Don Wood

Welcome back, Nina. Glad you all had a good time. Seeing you went to Biloxi reminds me that Lucie just hates when people pronounce Bil"ux"i as if it were Bil"ox"i. Ha! Don

What a pleasant surprise as I wade through a week's worth of posting! Sorry, guys, but I just couldn't get the kilt thing arranged. I know you are disappointed. I will do another post on Scotland. Have a great weekend. Don

You guys enjoy a well-deserved vacation!

Dave S., congratulations on your two years of survivorship. You are an inspiration to us all. Celebrate! Don

Angie, glad to hear the good update on your dad.

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Katie! Happy birthday to you! And many more!

I remember that movie! It was excellent.

Ashley, I'm glad you posted. I'm so sorry at the loss of your dad. It is hard, but it does get better. I lost my dad when I was 23, and I wasn't even in the country to attend his funeral (I was overseas in the Army). Then, the next year, when I was 24, my mom also died. Dad died of heart failure and Mom died of peritonitus after gall bladder surgery. Both were sudden, but just as painful for me. I believe the best tribute we can make to our parents is to keep their memories alive and to live a life they would want for us. We are their legacy. Blessings. Don

Joni, you are very normal. We all have down times. It is good to express it here. We caregivers are not superhuman -- we are human. We have to be sure we are taking care of ourselves so we can take care of the patient as well. I have said it is a three ring circus for the caregiver -- we do what we normally do, we do what our spouse normall does and we most of all take care of the patient. It wears us out. I have had screaming times along the way, just to get the tension out. I think we have to show some emotion to our spouses to let them know we are real, because they know we are undergoing a lot. There have been times when I thought I couldn't go on, but my faith and the support of many have given me the will to go on. It is so hard to watch the person we love the most sturggle so. And we have to be strong so they can lean on us when they need it. However, we need to reach out to family and friends and let them help us. Otherwise, we can "go down the tubes" as well and not be good for anyone. Hang in there -- you are in good company. I have felt the tremendous struggle has shown me I'm much more capable of coping than I thought, and Lucie and I have drawn so much closer together -- something we thought not possible. I believe trials are to test us and show us with God's help that we can meet the challenges. There is more in us than we give credit for. And there is so much in true friends who reach out to help us. There are many right here on this board even though we have never met. Blessings. Don

Hello, Jane. Humans are funny creatures. We think we will always be able to take care of ourselves and be in control of our lives. It is very hard to deal with when that illusion is taken from us. We will fight to keep the illusion that we can still be in control. Your mother is no different. My wife has an old family friend she has kept in touch with. The woman is 88 and has no family -- lives alone and is not in good health. My wife and my daughter have tried to get her to move into a retirement home near us (this is just across town) and she said, "You all are treating me as if I were old!" She refuses to move although it would be much easier on herself and my wife and daughter. She is determined to stay where she is (that "in control" illusion again) even though she has fallen several times and it was hours before anyone discovered her. I guess the fear of not having control on one's life is stronger than the fear of getting hurt and not getting attnetion for it. I just hope I can be an exception when that time comes and not make it bad for everyone else. Good luck. Don

Great news, Mary!

Shelly, my prayers are with your dad, you and your family. Don

Hap-hap-happy birthday, Mo!

Trish, your mom's case is similar to my wife's, except my wife did not have liver mets. I don't know about the distinction between bone marrow and the bone, but my wife had originally 5 mets in skull, ribs, upper spine, right fibula and left hip. She also later developed one on the sacrum. Her chemo and radiation treatments were successful, and she is now on Aredia (was on Zometa for a while) -- these meds help prevent new bone mets, and it is working for her. She is almost 20 months from diagnosis and was given about 9 months. Hold on to your hope. I don't think your mother should go for testing, doctor's visits, etc. alone. She needs support all the way and another pair of eyes and ears. I would insist she take someone every time. It is in her best interest. Keep us posted. Don

David, Lucie does the same thing. She will be feeling good, do a lot of things, and then crash. At first, I tried to warn her, but lately I just let her do what she needs to do. She's a big girl and knows the consequences. If it is more important for her to be busy and productive than to watch the fatigue, I support that. She should be happy doing what she wants to do. The body will tell her (beer truck) when enough is enough. Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Don

What a treat! It took me back to my kid days, when we lived out in the country, and I planted my own morning glories. It was a great treat to watch them open up to the world in the morning and close for the night. I have always favored them. Take care, good buddy. Don

Thanks, gals and guys! We are on a tour so all the accommodations are taken care of. We went to Ireland, Scotland and England for two weeks three years ago. We were only in Scotland 2 days (Edinburgh), so that is why we are going back to Scotland. It is 40-50 degrees there right now compared to 70-85 degrees in Houston. See you in a week. Don

Be careful of dehydration. Be sure your dad is drinking enough liquids. Don

We love all these dates Lucie wasn't supposed to see, and enjoy proving the onc wrong. He enjoys it, too. Don

Enjoy!

Heather, the news is all good as far as I can tell from your report, so please try to enjoy that. Remember that Lucie is 19 months out and still perking. Don

Curtis, I so enjoyed your update. Keep in touch and God bless. Don

Lucie and I, plus our daughter, will be winging it to Scotland on Friday. We will be gone May 21-29, so don't worry about me not posting during that time. And you guys have already wished us well on our trip, so you don't have to do that again. Keep us in your prayers for a safe trip all around, and good weather! Lucie is so excited! (Me, too!) I will try to get a picture taken in a kilt if at all possible and have Rick help me post it here. Are you sure you are ready for this? Of course, you are! You've seen David C in drag! Will miss you all. Ta Ta for now. Don

Don't give me too much credit. I didn't say I don't eat sweets more than I should. As well as sugar and calories, donuts are fried, so it gives me an extra incentive (being a heart patient and all) not to eat them. Don

I call donuts "do nots". It reminds me not to reach. I was proud of myself the other day. Lucie and I went into a Subway Sandwich place and after I got our order, I went next door to the donut shop to get mkyself a cup of coffee. I even bought a glazed donut for Lucie. And I didn NOT buy one for myself. They still tempt me though after not eating them for the last six years. I wish I was as good with other things! LOL