The Journey Continues ...

Paul is now half way through the treatments.  His biggest complaint is the  fatigue that he feels on a daily basis.  He tires very easily so our routine is not a busy one.  He also has been getting headaches, but we hope that will resolve itself sooner rather than later.  We saw all four of his doctors last week.  

The Radiologist says he is doing wonderful, and is happy to hear that Paul is not suffering any of the serious side effects to the radiation treatments.  

The Primary Care Physician thinks Paul is doing very good and is obtaining the needed referrals for the pre-surgical heart testing requested by the Thoracic Surgeon.  

The Thoracic Surgeon feels that Paul is healing remarkably well and wants to schedule surgery for 4 weeks after the last radiation treatment.  He will be ordering a PET scan and performing an Endoscopy before he goes in to remove the esophagus.  Tentatively, surgery could occur mid June.

The Oncologist has stated that because of low blood counts Paul will now be scheduled "week to week treatments" instead of giving him a monthly schedule for Chemo and if needed the dosage will be reduced or treatments stopped due to the blood counts going too low.

None of the doctors had an explanation to the almost daily reoccurring headaches.  We have tried to track a cause as to what could be the trigger to the headaches, but there is not a set pattern.  They come on suddenly, last 15 to 30 minutes and are then gone. It may be one a day or as many as five but almost always in the evening or wee hours of the morning.  My hope is that it is an unusual effect from the treatments and will stop when the treatments stop. 

Paul is eating at least once a day ... something ... a small bowl of soup, a fried egg, mashed potatoes and gravy.  I keep asking if he is hungry, but he has no appetite.  He has not lost any more weight, in fact it is up to 148.5 pounds and for that I am thankful.  We have some wonderful friends who invite us out/over to eat and Paul has managed to get down more then a couple of mouthfuls.  I think he wants to show off how well he is doing.  Right now we are feeling optimistic that things will continue to progress on a positive note and he will continue to gain weight before surgery.

The Winter season at the resort is winding down and most of the snow-birds have headed back North.  Once again the resort is unusually quiet, laundry room empty, golf course empty and the traffic on Dillon Road is returning to it's slower Summer pace of one car at the stop sign instead of 5 or 6.  The hot  Summer weather returned with a surprise this week with a record breaking 106 degrees but a promise from the weatherman that the normal 80's will be upon us next week.

We had friends from Arizona, Terri and James, stop for a visit while they attended the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, which is a hop, skip and jump from us.  It was great to spend time with them.  We met them at the College of the Desert Street Fair which is a weekly open market/swap meet selling new items at good prices.  Before heading back home they stopped by for a visit and a chance for some goodbye hugs.  Anyone who knows me, knows I can never can get enough hugs!   

Speaking of friends ... Ron and Elaine, thank you for sending the funny card!  Your cards always make Paul laugh out loud.  They say laughter is a great medicine, so thank you both for the "Shot in the arm!"  On that note, do you know they actually make cards for people dealing with "Cancer"?   Paul received one and it just blew our minds.

Dick and Rick, thanks for the Swamp Cooler and all the other blessings you  have bestowed upon us.  We'll figure out that Swamp Cooler if it's the last thing we do!

Mick, where do we begin?  Thank you for getting our home back to a livable condition. You are a blessing!

Karen and Bob, thanks for the dinners, conversation and camaraderie.

To all the people that allow me to collect hugs every week, thank you!  
You have no idea how much it helps me get through the coming week.
You fill me up when I am running low.  
You are a soother to my soul.

Thank you for the prayers, well wishes and cards.
We are truly blessed and surrounded by angels.  

Jo and Paul