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.
Monday, June 25, 2012
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.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Glen update - May 25th - 7:00 pm
Jennifer went to Peggy and Glen's last night. She will be there through Saturday. Jennifer says he looks better than he did last week and his scars seem to be healing well. He still gets fed thru the feeding tube continuously from 6 pm to 8 am. He is occasionally eating a few bites of soft foods throughout the day [like mashed potatoes, baked fish, applesauce, etc.], but he really doesn't have an appetite to eat or drink anything. He had lost 11 pounds since Jennifer saw him last Thursday [talk about your rapid weight loss program].
They are still trying to settle into semi-routine. Besides taking care of Glen and all that entails, Peggy has started working jigsaw puzzles again [not a hobby Glen will probably join in even when he is fully recovered..lol]. Peggy has learned more about golf from the golf channel than she really cared to know. Glen tries to sit outside and take short strolls for some fresh air...but it's so HOT!! He spends most of his time resting in 'HIS' recliner with the remote control. A continuous sleep pattern still alludes Glen on a regular basis so his naps depend on how much sleep he obtained the night before. He and Peggy have their good hours and their not-so-good hours. He is still weak, sore and tired but overall getting stronger and recovering well. We thank God for the recovery progress so far.
He and Peggy really appreciate and enjoy all the encouragement and cards they have received and continue to receive.
As always, we thank you for your prayers and support. It still means so much as he still has a long way to go.
They are still trying to settle into semi-routine. Besides taking care of Glen and all that entails, Peggy has started working jigsaw puzzles again [not a hobby Glen will probably join in even when he is fully recovered..lol]. Peggy has learned more about golf from the golf channel than she really cared to know. Glen tries to sit outside and take short strolls for some fresh air...but it's so HOT!! He spends most of his time resting in 'HIS' recliner with the remote control. A continuous sleep pattern still alludes Glen on a regular basis so his naps depend on how much sleep he obtained the night before. He and Peggy have their good hours and their not-so-good hours. He is still weak, sore and tired but overall getting stronger and recovering well. We thank God for the recovery progress so far.
He and Peggy really appreciate and enjoy all the encouragement and cards they have received and continue to receive.
As always, we thank you for your prayers and support. It still means so much as he still has a long way to go.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Glen Update - May 19th - 9:00 PM
Glen and Peggy are adjusting to their new home routine. Glen's swelling in his legs and feet is now under control, he is not in much pain, and is slowly regaining some strength.
He still has a long road ahead of him, but we continue to be grateful for the progress he has made and pray that he will continue his recovery and that Peggy will have the strength to deal with all that is ahead in the coming days.
Thank you for your continued prayer support. The entire family really appreciates it.
He still has a long road ahead of him, but we continue to be grateful for the progress he has made and pray that he will continue his recovery and that Peggy will have the strength to deal with all that is ahead in the coming days.
Thank you for your continued prayer support. The entire family really appreciates it.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Glen Update - May 16th - 10:00 PM
I haven't updated the blog for a couple of days, so this is a little longer than usual...
Glen has been home for two days now. It is always an adjustment transitioning from the hospital to home after such a major surgery. However, it is nice just to be at this next stage of the recovery. We thank God he actually has reached this phase!
Starting early Monday morning, the poking & prodding; the waiting & preparing to be discharged in the afternoon; the drive from Nashville to McMinnville; the unloading and transitioning into the house; the delivery of equipment and supplies; and later the two hour home health visit to establish Glen's baseline and make sure Peggy [and Jennifer] know how to properly care for Glen; Glen was once again VERY TIRED and UNCOMFORTABLE. We had hoped he would sleep well the first night at home. He gets a special formula through his feeding tube for 14 hours continuously at night [approx 6 pm - 8 am] and he has to maintain at least a 30 degree upright position throughout the process. So the first night, he chose to sleep in the living room in a recliner. Unfortunately, he was never able to get comfortable and had to make frequent visits to the bath room. As a result, he was even more tired by Tuesday morning.
During the day on Tuesday, he never got any quality rest. He tried a bed with a pillow wedge, but that was even more uncomfortable. However, on a positive note, he drank some liquids and nervously swallowed some medicine in pill form [the first time with a spoonful of applesauce and subsequently with just water...which was a big deal since he hadn't swallowed anything thicker than water since the surgery]. He was also able to step outside for a few minutes and breathe some fresh spring air. But for Glen, probably the best thing was that he finally got a BANANA flavored popsicle.
By Tuesday evening he was EXHAUSTED. His calves and feet were swelling and his breathing was more labored more frequently.
Thankfully, Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, he finally got some much needed rest. Jennifer said he even slept continuously for 4 hours at one point and got quality sleep in shorter intervals for the rest of the night. With the much needed rest, his Wednesday was much better.
I drove to McMinnville this morning after taking Courtney to school to help Jennifer pickup a hospital bed and set it up in the living room. Our hope is that this will provide more quality resting periods. While I was there, Glen was able to go for a walk in his driveway and yard and sat outside in a lawn chair while we rearranged furniture.
Glen alternated between the recliner and the bed throughout the afternoon. They are still trying to address the swelling in his calves and feet. Jennifer said Glen is sleeping well now and hopes that he will have a good night.
This will be the 4th night in a row that Jennifer has stayed in the room with Glen during the night. She has also helped Peggy and Glen during the days and ran errands for them. She will be there through Thursday afternoon, but will be returning to Hermitage in the evening [looking forward to hugs from Courtney & Kelsey]. However, this means that it will be just Peggy and Glen by themselves for the first time since the surgery [at least for Thursday night]. It is their choice. It is our prayer that they feel God with them, to provide them rest, remove as many obstacles during the recovery as possible and know they have a strong support system ready whenever needed.
Thank you so very much for continued prayer support. We definitely have felt it throughout the last few weeks.
Glen has been home for two days now. It is always an adjustment transitioning from the hospital to home after such a major surgery. However, it is nice just to be at this next stage of the recovery. We thank God he actually has reached this phase!
Starting early Monday morning, the poking & prodding; the waiting & preparing to be discharged in the afternoon; the drive from Nashville to McMinnville; the unloading and transitioning into the house; the delivery of equipment and supplies; and later the two hour home health visit to establish Glen's baseline and make sure Peggy [and Jennifer] know how to properly care for Glen; Glen was once again VERY TIRED and UNCOMFORTABLE. We had hoped he would sleep well the first night at home. He gets a special formula through his feeding tube for 14 hours continuously at night [approx 6 pm - 8 am] and he has to maintain at least a 30 degree upright position throughout the process. So the first night, he chose to sleep in the living room in a recliner. Unfortunately, he was never able to get comfortable and had to make frequent visits to the bath room. As a result, he was even more tired by Tuesday morning.
During the day on Tuesday, he never got any quality rest. He tried a bed with a pillow wedge, but that was even more uncomfortable. However, on a positive note, he drank some liquids and nervously swallowed some medicine in pill form [the first time with a spoonful of applesauce and subsequently with just water...which was a big deal since he hadn't swallowed anything thicker than water since the surgery]. He was also able to step outside for a few minutes and breathe some fresh spring air. But for Glen, probably the best thing was that he finally got a BANANA flavored popsicle.
By Tuesday evening he was EXHAUSTED. His calves and feet were swelling and his breathing was more labored more frequently.
Thankfully, Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, he finally got some much needed rest. Jennifer said he even slept continuously for 4 hours at one point and got quality sleep in shorter intervals for the rest of the night. With the much needed rest, his Wednesday was much better.
I drove to McMinnville this morning after taking Courtney to school to help Jennifer pickup a hospital bed and set it up in the living room. Our hope is that this will provide more quality resting periods. While I was there, Glen was able to go for a walk in his driveway and yard and sat outside in a lawn chair while we rearranged furniture.
Glen alternated between the recliner and the bed throughout the afternoon. They are still trying to address the swelling in his calves and feet. Jennifer said Glen is sleeping well now and hopes that he will have a good night.
This will be the 4th night in a row that Jennifer has stayed in the room with Glen during the night. She has also helped Peggy and Glen during the days and ran errands for them. She will be there through Thursday afternoon, but will be returning to Hermitage in the evening [looking forward to hugs from Courtney & Kelsey]. However, this means that it will be just Peggy and Glen by themselves for the first time since the surgery [at least for Thursday night]. It is their choice. It is our prayer that they feel God with them, to provide them rest, remove as many obstacles during the recovery as possible and know they have a strong support system ready whenever needed.
Thank you so very much for continued prayer support. We definitely have felt it throughout the last few weeks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)