Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot.......

As 2011 draws to a close, please indulge me while I reminisce about the good and the bad parts of the year. I think I'll start with the bad, or at least not so good parts. Of course, Joe's pancreatic cancer took "center stage" much of the time. Early in the year he finished his radiation and first round of chemotherapy. He had gotten through this with very little side effects. We then had a 6 week waiting period before he was to have his surgery. Just 6 days before his scheduled operation he developed an infection and was hospitalized after more than 24 hours in the emergency department at Duke. We played a game of switching rooms before we took up permanent residence on the surgical floor. Joe had the surgery on schedule on that Tuesday but the surgeon could not remove the tumor due to it's attachment to an artery. He did however remove his gall bladder and "re-design his stomach" in case the tumor should start to grow and block the colon. Joe remained in the hospital for 8 more days before coming home. Unfortunately, he was only home for 2 weeks before he was back at the emergency department (only 8 hours this time) and subsequently admitted for a post op infection. This stay was just 6 days but ended up with him coming home with a wound vac. The trauma that caused when it malfunctioned is not something I'll ever forget. (imagine me having to remove the vac from his open incision and then stick my hand back inside him to pack the opening with gauze......I still have nightmares). And of course we can't forget that during this time I was hobbling around with 2 fractures & a torn ligament in my left foot from a fall the day after he came home from the hospital. But after that, it was smooth sailing for a few months.

Once Joe was fully recovered from the surgery, he started back on chemo. He has 1 treatment per week for three weeks, then one week off. After that, it starts over again. He has done well, even gaining a little weight in the process. Weight however isn't the only thing he gained. He also acquired a hernia, a big hernia. We saw two surgeons (I did NOT like the first one) and unless Joe develops any problems we will just let it go for now. He did get a binder to wear around his waist to help hold the hernia in somewhat. He continues to do well with the chemo and his two most recent CT Scans have shown no growth of the tumor.

We managed to get a real week of vacation at the beach this summer and as the warm weather was drawing to a close, we made a trip to Connecticut (thanks Bill & Sandy for getting us there and back) where one of Joe's college roommates and his wife, Rob and Lola Hugh live. There we also did something we have talked about for years...we got married. It was the most wonderful day of both our lives and not a day has gone by since then that I haven't thought about that day and what it has meant to us. We will never be able to thank Lola and Rob enough for making all the arrangements and putting it all together so perfectly for us. We have so many photos from that whirlwind trip and will have a video to go along with them soon. Labor day brought a quick trip to Surf City to visit friends, Thanksgiving was a trip to Myrtle Beach to relax and Christmas was a trip to both Greenville to see Joe's family and a trip to Hope Mills to see mine. Our traditional holiday trips the year before had all been canceled due to Joe's diagnosis so this year we were determined to do what we have traditionally done. Cancer be damned!!

There have been many highs and many lows this year but one thing has remained constant, the love that Joe and I have for one another. Actually one other thing has remained constant, the love, caring and prayers from our friends and from Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. PGUMC has been so supportive and loving. Regardless of what the future brings, Pleasant Grove has made an indelible mark on both our lives.

Last year in the final post, I said good riddance to 2010. Although 2011 has been a rough year and there are certain things I wish hadn't happened or had turned out differently, there were so many wonderful and loving times that I am sorry to see it end. I'll just say good-bye to 2011 and hope that 2012 brings as many happy memorable moments. If we get that, it will be a great year.

Twas the Week Before Christmas and Jeff STILL has a Cold

That is my only defense for not posting anything in so long.  I have been battling a cold since early last week.  By this past Friday I had to leave work at lunch time and came on home.  I basically stayed in bed or laying on the couch from Friday at 1pm until we got up Sunday to go to church. (we get up at 6am - Joe has to be there at least an hour before the 8:30 service to practice the organ).

Last week was a huge week for Joe.  He had his regular doctor and chemo appointment on Monday the 12th.  It went well but we were told that his white blood cell count was down as well as his neutrophil count.  The neutrophil count is important because if it drops below 1.0 then they will either have to stop his chemo treatments for awhile or at the very least decrease the dosage.  On the 12th his was at 1.2, not much room for error.  So they tell us for him to be sure and be careful about being around anyone sick and if he should develop a sore throat or a slight fever, to call them at once.  Of course, that Monday is the same day my cold started kicking in. It made for an interesting week trying to keep my distance here in the same house.  However, Joe had a busy week of preparing for the church choir's Christmas music as well as his 4th Annual "Christmas Piano by Candlelight" concert.  Both of which were this past Sunday.

First the choir's performance.  They were magnificent!  I don't use the term lightly either so please believe me when I say it.  Never have they sounded so wonderful and the sanctuary been filled with more beautiful music.    Everyone in the congregation for both the 8:30am service (I did not attend except to take photos) and the 11:00am service was mesmerized.  Joe had arranged for a string quartet, french horn, flute, clarinet, piano and organ to accompany the choir and the sound was so full and glorious.  I wish everyone could have been there to hear it.  I was so proud of Joe and the entire choir.  I still smile thinking about it.

Even Jill was a "trooper" and agreed to put on one of the choir robes.  She played the piano beautifully and we are so grateful to her for stepping up once again and helping Joe out.  

Once the 11:00am service was over, it was time to transform the sanctuary for Joe's candlelight piano concert and then for him to practice some on the piano.

This is only 50 seconds of a couple of hours of rehearsal at the church on Sunday afternoon.  However, it paid off big time as his concert was a resounding triumph (yes, I know I'm getting carried away with the praise, but I can't think of another way to describe it).  Thank you so much to the 170+ people who came out Sunday night for the concert as well as the 3 people (Rob, Lola & Bert) in Connecticut who we Skyped in on my iPad2. They had the best seats in the house.  Lola referred to them as the "Royal Box Seats".  I have heard from several people about how nice it was to spend an evening listening to his beautiful music and to just slow down for an evening during this holiday rush time.  Afterwards, the senior high youth had arranged a reception for Joe in the fellowship.  They went all out with multi-colored lights hung around the walls and wonderful refreshments.  A big thank you to all of those that put forth such effort to make the reception happen.   Sunday was certainly a long day at church. I counted the number of hours we spent there on Sunday and it was more than 10.  Needless to say, we both got lots of religion that day.

Yesterday, Monday the 19th, Joe had his last doctors appointment of 2011.  We were a little nervous about what his white blood cell and neutrophil counts would be since I had been sick around him all week, but it turned out ok.  Actually better than ok.  His white count was up a point and his neutrophil was at 1.7 so he was able to have his usual chemo infusion without any change.  YAY!

This weekend at PGUMC we will have 2 Christmas Eve services.  The one at 4:00pm is geared toward families and is a lot of fun as it is interactive with all the kids in the church.  The 7:00pm service will be a more traditional communion service.  If someone is looking for somewhere to spend a lovely evening on Saturday, please consider the door at Pleasant Grove open and welcoming for you to stop in.   On Sunday, we will have one 11:00am service and then Joe and I will be off to Greenville to have Christmas lunch with his family and exchange gifts.  Then on Monday we will be in Hope Mills with my family.  A bit different than we typically do Christmas but we are very grateful that we are able to travel this Christmas like we have always done.  Last year with Joe just getting out of the hospital and undergoing his radiation treatments, both families had to come here.  It's much easier for 2 people to travel than it is for 9.

Joe and I both hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year.  We are so very grateful for all our friends and family and the prayers and good wishes that we have felt all year long.  Although this has been a difficult year, we have grown closer and have never felt more loved and cared for in all our lives.  Thank you for the gift of love that everyone has given us.

Wanna See Something Gorgeous?

So do you?  Well just take a look at the photo below.

Isn't that tree gorgeous?  And yeah, Joe looks nice too! He's all dolled up in his tuxedo for the TGMC Christmas Concert.  Tonight it was in Durham and on Sunday it is in Raleigh at 3pm at St. Marks Episcopal Church.  Tonight's concert was wonderful.  The chorus sang beautifully and of course Joe was great on the piano.  If anyone doesn't have plans on Sunday afternoon, I highly recommend a drive to St. Marks.   Of course no show is complete without a wardrobe malfunction.  Tonight it was Joe.  After the show he comes walking up with half of his vest hanging off his shoulder.  It was very Janet Jacksonesque.  As soon as we got home I had to get the old needle and thread out so he doesn't cause a scandal tomorrow in Raleigh.

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight to support the chorus and see Joe, especially Doris, Scott & Ken. It was great to see all of you.  Joe and I continue to be very grateful for all the prayers and good wishes.  We are so grateful this holiday season for our wonderful friends.  Your support continues to mean so much to us.

Monday morning we will be off to Duke for Joe's 7:20am doctor and chemo appointments.  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

The picture below should say it all with regard to the results of Joe's latest CT Scan.

Joe is all smiles and so am I that the CT scan done of Friday showed no growth of the tumor. STATUS QUO.  It was a long anxious weekend waiting for this morning and the results.  But it was worth it for these results.  A few more months before we have to worry about another scan.  Now we can both relax a little and enjoy the Holiday Season.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, thoughts and concerns.  Someone is listening.



Christmas Photos 2011

We've both been working all day (well Joe has, I finished up my part about 2 hours ago), but he is finishing up the 2nd Christmas tree.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, we have two trees.  The tree in the living room is the white one with uniform lights and ornaments and the family room tree is the one that Joe gets to put all the assorted ornaments that he has collected over the years.  That one is a green one.  Then throughout the house are assorted decorations that the 2 of us have collected over the years together.  Joe's favorites however are his Christmas trolls which he has had for eons.  He insists on them coming out every year.  I've posted the photos of  our decorated home on a link on the right hand side of this page, but they can also be accessed by clicking here.

Christmas is Joe's absolutely favorite time of year.  He loves all the decorations and I get used to them after awhile.  If he had his way they would stay up through the entire winter, maybe even into spring.  I have to put my foot down after "old Christmas" and I slowly start putting stuff away.  But for now, we will enjoy the color and the festive atmosphere that the Christmas decor brings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

CT Scan tomorrow but tonight, Paul Simon

Tomorrow afternoon Joe will have his 3rd CT Scan since he started his post surgical chemo treatments. The last scan showed no growth of the tumor but we won't know the results of this scan until Monday at Joe's oncology appointment at Duke. It will be a long weekend. However, tonight we go to the Paul Simon concert at DPAC. Joe has been looking forward to this for a long time. Not that he hasn't seen him in concert before, but Mr. Simon is one of his "all-time favorites". (He has lots of those). I had hoped to post at least one photo from the concert but Joe's phone takes such crappy photos that it's not worth even trying. We are home now (finally - its 11pm) and Joe really enjoyed the concert. I'm really glad he got to see Paul Simon in concert again.

The rest of the weekend will be decorating the house with Christmas decorations. Joe has finished one tree but still has one to go. I have the rest of the downstairs to work on. We need to get it done so we can get the decoration boxes out of the garage so Joe can get his car back in.

Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts everyone has been sending our way. You are all much appreciated.