With So Much Sickness, Doctors Admit My Dad At COH

After over a week of consistent vomiting, and a daily increase at that, the doctors are worried with these symptoms and have admitted him yesterday (Tuesday). They have completely taken him off of food to give his stomach a break from so much unrest. He went from vomiting once a day for a week to the last few days vomiting at least 3 to 4 times a day. The doctors say this is not caused by chemo. He has been off of the chemo for a while now. They say that the only thing they can think is causing this, is the large mass that may be pressing on the stomach now and causing this discomfort.

They have decided to attack that mass starting today (Wednesday) with a new chemo. Please, please pray that this mass will begin shrinking from this chemo. Though it is the last cancer in his body, it is the largest mass he has had and it is a rare B-cell Lymphatic pancreatic cancer. Dad is very uncomfortable with so much vomiting, nausea and weakness. Please pray that this works!!!!

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

We are thanking God today that my dad was given the good news results that his bone marrow test came back completely clear of cancer!!! That is..... there is NO cancer in his bone marrow like before. The only cancer that remains in his body is the mass on his pancreas; when this began, the cancer was in his lymph nodes around his chest/heart, in his spleen, lymph nodes in his upper leg, bone marrow, inside and outside of the pancreas.

Can we just say that we are SO tremendously grateful to have family and friends surrounding our family and praying for my dad. We continue to pray that all cancer will be completely gone from his body.

The doctors have decided to still do the steps of the bone marrow transplant and they feel this will attack the mass. At this point, that sounds confusing to us and we are trying to get more details. What we do know is the next step; that is getting him scheduled for a one day chemo treatment that they have never used on him and will now try to use to see if it can get rid of this mass. They will then begin pulling the "good" cells out of his bone marrow through which a process will be done to recreate more of those "good" cells. They will then put those back into his bone marrow, which should then attack the cancer itself. If this fails to work, they will begin the process of looking for a bone marrow match to do a transplant.

Please pray with us that one of these next steps WILL WORK and that my dad will be completely healed from what was once STAGE 4 cancer.

It sure has been a roller coaster and we know that this fight is not over, but we sure love getting good news these days and watching God answer prayer..... one cancer cell at a time.

When dad heard the news today, he reached his hands to the sky to thank his Papa above. Though his face was down as he had a rough day getting sick three times, his heart was thankfully rejoicing. The doctors had given him Regalin to take before eating meals; this was supposed to help the food stay down. Though it is not working, the positive side is that he will begin eating a little bit, have to vomit, then will be able to eat again holding down the rest of that food. We are thankful that he is getting that nutrition. He has been gagging on fluids also, so he's been drinking gatorade and eating pedialyte icicles to stay hydrated.

My dad enjoyed having his mom over to have lunch with them and played dominoes. He also has had hard times sleeping at nights, so he enjoyed a cozy nap by the fireplace today. He's had some company visit; some of our family, Wendy and Mario, Denise and Larry, and Vicky and Donny. They blessed mom and dad with some yummy foods and Aunt Vicky gave him a new beanie to keep his head warm during this cold season.

Dad and Mom are so thankful for the amount of love and blessings of support that continue to be showered over them. Thanks for loving on my parents! It sure means a lot to Trav and I.

Check Up At COH

After some worries with my dad's symptoms this last week, the doctors asked my dad to come down to COH. They gave him some potassium through his port and also his normal medications. It has been hard for him to keep his medicines in, because taking pills causes him to vomit. So it was good that they gave him his medicines through his port to make sure they stayed down. The potassium will help him to have energy a bit again. He's been different this week, with not wanting to walk or talk much. His energy levels have been so low with so much energy spent vomiting and losing so many nutrients. Please pray that the vomiting will cease and he will be able to keep everything in. He actually had a desire for a certain food tonight on the way home from the hospital..... Del Taco crunchy taco! Ahhhhh..... that sounds so good! Wish there was a Del Taco down the village road here in Sri Lanka! Eat one for me dad! I love you Dad!

Pray for mom and dad as they try to figure out how to keep his body temp regualated. His chest is burning hot (this is from the chemo) and the rest of his body is cold. Mom's trying to construct some kind of blanket/sheet system for him for sleeping at night.

Thanks for your continual support and prayers!

Sore After The Last Few Days

Dad has been feeling some discomfort after the pain in his back from the bone marrow biopsy Wednesday, the pain in his chest from the hick-man catheter being put in his chest Thursday, and the daily discomfort from vomiting and nausea. Please pray for him as he adjusts to the new tubes sticking out of his chests and as he faces the daily sickness battle. They now await the phone call to come down and begin the bone marrow transplant. Some of the details that go with that are confusing and tricky, but I will keep you updated each step of the way.

Thanks to my Aunt Vicky and Uncle Donny for bringing dinner over and running errands for my mom.

Thank you for all of love, support and continued prayers!

Bone Marrow Biopsy Finished

The bone marrow biopsy is done now. It was a couple hour process and dad was done by morning time. They were able to head through the wind storm home and rest by their cozy fireplace for the afternoon. When I talked to them dad had finished dinner and was holding it down. Dad is a little sore from the procedure, but very thankful for being put under. This morning (Thursday) they will be doing the hick-man catheter surgery.

My dad and Cody talked a little bit more today about the movie "Courageous" that they had seen the day before. My parents were saying that every father should see that movie. I loved hearing my mom telling us that she felt so special to be sitting by the man in that movie theatre, that this movie encourages every man to be. How special is that to have "that kind of a man," a man of courage and so many more amazing attributes. I haven't seen it yet, but I hope that it will come on dvd to Sri Lanka.

Dad..... You are THAT man!!!!! A man of courage, strength, faith, and endurance!!!! I love you

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Today (Wednesday), my dad will have the bone marrow biopsy done. They will put him completely out so he will not feel the pain of it. It should be done by morning time and be able to leave after that. Mom and dad will probably stay in a hotel or the hospital hotel for the night since he will need to be there early Thursday morning for surgery to have the hick-man catheter put in.

His weight went up today 3 pounds and because he is keeping down some of his foods, they decided to not admit him today. They want him to get one more nights rest at home and then come down Wednesday morning. They want to do a different kind of chemo now this round and should begin that this week sometime. They will also start preparing for whatever the bone marrow biopsy results show.

Dad was hoping to use his golfing gift cards this week to enjoy some golf before being put back into the hospital, but with not feeling well and vomiting so much, he ended up not feeling up to it. He did want to go see a movie with my mom though. They went and saw the movie "Courageous" and laughed and cried together the entire time. They were laughing and joking that my dad bought out the entire movie theatre to take my mom out, but he really hadn't. They went to a matinee and had the place to themselves. That worked out so nicely; they probably would've scared so many people with their masks on :)

Please pray for my dad and mom as they have some hard days ahead. Dad will be put under for both procedures this week, so that's good. Pray that they keep their spirits up and continue to have strength to keep fighting this battle.

Thanks for your love and support

Probably Being Admitted Today

After five days in a row of my dad vomiting and no longer on chemo, my parents are starting to be concerned. With all of the paperwork they have read on side effects and red flags, they have definitely seen two red flags. My dad has lost 6 pounds in five days, which extremely exceeds what the documentation states. He should also not be vomiting so much, especially with being off of chemo for so long now. Although he was going to be admitted on Wednesday for the bone marrow biopsy, they are packed and ready to most likely be admitted tomorrow. Please pray that the doctors can figure out what is going on.

Thank you to the Huffs and Savages for bringing meals the last few nights and bringing some smiling faces and encouragement to my parents home. It really means a lot to them (to all of our family).

Thank you all for your consistent love, support and prayers~

The Gwaltneys and Carothers