PET SCAN Results Back

I have honestly dreaded this blog post all day, and now as it is bedtime for me here in Sri Lanka... and well, here it is.

My mom called City of Hope on Friday to find out what was going on. The nurse agreed he should get in to check his levels and they scheduled him for within that next few hours. My mom also asked about the results. The girl was hesitant on the phone and said that they were in, but that she didn't think that she should be the one to read the results to them. This made my mom very nervous. They headed down the hill. Dad ended up not needing a transfusion, which is great that his body is naturally responding well after the chemo. My mom went ahead and met with my dad's doctor and could tell that she had been wanting to wait on giving my dad his test results at his scheduled Wednesday appointment. Now that they knew the results were in, they wanted to know.

The results show that the mass is the same size as before and at this point are unsure if the chemo is working. It might be possibly keeping it from growing, but at this point we are unsure. They say that there might be a chance that one small part looks a little smaller.

Needless to say, its been a rough couple days. But what amazes me is that I have never seen such strength from anyone in my life like I see from my parents. I guess it shouldn't amaze me because its been that way my whole life. And I know that strength only comes from God.

I called my mom to check on her and dad last night. She said that she had just tried skyping me and I didn't answer. She wanted to call me to encourage me and to give me some positives to focus on. This is the woman that's not only the best caretaker I have ever met, but loves unconditionally, serves unconditionally: cleaning up vomit, rubbing dad's head and back, giving him foot massages, making him whatever food sounds good, getting him anything he needs, making him cozy, giving him his meds on time, taking him to every doctor appointment, never leaving his side, etc, etc........ this is the woman that calls me to encourage me, while I'm on the other side of the world yet feeling like I wish I could do so much more to help. She wanted to encourage me with some of the positives (so here's to encourage you also): the cancer has not spread and continues to only be the mass and in the bone marrow (they believe), unlike before when it was all over his lymph nodes throughout the body; he is also down to one morphine a day and not in pain; his stomach is not swelling like before; and his levels are normal for the first time in a long time.

If you ever face a trial and want to have the strength that we all can see in my parents, I sure hope that you can have the "peace that passes all understanding" and if you don't know how to receive that, I'm sure my parents would love to share that with you.

Dad's appointment for Wednesday remains; they will proceed with the bone marrow biopsy and then begin surgery to install the hick-man catheter into my dad's chest. They will also decide then if they will finish the last chemo round.

After talking to my mom last night, she handed the phone to my dad. I couldn't help but just cry the entire time I was on with him. But before I could even talk, he just wanted to know how Cody was (because he had an allergic reaction to a mango and his mouth swelled up). At a time in life when you can honestly only be thinking about the misery that you feel, he's thinking of others, not just himself. My dad is such a good man. All I could do was thank him for his continual fight, strength and reliance on God. He just said, "of course... I won't give up. I'll keep fighting." I love him for that. I know its got to be hard to maintain a good attitude when you throw up all day and just don't feel very good, but his smile remains. Dad and Mom even watched "Christmas with the Kranks" last night and just cracked up together. Dad was getting a crack out of the mom in the movie answering the phone in hyper hysterics whenever the daughter called, and saying that my mom gets just as ecstatic when I call. I loved watching him tell me that part and laughing tonight. What a nice ending to my day. My mom told me a story from a movie called "Faith Like A Potato" and it sounds like a great storyline and has a really good message. Check it out if you'd like :) It's definitely encouraged them.

If you want to have some positives to focus on, this video has helped me all day.... to see the joy on my dad's face and to imagine him even blowing out more birthday candles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyTdigGl4qc

Still praying for a miracle...... Please continue to do so also

Chili Dogs, Flowers and Funny Cards

My mom got a beautiful arrangement of flowers today from her friends the Sapps and beautiful words of encouragement. Mom and Dad were all smiles today.

My dad got the funniest card today from his friend, Buzzard. Gotta love this.....

HAHAHA!!!! Made my dad laugh! So good to see him laughing :)

Mom looked so pretty today. I'm so proud of her; she went today to get her hair done. It always helps her feel much better. My grandma (dad's mom), brought dad over his FAVORITE.... Weinerschnitzel chili dogs and they played cards and games together while mom was gone. So glad that dad still has his appetite and could enjoy fun games with his mom. Thanks grandma for bringing dad his chili dogs!

With a long week of no word from City of Hope, my mom will be calling today to find out why my dad has not been scheduled for anything. Because of his low counts in the past, he should be having his levels checked weekly and COH canceled that appointment for today. Hopefully mom will get some answers on the phone today.

Thank you again for all of the love and support, funny cards, sweet letters, beautiful flowers, supportive family and friends and consistent prayers! We love you all!

Beautiful Cards from Beautiful Hearts

My dad and mom have had a couple of nice and pretty quiet days. As I continue anticipating the results from the doctor on the PET SCAN, mom and dad are enjoying being home and actually not hearing anything at this point. They had a nice surprise when my dad's Lieutenant, Lana, came by to give my parents a stack of cards. They were from Mr. Huff's class and Mrs. Cooper's class at Apple Valley Christian School. My parents were so blessed to sit and read through all of them. Thank you to AVCS and wonderful teachers and kiddos! Thanks to Lana for bringing them by. My parents were also blessed by my dad's brother Carl coming by and helping my mom trim the bushes in the front yard. Thanks Uncle Carl for helping them out! The High Desert Newspaper posted an add that a friend had put in regarding giving blood. All of the info was correct other than the name on there. It is called Life Stream, for anyone wondering. The blood lab had a van going out to Apple Valley Police Department, because of so many people wanting to give. What a blessing! We're praying its just as easy to find the donor for the bone marrow transplant.

Dad is doing good and has cut his morphine down to 2 instead of three which is helping him to feel more alert and aware and happy. Mom and Dad are enjoying every moment they have together.

Mom and Dad were blessed this morning by John 14:27... check it out :) Hope it blesses you also.

Thanks for your continual support and prayers!

Dad Lookin' Good Today

As you can see the two baldies together, enjoying their day side by side.

I love that my brother shaved his head the day that I was leaving and flying back to Sri Lanka after our two month stay with my parents. It just made for a sweet good-bye as I watched my brother come along side my dad in a physically supportive way. And yet today, something hit me hard about looking at my brother for the first time next to my dad with that mask and gloves on. It made me start thinking about being there physically in this time with my dad. I can't imagine how hard that is for my brother to have to put on a mask and gloves to be next to my dad. The precious things that I would miss, to feel his face or rub his head.... yet the gloves. Or to even give him a kiss or that he could see my smile when I looked upon him. Something today..... hit me. Or my mom.... and the many ways that their marriage has changed, as now the biggest focus is fighting for life. And my dad, who wakes up every day thanking God for another day of life and ends his days on his knees at the foot of his bed with my mom like they have for many years.... yet those prayers are now for a miracle, although always recognizing the author and finisher and that HIS will be done.

Romans 8:28-

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." HE IS IN CONTROL

Lots of Sleep

Dad got a lot of sleep today. They're not quite sure why he needed to sleep so much, but by the second long nap they decided to skip the evening morphine. The morphine usually knocks him out, so we'll see how he slept tonight and if he had any pain. Curtis and Jill Powell were such a blessing to mom and dad today by bringing them dinner. Thanks Powell family!! We love you!

They still have not received the phone call with results from the PET SCAN, and now assume that they will wait till Monday to call. Keep praying!

If you were interested in giving blood, I got a little more info today. There is a place in Victorville called Life Stream (next to Charter Communications), that is collecting blood for my dad. Supposedly, you have a certain amount of "free" blood that you can receive; after that you get charged for transfusions. This will go towards that. Just tell them its for Randy Gwaltney and it will go into his account there. Thanks for many who have already given :)

PET SCAN Done; Now Awaiting Results

Dad and mom spent a long day today at COH, where dad had his complete body PET SCAN which took around 2 hours. Upon arriving today, they were unsure if dad would be admitted or not for the final round of chemo. As always, the car was packed with their luggage and necessities, but as you can see they were released and came home late tonight. It's been two weeks since my dad's last chemo, which meant that he should begin the last round today. But with his levels low, they needed to do another platelet transfusion. They wanted to also wait to have the results from the PET SCAN. We should hear today what those results are. They have also postponed the bone marrow test, as they will put dad under for this and it will take over a week to order the anesthesia. We're just waiting for a phone call now. They are glad to be back home. Thank you to those continuing to bring meals while they are home. It is so helpful!!!

I also wanted to let you know that if you'd like to post a comment and have tried to in the past, I changed it so that you may be able to. My parents read these posts and will be able to see your comments. Sorry that it hasn't worked in the past. Please let me know if you try and it still doesn't work.

Dad looked so nice in his collared shirt tonight; they make for an easy access for the doctors to get to his port. Hot stuff if you ask me :)

3 Days of No Vomiting!!!! YAY!!!!

Dad has been stoked to enjoy the last three days of meals and keeping them down. Mom and Dad also got to enjoy a date night together to Cheesecake Factory on their way home from the hospital, where they got to enjoy a steak together. Heaven on Earth :)

This morning, Dad's Captain Bart was a huge help by coming over to load up dad's old weight bench and weights to be given as a donation. He also brought over more donations that people have continued to give to the Sheriffs Department on behalf of my dad. What blessings they continue to receive. We are so grateful for the way family and friends have come together to love on my family. This afternoon, my Dad's mom came over to sit with dad today while my mom was able to go get their car tuned up. Tonight they got to enjoy company and a yummy meal with some of our family, Larry and Denise Davis. Dad had a pretty good day today. Thanks to all those that blessed them and helped them today (and every day).

People continue to provide meals; mostly family right now and its been a huge blessing for my mom on the days they are home from the hospital. She just wants to spend every moment possible with my dad, and by not having to cook meals that frees up so much more time. Every moment is so precious together during this time. If you are interested in providing a meal, my grandma Phyllis is organizing them and you can contact her at 760-247-4664.

There has also been an account set up in order to donate blood to replace all of the blood transfusions my dad has had. If you are interested in that, you can email me or facebook message me and I will get you the info.

As they get further along in approaching the time for a bone marrow transplant, recipients will begin being tested to see if they are matches. If you are interested, there is a list of things you must match up to, such as no tattoos, no previous cancer, etc. As time gets closer, I will post that info on here.

Thank you for all that you do and the love and support you continue to give to my family.