Well, today is another crazy day for the Schooler's. I got up this morning, still had a little fever. So did Jacob, but Jess and Jordan thought they could both do school today. Jess was there right under an hour and had to come home. Fever...While she was gone, I made Jacob some grits, one of his favorite breakfasts. He was pretty hungry and at the whole two servings with cheese. WARNING!!! If you get grossed out easy, you may not want to read this part! Bless his heart, he sneezed and I kid you not, the kid shot diarreah across the kitchen. Not just a little either. Well, of course he is mortified! He started crying, and guess what? I lost the mom of the year award!!! I started laughing so hard. Can you imagine? A sneeze and diarreah, hmmmmm. I put him in the shower, clothes and all and told him to rinse, strip and clean up. I cleaned up the kitchen and laughed through it all. I told him it is ok, not to worry about it! So, I am assuming I will not be at school again tomorrow. I hate missing. I only have two and a half weeks left with my little ones and there are so many things that I want to do with them. It will wait and I know it will be fine. I just feel bad missing work. I am so thankful I was able to be home with the kids when they were small. I can't imagine going through all those childhood illnesses worrying about work too. My hat goes off to all you mommies who work with little ones. I have such an appreciation for you all!
Scott is doing great. He is holding the fort down at home. Thank goodness this isn't a sick week for him, or I would really be torn. He went to the doctor yesterday. He asked what stage his cancer is. We never thought to ask and people keep asking us and we didn't have a clue. It is stage 4 since it is out. I don't think I posted that the cancer is not only in the bone around his spinal cord, but also in a lymph node and in his spleen. His prognosis is very good and we are confident that God is going to heal him completely. He begins chemo again on Monday. Please pray that all will go as smoothly this time as last. His platelet level is down right now and if it is not better by Monday, he will not be able to start again. So please specifically pray that those levels will rise. Still seems weird to me that he has to be well to get sick...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Slick
Here is a picture of Scott from yesterday. His hair started coming out in clumps, so he shaved it! Our Youth Minister shaved his along with Scott as moral support! Seems silly but it really meant a lot to me!
First Blog
I have been blogging on facebook, but figured I should blog somewhere so people without facebook can keep up with Scott's cancer journey. Here is a little background. In September 2007, Scott was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery to remove the infected testicle and had 20 rounds of radiation. The doctors were certain that the cancer was contained and had not spread. We were confident, as all blood tests, MRI's etc. came back great. In the summer of 2008, Scott was preparing to go on a mission trip and hit his head very hard (he saw stars and fell back). His back and neck continually hurt. In October he saw a doctor (not his normal doctor) about the pain and was told that he had probably pinched a nerve or was just having a muscle spasm. He was given muscle relaxers and sent on his way. His back and neck continued to hurt, but he pushed the thought aside, just figuring as he was told that it was nothing to really worry about. In March of 2009 he and his brother Gary (a doctor) went hunting together and Scott told Gary he was still having pain and now had numbness and tingling in his arms. Gary told Scott that he really needed to see about it. He went to our family doctor, who ordered an MRI. The MRI showed that Scott had a fracture in T1 and sent for a better MRI. Come to find out the doctor even then was fairly certain that he had seen a tumor eating at the bone, causing the fracture and didn't say anything. Scott had a second MRI and Gary read it, seeing the tumor.
Gary took the scan to some friends who confirmed what he was seeing. A fairly large tumor wrapped around Scott's spinal cord, eating away at bone in his neck. Scott was that day rushed to a neorosurgeon in OKC and was told he needed to have radiation within an hour to prevent paralysis. Are you kidding me?!!! Paralysis?! We rushed to St. Anthony's where they were able to get Scott started on radiation. Our heads were spinning at this point. We did not know for sure what kind of cancer we were dealing with and the doctors we were seeing then were not very optimistic about a prognosis. This was pretty devastating to us. We were referred to Dr. Aleda Toma in OKC to use as his oncologist. Let me tell you, if you are in the OKC area and need an oncologist, she is the lady to see. I have so much respect for her honesty and thouroness. She said Scott's cancer was indeed seminoma, it just followed a course rarely (I'm talking a handful of cases known) taken. The cancer skipped all areas usaualy taken by this type and attacked bone, which usually never happens. He finished radiation, which burned his throat pretty bad, and began Chemo about three weeks ago. Our family has been so blessed by our family, church family and community. We love and appreciate all the meals, prayers and some have even given us financial support which is amazing becuase everyone wants our copays upfront. God has been good to give us comfort and to provide for all our needs. Scott will begin his second of four rounds of chemo on Monday. In the meantime, we are having to stay away from him because we (the kids and I) have the flu! ARGH! Hopefully we will all be better soon! I have claimed Psalm 91 for our family during this time. It reads, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledes my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
What an amazing promise from the Lord who loves us!
Gary took the scan to some friends who confirmed what he was seeing. A fairly large tumor wrapped around Scott's spinal cord, eating away at bone in his neck. Scott was that day rushed to a neorosurgeon in OKC and was told he needed to have radiation within an hour to prevent paralysis. Are you kidding me?!!! Paralysis?! We rushed to St. Anthony's where they were able to get Scott started on radiation. Our heads were spinning at this point. We did not know for sure what kind of cancer we were dealing with and the doctors we were seeing then were not very optimistic about a prognosis. This was pretty devastating to us. We were referred to Dr. Aleda Toma in OKC to use as his oncologist. Let me tell you, if you are in the OKC area and need an oncologist, she is the lady to see. I have so much respect for her honesty and thouroness. She said Scott's cancer was indeed seminoma, it just followed a course rarely (I'm talking a handful of cases known) taken. The cancer skipped all areas usaualy taken by this type and attacked bone, which usually never happens. He finished radiation, which burned his throat pretty bad, and began Chemo about three weeks ago. Our family has been so blessed by our family, church family and community. We love and appreciate all the meals, prayers and some have even given us financial support which is amazing becuase everyone wants our copays upfront. God has been good to give us comfort and to provide for all our needs. Scott will begin his second of four rounds of chemo on Monday. In the meantime, we are having to stay away from him because we (the kids and I) have the flu! ARGH! Hopefully we will all be better soon! I have claimed Psalm 91 for our family during this time. It reads, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledes my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
What an amazing promise from the Lord who loves us!
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