Headed Back to Work!! Yeah thats right!!

Well can you believe it? I can not.. Robert will be returning to work October 27th!! I think he picked that date so he could get out of getting me a huge birthday present.. Ha Ha.. Actually it will be a huge present for me to see him drive off again doing something he really enjoys. The doctors want him to wait a little bit longer, but due to insurance issues Robert is not going to wait. He says he is ready, I agree with the doctors, but it is his decision and I admire him so much for his strength and yeah o'k I will say it, his stubborness!!

We got Robert's results back from his latest PET scan and everything was clear. We can not tell you how good it was to hear and to tell you the truth we were both a little surprised., due to the size and the speed of growth of the latest knot in his chest.

We are truly blessed and know that without all your prayers and support and of course the hand our Lord and Savior had in this, the outcome might have been different. Robert is having surgery Monday to have the mediport removed and he should heal pretty quick from that. Robert will have a PET scan in December and the doctors will keep a pretty close eye on him, but hopefully we are on the way to putting this chapter in our lives behind us. Thanks again for all your special thoughts and prayers and God Bless each and everyone of you!! We will keep the blog updated, so please check back from time to time and please let us hear from you!

Elated!!

We are elated!! Robert's CT scan was clear. The doctor had to say clear a couple of time before it sank in. We along with the Chemo doctor, well me along with the chemo Dr. were surprised. Robert said all along he knew the treatments were working and the tumors were gone. I should have faith like him. CLEAR that is our new word. Robert and I walk around just saying clear, clear. We are so thankful and relieved. Robert has one more hurdle. He will have a PET scan September the 5th. That is a more precise scan and will pick up even the smallest spot.

Robert asked the doc if he could go back to work and he said no way. He would re-evaluate him in a couple of months and go from there. That is not what he wanted to hear, he is ready to go back now. I will have my work cut out for me trying to keep him busy the next couple of months. So if anyone wants to come visit you are more than welcome.

One of his doctors is getting him set up for physical therapy on his neck. I really hope it works his skin is so tight and there is the chance that after all the surgeries and radiation that the scar tissue will set up and will limit his movement even more. Also, Robert is having really bad headaches, he is taking his pain med. with out me even nagging him. So they must be bad. The doctor said for him to slow down on his neck exercises for a bit and see if it helps.

Well we just wanted to share the good news with you. Hope all is well and God Bless!

Getting ready for CT Scan

Hope this finds everyone well. Robert is getting ready for his CT scan. The scan is this Thursday and he will also meet with his radiation doctors assistant to check on his progress. We will find out Monday if the treatments worked and removed the tumors and then Robert will see his ENT on Tuesday. We are so ready for Monday.

We also wanted to tell everyone thank you so much for your donations in the raffle and thanks so much for those who bought tickets. It went really well, the drawing was July 12th and there were quite a few from Canton that won prizes. The raffle raised about $4,400.0, we were so excited. Special thanks to Michael, Sandi, Morgan who was recovering from having her wisdom teeth out, William and Lisa Garvin and Cassie and Chris for coming up and helping with everything. Sunday after the raffle we went kayaking with William and Lisa and we had a blast the weather was perfect and the water was flowing just enough where we did not have to paddle much. It was wonderful, we saw a deer and her fawn, turtles and some really big Gar. No snakes though, darn it.

Tuesday Robert and I headed to my dad's. We enjoyed that, got to do some chores for him, Robert helped him mow his pasture and really enjoyed getting on that tractor. Also, Robert got some rocks from on old chimney on my dads property that belonged to his Uncle. The chimney has been there since the early 1900's and the stone is still in really good shape. When we got home he said we needed to go back and get more. Robert loves his rocks.

Robert's daughter Cassie is graduating from University of North Dakota with a degree in Forensic Psychology next weekend. He really wishes he could be there to see her walk across the stage, she and only 3 others will be graduating in her field. She will be in our thoughts and we are so proud of her.

We will keep everyone posted on the results from CT scan and also the Dr. apts. Thanks so much for all your continued thoughts and prayers.

What a difference a week makes!!

Well Robert has finally made the turn for the better. He started feeling better about a week ago and now nothing is stopping him. You can see by the picture that he is up for anything. As soon as he started feeling better the only thing he could talk about was getting in the yard and getting it done. Well he did not start out with a little job, he ordered 1 load of dirt and 4 loads of rock and away he went. He has been on that tractor all day and knowing him he will be working by the headlights. I am expecting him to crash in a couple of days. I just can not believe he can do all this after being so sick for weeks. But there is no stopping him now. He is even talking about going back to driving by August the 1st. I do not think the doctors will release him that early but will see. He has a CT scan scheduled for July 23rd and then we will meet with the Dr. on the 28th and they will be able to tell us if the tumors are gone and the treatments worked. Which I just know they are and we will finally be able to go on with our lives.

We hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th. We are looking forward to seeing some fireworks here at Beavers Bend and then headed to Sandi's on Saturday. Mother is scheduled for her 2nd surgery on her neck and Morgan is having her wisdom teeth out. Don't know which I feel worse for.

I also wanted to give you the link to a high school friends website. Donna Preist Coffelt. Her husband Ken is going through the same thing Robert is, he also had re-occurring cancer and is having his CT scan July 14th. So please keep them in your thoughts and prayers also. Their website is http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=kencoffelt

Again hope everyone has a safe holiday and one last bit of good news my cousin Greg Baine who is a Lt. Colonel in the army is coming home from Iraq today. WooHoo We are very excited about that and we are also so very proud of Greg. Try to remember when you are sitting back watching your fireworks, it is because of brave soldiers like him that you are FREE to do so. Thanks Greg for your sacrifices and God Bless you and welcome home!!

Treatments are over!!

Finally!!


Well Robert has finally finished his treatments. We are so sorry we have not posted anything for so long. I have a lot of updating so it will be lengthy. Robert finished radiation Wednesday – June 11, 2008. Robert had 35 radiation treatments and 2 rounds of chemo. It was a very long road, but he made it and did not have to have a feeding tube this time. He will continue to have the side effects from the radiation for up to 2 weeks. When Robert first started treatments he weighed 211 he is now down to under 180. Needless to say he is very weak and struggling to get enough fluids and nutrients down. Wednesday after his final treatment I was so happy thinking that I was through with waiting rooms and hospitals for a while. Well I was wrong, Robert had a bad night Wed. and Thursday was not any better. He was having a lot of chest pain; he came in the office where I was trying to post an update and said I needed to take him to the hospital. Well my dishwasher has been out for about a month and the part finally came in after being routed to Broken Arrow, anyway the service man was working on it and I was about to ask him to leave so we left him by himself. He understood his wife had breast cancer and she also just finished treatments. Well when we got to the hospital Robert’s blood pressure was 70 / 40. They started pumping fluids in as soon as they could and gave him 2 pain shots; he started feeling better in a couple of hours. They released him after about 3 ½ hours, feeling like a new man. I have been watching him more closely and pestering him about fluids. Robert’s biggest challenge has been drinking and eating. When we got home from the hospital, I asked him to eat at least ½ of a banana for me. Well he started shaking and said his throat was burning. I felt really bad, and now just let him tell me what he wants to eat.

Our neighbor suggested we apply for disability. There is a social security office in Paris and since we were there everyday and I had hours on my hands I thought well I would go see about applying. Well I went in on a Wednesday and they set up a meeting on Thursday which lasted about 2 hours and they called us the following Thursday to say Robert was approved for disability. It is really going to help take the stress off of Robert being pressured to hurry and return to work.

Our wonderful friends and members of the community here in Broken Bow have set up a raffle for a fund raiser for Robert and me. My friend Angie has organized everything and has about 31 prizes donated for the drawing. The prizes include a satellite radio system, free cabin rentals, wood carvings to $100.00 gift certificates. Tickets are $2.50 each and just let me know if you would like a chance to win.

Sorry back to Robert, he has a lot of time on his hands and would love to hear how everyone is doing. It will help him from going stir crazy in the house and will stay out of my office and let me get my things done. Ha ha. Robert will have a PET scan in about 6 weeks to see if the treatments have done their job. I am sure our patience will be tested daily. Robert wants to make sure and tell all those who have called and sent get well cards thanks so much. Hopefully our next update will be better and Robert will be eating us out of house and home!!

Hungry Hungry Hippo!!

Well Robert is finally getting his appetite back and is able to keep it all down. Last week was probably the worst he has been since all this started last year. Robert was not able to eat or drink anything and was nauseated all the time. He goes to radiation everyday and then they would give him nausea meds and fluids thru his medi port. We were having to go to the pharmacy everyday to get a new prescription filled to try a new nausea medicine. Also Robert got thrush and that has been bad for him. But today has been the best day he has had in over a week.

Mother and Benny came up today, they brought their travel trailer and will be staying a while before Mother's next surgery. They are going to help me with tamales and help me with Robert. It will be nice having some company. Mother is still recovering from her surgery, so she needs to take it easy too. This is the best place in the world to sit back and take it easy. It is so beautiful every where you look. You can go to the lake and see the mountains, or you can go to the river and watch for eagles. It doesn't get much better than that. Don't believe me, come on up, we would be more than happy to show ya. Plus I hear mother and Benny brought lots of shrimp from Port Aransas.

Completed First Round of Chemo

Robert finished his first round of chemo. Initially they said he only had to do this twice, but now since the 2 new spots showed up on the PET they are talking about a third treatment. I really hope he does not have to have the third treatment. This first round was really bad for him. He was so dehydrated by the time we got to the cancer clinic he could barely walk or even talk. After several attempts the chemo nurse finally got an iv going and his color was back in his cheeks in about an hour. The chemo Dr. has ordered hydration for Robert every Mon. Wed. and Fri. now until he can get this nausea under control. That will be really good for him. The chemo drugs can cause kidney damage so they are not taking any chances. He always feel so much better after he gets hydration. Robert not only has the nausea to deal with now he has thrush in his mouth. They have put him on so many new drugs. It is so hard keeping them straight. He is taking steroids, and sleeping pills because the steroids keep him awake. 3 types of nausea meds. One is Kytril which is $126.00 for 9 pills with our insurance. Thanks to Sandi and Mick, maybe Robert will not have to suffer as much. They are paying for his nausea meds. Do I have a great family or what? They said Robert will probably have the side effects for a couple more weeks and then the next treatment will be in 3 weeks, so it looks like he should have 1 one week without nausea, of course that's when the radiation people said the radiation will start kicking his butt. Does this sound like a nightmare? Well let me tell you it is. After all this there are still no guarantees, and like the last chemo he received there is a chance he could get cancer from the chemo drugs. Yes indeed a really bad nightmare. Are you kidding me? O'k I am rambling now so I better sign off. Thanks for reading my ramblings and will keep you posted.

Love to all,

Judy

Discouraging Update...

Hello to all! I just wanted to give all a quick update on Robert's treatments this week. He started radiation Wednesday, and we got the results back from the PET scan. Unfortunately there are 2 nodes that showed up on the scan that were cancerous. They are in the sternum area. One looked to be pretty big. The radiation dr. told us they were in an area the would not be operable, due to their location being close to the heart. We are going to get copies of the scan and send it to Roberts surgeon anyway and get his opinion. The scan showed that all Roberts organs were clear, so that is really good news and we are going to focus on that right now. We were both really blown away when we saw the scan. The winds were really knocked out of our sail, but Robert has great faith that the chemo and radiation will take care of this. So I guess thats as good as it gets right now. I admit I am scared as hell right now and angry, but Robert has such strength I look at him and think if he can have that attitude then who am I to doubt his determination.

Robert started his chemo today. The chemo nurse said Robert will lose his hair this time. My friend Lisa Garvin and I have been telling him that since his head is all swollen from the fluid that he will look like ET when his hair is gone. They said the nausea side effects should show up in about 2 to 3 days. We were hoping we could get out and do something fun Saturday, but I guess we will just have to wait til Talledega Sunday.

Please keep Robert in your prayers, he really needs them now.

Preparing for radiation and chemo again.

Well Robert has been preparing for radiation and chemo again. Robert is recovering really well from his right side neck dissection; you can barely see a scar. We met with Roberts’s chemo dr. this past Monday and he said Robert needs to have chemo again. This time instead of the drugs Taxotere and Paraplatin he is going to give him 5 FU and Cisplapin. Robert will have a pump that will distribute the chemo over 5 days and they will wait a month and do the same again. Robert had to have a mediport put in since he will be coming home with the drugs. We met with the surgeon on Tuesday, and Wednesday we had to go to the hospital for the pre-op. And then back to Paris again today for the surgery. The surgery went really well. When the dr. was telling us about the 1% chance of complications, I just about lost it that is another story, will come to that in a minute. Anyway, everything went well. He now has the port in his chest and they can use that for chemo, drawing blood, hydrating if he needs it, instead of having an IV started every time. We go back to Paris tomorrow (Friday, Robert’s birthday) for the PET scan. Dr. Kerley wants results from the scan before radiation is started on Wednesday and the chemo will start next Thursday. Robert has had 3 surgeries in the last month I think he has had his share and then some. He is ready to get the treatments started. The dr. said he will not feel any side effects for a couple of weeks from the radiation and the side effects from chemo will be pretty much like last year. We will keep the blog updated and let everyone know the results from the pet scan.

O’k now the story about the 1%. As some of you know my mother had an angioplasty last week. What was supposed to be a routine surgery with only a 1% or less chance of complications. Well my mother is now a not so proud member of the 1% club. Not really sure what happened, Sandi who mother told everyone in the hospital she was a RN could answer that. What I understand is that either during the operation an artery as accidentally cut or the splint that was put in did not seal like it should and caused her major problems. What turned out to be a day surgery turned in to 3 nights in ICU and another emergency surgery and 7 pints of blood later she was finally out of the woods. It was a really scary time and I am so thankful she had Benny and Sandi there with her during that scary time. The staff at Baylor was absolutely wonderful. Mother’s surgeons and all the nurses she had were so great to her. She not only scared her family, but she had quite a few staff members worried. One nurse that was with Mother during her scary ordeal came to visit her when she finally got in a private room and told her, that has happened twice there, the first man died and the second was Mother. Mother is home recovering, she is doing good, still really weak but getting stronger everyday. The lesson we need to learn from this is do not take for granted the routine things and do not pass up a chance to tell your loved ones how you feel. So Benny, thank you so much for your love and care you give my Mother.

Love and prayers,
Judy

Latest on Trail Blazer!!

Robert was released from the hospital on Saturday and we headed home as soon as we could. It was so nice to be home, I can not tell you. Robert is healing really well. We saw the radiation dr. Thursday and then Friday it was back to Dallas for Dr. Oxford to remove the last drain and for the post–op checkup. Dr. Oxford has turned Robert over to the radiation dr. (Kurley) until a month after his last radiation treatment. That is right more radiation. Dr. Kurley said he will probably recommend for Robert to have 30 radiation treatments which will be everyday for 6 weeks and chemo once a week. He and the chemo dr. will get together and come up with the best plan for Robert. We will go back to Paris Tuesday to meet with them and hear the plan they come up with. Dr. Oxford is going to recommend a ct scan on Roberts tongue to Dr. Kurley. Dr. said the path came back clear and he did not see anything on his tongue, but they want to be positive before starting any radiation, because once they start the radiation on the right side then that will be it. So if they missed anything it would be too late then. We asked, if Dr. Oxford got all the cancerous nodes out then why chemo and radiation again? They said with this type of cancer it is very prone to coming back and we need to fight it with everything we can. Robert is so strong and he has so much trust in his doctors not to mention his strong faith. He is really swollen and really sore, since he has no lymph nodes on his right side or left (dr. removed 63 nodes and only the 2 Robert found were cancerous) so it will take a while for the fluid to find new paths. Right now his right eye is one of those paths. Tears are just pouring out. I told him I would get him a patch to cover that eye, but he just shook his head no. Hope all has a good weekend and enjoy the great weather. Will post again after the apt. Tuesday.

Go # 88 Dale Jr.!!

Also, my mother is having her first of at least 2 surgeries Tuesday, our thoughts and prayers will be with her and Benny, wish we could be there with ya, but know we are thinking about you. So hurry and recover and get up here and let’s catch some trout!!

Deja Vue Robert clears first hurdle (or is the 50th I lost count)

Robert made it through surgery with flying colors. Dr. Oxford said he removed approximately 40 lymph nodes on the right side. He removed all the lymph nodes on the left last year during Robert's first neck dissection. They are testing the lymph nodes to determine how many were cancerous. We will have the results early next week. Dr. Oxford is recommending chemo and radiation again, but it will be up to the radiation Dr. if Robert can have more radiation. Dr. Oxford said this type of cancer has such a high return rate that we need to fight this with all we can. Robert was in surgery for 3 hours and in recovery for 3 hours. They were having trouble managing his pain and you can tell why by the look of these pictures. No I did not find the old photos and re-post them. Cassie said Robert's neck will now be symmetrical. Dr. Oxford said Robert will be here in the hospital for 2 to 3 days. He will have lots of time to read all your comments. Thanks to Mimi and PaPa, Sandi, Mick and Morgan, Julie and Jillian for all your support, I can not tell you how much Cassie appreciate you and this day would have been ALOT longer without you being here.

Love,
Judy and Robert

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Hope the Easter bunny visited each and every one. Wanted to update everyone on Robert. Robert had the biopsy last Wednesday, Dr. Oxford told us that the preliminary report is that the cancer is not on Roberts tongue. Dr. Oxford should get the final report Monday. If it still shows no cancer in the tongue then Robert will have surgery Wednesday to have to cancer in his neck removed. If the final tests come back that there is cancer in the tongue then the whole game plan will change. We are not sure about chemo and radiation yet. We will know more after the surgery Wednesday. Robert will have to be in the hospital a couple of days. Robert complains his throat is really sore from the biopsy and the tube they stuck down his throat, so he is not looking forward to surgery again so soon. Please continue to keep him in your prayers and thanks again for your support. Also, my mother (Rhea) is going to have to have surgery also in the near future to go in and clean out her veins and arteries. We will also find out Wednesday what and when she will be facing. So please keep her in your prayers also. O'k I am almost done, one more we have a cousin (Greg Baine) in Iraq, please pray for him and every soldier over there and their families. O'k that should do it for now. Thank you again, and please let me know if there is anyone you need me to add to my special prayer list.
Hope you all have a great week. We will post again as soon as we know something different.

Sincerely,
Judy and Robert

Headed back to Baylor!!

We went to Dallas at Baylor Friday to my E.N.T. Dr. and did my head, neck, chest x-ray. We got the results back Monday around 5:00 p.m. Dr. Oxford said everything was clear except for the 2 knots that I found earlier on my right side of my neck. They were positive for cancer. I found a spot on my tongue in the back and he was concerned with that, so he wanted a biopsy of it and also on the back side at the base of my tongue. He told us that I would have to be put to sleep to do this procedure, so I am scheduled for surgery Wednesday March 18, 2008 at 11:30. Please pray for Judy & me that the biopsy will come back negative! Once this is done he said he would schedule my neck surgery for the following week to remove the lymph nodes on that side regarding my biopsy on my tongue came back negative. I thank each & every one of you for your love, prayers, cards, phone calls that you have given us. I am so thankful for my Doctors that God has given me. I know that God is not going to let me down now so I keep going on with HIS strength each day!! It has been 14 months since my first surgery and I am just now getting my strength back from that so I will be going into this surgery almost at full strength.

We would like to send out a special thank you to our preacher Harold and his wife Pat and our church family at Lakeside Christian. Thank you so much for making us feel like part of the family from the first day we visited. Your special prayer Sunday and your donation mean more to us than we can ever express.

Trying times again for the Goodners'!!

Well here we are again! As most of you have heard Robert had 2 knots come up on the right side of his neck, (the opposite side from last year) a couple of weeks ago. Robert went to his ENT (Dr. Oxford) and he took 2 biopsies. We got the results back today that they were cancer. Dr. Oxford has scheduled a couple of tests for this Friday. These test will determine if the cancer is centralized to just the lymph nodes or if the cancer has spread to other areas. We are asking for all your prayers again. Robert and I know there is no way we could have made it thru last year without your prayers and thoughts. We are updating the blog again and will be reading your wishes and support to get us through this trying time again.
Robert and Judy