Feb. 2009 (MOMMA UPDATE)

WELL ..... here we go again! I guess I will start from the beginning. Mom went last week and had her tests ran and she had to go back on Monday of this week and get the results. Since I have never been to Houston or flown before and I was off work for this week I had the opportunity to go. I was really excited but very nervous....

My first flight in my life I ended up flying in a storm! It was a rough and scary flight for sure. We arrived one hour behind schedule due to the weather and the rough flight. We arrived at the hospital (M.D. Anderson) and got checked in. Mom's doctor (Dr. Glover) called us back and was very wonderful. She is the sweetest person. She sat down with us and was very sincere with the way she delivered the news.

Mom's cancer was diagnosed on Feb. 5, 2007. Joplin doctors did the tests and found a tumor in the rectal area. They stated there was not much they could do for her besides just "routine" treatment but she would never make it. They at first said it didn't look like her cancer was progressed very much and probably hadn't spread but that was not the case. Once more tests were run by the doctors in Joplin we found out that there were a few spots on her liver too. We got a second opinion in Houston at M.D. Anderson and we found out that she was mis-diagnosed and she had a rare & aggressive tumor in the walls of her rectum. The tests also did show that she did in fact have it in her liver too. Anytime cancer has moved from the rectal/anal area to the liver....most of the time makes it a stage 4 which is not good! After lots of treatment mom was given the remission statement! YAY.....especially since we were told with her stage of cancer she had 6-18 months to live. For a few months we were really pleased and estatic! Mom then began to lose lots of weight and get really worn out. When it was time to re-test my daddy and I had already discussed that we knew it was back with the way she is acting. SURE ENOUGH!!! It is back and now they have found a spot in her lung but is not thinking it is cancer....they think it is "debris". Since she has started treatment again it seems the cancer has just gained so much strength that nothing is working to fight it off.

MOVING FORWARD

In November after several months of different types of treatment and nothing working and the cancer growing at a very slow pace the doctors had run out of options with treatment. They told momma & daddy that the "FIGHT WAS OVER!" They suggested to go off of chemo and spend the last few months to the fullest. They said these would be the last holidays and to enjoy them and take lots of pictures and make memories for a lifetime. MOM REFUSED! She refuses to stop treatment and says she can't just give up cause she has grandchildren to watch grow up. She continues to take treatment when her blood counts are good enough.

CURRENT TEST RESULTS:

Well the tests show that her tumor in her rectum that has kept dormant since the remission statement (almost a year) has now came back to life and is growing again. They have recommended to do another colon scope to check and see what is going on with that tumor. The tumor in her liver is much, much bigger! The spot that they thought for the last several months in her lung that was debris has now grown and another spot has now shown up too. They are now saying it is indeed cancer not "debris".

Looks like the less than 6 months to live statement in November is now seeming to be the truth. Yes we all hope for the best but we can't run from the truth! If I continue to deny what is happening I will need more than a little help when the end is here. I am not very religious but have became more within the last 6-12 months. Not only because of mom's health but the music of Jared Bayless has opened my mind up to the topic. I have listened to his music a lot lately and I find it powerful and healing!!! Please check out his music at www.myspace.com/jaredbayless or www.jaredbaylessmusic.com. I would love for him to come to Joplin, Missouri for a concert and so I can finally meet him & his clan. (ROBB especially)

Well that is the news......Not the best!