February 2010

Feb. 2010 - Barb sent this to me after my tough weekend with swallowing, one that will stick with me forever. Never give up!!
Never Give Up!!
No matter where you are look up and find a star.
Never give up, never give in.
you can conquer, you can win.
Don't keep your feelings locked inside
for you, my friend have nothing to hide
When you feel your world has come to an end
Remember me, I'm your friend
I'll be here day and night
For you, my friend, I'll be alright
Never give up, Never give in
You can conquer, you can win
Feb 3, 2010
hi! ok here goes, on thurs. i had my CT scan, got results yesterday, bottom line is the mass on my lung has thankfully shrunk by 1 cm. from 6.8 to 5.8 cm, the lymphoma has not changed, there still are blood clots running across my chest. So yesterday i went to the walk in clinic as i knew Dr. Kinnear was there and i had some new effects i needed to discuss with him, but i am a puzzling case to him, so today we had the chat with Dr. Harding my wpg. chemo onachologist, told him what was up, he said my not being able to swollow was just side effects and would go away (this he told me how many months ago as well and has only gotten worse) and the lump growing on my upper chest and my left arm not working was due to radiation and the ringing in my head was damage from the chemo. And they were happy with what chemo had done for me and now they would give me a three month break, have another CT scan then and see if the mass or lymphoma is growing then he'd put me back on a new chemo if its growing and if it wasn't then they'd leave it till it started to grow again. Now if you want my opinion, i think those options suck really bad, why wait for it to grow, and get worse, so in my opinion they don't know what to do with me, and pretty much have given up, saying that's all we can do for you. and since when does one get side effects from radiation almost 4 months after radiation?? Anyone that has had that please let me know!!! I'm just not buying all that, i talked to a new "doc" from BC yesterday who told me that my throat had been damaged by radiation. Will it get better i really do hope so but after four months since radiation and you wake up one morning gurguling as your trying to swollow your sliva is not a good feeling at all, very scarry to be honest, as the day progressed it did get better and so far my week has been fairly decent, but i have to chew my food till there's pretty much nothing left before swollowing, so NO pills of any sort. So yep, good news, with a slice of hm... i'm not buying Dr.'s theory's. So that means where do we go from here, why wait for three months doing nothing right, so onward we look. I've looked into hyperbaric oxygen therapy, sounds really good, but i need to find out if it's for me, as with the clots, and lung it could mean moving clots that should not be moved, and colapsing lungs leading to heart attack and death. this machine sends 100% pure oxygen into your body, which cancer hates oxygen and so cancer cells die, we ourselves only breath 21% oxygen into our bodies with the air we breath. Anyway, if anyone has any knowledge of this type of treatment, i'd love to hear of experiences you've had or heard of wether they're good or bad, and what type of illness they've had. Maybe i need a second opinion, will check with my doc and see what he says, but i don't see him for a couple weeks. Another option is going to a naturalpath, now just going is expensive, well more money than i've ever spent on doing something for two hrs. another option is going to a blood analysist, half at least the amount. Anyone with opinions i'm open. I am eating one lemon or lime per day to decrease my acidic level in my body, most days incorporating more veggies into my diet, so yep that's what i'm up to.
On the day before my CT scan and i was feeling some effects of the cancer i was reading my devotions and it said "Do you trust me?" "For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4" Question being did i trust God enough for the good outcome of my CT scan, so as i was laying there on the scanner i prayed and told God i trusted him to give a positive CT scan, which he did the tumor shrunk. And on sunday morning when i woke up to difficulty swollowing i read "my grace is suficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9 reminding me when i am weak he is strong and i need to lean on Him not just during my weak moments but all the time. Giving thanks even when you don't feel like it. This journey is definately a difficult one, and am so thankfull for my hubby, but its really tough on him as well, most days he doesn't show it, as he's tough for me, but it does catch up no doubt, i think him watching me going through a difficult time, swollowing or having a pitty party is harder on him than it is on me, but we continue to fight on, Never Give UP!!!!!! So i ask you Never to give up in prayer for people around you, there are people hurting you may not even realize, just a note, a word of encouragement or just a Hi! how are you! can brighten a day for them.
Thanks for all the encouragement and support you've been, i've really appeciated it and look forward to more of your "ideas" diane, Wil, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae.
Prayer & Praise: if you'd like to add more or update one's i've had listed, please let me know.
* Our Haitian friends suffering due to the earthquakes, my friend Helena Peters who is thankful the haitian children will be coming to her at the Galilean Children's Home - anyone wishing to go volunteer (nothing needed except for personal hygene) for 3 month or so just call 606 787 4697
*My sis Brenda & Carl, Jarod & Jennifer home safetly from their missions trip from Costa Rica
*Friends of ours Abe & Pearl on a couple missions trips for a month (Texas, then Costa Rica)
*Mari - as she continues to fight cancer, for her family supporting her .
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done school
*April - April had her chemo treatment today, pray for less nasea, painful sores in the mouth, getting lots of rest for next treatment. Feb 9th. heart test.
* Janae - having her tonsils and adenoids out now Feb 22nd. in Neepawa weather permitting
*Isaiah Beatty. He is to go back to the hospital in February for more procedures, and will be sent to Ohio for more tests as well. On top of that he is struggling with an infection of his feeding tube and if they can't get it cleared up, the doctors will have to go in on top of that and see if he has an abscess. He has really been going through a lot lately.
*My friend Donna's mom -Shirley. She has recently broken her back. She is at home, but is to obviously take it easy...she lives alone, so has to do everything for herself.
*My friend Helena's friends Debbie & Gerry - Debbie sems to still be going after that other man, but we have come to sense that there are problems with Gerry also that may have sort of driven her away. So keep him in prayer that he would be willing to recognize his own faults in the situation and be willing to humble himself and change
*My friend Helena's friend M who was suicidal seems, to all appearances, to be doing much better. So praise God for that!!!
Feb 17, 2010
hi! its been a while since i last emailed, and scared you guys about my health, well things are looking up so much since i last emailed. My arm is now raising about 80% so that's so much improved and i have another massage apt. next week, so that should help it along much better if not all the way. My swallowing is a lot better, not 100% but i have not had the swallowing problem for over a week now, so that's super. God is Great!! "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
How is everyone else doing? We had a super weekend away up at my sis' cabin, and got in some ice fishing time, although i got skunked, that didn't matter, just the fact that i got to do something "normal" something we used to do every winter and what i love, and spend time with my sis and family just makes one feel so much better, being able to do normal things is very important, also i believe important to healing as well. We also got to spend time with my aunts and cousin this week, and the week after my last email we were filled with a lot of love from family and friends, thanks so much, hope we can repay you all someday for all the love we've received and be there for you when you need us as well.
The man's been playing hockey so nights like that i put the little girl to bed, which typically only daddy can do, so anyway, last week, i crawled in with her, in our bed of course it had to be and i never realized until that day how much she actually understands about Cancer and how it affects her, even today, there were tears in her eyes as we prayed, and she prayed for God to heal mommy, last week, she figured one prayer wasn't enough, that we should pray two times for God to heal mommy, she said two prayers would work much better. She's so adorable, yet its sad to see that a little girl has so much knowledge of such a disease, and understands her mommy may die if it is not cured, that troubles her a lot, even if she doesn't talk about it too much, i know its on her mind quite a bit, every once in a while questions come out, and we try and answer them the best we can. but i believe God will answer the children's prayers, there are so many children and adults who are praying, it would be simply wonderful to have everyone see a miracle, including the docs and i believe it is possible if that is God's will for my life.
Yesterday i tried a naturopath, so i spent three hrs. discussing with her my life, what i told her at times even put tears in her eyes, i don't think she's ever met anyone like me before, well no, cause i'm one of a kind lol!! She will evaluate what i have all told her and come up with what she thinks will help me gain my strength back so if cancer ever flares up again,( which hopefully will never happen) my body has some fighting power once again. She did give me a detox menu to follow for two weeks, so i'm trying my best to be creative on my foods. I should write down the "good" recipes for someone else, even today supper, Will and Jodiene tried it and thought it was great, Will & I both had second helpings so that's encouraging to know i can do it, and hubby said he'd help and support and try the things i make as well, so i love that, cause its hard to just eat certain foods by yourself, esp. when your daughter has the nerve to make a batch of fresh cinnamon buns, temptation is high then, but i could say No to them, whew.
Anyway, shall sign off and see that i get in some sleep, take care, hugs to you all, and thanks to you all for your friendships and prayers, i love knowing and feeling God work in my life and know in yours as well.
diane for Will, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae
Prayer & Praise: if you'd like to add more or update one's i've listed, please let me know.
* Our Haitian friends suffering due to the earthquakes, my friend Helena Peters who is thankful the haitian children will be coming to her at the Galilean Children's Home - anyone wishing to go volunteer (nothing needed except for personal hygene) for 3 month or so just call 606 787 4697
*Friends of ours Abe & Pearl on a couple missions trips for a month (Texas, then Costa Rica)
*Mari - as she continues to fight cancer, she will be trying the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, pray that it will work for her & Linda who will be joining her to help relieve her pain.
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done school
*April - April has her chemo treatment next wed. 17th., pray for less nasea, less painful sores & thrush in the mouth, getting lots of rest for next treatment.
* Janae - having her tonsils and adenoids out this coming monday Feb 22nd. in Neepawa weather permitting, also right now she's fighting a bad cold
*Isaiah Beatty. He is to go back to the hospital in February for more procedures, and will be sent to Ohio for more tests as well. On top of that he is struggling with an infection of his feeding tube and if they can't get it cleared up, the doctors will have to go in on top of that and see if he has an abscess. He has really been going through a lot lately.
*My friend Donna's & Gerry - Donna's mom -Shirley who had recently broken her back. Passed away suddenly in Ontario, last week.
*My friend Helena's friends Debbie & Gerry - Debbie sems to still be going after that other man, but we have come to sense that there are problems with Gerry also that may have sort of driven her away. So keep him in prayer that he would be willing to recognize his own faults in the situation and be willing to humble himself and change
*My friend Helena's friend M who was suicidal seems, to all appearances, to be doing much better. So praise God for that!!!
* Many friends of ours who have children who are struggling with adult issues, depression, finding it hard to know how to trust God, smoking, drugs etc.
* Two of my friends who have asked for prayer support in helping them to quit smoking
Feb 28, 2010
hi! hm... more food talk, well that's a lot on my mind these days, as when i went to the naturopath she tries to tell me that dairy is No good for me or anyone for that matter, as it causes cancer tumors to grow, well ....now, i was brought up on a dairy farm, and yep, milk is good and good for you. Yep. Now they try and tell a person that in dairy is something called casein - which makes up 87% of cow's milk protein, and that causes cancer tumors to grow, hm... and instead of drinking milk or eating scrumptious cheese you ought to eat tums to get your calcium (man made product) and or by buying jugs of apple or orange juice with calcium added. hm... still thinking, wondering how do they get all this research and studies done on mice and rats and try and tell you to eat something man made like tums or calcium added juices to get your calcium that is susposedly better for you than "real cow's milk" hm... boy does someone have it a little mixed up??? sometimes i wonder if these naturopaths are part of the "green peace cor" or what?? don't kill or eat animals, don't touch anything "really natural" except pull out veggies out of the ground who are saying "ouch" when the roots get yanked out of the soil. Didn't God say that everything he made, he made for us and is GOOD.(Gen 1:31, Ecclesiastes 3:13 etc) Absolutely without a doubt he did make everything good. Isn't everything in moderation the key?? i would say that raw milk like we used to drink i'm sure is 100 X better than the pasturized milk we buy now. I really don't think that some people have any real concept of what we "gardeners" do or how we process and grow our gardens, yep, don't eat what you have in your garden eg. tomatoes, go to the store and buy them, ah, ya, yep, no prob. there, i don't think so, has anyone tasted those things? Next thing is meats, yum, meat, is suposedly harmful in many fold i'm told, protein can turn cancer on or off depending on quantities injested. I don't intend on eating a whole beef for lunch, so what's the big deal?? Why do doctors not have this reseach at their finger tips?? Is it just something these "green" people are making up?? Chemo and radiation cures & helps prolong one's life too of cancer, so why do i have to sacrifice meat, dairy, sugars, all flours to prolong my life or is it just a gimick to make me frustrated, cause me stress?? Boy my naturopath is gonna love me once again, gonna give her even more questions, well i don't know if she's really my naturopath as i cancelled my next apt. but have been emailing her lots of questions, she has been graciously answering . first i want to know why and make sense or not sense of their belief and things before i continue, right now, its just not adding up. any one else ever been there?? been on a total veg diet for whatever reason?? tell me your story, i'd love to hear about it. Did it help or how long could you stick it out?
Anyway, other than full of questions about foods, i'm doing pretty good most days, cold air is still a little tough on those poor lungs, but they are slowly getting used to it, esp. when we've got nicer temps. and ever so slowly getting some energy and strength back, still get my rest in at least once a day, don't always sleep, but at least get a rest in. and my arm is still not 100% but we'll work on that, forgot there's such a thing as moving it sideways, oops, do you mean to tell me it goes that way too?? lol!! well suposed to they tell me, and massages have really helped. i will check with my doc on the 19th. of March on needles, maybe eating so many veggies one doesn't have to have needles?? may be a bright side to it??? i still have the ringing in my ears, wonder how long that'll be there? I don't see my wpg. doc till June and have a CT in wpg last week in May, not sure why there, maybe they are better??? well i do know each of my scans have been read by a diff. radiologist and some are very thourough and some are vague, not sure why. Not sure how till Jan - June makes 3 months, but hey, as long as we're doing good, i supose it doesn't really matter, except if i'd like to try something other than chemo or radiation, so we'll see.
Janae had her tonsils out on monday the 22nd. and she's doing quite well, the most that it bothers her if any is when she's eating, she sometimes gets a headache/ear ache, she hates meds (liquid tylonal etc.) so i got some meltables, she's ok with those IF she has to. She's made two pots of soup ( a veggie soup and noodle soup) so far, who knows what this next week will bring, maybe we can get into the homework stuff instead. she is not a complainer, usually you have to watch her actions to see if she's in pain or anything, so she's been an awesome patient, definately quieter around here, but won't be long she'll be our singin' typical little girl. she goes on the 9th. for her hearing test again, so we're hoping for good results, as she was telling me a couple weeks ago she couldn't hear very well again. someone mentioned that when they got their tonsils and adenoids out their hearing improved, so i'm hoping that will be the answer for her hearing problem. I'll see how the week goes earliest i'll send her to school will i think be friday, so we'll play things by ear.
Oh, by the way, i started some pepper seeds, now i was going to downsize this year, hm... another one of those that's not happening. I've got 49 seeds waiting for germination, some is old seed so it may not germinate "good excuse" lol!! In another month i'll start some tomatoes, cabbage, kale, etc. i'll try again some flowering kale, last year the rabbit nibbled most of my leafy veggies, (no rabbit this year.. whew.) and hey!! if veggies are so good for you, then better get as many into that garden as possible right? so there goes the downsizing, just hoping for a healthier year to work in my garden, anyway, guess that means spring is a comin' and guys will be thinkin' of getting equip and stuff ready for seeding again too, time is just flying by, hard to believe that over 6 months ago i was diagnosed and how much better i'm doing, so thankfull. God is Good.
Will has two hockey games this week, the boy has at least one hockey game, the big girl will play volleyball again now that the truck is fixed and me well i jump on a mini trampoline ( its suposed to be really good to drain lymph nodes), so we try and get our "excersie" in when we can
Well that pretty much sums up the latest around here,write let me know what's up your way, even if you live next door, sometimes we don't catch all the latest happenings even from close by. hugs everyone, love diane, Will, Brenten, Jodiene & Janae
p.s. boy i think i don't have much to say this week and then on and on we go, yipes
Please continue to pray for :
* my friend Helena Peters who will be going to Haiti after all in March and has been at the Galilean Children's Home - anyone wishing to go volunteer (nothing needed except for personal hygene) for 3 month or so just call 606 787 4697
*Friends of ours Abe & Pearl - Pearl's dad passed away last sun and this week thurs they're going to Costa Rica (missions trip with Operation Christmas Child - Samaratin's Purse)
*Mari - as she continues to fight cancer, she is trying the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, pray that it will work for her & Linda Dyckwho will be joining her to help relieve her pain. they will be gone for another 2 weeks.
*Sharon - Josh (son) is a match (donor) for her now waiting for a surgery date on the liver transplant in Toronto, possibly in April or May if she can stay healthy enough till then, as that's when Josh is done university
*April - April had her next treatment on thurs. (new chemo drug), and has had a very achy body which is a side effect which is setting her back.
* Janae - as she continues to heal from her tonsil & adenoid surgery
*Isaiah Beatty. He is to go back to the hospital in February for more procedures, and will be sent to Ohio for more tests as well. On top of that he is struggling with an infection of his feeding tube and if they can't get it cleared up, the doctors will have to go in on top of that and see if he has an abscess. He has really been going through a lot lately.
*My friend Donna's & Gerry - grieving the loss of Donna's mom.
*My friend Helena's friends Debbie & Gerry - Debbie sems to still be going after that other man, but we have come to sense that there are problems with Gerry also that may have sort of driven her away. So keep him in prayer that he would be willing to recognize his own faults in the situation and be willing to humble himself and change
*My friend Helena's friend M who was suicidal seems, to all appearances, to be doing much better. So praise God for that!!!
* Many friends of ours who have children who are struggling with adult issues, depression, finding it hard to know how to trust God, smoking, drugs etc.
* Two of my friends A & A who have asked for prayer support in helping them to quit smoking