Good Morning!
We are up bright and early today. Connor and Ryan had a sleep over here last night; it's been a while, so they have been pretty charged up since arriving yesterday. It's only 8:30, but we've done a lot already this morning!
Our doctor and friend, Steve Howard (radiation oncologist) is returning to the UW Madison Hospital, so we met with him Thursday to discuss future plans. He decided to do an MRI yesterday so we could have peace of mind for the remainder of the summer. He did not expect to find any changes with the tumor, and, thankfully, he didn't. In fact, the MRI showed that the swelling around the tumor is slightly decreased, so that is a good sign, too. We have decided to dedicate the summer to getting Denny stronger so we can go to Madison in September where he will become part of the Tumor Clinic. The UW hospital is part of the top 50 cancer research hospitals and those who are part of the Tumor Clinic are included in any of the short trials that are appropriate for a particular type of cancer. Denny's tumor and it's location are both rare, so we really don't know what options, if any, will present themselves, but at least the possibility will be available.
That's our news for now. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Carla
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
June 21
Hi,
Just a quick note to those who are still checking the blog. Den seems to be getting a little better each day. All of his blood work numbers today were normal so we don't go back to the oncologist for two weeks. Physical therapy is tiring, but good, and the extra walking that he has to do everyday will find us talking the walker to new places with smooth floors. Walking out on the street here is just too bumpy and slow.
On Thursday we'll see Steve Howard (our favorite radiology oncologist) for the final time at St. E's, as he is returning to work at the UW-Madison. He'll be deciding when Denny will have the next MRI and we may just decide to travel to Madison for that if it is an option.
Otherwise, except for the mess we have at State Street, life is good. We had a wonderful Father's Day party at Chip and Jenn's with both of our families there and our immediate family will celebrate Dave's 25th birthday this upcoming weekend. Party animals, that's us!
Take care, and try to stay cool on these hot, muggy days.
Love,
Carla
Just a quick note to those who are still checking the blog. Den seems to be getting a little better each day. All of his blood work numbers today were normal so we don't go back to the oncologist for two weeks. Physical therapy is tiring, but good, and the extra walking that he has to do everyday will find us talking the walker to new places with smooth floors. Walking out on the street here is just too bumpy and slow.
On Thursday we'll see Steve Howard (our favorite radiology oncologist) for the final time at St. E's, as he is returning to work at the UW-Madison. He'll be deciding when Denny will have the next MRI and we may just decide to travel to Madison for that if it is an option.
Otherwise, except for the mess we have at State Street, life is good. We had a wonderful Father's Day party at Chip and Jenn's with both of our families there and our immediate family will celebrate Dave's 25th birthday this upcoming weekend. Party animals, that's us!
Take care, and try to stay cool on these hot, muggy days.
Love,
Carla
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
June 17
Hi,
A routine of sorts is settling in and things are going well. We have seen all but one of Denny's doctors, and that is on the schedule for next week. We have decided on no more chemo for a few months and a continuation of fairly intense physical therapy. A new medicine seems to be giving some relief from the chronic fatigue, so that is the best news we have to report.
Last night Macaire, Thayer, and Ryan (Knott) brought supper and spent a few hours chatting with Denny about all sorts of things. It was a delightful evening for him and once again Den said that the biggest regret he has of the entire year is that he didn't get to teach and get to know better the class of 2009. And once again I have to say that visiting with these graduates is great medicine for him. I wish I could bottle it!
I'll keep you posted on Denny's recovery. As long as no weird set-back comes along, I'm hoping we will only have good news to share. I know it sounds redundant, but please accept our heartfelt thanks for all of the prayers you have said for Denny and our family. I'm sure it is what has gotten us through this past year.
Love,
Carla
A routine of sorts is settling in and things are going well. We have seen all but one of Denny's doctors, and that is on the schedule for next week. We have decided on no more chemo for a few months and a continuation of fairly intense physical therapy. A new medicine seems to be giving some relief from the chronic fatigue, so that is the best news we have to report.
Last night Macaire, Thayer, and Ryan (Knott) brought supper and spent a few hours chatting with Denny about all sorts of things. It was a delightful evening for him and once again Den said that the biggest regret he has of the entire year is that he didn't get to teach and get to know better the class of 2009. And once again I have to say that visiting with these graduates is great medicine for him. I wish I could bottle it!
I'll keep you posted on Denny's recovery. As long as no weird set-back comes along, I'm hoping we will only have good news to share. I know it sounds redundant, but please accept our heartfelt thanks for all of the prayers you have said for Denny and our family. I'm sure it is what has gotten us through this past year.
Love,
Carla
Sunday, June 14, 2009
June 14
Good morning!
It appears to be another perfect summer day and today we have nothing on the calendar. This weather has been great for Den. He spends a lot of time outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun while reading the cards and letters that still arrive daily. He re-reads the letters from the Class of 2009, and seems to get a little stronger each day. The progress isn't nearly fast enough for him, but I'm hoping that will accelerate with the help of his physical therapy appointments. He has those three times weekly.
We will have a busy week as Denny has to see all of his doctors in addition to PT. We are trying to get some kind of routine in place, which isn't always easy because he still fights the chronic fatigue. Before we left Mercy (at the final staffing,) the doctors and therapists made it very clear to Denny that he has to fight through the urge to sleep, so he is allowed just two short naps or a single one hour nap each day. They also encouraged him to nap in his recliner or even sitting up as that will prevent that deep sleep that often leaves him confused.
So, staying busy is a must and we had plenty to do this past week. We celebrated Keira's first birthday yesterday, so we had a party at Shannon and Doug's. Friday night Sara VanDeWalle and Andi Zinkgraf brought over a delicious lasagna dinner and spent time talking to Denny about class this year and their college plans. Earlier in the day we had to spend a few hours over at the house Denny owned before we married. We've rented it for years and never had any landlord nightmare stories, but this time our tenants left a mess that will require some skilled maintenance as well as a lot of hard work and cosmetic repair, i.e., painting. So, I got started on the yard last Friday and will return there today for a few hours. It looks like we'll spend a lot of afternoons there. (It's not exactly what I had in mind for the summer!)
Enjoy this beautiful Sunday, wherever you are, and take time to count your many blessings. Your love and friendship are surely among ours.
Love,
Carla
It appears to be another perfect summer day and today we have nothing on the calendar. This weather has been great for Den. He spends a lot of time outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun while reading the cards and letters that still arrive daily. He re-reads the letters from the Class of 2009, and seems to get a little stronger each day. The progress isn't nearly fast enough for him, but I'm hoping that will accelerate with the help of his physical therapy appointments. He has those three times weekly.
We will have a busy week as Denny has to see all of his doctors in addition to PT. We are trying to get some kind of routine in place, which isn't always easy because he still fights the chronic fatigue. Before we left Mercy (at the final staffing,) the doctors and therapists made it very clear to Denny that he has to fight through the urge to sleep, so he is allowed just two short naps or a single one hour nap each day. They also encouraged him to nap in his recliner or even sitting up as that will prevent that deep sleep that often leaves him confused.
So, staying busy is a must and we had plenty to do this past week. We celebrated Keira's first birthday yesterday, so we had a party at Shannon and Doug's. Friday night Sara VanDeWalle and Andi Zinkgraf brought over a delicious lasagna dinner and spent time talking to Denny about class this year and their college plans. Earlier in the day we had to spend a few hours over at the house Denny owned before we married. We've rented it for years and never had any landlord nightmare stories, but this time our tenants left a mess that will require some skilled maintenance as well as a lot of hard work and cosmetic repair, i.e., painting. So, I got started on the yard last Friday and will return there today for a few hours. It looks like we'll spend a lot of afternoons there. (It's not exactly what I had in mind for the summer!)
Enjoy this beautiful Sunday, wherever you are, and take time to count your many blessings. Your love and friendship are surely among ours.
Love,
Carla
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
June 7
Hi,
I just returned from taking Den back to Mercy. The 30 hour pass at home went very well and I expect he will be released on Tuesday after the regular staffing. They may even call tomorrow and tell me to pick him up.
The weekend wasn't without a few hitches, but I think those can all be worked out. We realized that the stool I bought for his shower is too short, the walker they sent us home with was too wide, and the couch in the family room is probably too low and too soft because he had some difficulty standing up. It's probably time for a new one anyhow.
They sent us home with the "bag 'o meds" for the weekend and I'm happy to say that he didn't need any pain medication at all. That is probably part of the reason he was able to stay awake longer and actually focus on a movie. We watched "Marley and Me" and reacted the way everyone else who has seen it did. Tears all around.
So, all in all, things are better and we just hope that each day finds him a little stronger and more able to enjoy life. I also hope that soon he will be able to write these blogs so you can hear his voice again.
Thanks for all of the prayers!! Have a great week.
Love,
Carla
I just returned from taking Den back to Mercy. The 30 hour pass at home went very well and I expect he will be released on Tuesday after the regular staffing. They may even call tomorrow and tell me to pick him up.
The weekend wasn't without a few hitches, but I think those can all be worked out. We realized that the stool I bought for his shower is too short, the walker they sent us home with was too wide, and the couch in the family room is probably too low and too soft because he had some difficulty standing up. It's probably time for a new one anyhow.
They sent us home with the "bag 'o meds" for the weekend and I'm happy to say that he didn't need any pain medication at all. That is probably part of the reason he was able to stay awake longer and actually focus on a movie. We watched "Marley and Me" and reacted the way everyone else who has seen it did. Tears all around.
So, all in all, things are better and we just hope that each day finds him a little stronger and more able to enjoy life. I also hope that soon he will be able to write these blogs so you can hear his voice again.
Thanks for all of the prayers!! Have a great week.
Love,
Carla
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2
Hi,
Another Tuesday, another staffing. It seems Denny has finally turned the corner and is making significant progress in all areas of therapy. He has been weaned from several of the medicines, which, I think, played a major role in all of this. He is completely off the anti-seizure meds, as well as two others that caused his blood pressure to drop, which caused so much of his light-headedness. I also asked the doctor to stop giving him the sleeping/pain pill he was being given every night because I was certain that tied into the "blackout" periods he seemed to have each morning. Lastly, all of our kids and I noticed that whenever the nurses offered Den pain medicine, he just automatically said yes, even if he hadn't complained of any pain. So, when I was there Sunday, I asked the nurses not to offer him any pain medicine but to wait for him to ask for it. He's only need those pills twice since then. Den and I have an on-going phrase that we've used for years. It's something like "if I were the type of person to say 'I told you so' now would be the time for me to say it." I kind of feel that way in regard to the drugs and his reactions to them. I am just so happy that the doctors at Mercy listened.
The really good news is that Denny will complete this week of therapy and then will come home on a 30 hour pass for the weekend. I have to go there on Friday for a crash course in all of the therapy sessions so we can continue those at home. Then on Saturday they will send us home with the medicines he'll need until he goes back on Sunday evening. If all goes well, he will be discharged on Monday or Tuesday.
I know this blog is way too long already, but I just have to thank the seniors for the booklets and gifts they sent to Den. Amy Metlach, the teacher who took over Den's classes, brought everything to the hospital yesterday and Den was overwhelmed. I started reading the letters you wrote and I have to admit that it was good there was a box of tissues nearby. There were a few laughs, too!! You guys are awesome, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you've done to remember, inspire, and recharge Mr. O. Our invitation for you to stop over any time during the summer is sincere--you will be his best medicine (right behind the grandkids!) If you are out on the water, just tie up to our dock, or find us on West Palisades Drive. All of your parents raised some great kids -- you will forever be in our prayers of thanks.
Here's hoping everyone reading this will have a safe and happy summer!
Love and hugs,
Carla
Another Tuesday, another staffing. It seems Denny has finally turned the corner and is making significant progress in all areas of therapy. He has been weaned from several of the medicines, which, I think, played a major role in all of this. He is completely off the anti-seizure meds, as well as two others that caused his blood pressure to drop, which caused so much of his light-headedness. I also asked the doctor to stop giving him the sleeping/pain pill he was being given every night because I was certain that tied into the "blackout" periods he seemed to have each morning. Lastly, all of our kids and I noticed that whenever the nurses offered Den pain medicine, he just automatically said yes, even if he hadn't complained of any pain. So, when I was there Sunday, I asked the nurses not to offer him any pain medicine but to wait for him to ask for it. He's only need those pills twice since then. Den and I have an on-going phrase that we've used for years. It's something like "if I were the type of person to say 'I told you so' now would be the time for me to say it." I kind of feel that way in regard to the drugs and his reactions to them. I am just so happy that the doctors at Mercy listened.
The really good news is that Denny will complete this week of therapy and then will come home on a 30 hour pass for the weekend. I have to go there on Friday for a crash course in all of the therapy sessions so we can continue those at home. Then on Saturday they will send us home with the medicines he'll need until he goes back on Sunday evening. If all goes well, he will be discharged on Monday or Tuesday.
I know this blog is way too long already, but I just have to thank the seniors for the booklets and gifts they sent to Den. Amy Metlach, the teacher who took over Den's classes, brought everything to the hospital yesterday and Den was overwhelmed. I started reading the letters you wrote and I have to admit that it was good there was a box of tissues nearby. There were a few laughs, too!! You guys are awesome, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you've done to remember, inspire, and recharge Mr. O. Our invitation for you to stop over any time during the summer is sincere--you will be his best medicine (right behind the grandkids!) If you are out on the water, just tie up to our dock, or find us on West Palisades Drive. All of your parents raised some great kids -- you will forever be in our prayers of thanks.
Here's hoping everyone reading this will have a safe and happy summer!
Love and hugs,
Carla
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