What a great month this has been! Started chemo and it is going well, seeing some positives in blood test results. I've had three treatments, 3days every other week, and after the fourth we will take a CT scan and see how much damage we have done to the cancer.
Pam and I have had some visitors this month and it has been great. Treci, Pam's sister came for two weeks from California, and we had a good time. Our friend Tami from South Fla., now living in Greenville, S.C. came over for a day and it was great to see here and catchup. Kathy and Tom have come up twice and worked on our property and it is looking great. Their second trip was last Friday and Kelli came. My son-inlaw Ryan got a log splitter and he and Tom split up the six big oaks that were cut down, into firewood. We had a full crew on Saturday and we got a ton done. Ryan, Tom, Kathy, Kelli, Jackson, Trevor, Pam and me had an assembly line going transporting the split logs and stacking them. It's amazing how much can be accomplished when you have a full team.
John and Beverly came up from South Fla. and have been at the cabin in Ellijay. They got to come over twice to visit and it has been great to see them. Scott has gone up two weekends and has has helped John alot fixing up around the place. John has gotten alot done, he got the trees down that were starting to block that magnificent view.
Our last visitor for the month was our dear friend Teresa, who now live's in Bolivia and comes to Virginnia a couple of times a year to visit her married children and grand kids. It was so good to have her here, we had such a wonderful time. Pam and I hope to go visit her and Dick in February 09, that is summer there.
Pam and I are so blessed by our family and friends and pray everyday for them to be equally blessed. We are basking in God's grace at this time in our lives and know it.
This next week, Saturday, we will find out boy or girl on our 10th grandchild, Sophia's little
brother or sister. Pam still watches Sophia and what a blessing she is.
I pray this update finds all who read it well and full of hope and faith.
Love,
Virgil and Pam
P.S. Mi casa, su casa, our home is your home. We are always ready and look forward to family and friends coming.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
What's Been Happening...
Sunday, October 12, 2008
To our friends, family and visitors to the blog.
First, I want to apologize for going two months without updating. I don’t have a good excuse so I won’t make one, I will make every effort to do better in the future and try to recap the last two months without getting too windy.
We left the clinic last week of July and the plan was to take eight weeks off and take a ct scan at the end of that period. We would then return to the clinic with that info and attack the cancer with the new info. Our last two weeks were really a joy there because Jackson and Trevor flew out to be with us. What a joy they are. In the afternoon after the clinic we would go, some days, to a local spring, swim in the pool at the apartments, go to the movies, or play cards. They are so sweet and so easy to be with, Pam and I know how blessed we are to have them in our lives; Heather and Ryan are doing such a fine job raising them. It worked out great that the same time they needed to get back to get ready for school was when we were going home. We stopped in Houston stayed the night and went to the Johnson space center. Really neat, even though I’ve been on this earth during all the events presented there I admit my attention was obviously elsewhere because I learned so much I did not know about the program and events that took place. I know Pam and the boys enjoyed it too.
Once returning home it was a great reunion with our family, friends and church. There is no place like home. Admittedly once home the prospect of going back in eight weeks was not appealing to me, I was thinking about how great fall is, the weather the colors, the food and the family and friends, I was hoping when we took the ct scan we would see such improvement it would not be necessary.
A couple of weeks after being home I was experiencing some discomfort around my liver area, last time I felt that was in January and a ct scan showed slight bleeding from my liver was causing it. So we took a ct scan 6 weeks earlier than planed. It showed no bleeding but that some lesions on my liver had grown. My oncologist recommended a chemo regimen he felt could help slow it down or reverse it. We notified Dr. Reyes at the clinic by email, and faxed ct scan, of the situation They wanted us to come back then and begin treatment. We prayed, we talked and we didn’t feel led either way. Part of me was considering option three, don’t do either stay home and enjoy the days I have without the potential side effects of chemo. I went about four weeks considering those options, and not really feeling burdened by it, but I know it was hard on Pam. She loves me so much and needed to know our direction, despite those feelings she gave me room and total support while I procrastinated. As I went about enjoying family and life a couple of things started to develop, blood tests were showing my liver function declining and I started gaining back the weight Pam and Heather were so concerned I get back. Unfortunately it was fluids that my liver wasn’t processing. They call it edema, I believe. With these visual signs and feeling as before, that I’m not ready to go quietly, I decided to go with the chemo here. That way if we need to medically treat edema we would be here to do it. Also because the clinic treatments had built up my immune system I was in better shape to do it and we are here for fall, family and friends. I trust my oncologist, even though I may not always go with his plan, but I believe he offers me his best with my well being at heart.
Monday, a week ago, we had our 1st treatment, 5-hour IV drip then I wear a pump for the next 46 hours that pumps a continual flow of another chemo. Return on Wednesday and they remove pump. We will do this every other week for four times, 8weeks, and then take a ct scan. Tomorrow I go for my second round. Of the potential harsh side effects you could get I did not get from the 1st treatment, answered prayer. We are optimistic this is going to reverse this trend in my liver and look forward to me being skinny again. In the meantime we are having so a great time. Kathy and Tom have been up twice cutting down dead trees, clearing out underbrush, what worker bees. It has been so great visiting with them, our good friend from south Florida, Tammy Sickle has moved to Greenville, and has been over to visit twice, her and Pam really enjoy that, me too. Pam’s sister Treci is here right now, it is so great having her here.
If I was to live to 100 and had not had this experience of this last year I would never have known what love there is for us in our friends and family. It is not there because I have cancer, it has always been there, and because of the cancer I have heightened sense of awareness of it.
A few family updates since we have been home, Tish and Mike moved into their new home, very nice, Scott moved into his new town house, very nice, and I am impressed with Scott picking out all his colors, he did good. Ryan is coaching Trevor and Jackson’s football team; it is so much fun watching them play. As Michael Combs sings “I’m drinking from my saucer because my cup has overflowed”.
Thank you for your prayers. They are being answered everyday. Please pray for the patients healing at the clinic and blessings for the staff.
I will do better at keeping this updated!
Love, Virgil and Pam
To our friends, family and visitors to the blog.
First, I want to apologize for going two months without updating. I don’t have a good excuse so I won’t make one, I will make every effort to do better in the future and try to recap the last two months without getting too windy.
We left the clinic last week of July and the plan was to take eight weeks off and take a ct scan at the end of that period. We would then return to the clinic with that info and attack the cancer with the new info. Our last two weeks were really a joy there because Jackson and Trevor flew out to be with us. What a joy they are. In the afternoon after the clinic we would go, some days, to a local spring, swim in the pool at the apartments, go to the movies, or play cards. They are so sweet and so easy to be with, Pam and I know how blessed we are to have them in our lives; Heather and Ryan are doing such a fine job raising them. It worked out great that the same time they needed to get back to get ready for school was when we were going home. We stopped in Houston stayed the night and went to the Johnson space center. Really neat, even though I’ve been on this earth during all the events presented there I admit my attention was obviously elsewhere because I learned so much I did not know about the program and events that took place. I know Pam and the boys enjoyed it too.
Once returning home it was a great reunion with our family, friends and church. There is no place like home. Admittedly once home the prospect of going back in eight weeks was not appealing to me, I was thinking about how great fall is, the weather the colors, the food and the family and friends, I was hoping when we took the ct scan we would see such improvement it would not be necessary.
A couple of weeks after being home I was experiencing some discomfort around my liver area, last time I felt that was in January and a ct scan showed slight bleeding from my liver was causing it. So we took a ct scan 6 weeks earlier than planed. It showed no bleeding but that some lesions on my liver had grown. My oncologist recommended a chemo regimen he felt could help slow it down or reverse it. We notified Dr. Reyes at the clinic by email, and faxed ct scan, of the situation They wanted us to come back then and begin treatment. We prayed, we talked and we didn’t feel led either way. Part of me was considering option three, don’t do either stay home and enjoy the days I have without the potential side effects of chemo. I went about four weeks considering those options, and not really feeling burdened by it, but I know it was hard on Pam. She loves me so much and needed to know our direction, despite those feelings she gave me room and total support while I procrastinated. As I went about enjoying family and life a couple of things started to develop, blood tests were showing my liver function declining and I started gaining back the weight Pam and Heather were so concerned I get back. Unfortunately it was fluids that my liver wasn’t processing. They call it edema, I believe. With these visual signs and feeling as before, that I’m not ready to go quietly, I decided to go with the chemo here. That way if we need to medically treat edema we would be here to do it. Also because the clinic treatments had built up my immune system I was in better shape to do it and we are here for fall, family and friends. I trust my oncologist, even though I may not always go with his plan, but I believe he offers me his best with my well being at heart.
Monday, a week ago, we had our 1st treatment, 5-hour IV drip then I wear a pump for the next 46 hours that pumps a continual flow of another chemo. Return on Wednesday and they remove pump. We will do this every other week for four times, 8weeks, and then take a ct scan. Tomorrow I go for my second round. Of the potential harsh side effects you could get I did not get from the 1st treatment, answered prayer. We are optimistic this is going to reverse this trend in my liver and look forward to me being skinny again. In the meantime we are having so a great time. Kathy and Tom have been up twice cutting down dead trees, clearing out underbrush, what worker bees. It has been so great visiting with them, our good friend from south Florida, Tammy Sickle has moved to Greenville, and has been over to visit twice, her and Pam really enjoy that, me too. Pam’s sister Treci is here right now, it is so great having her here.
If I was to live to 100 and had not had this experience of this last year I would never have known what love there is for us in our friends and family. It is not there because I have cancer, it has always been there, and because of the cancer I have heightened sense of awareness of it.
A few family updates since we have been home, Tish and Mike moved into their new home, very nice, Scott moved into his new town house, very nice, and I am impressed with Scott picking out all his colors, he did good. Ryan is coaching Trevor and Jackson’s football team; it is so much fun watching them play. As Michael Combs sings “I’m drinking from my saucer because my cup has overflowed”.
Thank you for your prayers. They are being answered everyday. Please pray for the patients healing at the clinic and blessings for the staff.
I will do better at keeping this updated!
Love, Virgil and Pam
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Update!
Thursday, June 26
Received my 1st vaccine on Tuesday, shot into my liver, I can just visualize those cancer cells running for cover. Had a good week of treatment and looking forward to a good weekend. On Sunday we will meet after church at a restaurant to celebrate the Baptism of Murray and Bev a Canadian couple who received Christ while here at the clinic. Mike and Debbie Lane, Baptist missionaries to the Honduras, are coming this weekend for Mike to do the Baptism. Mike is a fellow cancer warrior and was here and a part of their rebirth and Murray and Bev had asked them if they could come and do their Baptism. Pam and I are looking forward to seeing them, they are a fun couple and we miss seeing them at the clinic. After being blessed with the opportunity to come to know them we know that they have been a real blessing for the last 10 years to the people they minister to in the Honduras. It's always amazes and humbles me what mere humans do, with their lives, out of faith in Jesus Christ.
Pam and I are looking forward to our friends Max and Norma coming Monday from Indiana for two weeks. Max and Norma went home about six weeks ago and were called by the clinic and asked to come back for two weeks for Max to take the vaccine. Max is 78, I
believe, I know this must be a lot for him and Norma, but they are real troopers and willing to do what they feel is necessary for Max's health. They will stay with us and it will be fun to have their fellowship.
Two of our grandkids will be arriving about the time Max and Norma are heading home. Trevor and Jackson are coming around July 11th, it will be their third time to fly, but 1st time without an adult. They are 9 and 7 I'll bet they're excited and a little nervous all at the same time. I know they'll do well and it will be fun to have them with us. There will be a lot of swimming going on to offset the 100 plus temperature every afternoon. There is a nice pool here at the apartments, a great lake, and yesterday Pam and I checked out a spring where the locals like to go we will frequent it I am sure. The boys are easy to entertain, they like outside and physical activity, we will just stay hydrated.
Another cancer warrior friend will also be back Monday for a tuneup, Gary Madden, aka mad-dog, for those who have followed the blog from the beginning you'll remember Gary as the architect of the dancing Virgil's and body builder images. Gary being a high school computer science teacher likes to keep his skills sharp by putting my head and other patients heads on interesting bodies. Gary is high energy and a lot of fun, the new patients don't have a clue what a treat they are in for next week, no extra charge, Gary will brighten their day. Too bad his wife Miriam can't come, they would love her too. She is a real sweetheart and a registered nurse and bilingual, born and raised in Peru. What a great help she was to Pam and I when we 1st came. None of the nurses speak English and Miriam would interpret as well as use her 30 plus years in nursing to instruct them to our benefit. During that time she stayed 6 weeks but had to reluctantly get back to her day job. All the patients at that time hated to see her go she was such an asset to everyone.
Those of you who know Pam will not be surprised at my next comment, Pam is also missed at the clinic when she is not there, she brightens people's day and constantly is looking to do for her new friends, I am truly blessed to be related to her.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayer's, please pray for the work the clinic is doing and for safe travel for the patients, their family and friends as they come and go.
God bless you and your families!
(I apologize for not posting things as quickly as Uncle Virgil sends them to me! I have been working summer camp since the beginning of June and have not had much time to be on the computer. I am leaving on Wed to go on a mission trip to Moldova. I will be gone for 11 days. My team and I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we work with students and adults in Moldova! Thanks! Love, Kelli Beth)
Received my 1st vaccine on Tuesday, shot into my liver, I can just visualize those cancer cells running for cover. Had a good week of treatment and looking forward to a good weekend. On Sunday we will meet after church at a restaurant to celebrate the Baptism of Murray and Bev a Canadian couple who received Christ while here at the clinic. Mike and Debbie Lane, Baptist missionaries to the Honduras, are coming this weekend for Mike to do the Baptism. Mike is a fellow cancer warrior and was here and a part of their rebirth and Murray and Bev had asked them if they could come and do their Baptism. Pam and I are looking forward to seeing them, they are a fun couple and we miss seeing them at the clinic. After being blessed with the opportunity to come to know them we know that they have been a real blessing for the last 10 years to the people they minister to in the Honduras. It's always amazes and humbles me what mere humans do, with their lives, out of faith in Jesus Christ.
Pam and I are looking forward to our friends Max and Norma coming Monday from Indiana for two weeks. Max and Norma went home about six weeks ago and were called by the clinic and asked to come back for two weeks for Max to take the vaccine. Max is 78, I
believe, I know this must be a lot for him and Norma, but they are real troopers and willing to do what they feel is necessary for Max's health. They will stay with us and it will be fun to have their fellowship.
Two of our grandkids will be arriving about the time Max and Norma are heading home. Trevor and Jackson are coming around July 11th, it will be their third time to fly, but 1st time without an adult. They are 9 and 7 I'll bet they're excited and a little nervous all at the same time. I know they'll do well and it will be fun to have them with us. There will be a lot of swimming going on to offset the 100 plus temperature every afternoon. There is a nice pool here at the apartments, a great lake, and yesterday Pam and I checked out a spring where the locals like to go we will frequent it I am sure. The boys are easy to entertain, they like outside and physical activity, we will just stay hydrated.
Another cancer warrior friend will also be back Monday for a tuneup, Gary Madden, aka mad-dog, for those who have followed the blog from the beginning you'll remember Gary as the architect of the dancing Virgil's and body builder images. Gary being a high school computer science teacher likes to keep his skills sharp by putting my head and other patients heads on interesting bodies. Gary is high energy and a lot of fun, the new patients don't have a clue what a treat they are in for next week, no extra charge, Gary will brighten their day. Too bad his wife Miriam can't come, they would love her too. She is a real sweetheart and a registered nurse and bilingual, born and raised in Peru. What a great help she was to Pam and I when we 1st came. None of the nurses speak English and Miriam would interpret as well as use her 30 plus years in nursing to instruct them to our benefit. During that time she stayed 6 weeks but had to reluctantly get back to her day job. All the patients at that time hated to see her go she was such an asset to everyone.
Those of you who know Pam will not be surprised at my next comment, Pam is also missed at the clinic when she is not there, she brightens people's day and constantly is looking to do for her new friends, I am truly blessed to be related to her.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayer's, please pray for the work the clinic is doing and for safe travel for the patients, their family and friends as they come and go.
God bless you and your families!
(I apologize for not posting things as quickly as Uncle Virgil sends them to me! I have been working summer camp since the beginning of June and have not had much time to be on the computer. I am leaving on Wed to go on a mission trip to Moldova. I will be gone for 11 days. My team and I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we work with students and adults in Moldova! Thanks! Love, Kelli Beth)
Friday, June 27, 2008
update!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
I've been slack in updating the blog recently and I do apologize. Pam and I were home for six weeks and we had a great time. It was so good to be with our family, friends, and church. We truly hated to leave. But answered prayers got us safely back to Del Rio, and a great welcome from clinic staff and patients made us feel good to be back attacking cancer.
Dr. Rogers has developed a vaccine he is using on some healthy cancer patients to fight the cancer. I'm told he will be making it from my blood and I'm looking forward to doing it along with the other treatments. I will let you know how it goes.
Once again thank you all for your prayers and support!
Virgil and Pam
I've been slack in updating the blog recently and I do apologize. Pam and I were home for six weeks and we had a great time. It was so good to be with our family, friends, and church. We truly hated to leave. But answered prayers got us safely back to Del Rio, and a great welcome from clinic staff and patients made us feel good to be back attacking cancer.
Dr. Rogers has developed a vaccine he is using on some healthy cancer patients to fight the cancer. I'm told he will be making it from my blood and I'm looking forward to doing it along with the other treatments. I will let you know how it goes.
Once again thank you all for your prayers and support!
Virgil and Pam
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Homeward Bound
Saturday, May 11
"God is good! When? All the the time!" As I am writing Pam is driving and we are just outside of Houston on our way "Home". We should get in Sunday afternoon in time to celebrate Mother's Day with the family. We are very excited!
We have a one month leave. Dr. Rogers wants me to take a CT scan in 14 days and come
back two weeks later and we will continue killing cancer and building up my immune system. Thanks to God's grace I am way ahead of where I was four month's ago when we came here! My energy is 100% better, my immune system is working as evidenced by my returning hair, normal nails, and renewed appetite, just to mention a few.
As glad as we are to get back home to family and friends we hated leaving our new friends at the clinic. We will keep them in prayer and check on their progress. We have met so many great people from so many places and so many different backgrounds what a great journey we are on.
Thanks again for your prayers and support!
Love Pam and Virgil
"God is good! When? All the the time!" As I am writing Pam is driving and we are just outside of Houston on our way "Home". We should get in Sunday afternoon in time to celebrate Mother's Day with the family. We are very excited!
We have a one month leave. Dr. Rogers wants me to take a CT scan in 14 days and come
back two weeks later and we will continue killing cancer and building up my immune system. Thanks to God's grace I am way ahead of where I was four month's ago when we came here! My energy is 100% better, my immune system is working as evidenced by my returning hair, normal nails, and renewed appetite, just to mention a few.
As glad as we are to get back home to family and friends we hated leaving our new friends at the clinic. We will keep them in prayer and check on their progress. We have met so many great people from so many places and so many different backgrounds what a great journey we are on.
Thanks again for your prayers and support!
Love Pam and Virgil
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Week 13
Sunday, April 27
Well it has been three weeks since we have returned from our "spring break", time sure goes quickly. My energy level has been the best I've had since starting chemo. The treatments are going well and we are meeting new people everyday. Like going to camp, you form new friendships and hate to see people leave, but you are happy for their progress and ability to return home, better than when they arrived. Our good new friends Max and Norma are returning to Indianna this Tuesday and we will miss them. They have been fun to be with, they are a very dear couple, Pam and I want to have thier spirit when we are approaching our 80's.
Dr. Reyes gave me a "Cancerend" shot to my liver on Wed. and Fri. and says the plan is to do this every other day for seven shots. I will then go home and take a CT scan one month later. If large tumor on my liver is 5cm (50% of it's biggest size) I'll stay home for three months and then return, if it isn't I will return then. We are cautious about making travel plans because we know how this can change, but Pam and I are hopefull and excited this will workout so we can catch Tish and grandkids program at church on May 18th. Their will also be some ball games left and Scott's move to his new place and the building of Mike and Tish's new home along with just being HOME. We are not complaining though, this has been a home away from home, with visit's from family and friend's and making many new friends.
Pam and I once again thankyou for your prayer's and support they truly are being answered everyday!
Love Pam and Virgil
Well it has been three weeks since we have returned from our "spring break", time sure goes quickly. My energy level has been the best I've had since starting chemo. The treatments are going well and we are meeting new people everyday. Like going to camp, you form new friendships and hate to see people leave, but you are happy for their progress and ability to return home, better than when they arrived. Our good new friends Max and Norma are returning to Indianna this Tuesday and we will miss them. They have been fun to be with, they are a very dear couple, Pam and I want to have thier spirit when we are approaching our 80's.
Dr. Reyes gave me a "Cancerend" shot to my liver on Wed. and Fri. and says the plan is to do this every other day for seven shots. I will then go home and take a CT scan one month later. If large tumor on my liver is 5cm (50% of it's biggest size) I'll stay home for three months and then return, if it isn't I will return then. We are cautious about making travel plans because we know how this can change, but Pam and I are hopefull and excited this will workout so we can catch Tish and grandkids program at church on May 18th. Their will also be some ball games left and Scott's move to his new place and the building of Mike and Tish's new home along with just being HOME. We are not complaining though, this has been a home away from home, with visit's from family and friend's and making many new friends.
Pam and I once again thankyou for your prayer's and support they truly are being answered everyday!
Love Pam and Virgil
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