Don't count your chickens...

It's about three o'clock in the afternoon and it's already been a long day!  Started out with a trip to the emergency room early this morning after Ken felt like he couldn't quite catch his breath. He also had a whole lot of pain from the right side of his chest wrapping around to his back. Initially, Ken thought he had a collapsed lung, but I checked him out and that didn't seem to be the case. It just seemed to be another round of pneumonia, which is nothing to mess around with at this point! Off to the ER we went, where excellent and immediate care were given by the boatload. You'll be happy to know that the I.V. went in on the first try, and when the x-ray didn't really give a clear picture, the CT scan did a much better job. The doctor wanted to rule out a blood clot in Ken's lung, and she was able to do that while diagnosing pneumonia (again). We were able to head for home a little while ago, with an arm load of new medications and instructions for Ken to rest a few days. (Sidestepped hospitalization. Yay!)

Ken has been back at work full-time, and loving every minute of it. However, he has been extremely fatigued the last couple days, and I have been trying to get him to understand that working full-time hours at this point may not be the same thing as working the normal schedule!  Working eight hours at a time is really pushing the envelope, and working ten hours plus is just too much for someone in recovery (or so we're told by the medical personnel at the hospital). So, Ken may have to be a little more honest and open as to when he's in need of a sit-down to avoid a fall-down! Ha! He really is soooo much better, but it hasn't been that long since treatment completion. Back to normal doesn't happen within weeks...think months, and then some! The last thing he told the doctor was, "I have to be back to work Thursday! Not an option!" So, he will be back to work Thursday. But, until then...he's all mine!

Hope your weekend is full of fun stuff,
Paula

Good things come to them that wait...

Happy belated July 4th! We hope that your holiday was most splendid!

While I am attempting to contain myself so as not to frighten anyone by my KEYBOARD SCREAMING...
Oh, I just can't do this quietly:
KEN'S PET SCAN CAME BACK CLEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is now on "surveillance" mode, per Dr. Wu. There will continue to be appointments for check-ups, blood work, and the occasional CT, but the further spacing of these appointments begins NOW!!!! Don't misunderstand me, Ken isn't 100% back to normal yet, but he is a far-sight better off now than he was prior to Thanksgiving of last year. There are still a myriad of hurdles to overcome, but the fact that he has earned the title of Cancer Survivor, well, that's pretty awe inspiring to me!

Ken's "homework" is to work towards eating enough to warrant the removal of the feeding tube within the next few months. (Again, Dr. Wu's hearty suggestion.) Everyone was so very amazed by how much improved his appearance was today, and his weight...well, let's just say that he is almost back to normal!

So, we thank you all for standing by us through this quagmire of cancer treatment and the accompanying recovery period still ahead. We look forward to the day when we can have the privilege of helping someone else that may have to deal with this nasty situation, and give some hope and insight into how best to proceed with this fight of a lifetime.

We are hugging all of you right now...can you feel it? (Geez, who had the garlic for lunch??)

Paula & Ken