they said he ended up doing really well at the hospital. I felt bad for him and his wife; and the lady I was sitting next too...it was her first day.

Not feeling too bad, yet, from the chemo, just a headache. It's funny how fast body changes from chemo. I don't remember if I mentioned the different drugs they give most chemo patients during chemo? When I go in for chemo I have to take a "nausea and vomiting" prevention drug orally, called Emend (Amen for Emend!). Then IV hydration starts until I get a couple hundred mLs, then I get Decadron, a steroid (also for nausea and vomiting--also responsible for my big appetite next week.) Then taxotere is the first chemo drug I receive. After that infuses, I get more IV hydration to flush that on through. Then I get another drug for nausea and vomiting called Aloxi--from this point on, I can't usually hold an intelligent conversation and everything looks blurry. Then more IV hydration and then 1gm of Ativan through my IV!! Yikes! Can you see why I can't remember much from that day? Then I have my second chemo drug called Cisplastin followed by more hydration and Magnesium Sulfate.
Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers. Also, Ann, I have been praying for you as well.

Monday, Round 4 of chemo

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This morning I had some blood drawn before I saw Dr. Nattam and it looked pretty good.

My Hemoglobin actually increased and is now 11.4--and I'm NOT taken iron (doesn't look like iron-deficiency anemia. Also my differential looked great--meaning my body is able to fight off diseases such as cold and flu right now. My magnesium was low, too. Kind of had a feeling because I have been getting cramps in my feet a lot, so I asked them to check the magnesium level again...good thing, since they ended up giving me 2 grams of it via IV.

My appointment was scheduled for 8:15...did not even see Nattam until sometime around 10 a.m. He was very happy with the results--and suprised. He actually was not sure how we will progress after my six round are finished. So he is going to get into contact with Dr. Triozzi at the Cleveland Clinic and get back with me.

My last round falls on Christmas day, so I asked if we could put it off on week and start after the 1st of the year?? He did not hesitate and said sure! So I won't have to be ill during christmas and maybe we can run the fun run at the HUFF? I wish we could get 2 teams and build the teams so that running buddies could run at the same time? Wouldn't that be fun?

Well, I'm needing to get some rest, I feel pretty tired and wiped out. Thank you for your prayers and the blessings you keep sharing.
Love, Becca

Check out SWUMC Home Page

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I've updated the home page to include current events & news for the next few weeks. Please check it out and let me know if there is more info that you would like included.
Thank you

Also, I was hoping we could start another uplifting topic similar to "my favorite things", but this time, let's discuss "blessings". As I think of my blessings, an obvious one is that my PET scan came back with significant improvement. Also, I am blessed with a wonderful support system with a lot of love.
Pastor Paul spoke about sharing our inner most feelings or mistakes with God, but I also think he may have been talking about sharing those things with each other. This blog has most definately been a blessing to me and my friends and family in this way. We have been able to share so many intimate thoughts and feelings with each other, despite not necessarily knowing each other very well. I am guilty of being afraid of rejection at times, but not so much any more. I believe that we all imagine that if we share our troubles with someone else, maybe someone in our church, that we think we will be judged or alienated. I believe the opposite. We all are children of God and have been born into a world of sin. None of us are sinless or free of sin. Therefore, we should not be judgemental of one another, but be supportive of each other--wanting the best for one another which should include sharing God's love. I have felt this unconditional love from a lot of people and God. I want all of you to be able to experience the same wonderful feelings and love that I have experienced. What are your blessings?