Wednesday...Carol is Home

Carol is home today, Wednesday, and resting comfortably. She came through the procedure with no complications. She has experienced some nausea already and is in some pain as well. The Porters so appreciate your continued prayers. I (Cathy) dropped my phone in some water last night and it is majorly dead at the moment...will try to get it fixed today so I can take your calls...so sorry about that! We'll keep you posted on how Carol is feeling and when she will be up for visitors.

Tuesday...Carol's Procedure went Very Well!

...just a quick note to let you all know that Carol is in recovery and that the doctor said the procedure went well. She'll be moved over to the main hospital (Stanford) later this evening and is still expected to come home tomorrow. Carol was in good spirits today...she felt GREAT, full of energy...she expressed that she felt "almost" normal!

Thank you for your continued prayers that the chemo would do its work to shrink the cancer site and that the side affects would be minimal. I'll keep you posted on any new developments.

Carol was rejoicing in God's goodness to her today...let's all join our voices with Mary, Jesus's mother, in her song:

“And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”- Luke 1:46-47, 49.

Notes from Carol

Monday, Mary and Carol in the kitchen making lemon curd

Picture taken after a "delayed", but much enjoyed Thanksgiving at Tim and Erika's...lovingly prepared by four of Carol's dear friends!

...notes dictated from Carol!

Merry Christmas Everyone! I won't be sending out a Christmas letter this year...we decided to put our energies elsewhere this year. Thank you for your understanding. Christmas is different this year. The house is beautiful, the tree is up...and I have a deeper joy than ever before as I contemplate the reality of the birth of Jesus. I'm seeing at a new level what it means to have Him born in me. My connection to Him IS permanent! ...my prayer for you as we end 2008 and are thinking about moving forward into 2009 is that you too will long to know him in increasing depth...Happy New Year!

On a medical level...I'm gaining ground. My energy level is better than much of the last three months...that will soon change...as many of you know I will go to Stanford tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec 16) for a procedure to insert chemo directly into the liver. Please pray for its effectiveness. My doctor called last night with the news that they want to give me chemo Dec 22-24 here in Pleasanton as well. This will assure that the cancer sites in my lungs will continue to be targeted as well as the sites in my liver. I had hoped to be free of chemo through the Christmas week, but I do want to keep the process going.

...back to Cathy for Carol

Please pray for perseverance through what could prove to be a hard couple of weeks. Carol will probably come home from Stanford on Wednesday, but the doctors are saying that the next week will probably be tough...nausea, fatigue, pain, chemo brain...adding the additional chemo starting Monday, Dec 22, will add to the cumulative side-affects...please pray that these would be minimized. As always blood counts will be of concern.

The chemo treatment to the liver is now scheduled for three rounds with the next round at Stanford scheduled for Jan 15-16...of course these schedules are held very lightly. Please pray for wisdom for Carol's team of doctors and nurses as they continue devising treatment for Carol.

On a lighter note...many of you have been by to help Carol bring in Christmas in the Porter tradition...Mark put the tree up on Friday and it was decorated in stages by Carol with help from Tim, Erika and the boys as well as a assorted friends. Today Carol, Mary and Chelse made up Carol's yummy lemon curd...and I got to be one of the first to taste the result!!! You all would have enjoyed watching Carol in the backyard this morning (during one of the few moments of warmth) picking lemons off the tree in order to have fresh squeezed juice for the lemon curd.

Carol expresses her deep and enduring thankfulness for all of you often throughout each day...you are loved and appreciated more than you know!

Home Again

Carol asked that we continue praying for her because God is answering our prayers! She was released from Valley Care yesterday afternoon about 4PM.

Carol was encouraged and wants to praise God that He used her in many conversations she had with the nurses and doctors at the hospital. She said that God through her is "making a difference."

Please pray for continued wisdom for the doctors and the other attendants and for strength and rest for Carol and her family. Thank you.

Out of ICU

Carol is improving and is being moved from ICU as soon as a bed is available. Pray she continues to gain strength and is released from Valley Care soon. Also, continue to pray for Mark’s strength and stamina.

Thank you all for your continuous, steadfast prayers!

A Request

Carol remains in CCU at Valley Care. The doctors are running some tests to evaluate her situation. As soon as information is available the blog will be updated.

At this time, PLEASE do not call the hospital requesting an update on Carol.
The unit secretaries have been overwhelmed with phone calls which makes their job very difficult. Also, hospital visitors are limited to family only at this time.

Please refrain from calling the Porters home phone and cell phones. It is difficult for them to return calls. They appreciate your concern and your prayers. If you would like to leave a message for the Porters, please do so on the blog.

In ICU

Very early this morning, Carol's blood pressure and heart rate elevated. As a precaution, she was transferred to ICU. The doctors now believe this may have resulted from a drug interaction.

Carol remains in ICU. Her blood pressure and pulse rate are now stable. She was up for breakfast but will remain sedated throughout the day. Mark and Tim Porter are requesting that calls be limited to the family for the time being.

Carol has needed several blood transfusions. Currently, her blood type has been depleted in the valley and must now be delivered from Oakland. Even though you may not be Carol’s blood type, this is a great opportunity to give blood. There is a Red Cross facility in the parking lot at Stoneridge near Cost Plus.