Tom Here!
Amy finished her 6th and hopefully final Chemo treatment today. Things went well and she even did a cart-wheel at the request of her nurse.
The kids decorated the front porch to congratulate Amy. Here’s a picture.
Thanks to all…
Half Way Scans 4-21 April 21, 2008
Tom Here!
Well in a few hours Amy will be enjoying a smooth drink of CT Barium! Can you say “yummy”! Dr. Sjak-Shie has ordered these test to check the status of the cancer and progress of the chemo. This is normal in the treatment process, nothing to be alarmed about or concerned.
One good thing is Amy’s good friend Stella is going to Washington with her today. Look up in the dictionary good people and you see a picture of Stella. Next to her is a small picture of Jim. Not because he’s good, but because he’s married to Stella. Ha. Ha. It has been really encouraging with all the people willing to help out and just hang out.
I know from reading the blog you probably think we are walking through this with flying colors and things have been good. We are learning a lot about life and each other. We have shared so many emotions together and are finding out this isn’t easy. But life isn’t easy and we are just trying to live life, moment by moment. Just like many of you, we do it good some days and some days we do it bad. But as we live, we have opportunities to learn how to live better and treat others better.
This season in the Denton family has been a difficult one. But we are excited to be in the game and are giving it all we have. We want to win the game, not just so we can cheer and get excited about winning or increase our win percentage. We want to win the game to make our Owner–God, get a standing ovation.
You might be saying to yourself–man that Tom Denton has a way with words. Well to be honest the last paragraph was inspired by my good friend Doug Knight as we talked on the way home from Columbia last Friday. If you don’t know Doug he is the Blacksmith who made Amy the cross. He’s also about 6′6″, one big dude. A real gentle giant, who has been a great encourager to me and my family during this time.
Half way! 4-16-08 April 16, 2008
Tom here!
Amy is half way done with her treatments as of about 3:00pm today. Dr. Sjak-Shie said she is doing excellent and is very pleased with her. Today was very busy at www.tcccr.com At one point during the day all the chairs but two had patients. That’s a lot of sickness, cause I think there is 14 stations.
Amy is really tired today, very fatigued. Dr. Sjak-Shie told us that each treatment takes a little bigger hit from the energy level. But with rest, prayers and good friends Amy will make it through.
A few weeks ago we commented on being the youngest people getting treatment. Well a learning experience came today as we saw two young girls, probably teen years getting chemo. I have been told and I have told others that there’s always someone who has it worse than you. Today, Amy and I experienced that first hand as we watched the mother of one of the girls breakdown in tears. I understand a little of her emotions, cause you feel helpless when the patient has a reaction to the drugs. There is really nothing you can do and that doesn’t go well for most human beings, me especially. But we are so thankful to God that He stirs in the hearts of the nursing staff to give such amazing care and comfort.
As I close out, I have a request. As you pray for Amy, please lift up that young girl and her mother. I tired to encourage them today with words but in this case the best words are the ones directed to God the Father. Pray that God would give them peace in their difficult situation and they would sense His presence during this time.
Thanks so much, the comments, cards, meals, visits and all the prayers and thoughts have been a great blessing to us.
4-2 Round Two, Over! April 2, 2008
Tom Here! As I type the beeper is going off and round two is officially over!
Today was good, really good! Amy is doing great and she is now finished with her second round of Chemo. As you may tell from the photo, Amy is sporting the do-rag look. Thanks to our good buddy Q, she has a Denver Broncos rag.
Dr. Sjak-Shie is such a neat lady and is very well qualified. Once again the staff at www.tcccr.com was wonderful to work with and made us feel right at home. They treat us like family!
Look at the photo, Amy is right at home, she loves puzzles. I posted it because I have been so encouraged by her attitude and outlook during this season of her life.
Amy finished the 1000 piece puzzle that someone else started. She is looking forward to coming back in two weeks to work on another. It was kind of cool to watch her work it and interactive with the other patients. Everyone was so proud that she finished it. Amy can’t wait until her and Auntie Stell can work on puzzles when Jim and Stella return from Arizona.
Continue to pray that the next few days go without side effects. We will post again in a few days.
1st Treatment 3-13-08 March 13, 2008
We arrived at the www.tcccr.com around 8:45 in the morning. I think we both had a little anxiety, knowing that this visit was going to be different. It’s hard to tell you everything that went on today, but I will try to capture a few of the highlights. I know some of you would want to be here with Amy firsthand if you could and we appreciate that, so I will try to give you a good picture of the day.
First off, the staff is wonderful and very knowledgeable. Teresa, Amy’s nurse was very kind, gentle and communicated very well with us, so this really helped us to rest easy.
The treatment room is a little unsettling at first, but is very well kept. It appears to us that Amy is the newbie and the youngest being treated today. The unsettling part is that the room is wide open with 14 different treatment stations. They all have curtains that close but today none have been closed today.. We are learning that it’s like one big happy family between the staff and patients. At first we came in and went to the far end of the room but after a negative reaction to one of the nausea medicines we moved closer to the nurse’s station. As I am writing this Amy is involved in a conversation about dogs with Katie, another nurse and a few of the patients receiving treatment.
About 11:30 Teresa gave Amy the last of the medicine and it was completed around 3:15. What a long day!
All in all the first day went very well! Other than the reaction to the nausea stuff, she hasn’t had any side effects yet. We hope it stays that way.
Our kids are over at The Roach’s and should be home in just a little bit. Amy is in her new chair and watching The Cosby Show with Zoie on her lap. All is well for now, thanks for your prayers. The side effects have been minimal.
We go back tomorrow for a booster shot that will boost her system to help prevent infection while taking the treatments.
Will post tomorrow before going to see Dr. Sjak-Shie. Say that fast 5 times. lol
Love you all.
Tom
