Summer 2020 & The Bell

The Bell 

Although all lab work and scans showed he was Cancer-free, Steve's oncologist strongly suggested a few rounds of post-surgery chemo and Steve FINALLY got the ring the Chemo Bell on August 27. Since CARTI still doesn't allow visitors, one of the nurses took the video. Poor quality but I'm glad to have it regardless. Prayerfully, this truly symbolizes that this was the last chemo infusion Steve will ever need!

Summer 2020

Dad recouped quickly from his surprise surgery this spring! Here he is modeling one of my mom's custom-hand-sewn Covid masks. She is doing great also, just doesn't pose for photos as often :-)

Summer with The Kids...

1. Annie : as we speak, she is in the process of moving from one apartment in New York City to another with 3 other girls. Thanks to Covid, she spent a good chunk of time in Little Rock this spring and summer. Prior to the Broadway shut-down, she had a couple very promising auditions with 2nd and 3rd call-backs!! We are hoping they remember her when Broadway opens back up in 2021
2. Jesse : attended Arkansas Governor's School virtually this summer. He's in the high-school Jazz Band (trombone) and plays drum and trombone in the Spirit Band at school.  He is a senior this year at Pulaski Academy
3. Stephanie :  last month, Steve and Stephanie had fun shopping for a new-to-us car for her. She is in 10th grade, also at PA. She's a cheerleader at school and dances competitively
4. Hailey : accidentally visited one of her patients (who tested positive for Covid-19) without her complete special Covid PPE in July. The good news is she didn't get Covid; the bad news is that she had to use all of her vacation hours to self-quarantine for 14 days. Otherwise, Hailey, Landon, and Milo (their dog child) are doing great
5. Cici : earlier this month, Cici moved from her apartment into a condo in Fayetteville with Brandon and Buddy (their dog child). She works full time as a manager-in-training at the Buckle in the Fayetteville mall. She just started her senior year at the University of Arkansas and is on schedule to graduate December of 2021
6. Morgan : is in the process of moving from her apartment in Conway to a cute rent house with her current roommate, another girl, and Pico (Morgan's cat child).  Morgan is a cheer and gymnastics coach. Morgan also just started her senior year; she is still cheering at the University of Central Arkansas and is on schedule to graduate May 2021

This month's theme .... MOVING

   

Cancer FREE (and other stuff)

Tuesday, May 19, Steve had his first post-surgery appointment with his surgeon. His lab reports had come back and Stephen is now officially Cancer-FREE!!! He still has a couple "tubes" running out of his body. If all goes as planned, those will be removed at his appointment next Tuesday. 💗

On a slightly different note....one of my other favorite guys is in the hospital today having an unexpected surgery. My dad went to the hospital a couple days ago with severe abdominal pain. After a couple days of tests, they determined that Dad needed his gall bladder removed and that he needed it removed sooner rather than later. He just got out of surgery (while I was typing this). The nurse just called my mom and told her that the doctor said "they had to do the big cut but he (my dad) did very well". Now I guess I'll have 2 guys about whom to keep you updated for the next couple weeks.

And finally...
Love to all -- Stay safe, germ-free, and have a happy Memorial Day Weekend!💕🌞

Surgery

Because of Covid-19 shutdowns and special practices at hospitals, I felt more like I was dropping Steve off at a Good Will Donation Station than taking him for surgery.

Literally:

1. Drive Up
2. Drop Off
3. Drive Off

That was Wednesday, May 13 @ 5:40 am .... It felt strange.

Surgery lasted about 6 hours. The surgeon, Dr. Heulitt, called me after to let me know things "went as planned...they went well".  He removed the top part of Stephen's bladder around and where the tumor had been (I believe the doctor called it the "cap") along with some pelvic lymph nodes. His report was mostly good news with a small shake of mediocre news thrown in for good measure.

Good News :

• doctor didn't see anything unexpected 
• he could no longer see a tumor / only saw scar tissue where it once was
• quick lab test of surrounding tissue did NOT indicate cancer cells were present
• no collateral complications
• Stephen still has a bladder (it's a little smaller than before but we are thrilled he still has one!)

Mediocre News :

• Steve will need to wear the catheter for 2 weeks rather than the 1 week Dr. Heulitt initially estimated 

Steve back in the office Friday morning with Chemo & Covid Hair ;-)

Surgery ended around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. As planned, Steve spent Wednesday night in the hospital. I picked him up Thursday around 2 pm. He slept on and off most of Thursday (as did I). Thursday night was a bit rough but we knew it would be. Then, Friday morning we were back at the office!! We got in late (10-ish) and left mid-afternoon. 

He will see the surgeon next Tuesday and then again sometime the following week. We are not sure exactly what follows after that....there will be lab work and a few other tests to confirm the cancer is gone.  As usual, I will keep everyone updated.

Chemo Grad

Stephen is an official Chemo Grad. He successfully completed his last round of chemo yesterday and we celebrated BIG. Well as big as one can celebrate during Covid-19 social distancing.  In fact, he may have stood closer than 6 feet from his kids in honor of the big day.

before celebration dinner : Steve, Annie, & Stephanie

Since I wasn't allowed to go in the CARTI building with him, I greeted him with a surprise when he walked out of the building after his infusion. I even presented him with a chemo diploma :-)

We expect him to be exhausted this weekend but are thrilled to be past this milestone.

His surgery will be May 13 so keep him in your prayers. 

And happy Good Friday....Sunday is coming 

April 9 = Last Chemo Day!

Chemo Grad

• By the end of today Stephen will be a chemo grad!
• Surgery is scheduled for May 13, 2020

Covid-19

April 2, 2020

Stephen is at CARTI alone today. In order to better protect their patients, they are allowing patients only at this time.  He has not wanted me to sit with him during his infusions (they are long& boring, and he wanted me to be at our office). However, I have always gone in with him. Each time, I met his nurse for the day and stayed with him until he got settled in for the infusion. So it felt strange to just drop him off today. A little like dropping your child off at the front door of school after being able to walk him/her into the classroom and say "hi" to the teacher. It got me thinking about all the parents who are having to leave their children alone at hospitals around the country. THAT has got to be tough! At least Steve and I have been able to text several times already today.

We went into treatment a couple months ago with a bit of anxiety about the cancer and chemo. In recent weeks, our concern has shifted to Covid-19. Not only does the chemo have Stephen's immune system weakened, but he also has asthma which he treats daily with preventative medication. He has been very concerned that if he gets exposed to the virus, he will be one of "those patients" that doctors push lower on the waiting list for treatment because "why treat a weakened patient when you have a better chance of saving a person without underlying health complications".

That being said, he had a similar conversation with his oncologist, Dr. Patel, today before going in for the chemo infusion. Below is Steve's reply when I texted to see how that conversation went with Dr. Patel:

So....when today is done, Steve will be 5/6 of the way through chemo; next Thursday is scheduled to be his last infusion. I have already warned him that I will be taking celebratory photos on that day. 

Please keep him in your prayers!

😘

Marking Our Calendar

March 24, 2020

Stephen had an appointment with his surgeon, Dr. Heulitt, this morning before work. Last month Dr. Heulitt performed a cystoscopy where he looked at the inside of Steve's bladder and took some biopsies. They discussed those biopsies today.

GOOD NEWS!

When they met this morning Dr. Heulitt said none of the biopsies showed any cancer cells....further supporting visual observations and CT scans which suggested the cancer had not spread beyond the original tumor. While no test offers a 100% guaranteed, this is certainly GOOD NEWS!

The Surgery

Most likely the robot-assisted surgery will be scheduled for mid April. It is inpatient surgery which will require at least a one day stay in the hospital after surgery. Frankly, I am glad he will have to stay.  His first "procedure" (not technically "surgery" because they went through the urethra) where the urologist (not Dr. Heulitt) removed most of the tumor was out patient --- let me tell you, that was a tough couple of days! I kept saying "they should never send someone straight home right after this!" The surgery will be performed at Baptist Hospital in North Little Rock.

This week is Steve's "Off Week", no chemo and no booster shot. The Off Week gives his body time to recoup between chemo sessions. We are praying he is strong enough to stay on the chemo as scheduled. If he does, Round #3 will start next week. Also, please pray that he stays healthy while his immune system is compromised.  <3

Social Distancing & Catching Some Zzzzz's

Round #2

Today marks the start of Steve's "Off Week" for Round #2. Last Thursday he received chemo treatment #4 (of 6) and Friday he got his "Booster Shot". He has been extremely fatigued since Saturday afternoon.

Saturday, late morning, we took a couple hour drive around central Arkansas. He felt like getting out but obviously didn't want to go any where that could expose him to germs. Sunday afternoon he TOOK A NAP.  In the 7 years we have been hanging out, I have never known him to take a nap...literally not once. In fact he tells me he has tried to nap before but couldn't. Obviously, this is a true case of "Opposites Attract" because I can sleep anywhere, anytime! After his nap we watched several episodes of Law & Order SVU so I was basically in heaven.

We are both at work today. Our office is very low key; actually our entire building is. We share our floor with another small law firm and the owner of that firm is OCD about keeping things very clean and germ-free. He was that way even before Covid-19...now he's like that on steroids. Because of the Corona Virus, neither firm on the floor is seeing clients face-to-face. Only 4 of us are showing up to work regularly and we pretty much bath in Germ-X as we get off the elevator.

The bright side of all of this, at least for our family, is that Steve's hardest weeks of chemo (Rounds 2 & 3) are hitting right as social distancing in Arkansas is hitting its stride. For Stephen, the timing couldn't be better.

Please keep him in your prayers.

Flashback Friday

Threading the needle.  Over and over and over again....

Chemo Day 1

Steve's first chemo infusion was Thursday, February 20, 2020. When we arrived at the chemo infusion room, we were greeted by Steve's super cute nurse, who was even more pregnant than she was cute.  Literally late in her 3rd trimester she was called in to fill in for a nurse who couldn't be there that day. Poor girl could hardly move herself and her baby around let alone successfully accomplish some of her more taxing nurse duties.  She tried 3 times to insert Steve's IV before handing him over to the "chemo floor IV expert". That sweet girl had no luck either. So after 5 tries, they sent him down to the radiation room where the girl in the above photo did it on her first try.

Below is the photo I took of Stephen on our way home from Chemo Day One.

Chemo Day 1 - leaving CARTI

Round One, Chemo #1 was successful - very few side effects

Steve & Me

2020 so far ...

INTRO...

When I first told my sister-in-law, Dorothy, that Stephen had been diagnosed with bladder cancer she asked if she could offer a few pieces of advice. She battled and beat breast cancer a few years ago and, since we were newbies, I quickly accepted. These are the two things she said that stick with me today (in my own words) :

1. People will offer unsolicited advice. Just roll with it...take what you want and forget the rest
2. Find your best way to let the people you want to know, know what you want them to know (phone calls, text groups, FB, etc)

With #2 in mind, here we are.

I'm really not a blogger so I plan to keep each post short and sweet.


Steve will have 3 rounds of chemo.  His rounds are scheduled like this :

Round 2 Week 2 is scheduled for 11:00 tomorrow at CARTI.
His chemo infusion sessions usually take about 4 to 5 hours.
What we are calling a "Booster Shot" is an injection that promotes the growth of bone marrow. This is intended to boost his immune system by putting more white blood cells in his body.

My observations so far:

1. The CARTI campus in Little Rock is A-MAZ-ING. The building is beautiful and welcoming
2. Every single person who works there must have gotten customer service training at Chik-fil-A 
3. Steve feels well but tires easily
4. If we have to endure a world-wide pandemic, now is the time.....chemo already has our home stocked like an infirmary and we had already started social distancing. Now we don't feel so left out :-)