Remembering Dave

Dear Connie, Best of luck and our wishes and PRAYERS are with you for a speedy recovery. The world needs more folks like you! Blessings. The Chapmans

Hey you guys, especially Bengel, I think my question was a little confusing, I was rambling, but I think you understood it, too. But yes, I meant surgery AFTER chemo and radiation. Lynn - I think Dave meets the requirements you mentioned. Katie - yep, he has limited stage disease (barely, though). I'd love to see if anyone else has input on this subject. But am hoping and PRAYING that we won't need it. Thanks! Karen C.

Hi all, this is Karen, posting for David: This is probably an unnecessary question to ask because hopefully he doesn't have any more cancer in his lungs. If you will recall, he had a clean CT scan after his 6 wks of radiation and 4 rounds of chemo. He went on and had the last 2 rounds of chemo. Then had another CT Scan which showed a mass in his left lung where the original tumor had been. But the radiologist, oncologist and pulmonary doc all thought it was pneumonia and he had pneumonia symptoms so they treated him with two weeks of antibiotics and he did start feeling better. Today he's having a chest x ray to see if it looks better (scheduled by the pulmonary doc) and the oncologist scheduled a CT Scan for mid-September. We really grilled the oncologist last week on what to do if the CT scan shows a mass. He had us talk to the radiologist and everyone agreed at that point he'd have a PET Scan if a mass still showed. But the oncologist said "what do you want me to do if there is another tumor, cut it out?" at which point I said, sure, why not. He said, which we know, that SCLC is rarely treated with surgery. Now, this oncologist is very good - I won't go into all the credentials we got on him, but he knows his stuff. He seriously doubts there's more cancer because of "all that chemo and radiation" but Dave and I want to have Plan B in place in case it is. So was wondering if anyone has had surgery, or if anyone has had an immediate recurrence in the same place like that and what they did at that point. Thanks for any input! p.s. By the way, we went camping this past weekend in the mountains with our "new" travel trailer and Dave did just great! Just driving up there and setting up wore him out, but he wisely spent the rest of the time relaxing as much as he could. The trip was good for him overall and our first outing since he was diagnosed in March, and really since our "small" outing to China to get Faith last Fall! Karen C. - wife to David C.

Condolences from the Chapman family, but as Ray said, please remember that he will always be with you. Blessings, David, Karen and Faith

Hi, Connie - Karen here, David C's wife. Just want you to know that you are already a winner in this battle, because of your super attitude! No matter what, you didn't let this overcome you, and that is all there is to winning the game. Keep on keeping on - and I have Faith you will still be around for quite a while! Happy Birthday! Dave had his 39th yesterday! I was so happy to see him make it to 39, and I have confidence that he'll make it another 39 years! And I bet you're still kicking around yourself in 39 years (which would make you 90 - I bet you're from hardy stock and can do it!). Keep us posted, and know that when I read your friend's post I put my head down at my desk at work and prayed for you. Fondly, Karen C. p.s. you are MY inspiration, too!

Ray - Yeah!!! That's what our little girl would say, while clapping her hands and smiling! On behalf of Dave and Faith and myself, a big congrats - you're an inspiration - and mostly for your wonderful inspiring attitude!! Hang in there and continue the good work! Prayers, Karen C.

That was the quote from my Oncologist today. There is still something in the left lung and it may have even gotten bigger since my last CT scan. It could be Pneumonia or Bronchitis or just shadows. He really does not think it is the cancer.....but at this point there really is no telling what it is. I am getting an appointment to go to a Pneumonologist (sp?--Lung Doc) sometime this week and he may stick a camera down inside me to see what's going on (Bronchoscopy). I have had a sore throat and have been feeling a little icky since late last week. I had a Blood Transfusion on Tuesday due to my blood counts being very low, felt great on Wednesday and then started getting the sore throat and generally feeling bad on Thursday, Doc says it does not have anything to do with the transfusion although my counts are still pretty low. Guess we will have to wait and see what the other Doc says. For all of you that don't know, Karen had a Stage 2 Melanoma (Skin Cancer) removed last month and is doing just fine. The Docs will follow her once a year but do not expect her to have any more problems with it. Faith is doing just fine. She is full of herself and adding to her vocabulary everyday. She is still not talking in sentences but knows a lot of words and learns new ones everyday. Guess we really need to start watching what we are saying around her, ha,ha. Well I need to get off here and get some rest. I am still getting tired really easy and will until my blood counts get up. David Chapman

Ray, so glad to hear your visit was so positive and you feel so much better. You seem like the neatest guy and I hate it when you're down. Doesn't it feel good to be doing something proactive? You wait, you will beat this thing. Sometimes God has a plan for us that requires a little bit of a journey through some tough stuff, but there's always something wonderful waiting at the end of the journey. Dave and I went to the lawyers office this morning to sign our wills - we needed to do that anyway after becoming parents but his illness prompted us to get it done. Then he was meeting a guy I work with to show him one of our old cars we're trying to sell. So he's really on the upswing, too. He starts his PCI on August 15 and we've been wondering about it, so glad yours sounds so positive. God Bless you and your Family, Karen C. - David C.'s wife

Hi, this is Karen, David C's wife. First of all, I know how that encounter at the Wal Mart must have made your husband feel. Going through the heartache of infertility and miscarriages, I had similiar types of encounters and let me tell you, no matter which side of the coin you're dealing with insofar as getting pregnant goes, people need to be extremely sensitive to these sort of comments, especially to strangers. It's just a darn sensitive area. The other thing I wanted to tell you is that after the years of trying to have a successful pregnancy and then adopting Faith from China, that going through the adoption was the most wonderful experience of our lives. She is such a miracle child. She is more of a miracle child than if one of my pregnancies had been succesful. I told Faith's pediatrician the other day that I didn't know why anyone would want a homemade baby when they could have one of these precious little miracles! In fact, I consider the six years of infertility treatments/miscarriages as just part of God's journey, the path to Faith, so to speak. Perhaps this is your path as well. So I encourage you to just not worry about your fertility, worry more about getting and keeping yourself healthy, and consider going straight to the adoption. Take care and hang in there, and tell your husband I completely understand how that experience must have made him feel! Karen C.

Hello, this is Karen, David C's wife. Dave had a blood transfusion yesterday and did great! He finished his 6th round of chemo two weeks ago and his lab work Monday showed his count to be the lowest yet, so his oncologist's nurse recommended the transfusion. I thought he would get on-line this morning and post but I think he's feeling so well (or thinks he is) that he's already showered and left the house. He's trying to get the travel trailer we bought last fall and our tow vehicle ready for camping as soon as he's ready, hopefully in August. We planned on taking lots of weekend camping trips with our beautiful new daughter starting this spring but that darn lung cancer interrupted our plans! Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know he had a transfusion and did very well, no reactions or anything, just a long day of relaxing in a hospital bed watching the James Bond DVD I picked up for him! Best to everyone, Karen C.

I MADE IT!!!!! Last chemo treatment is over. I bought some ribs and a good dark beer to celebrate tonight. The beer will probably put me out pretty quick so will have to save it for later tonight. Thanks for all the replies. Jack and Cheryl, you just have to force yourself to get up and about. The radiation and the chemo really does a number on you but still getting out for just a short walk helps. Rest is very important too so just go out when you have the energy. It is important to stay out of the sun too so maybe an indoor place like the mall or a grocery store would do. It is a delicate balancing act that everybody probably has to figure out on thier own. David C

David P - this is Karen, David C's wife. I can't believe you haven't heard any WV jokes, but I guess maybe you wouldn't have, up in Canada. People sorta make fun of the hillbilly aspect of the state - you know, marrying your sister and all that stuff. Anyway, just wanted you to know I posted a joke for you in the Just For Laughs forum, I hope everyone enjoys it! And best of luck with your endeavor, I think that is great, what you are doing. One thing Dave and I HAVE to do once he's done with treatment is find a way to raise awareness, especially now that I am now a melanoma survivor, too! all my best, Karen C.

Hi, this is Karen, David C's wife. I see where David P requested WV jokes, not having heard any. I'm from WV . . . and this is one I thought was clean and cute! Enjoy everyone, especially David P! WEST VIRGINIA LOVE SONG Collards is green, my dog’s name is Blue And I’m so lucky To have a sweet thang like you You hair is like cornsilk a-flapping in the breeze. Softer than Blue’s And without all them fleas You move like the bass, Which excite me in May You ain’t got no scales But I luv you anyway Yo’re as satisfy’n as okry Just-a-fry’n in the pan, Yo’re as fragrant as “snuff” Right out of the can You have some’a yore teeth, For which I am proud I hold my head high When we’re in a crowd On special occasions, When you shave under yore arms Well, I’m in hawg heaven And awed by yore charms Still them fellers at work, They all want to know, What I did to deserve Such a purty young doe Like a good roll of duct tape Yo’re there fer yore man To patch up life’s troubles And fix what you can Yo’re as cute as a junebug a-buzz’n overhead You ain’t mean like those far ants I found in my bed Cut from the best cloth Like a plaid flannel shirt, You speak up my life More’n a fresh load of dirt When you hold me real tight Like a padded gunrack, My life is complete; Ain’t nuthin I lack Yore complexion, it’s perfection, Like the best vinyl sid’n Despite all the years, Yore age just keeps hidin’ Me ‘n you’s like a Moon Pie With a RC cold drank, We go together Like a skunk goes with stank Some men, they luv chocolate For Valentine’s Day; They git it at Wal-Mart, It’s romantic that way Some men git roses On that special day From the cooler at Kroger “That’s impressive,” I say Some men luv fine diamonds From a flea market booth “Diamonds are forever” they explain, suave and couth But for this man, honey, These won’t do Cause yore too special, You sweet thang you I got you a gift, Without taste nor odor, More useful than diamonds . . . . IT’S A NEW TROLL’N MOTOR!!

I proved my Oncologist wrong!! Last monday he said my blood counts were the lowest they have ever been and that they would not be high enough for me to get my last round of chemo this week. Well, they were up and today is my last day of chemo after 6 rounds!!!! Wish I really had the energy to be excited, ha ,ha. We had 2 couples and thier babies come out this past weekend that we travelled to China with to adopt last fall and we all had a good time going out on the pontoon boat and even going swimming. This is the first time I have had my 22 month old adopted daughter swimming and she loved it once she figured out I was not going to let her go. I believe excesise truely helps the chemo cruds. Just wish I had figured it out a little earlier. I have gotten a little more active over the past few weeks and can really tell it has helped. After today I will be getting the preventative brain radiation, PCI, starting around Aug. 15th and then will be checked every 2 months. Last Monday my Onc. said that by all indications I am in remission, I prefer cured, but will have a CT scan done on July 28th and we will be able to better see what is actually happening. My prayers are with everybody here. Keep the positive attitude and the Faith, Never give up!!!!! David C

Kathy, when I was diagnosed, one of the side effects of my cancer was low sodium in the blood causing me to have cramps in my calves. You may want to have the docs check his sodium level. Good luck. David C

Dave, good to hear from you. Everything sounds good, even the litte BP thing, they got it back up and you finished the day as planned!! Congratulations on the SS approval. You are corredct about contacting your congresspersons office, we had to get thier help with our adopted daughters SS# and Certificate of Citizenship, they were a tremendous help. Hang in there 2 more to go is no problem after the first 4. My prayers are with you buddy, keep up the good thoughts. David C

Tracy, way to go dad and keep up the positive thoughts. Visualization of killing cancer cells can be a very powerful thing, I went to a psychologist who specialized in cancer patients and used visualization every day. Tell your dad to drink, drink, drink and when he feels he cannot dring to drink somemore. From my experience he probably will not feel any of the side effects from the chemo for 3 or 4 days. Make sure he does not over do it and remember......any side effects are a symtom of the cure!!!!! Keep up the good work. My prayers are with you and your family. David C

Larry and Jan, good to meet you, just wish it was under different circumstances. You are correct, there are many good people here, welcome aboard. The news sounds very good about your wife. The only good thing that can be said about SCLC is that it responds very well to treatments. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE DOCS ABOUT STATISTICS. Statistics is a dirty word. Ignore them. Live life to the fullest and enjoy every day and just concentrate on a full cure. My prayers are with you and your wife. Let us know how things progress. David C

Stacie, I am so sorry to hear your tragic news. Thank you for letting us know. My prayers are with you and your family as you go through this. David C

Tracy, hello. This is a very scary thing to have to go through for anybody. I have said before and I will repeat that I think that sometimes it can be harder on the caregivers than it is on the patients. It can be terrifying to know that you have this thing and that any little thing you feel could be contributed to it. My prayers are with you and your father that he may beat this thing, it can be done.

My prayers are with you ad your father. David C

I am so sorry to hear your tragic news. My prayers are with you.

Mary, please do whatever it takes. Believe me, I know how hard it is. I smoked for 20 years and stopped cold turkey when I was diagnosed. Please, please, please, please just stop. Throw away all that you have and do not buy any more. You cannot do what you don't have. My prayers are with you. David C

Jay, drink, drink, drink!!!!! Sorry you have caught a cold, take care of your self and don't hesitate to call the doc. David C

Great news!! Here is to remission!! Congrats. David C