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..