Wednesday, December 12, 2018

What We Hear.....

  The sun rising around the office building on the St Vincent's grounds.
 Same day's sunset reflected in those office windows.  Even a sunny day has hope.
  This is one of the boards the nurses keep up for patients and families.  You see at the bottom where it says , biopsy with platelets.  On Thursday Dec. 6th, Ted had a bone biopsy to see if the chemo had done it's job of killing the cancer. Ted's cancer doctor never comes in on weekends (?) so one of his associates comes to review with the patient. The doctor on Saturday told Ted his cancer was in remission....What do you hear when a dr. say, "Your cancer is in remission"...I heard hope, Ted heard hope and no more chemo. Thinking now get thru this truly sick stage and heal.
  On Monday Dr. Birhiray(cancer dr) came in and said , "Did I say, If or maybe? No, I said you will have three chemo rounds. You will be here a month, maybe go home two days , come back another month, and then repeat a third time.  " So  in this first round of chemo, Ted's cancer is gone"(remission)...as is his immune system and many other daily things our bodies do  for us.
  He has been so ill, not eating, diarrhea, sick to his tummy( a little thankfully ). So now he is getting extra attention for his bowels.  He finally did eat yesterday. I tell him eat things that may be easy to digest.  It's hard to think, "what would I like to eat...when it comes down to what would I like to throw up?"  He  needs to keep trying...food makes energy that he needs for this fight. His counts are slowly climbing.
  I am ever so grateful for all of you out there with prayers and well wishes.  I know in my heart all of them are helping us. I try to stay with Ted when he is at his worse moments. I just finally had to come home and get to the chiropractor. My back has been so bad I could barely walk yesterday. Thankful for my grandchildren and daughters for all their help .
 Here's my Teddy without his hair. He had me clip it all off.  Lynzie and her husband Mark with Ted one evening when I could not be there. You can see Ted tries to always smile.
  I will tell how the cancer doctor told us about this cancer AML, and treatment.   Your bone marrow is a garden growing flowers(cells) Cancer is weeds taking over the garden, chemo is herbicide . At first you use a big amount of herbicide to kill the weeds, which also kills the flowers. Once all is killed, the garden has to sit awhile...which is where Ted is right now, the really sick stage,  After some time, the flowers will grow again....the weeds will come back, but not as many...you need more herbicide.(not as much as the weeds are not as thick).  The garden is killed once again, the garden has to sit for time to bring it back. Then a third round of herbicide(chemo) is used, not so much this third time as the weeds are less . The garden sits to rest and comes back healthy. This is the hope of all the chemo treatments. Ted will be tested time and again after this to see how well he is doing and to make sure the cancer is not back......at the end of three years he would be considered cured.
  Please pray for Ted  and anyone else with cancer. I sit and think of this as , one floor of cancer patients in one hospital and then I am overwhelmed by the enormity of cancers out there. It touches all. It's a disease that includes the whole family in the emotional pain. May God bless all of you for your caring hearts. XO

50 comments:

  1. So grateful the cancer is in remission Susie. Continued prayers are being lifted up for Teddy and your family. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. Thank you Cindy. Since I am home for a time now. I can read and answer comments. Hope all is well with you and yours with Christmas, such a source of joy, so near. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  2. Praise God for this good news! And, yes, the chemo will continue but that is necessary for Ted to remain in remission! This is hard but you have every hope in the world that this time next year you and Ted will smile and remember how together you came out on the other side of it! Step by step. Line upon line. Here a little, there a little. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue to do the next right thing. And that includes you getting some rest and taking care of your back. Louis Dean and I love you and Ted and are keeping you both in our prayers and our hearts......

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    1. Linda, I truly thank you and Ld for your prayers and wonderful healing thoughts. This has been tough..yes, I have to get well to be able to do the things that need done and care for my Teddy when he does get to come home. The more I think about my back the more I think I hurt it in a fall at the grocery beside the flower carts from a water spill there. It was 3 days later that it started to hurt. Just hoping I can heal quickly. Blessings to all of you, I will enjoy everyone's Christmas décor. I only have a wee tree and wreath out. Blessings to all of you, xoxo, Love you guys so much, Susie

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  3. Oh Susie, that sounds like words of hope. It sounds like the specialists and staff are taking good care of him. Ted still smiles through all this.....bless him. And you are a pilar of strength for him, Susie. Yes, I will keep praying. How special of the doctor to explain this with the description of flowers and weeds. So much easier to understand that way. Holding you close to my heart, Susie.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, Ted is a trooper. Trying to be brave when he's been so low at times. We have to joke with one another to helps makes us both laugh. I tell him get well and come home, I have no one to pick on. :) Or if I tell him , drink this water, he says , "you aren't the boss of me" Just little things that make us laugh. I to liked how the dr. told of the garden. Blessings, xoxo,love, Susie

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  4. Thanking God for the remission and continuing to pray for Ted, you and your family-also the doctors and staff taking care of him.

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    1. Thank you so much Jan. I thank the staff and drs all the time...everything is important . Thank you for prayers. Blessings for a great Holiday season,. xoxo, Susie

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  5. Praying for both you and Ted, and yes....I hear hope also!! xoxoxo

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    1. Thank you Debbie, I have talked about you lately to my grandgirls...telling them how you are so good about saving food and making all your produce go far. Thank you for your prayers. I so appreciate them. Stay safe this winter. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  6. Praise God for the remission. I'm so happy to hear that. I have been thinking about you and Ted this week. I'm glad you gave us an update. My dear friend keep hope, and stay in prayer. Sending many hugs, and blessings your way.

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    1. Pretty Pilar, thank you for the prayers and good wishes always. It's been tough , I am always praying for strength from God...to make me tough enough. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas season. xoxo,Susie

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  7. Susie, I am glad to hear that the cancer is in remission but hate to hear that Ted must go through more chemo. I know another family that is dealing with cancer as well and it does effect the entire family.

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    1. Thank you Carol. I am praying ted will have the strength to do the next round. I am not even sure when it will be. He is just starting to get numbers in his immune system. I pray that people will get checked for the cancers that are detectable. Blessings to you and prayers for the other family dealing with cancer. xoxo, Susie

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  8. I know you must both want so much for the time to come to go home, how amazing that will feel. But your doctor's analogy of a garden and the weeds in it was such a good explanation, makes such good sense. I have Ted's name on a kitchen cabinet to remind us daily to pray for healing for him, Susie, and for your back to improve. God bless all your family for their love and support!

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    1. Dewena, Thank you for those wonderful prayers. When Dr. B explained as he did, it helped us. The book they give you to read and truly be terrifying. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  10. Oh Susie this does my heart good to know it's in remission. I know this is and will continue to be a hard road for him and all of you but continue to hold tight to your Faith. God will take care of the rest. yes cancer hits so many families and living through it with my precious mama we all come to know so well. it hurts to see them go through this but he's a fighter and so are you and don't you ever give up. Praying every day for you all and for him and May God continue to give you comfort. I'm also praying for you with your back. My hubby has that problem and it's hard especially on you and sitting in the hospital all day and night makes it worse. Love you my sweet friend and prayers always. xo

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    1. Thank you Susie for all the prayers. I am thankful Ted was a strong man before this fight. It is hard to see him lose some of his strength from the chemo...it takes the wind from your sails. Right before Ted was to go have his treadmill test, I slipped in a puddle of water at our grocery store. I thought I was okay...but I am thinking three days after that is when I started having my back problems. I just have to get well...I am no use like I am. been gone from the hospital a day and a half. I do speak with Ted on the phone. Blessings to you my dear friend. you are in my daily prayers. Love you, xoxo, Susie

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  11. Yes dear Susie,,,cancer wreaks havoc on the patient and also the ones who love that patient. We will continue to send our prayers and thoughts of healing...may God Bless you in this ordeal....hope...isn't that a beautiful word.

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    1. Thank you Betsy. Hope is what carries me thru many situations. I have been writing prayers on bits of paper and leaving them on Ted's tray to read. I tell him read them daily. I pray for the drs. and nurses too. I see them working so hard. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie

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  12. Good news! Prayers for continued endurance for all of you.

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    1. Thank you for those prayers. They are all appreciated. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  13. Thank you so much for taking the time to write and let us know what is happening. I'm praying every day! My husband and I are both praying for your precious hubby and for you too. Let me know if there is anything I can do dear friend. With love AND lots of hugs, Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane. Please thank your husband too. Ted is a fighter and has had some tough moments already .He is brave to smile when he seems so weak. God will pull us thru this. I can never stop having that prayer. Blessings to you, xoxo, Susie

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  14. Lived this with Mother
    Prayers prayers

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    1. Thank you Brenda. I knew that many of you have suffered yourself , or had family fight this cancer fight. Prayers are medicine too. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  15. Continuing in my prayers for Ted and for you too. I am a cancer survivor. So is my sister. And yesterday my girlfriend called to tell me she is in remission. So much hope these days that cancer can be cured. It sounds as if Ted is on the road to being cured. Now you just have to take care of that back of yours. Back pain is not fun and nothing to play around with. Thank you so much for letting us know what is going on. Lots of love to both of you.

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    1. Sweet Kathy, I thank you for the prayers. I am glad you and your sister got thru your battle with cancer. Praying for your friend. I am asking God for help with my back...I need to be strong. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  16. Thank you for the update....you all continue to be in my prayers. May God give you the strength you need for today!

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    1. Doris, That seems to be my daily prayer any more. I pray for strength. For Ted and for myself. I thank you for your prayers. I hope you and your sweet family are enjoying this Christmas season. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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  17. That is the best description of cancer and treatment I have ever heard, really giving one something to relate to. I'll remember that.

    I'm so grateful he is in remission, though sorry that he has to go through all the supplementary effects, which I know must be miserable. And with a trashed out immune system, one that requires extra vigilance. But keep your eyes on the prize. Because truly, you are headed that way. So good to see this post. (Now you take care of yourself, too!)

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    1. Jeanie, I am so grateful for everyone's good wishes and prayers. I am thankful the cancer doctor is so wise. The nurses so hard working. They are all so compassionate . Ted has fought a good fight this round and I pray he is ready to fight each round of chemo. Blessings to you and yours, this beautiful Holiday season. xoxo, Susie

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  18. It is amazing how Ted keeps smiling! I am sad to hear how sick he has been with the chemo. I will keep you both in prayer. I hope you can get some rest and your back will stop hurting. hugs to you and your family

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    1. Hi Karen, I have missed visiting my blog family. Hope you are doing well. Yes, Ted is being so strong. I pray everyday for God to give us the strength to get thru this a day at a time. We count each break as a blessing. I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season. Blessings to you, xoxo, Susie
      p.s. tell your sister hello for me. Miss her too.

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  19. It is such hard work, battling cancer. But remission is a very good thing! I am praying for strength, comfort, and peace...and for your back, too, Susie. I am so glad you have such a close supportive family! I know how much they mean to you both! xoxo

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    1. Linda, Thank you for the prayers, each is a wonderful gift. Ted and I are blessed with a loving family. They have been such good help and support. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie

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  20. Continuing to pray for you and Ted. May God give you strength daily for all you are going through. It is wonderful that you are able to be there with him, even though I can imagine how hard that is when you can't be home, with Christmas coming. But God is with you in the midst of this, and Emmanuel, God with us...will not leave you nor forsake you. May God grant you peace and hope and joy in the journey, even in the very hard and uncomfortable places. Remember Emmanuel...

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    1. Thank you so much Pamela. I am so thankful for the prayers. I have not thought much about Christmas, just trying to get thru this with my Ted. My back has been a big bother to me. My family has helped me lots, so grateful for them. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie

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  21. Im glad to hear some good news. Keeping you all in my prayers.
    Lisa

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    1. Thank you Lisa. I am grateful for all prayers. Blessings for a beautiful Christmas season, xoxo, Susie

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    2. And for the record. I think Ted looks handsome with his hair cut off!

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  22. Susie this is sounding good. I am so happy he is responding to the chemo and is in remission. Now the big task is to get him strong again. Love that he can still smile when he is so sick. What a great guy. When I worked as an oncology nurse the patients that did the best in treatment were the ones that were positive and up beat and smiled every day even when hurting or so sick. So good for Ted. Still praying for both of you. I hope he can get home for a few days at Christmas. God is with you both. Hang onto that. Hugs and more hugs.
    Love,
    Kris

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    1. Thank you Kris. The prayers and well wishes are so good for us.Since you have work oncology , you know the pain. Thank you for that. I tell Ted when he is low to think about his family fishing trip in Spring. He gets excited about it. We have already sent in his trip's deposit. He, his son, brothers and sil's, go fishing for a week. I am thankful Ted is strong and tries to be up beat. Blessings to all of you for a beautiful Holiday season. Love , xoxo, Susie

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  23. Sweet Susie, praying for you just now. I know that your faith sustains you in the incredibly difficult and stifling places on this journey. I pray that God will be especially close to you in this season giving you and Ted the daily bread that you need that comes only from The Giver of Life! Hugs and prayers for you just now.

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  24. Oh Susie, this is wonderful news!! God is good. Now I pray for Ted to have strength to endure it all without too much pain. I know how hard it is on you too. Please remember to take care of yourself also. That is very important so you can be there for him. I really understand now, how the chemo and cancer work. The doctor had a perfect example. My prayers continue for all of you. Especially Ted and YOU.

    With love and prayers.
    Gert

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  25. Praying my dear friend! I think the doctor did a good job of explaining the process.
    Sending lots of hugs and prayers. Thank you for keeping us up to date.
    Love, Carla

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  26. Remission makes me say "HALLELUJAH, thank you Lord" Prayers continue! HUGS!

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  27. I am soooo thankful to hear this good news. We will keep prayers going...for him, for you, for all your family.
    Yes, Bill lost all his hair but just a little fuzz so he had son to shave it all off. I told him I thought he looked kind of sexy for an old man of 83....he just grinned real big....Love to you and I hope your back gets better.

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  28. I pray for you and Ted, thank you for writing when you can and letting us know how he is doing. I just re-read your post this morning, hoping for news. Love, Peggy

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