Hi everyone, I apologize for the lack of posts here. There is a medical page on Facebook that has more information. Where to start? Between my last post in 2013 and this year (2015) the medical picture was stable. Deb continued to get scans and take anti cancer oral meds. She visited her primary care doctor, Dr.Weyburn and occasionally her surgeon but except for the metastasized spot on her liver no signs of cancer or any other involvement. It was just a few months ago that Deb had a scan that suggested some involvement into her skull and bones. Confirmed by a scan a few weeks ago, it appears that while she will continue her treatment it will take a medical miracle to save her. She has some time left, we think but We don't know how much. Deb isn't in any sever pain presently. Here is what she posted on Facebook on September 9, 2015 It's been a few months since my last update, so I wanted to give everybody the latest. I recently had my 3rd CT Scan and 2nd Bone Scan of the year-pretty soon I'll be glowing in the dark. Recall, the scan results from May were inconclusive. I met with my oncologist this afternoon to review and discuss my scan results from last Friday. The CT Scan shows nothing new related to any of my organs, but does show enlarged spots and additional spots on my bones. The Bone Scan confirms spots on my skull, sternum, spine and right humerus (upper arm bone). While this isn't great news, it's not horrible news either as we have a game plan to deal with it. I will no longer be taking the exemestane (estrogen blocker - both of my tumors were estrogen positive. Minimizing the estrogen in my body minimizes the spread of the cancer), as that is obviously not keeping the cancer at bay. One option is to start taking tamoxifen, which is the first estrogen blocker that I took after discovery of my first tumor. I stopped taking it after my second tumor was diagnosed, as it obviously did not prevent the second tumor. Apparently there has been success in going back to this drug after an unsuccessful attempt, but I wasn't feeling confident with this approach. While chemotherapy is another option, it isn't really called for at this point. Instead, I will be going for monthly injections. I will be receiving two injections per month. One is an injection of Faslodex (generic = fulvestrant). This is another estrogen blocker. It is used to treat metastasized breast cancer when other anti-estrogen medications fail. Additionally, I will receive an injection of Xgeva (generic = denosumab). This drug will target and destroy only certain cells in the body, while protecting healthy cells from damage. It is used to prevent bone fractures and other skeletal conditions in people with tumors that have spread to the bone, which in the case of breast cancer is pretty common. So, that is pretty much the long and short of it. My injections begin next week. Many of you who knew that I was having more scans have passed along well wishes, positive thoughts and prayer. It means so much - thank you! For now, I'll see you out and about. Love and Blessings, Deb We bought a fifth wheel travel trailer and a truck to pull it and plan to see as much as possible in the time we have left. I am reminded every time I write something about "time left" that we don't know, any of us, what time we have left to be in our earthly life. We could have the second coming or we could die unexpectedly. No one knows by God. So my prayer is that you join me in doing what you can to not only enjoy what is left of this life but to make an effort to help others to enjoy their time here too. When Jesus talked about the two greatest commandments, that is to Love God fully and to love your neighbor as yourself he wanted us to stop being judgmental and to let our love wash over our friends and family and even strangers. So I'll add my thanks for your prayers and love and hope that we see you soon.

The View from Here

Good Morning to all of you following this infrequent summary of Deb's health Deb's overall health, as related to cancer remains the same. Scans are repeated with the same overall results. A spot of breast cancer remains on her liver. Deb was fortunate to loose her job as of May first. She ended almost 35 years of employment with Kemper. She was fortunate in that she received her severance shortly before the State of Illinois Insurance Department (I think that's correct) took over Kemper (Lumbermen's Mutual Company?). Oh yes, the other development. In addition to having me around every day, she has two teenage daughters, Harumi Katori from Japan, and Emma Bonde from Denmark. YFU (Youth for Understanding) worked with us to select Emma in March. Emma, a wonderful, beautiful girl (a Bond girl?) arrived August 8th after a flight from Denmark to Germany to Dulles airport in Washington D.C. to O'hare. Looking a bit tired and lost, she arrived about two hours late. We loaded her bags and took the long drive home. She met and charmed Strider (the wonder dog) and settled into our family and hearts. Harumi, called Katorine, was a wonderful development that happened in the beginning of September. YFU asked us to pick up Katorine at O'hare and be a welcoming family for her. Get her started in school and they would place her with a permanent family as soon as possible. After two weeks we decided to keep her and she has been a terrific addition to our family. She has been fun, and we have been learning about Japanese customs and language. She is affectionate and very happy. She helps with everything and is a great friend to Emma. Who would have ever thought that we would have two 16 year old students at the same time. But what a great development so far. The girls share a lot; classes, friends and us, they have charmed the family and each other. Katorine's patience and Emma's fluency in English compliment each other and they are both great students with lots of "A's" on their report cards. Deb cooks every night and she and I rest during the day until the girls get home at 3:15 PM. So Deb has a lot to keep her busy, something she worried about from May to September. We've traveled to Milwaukee, Galena and Chicago, and this month we plan to go to Michigan. Our vehicle is equipped with a DVD player, so a trip of any real length allows the girls to sample our collection. Homework keeps both Deb and I active. I personally enjoy having Deb home and the twins here. The holidays are just around the corner. Wow, where did this year go? We take Emma and Katorine through Halloween (their first) followed by Christmas and Thanksgiving. Every day is a new discovery about Japan or Denmark. Every day brings new challenges and sometimes a crisis or two. It's great. I always like to remind myself to live in the moment, love large and limit worry. God Bless you all.

Waiting for Flowers

Hi Everyone,

We are in that time between, like limbo, but of course that term is antiquated now, but you know what I mean, we have turned the page on active treatment and now Deb visits doctors every three months, or when, God forbid, something isn’t right. We’re not treating but we don’t feel cured yet either.

The hair is back, and so is Deb’s sense of humor. She laughs easily now, and at the silliest stuff, but I love it and try my best to make it happen.

She misses our old church and how close we all were there. We go to The Chapel now, but it’s not the same. The message is terrific and there are lots of things happening, but it’s another limbo thing, not quite integrated yet and feeling like a stranger. We know it will change and we have to have faith.

Chemo brain is the term used for the forgetfulness brought on by chemotherapy. It frustrates Deb sometimes but she is much better lately. In my case it’s just old age.

Our routine is back to where it was before all this started. I arrive home first and take Strider out. Deb comes about 20 minutes later and depending on Strider’s whim, may have to take her back out again. Then dinner and a few chores and early to bed. The weather is so nice.

We have a few invitations for charitable events. Deb plans to do the Relay for Life in June. This is the season for organized events. Heidi Kattner is going to walk for the March of Dimes. That group is working on advancing the understanding and treatment of premature births and health issues.

In 1950, before the vaccine, I had polio and the March of Dimes helped with my medical expense. Infantile paralysis, as it was known before that, appeared in the public conscience when President Franklin Roosevelt was crippled by it in the 1930’s. He found that the mineral waters Warm Springs Georgia helped him with the pain, so he created a charitable foundation to make the waters available to anyone. He asked for donations, even dimes and a media wag coined the term “March of Dimes” from the old saying, the march of time. Mom spent a lot of time as a volunteer to repay the charity she and I had received back then.

In this world where seven out of ten people, including children, go to bed hungry every day, we are blessed with amazing abundance in America. We enjoy a standard of living that is second to none, and yet if you’re like me, I tend to take all these blessings for granted far more than I should.

Take a moment to pray for Marge, the Kattner twins and those who will start cancer treatments for newly discovered cancer. Keep Deb in your prayers too because even when she is healthy she still has to live with me.

God Bless,
Dan