Surgery on Kenneth Ramsey, Stoney’s dad, went well. Doc was able to remove the entire mass in the colon and said the liver looked and felt good too. Will use radiation to remove other nodules that were too numerous to get. Keep the prayers going up!
Barton Spencer--
Hi all,
I've been reminded by a few people that I haven't sent an update in a while! I was waiting for some additional news from my doctor before doing so (regarding scheduling of things) but I'll go ahead and let everyone know where things are!
My last day of radiation for post-brain-surgery is this Friday. That will amount to a total of 13 days where I went in for a radiation treatment. The actual treatment, on a really good day, only takes about 10 or 15 minutes. Sometimes I have to wait in the lobby for a while, or get X-rays, but overall it hasn't taken that long per day.
The only real side effect I think I've had is some fatigue, so I've not been at work for full 8-hour days all that often lately, but no big deal. I'm still having headaches, usually mild ones, from time to time but nothing that keeps me bedridden like they used to! I've been completely weaned off the steroid that they had me on right after surgery - so I'm not eating everything in sight any more. The ice cream is relatively safe in the freezer now.
I meet with my oncologist next week and from there we'll figure out the timing for what comes next. I will soon resume the chemotherapy that got so unexpectedly interrupted in August. This will be to treat the remaining 2 lesions that are in one of my lungs (at least I think it is one lung, I'll check). They may give me another CAT scan before doing that, we'll see.
I don't know exactly when I'll begin the chemotherapy, but I suspect it will be in a couple of weeks or so and will last into January. I'll go in for a treatment every two weeks, and every time I have a treatment I'll take a pump home with me for 46 hours. The side effects will be different, but I'll wait to describe all that once it happens, or doesn't happen, to me. Since I've already shaved my head, I won't have to endure that inevitable side effect anew.
Once I get the info/schedule figured out with my doctor, I'll let you know.
So, aside from the fatigue I'm doing pretty well. Sarah and the kids are doing well - we all have gotten our "normal" flu shots but are waiting to have a chance to get the swine flu shots. Kids are loving school and will be having several school programs coming up soon related to Thanksgiving and Christmas, etc.
Both kids will be trick-or-treating this year as dinosaurs (BIG SURPRISE!... not) - another thing for them to get excited about!
Little Sarah launches out of her bedroom at 6:30 every morning and either begins reading a book or drawing something. John calls out to us a little before or after that time, with a big smile on his face every morning, and is ready to play with his trains until breakfast time. It's very, very nice to wake up to cheery kids every morning! (I realize that won't last forever)
Anyway, more news soon. Thanks, as always, for your thoughts and prayers and emails and cards and everything!! We love you!
Barton and family
Paulette Smallwood--
Paulette has tumors in her legs and back, but they are treatable. Please pray for her and her family as they begin this journey with her.
Paulette Smallwood--
Paulette has tumors in her legs and back, but they are treatable. Please pray for her and her family as they begin this journey with her.
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