PRAISE!!!

Great news!!! We had a scheduled appointment with Dr. Becdach this morning to evaluate the first round of chemotherapy. He had nothing but good things to say! Dad had maintained his weight which is so important and all his blood work tests came back perfectly normal! He and dad discussed the side effects that he had and all the complications that came along with "week 2". They were all normal and expected. He told Dad he could expect the same thing again with this round. It is amazing to me how quickly he heals. If you saw him last week and then saw him today, it is like you are looking at two different people! I am so happy that he has "week 3" to look forward to! (If there is such a thing as "looking forward" to week 3 of a treatment round..ha!) Seriously, he has felt great this past week! Praise be to God who is the great healer!!!!

The best part is when he examined Dad and felt the cancer spots that were clearly visible on his neck. The big one has substantially gotten smaller and the smaller one near his collar bone is significantly smaller as well!! Dr. Becdach was happy that he was able to "move it around" whatever that means! He said that he is definitely responding to the treatment! How GREAT is our GOD!!!

With things going as hoped, they went ahead with a plan. He started round 2 today with the pump infusion chemotherapy which he will wear through Thursday. He will have the "shot" on Friday which causes the aching bones but he managed to work through it in a day or so last time so we pray for that again.

Next Monday (the 3rd) he will go in for Erbitux infusion
The following Monday (the 10th) he will go for Erbitux infusion

On Tuesday, May 11 he will go to Huntsville for a PET/CT scan! This will give them something to compare with the PET scan from January. If things are still going as expected, they will start two more rounds of chemo. That was new information to us, but if that is what it takes then that is what we will do! Dr. Becdach mentioned that he would then send him back to Birmingham for evaluation at that point. We do have an opinion about that, (for those of you who remember we were not really fond of the oncologist we saw down there) but we will cross that bridge when we get there!

So first and foremost praise God for what he has done! Amazing! Please continue to pray for the side effects and the effectiveness of this second round and start praying for the scans on May 11.

Love and blessings to you all!

Feeling Good!

Well, the "worst week" (#2) as the doctor predicted has come and gone and everybody is glad about that! Dad has felt pretty good all weekend and has been able to eat pretty well. He had lost some weight last week, but this morning at the doctor's office he was up a pound from last week! Thanks to that BOOST from his good buddy!

He is at the CCI this morning getting his week 3 Erbitux infusion which is usually pretty uneventful except for that annoying rash. Hopefully the mouth blisters will stay away. Say your prayers! Pray extensively that this chemo plan is working and stopping that cancer! Pray specifically that his neck heals so that we can do radiation after this second round! We love and appreciate you all!

Stephen, Callie and I are beaching it for the whole week. So happy! Dad sent Mom (along with Cheryl and her kids) to play with us for a few days. Patrick is joining us Wednesday as he had a golf commitment! So, for now we are all good and Dad is hanging in there as usual!

Talk to you soon!
Michelle

Hanging In There!

Whew..The weekend was pretty rough but today he was up and going for at least a little while. After the shot last Friday, it went downhill from there. He was fine one minute and within two hours he was not feeling too perky. He rested all weekend but is still having trouble eating and drinking because of the Erbitux reaction (which he expected) and the mouth sores. He reported to the CCI this morning at 8 for his second round of Erbitux and a bag of fluids to help keep him hydrated. I think they also gave him something to help with the mild rash from the chemo too. This is supposed to be his worst week of the 3 week cycle as far as feeling tired and weak. So pray for tolerance and strength as he faces this week. Hopefully mom can keep trying everything under the sun to find something he likes to eat. It is so hard with the sores and the fact that his taste buds are all out of whack! Poor think..I can't imagine! I know it is tough, but if it is working it is worth it! Go Papa..You can do it!!!

Amazing LOVE!

Wow! Last night's prayer gathering was just perfect! I felt so uplifted, so inspired by God's word and so renewed as I know many of you did too! Thank you so much for coming! It was very special and will never be forgotten.

After a good night's rest, I talked to him this morning and he said he felt "fine". (Well, his definition of fine might be different than mine, but oh well! ha!) He is up and out! He will be going to get the pump off today and also get the dreaded Neulasta shot. This is the shot that you get within 24 hours after your first round of chemo to help bump up the white blood cells for those of you who are not familiar with that. It is a good thing in order to fight off infection, but sometimes comes with horrible bone pain for a few days as a side effect. His has been so tolerant of everything else that has come his way that I am expecting him to do the same with this and tell me.."Its not too bad!".. We'll see. :-) We will pray that it "not too bad" and he has a good weekend with lots of rest. The weather looks beautiful so that will bring a smile to all of our faces! He returns on Monday for just the Erbitux infusion and has the rest of the week off from wearing the pump. I will post at the first of the week to let you all know how it is going!

Again..THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
Love,
The Smith Family

3rd Day of Week One

Just a quick note to let you all know that Dad is doing fine with the treatments. Yesterday he felt absolutely normal...today a bit more tired but still going! He will go and have the pump filled again today and again tomorrow to complete the first round. Thanks for the prayers! Our God is BIG!

Just a reminder...TOMORROW NIGHT we are meeting at 5 pm at Mom and Dad's house to have a short time of prayer. Please join us if you can. We are going to be lead by one of our pastors and just give God praise for all that He has done. We are going to pray for His healing powers and to rid Dad's body of this cancer! I was reminded this morning reading another blog about a child going through cancer/chemo treatments...Our God doesn't work based on statistics, HE works to bring glory to HIS name! Amen!!!

Love,
Michelle

Chemotherapy

As you know, today was the day that we reported to CCI to begin the chemotherapy rounds. It was a long day. Mom and Dad got there about 8:30 this morning and I met them right at 9. We FINALLY went back around 10 to see the doctor. He was so very nice and my prayers were answered this morning. I specifically prayed that we would have POSITIVE words spoken today. I was thinking..."we already know the bad news, just please let them talk to us with HOPE". They all did. The doctor explained that this particular regimen was a very difficult one because it is so intense. (hence, all of our eyebrows raised as we just looked at each other..you can imagine!) Of course I then had to ask if he would be able to drive and work, etc..and then HIS eyebrows raised! Ha! He must not know Dad very well yet! We came to the conclusion that Dad will LISTEN to his body...if it says "go" then he will go, if it says "rest" then he will rest. I pray that the effects will be so tolerant for him and he can continue to do as much as he wants. So, after much confusion about what is to take place, here is the schedule.

Week 1
Monday Erbitux at the CCI
Monday-Thursday Carboplatin, 5-FU (infusion pump around the clock)
Friday Neulasta injection (to help stimulate the regrowth of healthy white blood cells )

Week 2
Monday Erbitux at the CCI

Week 3 Erbitux at the CCI

That would complete "round one". He will only wear the pump this week, but reap the benefits all three weeks. This first week he is expected to feel pretty much like normal, but very tired. Next week is estimated to be his worst week in terms of side effects and the third week he will begin to feel normal again. On the Monday following week three we will meet with the doctor to evaluate if it is working at shrinking and stopping the cell growth. Our plan is to do 2 rounds so another round would begin then. This is very aggressive and very fast so please be in prayer that it starts quickly to do its job and stop those cells from growing!!!!!!

He has had the Erbitux before and didn't have any major side effects other that tiredness and a little rash but nothing unbearable. The major side effects of both the infusion chemo drugs are unfortunately hair thinning/ hair loss and marked tiredness. (He and Smith are planning a trip to John's Barber Shop to take care of that problem soon. Ha!)

One major thing that the doctor discussed with us was his nutrition and weight. As you all know he lost a lot of weight since the beginning of this ordeal, especially with radiation. Although he has been eating great and gained several pounds back, he is still on the light side. These drugs are often administrated in doses according to your age, cancer WEIGHT, etc. His doctor today stressed that he CANNOT loose any weight. He must continue to eat no matter what he feels like or how it taste. So that is our mission. Yummy food enjoyed with family and friends whether he wants to or not! (Yes, I'm talking to you Papa!) One of the side effects is loss of appetite due to mouth sores and/or taste changes. He couldn't stress enough how much eating and keeping up his nutrition will increase the success rate of this treatment. Please be in prayer about this. He is to eat 3 meals a day PLUS 3 protein shakes in between. Mom better dust off the blender!

I think I have covered everything for today. He finally got to leave about 4:00 today. It was LONG! He is wearing the pump and will go back mid morning to have it checked for the next 3 days. I hope all of you got the message about the prayer meeting Thursday night. I am so excited about this, so please join us if you are able. We are going to pray and give praise!

Thanks for everything!
Love,
Michelle

First Day of Chemo

Hello friends and family! It was another one of those LONG days, but Dad is at home resting this evening. I have a few family things and errands here and there to take care of this afternoon and will be back this evening with many more details. Just wanted those of you checking to know that he is good and things went well. I'll be back in just a bit!

Special Time of Prayer

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5 13-16

With some help of some very dear friends, I have organized a special time of prayer for Dad next Thursday evening. As you know he is about to start a major fight with chemo and re-radiation to get rid of this cancer. I would like to gather together and give praise to God and ask for His healing. I have several prayer leaders coming to lead us in prayer and I would love your presence and support as we take a few minutes to lift Dad up! Thank you!

Thursday, April 8th
5:00 pm
Mom and Dad's house (1612 Stratford Road)

Michelle