stand4hope

Hi Larry and Welcome! You've got me beat on the number of years married - I've only got 36 to brag about. I don't know anything about Kansas, except that's where "Dorothy" was from. Just wanted to welcome you and so glad you decided to join us. This is one big happy family. Happy families share the ups and the downs, and that's what you'll get here. I was glad to hear about your return to Christ. Faith is so important, especially when facing what you are. My favorite verse of all time and the one that gets me through dealing with my husband's dx is "All things work together for good for those who love God." Romans 8 : 28. God bless you, Peggy

Hi Kelly, I'm glad you came out of the "shadows" - it can get pretty dark in there, and I've found there to be a lot of LIGHT on this web site. I don't know of any tests either that can be done, but I sure did want to welcome you and say that we are glad you found us. I've only been a member for about 6 weeks, but have found everyone to be so helpful and friendly, and also very funny at times. The laughter has really helped me a lot. God bless you and, again, WELCOME!!! Peggy

Peg, It's so good to hear from you! I ditto what Francine and Sandy said and let others help you through this. I've been through great loss, but nothing as hard as what you're dealing with. I think you already know, though, that my heart is definitely weeping with you. I've continued to pray for you and hoped that you would come back. I'm so glad you did. God bless you, Peggy

Did most of you get full body scans when you were first diagnosed? or Did your doctors wait to see if you had symptoms in other parts of your body. My husband initially had only headaches and no symptoms, other than weight loss. He didn't even have any chest or lung symptoms. They first discovered the brain mets with an MRI, and then they did the chest CT and found the lung tumor, but they didn't check any other part of his body. He is now complaining of back pain (area of ribs, same side as tumor). I've encouraged him to get it checked it out, but he is convinced it's from a pulled muscle, although he's had it now for more than two weeks. Did any of you get full body bone scans, etc.? Thanks in advance, God bless you all, Peggy

Hi Cat, I personally haven't had that experience either. When my husb. was in the hospital (twice) and with my dad in the hospital, nothing like that has happened, but generally, I do find that most people don't have good listening skills (including me), but GREAT talking skills (also including me). LOLOL!! P.S. I'm glad you are out of the hospital and hope you are feeling better. Love, Peggy

. . . . and we're just like the Energizer Bunny . . . . keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going!!! Peggy

Hi Jane, I, too, am so sorry you and your family have to face this hard time with your brother, Alan. Ry is right - it will be hard, but you can do this. As you already know, God will give you the strength you need to cope, and I bet you will be the strong one for the rest of your family - it sounds like your mom is really going to need you. God bless you, Peggy

:D H A P P Y M O T H E R ' S D A Y :D

Ok. Ok. I read it - and I am laughing. I would call that PG! LOLOLOL!

Sharon, Glad to hear that all is well now. I bet that really scared you. Did you call him back and ask if he liked his burger? God bless you, Peggy

Hi Margaret. I don't have answers to your questions either, but I did want to welcome you to this family of people who really care and understand everything you are going through. Please keep us posted about everything that's going on. You might want to copy and paste your post under alternative therapies - you might get a quicker response there from folks who have a wealth of information on those things. Best of luck to you and your mom. God bless you, Peggy

I just loved that, Jane - especially the second verse. Thanks for sharing. Love, Peggy

Thanks for the Happy Mother's Day, Ginny. I'm glad the Duke is feeling a little better, but I am so sorry about your friend and your sister. That's sad that you can't go see your sister right now, but I'm sure she understands. Prayers coming your way for all three. God bless you, Peggy

Debi, I am so sorry for this loss in your family, and I feel so bad for your sister. I'm glad she's got you to hold her up over the next few days. You are a very special sister to go be with her, and even using all your savings to do so. God love you! Peggy

Hi Mo, I don't know anything about what you're experiencing, but if it bothers you, it bothers me. You are such a sweet lady and I just love to read your posts. God bless you, Peggy

Hi Dean, Sorry I'm late with my post. I'm glad you're doing ok, but sorry you are having to go through a few rough days at home with the MIL. My MIL was just great, so I can't give a "war story". Darn! God bless you, Peggy

Hi Ven, I'm sorry I don't have answers to your questions. My husband hasn't had pain at all other than headaches from the brain tumors when he was first diagnosed, and decadron took care of that real fast. There are many others on here though who have had pain in ribs, spine, legs, etc., and I'm sure you will be hearing from them very soon. Welcome to this very helpful forum. I think you will really be pleased with the support and answers you will get here. God bless you, Peggy

Hi Beth, It sounds to me like Bob is doing pretty well thanks to one or all the meds you listed. "Whatever works!" Try not to worry about the brain scan - the confusion, dizziness, etc. could all be side effects of the chemo. It's a good thing they are checking it, though - that means you have thorough doctors. I would always rather they overtest than undertest. I have already prayed for a clean brain scan and stable platelets. God bless you, Peggy

Lynne, I am so sorry for your loss of your wonderful husband, Dean. I am sending you my deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers for comfort from God. God bless you, Peggy

Hi Berisa. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed looking at your photos. I saw them yesterday, but didn't have time to post. Your family is absolutely beautiful. You were a beautiful bride. Again, I'm so sorry you lost your sweet and wonderful dad. May God bless you forever. Love, Peggy

Bye, Denise. You be sure to take care of Denise, too. Hope to see you back real soon. God bless you, Peggy

Hi! and Welcome! Sorry I'm late in posting to you, but I've had an incredibly busy week and haven't been here much. I'm so glad you found this site, but so, so sorry that your mom has this frightening disease. You will find very quickly that there are a lot of folks here who will hold you up when you're down and cheer for you when things are going well. They are a great group and soon will become your friends. Once again, welcome, God bless you, Peggy

That is GREAT news, Dave! Keep it coming. God bless you, Peggy

Oh no, Jane! Oh, no! Oh, no! You have been such a wonderful advocate for your brother, trying to get him more help, praying for him, and at the same time still sending such wonderful faith-filled thoughts to everyone on this board. You are such a sweet and loving sister. This is just devastating news, and I'm sure your heart is breaking. Because of your posts and our PM's, I'm going to stick my neck out and say that I bet you're thinking "If only I had . . . . . " "If only I called . . . . " or "I wish I had". Sweetie, stop it right now. I just know that's what you are doing, aren't you? Don't do that to yourself. Your brother's cancer was quite advanced and there just isn't anything you could have done to stop the downward spiral. And try to not let any of the family do it either. It just doesn't help. It will cause people to feel guilty, blame his wife, and all kinds of crap will just make all of this more painful. Plus, it won't help him either because he will sense that people are angry or bitter, and focusing on things other than HIM. Let God take over now, and you just be there to hold him and love him, and even cry with him if that's what he needs. Like Mo says, just cherish every moment. He needs to have hope right up until the end, and so do you. God does perform miracles, and you just never know who is going to be the one. Tell jokes to him and make him laugh if he is able. When my Mom was dying, she always loved the song, "Do Lord, oh, Do Lord, oh Do you remember me? Do Lord . . . . " and she and I sang it all the time in the hospital. Then when other family started to come see her we sang it then, too, and she would perk up and clap her hands and sing with us. At the end when she couldn't clap or sing, she would just light up with a big smile. Another thing she liked was one of those singing sunflowers I bought her several months earlier that sang "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray." We took that to the hospital and would crank it up and everybody, nurses included, would sing right along. At her funeral, our pastor said he had never heard anybody sing "Do Lord" in the hospital, but that it was refreshing to see a lady in her dying moments, smiling, as the family and even the nurses sang along. I even sang it to her softly when she went into unconsciousness. Make him as happy as you can. GOD LOVE YOU, JANE!!!!! Be strong! Be strong! Love, Peggy

Congratulations, David! Two years is just wonderful, and we appreciate you sharing. God bless you, Peggy