Hanging In there..

Dad spent the last week recovering from the chemo treatment and as of today, it seems that poison has lessened its grip and he is feeling a little better. The Bells Palsy symptoms are still there but appear to be a little better, at least I think so. Last Saturday we took a little field trip to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. It turned out to be "croup/strider" type thing. Since the drainage from his sinuses and lack of mucous on the left side cause him to choke and he has to really work to get it up, his bronchial areas tend to spasm and make it hard to get air. They gave him a super duper breathing treatment and an oxygen test and he was breathing fine so we came back home. He has breathing treatments at home now 3 or 4 times a day and an old fashioned vaporizer next to his chair. Things seem to be a little better there too. Since dad has been slacking on doing his exercises and Coach Mom is not having much luck inspiring him, Dr. Prickett had Home Health Care send a Physical Therapist out to get him going. He worked yesterday for about 30 minutes and did a great job! The more he gets up and expends energy the more energy he will have. You know what they say..."a body in motion stays in motion" so let's get movin Papa! We found out that along with the Physical Therapist visits, they will send a nurse out two or three times a week to bring mom supplies and check on dad to make sure he's doing fine..they will check bp, temperature, weight, breathing, etc. I am so excited about this.

This week he should feel pretty decent. We are asking for prayers to prepare his body for the trip to Houston next Sunday. Traveling isn't fun for a normal, healthy body so imagine the toll it takes on Dad to get to airports, go through all the screening, wait, wait, wait and then endure the flight. The Houston airport and 45 minute ride to MD Anderson is no picnic either! We pray for him to feel well on Sunday and a safe, non eventful trip to Houston. We will be arriving on Sunday afternoon (the 24th) and his scans are scheduled for 6 am on Monday (the 25th). Please pray for the scans to be read and available for restaging by the time we see Dr. Tsao later in the morning. THIS is a lot to ask and will be a big rush job for them at the hospital. Our doctor is only in clinic on Mondays and if she didn't have the reports I don't know what we would do. There is no way he could stand to stay out there in a hotel room for a whole week! I pray that God takes it all and makes it work for the best. Right now, we have a flight home on Wednesday, the 27th. That leaves Tuesday and most of the day on Wednesday should Dr. Tsao require any other tests or visits.

Of course, I will keep you posted!
Thank you!
Michelle