Getting Stronger Everyday!

Robert is getting his strength back a little everyday. He has a 4 week break from Chemo and then will have to decide if he will stay on chemo for 3 more months, indefinitely or stop it all together and pray that all the hell he has been through has been enough to kill the cancer. Dr. Nadler said the decision is up to Robert and feels which ever decision Robert chooses is the best for him. The studies they have done are patients that have been on this type of chemo for 12 months, and some are still on it after 3 1/2 years with no sign of cancer. He can not tell us if the chemo is just suppressing the cancer or has killed it once and for all. Robert really wants to go back to work and Nadler said he could do that as soon as his strength returns and some of the side effects from the special cocktails he served Robert were subsided.

We are looking forward to this weekend, my Dad is coming up and Robert's birthday is Monday! Happy 55th honey, I love you,

Judy

Robert and his certificate!

This makes Robert's third certificate from Paris! FYI.. He does not wish to continue his education in Radiation therapy! The certificate reads:

Paris Regional Cancer Center
Radiation Oncology Therapists
Certify that Robert Goodner is a
Certified Radiation Oncology Graduate
For completion of your treatments
and the way you stuck to it.
For being here on time
and not telling us how to do it.
For lying still on tables cold
and laughing at the jokes we told

We salute you!

I also salute you Robert. You are truly an inspiration to me. All my love, Judy

No Aprils Fools! Radiation is over!

Robert finished up radiation Friday, April 1st. He was so happy to be done and he did really good. He has had to use his feeding tube for some of his meds. Ensure and Gatorade. Benny was making fun of him saying he only uses it for the stuff he can not stand. Well it is true, he can not stand Ensure, but who can blame him. He has held his weight the last couple of weeks and his blood pressure has been really low and also his blood sugar level. Not sure what is going on with that, but we will see his Oncologist Wednesday and find out if Robert will continue chemo until his next scan which will be in 6 weeks (I am saying he probably will want Robert to and Robert is saying no, he is done). Robert told the radiation staff he was going to get the feeding tube out next week, and he talked all the way over to Paris yesterday about going back to work by the first of June. He is so optimistic, me I am a little more reserved. We were wanting the radiation to be over with and now it is, I am starting to get a little anxious, it will be a long 6 weeks before we find out if all he has been through since last August has killed the cancer.

Mary, who you can see in the picture is Robert's radiation tech. She told him yesterday after his last radiation treatment as he was lying on that hard cold table that Dr. Kerley had just ordered 10 more treatments. He took it very well, and just said I don't think so. She then told him April Fools. The staff at Paris were so nice, after a total of 97 treatments in the past 4 years, Robert has developed a personal relationship with all of them. Mary,'s husband, Wendell has Thyroid cancer, by the time they caught it, it was too far gone for treatments. He and Mary need prayers. Can you imagine her helping patients all day everyday, and not being able to do anything to help her husband. She is a very strong woman and our hearts go out to her. Please put them on your prayer lists. Robert has to go back in 3 weeks for a check up with them, and we will let you know how he is doing. Marie's granddaughter was visiting her yesterday and she wanted to help Robert ring the bell. She is so precious. Thanks again for all your prayers, support and love. We will let you know what the Oncologist says Wednesday. Love to all, Robert and Judy