Gary Update
Let me start by saying our apologies for not updating sooner. As you can see from past updates things change on an hourly bases. My Dad asked me to update you all, all of his fighting supporters so here it goes.
Last week was an emotional week for all of us here at the house. Dad was very nervous about having to take 20 pills a day and who wouldn’t be even if it will prolong his life swallowing poison 20 times a day brings unbelievable anxiety.
Every day last week he would walk around the block of this peaceful little trailer park with my mother or with me and with no walker and I truly feel blessed to be able to have conversations with him about how he is feeling and what he is thinking. I am in awe at how strong he is being and how much he does not want to stop fighting. So we fight on. He even walked a couple more blocks one day with my sister, mom and I and of course all of the dogs. During one of our many walks we talked about if he would or when he would go to heaven from this and I could see and hear some fear on his face and in his voice. I could not help but tear up. This is hard because nobody loves Jesus like my Dad; he has lived his life for him. So as I see him fight a physical and spiritual battle I fight my spiritual battle myself not even being as faithful as he is already. After this conversation the most amazing thing happen, one of those moments where you just put your head down and say ok God I hear you because he specks right to you through someone else. My Dad has a radio right by his chair he sits and sleeps in for comfort and he was playing one of the Christian stations, as I started to listen and watch him like I catch myself doing a lot now, I heard and saw the most amazing things. On the radio a man named Randy Alcorn Author of the book Heaven was talking to the Reporter and they were asking questions about heaven, even though I only caught a small bit I could see my Dad’s face light up and soften because the man said there will be surfing in heaven why not when there will be the most beautiful and perfect oceans. Then he says there will be hiking in heaven and that the food will taste and make us feel like nothing we have ever eaten or felt before and I saw the fear leave for that moment and the rest of that night. Thank you God, I hear you.
Some more blessings; The chair that we bought while my Dad was in the hospital is a little small and does not recline to lay down, so after studying and finding the best chair for him we were able to order a XL, heated massage recliner that reclines all the way in to a bed position and it will be here 12-1-14 all because of you all supporting us and praying. Thank you. Also on Sunday two weeks ago my mother and I got to go to a cancer support group where we met some amazing people who have either been through this or are still going through it. It was a knowledgeable experience that we were and are blessed to be a part of now. We finally have a nurse that is working great and very hard on My Dad and comes twice a week.
Ok now the Facts; On Friday 11-14-14 we went to Dr. Yen My Dads oncologist to have a weekly appointment and to ask any final questions before he starts The new Chemo Pills called Capectabine 20 pills a day two times daily for 14 days. He started the pills that night and he got them all down with no physical issue, but mentally as I said this is a challenge. So my parents read from their daily devotional and prayed him through. He still is on a 24 hour TPN food bag that we change every night and he has one tube in his stomach that is called a G tube that does not drain much anymore which is good because that means he does not have an excess of fluids in his stomach and the tube may be able to come out soon. He has been able to get some food down and get it out too with no blockage for a week. So the past week has been over all good with minor side effects. We even had an ice cream party for my sister Claire’s Birthday with his granddaughter E and family where he ate some ice cream.
With the effort of the three of us my mother and Dad and I and the help of so many others, we have been able to keep him comfortable and out of the ER.
Wednesday night like so many times before everything changed. He got very sick to his stomach and vomited up the little bit of food he had eaten. This is the first time he has had any bad side effects, so it was scary and painful. After specking to Dr. Yen his oncologist he stopped taking the pills. It was pointless at this point if they would just come back up. We were told to bring him in on that Friday at 10 am to Dr. Yen’s office and if it gets worse before then to go to the ER. Thankfully and because of his strength plus your prayers he made it through Thursday.
This Morning Dr. Yen said no more pills and that he needs to get fluids for the next three days and flush out any of the extra chemo while getting him hydrated. As long as he feels better on Monday, My Dad will be starting a new type of chemo where he will have it 24 Hours a day for three days as an infusion in a fanny pack. Then he will have 12 days off. Even though this means he will have another machine and pack to be connected too, Dr. Yen is hoping this proses of chemo will not be as harsh with side effects. Dr. Yen also said that Our hope is that the tumors will respond to the chemo and if they do, OUR GOAL IS TO SHRINK THE TUMORS SO HE CAN DIGEST AND EAT AGAIN AND GIVE HIM YEARS MORE OF HIS LIFE!!!!. Also to get the TPN removed because this can cause someone to not be or feel hungry. So with no scans yet or tumor markers we have a sign that the tumors are being affected because he can eat when he is not feeling sick and he can use the rest room.
So our Plan is to start this new chemo on Monday and continue the fight.
Prayer Request from Him and family
No more side effects, No more pain because the past two days have been painful due to cramping.
The House in Palm Springs has not sold yet so please please pray that it will because it cost over 2000.0 a month.
Pray for My Mom to stay strong and focused. Also to stay healthy for herself and for him.
My Dad has always told me that God will provide for us, and even when we were kids and running out of Gas somehow he would. We used to call it riding on Gods gas. Every day I see this every time we start to stress over something we need, it is provided. Understanding of this situation is not easy and for me not happing at this moment, but I already see miracles happing and I have Faith that he will be cured and live a long life. Thank you to everyone for your support in so many ways.
We know a lot of you want to help so we are getting our selves organized and we will write some ways down you can all help.
This weekend Spencer and Sandy his Grand Daughter and Daughter are coming to spend time and we are so excited.
So I will leave you with this song a song I have had stuck in my head and heart and a song that my Dad so beautifully started singing yesterday to bring him peace. Hearing his voice brought me peace.
"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)"
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name
Amen
Stephanie Barton
(Gary’s Baby)
Comments (26)
Amazing Grace - we pray for your family what incredible strength
Dear Barton Family, you are such an inspiration in this difficult time you show strength and faith on the Lord. ! Blessings and prayers for Gary and the family. The Braunschweiger family
Oh Stephie! What a beautiful, straight from the heart, post! I am deeply blessed to hear your heart and all that is happening with you and your dad. Thank you for writing so beautifully and completely. Our prayers never cease as the Love of Jesus never does. My prayer for you is to keep strong for both your mom and dad. I know they are blessed to have you there. Love, aunti
Still praying for strength for Dawn and the family, and complete healing for Gary. God is the great provider and healer! All praise to him! Sending love, JULIE
Thank you so much for this hopeful update. Gary, you inspire us all to be better and more appreciative in all ways. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you always.
Gary and I had a long Conversation during one of our band rehearsals. He told me that his biggest desire was that all of his children and all his family knew Jesus. I agree he loves Jesus so much as he is an example to me of how to have faith in God. I admire that so much in him. But I wanted to share about his desire that all of his family members know Jesus as their personal savior. I told him that I would pray for his family.
Thank you for posting Stephanie. What a precious time this is for you and your whole family. Time that you are all spending together under circumstances no one would want, but time with Jesus and family in the midst of such great suffering for your Dad is not wasted. God is being Glorified each step of the way in all your lives. I pray for total healing for Gary and strength and stamina for you and your Mom as primary care givers, for all of you. May God's Peace and Love envelop you all each step of this journey.
We are praying for your Dad! And as always for the families strength as well! Bless all of you for being at his side and caring for him, I know he and your mom have raised a good family. The Knoedler family, from volleyball! Jocelyn is praying for you Coach!
Thank you Stephanie. Beautiful post. Your parents are blessed to have you there. It is so evident that God is working & keeping His promise to take care of the family both spiritually & physically. We will be praying that Gary can tolerate the new treatment. We pray that the house will sell soon, knowing that God has it under control. Love to you all.
What a beautiful update Steph. Thank you for keeping us up yo date, that was beautifully written. Love and prayers to all of you. Please let your dad know we continue to pray and are so encouraged by his strength. Love, Lisa
Thank you for such a detailed and beautiful up date. Your family is in my prayers day and night. May God give you all the strength and peace and comfort that can only come from Him, prayers for healing and pain free treatment. And that the Lord would carry each one of you through this. We will be praying the house would sell as well. Love Trish
Thanks, Stephanie, for such a lovely update. Glad you're getting to spend time with your family; wish it were under better circumstances. Then, again, you are getting to see God's grace up close and personal in this painful situation. A word about the fanny-pack infusion. My husband has that for 48 hours every two weeks and, except for not being able to shower during the infusion, and a little difficulty getting dressed around it, it's not very cumbersome. My husband still runs his errands, makes announcements at church, etc., wearing the thing. (His colon cancer is stage IV, but so far is asymptomatic.) It's sort of like carrying a shoulder-strap purse, except that it weighs a lot less. :) Well, I should say he *was* doing all those things with it. Now the chemo is starting to kick his fanny for a few days, so he mostly stays home with it. (Truth in advertising, just in case your dad will be on the same kind of infusion.)
Thank you, Stephanie, for the beautiful, detailed update. I work at Twin Lakes Church in the office and we are always asking around for updates on your dad because we all love your family! I grew up with them and my dad was a pastor with your grandfather to give you a reference about me. I love how God meets us right where we are! What a gift! I wanted to comment on Randy Alcorn and his book Heaven. He is one of my favorite authors and his novels center around Heaven. His book Heaven is wonderful. It makes Heaven feel so real!! I'm sure the church library has a copy if you all wanted to peruse it. Another Randy Alcorn book you might enjoy is Deadline. We will continue to pray for you all.
Stephanie, That was a beautiful letter with a different perspective and really helps us to know how to pray. Tonight we had a Thanksgiving Dinner with our church family here in Colorado and it was a very special time of Praising God through the tough and hard times. When we can praise God in our troubled times this is when God can/does work in our hearts and lives in miraculous ways. He doesn't always take away the pain or the problems immediately but He gives us peace and joy through them and hope for the future. I've been reading (again) Stormie Ormartian's book The Prayer that Changes Everything - the hidden power of praising God. Another good book that is encouraging. (I am an old time TLCer too, having sung in your Grandpa's choirs since I was a child, babysat your dad a few times, and worked with the children's choirs there for years too. Your family has always been a very special part of my life and one of the reasons it was really hard to leave Santa Cruz! Give your mom and dad our love and let them know we continue to keep them in prayer. God bless you all as you stand strong in this battle for life! You are all an inspiration!) Jim and Roann Keen
Thank you so much for your beautiful, informative post. We will be trusting The Lord and standing in prayer with you believing for complete healing and for provision for every need!
Dear..Barton Family Thank you very much for the update it makes me feel really good that my friend Gary is doing well I pray to god for a full recovery..Stephanie tyvmv nice of you..
Such an uplifting, honest post! Our prayers are with you constantly... I have read Randy Alcorn's book...incredible. Always a good idea, regardless of our health status, to focus our minds on things that are above! We love you!
God Bless Gary and all of you. Thank You for sharing and keeping everyone udpated.
Thank you so much Stephanie for the beautiful update on your Dad. I pray continually for all of you. I Especially appreciate you giving specific things to pray for. Have been burdened lately to pray the the house sells as well as the Chemo being effective. My love to all of you. Linda
Thank you Stephanie for the update. What a blessing you are to your parents. We will continue to pray. I have also read Randy Alcorns book and it really makes one think. What an awesome God we have. Creator, Sustainer, Provider. Love from Colorado, Briana Ross
Thank you Stephanie for giving the update with such details about your dad's condition. I continue to learn so much from you and your family and admire your strength, faith and hope in God. You all are truly an inspiration! The fact that you are willing to share this journey with others is remarkable and I know God is glad you are doing that. I ask that God will continue to keep you and your family protected and comforted in this difficult time. My prayers go out to you and your family. God bless you all, Joan
p.s. and I especially love the song at the end that gave comfort to your dad. I also want to read that book about Heaven. Thank you.
Thank you for your update!!! praying! Bryan Jennings
Praying for the family.
Always thinking of you guys and pryaing for the family....As you ALL know our GOD is so good, he always provides our needs even when we feel all hope is lost. Love to all of you The Baird Family
Gary and Dawn, even though the updates haven't been as often, Father continues to remind me (and I'm sure MANY others) to lift you up. It always seems to be at odd/random times but surely just when you need it! Asking for continued wisdom for you and the doctors for the next steps as well as all the requests that Stephanie talked about. Christmas blessings for all of you! marcia