Shout Out to our Fabulous Medical Teams...

Sometimes our doctors, nurses and staff go unrecognized for the amazing, heartbreaking, compassionate job they do...

love this story from The MetaPicture:

These are the Little Things that Make

THE DIFFERENCE IN LIFE

"Meet 9-year old Joshua.  He recently had to go in for surgery and was so nervous that he brought along his stuffed wolf.  The wolf had a tear in its leg, so Joshua asked if his doctor could do a wolf surgery too.  His parents said "no."

But when they walked into the recovery room to see their son, they discovered the little wolf laying next to him; this time, with a surgical mask, a little cast, and surgical quality sutures in his leg.

We think the entire surgical staff deserves some serious respect and love for this act of kindness."

I simply adore this.

Thank you to all our doctors and nurses and technicians and medical teams who minister over us,

this cancer journey we find ourselves on is not easy.

Your tender touch, healing words and solidarity in the fight

has made a Huge Difference.

You are a Gift!

Viva la Italia or How to Find a Cancer Doctor...

2 years ago, right about now, we were planning and packing and ready to head out on a dream vacation to the Mediterranean....

I can't believe it's been 2 years!  Such memories we made.  Glorious, Sun-drenched memories!

There were several things that made this vacation so amazing...

One, of course, the Mediterranean...does it get any more fabulous?

Two, traveling with friends...so. much. fun.

And thirdly, we did something so out of our comfort zone that I'm still amazed, but it made the trip over-the-top, spectacularly amazing.  We hired private drivers to take us around the ports of call.  I know, I know... sounds so rich and snobby-like we're all fancy-schmansy, when obviously we're not... goat farmers, people!  But hiring the drivers ended up costing us the same as if we each had paid for one of the cruise excursions, so... nibbling our nails and nervous with anticipation we set off for the unknown with our local drivers.

So Amazing.  Each driver took us around their city and shared off-the-beaten-path wonders, and history and stories and, oh, it was magical... I seriously recommend for anyone traveling... But this post does have a point so let me get on with it... :-)

When we arrived in Naples, we were met by Dominic and loaded into his comfy van...

 

and we were whisked away for a marvelous day!

A drive down the Amalfi Coast...

 

 

Harrowing cliffs, unspeakably beautiful views...

So glad Dominic was behind the wheel.

 

 

Villages perched on the cliffs,

We spiraled down to the sea...

 

 

Stopping at tiny flower-draped chapels

along the way.

 

 

 

Dominic took us down cobble-stone streets

 

 

and stopped for charming road-side vendors...

 

 

Dominic asked if we would like a traditional,

authentic lunch along the coast?

Why, yes, we would!

 

 

 

We met Mama Tagliata...

 

 

 

 

And dined on her scrumptious Italian cuisine.

Ok, pinch me... does this really happen to ordinary people?!

 

Then Dominic drove us up the coast

for more photo ops...

 

 

which he seemed to enjoy as much as us!

 

 

As the day wound down, Dominic escorted us to

the haunting city of Pompeii and gave us a tour of

a side not often seen...

 

 

Instead of the tourists and crowds,

we were left to wander these quiet streets

and imagine the lives that lived here,

the loves that held each other close here

and the families that made this home...

Hauntingly beautiful.

 

 

 

By the end of the day, we had made a new friend in Dominic.

And our lives were so very enriched for it.

 

 

 

I'm sure you might be wondering how Mediterranean drivers and pancreatic cancer have anything in common, I truly am getting to the point... as Farmer Husband would say, well, get there faster... (smile).

 

What I'd like to share is how much they're alike, and how much we can learn from each one...

 

When you or one you love is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the first things you will need to do is find an oncologist or cancer doctor to treat your case.  If you are like the thousands of other average, hard-working people I know, then you probably don't know any oncologists off hand.

 

We didn't know a thing about Naples when we docked in that port, well, except for the things we had heard or read about.  The same thing was true when mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  We knew little to nothing about that cancer, and the more we read, the more confused and horrified we became.

 

Hiring a local driver opened up the real world of Naples and the Amalfi Coast for us.  Dominic knew his city and its history, knew where to take us, knew the amazing sights to show us, the breath-taking vistas to give us, all to make our one day an absolutely, completely magical one... something we could never have done on our own.

 

"Hiring" a good cancer doctor is the same.  You need to have an absolutely solid cancer team to treat this nightmare of a cancer.  You need a doctor you trust, one you can call night or day, a doctor that sees his work with you as personal and wants only your best, one that is current with the latest treatments and protocols for pancreatic cancer, one with the same goals you have...

 

One you would trust with your life, because you are.

 

But, take a breath, you have time... Talk with your primary care physician, call your insurance company and ask for recommendations.  Listen to family and friends, often they will be able to recommend someone. 

 

Check with some of these organizations for tips on finding an oncologist or cancer doctor:

 

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

 

Find an Oncologist Database

 

The American Cancer Society

 

Then once you have found a doctor, meet with them and really talk about your case.  Mom and Dad and I went together to her first visit.  This was crucial since we were all still in shock.  Don't be surprised if you don't remember anything from this first visit.  Bring a trusted family member or friend, they may think to ask questions you haven't even thought of... and will help you remember what you need when you finally break through the first wave of horror and begin to deal with your cancer.

 

And you will be able to deal with it.  You may not think so now, but you are so much stronger than you know.

 

And having a great cancer team to guide you, support you, and lift you up when you falter will be the backbone of your pancreatic cancer journey.

 

Just like having Dominic behind the wheel on our Amalfi Coast Adventure, your Cancer Doctor will help you navigate the unknown on this cancer road, bringing the wisdom and expertise desperately needed for this journey. 

 

Praying here and now you find that there is always Grace enough for the Journey.  Always. 

 

   

Here We Go Again

Is there ever a good time to go on vacation?!  We have been up in the air for over a week.  Mom insisted that we go, our gut said no, but here we are... spending a week visiting Leroy's family in Illinois, enjoying a great family reunion, cooler weather and sweet fellowship.  And all the while, worrying about mom.  With good reason.  She wasn't the picture of health when we headed out Friday morning, even though she assured us she was fine.  Should have trusted that gut feeling.  Saturday morning we got the dreaded call from Dad, "she's getting worse."  My brother, Dean, was there with her and he graciously sent a "guest blog" for me to relay to everyone.  So, here we go again...

Sunday, September 4, 2011...

Yesterday started off as every good Labor Day weekend should with a 6:52 tee time to beat the Texas heat. I even chipped in a birdie from 45 yds out on the 7th hole at Oakmont.  Around 10am I received a VM from Jane who has taken the week to travel with Leroy to the his family reunion in Illinois. Jane had told me that mom hadn’t been able to hold any food down and had been up through the night vomiting and asked if I could swing by and check on her. Since I didn’t check my phone until the 18th hole I figured I could finish my round and swing by. If you’re wondering I finished my round with a 91, respectable but still needing improvement.

When I arrived at Mom’s I found dad there which was unexpected since I knew he was scheduled to work yesterday. Mom later informed me she was feeling so icky she called and asked him to come home. Dad immediately punched out and made his way home to see how he could help. (major brownie points from Mom) Pat and Richard were also there finishing up a little steam cleaning in the bedroom. Turns out mom wasn’t able to make it to the porcelain throne to do her worshipping which left quite the mess. Thank you Pat and Richard for being such good friends and if you’re looking for any side jobs we have 4 kids and 5 pets over here at our casa, always looking for a good carpet cleaning crew.

After an hour or so of sitting with mom I requested that she call her doctor. She agreed    (shocking) and made the call. 20 minutes later his fill-in called and told mom to head to the hospital to get evaluated. (Dr code for pricked, prodded and probed). Pat helped mom pack a lite bag, I gathered her essentials – phone, i-touch, I-pad, kindle and chargers told dad to sit tight while I took mom to the hospital. As expected she was “evaluated” and also as expected was admitted to the hospital. Amazingly she is back in room 588 and upon arriving on the 5th floor almost all the nurses gathered in her room and started doing what they do best; take GREAT care of my mom.

There are still tests and more “evaluations” to be done this coming week including a scope of Moms stomach but for now she’s resting comfortably on her air mattress bed. Lisa and I will be checking in on her this afternoon to get the “Doctor” prognosis and make sure Jane has it to post soon. For now please pray that the doctors can find out what’s keeping mom down and correct it soon. A big thank you to Jane for allowing me to keep you updated and safe travels for her and Leroy. Until our next meeting, Hit’em straight and long!!!

Sending our Love and Prayers, Dean