More than 70+ Cards!!!!

By the pictures attached above, hopefully you can tell that my parents were overwhelmed with cards! I was able to spend Saturday with them for Mom's birthday, and go through some of them, but there were SOOOO many! Thank you, everyone! Many of you are VERY funny:)

AND....not only did you far exceed the goal of 70, but you may have also helped the US Postal Service pull out of debt? Well.....maybe not, and I shall refrain from further comment on that;)

Tomorrow we go down to Baltimore for post-op appointment. We also requested a "Multi-D" appointment so that we can meet with all 3 docs on the team at the same time. What a logistical nightmare that was....
We hope to have our questions answered, or at least be able to make decisions about next steps and whether those next steps are at UMMC, or perhaps at another cancer center. Not sure. Stay tuned.

Topic shift and on a MUCH happier note. Dad, Jeff (my brother), Marc (brother-in-law), and my husband leave Friday for New Orleans. They are SUPER BOWL BOUND!!!! GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, everyone, for sending those cards along. It was great fun to be greeted each afternoon with so much mail. It was a nice distraction for them both. I was not there to observe the process, but knowing my parents, it went something like this:     Dad opened each envelope with an official letter opener (careful not to tear the envelope), took out the card and read it silently, then passed it to Mom, who read each one out loud, as if Dad needed help with the big words. What a pair they make;)

Please continue to pray for healing within heart, mind, and soul. This journey continues to present its challenges in all of our hearts, minds, and souls.

Much love to all.............Jen

We are home. ...

Dad was discharged this afternoon. The team of docs are meeting tomorrow morning to discuss next steps. Preliminarily, it seems more chemo via a port is being recommended. Potentially, if dad responds to this like the first round of treatment, the tumor may be resectable. Please pray purposefully for the cancer to dissolve from the hepatic artery so that it can be removed. 

Thanks everyone!  Love to all.....much!
Jen

Cancer is stupid....

and apparently so am I. Duh.....you need an address!!!!

Nancy Snead
James Snead
72 Rio Lane
Falling Waters, WV 25419

Mom and I were here before 6 this morning so that we didn't miss rounds with the surgical residents.  Dad was already awake watching the news. The surgeons finally came parading in a little after 7am. They didn't really share anything new. They just reviewed what had been "discovered" during surgery yesterday with the involvement of the hepatic artery. They confirmed for dad that tumor removal was not a viable option anymore. When they left it was a very quiet room, to include lots of head rubbing, analyzing, and thinking.  At that point, I took Mom out to get some coffee, and let Dad alone with his thoughts for a little while.

A medical oncology fellow with Dr. Jiang's office visited, as well. I really liked him, and he reminded me of my own medical oncologist. He checked on Dad's pain and incision and asked some general questions about family histories of cancer. He said the team is going to work together to determine next steps.

Right now, Dad's in pain. He can push his button every 8 minutes, so I've set a timer for that and wake him to push it. He's going to be permitted clear liquids later today. Right now he's got the ice chip thing going on.  He's been rocking out to bluegrass on Pandora, which helps drown out the hallway noise of pagers, phones, and inane chatter.

This  blog is getting over 200 hits a day, and I hope that volume of interested individuals helps me with a little something fun. My mother's 70th birthday is January 27th, next Sunday. When my dad turned 70 last year, we had a big surprise party for him at my house. It was so much fun! The plan has always been to do the same for Mom, but when this stupid cancer thing came up, that changed things. So, then we hoped that Mom's best gift would be to have Dad home cancer-free for her birthday next week, but now this stupid cancer thing wrenched up that plan too. I know that all of you want "something" to do to help support my parents right now. Here's your task: Find a card store. Look for funny and/or humorous get well cards for Dad. He is not easily offended, so have fun with whatever you find. Then, go to the birthday section of said card store, and find a funny/humorous birthday card for my Mom. My goal is for Mom to receive at least 70 cards for her 70th birthday. If you do not directly know my parents, please feel free to participate as well, and just share your relationship in the cards. I foresee Dad being discharged mid to late next week. Carrying this heavy feeling home will bring on a new host of emotions, but how wonderful it will be to experience overwhelming support (and humor....the humor thing is important) when the mailbox cannot handle the load of get well and birthday wishes just waiting to be opened and read. It will be a good distraction and redirection from reality, even if just for a little while.

Mom's pastor was here this morning. We prayed together around Dad. What a warm feeling. I ask my prayer warriors to keep on keeping on. I'm not giving up on surgery. I'm not giving up on cure. I'm not giving up on a miracle either. Keep on, keeping on!

Thanks for the comments and emails. I love you guys!
Jen

Not the conversation I wanted to have....

When Dr. Alexander told us this morning that Dad was no longer a candidate for the whipple, I asked  him when he was going to tell Dad. He said he didn't want to tell him today b/c Dad would still be under anesthesia and would not remember what he was told. I know Dad, though. I told the doc that when Dad wakes up in recovery, the first question he is going to ask is, "What time is it?" When the time is mid-afternoon and not evening, he's already going to know that the surgery didn't progress as planned and start asking questions of me.

I hate when I'm right....

Mom and I were called back to recovery around 2:15. We were only allowed to stay until 2:35. Dad was sound asleep when he first saw him, which was good, b/c Mom and I needed a box of tissues. Just the thought of the news that he was going to hear when he woke up.....*sigh*

About 5 minutes into our visit, he woke up and said.....(wait for it....wait for it...wait for it)
"What time is it?"  I acted like I didn't hear him hoping that he would really just fall back into drug sleep. No such luck. Finally, I had to tell him it was 2:30. Then he said, "So what'd they say?" Again, I pretended like I had a sudden hearing loss, hoping sleep would take over. No such luck. Of course, it hadn't really been a day of good luck.

Me: "The good news is, your infected gall bladder is gone and that drain is gone. However, they were not able to take 'it' out." (go to sleep, please go back to sleep....for goodness sake you are all drugged up, can you please be like normal people and sleep this off?)

Dad: "Why not?"

Me: (if I could just find that pain button right now, I'd push it) Well......they found that a major artery was involved with the cancer, and it just wasn't safe to take anything out today."

Dad: "Oh."

And then he fell back to sleep and I thought that perhaps he wouldn't remember anything I said. Good, I am off the hook.

NOT! He woke up again and picked up our conversation where he left off.

Dad: "So what's the plan with that tumor then?"

Me: "I don't know, Dad. I don't have any details. The team is getting together to problem solve next steps. I'm sure Dr. Alexander will go over everything with you later." (Now can you please stop asking me questions? This is not the conversation that I wanted to have.)

I'm used to telling parents things they don't want to hear, but need to hear. Typically, though, it's not my own parents.

So now Mom and I are back in the waiting room. Dad will be moved to his room when he comes out of anesthesia a little more and we'll be able to go be with him. I hope by that time someone else has had a talk with him. I could really use a room to just go scream in right now.

Prayers now more than ever, please!

Much love to all....Jen

Update......

I wish I had better news to share. The surgeon came out about an hour into surgery to tell us that he cannot proceed with the whipple. Turns out, the cancer grew a sheath around an artery...something tests, scans, and such cannot pick up. Our options at this point are to investigate treatments to force the cancer into remission.

I've never been hit by a car or truck or train, but I would imagine that it feels something like this very moment.

Please keep praying for Dad's spirits when he wakes up. This news will impact him more than the initial news of the cancer.

Much love to all....Jen

Game Time

We arrived here around 6:15 this morning. Dad has been prepped and they just gave him some happy drugs for his ride to OR 21. The actual surgery will not begin until 10am, and then it will be at least 6 hours. Will update you as we are updated. Dad was in great spirits!

Love to all.....thank you for the prayers!

Jen

Happy New Year and Hello 2013!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

It's been all quiet on the blog-front over the last month, but busy nevertheless! Dad finished up all of his treatments on December 6th, got to ring that bell, and head homeward bound to "almost heaven" for six weeks. It took him about 7-10 days after he finished treatment to get his full appetite back, but he did and boy did he enjoy every bit of holiday cheer imaginable! And I mean every bit of holiday cheer! His homework assignment from his doctors was to gain weight, and it was an assignment Dad took seriously. It was great to see him enjoy all the joys of Christmas and the New Year with family and friends. It made the last several weeks go by very quickly.

Mom and Dad spent Christmas Eve and Day at my house. Later in the week we all headed down south to Tennessee to spend a few days at my sister's house. Came back December 30th. Dad retired from his CFO duties, effective 12/31/12.....

wait....welllllll....that's not really true.

It's not that I'm lying, it's just that.....it's supposed to be true, but it's not really b/c he still goes to work everyday. I'm not really sure how that cord is going to be cut, but anyway there was a really awesome retirement party for him, and it was great,  and you'd think that would be a hint, but.....he's still showing up.   Oooohhh, what did he say today? Yeah, that's right....he's "SEMI-retired." That was the phrase I heard him use today, "semi-retired." It took him 5 years between talking about retirement to get to "semi-retired," so I guess it may be another 5 years to go from "semi-retired" to "full" retirement? Good luck with that one First Action Team;)))

Any-whoooo........

Believe it or not, Dad's surgery is NEXT WEEK! Yikes, the time did fly by. Today we spent the day in Baltimore with the oncology team and the pre-op folks. Below are my notes and it all looks good....VERY good:)

Today's vitals were all very good:
Weight -- 182.7 lbs
BP -- 125/76
Temp -- 36.9C
SpO2% -- 96
(There were discussions about stools....and not the ones in a bar. Thought I'd leave that part out. You're welcome!)

Dr. Alexander's exact words in italics.....
"The most recent scan (performed last Thursday) looks great. (Yes, "great" was emphasized.) There has been a measurable decrease in the size of the tumor. (Um, that rarely happens with pancreatic cancer....thank you prayer warriors!!!!!) It should peel out very cleanly. It is still abutting the vein, but we are prepared for that. The purpose of this surgery is curative intent --  we get this growth, with all surrounding tissue that may become affected by the tumor, out so that once you heal, you can resume your normal active lifestyle."  

....and then.......Dr. Regine and his right-hand wo-man, Martha, also paid a visit. They were also incredibly pleased with the results of the scan performed last week. Dr. Regine came barreling in the exam room like Kramer entering Seinfeld's apartment. Spirits were high all around.

Can I get a "WOOP-WOOP?"

Next Wednesday night we will head to Baltimore and Mom and Dad will be reunited with their long lost hotel family at the Tremont (there's got to be a cheesy reality show in there somewhere, right?) Surgery is scheduled first thing on the morning of January 17th. Surgery will last 4-5 hours. The surgery is called the "whipple." The main concern coming out of this surgery will be the new connection sutured between pancreas and intestine. There will be a drain put in to "police" the pancreatic juices to make sure they do not enter his system. The drain will be in for at least 5 days and they will take out when no juice is draining. Dad will be in the "Intermediate Care Unit" for 2-3 days. Visiting is a somewhat limited. Jill and I won't be able to spend the night with Dad while he's in this unit and totally harass the hospital staff throughout the night, but when he's moved to the regular hospital floor, we'll be there to make up for lost time. His total hospital stay should be around 7-8 days, provided all goes super swell. Sometimes for folks over 50, patients may need to go to a rehabilitation unit prior to going home. However, Dr. Alexander didn't feel that Dad falls into this category. He believes that Dad is in great condition for this surgery. Plus, the rehab thing doesn't fit into our plan of having Dad home for A) Mom's 70 birthday on January 27th, and 2) Super Bowl on February 3rd. Priorities, folks!

Over the last month, our family has really appreciated our time together. We've reflected upon what we've been through over the last couple of months while still peeking at what's ahead. We know that we are blessed with the greatest of friends, who are also "family." We are so thankful for all of you. We ask for you prayer warriors to turn it up a notch as Dad moves forward into what we hope is his final step in annihilating this beastly cancer. Now that surgery is on the horizon, the blogs will post more frequently now. On the day of surgery, I will keep everyone updated! In the meantime, thank you for all of your prayers and love and support. I'm sure we'll be leaning on you all again soon!

Have a great night. Much love to all.......Jen