Re: Another prayer answered...........and some thoughts...long

[Guest guest]

Joyce-

I'm so thrilled for both of you!!! Isn't it wonderful when we get to

actually experience the answer to prayer! I do worry about your hubby

since you said he had back problems already. Is it possible for him

to wear some type of back brace or something for added stability? I

just worry that he will do something to an already weakened back to

injure it & then you two will be in a real fix if he gets laid up. My

father-in-law has lots of back & leg problems, so I know how that can

be.

My mom still reads some of the posts too. We keep each other updated

on the status of those who we remember from when we were seeking

advice & support from this group. We rejoice with the little miracles

and the small victories, and we pray for those struggling with the

beast, and grieve for those we have lost. Sigh.

I'm a 'list lurker' as I still follow the group, a little more than a

year after the death of my daddy from this * & %# beast. I don't read

every single post (cause you all are a really 'chatty' group!!!) but

I read enough to keep up with everyone's health status. The strenth

of the human spirit is amazing, isn't it? The ability of people who

are given a 'terminal' diagnosis to keep on keeping on----it just

amazes me sometimes.

For those of you who are 'new' to the list since I was regularly

posting--some history: I lost my husband Mike to the dreaded beast of

Colon Cancer 2/12/05 at the age of 44, after fighting the beast for

20 months. I lost my daddy, Bobby Bloom, on 1/21/07 (geez it seems

longer ago than that) to ipf--they figure my dad had pf since about

1997, but it wasn't dx until sometime in 2005. And, I just lost my

best friend to Colon Cancer on 2/23/08, after a 25 month battle with

the beast.

I only tell you all this now to illustrate that I am, unfortunately,

no stranger to terminal illnesses, and have personal experience with

the end stages of pf, as well as cancer.

I sometimes wonder if I had to go through each loss to prepare for

the next one. Even though the end stages of the two diseases are so

different...........do you think that we somehow have to (I don't

know what I want to say) be conditioned to deal with death---or such

serious illnesses---to prepare us for what is to come later in our

lives? It's something that I wonder about alot. The reason I say this

is because with just losing my friend Barb----even though she & my

hubby Mike both had colon cancer (both stage IV at diagnosis) & they

both had mets to liver & lungs at dx----Barb's heaviest tumor load

was in her lungs, while Mike's was in his liver. So, Barb's last few

weeks became somewhat similar to my dad. She had a lot of the lung

issues that you are all familiar with & I found myself drawing on my

knowledge of pf & the drugs & breathing treatments & oxygen use, etc.

It was just a crazy experience for me, and I think about it so much.

If I had to lose Mike to prepare me to lose my dad, and if I had to

go through both of those experiences to prepare me to take care of

Barb. I don't know. Does that make any sense?

A few random things, as I've been meaning to post for a while:

For the terrible cough---one time when Daddy was in the hospital & it

was the middle of the night & he couldn't get any relief from the

cough, one of the respiratory techs made him some " two bag tea " ---hot

tea made with 2 teabags so it was very strong. Daddy SWORE by it

after that. It really helped him when the tessalon pearls did not. He

also got relief from the Tussinex (I think) cough syrup.

With all my exposure to colon cancer----I GRIN every time any of you

are talking about colonoscopies! My 'mission' to do something, is

making people aware of their need for screening colonoscopies, or

diagnostic--if there are symptoms & to make people aware of their

family history of all cancers. So I am proud whenever one of you

mentions that you are having a scope----proud that you are taking

care of that part of your health too. As procedures go, it's a pretty

easy one. I know---everyone dreads the prep. But---it's much better

than the alternative. My mom had a teeny speck of cancer in a polyp

discovered during her colonoscopy in March after Daddy died in Jan.

2007. So, she had a bowel resection, stage 1, no treatment needed. So-

early detection is key to cure.

All the ironies that we all experience---The husband (Dick)of one of

my cousins in Ohio was dx with pf this past Nov. Geez. His mother has

pf, but hers is actually in remission (I guess) as they talk like she

has had it for some time & she is not even on oxygen. Dick has had

several pulmonary function tests & is staying fairly stable now,

except for the dreaded cough. He & my dad were pretty close.....so

it's some kind of strange irony.

I have to ask about Jaimie as she used to post so much, but now not

at all. I wonder about her situation & her health.

---I too am in Illinois---southern part of the state--Salem---

intersection of I57 & Rt. 50. My dad was a farmer, I grew up on a

farm, so I am especially drawn to your posts. Feel free to email me

personally if you need to chat. Please tell your hubby that he has

some cheerleaders in southern IL. And tell him about 2 bag tea. I

hope it helps. I, too, know how it feels to have a strong man come

down with the beast & have to face not only the effects of the

illness, but dealing with the loss of his way of life. It sucks.

I worry about any genetic factors for pf. I seem to be the one--not

my 2 brothers--that has inherited Daddy's high cholesterol, so I

worry about pf. I have had a chest x-ray (fine) just to have a

baseline in case something develops later in life. Anything else I

should be aware of? I just don't know if there is much genetic

research being done in this area or not.

Better close for now. I'm sure there's more that I want to say, but I

can't remember what it is. Ha-ha. The memory is the first to go &

mine went a long time ago.

I send you all (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))) to the survivors (yes--

you're a survivor every day) of this beast & to their caregivers too.

Isn't it wonderful that we have groups like this (and the colon

cancer one that saved my sanity) to help each other, to share info,

to talk to people around the world who are dealing with the same

things we deal with. Amazing. I pray for the day when there is a cure

for pulmonary fibrosis and all cancers.

Sheila in Southern Illinois, more rain today

daughter of Angel Bobby, ipf

wife of Angel Mike, cc

daughter of Bev, cc

>

>

> Most of you know that my health has been in deep despair for the

last

> few months. Trying to stay alive has become a full time job for

both my

> husband and myself. He comes home from work, only to begin with

mixing

> medicine and caring for me. It has been so difficult for him. He

has

> had two spinal surgeries and is in need of a third. He continued to

> work so that we would have insurance for me. But, we have been

praying

> for a way out.

>

> A couple of days ago, he came home and brought the bible to me. He

said

> to read 14:14, which reads: Whatever you ask in my name, I will

> give it. He then told me to read the very next page. When I

turned to

> that page, there was a big note which read: The company is

offering me

> a buyout! Wow!

>

> So, yesturday he accepted the offer and will officially retire at

the

> end of April. He will retire with the same insurance that we have

now.

> The company is paying for that until the end of the year, when it

will

> change to thier retirement insurance plan. The premiums are low and

> they cannot refuse to insure me, even with a catastrophic illness.

>

> We are so happy with all of this. His retirement is long overdue.

The

> work is way too hard for him with his back injury and his

> responsibilities here are overwhelming. Just my not driving adds

work

> for him.

>

> Now, we have to go to praying that I don't kill him. We tend to

wear on

> each others nerves. Not MY fault. [: " >]

>

> Hugs, Joyce D.

> Pulmonary Fibrosis 1997 Bronchiectasis 2004 Pulmonary

Hypertension

> 2008 Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (Lupus, RA, Sjogren's, etc)

> Rejected for Transplant 2006

> .....I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the

palm of

> my hands. Isaiah 49: 15-16

>

[Guest guest]

Shiela,

It is so good to hear from you again. I think of you and your mom often. I know how much you must still miss your daddy. A Dad represents safety to his family. I was so lost when my daddy died. It was the end of childhood for me. I was 47, but as long as he was alive, I was his little girl.

Give Bev a hug. I hope she has recuperated from her medical chaos and is able to get through the days without tears now.

Take care and keep up the fight against Cancer. You really have a right to hate it!

Hugs, Joyce D.Pulmonary Fibrosis 1997 Bronchiectasis 2004 Pulmonary Hypertension 2008 Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (Lupus, RA, Sjogren's, etc) Rejected for Transplant 2006 .....I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands. Isaiah 49: 15-16> >> > > > Most of you know that my health has been in deep despair for the > last> > few months. Trying to stay alive has become a full time job for > both my> > husband and myself. He comes home from work, only to begin with > mixing> > medicine and caring for me. It has been so difficult for him. He > has> > had two spinal surgeries and is in need of a third. He continued to> > work so that we would have insurance for me. But, we have been > praying> > for a way out.> > > > A couple of days ago, he came home and brought the bible to me. He > said> > to read 14:14, which reads: Whatever you ask in my name, I will> > give it. He then told me to read the very next page. When I > turned to> > that page, there was a big note which read: The company is > offering me> > a buyout! Wow!> > > > So, yesturday he accepted the offer and will officially retire at > the> > end of April. He will retire with the same insurance that we have > now. > > The company is paying for that until the end of the year, when it > will> > change to thier retirement insurance plan. The premiums are low and> > they cannot refuse to insure me, even with a catastrophic illness.> > > > We are so happy with all of this. His retirement is long overdue. > The> > work is way too hard for him with his back injury and his> > responsibilities here are overwhelming. Just my not driving adds > work> > for him.> > > > Now, we have to go to praying that I don't kill him. We tend to > wear on> > each others nerves. Not MY fault. [:">]> > > > Hugs, Joyce D.> > Pulmonary Fibrosis 1997 Bronchiectasis 2004 Pulmonary > Hypertension> > 2008 Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (Lupus, RA, Sjogren's, etc) > > Rejected for Transplant 2006> > .....I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the > palm of> > my hands. Isaiah 49: 15-16> >>

[Guest guest]

Shiela, Where in Southern Illinois? Salem? I'm between Galesburg and Peoria. We go to the doc in Springfield. Thanks that was a supper post. How do I find your email? K Illinois Joyce wrote: Shiela, It is so good to hear from you again. I think of you and your mom often. I know how

much you must still miss your daddy. A Dad represents safety to his family. I was so lost when my daddy died. It was the end of childhood for me. I was 47, but as long as he was alive, I was his little girl. Give Bev a hug. I hope she has recuperated from her medical chaos and is able to get through the days without tears now. Take care and keep up the fight against Cancer. You really have a right to hate it! Hugs, Joyce D.Pulmonary Fibrosis 1997 Bronchiectasis 2004 Pulmonary Hypertension 2008 Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (Lupus, RA, Sjogren's, etc) Rejected for Transplant 2006 .....I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on

the palm of my hands. Isaiah 49: 15-16> >> > > > Most of you know that my health has been in deep despair for the > last> > few months. Trying to stay alive has become a full time job for > both my> > husband and myself. He comes home from work, only to begin with > mixing> > medicine and caring for me. It has been so difficult for him. He > has> > had two spinal surgeries and is in need of a third. He continued to> > work so that we would have insurance for me. But, we have been > praying> > for a way out.> > > > A couple of days ago, he came home and brought the bible to me. He > said> > to read 14:14, which reads: Whatever you ask in my name, I will> > give it. He then told me to read the very next page. When I > turned to> > that page, there was a

big note which read: The company is > offering me> > a buyout! Wow!> > > > So, yesturday he accepted the offer and will officially retire at > the> > end of April. He will retire with the same insurance that we have > now. > > The company is paying for that until the end of the year, when it > will> > change to thier retirement insurance plan. The premiums are low and> > they cannot refuse to insure me, even with a catastrophic illness.> > > > We are so happy with all of this. His retirement is long overdue. > The> > work is way too hard for him with his back injury and his> > responsibilities here are overwhelming. Just my not driving adds > work> > for him.> > > > Now, we have to go to praying that I don't kill him. We tend to > wear on> > each others nerves. Not MY fault.

[:">]> > > > Hugs, Joyce D.> > Pulmonary Fibrosis 1997 Bronchiectasis 2004 Pulmonary > Hypertension> > 2008 Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (Lupus, RA, Sjogren's, etc) > > Rejected for Transplant 2006> > .....I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the > palm of> > my hands. Isaiah 49: 15-16> >> K Central Il Hubby ipf- 2006 As

for me and my house, we will serve the Lord 14

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