My goodness, Mother Nature. You certainly know how to throw us all a good punch! Can you just hold off on any more mammoth storms until we're all finished up with our visits to UMMC? You've shown us all that you are definitely a force to be reckoned with!!  Hopefully all of those able to read this posting were able to "weather the storm" relatively unscathed. We watched the track of the storm over the weekend and determined that we needed to get Mom and Dad settled in their hotel room on Sunday versus Monday. Yeah, probably one of the better decisions made. As I tooled around between home and school on Monday, I was very glad that I wasn't trying to navigate in and around flooded Baltimore streets yesterday. The folks at the Tremont couldn't have been more pleasant and accommodating taking Mom and Dad a day early. These people have been extraordinarily helpful and friendly. I can't say enough.

Monday's treatment wasn't without its challenges, though. No shuttles were running from the hotel, so Mom and Dad had to get a cab to get Dad to treatment. They made it there and back safely. Woo-hoo and kudos to them! Now that's commitment.... all toward the annihilation and deterioration of the 4cm "hurricane" on Dad's pancreas trying to wreak its own havoc. No force of nature is going to keep   us from taking the steps needed to rid my Dad of this wretched disease. Sorry, Sandy!

Dad sounds good and seems to be getting stronger the further out he gets from that infection. He finished up the antibiotic on Thursday, and since then his taste for foods is slowly coming back. He seems to be eating well. Dr. Regine gave him the green light to eat just about whatever he wants, short of ingesting packets of sugar everyday. They're going to hook him up with a dietician this week or next. I have not confirmed, but I don't think Dad was able to get a treatment today; only emergency vehicles were permitted on the roads in Baltimore. This is not a big deal. They'll just add one on to the end in December if that's the case.

The worst of the storm for them in Baltimore, and probably most everyone reading this, was last night into early today. I was glad to have the blindness of the night (and....admittedly the effects of quite a bit of Pinot Grigio) to bring on just a little bit of sleep.  The Weather Channel spoke of the Eastern Panhandle counties at least 3-4 times in terms of downed trees and flooding and power outages. Mom and Dad live in the woods on the Potomac River and have a boat and dock; yet, there was no one in the house to keep watch in the event leaks started, trees fell, boats floated away, etc. and I was fairly sure the feline children were of no help other than to express their absolute indignation that they were left to their own devices under such horrific conditions.

The light of day showed that God was watching over their house last night and brought forth the "angels with chainsaws."  Again, that Honeywood Family came through....The cat-sitting neighbor called Mom from the house just as the power was coming back on to indicate that the interior of the house appeared to be fine. No water crept in as far as she could tell. The felines were fine, although had much to say (of protest, I'm sure). That is amazing news to me. In the days before shop vacs, I remember helping to mop up inches of water from the basement with old rags and buckets for hours every time there'd be a hard rain like that. Thank you, Lord!  Mom was also told that there was "A" tree down in the back and the branches were in and around the heat pump unit. Wellllll.....yes, that is technically true, but that's not the ONLY downed tree. One of my Honeywood Moms texted me 3 pictures of "the rest of the story." Good-ness! There is more than one tree,  and each had the potential to create great damage to the house, but each tree fell in such a way that it missed the house. One of the trees, which must be 100 years old, was completely uprooted. When I think of what could have been.......Thank you, Lord!

Shortly after receiving those pictures, my Honeywood Mom called me to reassure me that all was really okay and I didn't need to come up. In the background, I could hear the voices of what was soon to become those angels with chainsaws.....the Honeywood Dads. They were going to get what they could away from the heat pump. At least I think Dad's set for fire wood for the winter:)

The support system that is there is second to none.  To you folks in Honeywood, I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done so far. The cards, the food, the "around the house" chores that cannot be kept up with right now, as Mom and Dad "live" in Baltimore each week. You all are ROCK STARS!!!

Hope everyone enjoys the fun of Halloween. I've got a little Batman to take around for a few treats tomorrow night. Will be in touch soon after.

Three Down, Twenty Five To Go

Took Mom and Dad down to B-town yesterday and will go back to pick them up tomorrow morning. Dad just didn't seem very strong yesterday. Could've been the anxiety of getting down there, settling into the hotel, and taking his first radiation treatment. Anxiety can be exhausting.

I won't say we got through yesterday's first treatment without a hitch, b/c we didn't. Dad did great. It had nothing to do with him. The center had 2 machines down, which cannot be helped. They were running waaaay behind. His appointment was at 3:15, and we finished up at 5:15. I just didn't need for that to be the first experience. I didn't want Mom and Dad to become discouraged from the start, thinking it was going to be that hectic for the last 27 treatments. There was also a logistical problem with getting his blood drawn in preparation for chemo today. I won't go into it. Let's just say I went a little Shirley MacLaine from Terms of Endearment on the nurses.....just a little bit.

Talked with Dad tonight. He sounded great. He said the chemo was easy, and he said he feels better today than he's felt in a long time. He told me he was going to go to the treatment tomorrow by himself, which is fantastic news! I hope he feels as great tomorrow morning when he wakes so that he really can go through the treatment alone. I think that would serve his psyche well. He's always been in control, and this sign of taking control back is GREAT! The state of your mind is as much a part of this journey as the physical breakdown and removal of the cancer. Let's pray for more days like today! Of course, my husband tells me Dad's decided to go it alone so that the Shirley MacLaine's spirit stays in Hollywood. Everyone's a comedian....

Next time I see Dad, he will have three treatments down, with only 25 more to go. We pray for a smooth process from here on out. We pray that he maintains this "up" of feeling good and taking control. We pray that this "thing" succumbs to the forces of radiation and chemo, and we pray that through all of this, Dad will actually become better and stronger, knowing that he is steps closer to erasing this disease from our lives. The support from family and friends has lifted our spirits. It's comforting to know that while we are going through the logistics of this and navigating the tough spots, there are so many that have us in their hearts and are lifting us in prayer. I am thankful for my school family and my church family and the many prayers each of them have included us in.

As always, much love to all, and good night......Jen

Overwhelming, Terrifying, and Worth a Good Cry...or Two

Yes, I know. It's been too many days since my last post. Let me catch everyone up.....

Originally, Dad was supposed to have had surgery today to remove that 4cm tumor from his pancreas. Well, change in plans....slightly.

Last Tuesday night, Dad had received a call from the radiation oncologist. His team had met again on his case that day and determined that since he had experienced such a significant systemic infection, he was not in the best shape to undergo a major surgery. That infection caused major tissue inflammation around his gall bladder and liver. His surgery was going to be delayed at least two weeks if the plan remained to do surgery first and then treatment. The team didn't want to do nothing. It is, after all, pancreatic cancer. So, they decided to do chemo and radiation prior to surgery, and begin that immediately. That would ensure that the margins would be clearer and larger when surgery does occur, and that "something" would be happening in this war on this cancer while the inflammation settles. I was actually glad to hear that he wouldn't be having this surgery yet. Dad is much better, and getting stronger each day, but he's not where he was October 5th. He needs time.

Last Wednesday's appointment was originally scheduled to be the "pre-op" appointment, but it turned out to be another consultative appointment to see the team again, to review the new plan and to meet the medical oncologist, Dr. Jiang. She is new to UMMC, and seems very good and is very well respected by Drs. Alexander and Regine.  If those two view her as a rock star, she must be.

So again, we left UMMC feeling pretty good. The team is in place. The plan is in place. The accommodations are set up. Dad will begin treatment this Wednesday. He has 28 radiation treatments ahead of him, with 6 weekly chemo infusions each on Thursdays....all in Baltimore. Mom and Dad will go down on Mondays. Stay for the week, and return after treatment on Fridays. While my sister was in town last week, she was able to set up arrangements with the Tremont Hotel in Baltimore for my parents. There is an arrangement between the cancer center and this hotel for discounted rates to "live" in their kitchenette suites through the week while patients undergo treatment. They provide free parking and a free shuttle to and from the center.

 Old people do NOT like to leave home. They do NOT like change, and they especially do NOT like a change in their routine. My parents fit into this mold. Yep, I said it.....out loud. But Dad knows that this really is the way it has to be. If he wants the best care and be close to his team of doctors throughout treatment days, he and Mom must do this. It's not going to be an easy 6 weeks, but we believe we are blessed to have this care within a reasonable distance. We are thankful for the accommodations provided by the Tremont at such a reasonable price. These gifts have been placed before us, and we plan to unwrap each week ahead.

As Wednesday draws near, I know Mo
mand Dad get a little more anxious. It is overwhelming and terrifying and worth a good cry or two to know that you are in "the club." It's much different sitting in the waiting room surrounded by people of all ages who have not a strand of hair on their heads knowing that YOU are now one of them. You are all part of the same club. You are not visiting. You are one and the same. You have cancer. You're "pretty" sure you'll be okay, but your mind wanders. You think about your kids. You think about the possibility of not being there for them anymore. It is overwhelming and terrifying and worth every bit of a good cry or two....or ten trillion.

I talked with Mom tonight. Dad was sleeping. She said he felt even stronger today than yesterday. He seemed to eat well throughout the day. These little victories.....  The topic of what was to come the rest of the week came up. I heard the change in the tone of her voice----stress. It's the responsibility of being the driver in addition to being the caregiver. It's too much. She needs to be focused on Dad, not the drive. The drive is easy. I can do that. Matt can do that. As Pete the Cat says, "It's allllll good."

Two Felines and a Pot of Italian Wedding Soup

After an emotionally trying four nights in the hospital, Dad was finally discharged from UMMC yesterday afternoon, only to get stuck in traffic on the way home and be stricken with his gout. Poor guy. Mom and my sister, Jill, were tired from the day and the drive, yet still needed to join the rest of the Walmartians (possibly in Sponge Bob PJs) in WV to battle to get prescriptions filled. Good grief, everyone was exhausted. Blessings come in the most wonderful disguises, though....

Two felines and a pot of Italian Wedding Soup....

For those of you who know my dad, it's probably a little difficult to believe that he's one of those cat people. Sammy and Rummy, the feline children of the house, are far more spoiled than any of us human kids were growing up, and most times, I actually think my parents like them far more than they did us too. Eh, who could blame 'em? No one made Dad feel more welcomed than those two felines. Dad resumed his normal position on his sofa and Rummy resumed his normal position on Dad's lap. Empty house. Peace and quiet. Remote in hand. Cat on lap. Feline therapy, with a little Judge Judy in the background, had officially kicked in. The little things....the small blessings.....

My parents moved to the Honeywood neighborhood in WV during the summer of 1979. They are still there along with most of the neighbors my siblings and I grew up with. What a family we all have become over the years. I have "sisters" and "brothers" and "parents" that far extend my genetic family tree. Although during times like these I feel guilty for moving kind of far away, I find comfort knowing that Mom and Dad also have many "brothers and sisters" who cannot do enough to support my family right now. These folks have watched my Sam, taken over the yard work, winterized Dad's boat, and last evening a "Honeywood sister" made a pot of her Italian Wedding Soup, of which my dad LOVES, and delivered it with love. Say what you wish about folks in WV, these neighbors are a blessing.

A good night's rest in his own bed without being awakened every hour led to a productive Tuesday for Dad. Yup, he went to work for 4 hours. I know, he's amazingly tough. It's how the Snead's roll. My brother is like that too. Hopefully that tough spirit will stick with him over the next couple of weeks!

CT results regarding the lung spots are not conclusive, at least not that we've been told. The spots are less than .5mm each and there is one on each lung. They are too small to biopsy at this time. We continue to pray that these are a result of the bacterial infection and NOT pancreatic cancer cells that have spread to the lungs. We have an appointment tomorrow with Dr. Alexander, and we hope to get more info from him. On that note, there's been a very recent change in the treatment plan. Dad received a call from Dr. Regine this evening, the Radiation Oncologist. The "team" met again today and discussed Dad's case and the most recent events leading to his infection, and his overall health at this time. In light of the infection and inflammation in the gut,  the team has now decided to change their plan. They now want to delay surgery and do chemo/radiation first. We are all a little deflated by this news and will seek answers to our many questions during our appointment tomorrow. The last time we met with Dr. Alexander, we left on a high. We left with such hope that this horrific disease was going to be conquered and managed by Dad and his team, versus the other way around. We pray that after we meet with him again tomorrow, we leave feeling the same way. I know that Dad wants this darn "THING" (a descriptor borrowed from a dear, dear friend also battling this very cancer) cut out sooner than later, but I trust that the team knows the right path to take. We just pray that God's plan also aligns with this path.


What a roller coaster.

Much love and thanks to all.............Jen

It has become ingrained in elementary educators brains not to refer to anything as "bad," which could refer to behavior, parenting, or cafeteria food.  So, with that in mind, I have news that is great, news that is good, and news that could be much, much better.

The great news is that Dad finally took a shower, shaved, and brushed his teeth. If you haven't seen him lately, trust me, that is GREAT news. The good news is that he was able to drink a little bit of milk and some tomato soup today.

The news that could be much, much better.......Yesterday we found out that he had bacteria in his blood. That bacteria was identified this morning to be Klebsiella. Klebsiella is naturally occurring in the GI tract. When his gall bladder wasn't draining, it created a perfect petri dish environment in his GI tract for this to grow and enter his blood stream.  So yes, he is "septic," which is an unfavorable condition for a cancer patient getting ready for surgery. Fortunately, it is not a drug resistant type of bacteria, so it can be eradicated with antibiotics. The antibiotic originally prescribed was penicillin. Turns out, Dad's allergic. I guess when you've never had to take them in 70 years, you don't know what you're allergic to. Who knew?

When they did the CT scan Thursday night/Friday morning, it showed nodules on his lungs. Enter news that could much, much better #2. Because the CT ordered was for the GI tract, it only caught the lower portions of his lungs and this is where the nodules appeared. Another CT scan is being done today of his entire lungs. The docs aren't saying what it could or could not be.  Again, that news could be great, or good, or.......don't want to think about the possibilities.

Prayer warriors, you know what to do. Please...............................love to all! Jen

....and off we went!

Dad has been feeling progressively worse as this week has progressed. Things came to a head and escalated quickly yesterday........

Mom called me in the morning to tell me that Dad had spiked a fever of 103 Wednesday night, which for an adult, is not good. Although fever is a symptom of pancreatitis, which is what we thought was going on, a fever that high is usually a symptom of some type of infection.....and that's where things lie right now.

Mom and Dad were advised to go to the closest ER yesterday, which was Meritus Hospital in Hagerstown, MD. They provided fluids and pain meds and took lots of labs. None of the labs were pointing to any ONE cause. The ER doc on said that white cell count, liver enzymes, bilirubin were "slightly" elevated, but he didn't seem to know WHY Dad was feeling like poo. Nurse Amy was a gem and did what she could to help Dad feel better, but they were clearly out of their league with this. Meritus consulted with University of MD and Dad's awesome team of doctors at UMMC took no time to make the decision that he would be transported by ambulance to Baltimore that afternoon.....and off we went!

Dad arrived shortly before 6 last night. They already had his room ready to go, and he was watching TV when I finally got here. His room has a great view to the helipad, so every time a chopper comes in and out, I have to watch. Admittedly, I'm a child at times. Because he came from another hospital, anyone entering Dad's room must be gloved and gowned. This precaution is taken until all of the labs run on him come back clear that he's not carrying some unsavory "bug" from Meritus to here. I'm not crazy about the yellow gown, but the purple gloves are a nice addition to my Raven's attire.

More labs were done, and in the middle of the night, Dad was taken for a CT scan. This afternoon, Dr. Darwin performed another ERCP to replace the stent with a new one. Dr. Darwin said that the first type of stent that was put in on Sept 25th, wasn't draining the gall bladder as efficiently as it needed to, so they replaced it with a metal one which really opened up the plumbing. The gall bladder was backed up and became enlarged, creating a nice environment for an infection to take hold. There is bacteria in Dad's blood. Not good. Not good at all. Mom doesn't know the potential ramifications of that, which I'd like to keep that way. I have not had this discussion with Dad yet. I want to wait until he's feeling better. We got him here in time. Dad is here for the duration of this weekend, at least, on non-stop IV antibiotics. This infection must be stopped in its tracks!!!! We hope this does NOT delay surgery, but there is that possibility.

I know some of you readers will be in town on Sunday to watch the Cowgirls lose to the Ravens, or maybe you're just here to watch the cheerleaders. Either way, if you would want to stop in and visit Dad, give Mom or me a call first to see if he's up to it. Right now, he feels entirely too yucky to entertain visitors. Not to mention, he's not seen the inside of a shower in a day (or 2 or.....um....more?). We believe with 2 days of this new stent and IV antibiotics, he'll be a new man by Sunday.

We thank everyone so very much for their help and support. My colleagues at worked jumped in and took over when I had to leave school suddenly yesterday. My "other parents" in Honeywood took Sam for me yesterday so that I could be with Dad. The offers of support have ranged from watching Sam to administering enemas (Thank you, Barb F. Dad says, "You're way too anxious!")

For my prayer warriors, please pray that Dad wakes tomorrow feeling much better. Pray that this infection is "put in its place" and disappears from his bloodstream sooner than later. Pray that my mom finds comfort and learns to navigate the caregiver role with more confidence. (She's a bit of a hot mess.)

Have a good night.....much love to all.....Jen

Helllllooooo Percocet

So after our "high" on Friday and a couple of days with Dad's pain being only a "3," he's now hit a low point. He's not well. At Dad's request, Mom called me late Monday night to tell me that Dad was experiencing significant pain in his abdomen, chills, nausea.....and just feeling very icky. I just don't think they knew what to do--go to an ER, or not? Is this something to be scared or worried about, or not? I slept in my clothes in the event they called me in the middle of the night and needed to meet them at the hospital. Thankfully, the pain got better with a little help from his friend "Polly Percocet", and by morning, the pain was a bit more tolerable. I think Dad's going through a bout of pancreatitis right now, which is extraordinarily painful. Dr. Darwin said this was a possibility after the biopsy procedure. The symptoms were dead on and there's really nothing to do but become best buddies with the Percocet and lay around and REST........

.......and therein lies the problem!

Folks, we have a naughty patient on our hands. He's NOT resting! After getting home late Friday night, Dad got up Saturday morning to mow the grass in the yard and, I do believe, at their river lot. Then he carried heavy bags of solar salt to the basement and dumped them into the water softener. There was also a shopping trip to Sam's Club in there somewhere. Gee, the next thing you know, he'll be climbing trees with running chainsaws to cut the tops out (For those of you who know THAT story, you know what I'm talking about here!). Oh so then, off to work he goes Monday, Tuesday, and today!!!! The man is in excruciating pain and just will not let up. However, lest we not forget to mention his enabler...aka...my mother. She's driving him to work b/c he can't drive b/c he's on Percocet!!! Houston, we have a problem here! Hello!!!! Sigh.....it's tough raising parents these days. They really should be grounded.

From my previous blog, readers know that a big team of docs were putting their white coats together yesterday to firm up their game plan for Dad. The big question was what to do first---surgery or radiation/chemo? Dr. Alexander is going to perform the Whipple first. Yay! Pre-Op with the anesthesiologist is the 17th with surgery on the 22nd, all in Baltimore. Dad will be in the hospital for about a week. Based upon what Dad's going through right now, that surgery couldn't come any sooner! It's going to be a looooong 10 days if his symptoms do not improve.

Continue to keep Dad in your prayers and positive thoughts. Pray not only that his pain alleviate, but also pray that he comes into some common sense in the near future (now would be good), and learns to leave these chores at home and at work for others to do. He needs to assume horizontal membership on the couch and remain there. It really is what he needs to do in order to get himself "in shape" for this upcoming major surgery. It's like he needs to prepare for his own personal Super Bowl, and he's simply too stubborn to show up for his own conditioning!

Thanks everyone! Much love to all and goodnight.....Jen

Praying for "Parallel" Plans

Shew....what a long day yesterday. We finally got home after 8pm, putting me in Hamilton after 9:00. The time was worth it, though. Much was learned, much was accomplished, and Mom, Dad and I left on an "up." There is somewhat of a plan in place, and that's very much what Dad needed to hear. He's a planner. His immediate plans? Golf tomorrow. Baltimore Ravens game on the 14th....a much better reason to be in B-town!

Our appointment with Dr. Alexander was in the morning. He was as impressive as I thought he'd be. He confirmed when looking at the MRI what Dr. Darwin had seen during the endoscopic ultrasound -- that the tumor appeared to be localized to the head of the pancreas. It had not appeared to have spread into any surrounding organs, blood vessels, or lymph nodes. Stage IIA. Although cautioned that neither MRI nor ultrasound images are 100% accurate, we are optimistic and PRAY that when surgery is performed, Dr. Alexander will observe with his very own eyes that the tumor is localized. Go prayer warriors!

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not so fast. When you have pancreatic cancer, nothing is really that simple. There's always something that throws a bit of a challenge to the team of doctors. Based upon my experiences with teams of doctors, they embrace a challenge, and that they did. The team effort was amazing.

The tumor is up against a fairly important blood vessel. There does appear to be a thin, fatty layer between the tumor and the blood vessel, which indicates that the tumor hasn't invaded it. It's just "kissing it," for lack of a better descriptor. So, the question that came up yesterday was whether or not to treat with radiation/chemo first, or surgery first? Enter impressive doctor #3 from UMMC, Dr. Regine, Head of Radiation Oncology. With him was, who I believe to be an "attending," Dr. Ingelman (Grey's Anatomy has taught me so much). These doctors also believe that the tumor is localized to the head of the pancreas, but showed concern for the location next to this blood vessel. The bottom line is getting a decent size clear margin when performing surgery. The bigger the margin, the better the chances of totally eradicating the cancer, which is always the ultimate goal. At one point in time, there were 8 of us in the exam room discussing next steps. This 4cm tumor was getting lots of attention, and so was Dad. Just the recipe for boosting spirits.

On Tuesday, October 9th, Dad's case will be reviewed with a more comprehensive team of doctors. At that meeting, they will determine step #1: surgery or radiation/chemo. Regardless of Step #1, the UMMC team has prepared us. We are ready. Dates are scheduled, and Dad's been temporarily tattoed and belly molded for radiation. If surgery is first, our pre-op is Oct 17th with surgery on the 22nd. The surgery will last about 4-5 hours. Dad will be hospitalized for about a week. Dr. Alexander said that Dad should be able to at least use a putter within 5 weeks after surgery. Imagine how much he'll milk the golf handicap after that! Gives the term "geezer golf" a whole new meaning:)  If radiation is first, Dad will begin Oct 15th for 28 Monday-Friday treatments. If he doesn't miss any, his last treatment day will be November 21st, the day before Thanksgiving.

Soooo..... the question came up about whether to stay at the "Hope Lodge" in Baltimore. The Hope Lodge is funded by the American Cancer Society. It provides accommodations for cancer patients and caregivers. It was highly recommended by the oncology team, "Mr. Snead, everyone who stays there is very pleased. You will be tired during treatments. You won't want to travel back and forth. They offer yoga, meditation, support groups for patients and caregivers, but you'll also have your privacy." [Picture in your head Charlie Brown's teacher talking--wah, wah, wah. This was pretty much how Dad was taking this all in. Dad in yoga? Seriously???] Dad didn't seem too interested at first, and then....music to his ears....."...and Mr. Snead, the Raven's cheerleaders tend to visit and make appearances...."   Ummmm, need I say more?

By the time we finished with the radiation mapping, it was after 5:00. We were tired, but on an adrenaline high. Dad still has much ahead of him regardless of what comes first, but there is a plan. We pray that the UMMC plan parallels God's plan.

Our highest accolades to UMMC! Much appreciation and love to all who sported purple yesterday in support of  not only my family, but also our dear friend Sharon, whose first post-surgery chemo treatment for pancreatic cancer was yesterday. We love you, Sharon!

Much love to all.....Jen

Hot dogs, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut?

I need to vent for just a few lines.....why can't medical professional make this cancer things less stressful? Why does the responsibility to track down the test results and gather CDs with MRI images on it fall on the patient? The patient has just been told that he/she has CANCER! There are so many other things swirling around in the patient's mind and doing homework assignments for the doctors is not one of them! The technology is there people, use it for goodness sake! Sigh......not sermon. Just a thought. Thanks for listening.

On to it....

Dad has been at work all week, and my Yahoo inbox is happy. Knowing him, he's preparing for his upcoming absences after surgery, trying to make sure everything is in its place. What a lot of people may not know is that Dad has volunteered a lot of his time for Kiwanis over the last 30+ years, most of them serving as treasurer. He's not only trying to tie things up neatly for his company, but also his treasurer duties with the Kiwanis Club. It would be unlike him to leave things any other way.

He seems to be doing "okay" in light of his upcoming appointment with the surgical oncologist in 2 days.  We were not able to get in any earlier. Our appointment is at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. The wait is ever so stressful and overwhelming for all of us, but especially for both of my parents. Keeping busy is best right now. Mom has been trying to busy herself with cleaning the house and visiting her family in PA. To make every effort to help keep her mind busy, I've selflessly (of course) offered up MY house for her to clean too, and fyi.... no sign of her yet.

Evidently Dad's appetite that returned after the biopsy and stent procedure has been that of his grandchildren. He had specifically asked for hot dogs, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut for dinner the other night. What's it tomorrow night? Chicken nuggets with mac and cheese? Oh, and let's not leave out the warm apple dumplings topped with vanilla ice cream he's had too. Guess we're working on gaining those 10lbs. back.

I know lots of you have oodles of questions about what's going to happen next. Those questions will be answered on Friday and I promise to post then. Based upon what we've been told so far, although Dad's mass is big (>4cm), it appears to be contained to the pancreas. (Yay!) We are looking at Stage IIA. (Yay!) He is a candidate for "resection." (Yay!) If you wonder what that means, do a Google search for the "whipple procedure." It is an impressive surgery; one that is very involved, and takes more than 6 hours to perform. Dr. Alexander is internationally recognized for his work in this area. (Another yay!) All of this sounds scary, but it still gives us much reason to be optimistic. I feel sure that, like everything else Dad does, he does well. (ok, maybe minus his golf game) Dad will do well with this too.

I cannot thank everyone enough for supporting my parents the way you have over the last couple of weeks. Our 'Honeyworld' friends are the closest "family" my parents have right now. All of us kids have moved away, and having you Honeywood folks in their backyard is reassuring to my siblings and me. You all have been so wonderful and supportive. The other "family" that I have at my school is second to none--ya'll are ROCK stars! The support and prayers and little notes mean so much to all of us, and I'm sure we'll need them more than ever in months to come.

More to come in a few days. Thank you again for so much love and support. Much love to all....Jen