kimblanchard Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Nurse called today - The sputum test Monday came back positive for two different bacterias, one "strep-like" and one gram negative, final report not in yet. Start IV antibiotics x 7 days. The Xray on Wednesday showed progression of tumor and lymphangitic involvement - R lung and lymph nodes same as before but worse. I looked at the pictures, they look nasty. So much for the Carbo/Taxol routine. Appt tomorrow to see what comes next. Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Margaret~ I am so sorry the x-ray showed progression. Watch him real closely, strep is nasty stuff. Is he on a picc line or going to an infusion center? Keep us posted. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted January 13, 2005 Author Share Posted January 13, 2005 Daily trips to the local hospital ER for infusion. Cross fingers for no more ice storms. Will keep you posted. Thanks, buddy. Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Dangit, Margaret. So sorry this has come up. I have been thinking about you and Jim and hoping for better news. Hang in there. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDianneB Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Gosh, Margaret. You two hang tough, ok? Will be thinking about you and praying for you both. Di Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Margaret, sorry to hear this.Hope the anti biotics do in the infections.Also hope he is hanging in there ok.Give him my best.( I was in Nam also and wouldn't be here if it were not for a navy corpsman-same as a medic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathyr Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Oh Margaret, Let's hope the antiboitics work very quickly for you. What a pain in the you-know-what! Stay strong, girlfriend. You will get through this too! Remember, one day at a time. My prayers are with you. CathyR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginny Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 Oh Margaret, I am so sorry that you got this bad news. The most important thing is to not give up hope. I will say a prayer for you both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy P Posted January 13, 2005 Share Posted January 13, 2005 (((((Margret & Jim))))))) I hope the IV antibiotics kick whatever infection is going on in there and hope that tomorrow's appt will bring a good plan to get rid of the cancer! Will keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Much Love, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Hi Margaret, Wow, I am really sorry to hear about the x-ray report. I am glad they found the infection, though. Hopefully, getting the right antibiotics will get rid of it and help him to feel better. How are you both coping mentally with this news? Getting past the first few days of this kind of news can be really rough. Please know that I am praying for you both! Love, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnmynatt Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Unfortunately, we seem to be walking a similar path. Praying for healing from the infection and from the cancer. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haylee_38 Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Margaret, I am so sorry to hear of the progression. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Haylee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Prayers headed your way. love and fortitude elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 I'm sorry, Margaret. I hope that something positive comes out of tomorrow's appointment. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Gosh darn it. I am sorry I hope the apt tomrrow has things looking up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Margaret, I am sorry to hear about your test results. First, lets get you over this bacteria infection that you have. Once you feel better you can think about what you want to do next. Keeping you in my prayers. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted January 14, 2005 Author Share Posted January 14, 2005 - 4 degrees here, a little after 4 in the morning. I just love you all, you are so kind in so many ways. I care what happens to you. I do read the posts to Jim. Don't know what we would do without you. I am up early to try to prepare. Set the house in a little order. Clean up me. (Should I touch up my hair color this morning? I have time and lord knows, it is overdue.) Feed all the critters. Help him get ready. About 9 CST we will head out down the road. After I negotiate the iced lane to the main road, it should be smooth sailing. Get there a bit early. Do whatever there. Stop at the local hospital on the way home for his antibiotic treatment. Yes, we are fortunate the infection was found. Infection keeps rearing it's ugly little head. We have been lucky quite a few times now. How are we coping? Calm enough on the surface. Talking about Hospice, which might be now, might be later. Maybe it is good to talk openly. It seems so strange, though, to talk about rearranging the furniture, where do we want to put the bed. I follow his lead on this. His choices on when to talk. He is talking now. I asked him - so just where is that lawn mower key? Stuff like that. He asked for the printout of the crossingthecreek.com info. He is reading it, with one eye shut, as that eye never did get it's cataract removed. If I let myself, I feel quite horrified and inadequate to the task. But right now, I can easily push that away. Everytime it starts to well up, I try to do something nice for somebody or something. Backrub. Water the plants. Bellyrub for the dog. It works for the short term and short term is all I need, a string of them all locked together. Do it for him. Do it for me. Do it so there will be no regrets. Seems to be an epidemic of flare-ups for everyone right now. It seems to go in cycles. I just say to all of us sharing this path, this is part of life. The ups, the downs, the beginnings, the endings, the middle. This is still middle for all of us here. We do what we can, we do it as charmingly as possible. We are only human. Try to do more good than bad in this world. Our onc is a real go getter, very persistant, very caring. She may very well have another trick or two up her sleeve. We trust her. We will see what she says. Maybe she will try another pill. Why not. Anyway, either way, it is still not the end. We are still together in this world. We will always be together one way or another. So it is another trip day, it seems like it has been hundreds of trips. And to tell you the truth, he was really sick last Spring and we made it through that. So we will just do it, whatever IT is. I'll be back much later to update. Busy day ahead. Much love to all. You are a wonderful group of people and it really makes a big difference that you are here. Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Margaret, You are such a wise woman. I, too, felt that each day is a gift. And every gift should bring joy. I so hope your wonderful onc. has yet another trick up her sleeve. Let us know. Be careful on that icy road. Love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Thank you, Margaret. Words to live by. I wish you both well. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finster Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 Sending prayers your way Margaret. All any of us can do is make the very best of each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted January 14, 2005 Share Posted January 14, 2005 I will be thinking about you as you make your way out today...it is a balmy 14 here Sorry he has to get out in the cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted January 15, 2005 Author Share Posted January 15, 2005 Hey folks. It's Hospice. Jim started oxygen tonight. Should have seen that delivery van with no four wheel drive trying to get out of our lane and in the dark, too. He made it. We continue with the antibiotics. Tomorrow Jim starts massive steroids. Next Friday, he will have a CT Scan to check for that Vena Cava thing and an MRI to check for brain mets. After the tests, it is Hospice. We are waiting a week for Hospice so the insurance will pay for the tests. Today was a total jumble and it is just now calming down. My best to all. Peaceful sweet dreams and a lovely day tomorrow. We all still have a ways to go. Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted January 15, 2005 Share Posted January 15, 2005 Hi Margaret and Jim. I am thinking about you. And thanking for your presence here. You are right, we do need each other. Give everyone hugs from me tonight, scratches and pets. Including Jim. And Margaret. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogfam Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 I'm so sorry; you are both in my prayers. CC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaffie Posted January 19, 2005 Share Posted January 19, 2005 So sorry to hear this news. You have such a positive attitude, you never know what good things might be waiting around the corner for both of you. Keep the faith. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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