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!!