Hello Baltimore!
As I type this Rich is in Baltimore getting new ct scans and other testing. His sister Stacie is at his side keeping him moving from one test to another. His real meeting is at 12:30. I hope to write later that we all are going to Baltimore. In such a short time things have really shaped up. Rich is in good spirits and has lots of energy. Will write later as to the outcome of this meeting...thanks for caring.......Margie
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Monday, October 8, 2012
Rich is on his way to Baltimore. His sister Stacie will meet him there and they will go to
'the meeting' together.
We need to mention that there is one person who can not know what is going on and that is Rich's mom. She is 92 years old and this information would send her to another place. So to our fb friends in PA, please don't let her know what's going on with Rich.
Special thanks to all who did the last day visit with Rich. He loved those visits. Andrew and Susanne (his girlfriend) were kind enough to spend the weekend with us and cooked wonderful meals. Shoots...very special. We do 'feel the love'.
Today is pumpkin patch day for me. Most of my kiddo's will be there with their families. This is very special for me as I may be leaving this week for Baltimore as well. So grateful.
'the meeting' together.
We need to mention that there is one person who can not know what is going on and that is Rich's mom. She is 92 years old and this information would send her to another place. So to our fb friends in PA, please don't let her know what's going on with Rich.
Special thanks to all who did the last day visit with Rich. He loved those visits. Andrew and Susanne (his girlfriend) were kind enough to spend the weekend with us and cooked wonderful meals. Shoots...very special. We do 'feel the love'.
Today is pumpkin patch day for me. Most of my kiddo's will be there with their families. This is very special for me as I may be leaving this week for Baltimore as well. So grateful.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Good morning.
I asked Suz to set this up as it will be an easy way for people to know what is going on with Rich.
He came home on Thursday after being discharged from Queens. There was very little help they could provide and so the door opened for a plan B. We are so thankful for plan B. Rich leaves tonight (Sunday) and will meet with the team at JH (Johns Hopkins) on Tuesday.
If they deem him a good candidate, they will schedule surgery to remove the tumor. At this point we will all fly to Baltimore. I can't describe the love and tenderness that has come our way.......it is almost overwhelming.
Rich and I are in a state of grace. We pray for the day and the Lord gracefully takes us through it. I had to tell my families I may be off island for awhile and they were so supportive. Our friends and church family are most supportive also. Rich is basking in love and tenderness. It's awesome to see this!!
We named the tumor 'Ted'. Since it is a part of our lives we felt we needed to give it a name. We are trying to starve Ted with a good alkaline diet. Hoping to get really good with a macrobiotic diet. Pray for us.....bye bye butter, dairy, meat, BREAD....all those good things, not to mention cookies.
Next note will let you know if they can do the Whipple or not. Thank you for the love, we know there is purpose in this journey and we are determined to see it through. My husband has NEVER gone through a physical trial with such peace. It is amazing............(gotta use my dots......sorry).
I asked Suz to set this up as it will be an easy way for people to know what is going on with Rich.
He came home on Thursday after being discharged from Queens. There was very little help they could provide and so the door opened for a plan B. We are so thankful for plan B. Rich leaves tonight (Sunday) and will meet with the team at JH (Johns Hopkins) on Tuesday.
If they deem him a good candidate, they will schedule surgery to remove the tumor. At this point we will all fly to Baltimore. I can't describe the love and tenderness that has come our way.......it is almost overwhelming.
Rich and I are in a state of grace. We pray for the day and the Lord gracefully takes us through it. I had to tell my families I may be off island for awhile and they were so supportive. Our friends and church family are most supportive also. Rich is basking in love and tenderness. It's awesome to see this!!
We named the tumor 'Ted'. Since it is a part of our lives we felt we needed to give it a name. We are trying to starve Ted with a good alkaline diet. Hoping to get really good with a macrobiotic diet. Pray for us.....bye bye butter, dairy, meat, BREAD....all those good things, not to mention cookies.
Next note will let you know if they can do the Whipple or not. Thank you for the love, we know there is purpose in this journey and we are determined to see it through. My husband has NEVER gone through a physical trial with such peace. It is amazing............(gotta use my dots......sorry).
Thursday, October 4, 2012
A Prologue
It is said that the true character of a person is revealed in periods of stress. If this is the case my father is endlessly joyful and optimistic. My mother is strong and reasonable. My brother is kind and hilarious. And I drink all the wine and cry so much my eyes crust over. All this to say, after being yellow for a week, an ultrasound, a CT scan, and an ERCP, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There is a tennis ball sized mass living in his pancreas that has been growing for approximately 8 months. It has grown extremely quickly, as these things often do. If you have ever heard anything about pancreatic cancer, you know already it has one of the worst outcomes. It kills you, and it kills you quickly (for fellow nerds, the 1 and 5 year survival rates are 20% and 5%).
We, my brother, mother, father and I, have been lucky enough to have a pretty wonderful family. We make each other laugh until we pee, say 'I love you', give each other hugs, and tell each other the truth even when its hard to hear. We have seen each other through some pretty tough stuff. But this is a new ball game. This is the C word.
The good news is, as indicated above, everyone is dealing with it pretty well. Facing prognosis and planning accordingly. I am going crazy. CRAZY. being 3500 miles away, but otherwise it just looks like a family who cares for each other a lot going through something atrocious. I am angry, and everyone is very sad, but even in the midst of it all, capable (only God knows how) of having some perspective. I realize what a wonderful man this is, the kindest of them all, who taught my brother and I that we are valuable and deeply loved, that we can make mistakes and be forgiven and move on from them, and, equally important, how to check if the oil in our cars are running low. He roots for people. All people. And his presence on this earth is a blessing.
The most devastating part of all this for me is the perspective of walking down the aisle without him beside me. Raising babies that will never know his huge love or hugs, or his calm, gentle voice that really makes you believe everything will be okay. I don't have a silver lining to that one yet. I probably never will. But I know nothing is ever promised in this life. And I have been given the gift of a fantastic dad. He truly saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life and saw me through the most painful and terrifying trial I've ever faced. I am grateful for every second with him, and pray for many more. Pray with me please.
The purpose of this blog is to keep you posted on our journey, mostly his journey, down this road. We want absolutely everyone in the loop that wants to be, but also want to spend all the time we can together and not making phone calls. We feel your love big time. And we are so thankful for it.
Over and out
Suzanna
We, my brother, mother, father and I, have been lucky enough to have a pretty wonderful family. We make each other laugh until we pee, say 'I love you', give each other hugs, and tell each other the truth even when its hard to hear. We have seen each other through some pretty tough stuff. But this is a new ball game. This is the C word.
The good news is, as indicated above, everyone is dealing with it pretty well. Facing prognosis and planning accordingly. I am going crazy. CRAZY. being 3500 miles away, but otherwise it just looks like a family who cares for each other a lot going through something atrocious. I am angry, and everyone is very sad, but even in the midst of it all, capable (only God knows how) of having some perspective. I realize what a wonderful man this is, the kindest of them all, who taught my brother and I that we are valuable and deeply loved, that we can make mistakes and be forgiven and move on from them, and, equally important, how to check if the oil in our cars are running low. He roots for people. All people. And his presence on this earth is a blessing.
The most devastating part of all this for me is the perspective of walking down the aisle without him beside me. Raising babies that will never know his huge love or hugs, or his calm, gentle voice that really makes you believe everything will be okay. I don't have a silver lining to that one yet. I probably never will. But I know nothing is ever promised in this life. And I have been given the gift of a fantastic dad. He truly saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life and saw me through the most painful and terrifying trial I've ever faced. I am grateful for every second with him, and pray for many more. Pray with me please.
The purpose of this blog is to keep you posted on our journey, mostly his journey, down this road. We want absolutely everyone in the loop that wants to be, but also want to spend all the time we can together and not making phone calls. We feel your love big time. And we are so thankful for it.
Over and out
Suzanna
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