Well, it's been just over one week from his first chemo treatment. So far, he has not had any serious issues with nausea. Yeah!! And, he still has hair [probaby not for long though :) ]. But, as expected, it is certainly knocking his body for a loop. He is exhausted, some food has a nasty taste, not much desire to eat or drink, sore mouth, his body aches all over and he started running a low fever yesterday. This morning he and Peggy went to the oncologist [he already had a one week checkup appt for blood work scheduled]. The result was Glen's white blood cell count is significantly lower than it should be so they put him on a strong antibiotic. He is to return this Friday [the 20th] for re-evaluation.
Our prayers are that Glen's immune system rebounds quickly before catching any serious infections, that his body maintains enought strength that the chemo focuses on attacking the lymphoma and not the rest of his body, that he has as few side effects as possible, and that his mental strength continues to point Upward.
As always, thanks for your prayers and support.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Monday, July 9, 2012
Glen update - July 9th 9:30 pm
Jennifer just got back from McMinnville. Glen started his chemo treatments today, so Jennifer went down early this morning to go with them and spend the day with Peggy while Glen received the treatments. His appt was at 9:30 this morning. The first part was just talking with the onocologist, who emphasized that Glen needs to keep his body active, stay hydrated, and wash his hand frequently [germs are a big deal since he will be immune compromised] during the next couple of months. At 10:15 am, Peggy and Jennifer walked with Glen to the room with the "special chair" and left by 10:25 [as there is no guest waiting with the patients]. The nurses accessed Glen's port, completed preparations, and slowly began administering the 5 different medications [one at a time]. Glen texted Peggy at 12:50 pm to inform her that he was doing fine and that they had just started the last medication and estimated to be finished at 5:00 pm [over 6 hours to receive all 5 meds!!]. All morning there were only females receiving treatments... no other males. In the afternoon, it was just him. They gave him some nausea medicine during the treatment and he slept a lot of the afternoon in the "special chair". Sure enough...he finished right at 5:00 pm.
Back at Peggy and Glen's, Jennifer said Glen ate a good supper [for the stage he is at right now]. He has to go back late tomorrow morning to get a shot that should help him maintain a good white blood cell count. The doc said all patients are different, but that Glen would probably start feeling the worst of any side effects after 48 hours rather than immediately and that he may not start losing his hair until the second week. Glen and Christy [although Christy doesn't know this yet] are going to search for a straw hat after tomorrow's shot to protect his future baldness from the sun!! BTW, Jennifer's sister Christy will arrive tonight at Peggy and Glen's and stay with them for the next couple of days.
We are grateful and thankful that Glen was able to finally start treating the lymphoma. We thank you for your prayers and acts of kindness. We ask for your continued prayers for both Glen and Peggy's physical and mental strength as we are back to hoping for more good hours than bad hours.
Back at Peggy and Glen's, Jennifer said Glen ate a good supper [for the stage he is at right now]. He has to go back late tomorrow morning to get a shot that should help him maintain a good white blood cell count. The doc said all patients are different, but that Glen would probably start feeling the worst of any side effects after 48 hours rather than immediately and that he may not start losing his hair until the second week. Glen and Christy [although Christy doesn't know this yet] are going to search for a straw hat after tomorrow's shot to protect his future baldness from the sun!! BTW, Jennifer's sister Christy will arrive tonight at Peggy and Glen's and stay with them for the next couple of days.
We are grateful and thankful that Glen was able to finally start treating the lymphoma. We thank you for your prayers and acts of kindness. We ask for your continued prayers for both Glen and Peggy's physical and mental strength as we are back to hoping for more good hours than bad hours.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Glen Update - July 3
Last week's surgery at Sarah Cannon: The doctor said Glen's opening was severely restricted AGAIN. The doc stretched it ... again... and placed a temporary stent [which is only allowed to be in there for a max of 6 weeks] with strict orders of 'DO NOT THROW UP' or the new stent may come out. The first couple of days he still threw up some - but less frequently - and significantly less frequently now. He still has a lot of acid and some other issues, but he is eating regular food with more frequent smaller meals and has even gone a couple of nights without having to supplement the nutrition with nightly tube feedings.
Yesterday's surgery: The docs successfully put a in a port in his left shoulder/chest area. They said he would be in a lot of pain for a day or two. Glen is scheduled to start his chemo next Monday, July 9th.
Thank you for your current and continued support and prayers!!
We hope you all have a great 4th of July as we are all blessed to live in this country!
Yesterday's surgery: The docs successfully put a in a port in his left shoulder/chest area. They said he would be in a lot of pain for a day or two. Glen is scheduled to start his chemo next Monday, July 9th.
Thank you for your current and continued support and prayers!!
We hope you all have a great 4th of July as we are all blessed to live in this country!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Glen Update - June 25
Sorry, it has been a couple of weeks since my last update. It has been a VERY busy last couple of weeks. Thank you for the kind words and gestures following the passing of Glen's mother - Memo. Immediately following our days in Winchester for Memo's funeral, we came home and packed to go back to Franklin County for our annual family week at Tim's Ford Lake. Our families inhabited five of the cabins in the park spending our days swimming in the pool and lake, fishing, skiing, being pulled on any floatable device that can be pulled behind a boat, riding jet skis [Kelsey's favorite activity], eating, playing board games, card games, outside games, golf, catching a drive-in movie and a matinee in Winchester, tossing water balloons, and lots of teasing and laughing - and lots of sun. It was the first year that all the family branches from the tree of Clarence [Jake] Jacobs were present. Grandpa would have been happy that all of his 14 great-grandkids [5 of which were born after his passing] were there. The only thing that would have made it better was if Glen was up to his normal activities and antics.
Back to Glen. During our week at Tims Ford, Glen started throwing up again. He had started eating small amounts of regular food periodically throughout the day. On his scheduled visit to his doc last Thursday, it was determined not to take out his feeding tube and that he needs a temporary stent placed in whats left of his esophagus and the opening into his stomach to keep it open and to take another look at whats going on. He goes back into surgery at Sarah Cannon tomorrow morning for the stent. Hopefully the throwing up will be taken care of.
Now to the lymphoma. The final report of the type and agressiveness of the lymphoma may not be good but at least now there is a plan of action. As it has gone unchecked while treating the esophagus cancer, it has definitely grown and spread aggressively - not only can you feel it now, you can see the growth in his neck [you couldn't even feel it when it was discovered]. The lymphoma is Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma on top of lowgrade lymphoma. Next Monday [July 2], Glen goes to get a port inserted into his body [the place where they will administer all treatments]. The next Monday [July 9], he will start his chemo treatments which will be a combo of about 5 or so types of medicines every 3 weeks for about 8 treatments. He will lose his hair during the second week after chemo starts [which is hard to imagine since he still has a thick head of hair]. After the treatments, they will determine how successful the treatments are working and re-evaluate to discuss other options [ie. bone marrow transplants, etc].
We are REALLY hoping and praying that the initial treatments are enough to manage his lymphoma. We are also praying that the side effects [ie. nausea...and others] will be manageable. Thanks for all the prayers and kind deeds. It is really appreciated.
Back to Glen. During our week at Tims Ford, Glen started throwing up again. He had started eating small amounts of regular food periodically throughout the day. On his scheduled visit to his doc last Thursday, it was determined not to take out his feeding tube and that he needs a temporary stent placed in whats left of his esophagus and the opening into his stomach to keep it open and to take another look at whats going on. He goes back into surgery at Sarah Cannon tomorrow morning for the stent. Hopefully the throwing up will be taken care of.
Now to the lymphoma. The final report of the type and agressiveness of the lymphoma may not be good but at least now there is a plan of action. As it has gone unchecked while treating the esophagus cancer, it has definitely grown and spread aggressively - not only can you feel it now, you can see the growth in his neck [you couldn't even feel it when it was discovered]. The lymphoma is Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma on top of lowgrade lymphoma. Next Monday [July 2], Glen goes to get a port inserted into his body [the place where they will administer all treatments]. The next Monday [July 9], he will start his chemo treatments which will be a combo of about 5 or so types of medicines every 3 weeks for about 8 treatments. He will lose his hair during the second week after chemo starts [which is hard to imagine since he still has a thick head of hair]. After the treatments, they will determine how successful the treatments are working and re-evaluate to discuss other options [ie. bone marrow transplants, etc].
We are REALLY hoping and praying that the initial treatments are enough to manage his lymphoma. We are also praying that the side effects [ie. nausea...and others] will be manageable. Thanks for all the prayers and kind deeds. It is really appreciated.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
We lost a member of our family today. Glen's mother, Martha Evelyn Moore ["Freida" or "Memo" to those that knew her], passed away. She took a turn for the worse this last week and died this morning. Visitation will be Tuesday night at Moore-Cortner funeral home in Winchester, TN from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Visitation on Wed will be 1:00 - 3:00 pm followed by the funeral at 3:00pm. She would have been 97 years old this July 13th. We LOVE you MEMO!
Glen goes to the oncologist tomorrow [Monday] afternoon to start the process for the lymphoma. He has started eating/drinking a little more [they are cutting back his nightly tube feedings], but his tiredness and night sweats from the lymphoma are still major issues.
Please continue to pray for Glen and Peggy and the family as they not only deal with Glen's illness but also the loss of his mother. We thank God that HIS hand is in this and that we know where Memo is going...and Heaven can't wait to get a hold of some of her casserole recipes!
Glen goes to the oncologist tomorrow [Monday] afternoon to start the process for the lymphoma. He has started eating/drinking a little more [they are cutting back his nightly tube feedings], but his tiredness and night sweats from the lymphoma are still major issues.
Please continue to pray for Glen and Peggy and the family as they not only deal with Glen's illness but also the loss of his mother. We thank God that HIS hand is in this and that we know where Memo is going...and Heaven can't wait to get a hold of some of her casserole recipes!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Glen Update - June 5 - 6:00 pm
Glen is home from his out patient surgery today. As suspected, the doctor said the opening was 'severely restricted'. He even found the pills Glen took last night still in the esophagus in 'pockets'. The doc opened the restricting area and STRETCHED it to its maximum. Now Glen is able to start eating soft food again and drinking. However, the doctor is concerned that it will become restricted again. If it happens again, Glen will undergo another surgery to put in stents to keep his esophagus open. So we are praying is stays open so he will not have to have any more surgeries before starting starting the chemo for the lymphoma.
Thanks again for the prayers and support.
Thanks again for the prayers and support.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Glen Update - June 2 - 9:00 am
Although Courtney and I are in Sweetwater this weekend, we wanted to post an update on Glen's current condition. Jennifer just got back from spending a couple of days in McMinnville with Glen and Peggy. Though Glen continues to look good and get stronger, he has now developed a new issue with keeping any food on his stomach when he eats by mouth. Since Tuesday [May 29] he throws up frequently. If he hadn't already had a doc appt scheduled for the Thursday [May 31], he would have had to go anyway. The doctor thinks the issue lies where the work was done at the opening at the end of the esophagus into the stomach. It may have closed to the point of not allowing all the food [and sometimes drink] to enter the stomach. The doc said that this complication is not uncommon for the type of surgery Glen underwent. Assuming the schedulers [on the docs end] can work out the facilities/timing, Glen will go back to Nashville this Tuesday [June 5] for a procedure to 'stretch' the opening. Unfortunately, we will not know for sure if that's the case until the doc actually gets in there to evaluate the situation.
We are praying for the best case scenario now which is: the docs can address the current problem with the stretching procedure with no other complications; Glen can begin feeling better again [throwing up never makes you feel good but especially not after his surgery]; Glen can be weaned from his nightly tube feedings; Glen can tolerate eating enough calories by mouth; and Glen could have the feeding tube removed within the next 3 weeks[June 21st is the new goal].
On another note and with a very big assumption [or positive thinking] that his current issue can be resolved, Glen now has an appt scheduled in a week and a half with his other oncology docs to start the process of dealing with his other equally menacing nemesis - the lymphoma. Although the reports are not great, we are praying that with the right docs... the right chemo treatments...the right amount of physical strength...the right amount of positive mental strength...the right amount of a good support system...and most importantly a huge dose of the Good Lord....Glen [and Peggy] will be able continue to make progress and be able to tackle the huge challenge ahead of them.
Some hours are harder than others both physically and mentally on them, but they are always encouraged by everyone's show of concern by cards, words and deeds. As always, we are extremely grateful and thankful for all the prayers and support.
We are praying for the best case scenario now which is: the docs can address the current problem with the stretching procedure with no other complications; Glen can begin feeling better again [throwing up never makes you feel good but especially not after his surgery]; Glen can be weaned from his nightly tube feedings; Glen can tolerate eating enough calories by mouth; and Glen could have the feeding tube removed within the next 3 weeks[June 21st is the new goal].
On another note and with a very big assumption [or positive thinking] that his current issue can be resolved, Glen now has an appt scheduled in a week and a half with his other oncology docs to start the process of dealing with his other equally menacing nemesis - the lymphoma. Although the reports are not great, we are praying that with the right docs... the right chemo treatments...the right amount of physical strength...the right amount of positive mental strength...the right amount of a good support system...and most importantly a huge dose of the Good Lord....Glen [and Peggy] will be able continue to make progress and be able to tackle the huge challenge ahead of them.
Some hours are harder than others both physically and mentally on them, but they are always encouraged by everyone's show of concern by cards, words and deeds. As always, we are extremely grateful and thankful for all the prayers and support.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)