Don Wood

Geoff, so sorry about your mom's brain tumor. Prayers comin'. Don

Happy birthday, Cheryl! And many more! What day was your birthday? Mine was Tuesday. So glad you celebrated in a grand way. They are special occasions. Lots of love to you and Jack. Don

The last Beagle we got was 2 years old and trained. As pointed out, your can get these at rescue centers or SPCA. However, even with the dog trained, sometimes there is an adjustment period to a new unfamiliar surrounding, and the dog may tend to potty in the house at first. Be aware of this. That is what we experienced. Sounds like a wonderful idea to get a dog for your parents. Go for it. Don

Hickory, thanks for stopping by and showing us a 3+ year survivor of LC. That gives us all hope. Don

Thanks for the update, Cindi. Glad things continue to go well. Don

Love it!

Like the new pic, David. What a guy!

GO FOR IT! We don't know what future we have, but we do have the present. My sister had serious heart trouble, and I wanted to take her on a trip somewhere (she didn't get to go many places). I kept thinking that "some day" I would do that for her. Then I realized there may not be a "some day" out there, and Lucie and I took her on a two-week trip to the Canadian Rockies. She had to get permission to travel from her cardiologist, but he was delighted to give it. We had a marvelous time. The next year, she died. I am so grateful I followed my heart and not my practical head. In that same vein, that is why Lucie and I decided to go to Scotland for a week in May. She had wanted to do that for years, and she was healthy enough at the time to make the trip. My daughter went with us because she wanted to have those memroeis of Lucie also. We had a great time. I think you should continue to follow your dream and move on it. Best to you both. Don

Peggy, thanks for sharing that. It is the fine line all us caregivers walk, and you expressed it so well. Patients need to do "normal" things if they can, and we need to let them, if it won't cause injury. I let Lucie drive short distances sometimes when she feels up to it, because she did a lot of the driving when we were together and when she was by herself. It is something that is normal and that sheycan control. Control is a big issue with serious disease, because the disease robs one of control of one's life. When I get anxious and overwhelmed as the caregiver, I go out and run errands or go to the park, or do something I can control. Control is also a need with the caregiver, because we can't solve the problem. Lucie loves to sew, and she has been overdoing it (I think), but I let her do it because it is important to her to have something to do positively and to look forward to. I hug her when she wears herself out to let her know I understand. We talk about all the "normal" issues to give some sanity back into our situation and to move on. It is a hard road, but it is worth every effort. And maybe that is one of the things we are supposed to learn. Don

Mona, Lucie received just 6 treatments of Taxotere/Carboplatin originally which completed 5/03.. She is now taking Navelbine and that will probably be 6 treatments. It varies with conditions, person, etc. If he is having acid reflux, Lucie took Nexium while she was on chemo and it helped. If it is just heartburn, he can take an antacid. The shrinkage of the tumor sounds good to me, too. Don

I think the doc may mean that they check the margins (areas) around the tumor to be sure they have removed all the cancer. Don

For me, it is like that old commercial where the older lady says, "I wake up each morning, and I can choose to be happy or choose to be unhappy. I choose to be happy." I think there is a lot in attitude and working toward positive things instead of dwelling on the negative. We do make those choices and sometimes we have to decide to move in that direction long before we actually feel it is true. I wish you the best. Don

Kelly, sorry so much went on in ICU. I'm sure those were scary times. Glad you all got through that and your mother is recovering okay now. Don

Angie, you are such a good care giver and advocate for your dad. He is so lucky to have you. As I have said, every patient needs an advocate who is vigilant and persistent. You qualify in spades! Proud of you. Let us know what they find out. Don

Tammy, so sorry about your mom, but I too believe she is at peace and has won. Best to you and family. Don

Debi, the whole world is not against you -- you have a lot of support here! Sorry about the med insurance and the hassles. Hoping things get better for you soon. Don

Andrea, Lucie came through Taxotere'Carboplatin okay, although she had a lot of side effects. Then got on Iressa and it caused pneumonia. So your mom isn't the only one. Different people react differently to different things. Don

Angie, prayers comin'.

Sounds like good news to me, too. And, yes, you do live from appointment to appointment, test to test, result to result. That is the way it is on this road. Best to you. Don

Welcome, Mona. Thanks for sharing your story. Keep us posted on how you and hubby are doing, and let us know how we may help. Don

As Curtis says, those students and alums of Texas A&M are called "Aggies" because the school was originally an Agriculture and Mining school. Aggies have the reputation (promoted mostly by U. of Texas folks) of being dumb and doing dumb things. Hence, the Aggie jokes. My two sons are Aggies (one in Business and one in Engineering) and my daughter went there for Veterinary school. I can vouch that none of the three is dumb. But the jokes are fun. Aggies usually tell the best Aggie jokes on themselves. Don

Roy, so sorry this has added to your problems. I pray that there is nothing wrong and the surgery can proceed. Just for your info and others, heart attacks don't always manifest themselves in typical ways. My nephew's wife had back pains, no chest pains. I had no chest pains, only pain in my left arm. When they first tested me at the hospital, EKG and blood work were normal. 24 hours later, the enzymes showed up in the blood that indicated heart attack. For me, it was so mild, I had no heart damage. My cardio arteries were blocked, though, and I had to have bypass surgery. That was almost seven years ago. I pray that you have none of this, Ray. Don

Great news!

Did you hear about the Texas Aggie who won a gold medal at the Olympics? He was so excited, he went out and had it bronzed!

Know the feeling. When I was looking at options for treating my prostate cancer the first time, the urologist said the two choices were surgery or radiation. I saind, "Oh, I have a choice between being stabbed or being shot!" He didn't laugh, but I did.