Four Days Down, One To Go

Hand off from "Thing One" to "Thing Two"

Carol sleeping with uneaten dinner tray in the background.

Cathy for Carol

Carol is sleeping after trying to get some dinner down...today has been a tougher day than the three previous days this week, but still so much better than the first go-round at Stanford. The neurological side affects appear to be less this week...please keep praying that this would remain the case for the next few days and into next week...thank you.

The doctors are thinking Carol will be able to come home tomorrow (Friday) evening because she has been tolerating this round of treatment so well. YAY!

One of the most difficult things for Carol especially during the latter part of this week of intense chemo and IL2 is the inability to concentrate...she finds it hard to read or even watch TV. She is so used to being productive that not being able "to do" is very frustrating to her. Please pray that God would protect her heart and mind at this time...and allow the scriptures she has memorized throughout the years to surface above the fogginess to comfort and sooth her mind and soul.

We read your comments on the blogspot together this evening and Carol found much joy in your encouraging words to her...especially the words of scripture and hymns that you offered...they were a healing balm to her spirits (and mine). You are all treasured in Carol's heart and she is so very thankful for you...the Lord working through the body of Christ is awesome to behold!

May God keep you in grace and peace.

P.S. I'm editing this after the first publish earlier tonight...Mary C came in and brought fun and laughter at 8:00 pm this evening...we took a picture of the "hand off" from "Thing One" to "Thing Two"...ask us or Carol about that!!!

"He Hears Our Voice" - Psalm 55:17

The IV pole...missed the picture with eight bags, but six is amazing too!

Linda W and Carol at Stanford, Tuesday, Oct 28

Cathy for Carol

With almost a full 24 hours of treatment behind her, Carol is starting to feel some of the side affects of the IL2 and chemo drugs. (I just counted the number of IV bags being fed into Carol's veins...a total of eight!) Dr. Reddy had set a threshold level for her platelets of 25...this morning the number dropped to 23, therefore a red blood cell transfusion was ordered to increase her platelet levels. This is a fairly common occurrence with this type of treatment so was not unexpected. Carol's other blood counts are very good. Please pray that blood count levels would remain and/or return to acceptable levels...thank you!

Carol brought along her packet of memory verses to recite and meditate on throughout the day...she would like to share Psalm 55:17 with you today. "Evening, morning and at noon, I cry out in distress and He hears my voice." As she has meditated on this verse today it has helped her mind stay focused on the Lord in what otherwise might have been a day overcast with some dread because of the foreknowledge of what might lie ahead. How wonderful to know with certainty that our Heavenly Father ALWAYS hears us...He never sleeps or slumbers! May your evening, morning and noon be filled with the knowledge that our awesome God is always with us and attunes His ear towards us in all circumstances!

Back in the Saddle Again!

Carol "hamming it up" with Debbie W

At home with Starbucks coffee brought by Connie J

Cathy for Carol

It's Monday evening about 9:00 pm and the nurses are starting Carol on her next regimen of IL2 and chemo. It's been a day of tears, laughter and waiting, but most of all a day of rejoicing in God's goodness. This morning during the office visit with Dr. Reddy Mark, Carol, Tim and Erika were able to pray for and with Dr. Reddy and this evening Carol and I were able to pray with one of the nurses whose youngest son will be departing for Afghanistan next month. The nurse practitioner, Laura, who took such great care of Carol through the last hospitalization will be overseeing her care again (alongside Dr. Reddy)...and there is also a new intern on this week who is just delightful and very, very bright...she already had her PhD in Bio Chem from UCLA when she decided to go to medical school! Needless to say, Carol is receiving the very best of care here at Stanford!

As most of you know the results of Carol's PET scan were not favorable...Dr. Reddy said some of the cancer sites had grown and there were some new sites as well. However, since the treatment did not start until four weeks after the original PET scan in August the doctor says the growth of the cancer might have occurred during that four week period. Carol is starting the next treatment as planned and another PET scan will be scheduled after this round of treatment. Last week's PET scan will be used as the base line scan instead of the original one to gauge treatment success.

Carol for Carol...I'm glad to be back on this loop...delighted to be back with some of the nurses we met the last go around...glad to know the routine...happy to have a bed by the window! (Easy to delight in small pleasures!)

Some specific prayer requests from Carol:

• For positive interaction with the nurses
• For the ability to handle boredom
  
• For the concentration to keep up her journaling
• To come to know God more fully through this journey and to have others come to know Jesus as well
  

Our Carol is Back!

Chelse, Carol and Jill on the couch.

Carol getting a foot massage from Jill with Chelse looking on.

Cathy for Carol

As you can see from the photos above our dear Carol is back! She had a few bad days...reactions to the IL2 that were fairly severe. Her organs, blood pressure and heart rate are great, but Carol did have some neurological reactions to the treatment that are within normal parameters, but were a bit more severe than the doctors would like to normally see. Dr. Reddy will be adjusting the medication for the next go-round to lesson this affect. Please pray that these side-affects would be prevented from happening for the future treatments.

Carol's appetite has returned...yea! Please pray that her strength returns quickly through the next week and that her blood counts return to normal...her next treatment will begin October 27 with another weeks stay at Stanford hospital. Her nausea has been minimal, but please continue to pray for that issue as well.

Another specific prayer request...Carol has her second pet scan on Tuesday, October 21, in the afternoon...please pray for a good report and wisdom for the doctors as to the right "mix" of IL2 and chemo drugs to administer starting October 27.

Next week would be a good time for some scheduled visits, but as Carol's immune system is compromised please be certain that you are free of any symptoms of colds or flu and that you have not been around anyone else that is ill. Please email or call Cathy's cell to set up a time to visit and know that "flexibility" is in the cards as Carol does tire easily and sometimes thinks she can do more than she really can...but thankfully the batteries are recharging steadily each day!

Carol mentioned today that she is learning so much through this climb...about obedience, about fellowship in the body of Christ...and her heartfelt prayer is to know her awesome God more fully and completely through this journey.

Much love to you all from both Mark and Carol...and many thanks for your prayers and acts of service on their behalf...Mark and Carol are both overwhelmed with gratitude for you all!

Home From the Hospital--Wipeout

Mark, Carol and Erika taking a "walk" at the hospital.

Friday night with Jake and Jordan at the hospital.

Monday 10/13 on the Patio for a Few Minutes

Cathy For Carol

If you can picture Carol singing "Wipe Out" by the Beach Boys that would about sum up how she feels...basically pretty crummy. She is very thankful to be home with Mark, but the week looks to be anything but easy. So far she has no appetite and can stay awake for just a few minutes at a time. Please be praying for strength to return, appetite to increase (or at least that we can discover some food that isn't totally repugnant to Carol), that she would get no mouth sores and for protection from infection, illness or falling. Also please pray that her blood counts would return to normal within the next two weeks...they are low, but this is to be expected at this point in time.

One funny anecdote that had both Mark and I laughing at the doctor visit today...Carol was very fatigued after being at the doctor's office for about 45 minutes and Mark and I started discussing some issue about Carol's recovery and she politely asked Mark, not once, but four times, "Please don't talk." Mark had me cracking up when he said that is the first time in 46 years of marriage that Carol has asked Mark "not" to talk!

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so they say...in light of that below, (actually it will be above because I can't figure out how to get them below) are some pictures of the hospital stay which was difficult but also had some "fun" moments!

Please call Cathy's cell to leave Carol messages...she is too weak and tired to take any calls at the moment. We'll keep you posted when Carol is strong enough for some visits, but at the moment she is not feeling well enough for visitors...thank you for your understanding. Please keep those "blog" comments coming and notes and cards are appreciated as well...the notes and cards that Mary Contois read to Carol this morning were exactly "on point" as to Carol's needs of the moment...it was quite uncanny except that we all know we have a great and caring God that loves us through "small moments" of hope as well as in the "big miracles."

Carol sends her love to you all!

Friday, 10/10, Prayer Request

Hey All,

This is a special urgent prayer request in case you are checking the blog Friday, 10/10, between the hours of 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Carol is retaining excess fluid...this is a side affect of the IL2 treatment. This excess fluid can put stress on her heart and lungs. They have just put her on Lasix...the prayer request is that the Lasix will work to expel the excess fluid from her body in the next four hours (by 4:30 pm, today, Friday, 10/10) and that Carol's heart and lungs would be protected. There is another protocol they can go to if the Lasix is not sufficient...I'll update the blog as needed...THANK YOU!

A Day of Contentment

Carol for Carol (kinda sorta)

Wednesday was a rough day, but made sweeter for Carol because she was able to see Mark and Tim and Erika. (Thank you Al for driving over with Mark!) Thursday was much better...a day of contentment, with spots of joy and laughter. There were longer walks because the heart monitor was removed, there were foot massages, short games of SET, times for quiet solitude with the Lord for Carol and even a partial viewing of a movie on DVD!...the only thing we didn't get to was the excitement of getting to shampoo Carol's hair!

It is now Friday morning and I (Cathy) am finishing up where we left off yesterday...Carol got tired as we were talking about what to write last night so this entry has become the "Friday" edition rather than the "Thursday" edition. (And Carol's shampoo did happen this morning so Carol is her beautiful self today!)

Carol wanted to share some thoughts with you around 1 Peter 1:6-9. "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls." Carol is rejoicing with "joy inexpressible" in Christ Jesus and her fervent prayer is that through this particular trial, praise, honor, and glory will be brought to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Carol is expected to go home Saturday evening...please pray the chemo stays on schedule so that she would indeed be able to come home on Saturday. Some other specific prayer requests would be continued endurance for Mark, quick recovery of Carol's blood counts during the two weeks before the next round starts, energy and concentration for Carol to be able to spend time in the Word...and whatever else the Spirit puts on your heart to pray...again Carol and Mark are so very appreciative of your thoughts and prayers for them!

Stanford Hospital...the Spa it is NOT

Carol for Carol...Cathy is only typing!

~Praises of the Day

• Pic line established smoothly (the pic line is a port to enable IV lines to be given without constantly sticking Carol)
• Private room
• Wonderful care from the staff
• Foot massage given by Jill Daniels
• Carol says she loves Cathy for hanging in there with her (she made me type that)
  

~Prayer requests

• No muscular pain on left side or in right shoulder
• Minimal leakage of fluid from her capillaries (a side affect of the IL2)
• NO damage to her heart (possible side affect of IL2)
  
• Blood pressure to not drop below 90/50
• Sufficient sleep to make it through tomorrow
• That the four chemo drugs and the IL2 do their work

~Carol's Climbing Verse for the Day

• Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded (Carol's emphasis) you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go.

Carol's done for the day! She loves you all!

P.S. (This is Cathy...please leave Carol your thoughts and prayers for her on the blog especially this week as she will not be able to have very many visitors...the head nurse said she will probably be pretty fatigued fairly quickly and that no one that is around children may visit because of the risk of cold or flu viruses coming into this unit with so many patients having compromised immune systems. Please call Cathy first before coming to the hospital as Carol is being poked and prodded day and NIGHT and is getting very little sleep...we want to be extra careful to preserve any times of rest that Carol may be able to grab throughout the day...thank you!)

No Room in the Inn

Cathy for Carol

...just a quick update! Carol and Mark left the house bright and early to sojourn over to Stanford Hospital to get Carol checked into the hospital only to find that the monitored beds are impacted...it appears anyone majoring in cancer at Stanford must wait for beds just as engineering students must wait for classes! Check-in day will be Tuesday at 9:00am instead. The day was not wasted however...Dr. Reddy was very encouraged to see that Carol's blood counts had recovered nicely and commented that, "she had sailed through her first chemo round with flying colors." He was impressed with her fitness level and her recovery from fatigue as well. He believes that even though they will be adding the interleukin2 low dose treatment simultaneously to the chemo drugs this week that the side-affects will not be drastically different...since she tolerated the chemo well, adding the interleukin might make her slightly more fatigued, but not significantly so. Please pray that the side affects will be minimal...specifically that there will be NO damage to her heart and again that nausea and fatigue would be kept at bay. A second pet scan will be taken after this second round of treatment to assess progress...please pray that both treatments are effective in knocking out the growth of the cancer cells. The schedule for treatment as it stands now will be one week in hospital (at Stanford) receiving both Interleukin2 and chemo, two weeks at home and then back to the hospital for another 5 days...repeating the cycle as the doctor sees fit.

Thank you for your prayers...Mark and Carol will keep you posted as they know more.

A Very Good Week Indeed!

Cathy for Carol

What a great week this has been...it is now Friday, October 3rd, and fall is in the air! Carol has learned new gratefulness for energy which she has had in increasing amounts each day this week.

Jake is sitting with me at this moment as I'm typing in this post for
Carol's blog...you can see from the picture above he has been reading a book (about Japan) with his "Nana" and Jordan. (Jake is on the left and Jordan is on the right.) They made me take a long, deep bow in front of them as if I were in Japan having to show great respect for them! Jake would like you to know that he loves his Nana VERY much and has had so much fun the last couple of days having Nana make French toast, attend soccer practice, nag him about homework and piano practice...and he is looking forward to walking to their favorite Mexican restaurant, "Mexxi's," in a few minutes.

Greg, Mark and Carol's older son, was here on a business trip Monday and came for dinner. Greg reports that even though the salmon was leftover from Sunday night's dinner it was still "first class restaurant style" even the night after! Thank you again all you fantastic cooks out there who are providing Mark and Carol with great tasting and nourishing meals!

Carol's week has been filled with many of her "normal" activities...she even went one day without a nap! She taught Precepts on Wednesday morning, has worked out at the club a couple of times and has met with many of you for Bible Study, tea, CTO and this afternoon talked with both Carol Wattles and Janet Lide about restoring some of her almost 100 year old quilts. We have both been having oodles of fun hanging out with Carol's grandchildren, Jake and Jordan, at their house today and yesterday while Erika and Tim (Jake and Jordan's parents) are off running a 13 mile half marathon in Big Sur for which they have trained diligently during the past several weeks.

As many of you know, Carol will be admitted to Stanford Hospital on Monday morning, October 6 for five days. She will be receiving a treatment intravenously for 15 minutes every eight hours around the clock that is meant to help her body recognize the cancer cells as cancer in order that the chemo drugs can work more effectively. We will let you know as soon as possible if Carol is able to have visitors at Stanford next week.

Carol's blood counts this week have been stellar...improving each time they are taken...please keep praying.

~Prayer requests for next week

• Interleukin2 will work
• Opportunities to talk to people about the Lord
  

• Minimal resulting fatigue
• Wisdom for the doctors
• Endurance for Mark

And now for the short tutorial some of you have requested on "leaving comments" on the blog for Carol to read...she really does love to read your notes to her...they are super encouraging to her...so type away, often!

1. Click on the word "comments" at the bottom of the latest entry in the blog.
2. Click in the box below "leave your comment."
3. Type in your note to Carol.
4. Type in the letters in green in the "word verification box"...the letters are difficult to read sometimes.
5. Please sign your note with your first and last name...some of us have very common first names!
6. If you have a Google account you can use your user id and password to post your comment...or if you don't have a Google account and don't want to sign up for one you can click the "anonymous" button and post your blog that way. If you go the "anonymous" route you for sure need to remember to list your first and last names in your note!

Hope this helps!

...one last note...there is a prayer time set for Carol at VBC, Sunday, October 5th at 2:00 pm. Please feel free to come and join the elders in prayer for Carol at that time. Thank you again for all of your love and support for Mark and Carol. The three weeks ahead are going to be intense, but we know that our great God sustains and carries us through the most difficult of times as He will Carol.