Somewhat of an update...

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone!!!

I've been reading and keeping up with all o f you and continue to pray for

each and every one daily.

Glenn has been on an unplanned chemo vacation for almost 2 months now,

trying to get the Malignant Ascites under some kind of control. It would be

nice

if they had a plan...and maybe the plan right now is to get him in better

physical shape which is happening slowly.

Glenn bought a beautiful 5th wheel travel trailer and traded the Harley in

on it. He was " sad " for several days, but hadn't been strong enough to ride

it for months and months. I think he made a wise decision and hopefully we

will get a little more use out of the camper.

We went to a beautiful campground last weekend and Glenn did really well.

He is so weak that it took lots of time and my patience to level the trailer

and he had to use all the strength he's got to get up and down doing the

leveling. Had a hard time climbing the 3 steps up in to the camper, but I

think

moving around some is good for him, too... before he gets so weak, he can't

do anything. He's lost most of his muscle mass.

We had an appt. with the Gastro Dr. last Thurs. before we left for the wkn.

and he disagrees with the Liver Specialist. Lordy, Lordy!!! He does agree

that Glenn should watch his sodium intake and fluid intake for now. The Liver

Spec. told us " No Surgeon would do the shunt surgery on Glenn " ....those were

his words. Shunt surgery is 1 in 3 chance!!!

Gastro Dr. says he believes it has to be done and should be done and can be

done...and there is great risk. But the " malignant Ascites " and Paracentesis

(draining of the fluid from the tummy) on a weekly basis or more is taking

all his nutrition. He is eating well now, since he hasn't had chemo for

almost 2 mos. b/c of the Ascites, but he isn't gaining an ounce and still

losing,

b/c of the diarhhea and draining of fluids. The results of the PET/CT Scan

indicate 60-70% of the liver is tumor (so I'm guessing the chemo quit working

or else it has spread viciously in the last few weeks...we see Onc. on

Monday, the 11th) Gastro Dr. told him if he HAD to guess at life span, he

would

say at the very, very most 18 months. Glenn told him he had bought a 5th wheel

travel trailer and the dr. said " Good, I think you should do whatever you

want to do at this point " and " I think you should eat steak every night, b/c

you need lots of protein " . The draining of fluids is taking all his protein

and nutrients, etc. from his body.

We are use to traveling on a fairly regular basis and haven't been anywhere

since last Sept., so we really, really enjoyed the trip last weekend!!! Even

if it was only 30 miles from home. Looking at 4 different walls was

wonderful!!! The 5th wheel is very beautiful with all the amenities of home

including a/c, microwave, stove, oven, shower, 32 " tv, and surround sound

stereo.

It's not really " camping " like I did when my boys were younger...tent

camping!!! We didn't really do anything special...oh, we went to Wal-Mart one

day...LOL I forgot the pastry brush for bbq-ing. LOL And that was his thrill

for

the weekend..BBQ-ing. I bought a condo about 3 yrs ago and we can't BBQ

here and we've both missed it tremendously.

He was pretty exhausted (and so was I) packing our new " home " for the first

time (I took doubles of anything I had in the house and put in the camper so

I won't have to pack and unpack each trip), driving and towing the trailer

and then setting it up, so I could unpack and arrange our new " home " ...he was

so excited, tho, he didn't sleep but did lie on the couch, watch tv, marvel at

his new purchase and rest. He only had one really bad episode of nausea and

feeling really bad enough to lie down and take a nap to " make it go away " .

He did really well, actually.... I would only go an hour away from the house,

b/c if someone had to come and get us, I didn't want to be 2-3 hrs. away!!!

It's soooo very nice to have him awake more often and eating, cooking and

functioning somewhat, but I know this is all a false scenario..the worst is yet

to come. I'm not being pessimistic, but rather realistic...and trying to

deal with it as best I can w/o appearing to " give up " . I have tons of

questions for the Onc. on Monday and we won't give up unless we have to. I

asked

him tonite what he thought he would do if Onc. wants to start him back on

chemo...he " doesn't think he will do it " . And, you know what, I can hardly

blame

him. His quality of life was horrific on chemo coupled with the Ascites.

We'll see what the Onc. says on Monday, but if it will only extend his life a

couple months, I'm not sure it's worth it. Of course, his will to live and

fight a little more may kick in... who knows. And it has to be his choice, of

course. The Varices banding in the esophogus was done again about 2 wks.

ago and this time only one was bleeding, so that's a great improvement!!!

Amazing what happens when you take the meds given to you, huh?? Being just a

little fascious here!!

Enough for now... I have some orders to pack and then get some sleep. Back

to work today after 6 days off and trying to play catch up really zapped me

today!!! My secretary and receptionist did only what they had to do and that

wasn't much!!! So I didn't have much of their work to proof, sign and get in

the mail. But plenty of undone stuff to get them moving on!!! And several

clients who were unhappy cause things weren't happening on their cases!!!

Blamed it all on the long weekend!!! Hope you had a great 4th of July...oh, we

watched the fireworks (from N.Y) in the comfort of our new air conditioned

34 ft. " home " on wheels... on the TV and no traffic getting to and from...LOL

I know, I know... I'm doing fine...really, I am!! Thanks for your

concern... I'm just very busy and so tired of worrying and wondering....

Just

trying to live one day at a time and do the best I can. I truly wish I were a

little younger, a little less chubby and in better physical condition, which I

have vowed to attempt to do. I'm going to need all the strength I can get to

help Glenn get through this, but we are and will fight as hard as we can!!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn