End of the first week of new Chemo Treatment

Joe did very well this week with the effects of his chemo treatment on Monday.  He felt good on both Tuesday and Wednesday, possibly too good.  I think he overdid it both days so by Thursday it had caught up with him and he spent the vast amount of the day laying on the sofa and not eating well.  Both Tuesday & Wednesday he was out for lunch, had chorus/choir practices and just out and about running errands.  Hopefully he has learned his lesson and next week he will pull back a little on Tuesday & Wednesday so that the rest of his week can be good too.  He has felt better today, Friday, but it's only 7:45pm and he's already talking about being tired and going to bed soon.  I guess I just might have to start cracking the whip a little and get him to behave himself when I am at work and no one is around to tell him to either SLOW DOWN or JUST STOP!  But we all know he won't listen so I'll just keep whining and he'll just keep being Joe and we'll all keep loving him.

Next week we have his oncology appointment at 7:20am on Monday at Duke  and the chemo treatment is scheduled for 8am.  Hopefully the lab results will be in so he can begin on time.

The 2nd Time Worked Like a Charm

Today was Joe's second attempt at starting his IV chemotherapy treatments.  It was originally supposed to begin 2 weeks ago, but had to be put off until today.   Neither of us slept very well last night and we both were awake soon after 4am this morning and unable to go back to sleep.  So at 6:35a.m., we left for the Morris Clinic at Duke for his 7am bloodwork appointment.  We got back to see Dr. Zafar around 8am and after a short conference with him about how Joe has been doing the last couple of weeks, we were off to the 2nd floor to the chemotherapy treatment center.  His treatment appointment was for 8:30, but we did not get up there until closer to 9am.   While waiting we spoke with one of the counselors that is part of Dr. Zafar's team and just went over some concerns as well as some history of when, where & how Joe's cancer was diagnosed.  Her services are part of what is offered to us and she encouraged either or both of us to contact her at any time with questions, concerns or just to talk.  As we were wrapping up with Tracey, the buzzer given to Joe at check-in went off meaning it was time for him to go back for his therapy, so off we went.  

The nurse directed Joe to one of the first recliners and me to the little chair next to him.  From there it all went rather quickly.  The nurse found a vein and inserted the IV needle.  A CNA took his vitals and then a nurse from the pharmacy went over all of the meds that Joe is currently on.  Then the original nurse was back, hung a bag of fluids and started Joe on them.  After about 10 minutes I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom and upon my return, there were 2 other bags hanging from the IV pole and Joe's chemo treatment was under way.  It wasn't long at all before the IV began to beep indicating that he was done and the nurse was back over, turned off the machine, disconnected his IV and we were out of there by 10:45am.  Actually the wait for the valet to get our car seemed longer than the treatment.

From there we were off to Only Burger for lunch, Tutti Fruiti for dessert, stopped by a friends house who had surgery last week (Glad you're feeling better Mike!) and then home.  I spent the afternoon napping on the couch so I can't say what Joe was doing other than watching TV (at a loud volume).  I do know that Joe has felt good this afternoon, but is currently saying his head feels "tingly", "warm" and he keeps holding his hands to either side of his head and wiggling his fingers (jazz hands) .  Not real sure what that is symptomatic of other than Joe being Joe.

****Late Breaking News**** He is now burning himself in the kitchen.  Never put a stainless steel ladle on top of a stainless steel spoon rest on a stove with all 4 burners going.  Apparently it gets very hot.

EASTER Monday!

Joe was a REAL trooper yesterday.  He played at all 3 Easter services: Sunrise service at 7:00am, the 8:30am regular service and the 11am regular service.  And once again, I might be a little prejudiced, but his music and the choir were magnificent.  He even got applause at the end of his postlude by those people that came up front, some even into the choir loft to sit and listen to the entire postlude, Widor "Toccata".  I recorded it at the end of the service but there is a lot of talking in the background as people are exiting the church.  I tried :(

Then after church, come the Easter eggs (made with sugar free chocolate- which does not agree with us at all) Unfortunately we didn't realize until after half of each was eaten.  They sure are pretty to look at though.

Monday is a big day for Joe as we start with a 7a.m. doctors appointment and then 8:30am chemo.  We have our fingers crossed that this time he will check out ok so he can go ahead and get started.  The fevers have been less, but still happening every few days.   This is just the 2nd time he has been scheduled so I'm hoping that the 2nd is the charm rather than the 3rd!

I'll post something later today once the treatment is over.

A Time of Centering

Joe's second CD, "A Time of Centering" is now available.  The CD is filled with some of his favorites, most popular requests and one song that is special to me.  The CD's arrived at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church today, just in time for Easter.  

Joe recorded the songs in February before having his surgery and edited it after the March hospital stay.   He had wanted to have them in by Easter, and late this afternoon they were delivered.

You can click on any of the photos above to enlarge, read the message from Rev. Jay Minnick as well as being able to see what songs are on the CD.   If anyone is interested in one, please let Joe know by emailing him at JoeLupton@nc.rr.com   I think anyone who hears this wonderful music will be touched by Joe's talent.

Holy Week

The celebration of our Lord's Resurrection, which most English speaking Christians know as Easter is the center of a surprising amount of controversy.  The date on which it is be celebrated has caused arguments and excommunications, and was one of the historical sources of division between Celtic Catholicism and what later became Roman Catholicism. Not only the date, but even the very name, has also been a source of controversy and disagreement. In Hebrew, the Passover is called Pesach. In most languages, the Christian Resurrection feast is called by a name based on this Hebrew word. Most Orthodox call it Pascha or a similar sounding name. Only in English is it called Easter.  Tonight as Holy Week continues, the Maundy Thursday and Tenebrae services were held at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church.  Both somber and stirring, moving and contemplative,  as the sanctuary grew ever darker as scripture was read, candles were extinguished and the choir sang beautifully.  I may be prejudiced but Joe's piano and organ were exceptionally lovely this evening.  I attended choir practice on Wednesday and the choir definitely rose to the occasion tonight.  Thank you.

Like I said, I was at choir practice Wednesday night and the church is definitely in for a treat Easter Sunday.  The choir will sound lovely and Joe has some wonderful organ music to celebrate the Resurrection.  I highly recommend that anyone in attendance stay for his entire postlude.  It will be stirring, although somewhat loud!

Joe has had a few up and down days this week with an upset stomach as well as off and on fevers.  On days when he is very active or has a late night, the bad day usually follows so tomorrow and Saturday I have given strict orders (yeah, right) that he is to rest so that he will be in top form on Easter Sunday.

Thank you to everyone who has inquired about him, sent cards, food and sent loving prayers our way.  All of you have been so wonderful to both of us and we are so very grateful.

Half is better than nothing

Today's big plans for Joe's return to PGUMC since Feb 12 had a slight hiccup.  He woke up in the middle of the night nauseous and had to throw up.  Then soon thereafter his fever started coming on and by 6am, it was at 101.3.  I got him to take some tylenol to see if it would lower the fever somewhat and fortunately it did, but it meant he had to miss the 8:30am service.  We did make it there for the 11am service and got a round of applause when Jay announced that Joe was back.  I think the congregation as a whole was very excited and pleased that he was there.  After the service several people came up to both of us to express how wonderful it was to hear him play again and that no one played the organ like he did.   Although it was only half as much as he had planned, at least he did make it back.

The afternoon has been spent with Joe and me napping on the couch in the family room while Joe's mother finally had the chance to read this blog from start to finish (she doesn't have a computer).

All in all a good weekend, but I think just a little more activity from start to finish than Joe is quite used to yet and this morning's bought of nausea and fever was the end product.  Pacing himself, eating snacks throughout the day and not such heavy meals in one sitting, which usually means having seconds, should help alleviate these recurring problems.

It was wonderful to see Joe back up there with the choir today.  They did an excellent job on their anthem.

A Tornado comes to town

As the tornadoes screamed across NC today, Joe was practicing organ in Raleigh at PGUMC.  I think he was thrilled to get on the organ and play.  His enthusiasm was evident by the sheer volume.  I think he got out some tension by really banging away on it.  But then the power flickered off and back on.   Then a few minutes later there was a snap, and with that, Joe quickly turned off the organ.  Better safe than sorry.  About 5 minutes later the power once again went out. This time for quite some time. However, with the heavy rain and hail coming down outside, we just stood there and watched the rain until it slackened up enough for me to hobble to the car without getting drenched.  Then I drove around to the side and picked Joe up so that he too wouldn't get soaked.   We then drove back over to Croasdaile Village where we had left Joe's mother visiting her cousin who lives there.  I guess I forgot to mention that Joe's mother is visiting this weekend.  Bettie and crew dropped her off on Friday afternoon on their way to Charlotte and will stop back by on Monday on their way back home.

Last night we had a wonderful dinner over at the home of our close friends, Lara, Joe & Ethan Wood.  The highlight of the evening was her very green key lime pie.

Tomorrow is Joe's first day back playing at church.  I know the congregation will be excited to see and hear him play.  I'm looking forward to it.  He has had a really good week this week.  The fevers and nausea have been minimal and he was even able to get out and drive his own car to Costco (even though AAA had to come get it started).  Nothing, and I mean nothing comes between Joe and Costco for very long!

A special thank you this week to Harrison and Lucinda Sullivan.  Harrison, you really came through for us and it is so greatly appreciated.

Joe's Back at Choir Practice

Tonight is a big night for Joe.  He is back at choir practice tonight at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church for the first time since Feb. 16th.  As I sit here typing I hear the choir and Joe on the piano on the other side of the church.  And I must say, they sound pretty good!!  He has so looked forward to this day.  It warms the cockles of my heart knowing how much this means to him.  I should have brought the Flip camera for a "first time back at rehearsal" video.  Maybe next week I'll do a "2nd time back at rehearsal" video.

Got my MRI results back. I have a nondisplaced fracture with numerous contusions surrounding it and a tear in the peroneal tendon.  However, the tear is small enough that both my orthopedic doctor and the surgeon feel there is no need for surgery!  YEAH!  Just continue with wearing the boot until I can tolerate a shoe, continue to elevate when possible, and ice when swollen (which is pretty much all the time except right after I get out of bed of a morning).

Thanks for all the inquiries and prayers.  Joe and I are both truly blessed by the people in our lives.  

Not Such a Big Day

Today turned out to not be such a big day after all.  But we learned a very big lesson and I had a "Ah Ha" moment.   The day wasn't such a big day because Joe did NOT start his IV chemotherapy.  He did get a clean report from the surgeon as far as his incision and it's healing.  Both Dr. Tyler and the surgical resident were very impressed with how well it is doing.  He said it wouldn't be long at all before there would only be the scar and it would be smooth in no time at all.  Joe no longer has to wear any dressing over the incision since the drainage has stopped.  The reason for not proceeding today with the chemo was because of the up and down fevers that Joe has had since his last hospital stay.  The last 2 weeks the fevers have not been as high, or as often, but they are still present off and on.  So Dr. Zafar, the Oncologist, put off the chemo for 2 weeks to monitor and see if the fevers continue.  They did extra blood work for cultures as well as urine for culture tests.

The lesson that we learned is never, and I repeat never, ever have another appointment on a Monday in the mid-morning.  Since this all began back in October/November, with the exception of the first appointment which was at 2pm on a Thursday, all the other appointments have been early in the morning, no later than 9am.  Today with a 10am appointment, the waiting room at Clinic 1A was like sardines in a can.  We have never had to wait for seating.  People were standing and waiting all over the place, there was overflow waiting in the lobby connecting the clinic to the main hospital.  When patients buzzers would go off and they would get up, people would slide into the empty seat within a micro-second.  The sad thing is that many, if not most, of the buzzers going off were for the patients to go have blood drawn and then they had to return to the waiting room where they no longer had a seat.  I have to admit that I was one of those that slid into a seat the moment someone's buzzer went off and within 5 minutes I saw them out the corner of my eye come back into the waiting room only to discover they no longer had a seat.  Did I feel bad? Yes, did I feel bad enough to get up? No. I just kept my boot in full view, indicating i couldn't stand either.

The "Ah-ha" moment was after we had gone back to an exam room and Minokah, the Oncologist's nurse, came in to check on Joe, ask questions and update her records.  At that moment, I realized that apparently, when in a doctor's examination room, Joe becomes a deaf mute.  Nurse asks, "so how are you doing?"....nothing but a blank smile from Joe.  When Dr. Zafar comes in and asks "how are you feeling?"...the sound of crickets could be heard.  The silence was almost deafening.   In both cases, Minokah & Dr. Zafar turn to look at me hoping for some information.  For any of you that know me well, you know I can talk, so don't worry about all the nurses or doctors not getting a full picture of what is going on.  I talked, I answered questions, Joe smiled and occassionally said, "ok".   I am exaggerating, but not by much.

Since there was no chemo, Joe and I went and had lunch at King's Sandwich Shop on Foster Street and then I took Joe home and I returned to work.  This past weekend was one where I held on to my emotions with a tight grip.  Tonight after getting home, Joe and I had a long conversation about the past few months and my firm grip slipped and there have been quite a few tears on my part.  Of course when I start, Joe follows close behind so it has been very emotional.  I started typing this almost 2 hours ago but have just come back to it in the last few minutes to finish.  Talk of the future, of our babies, Sara, Brittany & Josh, have made this a very heavy evening, but it was a conversation that Joe and I needed to have with one another.  I'm sure it won't be the last, I'm sure there will be more tears, but I'm also sure that as long as we stick together, we can get through anything.  On second thought, maybe this was a big day.

Tomorrow could be a big day

Tomorrow, Monday, could be a very big day for Joe.  First he has an oncologist appointment at Duke at 10:20am, then a noon appointment with his surgeon and if they give the go-ahead, then he will have his first IV chemotherapy session at 1:30pm.  The last few days it has been obvious that Joe is very nervous about the possibility of the chemotherapy starting back.  While he knows it is what is best medically for him, he is anxious about what the side effects can be.  I'm just anxious about everything.  His incision hasn't fully healed and I'm not quite as optimistic about the chemo beginning tomorrow as Joe seems to be. But then again, I have been known to be wrong before.  I can't seem to recall a particular instance, but I'm sure there must be one or two.

We had a great day today, which was my birthday.  We went to church where I got 2 Hershey's Kisses, ate BBQ for lunch, back home for an afternoon of napping on the couch, then we saw the musical "SHREK" at DPAC this evening.  The best was that Joe has felt good all day and we got to spend the day together.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes today and for all the continued prayers and good wishes for Joe.

And the Piano Lessons resume....

..at least for Joe's Durham students.  Joe resumed some of his Durham piano students this week and he also went to TGMC rehearsal for about an hour on Tuesday evening.  However, he did admit after rehearsal that it had really tired him out.  But I'm sure resuming some of his pre "Big C" activities gave him an emotional boost.

Tonight I had my MRI on my left foot & ankle.  Laying still for 30 minutes inside that tube was not my idea of a good time.  I'm sure it will be a couple of days before I hear anything from the orthopedist.

This weekend should be a quiet one for us.  A little laundry, maybe a nice restaurant on Saturday evening, church on Sunday morning and then "SHREK"  at DPAC on Sunday evening.   We will need the quiet weekend to prepare for Monday when Joe has 2 doctors appointments and is scheduled to begin his chemo (IV this time) again.  Next week will be one of constant vigilance to see how he is going to handle it.  Hopefull he will get through it as well as he did his first round of chemo & radiation with very little bad side effects.  Only time will tell about that.

Joe is very excited that his new CD, " A Time of Centering" will be available very soon.  Delivery is expected somewhere around Easter.  He posted some of the cover art on his Facebook account today so go look it up if you are one of his FB friends.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.....

Those are the first few words from The Doxology.  After playing piano & organ in church since he was in the 8th grade, Joe literally could probably play The Doxology with his eyes closed or actually asleep.  However, after those 40+ years, he doesn't know the words.  I learned that today when Joe and I went to church this morning.  It's not the first time we have been in church together, but he is always at the piano or organ and I am in the congregation.  However, today, we were both in the congregation and as we rose to sing The Doxology, Joe whispers to me, "I don't know the words".  The Doxology is not supposed to be a time of laughter but it was difficult for me to keep the giggles quiet as he mumbled through the song.

Today was his first time back in church since February 13th, the week before his surgery.  There were lots of smiles and hugs and a few tears today, but it felt wonderful to be back.  Joe smiled so much on the way home, was very talkative and generally in a great mood all afternoon and I know that most of that was due to being back at Pleasant Grove this morning.  Thank you to everyone who took the time to come speak to Joe and me and wish him well, and quiz me over my clumsiness and boot.  I was very excited when we got to the church this morning because there were signs all over the Church saying, "It's coming, April 10th".  I turned to Joe and told him how exciting it was but totally unnecessary  for the Church to make such a big deal about my birthday.  I mean really, everyone has been very kind and loving, but making such a big deal over my birthday was not fair to everyone else.  Of course, I was only kidding about actually thinking the signs had anything to do with me, but it was nice to see just the same  :)

This week will hopefully be an uneventful, slide back in to a somewhat normal schedule kind of week.  The home health care nurse will be here only twice this week and then we will see them no more.  Joe's incision continues to heal very well and we just change the dressing 2 times per day.  Each day there is less and less evidence of any drainage on the dressing when it is removed.  All in all, he feels good, and his energy is getting better daily.  Of course he is far from 100%, but we'll take what we can get right now.  I even let him go in Target to pick up a few things without me today (I drove and stayed in the car....the walking thing poops me out very quickly right now).   We had Jill & Mark over for dinner tonight and sat and had some good laughs and watched a little basketball.  With the warm weather tomorrow, Joe hopes to sit out on the patio in his rocking chair and maybe get some reading done.  He has been reading one book for about 8 months now and he needs to finish it so he can move on to a special book that was given to him when he was in the hospital.

Joe finished editing his latest CD this past week that was recorded 2 weeks before his surgery.  It was sent off for production on Friday and hopefully will be here the week of Easter.  Called "A Time of Centering" it is a collection of some of his favorites, some favorites of persons close to him and one that is very special to me, my late father's favorite hymn and the one that was sung at his funeral.  He is very excited that he was able to get all this accomplished before his surgery and able to get the edits done this past week on his computer.  I think everyone that hears it will feel the love that he put in to making it.

Continued thanks to everyone who keeps us in their prayers.

Thank Goodness it's the Weekend!

We are so glad it's the weekend.  We were able to sleep later this morning with no alarm clock waking me up before dawn, and subsequently waking Joe up.  He has slept better the last 2 nights without the bouts of nausea.  One of the best parts of this weekend is that we have tickets tonight for Carol Burnett at DPAC.  Carol Burnett has been a life long favorite of Joe's and he is extremely excited to get to see her tonight.  We just need to make sure that he doesn't overdo anything today to assure he feels up to the trip tonight.  But something tells me he will insist on going regardless of how he might feel.

Yesterday, I learned I have a fracture of the cuboid bone in my left foot (I had no idea what the bone was either- I had to Google it) and there is a possibility of a torn tendon around the outside of the my left ankle.  The MRI at the Duke North clinic was malfunctioning, so I have an appointment next week at the Southpoint clinic.  The advice the orthopedist gave me was, "get used to the boot".

Joe has been out 2 times this week, once to Costco (Mike took him) and then yesterday he went to Cheesecake Factory with Desiree.   Today Joe is busy doing laundry and giving me a hard time. Seems like old times.