Remembering Dave

Addie - funny you say that - Dave used to work on a cruise ship! He used to play trumpet full time professionally, and he worked for Carnival for a couple of years. When he quit doing that and came back to town to finish his degree is when I met him. I think a cruise right now sounds pretty darn good! Anyway, I just got back to work and he's home now from the hospital - doc let him drive himself home since he just gave him novacaine to remove the port. Wouldn't let him keep it as a souvenoir though. I think after he rests he's going to be one happy man! God Bless Everyone! Karen C. p.s. isn't our daughter the cutest kid ever?

Well, it has been a while since I have posted but please know that I pop in as much as I can and you are all always in my prayers. I am getting my Port removed today. I am getting my port removed today, I am getting my port removed today!! It is odd to say and hear. I am so happy it will be out. It has been one of the constant reminders of this jouney I have been on. I asked the Onc. when I could have it out and he said anytime.............we will just put another one in if we have to down the road. Oh, well. I have not been able to sleep all night. Not sure if it is because I mowed approx. 3 acres last night or if it is the port. Oh well. Again you are all in my prayers. David C

Dave has been in remission for almost a year now and the same thing happens to him. OK, he had the PCI last September and that knocked him out worse than anything . . . but still, it's still happening to him, he has a good day, does alot of stuff, and then he feels like crap for two or three days. Dave's beer truck would be Sam Adams. But Ginny, I do like Yuengling! Karen C.

Joni, I'm just reading about what has happened with Robert and getting caught up. I'm really really angry for you. It sounds to me like some sloppy work was going on there. That being said, anger only drains energy one needs to use in a more productive manner. I'm glad you're going to MD Anderson. Dave and I had a back up plan in place to go to Johns Hopkins if something didn't go right with his treatment. We have a dear friend (one of the dad who traveled to China with us) who is an oncology nurse there. Thank goodness we didn't need to use the back up plan. Please keep us posted. I feel that once things get straightened out and Robert gets some good medical help and the appropriate treatment plan he'll do well. Just a little bump in the road, that's all. Take care and God Bless! Karen C.

Andrea - glad to hear you quit your job. I think you needed that. Best of luck with the ACS thing, if that doesn't work out, something more suited to you will. Glad to hear you're getting your body in shape for baby making. Glad you quit the prozac. You'll be fine. If we start a new mommy forum it can't just be for folks who got pregnant to be a mommy! I can teach you something about changing a diaper! My first time almost ever changing a diaper was on the conference room floor just minutes after they handed Faith to me. With an audience consisting of all the nannies from the orphange. Boy was I nervous! But it was the most natural thing in the world. I just peeled off the old diaper, gave her a little wipe with a baby wipe, and put the new one on! Disposable diapers are so easy even lawyers can operate them, haha! And remember, if trying to have a baby gets too frustrating, store bought is so much better than homeade! Karen C.

Don and Lucie, that sounds like a dream trip. I'm so glad you had that experience together, wasn't that a blessing? LOVE the idea of the stones, will have to do that for our next venture somewhere! Karen C.

We had an awesome time on the Outer Banks. Faith absolutely loved the ocean and the beach. The surf was even a bit rough but she wasn't at all afraid of the crashing waves. She laughed and tried to stomp on all the waves! And she really liked walking in the sand, too. We stayed at a nice KOA right on the beach, and she went barefoot the entire weekend. She also become Miss Independent which was just fine with me! Walked everywhere, mostly holding the leash and walking our very overweight 13 year old lab, Maddy, which Faith called My Manny, she just hugged and bonded with Maddy so much which was very cute. She also made Dave very happy by calling every boat she saw "Daddy's boat." Dave did great, too, although I could tell his normal energy level is not there yet. But I feel it's a real blessing and miracle just to be able to make this trip. And no, Dave didn't wear a bikini, sorry to disappoint anyone looking for Dave in Drag In a Bikini photos - it's ain't happening! Hopefully this evening he'll post a new photo on our avatar, maybe one of him holding Faith on the beach. God Bless everyone, Karen C.

Ok, hopefully moving it to the top. August 21 works for us. I've penciled it in on our calendar. We are going to Glacier National Park for a big family vacation the week before, returning August 7, so I hope it's not too much traveling for Dave so close together. We're meeting Dave's whole family up there, including our very own BeckyCW, for a little reunion, they lived up there when Dave was a kid. We'd have to move well into October to avoid the humidity, but that is a real issue we can be flexible I think. We had an AWESOME time in Hatteras this past weekend. Dave did great (although definitely not his full energy yet) and it was great for Faith, she got sooo independent at the campground, which suited me just fine! She went barefoot the entire time and never clinged or wanted to be carried. She either rode in her red wagon everywhere or walked, usually walking our fat 13 year old dog, Maddy, which she called My Manny as she was clinging to the leash. Mary Ann - thanks for organizing this! Karen C.

Francine, I'm so sorry to hear this, but it sounds like you've got a great attitude to face the next round with. Please know the Chapmans will think of you in prayer. Keep us posted on progress. I'm hoping that fluid resolves itself without surgery. You're going to have enough to deal with, with your back, for the time being. God bless, Karen C.

Ok, Karen mother hen here. Andrea - talk to Brian - I know you're newlyweds, but your clock is ticking, dear. Take it from someone who's "been there, done that". We got married when I was 34, starting trying about a year later, a year after that went into infertility treatments, found out I had a bunch of little things wrong plus one big thing (fibroid tumors) - had some miscarriages, got bad clinical depression, snapped out of it, then started the adoption process - which, by the way, was what I was MEANT to do all along, I just had to take the path to find the pot of gold . . . but your ability to make babies goes downhill fast after 30 - plummets after 35. I tell people who are putting it off but really want to have babies to at least go get checked out by a decent infertility specialist to make sure the equipment is all in order and your hormones and still pushing eggs out at the correct rate. Katie - that's a tough one. I always thought when I become a Mom I'd want to stay home with her - but since Dave's diagnoses, I've decided that I have to keep my job skills up and keep employed, if only to keep myself employable - because every woman needs to be able to support herself. Even though he is doing so well our future is still not as set in stone as I thought it was two years ago. Faith is in a wonderful church child care center where they teach her things I'd never even think about working with her. That being said, I'd sorta like to see you stay at home and be able to devote yourself more to those kids and US, ha! Anyway, thought both of you might benefit a little bit from my perspective. Andrea - being a mom to an active 2.5 year old at 45 is TOUGH. I wish I had the energy I had at 25 or even 35! Karen C.

Don't you worry, Fay - plenty of sunscreen here. I don't know if you remember, but I'm a Stage II melanoma survivor - detected smack dab in the middle of Dave's treatments last year. Our plan is to put on plenty of sunscreen, go out on the beach only in the early morning, etc. I bought one of those expensive sunscreen shirts - looks like thick white mesh, but keeps the bad UV or whatever light out. I'm not even wearing bathing suit (no one would want me to anyway LOL), either capris or some "swim shorts" I found at the beach, with my sunscreen shirt and a t-shirt on under it. Same for Dave - and of course Faith. In fact, I only bought the 45spf for kids for all of us to use!

Dear Kathy LaTour, To see how lung cancer affects so many people, check out the family members forum. There is quite a long string from some remarkable young people whose parents have cancer. I am still mulling over this discussion about your conference, but I think Jack makes alot of really valid points. And if the doctor's demanor and presentation were anywhere near what Jack says they were, I say shame on him, shame on you. When I get a big chunk of time (hard to do, with a two year old child, a full time job, a two hour daily commute, eight acres and a husband who is still recovering from his cancer treatment) I'm going to examine this controversy more closely. I will say that we have gotten your magazine and I've been a little disappointed in it generally. Nothing too cutting edge in there, and everything seem to be geared toward whatever cancer happens to be the most "popular" with very general articles. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading an article about a cancer in Good Housekeeping or Better Homes and Gardens (not to knock them). It's a nice read, though. So what if some smokers get lung cancers. Tons of non smokers do, too. People who stupidly get too much sun in their youth get deadly melanomas (like me). All kinds of cancer are caused by all kinds of stupid human activity. But a CURE for lung cancer helps everyone. From the smokers, the nonsmokers, and the innocent family members including children. Karen C.

I'm all for it. camping probably wouldn't work for most folks, but we'll find a place near the get together to stay. We just like to drag our trailer around with us so we can take our beloved labs with us. We ought to do a weekend to make the trip worthwhile for everyone, but hate for you to go to the trouble of doing it at your house, Mary Ann. But outside might be tough, I agree, the MD/VA summer weather is way to humid for folks having lung troubles. We'd love to do it at our house, it's small, but we have eight acres on a beautiful little river and have a pontoon boat. But it looks like most folks are coming from PA and NJ so we may be a little too far south. We're flexible, especially since Dave is doing so well, so whatever works best for everyone works for us! Karen C.

Ok, you guys, you DO NOT want to see Dave in a bikini! If we post that then folks will withdraw their donations! How about this - when we get back we'll take the ugly Dave in Drag photo down and replace it with a cute Faith at the Beach photo? Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone! Karen C.

Andrea - I didn't take time to read all the replied to your post, and I gotta get back to work here (working for lawyers, by the way ) but I am dying to go to nursing school myself. I want to help people, I am very open minded and caring, and besides, nurses make pretty good dough (better than legal asst. anyway). And all of this has happened pretty much since Dave's diagnoses. The thing is, we can't afford for me to quit work to go to school full time, and I don't want to go to school, work full time and take care of Dave and Faith. So it ain't happening for me. But with time maybe I'll find a way, and with time I'll know whether it's something I really really do want to do. I don't blame you. It's a natural feeling. Give it a little time and see how your feelings about making a change develop. It might be just what you're going through with cancer in your family, OR, it might be God talking to you! God Bless, Karen C.

Geez, Joni, I am so sorry to hear that. Dave didn't have that problem. Well, after his chemo was done, he did have some fluid around his lung, we saw the pneumologist (sp?) for that, he didn't think it was enough to drain, and it eventually cleared up. I hope this clears itself up. Anything like that is worrisome, but I think Robert will be OK, just something else to deal with for a while. I will pray for a quick recovery. God Bless you and Robert, Karen C.

OK - I want to know who The Instigator is? Or did we wait so long you're bored with us? Karen C.

Dave gained a TON of weight during his chemo. The doc said that the anti-nausea drugs they give you now are so good, but that you still have a bit of "low level" nausea that makes you want to snack all the time to put something on your stomach. Add to that the total inactivity. Dave did get out of the house every single day, but he spent most of his time exhausted in his recliner. Frankly, I have gained a ton of weight, too. We had a date every night, him in the recliner, me on the couch, with our ice cream or oreos. How romantic. One day we'll do something about it, too! Karen C.

. . . . but Dave and I haven't been very regular on the board lately so maybe no one would miss us anyway! We're heading to Hatteras, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this Thursday afternoon, for a long Memorial Day weekend down there. Dragging the travel trailer, taking the two choc. labs and one precious little Chinese angel named Faith. In fact, we are introducing Faith to the ocean and the beach! This will be our first real "vacation" since coming home with Faith, since Dave was diagnosed with lung cancer - since being a family! I keep telling Dave instead of four days in Hatteras, I feel like I won two weeks in Hawaii! Anyway, can you give us an honoray hall pass, Ry? This is one trip that is truly appreciated, and may I say, deserved? God Bless us all, Karen C.

Hey - that sounds good - count the Chapmans in! Karen C.

I don't remember Dave having any specific pains like that but I'll ask him. God Bless, Karen C.

Joni - so glad Dave can give some inspiration to your family. A positive attitude and a strong will to live are very very important, as well as a deep faith. Jamie - ha, 1/10th of my stamina? If my inlaws hadn't come to live with us for six months last year I would have never made it. I was just totally exhausted the whole time. It was awful. Then I found out a few months ago when I had a physical that I have hypo thyroid, which makes you very very tired. I almost think it's like a chemo tired, maybe not that bad, but just an overwhelming fatigue. So, another thing I like to encourage caregivers to do - is to go get a good checkup in the middle of all of this. Last year my family doc took a good look at me after Dave got diagnosed and discovered a melanoma on my neck, which turned out to be a Stage II melanoma. Everyone always told me last year "to take care of myself" and I'm thinking, what in the world are they talking about - I don't have time for me!! but you should at least make sure you're healthy. Heck, if I'd known about that darn hypo thyroid that year would have been alot easier! everyone take care, and have a great weekend, and PM me if you need me, OK? God Bless, Karen C.

Caitlin - very cute, homemade! I am thinking about doing locks for love, too. I'm 45 years old but my hair is pretty long, in pretty good shape, and not much grey Have you heard of St. Baldricks? That's where people get their head shaved to take pledges for money that goes towards children's cancer research. My husband did it this past March - his hair had just started to grow back from the cancer treatment. So I thought that next March when he does it again I'll get my hair cut for locks for love. You sound like great kids. Lea - where are you? You sound like quite a young lady, too. All of you kids. I hope everyone has a fun weekend! Karen C.

Caitlin and Lea and all the other kids out there: I think it's great you guys are participating and talking about this. Having a Dad or Mom with lung cancer has got to be hard. Caitlin - our daughter, Faith, is just 2.5 years old, but she is adopted from China. Your Mom told me once on a message that she had an adopted child but I forgot about it in the middle of all my husband's treatment and everything. I think adoption is the best thing in the whole world. We spent two weeks in China adopting Faith and it was the best two weeks of our lives! Faith's Daddy, David C, had lung cancer but now he is in remission. (I'm using his log in, I never bothered getting my own.) Thank goodness she is too young to know what was going on! But if she were older I know she would want to be friends with all you kids on this board. We used to have a photo of her when we logged on but Dave changed it to his "drag" costume that someone on this board dared him to do. I'll ask him to change it back to a photo of Faith so you can see her. I think she's the prettiest little girl in the whole world! All you kids sounds very special and very supportive of your parents. Someone once told me that God only gives you as much as you can handle, and it sounds true for you kids. You take care! Karen C.

Hi, this is Karen C., Dave's wife. For those of you who are relatively new and don't know us (we've had limited activity on this board lately) he has SCLC Limited. Or hopefully I should say HAD it. He was diagnosed March 2003, had 6 rounds of chemo, 35 days of chest radiation, first CT scan after that was clear, so he had 15 days of PCI in September. We had adopted our first child in October 2002 - God sent us to China to pick her up! So it was a pretty big blow to get the cancer diagnoses so soon after becoming parents. But with lots of prayer and positive attitude Dave, one year later, is doing awesome. I just want to tell everyone that there is hope, and also if I can do anything to help each of you individually to please let me know - send us a PM or email. Things are going so well for us now, I need to take the extra energy I put into Dave's treatment and use it for supporting others going through it. Not that I have alot of extra time or energy, but am willing to do what I can and as much as I can because we've been there, done that. Take care, and God Bless each one of you, Karen C.