Dad went for his surgery today around 2pm and was back in his room by 2:50. Dr. Walker said things went fine and he is resting well. It is time to come home though. They have been in that room for 9 days by tomorrow! Ick! Pray that he will get the "ok" to go home in the morning!
Michelle
Monday, June 13, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
HOME Planned for Tuesday
Just to let you know, Dad's port (the source of the blood infection) was removed on Tuesday. They had hoped to put in a new port of Friday and send him home this morning. However, after taking another culture on Thursday, it began to grow the bacteria again and by 3:00 am Friday morning they cancelled the surgery. He is now on more antibiotics and the surgery is planned for Monday with a trip home planned for Tuesday morning.
He feels really good and looks good too. Next chemo (#3) is scheduled for this coming Thursday. I will let you know if that changes. Hopefully, we will get the new port in and be ready to go. Dr. Becdach informed us that he could do the next round through an IV if he needed to, so that is good to know. I will be calling MD Anderson on Monday and try to get word to Dr. Tsao about everything that has taken place.
Michelle
He feels really good and looks good too. Next chemo (#3) is scheduled for this coming Thursday. I will let you know if that changes. Hopefully, we will get the new port in and be ready to go. Dr. Becdach informed us that he could do the next round through an IV if he needed to, so that is good to know. I will be calling MD Anderson on Monday and try to get word to Dr. Tsao about everything that has taken place.
Michelle
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Update
Sorry for the long delay in posting! Anybody who is or ever has been a mother of a child in school at any age KNOWS that the month of MAY is...well, just a blur. We have our summer kicked off already and have already been to Atlanta, Anniston, Birmingham and Huntsville for golf tournaments. We are scheduled this week for Tuscaloosa, the following week for Franklin, TN and the following week for Dothan. It sure is hot, but sure is fun. Please pray for our safe travels.
Most of you know by now that Dad had to take another adventure to Decatur General. He was admitted in the wee hours of the morning on Monday for what turned out to be another blood infection caused by the port. This time the port has been removed! He is on several different antibiotics waiting for the culture to grow and determine the exact antibody needed to fight the particular bacteria. As of now, we have been told he will be there until at least Friday when they hope to be able to put a new port in. He is scheduled for another round of chemo starting next Wednesday and we pray for all of this to fall right in to place in time for that to happen.
Other than being in the hospital, he feels pretty good once they got that port out. He is sitting up in the bed, working on his computer and emailing customers. That's Papa!
He seemed to tolerate the chemo well this past time and all the doctors like the way the cancer is looking based on visual observations. We are still on go to visit MD Anderson again after this next round on July 11. Please be in prayer for this as well as keep praying that this chemo regimen will shrink the cancer and stop it from growing! So far it is looking good!
I'll keep you posted!
Michelle
Most of you know by now that Dad had to take another adventure to Decatur General. He was admitted in the wee hours of the morning on Monday for what turned out to be another blood infection caused by the port. This time the port has been removed! He is on several different antibiotics waiting for the culture to grow and determine the exact antibody needed to fight the particular bacteria. As of now, we have been told he will be there until at least Friday when they hope to be able to put a new port in. He is scheduled for another round of chemo starting next Wednesday and we pray for all of this to fall right in to place in time for that to happen.
Other than being in the hospital, he feels pretty good once they got that port out. He is sitting up in the bed, working on his computer and emailing customers. That's Papa!
He seemed to tolerate the chemo well this past time and all the doctors like the way the cancer is looking based on visual observations. We are still on go to visit MD Anderson again after this next round on July 11. Please be in prayer for this as well as keep praying that this chemo regimen will shrink the cancer and stop it from growing! So far it is looking good!
I'll keep you posted!
Michelle
Monday, May 23, 2011
HOME
Just a quick update to let you know that Dad is home. He came home Friday mid day and is doing well. Mom is playing nurse and is very keeping very busy! He is still on an IV antibiotic regimen at home to work on clearing up the blood infection. Hopefully, the meds will do their job and he will be able to stay on track and start the next chemo treatment. It is planned to start THIS Thursday, but we won't know for sure until right before then. He meets with Dr. Becdach on Wednesday morning and we will surely have it figured out by then. The doctors at MD Anderson told us that the chemo was to be done every 3 weeks but every 4 weeks was common as well, depending on how the patient recovers from it. So, we have another week to play with if we need too. I hope not though. That cancer needs to be attacked!
The Fundraiser Yardsale was a HUGE success!! Thank you all for the donations and items to sale. It is so amazing to see how friends come out to support one another. It is our job to carry each other's burdens and I can see God working in such an amazing way!
Some of Dad's friends contacted me about setting up a fund to help defray some of the medical expenses until Dad is able to work again. The fund has been set up at Bank Independent. The following letter was mailed out and should contain all information you might need. Again, thank you so much for all of your support, prayers and love. ~Michelle
May 17, 2011
Hello all,
This is a short letter from friends of Ernie Smith to let you know of an opportunity to help him in his fight against cancer. As you know, Ernie has been in a prolonged fight against Stage IV oral cancer. Cancer does not fight fairly, and it has taken a toll not only on his health, but his ability to continue working as a self employed businessman.
Ernie’s family, friends and business associates are banding together to lend support. Expenses for chemotherapy/radiation and ongoing medical expenses continue to mount. There are opportunities for new courses of treatments at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, TX, but travel and participation costs are high. The effects of his treatment have left him unable to work, so there is no new income coming in.
That’s where you and I can help!
We are working to take the burden off of Ernie so that he can focus on getting better, instead of medical bills. Numerous people have asked for a way to provide monetary donations. An account has been set up at Bank Independent, “The Crossings” branch (The Target Shopping Center branch). Donations can be made in cash or check to “Michelle Puryear/Medical Fund”. Michelle will use the funds to pay for necessities and medical expenses until Ernie is able to work again.
Thank you in advance for your support. For more information, please visit the family website at http://thesmiths-michelle.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Friends of Ernie Smith
The Fundraiser Yardsale was a HUGE success!! Thank you all for the donations and items to sale. It is so amazing to see how friends come out to support one another. It is our job to carry each other's burdens and I can see God working in such an amazing way!
Some of Dad's friends contacted me about setting up a fund to help defray some of the medical expenses until Dad is able to work again. The fund has been set up at Bank Independent. The following letter was mailed out and should contain all information you might need. Again, thank you so much for all of your support, prayers and love. ~Michelle
May 17, 2011
Hello all,
This is a short letter from friends of Ernie Smith to let you know of an opportunity to help him in his fight against cancer. As you know, Ernie has been in a prolonged fight against Stage IV oral cancer. Cancer does not fight fairly, and it has taken a toll not only on his health, but his ability to continue working as a self employed businessman.
Ernie’s family, friends and business associates are banding together to lend support. Expenses for chemotherapy/radiation and ongoing medical expenses continue to mount. There are opportunities for new courses of treatments at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, TX, but travel and participation costs are high. The effects of his treatment have left him unable to work, so there is no new income coming in.
That’s where you and I can help!
We are working to take the burden off of Ernie so that he can focus on getting better, instead of medical bills. Numerous people have asked for a way to provide monetary donations. An account has been set up at Bank Independent, “The Crossings” branch (The Target Shopping Center branch). Donations can be made in cash or check to “Michelle Puryear/Medical Fund”. Michelle will use the funds to pay for necessities and medical expenses until Ernie is able to work again.
Thank you in advance for your support. For more information, please visit the family website at http://thesmiths-michelle.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Friends of Ernie Smith
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Update
Dad is still in the hospital at Decatur General. Many things are going well, but they are keeping him a little longer to evaluate some problems and perhaps a blood infection. Please pray. He is looking great as far as nutrition goes. They have pumped him full of proteins and fats and hydrated him well. He is having some swallowing issues which they are working on. They took a blood culture last week and this morning it appears to show something growing so they have called in a disease control specialist, not sure who that is yet but I will find out. I am praying that it is not a staff infection. Now we don't know if the antibiotics they have been giving him for nearly a week are even the ones he needed. I will be calling MD Anderson here shortly to see if I can get our doctors there in on all of this. That is why we spent 8 days out there so they need to be aware of all this. As you know by now, since he "feels" a little better he is not happy to be in the hospital. However, we are keeping him there until we have a plan.
Asking for BIG prayers,
Michelle
Asking for BIG prayers,
Michelle
Friday, May 13, 2011
Resting Well...Finally
Well, the new chemo wasn't just "tough" as many had warned. It was just plain HORRIBLE! Last Thursday he spent the entire day getting infused with the new meds. He seemed well for the next few days as they had stocked him up on fluids and anti-nausea medicines. While at home for the weekend he rested and waited. Well, by Wednesday the nasty monster began to show its face. He had been in several times for fluids and finally on Friday Dr. Becdach decided to admit him to the hospital after a day of fighting that just plain wore him out. He has been at Decatur General since yesterday afternoon and is doing MUCH better!!! They have his stomach calmed down, he is walking the hall with the physical therapists, he is receiving breathing treatments every 6 hours, he is well hydrated and receiving antibiotics and nausea meds (if needed) through his IV. The bed is comfortable (believe that if you will..because it sits up) and he is resting well. We (doctors and family) have decided to keep him admitted through the weekend to continue these treatments and hopefully he will walk out of there Monday morning feeling somewhat renewed! I am just now getting around to blogging this information, but it has been good because he has gotten lots of good sleep since nobody knew he was there! Ha!
Funny thing is that the last time he was admitted to the hospital I was furious at the treatment he received. I felt like he was worse there than he was before he got there. They ran this test, and that test, and let me just tell you that I almost have my medical degree (Ha!) and so many of those test were just plain crazy! I'm sorry but I get so annoyed when our regular doctors are not there and it seems that medical person that comes in the room wants us to go over the complete history AGAIN and then they always want to know if "you have any open wounds" or "have you had any surgeries in the past two years"! Are you serious? Needless to say, if they didn't let him out of there, Shawn and I had plans to bust him out. All that to say that when they mentioned "hospital" yesterday my eyebrows went up and Dr. Becdach assured me it would be better.
It has been wonderful! NO extra quizzes, no unnecessary tests, no meds except what we approved from our list at MD Anderson and great, caring nurses! He is feeling so much better just 24 hours after being admitted!! He is on the Women and Children's floor (ha!) in an awesome suite! They must put the sweetest nurses on that floor for a reason. So I have no complaints this time. Mom is staying up there with him because they have plenty of room and one of those little cot/beds that the daddy's sleep in!! :)
He should be home Sunday or more likely Monday morning! Keep praying for him. He is a fighter! In fact, the word "fighter" doesn't even do him justice.
Love ya'll!
Funny thing is that the last time he was admitted to the hospital I was furious at the treatment he received. I felt like he was worse there than he was before he got there. They ran this test, and that test, and let me just tell you that I almost have my medical degree (Ha!) and so many of those test were just plain crazy! I'm sorry but I get so annoyed when our regular doctors are not there and it seems that medical person that comes in the room wants us to go over the complete history AGAIN and then they always want to know if "you have any open wounds" or "have you had any surgeries in the past two years"! Are you serious? Needless to say, if they didn't let him out of there, Shawn and I had plans to bust him out. All that to say that when they mentioned "hospital" yesterday my eyebrows went up and Dr. Becdach assured me it would be better.
It has been wonderful! NO extra quizzes, no unnecessary tests, no meds except what we approved from our list at MD Anderson and great, caring nurses! He is feeling so much better just 24 hours after being admitted!! He is on the Women and Children's floor (ha!) in an awesome suite! They must put the sweetest nurses on that floor for a reason. So I have no complaints this time. Mom is staying up there with him because they have plenty of room and one of those little cot/beds that the daddy's sleep in!! :)
He should be home Sunday or more likely Monday morning! Keep praying for him. He is a fighter! In fact, the word "fighter" doesn't even do him justice.
Love ya'll!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
New Chemo
Honestly, with a trip to the beach for a week, straight to board a plane for MD Anderson, and then the storms with no power and no school....I am just now coming up for air and realizing exactly what day it is! I am a creature of habit and getting me way off my routine has been rough. I hope this post finds you all well and safe from the storms. I still can't believe the destruction and loss of lives we had last Wednesday afternoon. For those of you who have friends and family directly hit by the storms, I pray for you. One of my close friends lost her sister in law in Hueytown right outside of Birmingham. Her brother is still in ICU. When you see the destruction on TV, it breaks your heart..when you know someone..it crumbles your heart. Although I feel like complaining about my day today..(Stephen is at camp with Callie and left some very important medicine here and didn't pack a jacket so I was off to drive 45 minutes to meet him half way only to discover a FLAT tire on my car...my dad is starting a rough chemo regimen at 8:15, and my good friend mentioned above sent me a message that her mom has passed away!)...but I will choose to praise God for the beautiful day, for taking good care of my Dad, for giving my mom the strength to take care of his needs daily, for wrapping my aunt in His arms at the hospital, for my awesome children, for my amazing husband, for sparing us in the storms, for my health, for good friends and the amazingly blessed life I live! Thank you God and I pray boldly for those hurting, sick and sad today, may they look to HIM for peace, comfort and guidance.
Now, for the update...during the week off from treatments it was anything but a time to rest and gain strength. His feeding tube became dislodged over the weekend and because of the power situation he had to go the emergency room and get a temporary fix to hold until Monday. It held about 20 minutes after they got home. He had to return to the ER and they put another tube in only to return home and it began to leak after the first feeding. Finally, Monday morning he was able to get his doctor to FIX it and so far so good. Meanwhile, an infection has set in on one of the cancer spots so he was unable to start the chemo on Tuesday because he needed to do two days of antibiotic infusions at the CCI. He is on his way now to meet with the doctor to give him the okay to go ahead and start the regimen this morning. WE HAVE BEEN WARNED! This is a tough regimen! Please pray that he tolerates it as well as he can and that the nausea and vomiting are kept at a minimum. It is a 6 hour infusion and will be given once every 4 weeks. We are planning on two treatments before we return to MD Anderson on July 11. Let's pray we see some results and some relief!
Love to all of you! I will be in touch.
Michelle
Now, for the update...during the week off from treatments it was anything but a time to rest and gain strength. His feeding tube became dislodged over the weekend and because of the power situation he had to go the emergency room and get a temporary fix to hold until Monday. It held about 20 minutes after they got home. He had to return to the ER and they put another tube in only to return home and it began to leak after the first feeding. Finally, Monday morning he was able to get his doctor to FIX it and so far so good. Meanwhile, an infection has set in on one of the cancer spots so he was unable to start the chemo on Tuesday because he needed to do two days of antibiotic infusions at the CCI. He is on his way now to meet with the doctor to give him the okay to go ahead and start the regimen this morning. WE HAVE BEEN WARNED! This is a tough regimen! Please pray that he tolerates it as well as he can and that the nausea and vomiting are kept at a minimum. It is a 6 hour infusion and will be given once every 4 weeks. We are planning on two treatments before we return to MD Anderson on July 11. Let's pray we see some results and some relief!
Love to all of you! I will be in touch.
Michelle
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