Nancy continues here daily Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments at the hospital. Each Wednesday she meets with the wound specialist. Wednesday 7/17 the doctor said the wounds are definitely starting to close but she will have to continue the treatments until they are completely healed....no time frame was predicted.
Our kids are still changing the dressings; now they are every other day versus before when they had to be changed daily. What a Blessing to have their talents. Another big step is Nancy is able to drive herself to the hospital each day. We thank all of those who drove her daily over the last several months and those who offered to drive her.
She is getting out more and more to have dinner and meet with friends. She has a lot of hair now and some friends want her to keep it short like it is!
She is still fatigued a lot and getting frequent headaches. The doctor said the Hyberbaric treatment can cause headaches and the medicine she is on can cause the fatigue. Her appetite has improved some.
To summarize, Nancy is making slow but steady progress with the wounds and the outlook is positive.
Thanks again for the prayers card and meals; the support has been overwhelming.
Bob
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
Week of June 23rd and June 30th
The last two weeks have been more of the same for Nancy as she makes the daily trip to the hospital for her Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments. She sees the wound specialist on Wednesdays and the wounds are healing but at a very slow pace. It is somewhat frustrating for Nancy as she would like to put this behind her and move on to the radiation treatments.
Nancy was able to go join me at church and one of our priests, whom we have been friends with for a long time, gave her a special Healing of the Sick Blessing.
We had some great news over the holiday weekend as our son Tommy and his wife Miranda had their third child....Layla Marie. She was born on the 4th of July and she is beautiful. This was grandchild number five for us....what a blessing.
Nancy and I were able to make the road trip up to Napoleon over the weekend to spend time with them. It was a great time.
While Nancy's progress is slow at least things are moving in the right direction. We thank all who continue to pray, send meals and cards. It is all still very uplifting for her on this long journey.
Thank you.
Bob
Nancy was able to go join me at church and one of our priests, whom we have been friends with for a long time, gave her a special Healing of the Sick Blessing.
We had some great news over the holiday weekend as our son Tommy and his wife Miranda had their third child....Layla Marie. She was born on the 4th of July and she is beautiful. This was grandchild number five for us....what a blessing.
Nancy and I were able to make the road trip up to Napoleon over the weekend to spend time with them. It was a great time.
While Nancy's progress is slow at least things are moving in the right direction. We thank all who continue to pray, send meals and cards. It is all still very uplifting for her on this long journey.
Thank you.
Bob
Friday, June 21, 2013
Week of June 9th and June 16th
Over the last two weeks Nancy has been receiving her Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments on a daily basis. She has adjusted to the schedule, but it is still about a three and a half to four hour process between getting to the hospital and back; waiting time and the actual treatment.
The wound doctor sees improvement in the wounds but the progress is slow. Recently he changed the packing to hopefully accelerate the healing. Nancy is still on some heavy duty antibiotics as she still occasionally runs a low grade fever. She is tired of having to deal with the wounds as the dressings have to be changed daily by our children who are nurses.
On a positive note her hair continues to come in and her eyesight is steadily improving. She is able to take walks and get out to the store.
Monday June 17th we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. We had talked about going back to Colorado where we had our honeymoon; but with the the treatments we put that on hold. As it turned out it was a blessing in disguise as Colorado Springs has been experiencing those horrible fires.
We managed to spend a few hours on the boat on Thursday and it was great to get back out on the river.
Several friends have brought over meals and we are very grateful. We are also grateful for all the thoughts, cards and prayers; including prayers from a business colleague of mine in Hong Kong.
She has a busy schedule ahead on the weekend with a bridal shower and also a wedding on Saturday.
Thanks to all who have been so generous.
Bob
The wound doctor sees improvement in the wounds but the progress is slow. Recently he changed the packing to hopefully accelerate the healing. Nancy is still on some heavy duty antibiotics as she still occasionally runs a low grade fever. She is tired of having to deal with the wounds as the dressings have to be changed daily by our children who are nurses.
On a positive note her hair continues to come in and her eyesight is steadily improving. She is able to take walks and get out to the store.
Monday June 17th we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. We had talked about going back to Colorado where we had our honeymoon; but with the the treatments we put that on hold. As it turned out it was a blessing in disguise as Colorado Springs has been experiencing those horrible fires.
We managed to spend a few hours on the boat on Thursday and it was great to get back out on the river.
Several friends have brought over meals and we are very grateful. We are also grateful for all the thoughts, cards and prayers; including prayers from a business colleague of mine in Hong Kong.
She has a busy schedule ahead on the weekend with a bridal shower and also a wedding on Saturday.
Thanks to all who have been so generous.
Bob
Monday, June 10, 2013
Monday June 10th
Nancy was home this week and went to see the wound specialist. The good news is the wounds are slightly improved and so she did not take a step backwards after the week in the hospital from the staph infection.
The doctor was surprised at how sick Nancy got based on the culture results. He said it had to be the result of the toxic shock to her system.
The antibiotics she is on are hard on her stomach; especially because they need to be taken four times daily on an empty stomach. The timing of when to take them is difficult as well.
She has resumed the Hperbaric Oxygen treatments this week. Our children who are nurses change her dressings on a daily basis, so we are hoping the wounds continue to heal. The doctor is confident they will heal; it will just take time.
She actually went on the boat for a few hours yesterday, so it was good to get out. Her hair continues to come in and her eyesight continues to improve; all good things.
Thanks again for the prayers and support; it means a great deal.
Bob
The doctor was surprised at how sick Nancy got based on the culture results. He said it had to be the result of the toxic shock to her system.
The antibiotics she is on are hard on her stomach; especially because they need to be taken four times daily on an empty stomach. The timing of when to take them is difficult as well.
She has resumed the Hperbaric Oxygen treatments this week. Our children who are nurses change her dressings on a daily basis, so we are hoping the wounds continue to heal. The doctor is confident they will heal; it will just take time.
She actually went on the boat for a few hours yesterday, so it was good to get out. Her hair continues to come in and her eyesight continues to improve; all good things.
Thanks again for the prayers and support; it means a great deal.
Bob
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Tuesday June 4th
After a long week in the hospital, Nancy came home on Monday June 3rd. She is now on oral antibiotics and is feeling much better but still dealing with the wounds and infections. It feels good just to be home and sleep in her own bed. She was also able to take a walk around the block last evening.
She will see the doctor today to determine when she can resume the Hyperbaric oxygen treatments. She is taking Arimidex, a cancer fighting hormone treatment, since the radiation treatments are suspended until the wounds heal completely.
Please keep the prayers coming as she recovers from this latest setback.
Thanks
Bob
She will see the doctor today to determine when she can resume the Hyperbaric oxygen treatments. She is taking Arimidex, a cancer fighting hormone treatment, since the radiation treatments are suspended until the wounds heal completely.
Please keep the prayers coming as she recovers from this latest setback.
Thanks
Bob
Friday, May 31, 2013
Week of May 19th and 26th
Last week Nancy started her Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments and the process was actually a little easier than she anticipated. It takes roughly three hours; 30 minutes to pressurize the chamber; 90 minutes of oxygen and 30 minutes to de-pressurize. The treatment is meant to enhance the blood cells with pure oxygen and accelerate the healing of the wounds.
In addition she started a treatment called a wound vac meant to help the healing process, but the packing irritated her skin so they had to suspend that after one day.
Later in the week she started to run a fever and on Thursday evening 5/23 we called the doctor who started her on antibiotic. Friday the fever was not going away and we went to cancer center at the hospital. She spent the day there and received IV fluids, more antibiotics and medicine to bring the temperature down. Late in the afternoon her temperature was normal and we went home.
Overnight on Friday 5/24 and on Saturday 5/25 the temperature came back and in the afternoon we took her to the ER where she was admitted. Saturday night and into Sunday her temperature continued to rise and blood pressure drop and she was moved to the ICU where she spent three days.
She was seen by many specialist including an infectious disease doctor. She is on several antibiotics and they were able to stabilize her temperature and blood pressure. The source of the fever is a Staph infection and MRSA. The doctor also said she had toxic shock syndrome.
She went back to the oncology floor on Wednesday and was starting to feel a little better. Thursday 5/30 she was sitting up and also able to take a few brief walks. The doctor was thinking she might be able to come home on Saturday if things stayed stable.
Today, Friday 5/31, she is not feeling well again, so it is doubtful she will come home tomorrow.
Needless to say she has suffered a very tough week. She wishes to thank all who have called, text'd, and e-mailed their love, prayers and thoughts, but she has obviously been unable to respond.
Please keep the prayers coming. The doctors and nurses and assistants have all done a wonderful job during this critical period and we say a prayer of thanksgiving to all who have come to our aid.
Bob
In addition she started a treatment called a wound vac meant to help the healing process, but the packing irritated her skin so they had to suspend that after one day.
Later in the week she started to run a fever and on Thursday evening 5/23 we called the doctor who started her on antibiotic. Friday the fever was not going away and we went to cancer center at the hospital. She spent the day there and received IV fluids, more antibiotics and medicine to bring the temperature down. Late in the afternoon her temperature was normal and we went home.
Overnight on Friday 5/24 and on Saturday 5/25 the temperature came back and in the afternoon we took her to the ER where she was admitted. Saturday night and into Sunday her temperature continued to rise and blood pressure drop and she was moved to the ICU where she spent three days.
She was seen by many specialist including an infectious disease doctor. She is on several antibiotics and they were able to stabilize her temperature and blood pressure. The source of the fever is a Staph infection and MRSA. The doctor also said she had toxic shock syndrome.
She went back to the oncology floor on Wednesday and was starting to feel a little better. Thursday 5/30 she was sitting up and also able to take a few brief walks. The doctor was thinking she might be able to come home on Saturday if things stayed stable.
Today, Friday 5/31, she is not feeling well again, so it is doubtful she will come home tomorrow.
Needless to say she has suffered a very tough week. She wishes to thank all who have called, text'd, and e-mailed their love, prayers and thoughts, but she has obviously been unable to respond.
Please keep the prayers coming. The doctors and nurses and assistants have all done a wonderful job during this critical period and we say a prayer of thanksgiving to all who have come to our aid.
Bob
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Week of May 5th and 12th
Last week Nancy had appointments with all four doctors; the wound specialist, surgeon, radiologist and oncologist. The consensus was the wounds must be healed before radiation can continue. The wound specialist estimated four to six weeks. In addition he recommended enhanced treatments for the wounds to speed up the processes.
Obviously Nancy was disappointed and frustrated at the six week delay in resuming radiation. The oncologist assured her that since she was taking Arimidex (hormone cancer fighting drug) she would not have to stress over the postponement of radiation treatments.
The wounds require daily treatments and once again our children who are nurses have stepped up to the challenge and change the dressings and other treatments each day. What a blessing from God for our family.
After this very stressful week we took a road trip to Napoleon, Ohio for our grandson's third birthday party. It was fun to be with our family temporarily forget about all that lies ahead and celebrate with all the family.
The treatments the wound specialist recommended will begin next week. Hyperbaric treatments will be performed at the hospital. This treatment gives the tissue accelerated oxygen while she lays in a chamber. This will be six weeks, five days per week.
In addition she will begin a "wound vac" treatment 24/7 until the wounds heal. This is a small apparatus she will have to use along with some packing to help heal the wound.
While she has been stoic through this whole process the latest news and set back has her disappointed and frustrated.
So; please continue to pray for her.
Thanks
Bob
Obviously Nancy was disappointed and frustrated at the six week delay in resuming radiation. The oncologist assured her that since she was taking Arimidex (hormone cancer fighting drug) she would not have to stress over the postponement of radiation treatments.
The wounds require daily treatments and once again our children who are nurses have stepped up to the challenge and change the dressings and other treatments each day. What a blessing from God for our family.
After this very stressful week we took a road trip to Napoleon, Ohio for our grandson's third birthday party. It was fun to be with our family temporarily forget about all that lies ahead and celebrate with all the family.
The treatments the wound specialist recommended will begin next week. Hyperbaric treatments will be performed at the hospital. This treatment gives the tissue accelerated oxygen while she lays in a chamber. This will be six weeks, five days per week.
In addition she will begin a "wound vac" treatment 24/7 until the wounds heal. This is a small apparatus she will have to use along with some packing to help heal the wound.
While she has been stoic through this whole process the latest news and set back has her disappointed and frustrated.
So; please continue to pray for her.
Thanks
Bob
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