From The Hospital Room

Dear Friends and Family,


It’s been quite awhile since I last blogged, as I look back on the last entry. Since then, Matt and I have been to UCSF to meet with Dr. Ryan and to go over blood tests and the results of my scans. The scans showed that the meds are working to contain the cancer as there was no additional growth on any of the nodules in my lungs, and the soft mass in my lower abdomen is showing signs of being necrotic (dying). This is wonderful news!

The day after we got back from that appointment, I had the day off of work, and found myself unable to breathe deeply if I moved around at all. I spent most of the day in the recliner, and finally called Matt, who suggested I call the cardiologist. They immediately suggested I go to the ER, so my good friend Kimberley dropped everything and drove me there where Matt eventually met us. My pulmonary pressure is twice what it should be, which is a large cause of my breathlessness. They did another echocardiogram and gave me a deep breathing treatment. I was admitted to the hospital and met with a pulmonary specialist, who gave me a bronchioscopy the Thursday morning, which meant he went in through my nose into my lungs, cleaned out the gook, and took several biopsies of the spider-webby areas at the base of my lung lobes. He thought this went very well with little bleeding. I am having deep breathing treatments every 6 hours, which are really helping my ability to breathe more deeply and to control my breathing without panting as much. The next morning the specialist stopped by and he had called the lab for a preliminary path report and the biopsies showed NO CANCER! They are just a form of broncialitis or an inflammation of the lungs. So they are treating it with large doses of steroids that they are already gradually tapering off. The side effects of the steroids affect my blood sugar, so I have it checked four times a day, and have a small dose of insulin each time depending on the level of the sugar. (I think of you often, Kent.) I’m still here at Lodi Memorial, and will probably be here for a few more days until they get things stabilized a little more and have a better plan of attack for when I go home. The steroids will need to continue for up to three months, as well as breathing treatments and oxygen, so there will still be a long road to travel when I finally get home, with lots of unknowns for now. I have taken a week by week leave from school for now, until I know the long term of what I am up against. Each day is a little different, some going very well, and some filled with fear and anxiety. I am learning to turn to the Bible, to cry out to Jesus, and to lose myself in worship music on my iPod during those moments. God has delivered me many a time from the brink of despair. I find myself missing my children, who are not allowed to visit me. My sister-in-law, in her infinite wisdom and deeply caring heart, bought journals for the kids and me so we can write letters back and forth to each other. This has turned out to be a fun and creative way to stay in touch and be as real as possible with each other.

I realize I have rambled a lot with this blog, but this is where I am for now in this journey with cancer. It has taken some turns that were unexpected, but I am getting the help I need. And in the midst of it all is some good news that the cancer is somewhat under control. We are surrounded by caring and helpful family and friends that have completely overwhelmed us with their help and desire to step in and do anything at all. We have had people pick up and deliver kids, bring meals, clean house, drop off baked goods, and just call with words of encouragement and wisdom. And we are thankful. We are thankful for all of your prayers, and ask that they continue. Pray in whatever way the Lord lays on your heart. We will keep you updated as we can and as we know more.

Danene and Matt and Kids