Update from Judy & A Special Message from Robert!

click photos to enlarge

January 30, 2007
Tuesday

Robert and I went 4 Wheeling today, it was a little chilly but it was great to be outside riding again. We rode for about 3 hours and Robert did great, he did not show off as much as he does when Maniac Mick and the Mad Jap are here, but it was just great to see him riding again. For all you people out there who are saying how much fun could it be riding 4 wheelers well I am here to tell you don’t knock it til you try it and anytime you want to try it just let us know and we will take anyone 4 wheeling and I promise you, you will be just like Maniac Mick and go out and buy one after just riding once. I am very happy Robert loves it as much as he does, because I think the thought of the OklaArkTex Gang riding without him will drive him crazy and will push him harder in his recovery. Thanks again for all your comments; we can not tell you how much we enjoy hearing from each and every one of you. Robert has his first chemo. Apt. Thursday and we will let everyone know how it goes.

Judy

P.S. Benny’s 94 year old aunt Otta Lee fell and broke her hip and is in the hospital and they will be moving her over to hospice. Robert and I are so sorry we can not be there just want ya’ll to know we are thinking and praying for you.

Hey everybody! I want to take this opportunity to thank each & every one of you for your prayers & support. You don’t know how much it means to me when I read the blog.
It lifts my spirit & gives me more positive strength! I thank God everyday for his strength & guidance he has given me. It has amazed me that I haven’t had to take any pain medication since day 1! With his guidance & your prayers I am going to prove them wrong with my chemo – radiation treatments. May God bless each one of you!! As the player on the sideline would say, put me in coach I’m ready to play!! Let’s finish this game I have other things pending. Thanks again everybody!

Robert

We Are Home Once Again!

January 28, 2007
Sunday

Robert had an appointment with his surgeon, Dr. Oxford Friday in Dallas. Dr. Oxford removed all Roberts’s sutures and the last 2 drains he had in. Robert felt like a free man and was so happy to get all that out. Dr. Oxford showed us pictures of the mass he removed from Robert’s neck and we both could not believe how big it was. I am going to try and see if he can email me the pictures and will post them if they are not too graphic. The mass stretched out on a table was about 12 inches long and about 4 inches wide and 1 and ½ inches thick. Dr. Oxford said he removed 38 lymph nodes in Robert’s neck with 8 being cancerous. Sandi said that is probably why the nurse did not give us any updates during surgery, she was way too busy charting. We do not see Dr. Oxford again until 6 weeks after the chemotherapy and Radiation are completed. Then we will see him every 6 weeks for one year and then every 2 to 3 months for another year. Dr. Oxford said this type cancer is prone to come back so he is going to keep a close eye on Robert.

We spent the weekend with Sandi and Morgan, Mick was working in Oklahoma, and sorry we missed you Mick. We met Lisa and William for dinner Thursday nite and then went to eat with Al and Beverly Saturday nite. Thanks so much to yall for the wonderful company and good meals. Robert said he is very thankful for the opportunity just to be able to go out to eat. Robert worked on Sandi’s weights this weekend and is still doing better than expected. The doctor said he may not be able to raise his left arm to shoulder level for about 6 to 9 months and he is nearly back to raising his arm as high as he could before the surgery. It’s just amazing!!! Oh yeah I was forced to ride Sandi’s stationary bike last nite and I rode 3.65 miles in 31 minutes. Yeah Judy… Sandi and Robert were being slouchers and I showed them up….. Robert wants you all to know that he credits all his fast healing and positive attitude to everyone’s’ prayers and God’s strength. We are going to try to ride our 4 Wheelers before Robert starts chemo Thursday. We will post some new pictures. Happy Trails to you all!!!

Met with Chemo Doctor today!

We met with the Chemotherapy doctor today. Robert will begin Chemo next Thursday February 1st. The doctor wants to give Robert’s incisions time to heal before the treatment starts. We will also meet with the radiation doctor then and he will set up the radiation apt.’s. Robert will have 7 treatments of chemo and 5 days a week for 7 weeks will have radiation treatments. The doctor said Robert will lose his hair 2 weeks into chemo, so he is ready to shave his head now and get it over with. I told him let’s just wait til we have to, I don’t wanna be looking at no cancer patient any longer than I have to. Ha Ha... He should also be able to eat anything he wants for a couple of weeks and then he will have to be fed thru the feeding tube. I told Robert he better be a good patient, he will never know what I put down that feeding tube. Robert’s chemo doctor is a straight shooting doctor who does not sugar coat the truth. He said this is very serious but he feels good about the treatments killing the remaining cancer. Robert is doing great emotionally, spiritually and physically. I am in awe over his attitude. The doctor told Robert today he has Stage 4A and the worst stage you can have is 4B, the cancer was in 8 lymph nodes, and the dr. said that was pretty high and could not believe Robert was not a smoker, chewer or a dipper ever. He said this is really rare for him to get this and it could have been caused by 2nd hand smoke. So all you smokers out there, you can think of my husband when you light up and think I am not only hurting myself I could be hurting MY loved ones. Robert has a long road ahead of him and we are still learning how hard it is going to be, but as long as Robert keeps his positive attitude it will seem a little straighter and not as bumpy I hope. Again thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, if it was not for them when we pulled up in the parking lot and saw the Cancer Treatment Center sign, I think we would have just broke down, but we did not we held our heads high. Love to all.

Robert and Judy

Back in Broken Bow

Just wanted to let everyone know that the kids AKA Robert and Judy made it back home late yesterday and Robert is still doing really good. They were wanting to try and start the Chemo / Rad therapy tomorrow so I know Judy Judy is running around trying to get everything in order and handled so she can be at home with Robert as much as possible. I will post more definitive update as soon as I hear from from Judy and Robert .

lisa wood on behalf the GOODNERS:)

January 21, 2007Sunday
Robert had a good day Saturday, it was very quiet so he was able to rest more than he did Friday. He really enjoyed visiting with Ronnie and Janice, friends he has not seen in a while and I finally got to meet them after hearing lots of stories about them. Dr. Oxford released Robert this morning so we get to go home. YEAH!!! We will go to Sandi and Micks when we are released and then we will head home to Beavers Bend tomorrow. We want to say thanks so much to all the wonderful people in our lives, I guarantee you Robert nor I would be as strong as we are with out each and every one of you. The comments and phone calls are so appreciated they are our support line. O'k Sandi get that chocolate out or has Mad Jap eaten it all? Anyway here we come..

January 19, 2007Friday

Thanks to everyone’s prayers and special thoughts Robert made it thru surgery just great. The doctor said that everything went well. The surgery lasted 8 hours and the mass was the size of a grapefruit. There are still 2 places on the back of Roberts tongue, but the Doctor said chemo. And radiation would treat that area, so Robert could keep his tongue. The mass invaded his jugular, so Dr Oxford removed a nerve in Roberts left leg to replace the jugular and he removed muscle out of his chest to protect the carotid artery. When Robert was in recovery the nurse broke the rules and allowed Cassie and I to go back to see him. We were very grateful for that. We found him pretty out of it and he could barely speak, but first thing he wanted to know was if Mick was there? We said yes and he said to tell Mick “This was the hardest Trail he has been on so far”. We finally got in his room at 10:00pm. Robert was alert and talkative. Robert so far has managed his pain very well. He is up sitting in a chair for the first time, and drinking a smoothie. They are suppose to come and get him to start his therapy on his shoulder, due to removing the nerves and muscle. Robert said to tell everyone he sure is glad he is thru with that trail and ready for the next. Robert’s attitude has been so wonderful. He told Sandi she would make a pretty good nurse if Mick could ever get her to work. Lisa Wood and Lisa Garvin, we went thru his gift basket this morning and he was exhausted, had to take a nap after looking at EVERYTHING you guys did for him. We can never thank you enough. He loved it all. We love everyone and thanks again. Will keep you updated on how the therapy goes.

Out Of Surgery and Doing Good

Robert finally made it out of surgery around 7:00pm and he stayed in recovery until aroubd 9:30pm. They removed the squamous cell tissue in his neck and reconstructed the area with muscle tissue from his pectoral / shoulder area on the same side. He had quiet a bit of discomfort but that did not stop him from talking and even though he had plenty of pain medication he was pretty darn coherant. He was also drinking water through a straw that his lovely wife and nurse helped him with and overall considering what he went through he looked good. He has quiet a few stiches and we hope to have a photo to post sometime on Friday. Judy Judy was so relieved when they brought Robert up to his room, I hope they both get some really good rest tonight of course Robert's morphone drip will help him, let's hope Judy can lay down and clear her mind tonight. They do have internet access so all of you that want to comment feel free to do so as they can see your thoughts and prayers from their room:)
Thank God Robert had such awesome surgeons!

In Surgery

January 18, 2007
Thursday 2:00PM

We have made it to the hospital.. They took Robert back at 10:30. The
Dr.
said the surgery will last approximately 6 hours. Robert’s attitude is
very
good, he stayed positive up until they were rolling him back to the
operating room. Robert, Grand Pa Tucker and I spent the nite at Sandi
and
Micks last nite. Robert requested Ochoa’s for his last good meal in a
while. Al and Beverly joined us with Mother and Benny. We all pigged
out.
Robert ate so much he woke me up at 2:00 am upchucking. So needless
to
say Mick and I were awake from 2:00 to time to leave at 5:30 am.
Morgan
bought Robert an ice cream cake and Sandi made brownies, so we have been
treated very well. Cassie, Coley, Robert’s sister and her husband with
all
my crew are just sitting here with me. Everyone is being very
supportive,
John and Linda, thanks so much for the prayers before surgery and Terri
I
can not tell you how much we enjoyed talking and praying with you. We
will
let everyone know as soon as we can. Thanks again for all the support.
And
a HUGE thanks to Al and Beverly and Chris your father is just awesome
you
just can’t know how much that means to us..

4:20 UPDATE From Lisa Garvin
I just got a call from Sandi with an update on Robert. The tongue biopsy confirmed the squamos cell cancer and they are just now starting the neck surgery. It will be another 3 or 4 hours. I know you all will continue praying for them. I will let you know if I find out anymore this afternoon.

Surgery is Scheduled

January 16, 2007
Tuesday

Robert’s doctor has scheduled his surgery for Thursday 10:00 AM, we will be at Baylor, downtown Dallas in the Roberts Building. The surgery should last 3 to 6 hours. The doctor is going to take a piece of tongue and have it tested right then. When he gets the results he will know how much will have to be removed. Then the Doctor will then remove the lymph nodes, since the mass is putting pressure on Robert’s artery so the doctor will remove muscle and replace it with muscle on Robert’s booby, well he would probably want me to say peck, but I like saying booby. He will then remove a nerve from his neck and replace it with a nerve in his left leg. Robert may be up for visitors on Friday so if you plan to visit please plan on Friday or later. If you want to visit later than Saturday check this site to see if we have already headed home? Robert also asked PLEASE NO FLOWERS!!
Just donations***ok I added that on myself (Lisa Wood)
Robert took a load to Houston and should be home late tonight, driving the past couple of days has really helped out a lot, kept his mind busy. He has a dentist apt. tomorrow and then we will head to Sandi’s to spend the nite with her. Mother is going to watch my sweet little angel Oscar Meyer Olen Goodner. Thanks Mother and Benny that will take a load off knowing he is safe and happy. Grandpa Tucker is coming for the surgery and Mother and Benny have cut their trip to Port Aransas short and are also coming. I am so grateful. We are hoping to be home Monday or Tuesday, Robert will start his chemo and radiation Wed. the 24th. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. We can not tell you how much we appreciate it and will keep the site updated.

January 14th 2007

January 3, 2007
Tuesday

Robert has a doctor apt. with Doctor West to check out the knot on his neck. We see the Dr. and he refers us to Dr. Gregg who is a general surgeon. Dr. West said Dr. Gregg will take a biopsy and we can go from there Dr. West sent us over to the hospital for some X-rays on his chest. He asked Robert if he ever had a broken rib, and Robert said no so he wanted to see what was going on there. We went to McCurtain Co. Memorial and then we go see Dr. Gregg Thursday.

January 4, 2007
Wednesday
We go see Dr. Gregg and he said he wanted a CT Scan on Roberts neck, said he did not want to biopsy it until he could see what was going on. Dr. Gregg said there were too many things going on in the neck for him to do the biopsy. Dr.Gregg scheduled the CT scan at McCurtain co Memorial Friday. Robert asked my sister Sandi who is a RN if it was a big deal and she said no.

January 5, 2007
Friday

Went to McCurtain Co. Memorial for the CT scan and Robert was not real happy with Sandi, he had to have an IV and the nurse went thru his vein, The Dr. wanted the CT w/ contrast so they shot dye in the IV. Robert said it burned his butt hole really bad. They told us we should get the results back Monday. At this point now I am getting worried, I have felt like it was just a gland thing and now I am beginning to think it is something more serious. Can’t wait for Monday, are ready to know something.

January 6th, and 7th, 2007
Saturday and Sunday
Weather was great here so Robert and I sent 4 Wheeling both days. Went to Daisy State Park in Arkansas Saturday, not a very good trail, but at least we got away from the house. Sunday we just went riding here and enjoyed our day.

January 8, 2007
Monday

Finally heard from Dana at Dr. Gregg’s office Monday, she said there was a large mass in Roberts’s neck it was in his lymph nodes and it was putting pressure on his Voice Box and has closed off 2 veins running up his neck. She told us we needed to get to a specialist ASAP, she said she wanted to get us into a specialist in Shreveport, and we told her we would like to get in with a Dr. Sandi recommended to us and wanted to go to Dallas because of family and friends. I asked Dana what the chances were that it was Cancer, Dana said Judy the chances are very good it is Cancer, but you never know there could be a freaky thing going on with his lymph nodes. I gave Dana the # and she said she would set it up. Probably would not hear until Tuesday. I had to leave for Dallas Monday nite, for my annual check up and mammogram on Tuesday. Robert and I are pretty scared right now and Robert is saying he just wants it out of his neck now.

January 9, 2007
Tuesday
I go to my mammogram and sitting in my gynecologists office at 10:00 apt. is not until 11:30, Dana calls and says the Dr. we wanted to see is not on our insurance and says she really wants us to get to Shreveport time is of the essence to us now. I told her Robert wants to just pack up and got to MD Anderson. Dana said that would be a good idea and Dr. Gregg also thinks that is what we should do. Dana said let me check to make sure MD Anderson is in our network. And they were not, so we were back to square one. I was in the waiting room going thru the yellow pages looking for Ears, Nose and Throat Specialist who can get Robert in as soon as possible, I was having no luck at all. I had a breakdown right there in the waiting room; everyone could hear my conversations with the dr. offices and insurance company so they all subjected to what we were going thru. I felt bad for the pregnant woman having to look at me and listen to me. I finally got in to see Dr. Heckman and was telling him about the situation with Robert he said he knew of a good dr. and would make a call for me. When I got home from Dallas, Dr. Oxford who Heckman recommended called us and set up an apt. for Thursday at 11:15. Dr. Heckman also called and wanted to let me know he talked to Oxford and he would be calling. I told him he had already called. Any woman out there not having a gyno, I am telling you Dr. Heckman is the BEST in the world; he is the most caring and compassionate dr. I have ever met in my life. Can you be in love with your Gyno? Well I am.

January 10, 2007
Wednesday

Spent the day getting things ready for the apt. with Oxford Thursday. Robert and I are very concerned. I told a few friends what was going on. Lisa Wood who is a good friend in Dallas said she knows a guy who just went thru this and gave me the website to his blog to read what he went thru. Well I read it and it scared the hell out of me. Robert did not want to read it and said that is not what I have. Well needless to say I did not sleep very much and Lisa was upset for giving me the website.

January 11, 2007
Thursday

Went to see Dr Oxford, he took a biopsy and looked down Roberts throat with a camera. Dr. Oxford told Robert he said he believes he has Squamous Cell Cancer. The Dr. told us Robert needed to have Chemo. And Radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks, and then he would do surgery to have the lymph nodes removed. Robert told the Dr. he wants the surgery first and then will do the chemo and radiation. Dr. Oxford said that was fine we could approach it that way. Dr. Oxford sent us over for a CT scan on Roberts chest to make sure it has not spread down in his chest. Dr. Oxford said the cancer started in Roberts tongue and has moved down to the lymph nodes. Dr. Oxford also told us there is a 2/3 success rate with this type of cancer. He also had us pre-admit to the hospital while we were there so when the results came in we could just show up for the surgery. At this point Robert is very upset; he really did not think it was cancer. From what I read I had a good idea. We are just waiting for the tests to come in and schedule the apt.

January 12, 2007
Friday

Came home from Sandi and Mick’s. It was very good to go and stay with them Thursday nite. Helped us both being with them.

January 13, 2007
Saturday

Robert got up and went to sit with Gary and Angie, our Hochatown group is being so sweet and supportive. Fred, Gary, Angie and Tony all said they would do anything they could to help us. They told Robert they would take him to Paris, TX for his treatments for me. Lisa and William are on their way up to stay with us a couple of days. The weather is terrible, flooding and suppose to continue to get worse, but they are coming anyway. They are just awesome. Robert and I are just beginning to see how lucky and blessed we are to have such wonderful friends and family. It shouldn't but it does take something like this for you to appreciate your friends and family.

January14, 2007
Sunday
Lisa and William got here and we were so happy to see them. It has been raining here since Friday nite. We got a break in the rain and got to go ride 4 wheelers. It was Lisa and Williams first time to ride. Well needless to say they are hooked like us. We took them to the waterfall, rock quarry and the river. It is so beautiful there, for those who live in Canton you can stop by the bank and Lisa has some pictures. We had a good time, it started raining again on us and we were soaked by the time we got back. Robert is starting to complain about pain in his ear and eye. That has me a little concerned, he has not complained about this before. Sure ready to hear from the doctor. Anyway, Lisa and William I can not tell you what it has meant to us for you to come up here in this bad weather. Thanks and we love ya..