Sept 25 - Happy 60th Birthday Mom!

Ok, so I know mom doesn't read these blogs, (They can't get good internet access where they live), but I thought I'd post a birthday wish here anyway.

I'm planning on going over tonight after work and spend a few hours with her, so she won't be alone all night. I'm pretty sure Roger will be working. Be sure to give her a call and send her birthday wishes.....

Prayers go up that we'll have many, many more.....

Peace, God Bless and Love,

Tammi

Sept. 24 - "One Starfish at a Time"

Well, it's Monday. Not much has happened over the last week and a half. I suppose that's a good thing, right? Mom didn't have treatment last week. It was her "week off", so to say. Other than being sick to her stomach and tired of course, she's been doing well.

This past weekend they went over to Illinois and stayed at the River in Charlie Primus' camper. Aunt Sharon, Marvis, Angie & Brian were all there. From what I hear, they all had a pretty good time. Mom brought home a beautiful blanket Angie made her. It has all kinds of family pictures on it.

Yesterday, Darin, Devin and I went over to meet Mom & Roger when they got home. Little Roger had a surprise for mom. The only thing Mom has ever said she really wanted, especially since they moved out to the farm in 1990 was a Gazebo. Well, Little Rog went and bought the materials for one and put it together Saturday after they left for Illinois. The look on mom's face was priceless. I bought her a birthday cake and brought some Chicken, so we had a little dinner too. She said she knew something was up, because Little Roger and I kept calling Roger while they were gone. LOL But she was truly surprised.

I wish I could have contributed to the cost of the gazebo, but Little Roger is so generous. He has done so much for Mom & Roger. It sure makes it easier for me knowing he's right there and keeping an eye on Mom. I am fortunate to have such a loving Step-Father and Step-Brother. I know I've had my differences with Lil' Rog, but we become closer as adults. Who knew or would have ever thought......

Tuesday is mom's 60th birthday. I suppose I'm fortunate to have had 35 years with her and with God's Love and Blessings, hopefully will have a few more. She'll start her second round of Chemo on Thursday. This time they will add Avastin to her treatment. She'll be at IMA for at least 4.5 hours and I know she's not looking forward to that.

That's all I know for now. I just wanted to share a story with you quickly that I read on the LCA Survivors community. It was found by the founders son as he visited the chapel where his father was hospitalized. It really sums up how we must fight Lung Cancer and spread knowledge about the disease:

~~Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a boy going back and forth between the surf's edge and the beach. Back and forth this boy went. As the man approached he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was stuck by the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached the boy continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the boy he said, "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The boy looked at the man. He then stooped down and picked up another starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said, "It sure made a difference to that one! ~~

I encourage you if you haven't already to learn more about this disease. You can do so by visiting the Lung Cancer Alliance Website. Please support finding a cure for cancer. It doesn't have to be just Lung Cancer...we need to fight all cancer. Of course, Lung Cancer is a little more personal to me, but "one starfish at a time" we CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Please keep in touch and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. You all are in ours.

Peace, Love and God Bless,

Tammi

Sept. 13 - Mom's Treatment

Well, mom had her last treatment for round one yesterday. She'll start round two on the 27th, at which time they'll add the Avastin to her treatment regiment.

We met with Michael Burns, who is a Nurse Practitioner. I guess they like for him to get to know all the patients, so when the doctor isn't around, he can take care of them. He basically just took her vitals and discussed her general overall health with her. He is a very personable person. I really like him and so did Mom and Roger. He gave mom some samples of Ambien CR to see if that will help her sleep through the night. She is still having sleep problems. We did ask for the Pet Scan results, as well as the Head CT and other CT results as we had not really been told anything. Good news is the Cancer has not spread to her brain or bones.

Mom and Roger also picked up the Pathological Reports from Dr. Haddad's office. These papers included the reports from her surgery and the procedures where they went down her throat and the colonoscopy. We have to have them to turn into the Cancer Insurance. Basically the reports, including the PET, show the cancer is primarily in her Lung, It apprears to also be in the right paratracheal lymph nodes and the Liver, although the reports seem to indicate the Liver might not be as bad as originally thought. I know we were all relieved to find that it hasn't made it to her head or bones yet.

After treatment and after they stopped by Dr. Haddad's office, Mom went to Wigs Unlimited to pick out a wig. They do specialize in custom wigs, but mom found one that was in the store she liked. I got to see it when they dropped off the pathology reports to me at work. It was really pretty and while it's not exactly how she wears her hair now, I have seen her wear a style close to it at one point in her life. I laughed and told mom I was going to shave my head and steal her wig.

Unfortately it appears mom's hair is finally starting to thin out. She said when she washed her hair yesterday, she noticed she lost quite a bit more than normal. What's so sweet....when she does finally lose her hair and has to start wearing her wig, Roger is going to shave his head. He told me yesterday that "We do things together." Now that's a sign of TRUE LOVE. WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE HIM.

I guess the lady at Wigs Unlimited is originally from the Bloomfield Area and actually used to work with Roger at one time at White's Regal Store. Mom said she just hugged Roger when she figured out who he was, and apparently I babysat for her late son a couple of times. (He lived with his dad and they were divorced, so I never knew her.) She found out what roger was going to do, so she gave him a DoRag to wear too. How sweet is that! I'm thinking that's what I may get both of them for Christmas....New DoRags. :p I told mom she would probably want something like that for when she's sitting around the house and doesn't want to put her wig on.

Mom doesn't have treatment next week, so they are going to go over to Illinois for a night the weekend of the 22nd. Charlie Primus, Angie's father-in-law, has graciously left his camper on his ground by the river and said mom and Roger could stay there. Mom said she was looking forward to some peace and quiet.

Well, that's about all I know for now. Thanks for your continued love and support......

Tammi

Sept. 11 - Happy Anniversary

So, for those of you who either didn't know or have forgotten, today is Mom & Roger's Anniversary, their 24th to be exact. I know I have been thoroughly blessed over the past 25 years. God couldn't have given me a more loving father than when he put Roger in our Lives. So, if you get a chance, you may want to drop them a card or give them a call and wish them Happy Anniversary. Mom's birthday is Sept. 25th too. She'll be 60 this year! If you need their address, just drop me a line or give me a call.

Special thanks needs to go out to Miss Stephanie Hill. Stephanie was my son's 2nd grade teacher at Bloomfield and has become a good friend of the family. She baked a Lasagna and brought it into Roger to take home last night, along with bread and a large salad. Mom sounded tickled pink when she was telling me about it. She told Roger to tell Steph that that was their Anniversary Dinner. I know so many people want to help them out and I can honestly say, in everything I've read, little things like this are the best way to help.

Mom seems to be in good spirits overall. She goes for Chemo Thursday, then I guess the weekend of the 22nd, she and Roger is going over to Illinois to the River and camp out.

That's about all I have time for right now. It's about time to go home. Thanks for your support and continued prayers.....

Love,
Tammi

Sept. 9 - No News.......Sorta

Yea, Yea, Yea....I know, I haven't posted the pictures yet and I haven't blogged in at least a week. Sorry. Sue me. Life's gotten really busy, confusing and frustrating all at the same time. So much is going on, I have a hard time knowing whether I'm coming or going.

Devin has started football. I'm happy to say that mom and Roger made it to the game. I know it wore her out and that she isn't supposed to be out in direct sunlight. Thank god for Umbrellas. Devin's team won by the way, 18-6. It was so much fun watching them tackle each other. Our teams favorite part of the game. LOL

Mom's second Chemo treatment went well. Nothing unusual according to both mom and Roger, but you know how it goes...If I'm not there, I don't necessarily get the full story. Her next treatment is this Thursday. She will be meeting with the nurse practitioner that same day. They will actually meet with him while she is doing chemo. I am going to go Thursday in time for the appointment with the N.P. I want to see if he has anything to say.

I went and picked up Devin at mom & Roger's today. He spent the night with them so I could go out Saturday night to a Bachelorette party. When I was there, I set up the file cabinet so we can file all the paperwork to come. I picked up the Cancer Policy claim form that had been filled out by the Dr's office. There in Black and White was listed her Diagnosis: Lung Cancer, Liver Metastasis, Lymph Node Metastasis. We knew about the Lung & the Liver, but the Lymph Node was something completely new to us. I didn't mention it to mom, but told Roger. I know that once it's in the Lymph Nodes, the prognosis is not good.

This weekend has been tough for me personally. I have so much going on and so many decisions to make. Tomorrow is my first Den Meeting with my Bear Cubs, so that's not helping. I don't know why, but I'm really nervous about that.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers........I promise to try and get some pics posted soon.

Love,
Tammi

Sept. 4 - The Faces of Lung Cancer

We had a good weekend. Mom seems to be doing really well. She just gets tired real easily. Still not sure how much of it is the Cancer and how much is depression though. Every time I get ready to leave, I catch a glimpse of sadness in her eye and everytime I leave, I just pray it's not our last goodbye.

Sunday was like a little "Mini Family Reunion". My Uncle Steve is home from Las Vegas. He came home to see mom and Uncle Fred. He and Uncle Fred came up from Evansville. My Aunt Sharon came over from Illinois and brought my cousin, Chris. My cousin, Angie, came over from Illinois. Uncle Dick & Aunt Margie came up from Loogootee. Uncle Fred was truly a surprise and a pleasant one at that, as he too is battling cancer.

It was really tough seeing Uncle Fred in the shape he's in. You can tell his battle with cancer has been a rough one and he too gets tired really easily. I'm not sure where his cancer started, but it has spread throughout his body. He was exhausted by the time it was time for him and Uncle Steve to return home. I LOVE YOU UNCLE FRED! Hang in there..... To my friends, please add him to your prayer lists too.

It was really nice seeing everyone together. We missed Uncle Andy & Aunt Maryann though. Not sure why Aunt Maryann wasn't there, but Uncle Andy is in the Veteran's home in Illinois somewhere. It happens so little anymore that we all get together. It seems to only be when someone is really sick or a death in the family. I guess that's a sign we are all getting older. I remember the old days when Grandma & Grandpa Divine were still around. I miss all the family getting together. We sat and watched a movie Angie put together. I cried when I saw Grandma & Grandpa. I sure do miss them. I remember Grandma's soft hands and cheeks and Grandpa's snickers. I just hope that Devin has many good memories of mom like that.

I took some pictures, and as soon as I get the chance to download them, I'll post some here. I may try to open some sort of photo sharing account too, so I can post them all and everyone can see them.

Now, the reason for the title of this blog......I've been doing alot of research on Lung Cancer and have come across many good informational sites. (I've included the links at the bottom of blog.) Well, this website has really struck a chord with me. It truly shows how personal Lung Cancer is and explains just how UNDERFUNDED research geared towards Lung Cancer is.

One of the pages on this site is called "The Faces of Lung Cancer," and on it are pictures of Lung Cancer Survivors and those who have passed. It's hard to see those who have passed, but encouraging to see those who have beat odds of how long they would survive. I submitted mom's photo and it was posted today! Here is the link if you would like to go check it out: The Faces of Lung Cancer

I would like to encourage everyone to go to this website and sign the petition that is geared toward getting congress to increase funding towards battling this disease. Lung Cancer kills more people every year than: breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer and melanoma ALL COMBINED!!! Yet it remains one of the most UNDER funded cancer research areas. I pledge that as long as I'm alive, I will support the battle against Lung Cancer. It's PERSONAL. There are interesting facts regarding Lung Cancer. You can read them by clicking on this link: Lung Cancer Facts.

Well, I must get to bed now. I will try to post some pictures tomorrow night. Much love and god bless. Thank you for everything, especially all your prayers.

Tammi