Sunday, May 24, 2009

Thursday, May 21 around 7 pm Granny lost her battle with cancer. She died peacefully in her sleep and had her children and dear friend Kay Jones by her side.
Services will be held on Tuesday, May 26 at 11 am at First Christian Church of Duncanville. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Cypress Basin hospice in Mt. Pleasant, TX.
We thank everyone for their prayers, cards, phone calls, and visits over the last several months. It meant so much to Granny and all of us as well. Although we are sad she is no longer here with us, we are thankful she is no longer suffering and in pain. May God's peace come to each one of you as well.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Several weeks ago Granny had a cat scan done. The results from it were not what she, or anyone else wanted to hear. All of the tumors in the liver had grown and there was one new tumor on a gland which lies between the liver and kidneys, which meant that the chemo treatment she was on did not do any good. She had an appointment with the doctor to discuss some other options. At this appointment she decided that she didn’t want to do any more chemo, it’s really been wearing her down, and she’s been feeling pretty bad. Just as soon as she starts feeling better it’s time for another treatment. We were all glad to hear that she wouldn’t have to do any more chemo, because it made her feel so icky, but the question we all had was, “what alternative solution is there that will prevent the tumors from growing more?” The doctor prescribed her an oral pain medication, as well as a patch that will release pain medication. Also, in answer to our question about maintaining control of the tumors, there is a pill that she would have to take orally every day, kind of like the Tarceva she was on in the beginning, but not a form of chemo, that she has to get approved for just like she did the Tarceva. She has sent off the paper work to get approved, but at this point we have not heard anything about it. Yesterday, Wednesday, March 11th, Granny had a meeting with Hospice. She has now decided that she wants to do this, rather than continuing treatment at the hospital. With Hospice she will no longer have to go to doctor appointments, they will come to her in the comfort of her own home; they will bring in all their own medication, oxygen, and shower chair. She may still be able to take the medication that she has sent the paper work off for, because it is not a form of chemo, but we aren’t for sure about that. They are going to give her a pain medication that will help with the stomach sickness, and the foggy feeling, which she has been feeling since she’s been on chemo. During the meeting Hospice asked her what she wanted most, how she wanted to feel and Granny told them that she really misses her energy. The solution to her getting more energy is steroids, and she should also get her appetite back. There will be scheduled days that the nurse will come in, and if Granny ever needs someone to come out unexpected she just has to call and they will send someone. Hospice priority is to make Granny feel comfortable, so that she can enjoy life. She was told that once the chemo leaves her system and the new medication is adjusted, she should have several weeks that she feels stronger and will be able to get out and about. Which means if anyone is wanting to come visit Granny, this would probably be the best time to do so. Hospice also provides all their own doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, and chaplain. Also, Judy will still be going to Granny’s to do the things that she’s been doing, which will be a lot of help. This is a big step on this journey that we have walked together since April 2008. Many of us have grown spiritually and have been given the opportunity to become closer. As Granny has mentioned to all of us please take the opportunity to do and say the things that we all let our busy lives keep us from doing. She continues to thank all of you for the thoughts, prayers, phone calls, cards, and visits.

Friday, February 13, 2009

It's been a while...

After the holidays a few of Granny's childhood friends from Amarillo, Joyce and Don (they are brother and sister), came to spend a couple of days with Granny. They had a wonderful time visiting and reminiscing of the good ol' days. Don was actually Granny's boyfried in high school, of course before Paw Paw came along and swept her off her feet, and Joyce and Pat (Granny's sister) were very good friends. About a weed or so after Joyce and Don visited Granny decided that she wanted to take a little road trip. So... Kay, Rene, and Granny packed up and drove to Duncanville, of all places to go. But Granny had been saying for awhile that she would really like to go back and visit the people at the church, and attend a CWF (Christian Womens Fellowship) meeting. So that is exactly what they did. They spent three wonderful nights at a friends house in Duncanville, did a little bit of shopping, attended the CWF meeting (which Granny said was great), and ate a fufilling breakfast at IHOP the last day there. Granny has been kicking around the idea of hiring someone to come in and help with things around the house for awhile now, and has found a woman named Judy, who she really likes and enjoys her company, to come 2-3 days a week. She does a lot of cleaning, and cooking right now, but when spring comes, Granny will really be keeping her busy watering all of her plants (this is literally an all day job). Which, Granny is so ready for spring time, she really feels that it will lift her spirits. She has been having some difficulty with the strength in her right eye, and the optometrist thinks it may be drug related, but the cancer doctor disagrees. The eye doctor is having Granny put drops in her eye every 2 hours, and a gel in her eye at night, to help build the oil layer in her eye back up. At this time, this is all the information we have regarding her eye, we aren't sure if its reversable, and aren't sure if it is indeed drug related. But we will keep everyone posted. Granny has received many phone calls from old friends. Granny and Paw Paw moved to a duplex when she was pregnant with my mom, and their neighbors were a couple, about 12 yrs. older than them, and the woman was also pregnant. Mary Ann was from Panama and didn't speak english very well, but they became pretty good friends. Paw Paw had never drank beer until he met George, and from then on he loved his Milwaukee's Best, Natural Light, and Keystone. Notice, there aren't any good tasting beers listed. He always drank the cheapest beer you could find, that's for sure. But ever since then, 46 years ago (sorry mom!), they have sent each other Christmas cards every single year, and this past year when Mary Ann received Granny's card she promised herself that she was going to call Granny and have a visit with her, and she did just that. Another phone call that Granny received was from her old boss at the bank, Valerie Pike. Granny really idolized Valerie, because back then women just didn't have corporate jobs (as Granny would say) like that, and she looked up to her so much for being in that position. Granny said they had a wonderful visit, and is so blessed to have all the supportive, loving friends and family that she does. She wants everyone to know that she thinks about each and everyone of us all the time, and is so thankful to have us in her life. She had chemo today, and we pray that she doesn't feel as bad for as long as she did the last treatment. For now...

Friday, January 9, 2009

Busy, Busy, Busy, but very blessed!!!

My love filled Christmas and New Year's holiday began on Dec. Mon the 21st,Emily,Tiff, Bubba and Selah came so that Tues Tiff could take me for a CT. Tiff and I left at 8:15am and did not get home until 5:00pm Poor Bubba, he had the girls all day, so we promised him he could have Tues. to do anything he wanted to. We had done a run to Everything for a Dollar , wal-mart and ate lunch. I was so happy to feel good enough to spend some special time with Tiff. I miss so much going to Dallas and visiting her and Ashley and the baby girls. Wednesday Jake and his girlfriend Heatherly came early. Heatherly and Emily made a gingerbread tree and Bubba worked in James' workshop. Ashley, Johnny and Faith came around lunch time and Johnny joined Bubba, it made me so happy to have the boys using James' tools. The girls started cooking and I made the filling for 2 chocolate and 1 coconut pies. The shells were made and in the freezer from Thanksgiving so easy enough to do. Selah and Faith played and played and of course I got so much joy from watching them. Jill and Danny came middle afternoon and our Christmas Eve was complete. We had a wonderful meal and the kids exchanged their gifts, they all drew names. I had printed a Christmas Bingo game off the internet and we played several games of bingo for quarters. Emily was the big winner! Then I read a story I had made up about the group getting ready for Christmas. Everyone was in a circle passing gifts to the right or left depending on what was said in the story. Everyone to bed so Santa could come. Selah and Faith got tiny battery operated cars that you sit on, but they were afraid of them so never did get to see them ride. The kids all got me a picture frame. They downloaded all the Christmas pictures on it and Bubba even did a video of the girls playing in their bounce house and telling me "We love you Granny" Now how SPECIAL is that! Any time I want all I have to do is click on the frame and there they are. Jeff came on Friday and Alex, Patrick, Sarah and Elizabeth came for the day Sat. We played some more bingo and Patrick was the big winner. You can see I had six love filled days. Tuesday the 28th I had chemo and found out about the CT. Bad and Good news. Some of the tumors have shrank and some have grown. They are still going to continue with this drug and are hoping to do at least 2 or 3 more treatments. I have been having pain in my left jaw, so am having an MRI the week after New Years. S. L., my brother in McKinney came for the chemo and then took me to his home for the night . The next day his wife Phyllis and I went to Chico and Coldwater Creek for a couple of hours. New Year's Eve the three of us and my other brother, Charlie and his wife Johnnie went out to eat. I then spent Thursday and Friday nights with Charlie and Johnnie. S. L., Phyllis, my sister Pat and her husband Larry came for the day and we had a really special day being together. I had been worried about how to spend New Year's Eve because we had always been with friends. James always brought so much fun and laughter to our celebrations I didn't think I could handle doing the same thing, so when Charlie came up with the idea of the sibling get together, that was perfect. We brought out the picture albums and retold old family stories. I was beginning to feel the effects of the chemo on Friday but my cousin Kathie, who 's husband died very suddenly on Jan. 5th, called and wanted me to come to her house for the week-end. I decided I could rest just as easy at her house and Jeff was willing to get me to Haslett and then get me back to the lake Monday. He has been so good to be there when I need anything, I am truly blessed with family and friends. I have a big week-end coming up the 10th. When I was growing up my family was friends with another family, the Vaughns. Their son, Don, was 1 year older than I and their daughter, Joyce was the same age as Pat. We spent many week-ends at the lake skiing, going on picnics to Palo Duro Canyon and all the things you did just being kids. Joyce lives in Albuquerque and Don in the Hill Country and they are coming to see me . I can hardly wait! I have gone back thru picture albums and pulled many pictures of us as kids and of our parents who traveled together for many years. It has probably been 10 to 12 years since I have seen them and that was only for a few hours at their Mom's funeral. Thank you for your interest in what is happening in my life and please let me know what is happening in yours. I love each of you and ask God's guidence and blessings for 2009.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

A Thankful Thanksgiving

November was a scary but blessed month. Around the middle part of the month Granny was having symtoms that led us to believe that the cancer had moved to her brain, thank goodness the MRI showed this to be untrue. She visited the eye doctor because her right eye was hurting pretty badly. The problems consisted of continuous dialtation, and drop in strength, it is 5 to 6 times weaker than 1 year ago. The doctor changed Granny's prescription, which meant that she got to get new glasses, and she went a little wild and got red and black glasses. Tiff said she was "stylin." Thanksgiving week was truely a wonderful week. Tiff, Bubba and Selah came Tuesday evening and they all spent Thanksgiving day with Lori and her family. Jake and his girlfriend, Heatherle, came Thursday also and had lunch with everyone before they went hunting with Heatherle's dad. Which by the way, Heatherle shot a buck and Jake only shot a doe... so of course she rubbed it in a little bit. Johnny and I (Faith and Bella too) came in Thursday night after we had Thanksgiving with his family, and Mom, Dad, and Emily came Friday when they got off work. Jeff and his family were unable to make it, they went skiing at Red River... FUN! We had our family Thanksgiving Saturday evening... lots of great food. Johnny learned how to make a blueberry banana pie, and Bubba learned how to make peanut patties, one of Paw Paw's favorite holiday candies. Aren't our husbands so domestic???? During the day Saturday Tiff and I decorated Granny's house for Christmas. We were able to see all the things that Paw Paw had made throughout the years, we remembered his laugh (it's so contagious) and his goofy personality. Even though he's longer with us, he's still all around us, everywhere we look. We were trying to think of some fun things to put on his tree outside, we thought about stringing his favorite beer cans (Milwaukee's Best) on the tree, but we resulted to just putting lots of twinkling lights on it. I said, "I want it to really stand out, like Paw Paw," sure enough it does. We hope that everyone's Thanksgiving was as blessed as ours. We're all looking forward to Christmas and spending good quality family time together. Granny is doing chemo today and we're hoping for a quick recovery. Granny is expecting several friends to come and stay with her from out of town during the month of Decemeber, and we would like prayers for safe travel for them, as well as anyone else who may be traveling this holiday season. We ask for continued prayers for Granny, and we hope that your Christmas be filled with joy, happiness, and many memories. Love to you all!!!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Update...

Three weeks ago Granny started a new chemo treatment with a new drug called Alimta. Tomorrow, Thursday, November 6th, she will have the second treatment. This new chemo is different in the way that it makes Granny feel. It makes her very tired, and fatigued. For all of you that know Granny, know that she is a very active and strong person, so this makes it very hard on her. But she is so lucky to have all the loving people around her to come and be with her during this time. Last week she went to the doctor because she was having trouble breathing. They did a cat scan, which came out good, but they did find that her oxygen level was low, so she has to be on oxygen, mainly when she is up moving around a lot. She still appreciates so much all the thoughtful letters, and phone calls she still receives on a daily basis. Last weekend some of us were there and had a great time, just hanging out on the porch telling stories, and of course eating lots of good food, that's always a must. Granny let me know last Thursday that she was going to make banana pudding for the weekend, and I told her that she didn't have to do that, I could make it once I got there, and she replied, "well, I know.. but I want to make it." Saturday after lunch she immediately offered banana pudding to everyone there. Stuffed full, we all got our helping, and before eating it she informed us that it may be a little thick, because she forgot to add the whipping cream in with the pudding, so it was just nicely slapped on top. Of course, it was still good, but the funny thing was Emily hadn't even heard the conversation about forgetting to add the whipping cream, and after her first bite she looked at Granny, with her mouth full and said, "oh my gosh, Granny, this is like the best banana pudding I've ever had!" That just goes to show you that Granny can make something and forget a key ingerdient and it still tastes better than anyone elses. In closing to this update, I would like to not only ask for continued thoughts and prayers for Granny, but also Tiffany, my sister, and Mandy, our second cousin, who are pregnant, Tiffany with her second, and Mandy with her fourth!!!! For now...

Sunday, October 12, 2008

For those of you who were not aware, Granny went for a cat scan on Monday a few weeks ago, and received a phone call from the doctor that Thursday, with the news that the cancer had spread to her liver and more of her chest cavity. Which means, the Tarceva had not been working at all like it was supposed to. But, on the bright side of things, she was blessed to go to M.D. Anderson, one of the top cancer treatment centers in America, to get a second opinion and hopefully a better treatment. Come to find out, Dr. Cochran, the doctor she's been seeing all along, has been doing exactly what they would have done at M.D. Anderson. We are thankful that she has a good doctor, but of course we were hoping for more positvie treatments for the future. She has really enjoyed her stay with Uncle Joe and Aunt Linda, Paw Paw's brother and his wife, and got to visit with Mandy and her family. She will be returning home Monday, and will begin chemo on Thursday. This round of chemo will involve a different kind of medication, which means it may or may not affect her like the other did, but we just pray that it helps her, since the Tarceva didn't. She looks forward to seeing and hearing from everyone very soon, and asks that you all keep her in your prayers. For now...