Today we had some strange news. Chris went to see the oncologist about when to start the 6 months of chemotherapy that he has to do. Doctor Whiznant was reviewing the time table and the paper work when he stopped on the pathology report for the sections removed during the surgery (section of the stomach, 10 inches of the small intestines, the common bile ducts, gall bladder, part of the pancreas, and 18 lymph nodes associated with what was removed). He sat for about 30 seconds with a strange look on his face and then said that after reading the pathology report again he noticed that the report stated from the pathologist that the cancer was duodenal cancer, in other words, cancer of the small intestines and not the pancreas. The report stated the pancreas section examined did not show signs of cancer!
Doctor Whiznant stated he wanted to review it again with the whole doctor team in the office, including the surgeon and that he was going to call some friends in San Fransico for a second opinion on the report. He stated that given my history of colon cancer and the way the lymph nodes reduced in January from the chemo and radiation that cancer of the small intestines was more likely than pancreatic. It would also better explain the ulcer that was in the small intestines and why the valve from the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas was swollen closed.
There is a BIG difference between cancer in the small intestines and the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer typically comes back in 12 to 13 months and most do not live beyond 2 years and 5 at most. Cancer in the small intestines can be "cured". 10 to 20 years could be extended on life from cancer of the small intestines!
So more to come on that news after the doctors all get together on the reports.
I am currently taking pancreatic enzymes to see if my food will digest better, right now it is going in and going right through me...not a pleasant experience. However, each week I seem to get better and better at eating and healing.
Thank you all for your well wishes, I sure appreciate it and think it makes a difference in my life!
Chris

Friday the 17th Chris called Dr. Ott and spoke with him about eating and the problems he was having. Dr. Ott told Chris to go and have a STEAK!!! “Give it a try” he said. I had just spoken earlier with the nutritionist who told me all of the things that I needed to do to help Chris and that wasn’t one of them. I now have to make two meals. One for those of us who don’t need all the high fat calories (butter, mayonnaise, cream etc.) and one for those in the family who could use a little more meat on their bones. Yes, I said STEAK! Chris wanted to go Friday night but I was way to sick. No fun to eat out when you can’t smell or taste anything. He waited till Saturday afternoon and we went to Sizzler as a family to see what would happen to him. I still couldn’t taste or smell anything but wanted to see what was going to happen. He ate it. Didn’t throw up but became ill later. Any time he eats anything he gets sick (d….). The food isn’t being absorbed like it should. We saw Dr. Ott today and he prescribed Pancreatic Enzymes for Chris to take. His body isn’t making enough so he will take 2 pills every time he eats until his pancreas starts producing enough. We figured out today that Chris has lost 22 lbs since March 9th. Dr. Ott commented on how Chris needed a new wardrobe. We have an appointment on April 28th to meet with Dr. Whizenant (the chemotherapy doctor) to figure out when we will start chemo again, hopefully after we get back from Disney World. We are sorry to say but Megan did not win the car Monday. It was a lot of fun they took the whole school out to the football field and everyone cheered as each student tried their key. They had a radio station there doing the commentary, throwing candy and giving away Chick-fil-A coupons. Fun memory. I guess I shouldn't have talked about getting another car because the van decided to die on us Friday (its fixed now). Also today my grandfather died. He had Alzheimer’s and had been in a care facility for awhile. I spent all day with him up until Chris’ doctor’s appointment (he passed away at 2:30pm he passed away 20 minutes after I left) so I was able to say “goodbye” to him. Chris and the children went and said “goodbye” to him last night. I am happy that he is out of pain and reunited with my grandmother. I am grateful to know that I will see him again someday and he will be his happy, fun self like I remember from years ago before he got sick. Thanks mom for taking such good care of him all these years. I know he thanks you too. You’re the best!! Love, Ricki

Chris comes home tired from work each day but enjoys going to work to keep his mind off the pain he still feels. Food isn’t going so well everything makes his stomach hurt. I left a message with the nutritionist to call me. Maybe she/he can help me find some things that will give Chris the nutrients that he needs and not make him feel sick. At Meg’s school this year they have had a program called the “Ken Garff Keys for Success” sponsored by the Ken Garff Car Dealership. This means that those who are doing well in school were entered into a drawing. 50 student’s names were pulled out and Meg was one of them. On Monday she will be given a car key and will then along with the other 49 students try her key to see if it starts the car. If her key starts the car – I’ll be getting myself a new car!!!! (he, he). I’m sure that she won’t get the car but we are so proud of her for working so hard in school. The school also called to let us know that Meg’s phone had been found. In a closet in a classroom of a teacher that Meg doesn’t have. Ahhh... Good times. Love ya, Ricki

Friday (the 10th) Chris called Dr. Ott and asked him if he could remove his feeding tube. Chris feels that his stomach will start working better if he’s off the feeding tube. Dr. Ott asked him some questions and then told him that Chris could either come in and he’d remove it or Chris could do it himself. Chris opted to do it himself. Dr. Ott told him how to do it and that it would hurt but to keep pulling. He also told him that it is an outpatient procedure to put the tube back in. Chris waited till Sunday morning before church to pull the tube out. I’ve been telling him lately that he is a “bad patient”. I am worried that he isn’t going to get enough calories a day (2200). So far about all he eats are mashed potatoes, Jell-O and plain ham sandwiches. Monday (13th) it was Chris’ and I's 19th wedding anniversary. My parents had offered to baby sit the kids but there isn’t a whole lot that Chris and I can do (no movies – can’t go unless you can eat popcorn, no eating out etc) so will take them up on their offer in a couple of months when Chris is better. We decided to go to Antelope Island and see the buffalo and fly kites as a family (no school – spring break). We saw lots of buffalo but the wind wasn’t strong enough to fly the Star Wars kites that my kids got from the Easter bunny. It was still fun. Chris wore himself out trying to get the kites to fly. Chris went back to work yesterday he seemed to do alright, tired but hey, he helped load the dish washer which he hasn’t done since March 8th he must be getting better. Not too much else is happening Taylor lost a tooth, Megs cell phone was stolen, Katie, Jacob and I are sick, and it’s raining and snowing today (yuck!!) Oh, if anyone is interested we have a free IV pole that you can have. When Home Health came to pick up the stuff the other day they told me that I got to keep the pole (lucky me). Too bad it’s not strong enough for “Pole Dancing” (he, he) They told me to donate it to DI and then they would send it to a third-world country and if I ever need another one they’ll give me a new one. (Hope no one was offended by the “Pole” comment):o). Love, Ricki

Since I last wrote Chris’ short term disability has been extended until April 13 and he is now on Loratab. Yesterday we received the hospital bill from Chris’ stay March 9 – 18th. (Not the doctor bill we haven’t gotten that yet) Any guesses??? $44,684.32!!!! Wow! I have to tell you how blessed we are a couple of years ago when we were let go from Franklin Covey. Little did we know then what a blessing it would be to be with Verizon (not only because of great people), but because of their insurance. We only paid – drum roll please - $100.00!!!!!!!!!! For the whole entire thing. I was telling my children yesterday with tears streaming down my face, that not everyone is as lucky; some loose their homes etc. I don’t think you can get any more blessed:). We have still spent a lot of money on doctor visits, but look what it could have been. Yesterday was a hard day. It was General Conference and I felt like all the talks were directed to me, especially, President Eyring’s. During his talk Chris and I sat next to each other on the couch, and he held me tight as I cried, and he was kind enough to remind me that it could be about 40 years before we see each other again (rude boy). If you didn’t hear it read, it was wonderful. It was also the General Priesthood Session that night. Chris and Ryan would usually have gone together to the meeting, then out to ice cream, but Chris being too sick couldn’t go. My brother-in-law, Jim, stepped in and took Ryan to the session, and then out to ice cream (thanks Jim). I cried a lot yesterday, wondering who will take my sons to father/son meetings. Some days are much harder than others. Some days it just seems like a bad dream, and I’ll wake up soon and that he’s going to get better and everything will be like it was 6 months ago. We aren’t suppose to ask “Why is this happening to me?,” but “What am I to learn from this?” (Elder Scott - lds.org) May I learn what I need to. Love, Ricki

This morning Chris went to work for about half-an-hour and then came home. He is in a lot of pain. On Monday he had three pain pills left so I called the doctor to order more and received a lecture from the receptionist about how I need to call earlier because oxycodone is not easy to refill it can’t just be called in over the phone. Sorry, I didn’t know I’m not a full fledged nurse yet:) Chris spoke with Dr. Ott and Chris decided that he would go without the pain pills because he didn’t want to become addicted. Chris has now decided that he would like to go back on them so I just got off the phone with the receptionist :o) who said that she would have Dr. Ott call us back when he gets out of surgery. The receptionist is really going to love me this time when I say I want those pain pills NOW! Chris also contacted MetLife to extend his short term disability claim. You know the worst thing about all of this is watching Chris suffer. He has lost a lot of weight, hunches over when he walks and hardly talks at all-definitely no joking it takes to much energy and he can’t go anywhere after 6pm because he has to be hooked up to his feeding pump (I doubt he would want to go anywhere anyway but, if he did). Some of you know that I always tease Chris when he goes camping with the scouts about me sleeping in the middle of the bed and enjoying every minute of it but now that I’ve tried it since March 9th (Chris sleeps downstairs on the couch because he has to sleep sitting up) I’m not liking it so much. I’ll let you know how it goes with the receptionist – “may she not have to feel the wrath of Ricki” Love, Ricki P.S. Sorry but I don’t know how to respond to blog comments. I tried to send one to Cindy but I don’t think she got it and I don’t know how much info you want on the internet so email me. Kristen, Chris wants us to have ice cream in Disney World so that we can play “martyr in the ice cream parlor” he,he. Thanks everyone for your comments:)