Black Friday

We got home from the lake late this afternoon and have already unpacked, washed all dirty clothes, are currently listening to those fabulous Milan Bulldogs, had long, warm showers, and are completely wiped out. Kendall and now Beth came home with a stomach virus. Kate, Josh, and I have sinus issues. All of the dogs (all 7 of them) are completely wiped out, too. However, what a wonderful, thankful Thanksgiving we all had at the lake.
Mr. G. loaded his plate (needed side boards) and was able to stuff himself until he was quite miserable. He felt that this was one of the best Thanksgiving meals that he has ever had. Thanks to all the Drake women and offspring who did the cooking and to James G. who was in charge of the turkey. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching football, playing games, snoozing, and catching up on old times and current activities.
We missed all of our family and friends that were not with us this year.
Thank you Lord for making us a part of a very large, loving family.
Thank you Lord for helping me to find James 39 years ago, and helping us to work through 38 years of marriage (today). We are so blessed!
May God bless each of you as you travel or just finish this long weekend.

Love,
Cathy

Round 2

We went to Nashville today to begin the next round in the saga of chemo treatments. However, last night he gave us a bit of a scare. He was covered from head to toe with a fiery red rash. After emailing and then calling a doctor on call at Vandy, it was determined that Benadryl was in order and to continue all else as directed. When we got to Nashville today he was still a bright crimson color, but the rash was not as raised as before. The chemo (Alimta) began today. It was a breeze compared to the previous treatments-only 2 hours long. They did numerous blood tests and lots of consultation before deciding to take a "wait and see" attitude on continuing the Celebrex. They feel that the rash is a reaction to it, but hope that it will clear up with the additional steroids that is administered with the chemo.
I will say, that he is less red tonight and doesn't appear to be itching. Dr. Keedy had so hoped that he could tolerate the Celebrex since he is a perfect candidate for the study. It was doing exactly as it should to prevent the cancer cells from utilizing the fatty substance that it needs to spread.
We have just gotten home. It looked like there were lots of folks going "to Grandma's house" for Thanksgiving. The road was bumper to bumper from Nashville to Law Road-with lots of heavy rain, too.

Have a great Thanksgiving.
Hopefully you will have a long list of things to be thankful for.
May God bless and keep you safe,
Cathy

Here We Go Again

Tomorrow we return to Nashville and begin chemo again. This is supposed to not be so harsh and with as many side effects. Thank heavens.
Pray that this will be successful in treating this new adrenal gland site.
Rainy, days, and Mondays could get you down if you didn't think about it. Monday is only 24 hours long. Most of that time is spent sleeping. Hooray for Mondays.
Have a great evening.

Love,
Cathy

Fabulous Friday

Whew! This was one hectic day. Just sitting and relaxing while listening to Milan Bulldogs' football. Just did not feel like going and sitting in the cold night air. We are winning and doing really well against Camden. Go Dawgs!
Mr. G. went to Nashville yesterday for follow up tests to check on Celebrex compatibility.
We will go to Nashvegas again on Tuesday, Nov. 24 to start chemo. I am really not looking forward to this for him. However, the good thing about this is that there is a treatment available for him. Ten years ago this treatment was not available. Thank heavens for modern medicine.
The clinic called yesterday and more good news. Instead of being one of those 8, 6,or 4 hours sessions, this chemo is only about 2 hours long. Yahoo!!!!!
Continue to pray for my sweet man. I have had him around for a long time (38 years next week), and would love to grow older with him.
Turkey Day is coming!

God's love to all,
Cathy

Sabbath

Whew! The weekend is over all ready?!?! I think that we need just one more day and then should be ready to start the week.
We did manage to do a few things around the house yesterday. We sure can't work like we used to work. Now it seems we break more than we work. Sadly, I don't think this has anything to do with his illness either. Age has a tendency to slow everyone down.
He is doing quite well. He doesn't look ill, but does tire out rather quickly. He goes to Vandy (with Amy) on Thursday to check the progress of his Celebrex treatment. If all is well, he will continue the Celebrex and begin chemo on Tuesday, November 24. If things don't look right, he will discontinue the Celebrex and start chemo anyway.
Have a great week.
"Turkey Day" is coming! Yeah!!!

God's blessings on one and all!
Love,
Cathy

Tiring Thursday

Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. This has been a very busy last couple of weeks. I just cant't wait until Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. We have survived the recent news, working with the insurance company to get approval for the clinical trial, working (and being extremely busy), getting the necessary tests done for the trial, "Celebration of Marriage videos at church", Veterans' Day and the many programs, and life in general.
We are now of the frame of mind to "just get on with it". He started his Celebrex today and will go next week to check for any complications before beginning chemo on November 24. I do hope that the treatments do not interfere with his eating turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. He really does love to eat that meal with gusto (just like the rest of us).
We are looking forward to watching the Milan Bulldogs tomorrow night in the playoffs. Hopefully the Milan boys will be ready to "whip up on" those Memphis boys. Wear your warm clothes! It could be chilly.

Go Dawgs!

May God bless and keep each of you.
Love,
Cathy

Update

We went Thursday to meet with Dr. Keedy, the oncologist, to get the results of the recent PET scan. The cancer is now in his left adrenal gland. The only other hot spots are still the tumors in his lungs, but that could just be from the radiation. Apparently it takes a while for the radiation to settle in and not be "hot".
This is not exactly the news that we wanted to hear. But, "it is what it is!" He has lung cancer, and that is not usually a winning hand without a serious fight.
We have been offered a trial study that will begin this Thursday if the insurance company is in agreement. They will check him out, especially his blood levels and heart, on Thursday, put him on high doses of celebrex, and he will return on Thursday, November 19. The celebrex's job is to cause the body to not feed the cancer cells with a fatty substance (PGE2) that it requires.
He will do this therapy in conjuction with chemo.
The chemo, Alimta, is a different type than before. It will begin November 24 for one day. Then there will be a three weeks wait; then he will take round 2; and wait three weeks. At the end of the six weeks, there will be another scan to check the progress of the chemo. If it appears successful, he will have 2 more rounds just as the first two rounds. If he is in the study, he will continue that celebrex for a year.
After a short period of "being down", we are prepared to press forward. God is in control and we praise him for not leaving this job up to us. We would not be very good at it.
Enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it.

Love,
Cathy

Now we wait!

James G. and Beth went to Nashville yesterday where he had a full body pet scan (the first one that he has had). He said that he waited longer for the radioactive material to travel through the body than the actual procedure took. After lunching at Cuba Landing (Mrs. Ruby's-his favorite truck stop on I-40), they were back at home by 2:00 and he was resting by 2:30.
Now we wait for Thursday. He and I will then go back to Vanderbilt to consult with Dr. Keedy, the oncologist.
Please pray for blue skies!

Enjoy your evening.
Cathy

"All Saints Day"

At church today, we had a loaded service. It was All Saints Day- in which we honor those that have gone before us. It is always a tearful, somber way to remember our deceased loved ones.
It was Communion Sunday.
It was the first performance of the new year for our Messengers (youth singers). The ladies did a great job (8 young ladies of our church).
We have been studying the "Big 10"-10 Commandments and this was week 7. James G. and I were interviewed along with 6 other couples of the church about marriage. The couples consisted of newlyweds and continued with couples that had been married 50+ years. It is always enlightening to hear how others have coped with the triumphs and tribulations of married life. Mr. Jerry Flipplin brought the house down with his comment: "Divorce never! Homicide possibly!"
What a great way to jump start your week.

God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!
Enjoy your day!
Cathy