Nova

Hope she feels better soon. Maybe she's dehydrated.. (Just a guess). It's happened to Harry so many times. Best wishes to you, Nova

Thank you for that. I'm going to print it, and also keep it favorite placed on my computer. I've been hearing of more and more people that are without insurance. Thanks again, Nova

I'm thankful that Proctor and Gamble has a medication assistance program. I was dx'd with Crohn's Disease in 2000. The medication I take for it, (an aspirin-based pill), costs nearly $300 a month. Our insurance was cancelled last month. Proctor and Gamble sent me 3 months worth of medication at no cost. It arrived in the mail on Friday. That's a miracle for me.

I feel so badly for your husband. Harry doesn't fully realize what is going on with his job either. (They've basically "laid him off", forever). He just keeps saying "When I get to go back to work"...... I guess I wouldn't make a very good "company owner", because I couldn't live with myself if I did that to one of my employees. If they wanted to work, I would find "something" for them to do. It's like kicking a stray, hungry dog, in my opinion. I'm sorry. It breaks my heart.

Thank you both for sharing your memories with me. I wish I knew what to do or say, to make you feel better, but I know there's nothing..... I don't know how you guys even function, day to day. I'm holding your hands, long distance.

I'm so sorry.

The doctor at the hospital was so wrong for telling your Mom all of that false information. How does HE know how many years, months, minutes, etc., a person has left? I can understand you wanting to punch him right in the nose. What a jerk. I also understand fully, how upsetting it is trying to deal with electric companies, phone companies, etc. It's enough to make you want to pull your hair out. The bottom line is, they don't care....not at all, in the least. Thank goodness you finally got someone on the phone that could fix the problem. Keep her name handy, (for the next 20 years or so), in case they try to change their minds again. I'm sorry you guys are going thru such hard times. It's exhausting, for everyone. Take care, Nova

Congratulations on the new baby girl that will be arriving! (I have 4 grandson's! Not a girl in the bunch! ) What fun your Mom will have helping you plan, buy baby clothes, etc!

I was happy to read that you have a choice as to whether or not to work. That way if you decide to quit for a while, you won't feel pressured. I'm going thru the opposite thing myself. After being a "stay-at-home" mom for 15 years, I'm having to go back to school and work. Yuck. Not something I'm looking forward to, but I still feel thankful that I am able to. I'd say to do whatever you feel most comfortable with, and I'm really happy that you can choose. That makes it much easier. Best wishes for your family, Nova

That said it all, Randy. I'm going to copy that and keep it to read when I'm having the "blues", or when I get scared. Teresa, I think you're feeling very "normal". It's scary stuff to go thru, especially in the beginning. Makes you feel helpless, and when people hear the word "cancer", they automatically think "death", which is just not true now-a-days. It's hard though. Take care, and just take one minute at a time, or one second at a time. Nova

I've been blessed SO much lately. It's unbelievable. And one little new spot of cancer~ (that they had found last month)~ in Harry's lung disappeared too! yayyyyy!

I understand how you're feeling. When my husband was dx'd, my first thought was "I" wouldn't go thru chemo ~ no way, no how! I'm SO happy that my husband decided to fight the cancer though. He's had very bad days, especially when he got the first few rounds of chemo, but he's also had very good days. We just got back from a week's vacation in Illinois, where he went for walks in the woods, and sat in a deer blind with our son. Who would have ever thought he would be able to do that? Maybe your Mom is overwhelmed at the moment, and it's making it tough for her to "get" and keep everything straight. (Shoot, I STILL can't keep everything straight! It's too much to absorb.) Take care of yourself. It will all work out somehow. "Time" tends to bring answers, eventually. Nova

I'm sorry you had to find us, but glad that you did. I'm also sorry for your Mom, and that she is having such a rough time. Like Nyka said, it's very hard to watch someone that you love, struggle with this disease. It makes it even worse, to not know what to expect, because there are some people that whiz right thru their chemo treatments and go into long remissions, (or are even cured!), and there are some, like my husband, who have a rough time with certain types of chemo meds.He has good days, rotten days, and in-between days too. The people here are the very best, so please come back when you have questions, or just want to talk. Take care, and nice to meet you, Prayers going up for you and your family, Nova

I'm happy that things are working out well for you. Maybe I wasn't here yet when you posted about it, but do you have a bad back? Sounds as if your new place will make things easier for you. I'm thinking of you. Nova

I think that little girl might grow up to be a great Oncologist. Bless her heart. Guess it's not just America that people have trouble finding (and paying for) treatments.

I'm so sorry for your husband. What a blow to his emotions that had to be. Harry hangs on to the fact the he will be able to return to his old job some day too. (I haven't told him that I pretty much figure they've "let him go", since they've cancelled our insurance already.) It's something how the companies expect their workers to be loyal, but are the first ones to bail out when the worker has a problem. Hope things get better for you guys. Nova

I'm not sure either, but I think it's 6 of each, then on to something new. Harry is on his second line, using Taxol. He has one more to go. The doctor told us that when a new spot of cancer shows up, they will then figure out what to use as a third line of treatment..... I guess it will just go on and on until they run out of chemo meds, or the cancer is totally gone, or in remission...???? Glad your Mom is feeling okay! Nova

Hi Bobbie, I've sent the site I was speaking of to your PM address. With small cell cancer, you should automatically be eligible for SS Disability. If I'm not mistaken, the "SSI" part will take into consideration what assets you have, so if you have a penny too much in the bank for instance, you won't be eligible for that. But for regular SS Disability, you should be eligible right away. ("Right away" means you get approved for it, but you have to wait 5 months to get your first check--and then it's only for ONE month, no back pay). Have you applied for regular disability ? If so, at least it would be something to look forward to in 5 months. As long as you worked enough in the past, you should get it. Take care, Nova

Sounds like you had everything to me, Randy! The love you shared with your wife is wonderful. You're so right ~~ Material things aren't important. There are basic things you have to have though, and no matter how many times I tell the people at the Electric Company that I love them, they would still still show up and turn the power off, if I didn't have money to pay the bill!! LOL! Like my Grandma said "In a 100 years, no one will know the difference". Anyway, we just have to keep plugging along! It'll either get better, or worse, and we just have to do what we can to fix it. Take care of yourself.

Jackie, Now EVERYONE will be wearing their P.J.'s to the pharmacy! I'm sure you've started a new fad! Seriously, I'm sorry you had to go to the hospital, but glad it seems like you have a nice doctor that is treating you well. Saying a prayer for you to feel better right away.

Well honestly, it just stinks! Harry and I were doing fine financially, before cancer invaded our lives. We weren't "rich", not even close, but we were "okay"! We could order a pizza once a week, or if someone needed a new pair of jeans or shoes, it was no biggy, we just went out and bought them. Lord Have Mercy , has that ever changed!! !!! I watch every penny now, and then when there aren't any more to watch, , I pray a lot!!! I know that the Lord will help us, as long as we're doing everything possible to help ourselves, but it's still scary at times. Take care everyone.

Hi Heather, I'm sending you a link to a place that will almost "for sure", help you out a couple of times with all sort's of things from electric bills, medications that are needed, car repairs, mortgage/rent payments, doctor's visit's, etc. You have to send them some info, but it's really worth it. Take care, Nova

Please check your box from me too. I know EXACTLY how you feel, and what you're going thru. Nova

I'm so sorry.

I love right where I am, in Central Florida, but if I had to move, I'd go back to southern Illinois and buy an old farmhouse on about 20 acres.