The Week Ending

There are several saying in the cancer world, living with cancer is a roller coaster ride, this is the new norm and the one that describes this week is, as long as a cancer patient is alive there is HOPE.

It is no secret how rough this week was and there have been times during this week when I really wondered if what Gary and I  and our family was going through was really too much, yes even knowing that God has promised us that HE will not give us too much....there were times this week I wasn't so sure.

This week was also really rough emotionally because we all worked so hard, especially Gary, he would do all that he was told and we reaped the benefits of Gary's discipline. But then he started to decline and the suffering increased and we wanted off the roller coaster. I never liked roller coasters anyway and I am on the biggest roller coaster with the highest peaks and drops in the world.   

When I wrote earlier this week we were having ongoing trouble with the g-tube, that problem has been resolved for several days and Gary has been much more comfortable as a result of the tube working well. Gary finished two days of very strong chemotherapy ending at about midnight Wednesday night. As of this morning there were some " bowel sounds" and we continue to pray that this chemotherapy was effective in reducing the cancer burden in Gary's system. Thereby allowing his bowels to work properly. The oncologist we are working with here has showed deep concern for Gary and we have found favor with him and his ability to treat Gary, but we were becoming aware that we may have been out growing his ability and resources so we went to Chicago. As you know as a result of the trip and the meeting with Dr. Block, we were given three doctors names, two surgeons and one doc who was well known for helping cancer patients find resources, including surgeons, while addressing the cancer patients very personal and individual needs. As you may recall the first surgeon responded right away with news that was very hard to process. We are still waiting for the second surgeon to respond but last night we had an hour and a half conference call with the third doctor. Each day a cancer patient is alive there is HOPE. And that is  what this doctor offered. In a nut shell he said, " There are a lot of things you can do to fight this cancer that your not doing now." The doctor listed off numerous treatments, tests and approaches that can be used with Gary's cancer. Gary will be coming home next Tuesday if our suction machine arrives on time and the doctor will be calling us on Wednesday to discuses possible treatment options. At the end of the conversation he gave his email address and it included UCSF. We didn't even realize when we were talking to him that he was on staff at UCSF, but we have been trying to get in their program for several months. HOPE, answered PRAYER.

Tonight I am home and Gary is comfortable in the hospital. This is the new norm, I get it and I am so grateful for the times that the new norm, feels normal. All of this to say late this afternoon Gary looked at me and said, This had been a good day." I nodded and with tears in my eyes and in silence we agreed and were grateful. 

Please continue to pray for direction with this new doctor, patience as we wait for the other surgeons response, and the sale of our Palm Springs home.

Thank you for your faithfulness, your prayers and for all that each of you do, I hope you know who you are. Tonight we came back from being behind, earlier this week Gary said, Club Volleyball is going on and I miss it.

Well Coach Barton, you did it this week you came from behind and you keep fighting back, looking for new approaches, never, never giving up, and looking for the winning finish!! 

Team Barton Loves each one of you and cherishes all of your cheering us on to a winning finish.

Blessings, Dawn