On Sunday evening, Michael had a seizure. He bit his tongue and got a fat lip due to the seizure. After about 4 hours of sleeping, he came out of it and was talking with us. Then on Monday afternoon, he had another one while talking to friends. He hasn't fared well with this one. He is slurring some of his words and he takes a long time to answer questions that you ask him.
The arrangements have been made with the KU med center for the donation of his body. He wanted to do this so that the students may learn about practicing medicine and curing cancer. I surly hope that they do the learning for the cure soon. It is very painfull going through this process for all parties involved.
Michael's mom and sisters have come up to be with us. My sister, Nancy is doing all the cooking and laundry. She has been a Godsend. She is working like a dog to make sure that everyone is being taken care of. Elizabeth, my neice, calls on me weekly to make sure that I am having breakfast and when I am hungry, she brings me Panera bread items. Always great but the calories are galore in these items.
As for me, I am holding my own. I have been scheduled for my colonoscopy and I am really looking forward to that procedure... not really. The masses that they found on my spleen and thyroid are cysts. They will monitor them and if they need to be taken out, they will schedule it at a later date.
Hope all are well who read this blog.
Take care and God Bless.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Working towards the end
I am sorry that this blog hasn't been updated in a couple of weeks. I have been busy with other things.
Three weeks ago yesterday I took Michael to the hospital with a 101.1 fever. He was found out to have strep pneumonia and MRSA which is a medicine resistant bug. He was in intensive care for 2 days and I was at his side for 24 hour a day for a few days. They moved him to the regular rooms and kept him in isolation. After a few days there, they moved him to the TLC unit at the VA. He has
been there ever since.
Hospice is going to come in today and give us some options. I fear that he will not be with us for very much longer. But then again, he is a Marine and doesn't know when to give up.
Take Care and God Bless.
Three weeks ago yesterday I took Michael to the hospital with a 101.1 fever. He was found out to have strep pneumonia and MRSA which is a medicine resistant bug. He was in intensive care for 2 days and I was at his side for 24 hour a day for a few days. They moved him to the regular rooms and kept him in isolation. After a few days there, they moved him to the TLC unit at the VA. He has
been there ever since.
Hospice is going to come in today and give us some options. I fear that he will not be with us for very much longer. But then again, he is a Marine and doesn't know when to give up.
Take Care and God Bless.
Update on Michael's progress
Michael was transfered to Hospice on Monday afternoon. He is resting comfortably. He's in alot of pain due to the bone cancer. His platelet count and hemoglobin counts are low. He is in good spirits and the smile is still there.
He has had several visitors in the past few days. His mom and sisters, Melody,Kim and Ann came up to be with us. My sister Nancy has been a godsend along with her friend Len. They have been making lunches and dinners for us so that we can stay up to the hospital with Michael. They have also been doing shopping and laundry for us. I can't say enough about the help that they have been.
Since his family has arrived to rally around him, we have tried to make sure that someone is up there all the time with him round the clock. Right now he needs every advocate that he can have. Up until now, I have been his advocate. I find that I was growing more tired as this process went on. Yesterday, I went in the morning to see him. We stayed for about 2 hours and then returned home. His mom and sisters went up in the afternoon and I came home. Slept for only two hours but is was needed.
Pray for us all, especially Michael. We need all the prayers that you can send our way.
God Bless and Take Care.
He has had several visitors in the past few days. His mom and sisters, Melody,Kim and Ann came up to be with us. My sister Nancy has been a godsend along with her friend Len. They have been making lunches and dinners for us so that we can stay up to the hospital with Michael. They have also been doing shopping and laundry for us. I can't say enough about the help that they have been.
Since his family has arrived to rally around him, we have tried to make sure that someone is up there all the time with him round the clock. Right now he needs every advocate that he can have. Up until now, I have been his advocate. I find that I was growing more tired as this process went on. Yesterday, I went in the morning to see him. We stayed for about 2 hours and then returned home. His mom and sisters went up in the afternoon and I came home. Slept for only two hours but is was needed.
Pray for us all, especially Michael. We need all the prayers that you can send our way.
God Bless and Take Care.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Belated update on ourselves
I am so sorry for not posting in a timely manner here on this blog. I can say that I am busy and I am but not 100 percent of the time.
OK. This past week I have been reminded of how much I do love the look of snow on the landscape. It is oh so pretty to sit inside and look at it fall gently to the earth. However, at some point in time, I do have to go out in it. We had to cancel two of Michael's appointments this past week due to the snow storms. It has been shown on national television stations today. Last week we got 14 plus inches of snow. Almost shut down the city. On Monday night, we got an additional eight inches. The wind was blowing harder for this storm. Most of the schools in the area closed and the city only plowed the major throughfares in the city. I am not on one of those throughfares. The sun came out today and melted most of the snow on the truck so I will have no problems getting Michael to his appointments tomorrow.
Now for the health updates:
Michael is losing weight. He is down to 167 pounds and is having trouble eating. He says that it hurts to swallow. He says that when he eats, it turns to paste in his mouth and it is hard to swallow. Have found that he can eat scrambled eggs with cheese and can have puddings. If anyone can think of other soft items to eat, send the suggestions to me.
I went in for an ultrasound on Friday. They found a 2 cm mass on my thyroid and a 2 cm mass on my spleen. They are sending me to an endocronologist for further testing of the thyroid. I am not sure about the spleen yet. I will keep you all informed. They had done a CAT scan of my heart and my cervical spine in January. I have deterioation of my discs in my C5 to C7 area. Not sure what they will do about that. My graft in my heart is doing well but I am showing evidence of plaque in my arteries. Will have to see what I can do to remedy that dietary situation.
OK. This past week I have been reminded of how much I do love the look of snow on the landscape. It is oh so pretty to sit inside and look at it fall gently to the earth. However, at some point in time, I do have to go out in it. We had to cancel two of Michael's appointments this past week due to the snow storms. It has been shown on national television stations today. Last week we got 14 plus inches of snow. Almost shut down the city. On Monday night, we got an additional eight inches. The wind was blowing harder for this storm. Most of the schools in the area closed and the city only plowed the major throughfares in the city. I am not on one of those throughfares. The sun came out today and melted most of the snow on the truck so I will have no problems getting Michael to his appointments tomorrow.
Now for the health updates:
Michael is losing weight. He is down to 167 pounds and is having trouble eating. He says that it hurts to swallow. He says that when he eats, it turns to paste in his mouth and it is hard to swallow. Have found that he can eat scrambled eggs with cheese and can have puddings. If anyone can think of other soft items to eat, send the suggestions to me.
I went in for an ultrasound on Friday. They found a 2 cm mass on my thyroid and a 2 cm mass on my spleen. They are sending me to an endocronologist for further testing of the thyroid. I am not sure about the spleen yet. I will keep you all informed. They had done a CAT scan of my heart and my cervical spine in January. I have deterioation of my discs in my C5 to C7 area. Not sure what they will do about that. My graft in my heart is doing well but I am showing evidence of plaque in my arteries. Will have to see what I can do to remedy that dietary situation.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Merry Christmas to All and Happy New Year.
Yes I know that Christmas is past and we are well on our way into the New Year but I hadn't posted since Thanksgiving. Please forgive.
Our Christmas was wonderful. We had moved into our new apartment (a larger place with 1100 sq feet.) and were making plans for Chrismas dinner. Michael's sons, Quenten and Everett, came for lunch along with my sister Nancy and niece Elizabeth with their significant others. His sister Melody came up from El Campo for a few days visit. Four of the 8 grandchildren were there. Presents were given, a feast was eaten and all was well in the Heidebrecht/Musall household. Michael was overjoyed that both of his sons came to dinner that day. A real Chrismas miracle.
Our New Year was greeted with friends who traveled from Indiana to see us. Our time was short but fun.
Michael is feeling ok. His counts are down and he seems to be holding his own. He is going today for chemo again and we will find out more information today.
I think that I am getting a cold. Have been coughing and I need to nip this in the bud before it becomes bronchitis. I can't be sick. I have too much to do.
Love you all.
God Bless and Take Care.
Our Christmas was wonderful. We had moved into our new apartment (a larger place with 1100 sq feet.) and were making plans for Chrismas dinner. Michael's sons, Quenten and Everett, came for lunch along with my sister Nancy and niece Elizabeth with their significant others. His sister Melody came up from El Campo for a few days visit. Four of the 8 grandchildren were there. Presents were given, a feast was eaten and all was well in the Heidebrecht/Musall household. Michael was overjoyed that both of his sons came to dinner that day. A real Chrismas miracle.
Our New Year was greeted with friends who traveled from Indiana to see us. Our time was short but fun.
Michael is feeling ok. His counts are down and he seems to be holding his own. He is going today for chemo again and we will find out more information today.
I think that I am getting a cold. Have been coughing and I need to nip this in the bud before it becomes bronchitis. I can't be sick. I have too much to do.
Love you all.
God Bless and Take Care.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving to All
It has been a most enjoyable Thanksgiving for us this year. I had asked about 14 people to come to lunch. I only had eight. One of which didn't stay for lunch but she brought me a beautiful Christmas cactus. I will try to take a photo and get it on here.
On Tuesday, Michael and I went to the hospital for his chemo treatment. While he was doing his thing in the Oncology department, I went to the Primary care clinic and saw my doctor. My arms and hands have been numb and I needed to let him know that it was getting worse and that I had started dropping things. I already know that I have C2 through C6 compressed and there are nerves being pinched. I also know that I have carpel tunnel on both hands. I have been putting off my problems in order to be there for Michael but it has come to a point where I need to take care of this.
So he told me that I would be getting a Cat scan of my chest (he is going to look at my graft to make sure it is ok) and he is setting me up for a nerve induction test. Also this past week, I broke the back part of one of my eye teeth. It looks fine from the front but it is sheered off in the back and it is up above the gum line. I am going to assume that they will have to pull it. Not looking forward to this one as it is right in front and it will be noticeable when I open my mouth. Guess I will have to close it more often. Yeah right!!!
Anyway, Michael got some good news at the docs office. The chemo treatments and the hormone therapy are working. His PSA level is going down. It has dropped by 50 percent since the last of October. We are really happy. He had only had two chemo treatments and has had only one issue.. he is tired. So this coming week, he will be having a surgery to put in a portacath. They will put it in his chest and when they need to draw blood or give him his chemo, they will not have to start and IV. They can pull and push through this catheter port.
We have had prayers being said for us and we are very appreciative. We thank you all for your concern and thoughts. Michael keeps on fighting the good fight.
We have a friend here who Michael and I have known for over 30 years. I ask you to pray for him. He went to the doctor on Monday and found out that his cancer is growing. The persons who diagnosed him in Corpus Christi didn't think about doing surgery and taking out the tumor while it was small. They just let it go. I am not sure how they can live with themselves when they do this. It seems like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing half the time. Anyway, they have told him that he might not make it until Christmas. Please pray for him and his family. His grandson, just got out of the hospital after having a surgery in which the doctors put a tube from his brain down to his pelvis to help regulate the pressure in his head. The boy has Pfieffer's Syndrome/Disease. This little boy (7) has had more surgeries on his head than he is old. They also found out that he is losing his eyesight. Pray for this family please.
God Bless and Take care.
Lynn
On Tuesday, Michael and I went to the hospital for his chemo treatment. While he was doing his thing in the Oncology department, I went to the Primary care clinic and saw my doctor. My arms and hands have been numb and I needed to let him know that it was getting worse and that I had started dropping things. I already know that I have C2 through C6 compressed and there are nerves being pinched. I also know that I have carpel tunnel on both hands. I have been putting off my problems in order to be there for Michael but it has come to a point where I need to take care of this.
So he told me that I would be getting a Cat scan of my chest (he is going to look at my graft to make sure it is ok) and he is setting me up for a nerve induction test. Also this past week, I broke the back part of one of my eye teeth. It looks fine from the front but it is sheered off in the back and it is up above the gum line. I am going to assume that they will have to pull it. Not looking forward to this one as it is right in front and it will be noticeable when I open my mouth. Guess I will have to close it more often. Yeah right!!!
Anyway, Michael got some good news at the docs office. The chemo treatments and the hormone therapy are working. His PSA level is going down. It has dropped by 50 percent since the last of October. We are really happy. He had only had two chemo treatments and has had only one issue.. he is tired. So this coming week, he will be having a surgery to put in a portacath. They will put it in his chest and when they need to draw blood or give him his chemo, they will not have to start and IV. They can pull and push through this catheter port.
We have had prayers being said for us and we are very appreciative. We thank you all for your concern and thoughts. Michael keeps on fighting the good fight.
We have a friend here who Michael and I have known for over 30 years. I ask you to pray for him. He went to the doctor on Monday and found out that his cancer is growing. The persons who diagnosed him in Corpus Christi didn't think about doing surgery and taking out the tumor while it was small. They just let it go. I am not sure how they can live with themselves when they do this. It seems like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing half the time. Anyway, they have told him that he might not make it until Christmas. Please pray for him and his family. His grandson, just got out of the hospital after having a surgery in which the doctors put a tube from his brain down to his pelvis to help regulate the pressure in his head. The boy has Pfieffer's Syndrome/Disease. This little boy (7) has had more surgeries on his head than he is old. They also found out that he is losing his eyesight. Pray for this family please.
God Bless and Take care.
Lynn
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade
Got my Bzz Agent kit with the coffee in it and tried a pot. It was great. Michael loved it and you all know how much Michael loves his coffee. In the kit they sent a bunch of coupons for the coffee. I have passed those out to friends and family and if I didn't get one to you, I will try to pass them along the next time I get a kit.
Now on to Michael. He started his chemo a couple of weeks ago and so far so good. His platelet count is low and his white blood cell count is also low. The second weeks chemo had to wait to make sure that the doc wanted to give it to him or not. But they did.
He had an appointment today to see if they would put a port a cath in his chest. It is a procedure that they do on chemo patients so that they do not have to start an IV on a weekly basis. It is easier on the patient and the nurses. So we went to this doc and he told Michael that he had to be off the chemo for at least two weeks in order for him to put one in. So we went to the oncology department and told them and they said that it was hooey. You see if there is a problem with the cath and it doesn't heal right, he could get sepsis and he could die. So we are a little leary about putting one in. But the nurses state that it is done all the time without problems.
So we told them (both the doctors) to argue it out and let us know what they decide. So we hope to hear from the doctors by tomorrow.
We had a wonderful visit with Kim and Mom this past few days. They had to stay an extra day as Mom's car died. It was the battery and as soon as the new one was purchased and put in, the car purred. So they stayed an extra night with us and it was great. I enjoyed their company and I know that Michael was glad to see them.
Michael has been tired and that is to be expected with the chemo but he would really like to hear from all the friends. Give him a call 316-323-7050. It is better to call him in the afternoon. I hope that all who read this will give him a call of encouragement.
Take care and God Bless.
Now on to Michael. He started his chemo a couple of weeks ago and so far so good. His platelet count is low and his white blood cell count is also low. The second weeks chemo had to wait to make sure that the doc wanted to give it to him or not. But they did.
He had an appointment today to see if they would put a port a cath in his chest. It is a procedure that they do on chemo patients so that they do not have to start an IV on a weekly basis. It is easier on the patient and the nurses. So we went to this doc and he told Michael that he had to be off the chemo for at least two weeks in order for him to put one in. So we went to the oncology department and told them and they said that it was hooey. You see if there is a problem with the cath and it doesn't heal right, he could get sepsis and he could die. So we are a little leary about putting one in. But the nurses state that it is done all the time without problems.
So we told them (both the doctors) to argue it out and let us know what they decide. So we hope to hear from the doctors by tomorrow.
We had a wonderful visit with Kim and Mom this past few days. They had to stay an extra day as Mom's car died. It was the battery and as soon as the new one was purchased and put in, the car purred. So they stayed an extra night with us and it was great. I enjoyed their company and I know that Michael was glad to see them.
Michael has been tired and that is to be expected with the chemo but he would really like to hear from all the friends. Give him a call 316-323-7050. It is better to call him in the afternoon. I hope that all who read this will give him a call of encouragement.
Take care and God Bless.
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