Monday, October 24, 2011

Six Month Progress report.

I got great news from the doctors today.  They say I am in full remission and won't have to see them until January.  This time last year I didn't know I had a problem and now it looks as if I won the first battle.  Dr. McGary said I responded to treatment much better than most.  Dr. Arnold said my faith had made me well. Both agreed that I had done better than the majority of lung cancer patients. 

I feel like I should do something special for all those who prayed and supported me through the darkness of chemo and radiation treatments.  I just wish I knew what I could do. I will pray for and ask a blessing for you all and I know God will answer my prayer. See you in a while.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

The Hawk Soars High

I have news from the doctor today and he tells me that the cancer is virtually gone.  My last PET scan is in and the results are that I am showing no cancer in any of the lymph nodes or trachea.  My main tumor has shrunk to nothing but a scar and I am feeling good. 
It has been a while since I have written anything on this blog and it is because I have had nothing to report. It has been a nail biting, waiting game to see how the radiation and chemo worked.  It worked good but I think it had a lot of help.  The first Sunday in July, during communion, I had this nudge that told me I was healed.  I believed it and kept telling myself not to doubt.  Well, the doctor confirmed it today and I give the credit to God for doing it through the doctors and trough the prayers of the many.
Let me end by saying I really appreciate your prayers and your kind words of encouragement.  god bless you and your house.

Monday, June 20, 2011

June 20,2011

It has been a long time since I reported on this blog.  Truth is that I have not had much to report.  The time after treatment until now has been a waiting period or, as we refer to them, the doldrums.  So, here goes.  I got a good report , cancer wise, last week but my oxygen levels were low and I felt lousy.  Today I went back to follow up after  week on prednisone and an antibiotic and everything is back to normal. well, normal as one can be at ths point.  Bottom line is that my tumor has srunk from 8+ cm to 1.8 cm.  that is good news and the fact that I finally feel beter is even better news to me.  We prayed that we would be healed by the hand of God and I think we have achieved much.  I will praise God for this outcome and I want you to praise Him with me.  We are not through with the fight but we are winning at this point and that is enough or me to celebrate. 
I can't thank everyone enough for your love and prayers and I hope you continue to keep me in your prayers.  I must admit that I was in the vally of the shadow of death and I foud that He was always with me.  The Hawk always flew before me laughing and, as I said before, The tumor is srinking.    God bless you and your house.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

May 18,2011

I haven't writtten much bucause there has been little to write about.  I am doing well and I am just waiting for the June 10th, scan to see what we do next.  While I wait, I am feeling good enough to resume normal activity and am feeling better each day.  I still have a little burn in my swollowing and my back is still itching like a sun burn.  My feet still have some numbness from the chemo. I don't know if that will ever go away. My hair is not back yet so I have a ways to go.
Please don't stop praying as I need it now as much as ever.  God bless you and your house.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

May 11, 2011

I have been thinking about how all my friends and family have been so supportive through all this battle.  I guess there will never be a way to repay any of you but I sure wish there were. It has been an eye( and heart), opener for me. 
I guess until you are in this situation you never stop to think about needing help from friends.  We all assume that we can pretty much handle all that life throws at us.  Then it throws a curve like you have never seen or expected.  It is then you realize that, as John Prine said, " everybody needs sombody that they can talk to"and as  Bob Dylan says " you got to serve sombody; It might be the Devil or it might be the Lord, but you got to serve sombody. Well, I found out both statements are true.
I am trying to say,badly, that we cannot complete this life alone, without help.  We need our friends, family and, most of all, God.  I am talking about the God of Abraham.  I had no idea how much I needed God until this cancer battle.  He does what he says he will do and He made me able to stand all the poison they put into me without much problem.  I was blessed to never get sick through all of this.  I had my battles but the Hawk was always there.  It may have been through a friend stopping by at the right moment, a check arriving in the mail on the right day, a card in the mail from someone giving me encourgement or someone praying for me but when I was down.  He was always there.  I do not ever want to forget that.  All you friends out there: don't ever let me forget it.  If I ever get to acting like I was the one who brought myself through this, smack me up side the head and remind me what I have said here today.

I am having good days now.  I don't know if the battle is over.  I won't know that until the 10th of June when they do my other scan but I do know that, so far, I have been doing good through all of this because of all of you folks out there who have prayed and encourged me through it all. I really thank all of you friends, family and church, for your support.  God bless you and your house

Monday, May 9, 2011

May 9, 2011

It is nice here this morning; clear with a tempeture of 60.  I was able to sleep in two hour blocks last night which is better than I have been doing.  My heart rate is up and it keeps me from sleeping.  I'm going to call someone today to see if we can figure out what is going on.  Other than that, I feel good.  I'm eating good and can do most anything.  I attempted to cut my grass Friday and had to get Tammy to rescue me about 3/4 of the way through.  I'm still a little weak but improving dailey.  The only problem now is the sleep thing and the heart beat of 100+ per min. Who knows.
The last hawk I saw was getting pounded by a crow.  It was last Friday morning when I went out with my dog.  They flew away with the crow attacking the hawk over and over.  I wonder what that could have meant.  Anyway, God bless you and your house.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

May 5, 2011

I had a breathing test today at UK hospital.  It was given to determine if I have lost any breathing capacity and to see how much my lungs are converting the oxygen I take in to usable oxygen in my blood.  Everything came out great. the lady who gave the test said I was "perfect".(I think she just meant on the breathing thing).
That made me feel a lot better.  I even came home and attempted to cut my own grass.  I got most of it cut before I had to get Tammy to rescue me.  I just couldn't quite make it.  It will take more time.
The hawk is soaring high today and the tumor......well, you know how tricky tumors are, but it is shrinking and there ain't nothin' it can do about it.