Tom's Blog

Advice

2012-02-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

Tom had gone off the XL-184 for Christmas and his trip with the boys to Vegas. He had a great time and gained 10 pounds. He came back was able to start back up on the treatment. The chemo effects are starting to return, but he has kept a good attitude during all of this.

Today Tom and I went to the U of M to get Dr. Worden's opinion about staying on the trial or switching to the newly FDA approved drug for MTC. Dr. Worden went over his symptoms and reasons to switch. He is not privy to the trial Tom is currently on, but has patience who failed so he has some knowledge of the trial. He suggested that Tom stay on his current treatment. He said that Tom should be taking this drug while he can take advantage of it's benefits. The drugs are similar, but not exactly. He advised Tom to stay on this until the results do not benefit him. Basically if it's working don't mess with it.

When we left the Cancer Center Tom looked at me and said, "Do you think this was a wasted trip?" I do not ever think getting information and a professional opinion about cancer treatment can be a waste of time. I am grateful that we have a doctor we feel will give us solid facts and a valued opinion. It was a nice trip (sunshine and dry roads) to spend with my man. We had a good day together and I appreciate his positive attitude.

Kids are all doing well. I had Parent Teacher Conferences with the boys teachers and it was all pretty positive. Cody is like his dad and likes to talk. Kyle is quiet like his mother. However all three kids got positive comments about their work habits and how they respect their teachers. Cody had his last Conference Wrestling meet tonight. Though his record will not give him bragging rights, I am proud of his efforts. It's hard to start this sport as late as he did. He has made much improvement and he is a Freshman going up against a lot of Jr. and Sr. high boys. I hope he continues it through his High School years and I'm told it will help him for Football.

We have a busy week ahead. Saturday Cody has a individual wrestling meet and then Tom and Katie will have their last Daddy/Daughter dance (on her 12th b-day). Sunday Tom and I head to West Bloomfield for one on Tom's scans. Then Tom will go back on Tuesday for scans and the results on Wednesday. Life does not slow down for a moment!

Thanks prayer warriors for your continued prayers. What would we do without your support? I am glad that we were given clear advice to make a good decision. I am grateful that Tom is here with me another year :) I hope that Tom can remain positive and fight this nasty disease for years to come!

New Year's Decision

2011-12-31T12:51:00.001-08:00

Reflecting back on this year has been bittersweet. I am so glad that Tom is here to walk with us in 2011. I don't know how I would have made it through the loss of my brother without him by my side. We have taken the opportunity this year to see people that we have lost touch with. Tom has had many people bring him to Detroit and spend time with him. He has enjoyed the time with his family/friends. As always, the generosity of people has continued to amaze us.

Towards the end of this year, the effects of Tom's chemo was noticed by many. It's hard to describe to people how Tom feels. I usually tell people it's like having the flu but knowing that you will not feel better in a couple of days....This is his life.

The kids are all handling this well. I just found out today that when our eldest gets home he always checks on how his dad is doing when he walks through the door. He said he even "tucks him in" if dad is having a bad day. That's my Kyle! Cody makes sure dad is feeling well and is able to come to his events & Katie loves to give her daddy hugs. This year at Thanksgiving we had to write about the things we are thankful for. I wrote that we have a lot of stress in our family & I'm grateful for the times we sit around the dinner table talking & laughing about silly things. I will just say we have the weirdest table conversations & funny memories!

On Tom's last visit to Detroit the doctor decided to remove him from treatment for one cycle. Tom had requested this as his side effects have become worse and he needed a break. I think the fact that the holidays were coming up and Tom wanted to enjoy sometime with his family without being sick might also have had something to do with it. After just 3 days, you could see the difference in him. I had my husband back even if it is for just 28 days.

Tom talks with other MTC patients on a chat site. We have found out that 3 people currently on the trial are experiencing growth in their cancer again and have been removed from the Clinical Trial. Tom also found out that the MTC drug that was approved earlier this year is available and that his U of M oncologist is able to administer it. Tom wondered this spring if he should switch to the FDA approved drug. In this last month he started to look into it again. He has an appointment with Dr. Worden @ the U of M to discuss this mid January. Tom would like Dr. Worden's opinion about the direction Tom should go with his treatment. If he does decide to go with the drug Vandetanib Tom could receive all his treatment here in Grand Rapids under Dr. Worden's direction. While we are so grateful for this drug keeping Tom alive, being in a clinical study on the other side of the state has worn on us both physically, emotionally, and financially.

We both understand that this can't be a flippant decision. It is a huge choice and needs to be researched, talked about, and prayed about. I understand that if Tom chooses to come out of the trial he will not be able to get back in if the other drug does not work.

1 Timothy:1 "Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God's mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them."

Christmas Wish

2011-12-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

I know for many it's a busy time of the year. For our family it starts with the Thanksgiving celebration and goes until the New Year. This year after the family Turkey time we headed to our friends house in Ohio. There were 36 people family/friends who gathered to watch University of Michigan play The Ohio State. After traveling there for almost 7 years to watch U of M lose, it was a sweet victory to watch them win. As always we all had a fun time and ribbed each other all weekend. Tom however was not feeling well the entire trip and many concerned friends saw what his daily life was like. Tom was very quite and not himself this trip. I saw on their faces they got a little taste of helplessly watching him struggle. He tried to keep up a good front, but he was not able to for 3 our day visit.

Tom had a good doctor visit and talked with the Dr. about being off the drug this Christmas. His Potassium and Magnesium levels had dropped again, but the swelling was better as well as his breathing once he switched back to water pill. Tom also talked about his rib pain. Once he's back on in January and if it appears again, Tom will need an x-ray. Dr. Ali did say this is becoming a common side effect of this drug.

He is also enjoying watching Cody wrestle. Cody made the Varsity squad and has kept us busy with his schedule. I wonder if Cody is actually enjoying wrestling more than football. We are checking out other High Schools spirit shops and such. Tom is getting some ideas to bring to the Booster's committee he is on. I was thinking that Cody would be on the JV team and we would have a easy year with wrestling, but I am getting a better understanding of the sport and am so proud of how well he's doing for his second year. After his first invite last Saturday as we were coming home I said. "Cody, all these years of your dad watching football he couldn't get me involved. Since you play I can't get enough of watching it. Now your into wrestling and I find I'm enjoying it too. What next?" He's still thinking on that one!

Tom has been off the drug for a little over a week. His appetite is coming back and I hope his energy level will also. He has been doing so much around the house getting ready for Christmas. I have been busy with working and school. I have my exam tomorrow and am contemplating going back or not. I'll know when the time is right to go back. Right now I feel that I'm overloading myself trying not to miss anything. I don't want to miss a thing!

We learned this month that another MTC patient who has been on the trial longer than Tom has been taken off because the drug is no longer working. It breaks my heart to hear such sobering news this Christmas season. I feel it's another reality slap in the face of how serious this disease is. It makes me realize once again that we have been so luck to have Tom here today.

My Christmas wish this year is that Tom will continue to feel good once he is back on the drug. I hope that we don't take each other for granted both inside and outside our family. My goal is to let those I see this Holiday Season know how much they mean to me. Have a safe and Happy Holidays!

More Information Please

2011-11-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

The fall is Tom's favorite time of year. He loves football, crisp nights, wearing sweaters, and did I mention football? Cody's team did not fare so well this year. I believe he enjoyed the year none the less and is now getting ready for Wrestling. Katie's basketball team has only 1 loss. She is loving it. So far she has made a basket, while the family whooped it up! She is definitely a scrapper :)

I talked to my instructor and asked work for two days off to accompany Tom to Detroit. It was all approved and I recruited Grandma to watch the children and the "girls" (our dogs). She loves to come spend time with her grandchildren, but Cody ended up with dog duty at night as Grandma shut the bedroom door and the girls had to find elsewhere to sleep.

Tom was previously fighting the cold/flu bug and did not feel well the week before we went. However, he was in good spirits on Sunday morning when we pulled out of the drive at 8:00 am. After two days of scans he was not feeling that great, but he was not letting on how bad he really felt. He had such a good attitude our entire trip and kept saying how glad he was that I could go with him. It makes me sad that I can't go every time and that makes these trips bittersweet.

On Tuesday we met with Dr. Ali for the results. He said that the scan were stable and that things were looking good. I had noticed that his CEA jumped from 17 to 53 from his last scans in August. I decided to finally ask the question I've been asking the other doc's for 4 years. "Why did the CEA fluctuate so?" He took a great deal of time explaining how the numbers and scan indicate what the cancer is doing. He also talked about what they watch and when they use tumor markers to closely follow the cancer. Tom's last 2 blood work results showed a slight increase in both CEA and Calcitonin. At this time Dr. Ali is not too concerned because the scans continue to show as stable. He should have these results back from the Mayo Clinic in 2 weeks. If there is once again an increase in the tumor markers, then they may start monitoring these levels monthly. Dr. Ali. did comment about one of the tumors in Tom's liver. It had changed in appearance. He felt that this is due to the cells dying from loss of the blood source. There is always a chance that the opposite is true and it once again is growing and has outgrown it's blood source. We will see what it looks like in 3 months after Tom's scans in February.

After 3 days of being on the road we were ready to head for home. It was a beautiful day and Tom kept saying that "He should be hunting". I know that he misses many of the things he used to do. Its hard to realize that life has so drastically changed. Now we are concerned with numbers, scans, and day to day "feeling wonderful" when just 4 years ago we had more material worries. I know that God is using our family for his purposes. I know that he is beside us in everything that happens, are we reaching out to him? I am reminded that God is not the booming voice, but in the whispers.

1King 19:11 "Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there the Lord passed by, and was a mighty windstorm hit the mountain; it was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

Not Alone

2011-10-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

Cody is done with football for the year. His team went 1-7 but he had some great plays & enjoyed the game. He was told by the Varsity Coach to head to his room on Monday...for Wrestling. Katie has started the basketball season and so far her team is 1-1. I love this time of the year. It's busy! I am glad that they take after their father, and play sports.

Tom went to Detroit on Tuesday with his sister, Cathy. They were on the road at 5:00 am. They had a good visit and Tom was told that his blood work showed his potassium and magnesium are at good levels as a result of the change in the drugs he takes. However, they have removed him from one of the drugs that controlled the swelling and fluids in this neck. This makes his mornings very difficult. Tom's next visit will include his scans once again. I am not able to go with him as I am in school on Monday evenings & with Katie having basketball on Saturday's getting his scans done over the weekend does not fit. So, I am sad that he has to go alone.

We received a letter today that Tom's PCP is closing his practice. Tom has relied heavily on Dr. D for so many years. There are not many doctors that have the quality of care that he has provided. I am sure that Tom will be placed in good hands, but it will take a bit to get comfortable knowing that there is a different doctor at the helm. I work at the same hospital as Dr. D, it made me laugh that every time he e-mails me I have my out-of-office on & he's teased me about it. Tom went to see him last Friday and get the flu shot & go over his labs, Dr. D asked Tom, "Does your wife work?" We will both miss him. I am glad that he will still be at the hospital and I can contact him.

During this fall season I am reminded again of how lucky I am that my husband is such a fighter. He has a great outlook on life & he is determined to watch all his children graduate. Life is so fragile and hearing in this past year of all the families who've lost their father, husband, & provider helps me to remember not take mine for granted.

I believe this verse sums up what I am trying to say "Don't be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God's answers and remember to be thankful when they come" Colossians 4:2

Long stay in D-town

2011-09-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Tom went in for what we thought was his routine monthly visit in Detroit. His lab work came back and showed that his Potassium levels were dangerously low. They started him on oral Potassium and an IV. They gave him the IV Potassium at too great of a concentration, causing Tom to be very sick & in extreme amount of pain. He ended up staying over night in Detroit as they wanted him back @ 8:00 am for more blood work. Finally was able to come home around noon on Wednesday. Doctors put him on a higher dose of liquid Potassium, which Tom is struggling to take. He plans to contact the Henry Ford on Monday as he is experiencing more problems with circulation, paralysis of his extremities, & vertigo.

This was the first month that Tom resumed his volunteer work at Wayland EMS. I know that this is his passion, but I think that he is coming to the realization that he can no longer continue to work on the ambulance.

It has been hard to watch Tom struggle with the daily tasks. I see him getting tired easily, though he will not always admit it. There are days that he has an appetite and enjoys a meal, but most days he seems to prefer a little bowl of cereal. I was happy to hear that this month he maintained his weight and if he mentions something that sounds good, that is what we have for dinner!

It is always harder to share the rough days. I always try to keep things on a positive note, but some days the severity of this disease just seems to slap us in the face. I was saddened to read this past month that 2 other patients with MTC passed away. It helps me to remember how precious each day is. I have a book I've mention before "Stream in the Desert" that a dear friend gave to me over 4 years ago. Though I do not read it everyday I still finds it quiets my soul. As I love poems and my heart tends towards them, I would like to share this one with you.

He was better to me than all my hopes;

He was better than all my fears;

He made a bridge of my broken works,

And a rainbow of my tears.

The stormy waves that marked my ocean path,

Did carry my Lord on their crest;

When I dwell on the days of my wilderness march

I can lean on His love the for rest.

He emptied my hands of my treasured store,

And His covenant love revealed,

There was not a wound in my aching heart,

The balm of His breath has not healed.

Oh, tender and true was His discipline sore,

In wisdom, that taught and tried,

Till the soul that He sought was trusting in Him,

And nothing on earth beside.

He guided my paths that I could not see,

By ways that I have not known;

The crooked was straight, and the rough was plain

As I followed the Lord alone.

I praise Him still for the pleasant palms,

And the desert streams by the way,

For the flowing pillar of flame by night,

And the sheltering cloud by day.

Never a time on the dreariest day,

But some promise of love endears;

I read from the past, that my future will be

Far better than all my fears.

Like the golden jar, of the wilderness bread,

Stored up with the blossoming rod,

All safe in the ark, with the law of the Lord,

Is the covenant care of my God.

Relay & D-town in one weekend, whew!

2011-08-23T15:40:00.001-07:00

It has been a busy extended weekend for my family. August 19 started with participating in the Relay for Life of Barry County. Many of our team members walked 15 + miles and we had several 8 and 24 hour endurance walkers. Tom had said that he was going to take it easy at Relay this year and concentrate on the team. To no one's surprise he signed up as an 8 hour endurance walker & made it. I had mixed feeling about Relay as I was the Accounting Chair. I know it was an important job but I did miss a lot of time with the team this year as I had my Committee duties. Tom keeps pointing out that this is an important position and that Relay could not run without volunteers being involved. I selfishly wanted to spend the 24 hours walking with my husband. However, Katie stayed the 24 hours and walked many laps in my place. She was his inspiration! It was a sight to see @ 3:00 am, her walking with her arm around her dad, holding him up.

No rest for the weary though, when we came home we cleaned the camper that Tom's dad so graciously let us borrow for the event and repacked for Detroit. Sunday morning the whole family was out the door by 8:30 heading for West Bloomfield and Tom's first scan. The kids had not accompanied us before for any of Tom's scans. Tom was able to handle the heat on Sunday & we enjoyed a exciting Tigers vs Indians game. On Monday Tom had two more scans and that completed his day as he always gets sick after the CT scan. Back at the Guest Housing in Detroit we kicked back and hung out watching movies while Tom fought the nausea.

Tuesday the scan results came in. Tom 's scan came back stable & he is allowed to continue his treatments. Dr. Ali and I seem a little concerned that he lost another 9 pounds, but Tom is liking this part of his diet plan. Tom's level is still low for potassium and magnesium but at this time they did not make any changes. The RN did suggest that Tom take potassium in the liquid form as he is having a hard time taking the "horse pills".

We left Detroit as soon as we could so that we could get Cody to his football practice. Tom is very excited to see his sons first high school football game. It is the things that others take for granted that touches Tom like never before. Living life today has a new meaning as Tom celebrated his 4 th birthday & second Relay event.

Knowing that we have such great support and prayer warriors helps us to keep up the fight. We still take so much in life for granted and keep living daily with joys and complaints like so many. I just want to take a moment & thank you again for your words of encouragement that helps us to remember that HE is in control.

Proverbs 20:24 "Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?"

Continued Treatment

2011-07-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

The kids are enjoying more hazy, lazy days of summer. Kyle has passed his driving test & we have a licensed driver, yahoo! As the years stretch on it seems that time is going faster & faster.

We are getting closer to our Relay for Life event in Barry County and we have a Golfing Event before that happens. Tom has been busy with the planning for this good cause. I think that he is looking forward to wrapping up this years events & focusing on feeling well for a while.

Tom got the results that his Calcitonin was up a little to 1016. It's not an alarming jump, but I would like it to be on the downward trend. Tuesday we headed to Detroit for the day. We were on the road by 7:30 am and did not return until 7:00 pm. I have to say that we had a good day together and even though it was a long trip, and we were worn down by the time we came through our door, we seemed to be in good spirits. Dr. Ali did not have anything new to report other than Tom's Potassium and Magnesium continue to be low. They are increasing his potassium and putting him on Magnesium. The doctor also gave Tom a prescription for "Magic Mouthwash" to help with his mouth sores. The next trip to D-town is for Tom's scans next month. This will be a 3 day trip and we will be taking the kids for the first time.

Tom's meddie friend has written information about MTC to help her friends and family understand what we are going trough. Kyle has put it into a link to share with everyone. It is titled MTC Information under the MTC Diagnosis & Treatment in the link section at the top right side of page. After clicking over to the link, select download and be patient it will come up. I know some of you still do not understand this rare form of cancer and hopefully this will help. When Tom read it he said to me "This is my life".

I will leave you with another of my favorite scriptures, Psalms 61:2

"For wherever I am, though far away at the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help. When my heart is faint and over whelmed, lead me to the mighty, towering Rock of Safety."

Thankful for One Year

2011-07-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

Tom has been on XL-184 for one full year. I look back and can't believe how much has changed in the last year. People who have not seen Tom in a long time do not recognize him. They comment on his hair color change & loss of weight. He tells them he doesn't recommend his diet plan, what a sense of humor my husband has! At the start of this trial I don't think either one of us were prepared for all that would happen. The biggest challenge was for Tom to stop working. I tease him about being my Mr. Mom and he takes it well, but I'm sure if given the choice, he'd prefer to be the bread winner.

The last Tuesday in June Tom had his monthly visit in Detroit. His scans were done in May but they were done after his doctor visit. The scans came back stable and for a couple months we can breath a little easier. Tom's blistering has come back to his hands, feet, and top of his head. Dr. Ali said that as the weather gets warmer the toxins are exiting his body and it is typical that the heat pulls them out of these areas. Tom's potassium was low again & they are increasing his dosage to keep it leveled. Tom continues to struggle eating with the soars that are also in his mouth. I can't count how many times he has made a meal, taken a bite or two and then pushed his plate away. Getting him to eat more than Cheerios has been a challenge.

I am so glad that Tom was able to get on this drug. Even with all Tom's side effects and struggles I believe without it the cancer would have continued to spread and as the cancer was aggressive we would have had a much different year. Thank you to all our warriors that pray without ceasing. God has heard you & he is the Great Warrior & Great Physician.

Colossians 4:15 "Let peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privileged as members of his body. Always be thankful."

MTC Video

2011-06-12T07:49:00.001-07:00

News regarding Medullary Thyroid Cancer. This is not the drug that Tom is taking. I found it very interesting and am glad that his Detroit/MTC friend pointed it out.

http://www.itog.org/articles/

Keeping You Updated

2011-06-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

I know that a lot of time has lapsed since my last post. What can I say? This has been a very hard winter/spring for me personally. With the loss of my brother I have been just functioning through life for sometime. Tom has patiently been by my side, dancing between letting me deal with my grief and trying to "be there" for me. What a wonderful husband I have, he is definitely my sounding board!

The kids are doing well. School is officially done on June 10 and they are all ready for the summer break. Kyle is signed up to go to Ferris State for computer classes, he is thinking about Ferris State as his college of choice when he graduates. Cody is in weight training, getting ready for Freshman Football. Both boys have drivers training classes, Kyle to take his test for his license, Cody starts the program & will have a year to drive us around. Katie is in Swimming Class currently. She has Volleyball & Basketball programs to help keep her busy this summer. Summer hazy lazy days.....we'll find a few!!!

Tom and I spent our 22nd Anniversary in Tom's hometown. It was so much fun to tour Grandville and see all that has changed from when he lived there. We went to a Restaurant we used to frequent every Thursday after the infamous softball games. We also went to a park that we used to walk a few times a week back in our dating days. Tom did not feel great, but we swam, walked & walked some more. It was a nice weekend of quality time.

Tom spent 4 days in Detroit for his rounds of tests/scans. He was able to meet up with his "Bro" Dan and they spent some time together. I call him "My other brother Dan" They were able to catch a Tigers game and went to Hard Rock Cafe'. I was glad once again that Tom did not have to go alone & could find some "fun" amongst his medical care. Tom's doctor appointment was after the Memorial Day holiday and Dan was able to experience the Chaotic office visit. Lets just say that Tom was there for many hours that day & he was a frustrated patient that was loosing patience! He then had his scans days after his doctor appointment. I guess we'll get the result when he goes back in June.

Tom has been approved for disability. His last date of employment will be June 28. In some respects, it was a hard decision for Tom not to go back to work. However, he struggled from September to December when he tried going back. Working 3rd shift is hard on a "healthy" person. Spectrum Health has been working with Tom and they are such a great company to lead us through the process. It has been difficult, but we both feel that we have made the right choice. I am so grateful to be working at the same place as this is making the transition easier.

I have made this long enough, I'll try posting more often. It's all about keeping everyone informed. Thank you prayer warriors for all the kind words and inspiration, I have needed them. I will leave you with these words:

Romans 8:26-28
"And in the same way - by our faith - the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony with God's own will. And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans."

Busy week

2011-03-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

This week was a busy one. On Monday Relay for Life in Barry County had it's kickoff. Tom was a guest speaker and I was at the front table greeting and selling tickets for the "Taste". It was a success!

Cody finished his meets for Wrestling and on Saturday had a tournament. He finished the 3rd in his class out of 8 schools that participated. Not bad for his first year in wrestling...great job Cody!

Saturday evening we had our 2nd Annual Cancer Suck Euchre Tournament. We had 44 participants and the room was packed. It was a night of laughter and fun. We were so blessed to have people come out to support our cause. Our first place winner was from Jonesville MI. congrats Scott. We had comments already about who will come (and win) next year!

Sunday our church celebrated our 6 year birthday at Voice of Hope. People stood up and talked about their experience in the life of our church. It was great and encouraging to hear how God has walked with so many and how we in turn effect each other. I believe everyone who got up declared our church a "family". When Tom got up his testimony brought about some tears. Another member, who just last week lost her dad to cancer, got up to speak with her husband and there were not many dry eyes in the audience. Thanks family for being there for so many!

I received the news this past week that Tom's calcitonin levels have dropped to 981. It is hard to understand why these levels go up and down but we celebrate every time it drops! Thank you God!

1 Corinthians 4:20-21 "The Kingdom of God is not just talking; it is living by God's power. Which do you choose? Shall I come with punishment and scolding, or shall I come with quiet love and gentleness?"

Traveling Companion

2011-03-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

Tom received a call a week before he left for Detroit. A longtime friend, Todd had decided to tag along with him. Sunday morning they headed out at 6:10 a.m. Tom had his MRI on Sunday morning. Monday, they headed back to West Bloomfield for a CT and Bone Density scans. Tuesday morning they went to downtown Detroit and met with the doctor for the results. Tom was told that the scans came back with good results. The scans did show that there was a spot in Tom's chest. The doctor said that he was not too concerned at this time. It could have shown up due to the way the drugs were pushed or the position Tom was in during the scan. He stated that he would like to watch for it on the next scans in June.

The guys had a good time hanging out together. I am so grateful that Todd was able to go with him. A big thank you for the rest of his family also that had to give up their dad & husband so Tom would not have to go alone.

The next time Tom will be heading down to Detroit is April 5. This will be during Spring Break for the kids. We will have to decide if this will be a family trip.

Psalms 43:5 "Trust in God! I shall again praise him for his wondrous help; he will make me smile again, for he is my God!"

A hard week

2011-02-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

We made an unexpected trip to Chicago last weekend. My brother was driving down to MS with his boss to pickup the jet they fly. He was in a tragic accident in IN and flown into Chicago IL. He and his boss did not survive. Last weekend was emotionally draining. We went from being in a hospital in Chicago to another one in Detroit in a matter of days.

On Tuesday Tom & I got up at 4:00 a.m and were on the road by 5:00 so that Tom could get through his clinical trial. He needed to do this to continue with his medicine as you can't get his drugs through any pharmacy. The people at Henry Ford Hospital were trying to accommodate our request to get through quickly & be back on the road ASAP. They rushed us through and did a pretty good job, except that he was poked 4 times instead of just the once. His arms are still black & blue almost a week later. Tom will be heading back to Detroit before March 8 for all his scans once again.

It amazes me how strong my husband is. He was continually by my side and assisted with anything the family needed done. On Tuesday on our drive we talked, laughed and cried during our trip to Detroit. I wrote down some of my fondest memories and would share them with Tom. I think it was good for us to go through this process together as part of our grieving. I also wrote a poem in Dan's memory. Tom wanted to share these with the family & friends. I knew that as much as I wanted, I could not stand up and put to words what I had put on paper. On Thursday night he decided to speak at the funeral. He did such a great job! I am not sure how he got through it but it made us laugh through our tears. I am so proud of the man that I married. I could not imagine going through this without him.

Instead of the verse that I usually write, I would like to share the poem that I wrote in memory of Dan Van Dyke December 6, 1966 - February 4, 2011:

To My Big Brother
As we grew I looked up to you
My brother and my friend
It's so hard to say goodbye
This can not be the end
As memories fill my mind
The years that have flown by
You lived your life to the fullest
As you jetted through the sky
In life you brought laughter
Your smile filled the air
You will be so dearly missed
I'll never forget our time we shared
God called you home & I'm sure the Angels did sing
As you were given your forever wings

-Valerie Andrews

A Long Days Drive

2011-01-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

Tom was up and at 'em on Tuesday heading to Detroit by 6:00 am:

Tom is back on the Chemo drug. The labs show that his potassium, magnesium, and calcium levels are still low. They have put him on yet more drugs to bring these levels up. Tom talked with his primary doctor and asked to be put back on the drug Maxide (that they had also taken him off ) as the side of surgery returned quickly after he stopped using this drug. Tom has struggled for the past couple mornings as his face blew up like a balloon so bad that he could barely see when he gets up. I've noticed he is struggling with his breathing also as he sleeps. We still do not have the results of his Calcitonin level.

Tom is adjusting very well to his role of Mr. Mom. I must say I enjoy coming home to dinner on the table and relaxing as he cleans the kitchen. The dogs are having a hard time getting used to Tom being home at night. They've lost their spots on the bed. This past week the Sleep Lab threw Tom a little luncheon. He truly works with a group of caring and generous people. Tom was blown away when the physician he has worked for the past several years got up and thanked Tom & complimented him on his quality patient care.

Luke 12:25-26 "And besides, what's the use of worrying? What good does it do? Will it add a single day to your life? Of course not! And if worry can't even do such little thing as that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?"

Exelixis’ XL184 Granted Orphan Drug Designation and Assigned the Generic Name Cabozantinib

2011-01-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

This is the trial drug that Tom is on. It now has a name other than XL-184! Click on the title to follow link.

New Year's Set Back

2011-01-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

The Andrews' family enjoyed the holidays. Christmas and New Years were both busy as we enjoyed spending time with family & friends. Our Ohio friends came to visit and we spent some quality time with them. The kids enjoyed seeing their long distance pals. On Sunday Tom quietly celebrated another birthday.

In the past few days Tom has noticed some new or different side effects which required him to call his doctor in Detroit. His doctor has removed him from the experimental drug and ordered him to Spectrum Health asap for blood workup. Tom is experiencing numbness and tingling in his arms, legs, and face. He has also had some temporary paralysis in his hand. This appears to be some type of metabolic problem, possibly related to low calcium or blood sugar levels. We will not know for sure until we get results from the tests. Hopefully it is as simple as a new prescription to get Tom back on track and the doctor will allow him to return to the study. To add insult to injury Tom has been battling sore throat & ear aches again. He seems to be more susceptible to these type of viruses. On Tuesday, January 11 Tom heads back to Detroit to discuss the next steps with Dr. Ali. Long range forecast is predicting another storm to hit on that date. Gotta love that drive.

In this new year many people make resolutions that are hard to follow through. I have decided that this year I am just going to enjoy the people & relationships around me and not take a day for granted as we never know what tomorrow will bring. I have looked back over this past year and seen many trials, challenges, and hope. Though I have started getting up early again (since mid December) to workout. I have other focuses that are far more important. I have been reminded to simply Live, Laugh, Love.

1 Timothy 4:8 "Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do."

Winter in the D

2010-12-15T14:31:00.000-08:00

At 4:30 am on Sunday morning Tom and I looked out the window and saw rain. I opted to get more sleep, but my experienced husband said, lets get moving we don't know what we'll run into around Lansing. His prediction was correct and we had a white knuckle drive all the way to Detroit. We arrived on time but exhausted. Tom's first scan was his MRI and then we spent the afternoon shopping for each other for Christmas deals...and we got them :)

We settled down at the Henry Ford Guest Housing Sunday night and were sleeping soundly when at 12:02 am the fire alarm went off and we needed to evacuate the building. Tom was not patient with me as I was getting dressed because I refused to stand outside in my silk nightgown in a blizzard. After about 1/2 an hour of total confusion we were allowed back up to our rooms with the explanation of the "Residency floors fire alarm was accidentally pulled!" I felt sorry for the parents of the 6 infants I saw walking around.

Monday we bounced back & forth between West Bloomfield and Detroit hospitals. It was sunny but bitterly cold. After all the contrast & radioactive meds that Tom was given, he was ready to head back to the room. I have to say that all the time spent waiting between tests and driving between hospitals was exhausting!

Tuesday morning we were called into Dr. Ali's office early as he needed to leave the hospital before our appointed time. Luckily we were just across the courtyard and ready to go when we got the call. Dr. Ali met us at the reception room and ushered us into a room to hear the results. He said that he was pleased with the results from the scans. All the tumors were stable and there was no new areas of growth. Dr. Ali commented about Tom's weight loss, he was down another 4 pounds this month. He is almost back to what he weighed in High School. As long as the blood work shows that his levels remain satisfactory they will not worry about his weight loss yet. They talked about the severity of the side effects to the drug and decided to keep Tom on the current dose. I find it interesting how this drug effects patients differently. Tom is the only patient in the Detroit study who is showing rapid weight loss as well as his cool new hair color.

We were told that this study will be completed at the first of the year. It is our understanding that while the drug company moves towards FDA approval Tom will still be allowed access to the drug. We are hoping that this will mean less trips to Detroit. The drive home void of stress, we just couldn't wait to get there!

The side effect of the chemo along with the 12 hour night shifts have become too much for Tom. His doctor is placing him back on disability effective December 29 (he never wanted Tom to return back to work in the first place). This will be Tom's last weekend of working nights. While I know he struggles with this decision he has finally accepted that his doctor, friends, and most of all his wife are right. I am looking forward to having my Mr. Mom at home again.

Psalms 95:6-7 Come, kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God. We are his sheep and he is our Shepherd. Oh, that you would hear him calling you today and come to him!

November Visit

2010-11-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

Has another month flown by? Life is not slowing down anytime too soon. Katie is down to her last game this Saturday. We take a breather in December before the 2 younger ones begin again in January. Tom is counting down the last days of working weekends. Starting in January he will be on his old schedule of Monday-Wednesday nights. Hopefully this will be easier as we will all be gone and the house will be quiet for him to rest. Tom has not done much EMS and I know that he misses it and the people he works with. We will be gearing up for the holidays really soon starting with our 21 year tradition of setting up the x-mas tree over Thanksgiving weekend. Tom says he needs a little Christmas right this very minute.....you know the tune!

Yesterday Tom went solo to Detroit. He had a good visit with the Dr. Ali. No changes again and they were pleased with his lab results. Tom was able to meet up with the other MTC patient while he was there. They talked about how their lives had changed and the challenges they face with the disease and effects of the chemo. I think it's great that they are able to encourage one another and share as they can't in depth with the rest of us who can only sympathize. This other patient has been on this chemo for over 2 years, that in itself is very encouraging!

Tom is scheduled to get his Scans December 12 & 13 and then on the 14th he will hear the results. I plan to go with him this trip for 3 days of medical fun! Hopefully he will feel up to shopping while we are there as I really liked the Novi mall! The contrast that Tom has to take for these tests can send him for a loop so we may just have to relax at the hotel. That may be ok also as we don't usually get much time to rest up.

I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving and will take the time to reflect the meaning of being thankful. We all have so much that we take for granted. I am thankful for all of you who take time to connect with and pray for our family. I know I've said this before, but I don't know how I would get through life without all of your support. I can't speak for Tom but I know he has been so overwhelmed by all that people have said & done for us.

2Corinthians 4:8-10 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within (who keeps us safe)"

Monthly visit

2010-10-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

Fall is here! It is Tommy's favorite time of the year. He is enjoying watching his youngest boy playing Football and trying to make it to his daughter's basketball games. While Tom is unable to eat, he still joins us at dinner time. It has been nice to have laughter at our dinner table again on the few nights the family can actually sit together. It's memories I hope we can all cherish for years. I am so grateful for the times we have.

This trip Tom had company. Thank you to his friend Chris who took the time to take Tom to Detroit and did not get him lost! :) The boys had a few hours to kill so they found their way over to Trader Joe's in Grosse Pointe. My wine rack is now stocked for the holidays.

Dr. Ali. was pleased with the way Tom's body is handling the chemo. His platelet's were low and they once again wanted to take him off the Maxide, but we've been there with the face swelling and the difficulty breathing so Tom convinced them to keep him on. He was having some cramping in his legs and was told that this is a side effect of having low potassium. It was decided to keep everything the same for Tom. If things do not improve by his next visit in November, Tom may be put on yet another medication.

Psalms 126:4 "May we be refreshed as by streams in the desert"
I actually have a book titled that and it has helped me through some tough times. Thanks again to my friend who gave it to me and to others that hold our family in their prayers. Life is tough...pray hard!

The Rat Results

2010-09-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

I read the title to Tom and he stated "Sometimes it's good to be a rat!"

Tom came home today after being in Detroit since Sunday. He had a Bone Density test, MRI, and CAT scan. This morning he met with his doctor to go over the results. The doctor was very pleased with the scans and told Tom that he his bone scan showed that the cancer is stable. The cancer will not shrink in the bone so stabilizing it is the best result. The scans over his soft tissue (lungs and liver) shows that the cancer has shrunk. Dr. Ali talked with Tom about his side effects and determined that Tom will stay on his current dosage again. Tom has some blistering in his feet. He also has numbness in the fingers but Dr. Ali said that as long as it is not effecting his writing then he feels Tom should continue with his medication.

Tom will be back to Detroit on October 19 for a 4 hour visit. Then head back again on November 16. He will have scan sometime in early December. Then on December 16 he go over those scan results at his last visit for the year.

Thank you to all who have prayed over Tom and our family. On Saturday when I was explaining to the kids that Dad would be gone again for more test I was asked some questions. I told Katie and Cody that these scans show how Dad's cancer is doing if it grew or stayed the same. Katie pipped up and said "Or shrinks". I smiled and said, "Yes, that too. But I was afraid to say it out loud. Let's hope that is the case" Today Tom got to tell her that was! It was a great to see her face light up!

God makes a promise-faith believes it, hope anticipates it, patience quietly awaits it.

"But we have the true hope that comes from being made right with God, and by the Spirit we wait eagerly for this hope" Galatians 5:5

Weekend Trip

2010-09-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

It has been way to long since my last blog. Too long actually, I had to be reminded to update it by family members. The kids are back into school and we are falling into the "school" routine. Tom is back to work, ready or not.

On Sunday Tom is heading to West Bloomfield for 2 fun filled days of scans. Because of the medication they give to him before & during the scan they have to be spaced out as to not effect the other scans. Tom will be having his first scan on Sunday afternoon. His next 2 scan will be on Monday afternoon and evening. Then on Tuesday he will head to Detroit for his appointment with Dr. Ali before coming home. Tom will be handling this trip by himself. I am glad that he is bringing his laptop so that we can stay connected.

This will be Tom's first scans since going on the drug. I am curious (and maybe a little anxious) to hear what the results are and to find out how the drug is working. Tom continues to fight his nausea and soreness of feet. He is eating better since the dosage reduction but is not able to eat everything he would like. His fatigue is a struggle, especially since going back to work. However, he is determined to keep living life.

This weekend I will keep asking for God's guidance in our lives. My prayers will not cease.

"But I keep right on praying to you, Lord. For now is the time-you are bending down to hear!" Psalms 69:13

Travels

2010-08-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

Monday night was our last meeting for Relay for Life. It put us on the road about 8:00 pm and our first time taking I-94 towards Detroit. The change of scenery was nice and I knew we would end up in D-town late so I called ahead to let them know we would arrive around 10:30 or so....Or so was more like it! I set the GPS to head to HFH, but not the one in Detroit, rather West Bloomfield. As we were heading towards the end of our destination I was looking out the window and telling Tom how familiar this area looked. We recognized the highway and streets and then I realized we were heading to the wrong destination. We were about 1/2 hour out of our way. Tom was very good though not happy about driving through downtown. He now knows where all the gentlemen clubs are in Detroit.

His appointment was bright and early the next morning so we got up, went down to the hospital's cafeteria for breakfast. We met with Dr. Ali who was pleased with all of Tom's levels and has decided to put Tom back on the Chemo at a reduced rate. We had to wait for all of Tom's labs to be processed before the pills could be administered. We had most of the results back within an hour except one. Three hours later we finally got the last one and Tom was ready to get home.

We were supposed to be out of the room by noon, but we were a little late and the staff was wonderful about it. There guest housing are 1 and 2 bedroom apartments on the 6th floor of a 22 story building on the hospital grounds. We are still very impressed with this hospital. I couldn't help but think if Tom does need surgery down the road, I'll be very comfortable staying at the hospital in these apartments. I made sure the GPS was properly programmed to take us home and nowhere else; only to realize 10 miles down the road that I had left a couple items in the room and we had to turn around to go back to get them! I am not sure if I will be invited to go with Tom again :)

Tom has asked his doctor to clear him to return to work after Labor Day weekend. He has asked to change his schedule to Friday-Sunday nights so that he will not need to take any further time off of work for his trips to Detroit. I am not sure if Tom feels well enough to return to work or is just worried about finances. I hope he does not try to over do it.

I wanted to share with you again some of my readings from my morning devotion (thanks again for the book Mom Andrews)

There is nothing but God's grace. We walk upon it; we breath it; we live and die by it; it makes the nails and axles of the Universe.
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Normal

2010-08-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a few things this week about what's going on at the Andrews' household. On Friday, we were in Hastings, MI for their annual Relay for Life event. It was a hot one and I think we were drenched about 2 minutes after getting out of the van! We had 10 walkers during this event with 5 of us staying the entire duration. Our walkers were awesome and dedicated. I don't think that we had more than a few minutes that someone was not walking the track. A few dedicated (crazy) walkers tracked over 20 miles. I think 28 miles was the top team member's achievement. Great job Martin!!!

The Survivor dinner was good and they had each Survivor give a sash to one Care Giver. The speech that was given before the walk is that the survivors could not do this alone. The music they played was "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler. It was powerful and I had to make a huge effort not to cry the whole lap. The event hit to home when one of our friends from another team came over to tell Tom that a fellow friend/fire fighter lost his life to cancer during the night. They had a silent lap in his honor & I don't think there was a dry eye at the park. At the end of the event they handed out the awards. Team Sleepwalkers received 2 awards: Third place for On Line Donations & Second place for highest overall donations for a first year team. Way to go team!

It took us the rest of the weekend to recover from this event. I could not walk up/down the stairs and putting on shoes was not an option until Monday when it was required. I was so proud of Tom for being there and participating the whole time. Tom walked 18 miles himself.

The good new is that as of this weekend, Tom is able to eat like normal. He even drank a pop this week! We believe this will be short lived as Tuesday he will head back to HFH to start treatment again at a lower dosage.

I just wanted to say "Thank You" to all who helped with our event in anyway.

THANK YOU :)

Timeout

2010-08-11T16:05:00.000-07:00

Tom and Kyle headed out the door at 7:00 this morning to head to HFH. Tom had some blood work done & talked with the clinical nurse. It was decided that Tom will be taken off the drug for 2 weeks because of his side effects. In two weeks, on August 24 Tom will head back in for his Dr. appointment and 4 hour visit. At that time Tom will resume taking the drug but at a lower dose.

Tonight when Tom came home he received a call from his primary doctor checking up on him. I am glad that he has a doctor that is very engaged in Tom's treatment. Tom also received his calcitonin level from his last blood work here on the west side and his level is 785. It is up a little bit, but still way down from the start of this program.

This weekend we will be involved in the Relay for Life 24 hour walk. A friend from my work, whose husband is a Throat Cancer patient at U of M, will be joining us for a little while. It was funny to find out that her daughter is in charge of the event. It truly is a small world! I told Tom to just show up & not worry about walking the trail, but you all know how well he listens to me ;) Thank you to all who were involved in our first campaign & to those who donated. We have raised $2,929.00. It was far from our first thought of setting a goal of $1,000.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Each morning when I get up for work after my little workout I do a devotional. I have decided to share a little of my writing:

My God I say to you:
Please help us feel Your love
Shinning down deeply from above
Show us the way, the path we shall follow
Live our lives to the brim, do not leave us hollow
Fill our hearts with compassion, taught by your son
Living life to the fullest, until our days are done
Lord, only you know the path we shall take
Daily give us mercy for all our our sake
Grace & mercy pour out from you
We receive it every breath, all the day through
Your humble servant is here today
To proclaim your words & silently pray
That you protect my loved ones & help them now
They will turn to you, trusting you somehow
I proclaim my trust in You, My Lord
Send down your spirit like a sword
Remind us that Jesus is the way
As I remember this early in the morning of everyday

All Day

2010-07-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

Tommy actually got up before I did today. He was on the road by 5:00 am and returned home around 8:30 pm. Thanks to his cousin, Martin, for taking the day to spend with Tom. I am so glad that Tom did not have to go alone to the other side of the state.

Tom met with the doctor first thing. They talked about the side effects & reducing the dosage. Tom is currently the only patient in the study who is receiving the full dose. Tom's side effects are boarder line from having to be reduced. They assured Tom that patients are still having good results with reduced doses. You know my husband and how stubborn he is! Tom was reminded not to be a hero and be honest about all the severity of the side effects as their is a potential for liver damage. Tom has completed cycle 1 of the study and the end of the 8 hour days in Detroit. Cycle 2 reduces his stay to 4 hours per visit. Tom was not able to start the program first thing because his potassium levels were low. This is a direct result because of the change of Tom's diet and lack of solid foods.

Tom was able to meet another MTC (medullary thyroid cancer) patient that is currently participating in the study. Tom really enjoyed meeting this person and talking about their experiences. Tom came home uplifted and thankful that he was able to spend some time with this person.

Last week when Tom had his blood drawn from the West side, they also took his calcitonin level. All the labs came back in the normal range, including his platelets. I could not believe the Calcitonin level and had to call the PCP's office to make sure I was not misreading it. The level is now at 543. Tom's level at the start of this study was 1306. All I could think about is that back at U of M they mentioned the importance of this level. We are taking this as good news!

In my daily devotions I have read this and wanted to share it with you:

Confidence is not based on wishful thinking, but in knowing that God is in control.

Psalms 27:13 "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." NTV

Chemo

2010-07-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

This week I have been able to spend time with my best friend. We've been to both sides of the state combining good memories with the medical and keep Tom focused on the fun things in life.

On Wednesday Tom went to Henry Ford Hospital. I was able to accompany him and meet 2 of the main care takers. The team went over the side effects again with Tom and they were able to give him a prescription to help with his pain. They very carefully celebrated with Tom that he has these side effects while explaining to me that they believe he must be on the chemo and not the placebo. As we were leaving I had to laugh that they had a newbie taking Tom's blood, with his permission. Tom showed him which were the best veins for the draw (my medical expert!) . The chemo is starting to wear Tom down and the effects are taking their toll. It was explained that his dose could be reduced if the side effects became too much for him to bear. On the way home we made a stop in Lasing to watch Sammy Hager perform.

Thursday we received a call from HFH stating that Dr. Ali checked over his blood work and found that his platelets were a little low. Dr. Ali said the Tom was the first patient to have this reaction from the meds and requested that Tom's PCP order another blood draw for them so that Tom did not have to drive all the way back to Detroit. Friday morning he headed to Spectrum Health for his draw and we are awaiting the results this week from his doctor. On Friday night we headed down to my brother's house to do the annual Venetian Festival with him and the Diva a.k.a Robin, his wife. Tom did pretty well as we tried to make sure he was not pushing himself too hard during our visit. Tom is learning to slow down and this was a nice quiet get away for us to spend quality time together.

Tom's next trip to HFH is Tuesday, July 27. This will once again be an all day trip with many blood draws and E.K.G.'s Thank God that Tom has such a good attitude during this whole process. I am grateful for so many caring people and the support we are getting from so many.

"Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians: 17-18

XL-184

2010-07-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July celebration was very busy. We were able to spend time with many families. It was hard getting back into the swing of work on Tuesday.

Tom has been on the XL-184 drug for a little over a week now. He has been very good about fasting before and after the 10:00 am hour of taking the pill. The first couple of days he had a feeling of nausea and was wondering if it was just in his head. He is now experiencing more severe side effects. We can only assume that this means he is on the drug and not the placebo. He did have to call Henry Ford today to discuss the side effects. If they continue to worsen they will put him on some pain medication. Tom received the Calcitonin results today. He is higher than ever with the new count at 1306. It will be interesting to see if the count will go down. In reading up on this drug, this will be monitored closely with the physicians.

Tom will be going back to Detroit on July 14 for another check up. I am able to accompany him this time and will be able to see the "other" hospital where he spends his days away. I can't imagine him doing all this and trying to work at the same time. The days of him feeling guilty about not working have come to an abrupt end.

Thank you to everyone who has given us kind words of encouragement & help once again. To my friend with the gift card, I will certainly enjoy a latte next week and "try" to relax anyway! I don't know how I would get through all this without my support so that I can focus on supporting my husband.

"Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always" Romans 12:12

Treatment

2010-06-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

Tom & his mother were out the door this morning at 7:00 am. He returned home tonight at 8:30 pm. He looks tired and I know that he has had a long day. I am hearing about his day as I am typing....

The first thing Tom did was met with Dr. Ali. They went over all his scans from last week. The bone scan showed the spot on his spine that we saw previously. It also show a possible spot on his left femur. They will continue to monitor these spot with future bone scans. The MRI and CT scans continue to show 6 lesions in his liver. They also noted spots in his lungs and an area in his neck along side his carotid artery, his left side.

Tom started the drug program. Tom went through 6 hours of blood draws, testing, and EKG's. He had a total of 10 EKG's before he was able to leave.

Obviously the side effects of this drug can be severe. They will be monitoring Tom very closely over the next 60 days. The scans results were not what we wanted to hear, as it confirms once again the cancer continues to spread. As Tom starts this new treatment he also find himself in the unfamiliar territory of concentrating on his own health. Tom's doctors have placed him on Short Term Disability as of today. This will give Tom the opportunity to focus on his health both mentally and physically as he begins this next stage of his journey.

I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, "Don't be afraid. I will help you." Isaiah 41:31 ncs

Changes in a Day

2010-06-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Things can change in a day. This morning Tom received a phone call from Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Ali now wants Tom to start the program right away. He will be heading to HFH in Detroit on Tuesday morning. So, is this good that the doctor wants to get Tom in right away or something he saw on the scans that moved up the appointment? Tom stated that is what is playing through his head all day.

Please pray that Tom will have a safe trip & that he is encouraged by the treatment.

We're Back

2010-06-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I am sorry that my last post did not contain all the information as I missed blogging about the Friday test. The Henry Ford Hospital is moving fast and Tom was actually in Detroit on Friday, June 19 for a Bone scan. He spent the whole weekend in West Bloomfield Hills. He spent Friday with his friend Chris, they were able to catch a Tigers game. On Saturday I drove there to meet him for the rest of his trip. Sunday Tom had an extensive MRI and Monday was his CT scan. We finally made it home around 8:30 Monday night. We are both still recovering from the trip.

Today Tom received a phone call from HFH stating that he is eligible to enter into the program. I am not sure if we should be ecstatic about it considering Tom has to be at certain degree of of the illness in order to qualify. However, you have to be "cancer excluded" otherwise healthy in order to qualify. I do believe that it is a good thing that Tom has been accepted. Tom will start his treatment on Tuesday, July 6. The first 2 months will be the hardest as Tom will be at HFH in both West Bloomfield and Detroit quite a bit. We will know more details after his visit on the 6th.

When Tom goes on the 6th they will go over the results of all the scans. He will be monitored very closely with this program as they do not know how he will react.

We are not sure how this will effect Tom's work schedule. He optimistic that he will be able to continue working through this process. However, doctors are warning him that he may need to slow down for a little while. Knowing Tom, that means he will cut back to only working one job. Luckily we work for a good company that is prepared to help us along the way.

All through this we need to keep on praying, and praying, and praying. The Lord has lead us through so much. I talk with people and can't think of how else we could have made it. I thank all my prayer warriors. Thanking God for you.

"But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to praying the power and strength of the Holy Spirit." Jude 1:20

Dtown

2010-06-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

The summer weather has definitely shown its face here in Michigan. The kids are outside a little more and the sun is with us until bedtime. When I get up at 5:15 to workout in the morning, I can see the puppies without having to turn on the back light. The days are heating up and I am loving it. With school about to end all I can think is "Come on Summer Fun!"

Tom had his appointment with the Oral Surgeon last week. The doctor did not see any reason for concern. He told Tom that if there was cancer it would be on a major nerve and Tom would have no doubt about the pain it would cause. They took another x-ray which showed that the spot had actually decreased in size. They will continue to monitor it during his routine visits for now.

Tom made his way to Detroit on Tuesday for his visit with Henry Ford Hospital. He was satisfied with his consultation with Dr. Ali. The doctor spent time with Tom explaining how the program worked & what would happen if Tom was to be approved. This drug is a Phase 3 drug that is ready to go to the FDA. This program does have a placebo. However, the chance of getting the water pill is a very small percent. The care that Tom would receive at worst case scenario would be not much different than the standard care for Tom's type of cancer. However, Tom has the advantage of being watched closer because of the research. Everything would have to be done at their hospital as all patients are to be scanned with the same machine. Tom had 3 EKG's and blood work up before he left. The insurance approved the consultation and test that was done on Tuesday. The next step is for them to approve the clinical trial.

Tom needs to go back on June 20 & 21st for more test. On Sunday he will have an MRI and on Monday a CT scan. Because both of these tests have contrast dye, he is not able to do the scans on the same day. He will also need a bone scan before starting the trial.
Tom is working several extra shifts at both the Hospital and EMS this month as he fears that he may be back on Disability in July.

Psalms 138:8 "The Lord will work out his plans for my life-for your lovingkindness, Lord, continues forever. Don't abandon me-for you made me."

Checking it out

2010-05-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a weekend. We had our first event for Relay for Life. The Euchre tournament was a success and we raised over $1,500.00! Way to go team! Tom's organizational skills came through again and he totally exhausted all his efforts for this event. Sunday he was feeling the effects of it.

Now that we can take a breath, Tom needs to focus on his own health care. He has had multiple conversation with insurance, primary doctor, and Henry Ford Hospital. There are advantages/disadvantages to both of the clinical trials that Tom has been considering. I will say again that his PCP did not hesitate to spend countless hours talking to other Cancer centers around the USA and sharing with us what he found. HFH is out of network so we are not sure how this will play out with our insurance. We are again in the stage of many questions and waiting for answers.

Last week Tom had his routine dental check up. They brought Tom a set of x-rays and sent him to see an Oral Surgeon because they found a "spot" that is of concern. It is believed that this is not an abscess as they first thought and because of Tom's history; they are asking Tom to get another opinion. Tom has a meeting with the surgeon Thursday morning.

This leads us to the question of "Where is the best place for Tom's care?" that we keep asking ourselves. Tom is feeling a little frustration and would prefer to be at one place and stay there. Today we found out that even if we get the ball rolling with HFH it will be about a month before the treatment starts. So are we on the same schedule as if we stay with Karmanos? I told Tom that it doesn't hurt to check it out and to find out about options since either way we have to wait.

Please pray for Tom. He is feeling a little out of sorts without an Oncologist. He is frustrated that things are not moving faster. This decision is weighing on his mind. I pray that God will give us a clear direction and that we continue walk along the path we have been set upon and that we do not get caught up in those things we can't control. I pray that anger and the feeling of it being unfair does not have a foothold in either of our lives.
Ephesians 5:21-22 "Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature."

Undecided

2010-05-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

What to do?! I made a phone call to Karmanos Cancer Center this week. I was told that it will be the middle of June before I should call back. This is not a definite opening just that it will be at a stand still until that time frame. I asked about the blood work and CT's and the reply was that there is no need for those unless a there is a change in Tom's status. The phone call ended and I felt very frustrated once again!

I should however, take you back to the week before. I was talking with Tom's primary office and was told that they had not received anything from Karmanos. Once they did get the information Dr. Divic called Tom on a Thursday evening to tell Tom that his Calcitonin level dropped 300. He is in the 700 range. Dr. Divic said that he was not sure what this meant, but wanted to share this as good news.

So, today our options now are either to wait out this clinic trial opening or to return to U of M to start their regiment. Tom and I have discussed this past week which is the better option. We are uncertain which is the better path. It feels once again as if there 2 distinctly different paths and we are standing at the Y of the road. I am going to make a few more calls this upcoming week and confirm that Tom will either need to choose and can't flop between. I also will seek out from his primary, if I can, a professional opinion of which way we should go.

I wanted to share this with you so that we could once again pray for direction. Thank you to our prayer warriors that have not ceased prayers for our family. I was reminded again this week about praying without ceasing and that we give up to easily. Let us be assured that our God is in control.

Psalms 119:105 "Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me, and keep me from stumbling."

May or May not

2010-04-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

We are reminded that we live in Michigan. One day it is a perfect sunny, Michigan summer day, and then we are back to the Spring type weather. I love this time of year where we get a taste of the beautiful weather to come! The kids are doing well and I am counting down my couple of classes left.

This week I talked with Tom's Primary Doctor's office. They have not received any notification from Karmanos. I told them of Tom's situation and how he has not been able to start the trial as of yet. I then called Karmanos to ensure that Tom's reports are forwarded to his PCP. We talked about the trial and that it will still be a few weeks before the trial is opened up. It was explained to me that the Committees get together and have to approve the process before it goes forward. Once they get this through the number of committees it opens up and goes rather quickly. It will probably be May before Tom knows any dates as of the start of this clinical trial. I had to chuckle on Friday when Tom lovingly accused me of not being able to stay out of his care and then said a heartfelt "Thank you".

Tom has kept himself, and others, busy with the Relay for Life event. I believe it has been good for Tom to have another focus at this time. The Euchre tournament will be upon us before we know it and Tom has been at the forefront of this fundraiser. I know that he has poured his heart and soul into this. I also have to mention how proud I am of our little girl. Katie's best friend's mother had been diagnosed with cancer last October. These two girls walked around our neighborhood collecting for cancer. Together they raised $189.00! Wow, that is amazing.

I once again will finish with something that touches my heart. I know that life has its ups and downs. There is no guarantee that it will be prosperous, full of fun, or pain free. I also know that times are hard but God is good. There is a reason why our family is here today and sharing with you our experiences. I hope this encourages you let those you love "know it"!

1 John 3:11 "for the message to us from the beginning has been that we should love one another."

Few Week Notice

2010-03-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day! The sun is shining and the temps are on the rise. The kids have a few days of school before their Spring Break. I will enjoy having another Saturday school free also.

Tom received a call today from Karmanos Cancer Center. His paperwork had been approved by our insurance company. However, the manufacturer has made changes to the drug. This is delaying the trials by a couple of weeks a least. Tom's appointment has been cancelled and they will call when the new medication and approvals have been finalized. Needless to say that Tom is very disappointed about the set back. With his type of cancer and there being no way to stop it from growing timing is of the essence.

This is another blow to our long winding process. Please pray that the trial will start in a timely manner. Tom feels the need to keep moving forward and this stall is not good for his spirits.

Psalms 123:3 "Have mercy of us, Lord, have mercy."

Focus

2010-03-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

It's already the end of the month. I can't believe how times flies. I looked at my last post and realized it had been a while. It felt like I just did it yesterday! The boys school reports were good. Kyle missed the honor roll by 1/2 a grade in one class. He thought he had made it so needless to say that he was disappointed. Cody and Katelynn both had improvements over last Tri's grades. Tom and I are pleased with all their reports.

Last weekend we did a crazy thing. We picked out puppies!!! I don't think it was all crazy, maybe getting 2 could seem that way to some. Animals are just a part of our family. As my sister reminded me "You wrote that you wanted a dog every year on your Christmas wish list!" It has been a good focus for our children to see "Life" and to have some laughter again in our home instead of the heaviness that has been around since the beginning of the year. Anyway, we are now enjoying the company of Brooklyn and Savanah, picture included.

Tom is waiting for Karmanos to let him know that he is approved for the trial. He is hoping to hear from them yet this week. Tom is enjoying working his 3 days and has cut down on his other duties for now. I think that he has been energized by this slower schedule and I hope that he decides to take a breather more often. Tom is really focused on the Relay for Life and I think that it will be a fun event this summer. So far we have 12 walkers and Tom is hopeful that we will have 15 this year. You know Tom and planning. He is the man for the job!

As my favorite holiday is approaching, I reflect on how my life/year has been going. What has been my focus? What do I want to change yet this year or improve? Am I following the path that I was set upon? We may not always have a smooth straight path but I think that it's important to ask if we are making the best of where we are. I know that looking back I can always do things differently. I just pray that I'm doing things right here and now while I have the chance to.

Psalm 139:1-5 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment, you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me, and place your hand of blessing on my head."

The New Team of Doctors

2010-03-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

Loving the sunshine today! Our family is ready for the Spring weather. It's time for kids to get outside to enjoy the world. The boys ended their trimesters and were pretty happy with their exams and final grades. Time will tell how they did in the next week as we get their report cards.

Friday Tom went back to the Karmanos Cancer Center. Tom met with Dr. Ammar Sukari and his team that will be working with him going forward. Tom will be entering a Phase II trial with the drug Paxopanib. This drug has shown to be safe and has had positive results in slowing down Advanced Thyroid Cancer. Over the next few weeks it will be all paperwork & approval processes. Tom will head back to Detroit on Friday, April 2 to start treatments. The drug is in a pill form that Tom will take 2 times a day. His vitals will have to be monitored daily. I am sure he can find an EMT to handle that. For the first 30 days on the drug Tom will have to make several trips to Detroit until they are comfortable with how Tom reacts and how severe the side effects are on him. Once the doctors are comfortable, Tom will travel to Detroit every 28 days. He will spend the whole day getting CT's blood work, etc.

While Tom was making his trip, I received a call from his PCP. His latest blood work and CT scan results were in. Again there has been an increase in Calcitonin (1,206) and CEA (17.2, prior it was 12.6). The report from the CT scan shows no increase in size of the legions in the liver, spine and lungs. It continues to be the case that while Tom's cancer has spread, it is a very slow moving cancer. This combined with the new drug gives us hope.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water - a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green and it goes right on producing all its luscious fruit."

Trip to Detroit

2010-02-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

Today Tom made the journey over to Detroit through icy roads, past jack knifed semi's and highway closures to the Karmanos Cancer Institute. A big thanks to my brother-in-law Dale for taking my hubby to Detroit & back safely. Tom was given a tour of the facility and spent a couple of hours talking with doctors about his case. For the first time in over a year we have a game plan. We have decided to move all of Tom's care to this center. Tom has qualified for a Phase II Clinical Trial with the drug adriamycin www.lymphomainfo.net/therapy/drugs/adriamycin.html

They have ordered another CT scan. If the second CT confirms cancer in the liver, then we now have options and treatment plans. This could include biopsy, surgery, chemo, and other forms of treatment only offered at the Karmanos Center.

Tom had another blood draw before he left the center today. He will have the CT here in Grand Rapids. This will be the last procedure performed outside of the cancer center. Tom's next appointment is Friday, March 5 @ 11:00 am where he will meet with Dr. Sukari, Head & Neck Oncology, Assistant Professor Wayne State University.

We know that this is still an uphill battle. With Tom's treatments moving to Detroit, I must deal with the fact that I will no longer be able to be by his side for every appointment as I have done in the past. However, I know it's worth it because Tom has a team of physician that have given us options and most importantly hope.

Plan

2010-02-18T17:02:00.001-08:00

It has been busy in the Andrews' household and I think that is a good thing. Last Saturday Tom and I were treated to a wonderful Valentine's dinner with friends It was great to see kids working so hard to raise money for a mission trip and the company that we had put our hearts on a lighter mood for the weekend. Tonight the kids are on their first evening of Mid Winter Break. They are relishing no school on Friday and Monday. However, I have changes coming up this weekend. My last day is Friday for my current employer, another grueling test on Saturday, and on Monday I start 2 days orientation for my new job. Changes are not easy for me and this is already a challenging time in life, but it will help bring a better life for the family.

Tom has made an appointment and gotten material from the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. He has a meet and greet on Friday, February 26. At the first meeting Tom believes that they will do an exam and go over his medical history. A plan will be put together for his 2nd visit and then it will be implemented. His brother-in-law is taking Tom to Detroit and I am grateful that Tom does not have to make this trip alone. Tomorrow Tom will be getting his monthly blood drawn and he should get the latest results before his Detroit visit.

Last night Tom and I attended our first meeting for the Relay for Life. We are gearing up and getting ready for the walk in August in Barry County. The committee seemed to be organized and the people that attended were a fun bunch! I am looking forward to connecting with others that have a same life experiences that our family is going through. Our family picked the name of Sleep Walkers as it is fitting for the 24 hour walk as well as Tom's profession. Thank you to those who have already joined us and/or donated to our cause. We are overwhelmed again by the generosity of others.

Last Sunday Tom and I stood up for a prayer at church and were surrounded with people praying with and for us; I could not help but thank God that we are not alone in the fight. I know that people we have never met have been praying on our behalf and that is more than the mind can comprehend. I can't begin to tell each of you how much your words, cards, and gifts have meant to us. Thanks to all of you and may you in turn also be rewarded for your generosity.

Psalms 65:3-3 "And because you answer prayer, all mankind will come to you with their requests. Though sins fill our hearts, you forgive them all."

Cancer Sucks

2010-02-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

We met with the Oncologist at the U of M. We went over the results of the CT scan. He confirmed our fears that they found 3 lesions in the liver. The biggest measured 11mm. There is also a lesion on Tom's spine that was not measurable. At this point they can't do Chemotherapy, Radiation, or Surgery. We have the advantage that this cancer is not aggressive. However the calcitonin levels are climbing at an alarming rate. His recommendation is that we now go to the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. He said that they have a clinical trial with a new drug that might slow down the spread of Tom's cancer. We talked quite a bit about "quality of life" and focusing on family. We discussed how there is no cure and really no treatment to stop the spread of this type of cancer. The plan is to focus on slowing down the rate to which the cancer is spreading instead of trying to eliminate it. We are not sure how often Tom will have to be in Detroit or how severe the side effect of these drugs will be on him. Tom will be calling this center to make an appointment and talk with the doctors to see if he qualifies to participate in a study. The pharmacy within our house continues to grow as the doctor has put Tom on yet another drug. Tom calls this one his happy pill. I expect him to be bouncing off the wall sometime soon.

Tom will not give up the fight but we have to face reality. The hardest road is yet ahead of us. We need to make several important decision in the next few weeks. Tom needs to make family time his top priority. As Tom keeps saying "Faith, Hope, Love".

The Call

2010-02-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

Mondays are always hard to get back into the swing of things. I was feeling pretty good about it until I got home from work. Tom had me accompany me as he got fitted for a suit for this weekends Father/Daughter dance. On the way there he told me that Dr. Divic called him today. You know it's never good when the doctor tells you to get him no matter what he's doing.

Tom's Calcitonin is now 1,000 at this point which is a jump of 333. We can now know why as the CT scan has found tumors in his liver and on his spine. At this point we can only speculate what will be done. Dr. Divic did state that this is not operable. Dr. Divic is optimistic that this cancer has not turned aggressive and that we have caught it in such a minute stage. He was thinking there is a possibility of Chemo followed by Radiation. I am convinced that Chemo is not an option for this type of cancer. February 11 we will get the final answer from Dr. Worden at the U of M.

Tom is being so brave. He was trying to joke with me tonight between my tears. God has given him a unique sense of humor! He is being so tough for my sake. We have decided to talk with the doctors before we tell the kids what is going on. They just need to be kids right now!

All we can ask for is prayers for guidance once again from the doctors. I am so glad that we have an established Thyroid Cancer Oncologist.

Psalms 57:1-3 "O God, have pity, for I am trusting you! I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the storm is past. I will cry to the God of heaven who does such wonders for me. He will send down help from heaven to save me, because of his love and his faithfulness. He will rescue me from these liars who are so intent upon destroying me."

What a month

2010-01-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

The sun was shinning this past week! No matter how cold it gets I always feel better when the sun is shining. The kids are back in the swing of school & homework. My class started today so I will be in there with them. Katie is starting her first basketball practice today. She is so excited about being able to play a 3 on 3 game! She also watched the high school cheer leading competition this week & came home very enthused and energized by it.

Tom had a busy week as well. He got his blood work done & is waiting for the results. His CT scan is scheduled for Friday, January 22 which give us a date night as this is not until 7:30 pm. He was also approved for the Genetics testing and will get that test done on Thursday, January 21st. Also on Thursday, he will see his primary doctor. We have Dr. Worden's appointment for Thursday, February 11. This is another afternoon appointment so we can make the trip in one day. Today we got a letter of approval for 2 trips to the U of M, consultations only. This has been a busy month and we are only 1/2 the way through!

It truly has been a long year and a half since I have felt so confident in those taking care of my loved one's health. I hope that we will continue to make head way with Tom's disease. I know that Tom is also relieved that we made the change. Thanks again for all the words of encouragement and the prayers that have been said on behalf of our family, not sure how we would make it through otherwise.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the word that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Moving to Ann Arbor

2010-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

Not ready to put the house up for sale and move to Ann Arbor, but we will be moving Tom's health care to the U of M. Today we met with Dr. Worden. He is an Associate Professor in the Hematology/Oncology Department. We finally feel like we have an Oncologist on the same page with us. He was upfront and honest with the reality of Tom's disease. We discussed his approach to Tom's long term care which will include monthly visists to the U of M, increasing blood testing to every 30 days, and CT scans every other month. This plan is more aggressive than we had been doing for the past year. What really impressed us is his concern for Tom's current quality of life. He has ordered a full blood work up as he feels that Tom's current medications need to be adjusted. He has also put Tom on new medications (glad I got him the biggest pill box available) and ordered new/more physical therapy.

We talked about treatment plans once they are able to locate the cancer. He talked about an experimental chemo treatment being performed by a college at Wayne State University. He will also bring Tom's case up for review with the "Cancer Board" at the U of M where a group of Oncologist, Endocrinologist, and Radiologist will discuss the best approach to Toms care.

We feel that this is the right direction for us to take, as difficult as it may be. I will have to use my vacation time to accompany Tom on trips back and forth to Ann Arbor. We may have a struggle convincing the insurance company that we have a right to chose the doctor we want. This will more than likely mean more out of pocket expenses. We will continue through this hand in hand learning to lean on each other when times are difficult.

Psalms 18:30 "What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him."

Not yet

2009-12-14T18:44:00.000-08:00

With the weather being predicted as an oncoming Blizzard last week, Tom decided to postpone the trip to Ann Arbor. We are now schedule to meet Dr. Worden on January 6. This appointment is at 1:00 so we should be able to manage the drive to and from in one day. We also decided to cancel all of Tom's other appointments and begin again in the new year. January may be a very busy month for my hubby. So for now we are concentrating on getting ready for the holidays. We still have major shopping to do and the kids only have 1 week left of school. This is going to be very tricky as our time becomes more limited.

The kids are excited about their upcoming parties at school and the thought of being off for 2 weeks! They have already been sledding most of last week and loving the cups of hot chocolate they are able to consume when they come back inside. Ready or not, I believe winter is here for a while.

My presentation on The Anatomy of Hope is behind me and I am glad to say that I did pretty good considering that I forgot my notes at home. Luckily I had my USB drive in my purse and was still able to present. Those of you who know me well should not be surprised that I forgot it (I have been known to leave suitcases behind :) I have one more class and then am looking forward to enjoying the holidays with our families.

I would like to share one other thought. Our church is studying the Psalms, you know I can't resist going to hear them! A few weeks ago our pastor was talking about Hope. He stated that it is very important where we go for hope. I agreed at the time, but as the days past those words really hit my heart. As in my presentation about Hope and the importance of having it....it is just as important of What you Hope and in Who. It truly does matter. It's almost like the commercial, "What's in your wallet?"

Psalms 25:15-19 "My eyes are ever looking to the Lord for help, for he alone can rescue me. Come, Lord, and show me your mercy, for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress; my problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Se my sorrows; feel my pain, forgive my sins."

Buried in Paperwork

2009-11-24T16:01:00.000-08:00

We are 2 days away from Thanksgiving. I want to wish everyone a wonderful and safe day. We will not be traveling very far, and I'm thankful for that. The Tri-mester is winding down this week for our children. Our eldest has Exams, though he missed the first day of test as he was home sick. The kids are looking forward to the up coming holidays.

I wanted take a moment to say thanks to so many of you that were able to attend my surprise party. It was so great to see you all. I know that for some people it had been a number of years since we have seen each other. I told a few people that I believe I talked with everyone, but had a conversation with no one as it was a busy night trying to catch everyone. However, I was so glad that I got to see people who've touched my life. Looking back, it was a great time!

Last weekend we went to Ohio for the bashing of U of M. The Ohio group was not too hard on all of us Michigan travelers this year. Thanks to our Ohio friends for putting up with so much Blue in their home! I know we all had such a great time getting together. To end the 2009 year, Tom has been ramping up his schedule again. I'm not sure how he does it, but he says that he is ready and able for this grueling schedule.

Before we left for Ohio last week we met with Dr. Collins, Endocrinologist. She was very interested in Tom's history and had us tell her (in our words) what has been going on since 2007. It was amazing to hear that she studied under Dr. Teknos and Dr. Worden at the U of M before graduated in the summer of 2007. What a small world. We ended the consultation with reassurance that we are doing the right thing by going to see Dr. Worden at the U of M. She also said that Tom was a more complicated case than she had first thought. She wanted to do some research and gather more of his results from past test before she could see where (if at all) she could assist Tom. We have an appointment to see her in January of 2010. This past week I've made phone calls to make sure that the doctor has all the papers and the test results and/or which ones we will need to bring . There is so much paperwork to see another doctor, it's like starting again from the beginning of a book, except that the book is 2 years old and more chapters are added.

Meeting with these doctors has once again reminded me of how fragile life truly is. Our family has the gift of time; not only to make good memories for the kids, but also to be able to practise living in love. Each mile marker that happens; birthdays, holidays, etc. I thank God that Tom is here to be a part of. Love is our greatest guide.

"Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults." 1 Peter 4:8

Ann Arbor

2009-11-11T15:58:00.000-08:00

The kids are finishing their first Tri-mester at school. It will be interesting to see if having the Parental Portal to check their status and current grade has been helpful. We parents are still learning how to use this tool. The kids are liking the ads help them decide what to mark on their "Wish lists" in anticipation of Christmas gifts. The boys have definitely gone to the higher priced toys.

Tom's schedule continues to be busy. Last weekend along with his regular work schedule, he taught classes at the Wayland EMS Disaster Blitz. The kids were able to participate in the drills for Mass Causality. Their wounds looked totally real and they had a blast! I was able to be outside and to enjoy the Indian Summer last weekend. I loved every minute of the sun and warmer temp.

This week we received a call from Dr. Worden's office. We will be visiting the U of M on Wednesday, December 9. It will be an interesting step to have yet another specialist working on Tom's disease. I believe that we are taking a step in the right direction. Again, I am amazed at Tom's primary doctor who pushed the issue, helping us get what we need for Tom's medical care.

Katie watched a show this week and was "singing" to me about what she heard. She recited this verse by heart, and I was touched by her words. To come out of the mouth of a babe was awesome! "Keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep finding; knock and the door will be opened." Luke 11:9

Oncology

2009-11-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

The time change is effecting some of our family members. I always have a hard time with this change. However, I am glad the kids can walk to school in the light. They do seem a little sluggish but I am not sure it is all due to the time change and not a little to do with the sugar withdraws!

Tom had his blood work done on Friday. His primary doctor called him on Tuesday to give him the new count which has shot up another 120 counts and now is up to 663. During their conversation the doctor mentioned about Tom going to the U of M to see Dr. Worden. This brought another conversation between Dr. and Insurance company asking why Tom was denied going to the U of M. The Case Manager called me asking me to give a little more detail about about the doctor we see at the U of M. She explained that the insurance company thought it was agreed that we were going to the Cancer Center in Detroit. A few phone calls later and we have an approval to see the Oncologist at U of M. Dr. Worden will oversee Tom's treatment working with our current Oncologist at the Lemmon Holton Cancer Pavilion. It feels good to make some forward progress.

Thursday Tom will see his primary doctor and hopefully will have the UofM referral before he leaves that office. Then on November 19 he will be having a consult with Dr. Campbell here in West Michigan. On the 20th he will see an Endocrinologist for a consult here in GR. He is continuing his PT every Friday and that fills up his calendar for the month!

Thanks to all who have continued to keep our family in your prayers. I believe they have kept us in forward motion. The power of prayer along with a positive attitude is a remarkable thing!

James 5:7 -8"So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you."

Communication

2009-10-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

We had Parent Teacher conferences last week and once again discussed with the teacher our children's strength and weaknesses. Communication is key and I have to say that I appreciate the Parental Portal that lets us know what our boys grades are and what classes need a little more attention. It has been a great tool this fall.

Tom is trying to visit the Lymphedema specialist for the physical therapy once again. He will be going every Friday and see how that fits into his schedule. I believe that Tom is appreciating his slower schedule this month. Tom was the first of the boys to come down with the flu/cold. He was able to rest about 4 days before going back to work. At one time he told me it felt like he'd been hit by a bus. I know that his immunity continues to be low and that it does not take as much to slow Tom down. I also know that this is frustrating for Tom as he is not one to be down for a long period of time.

I had a conversation with the nurse at the cancer center. We discussed the disconnect at their office. I believe that the conversation went well and I hope that we have cleared up any issues. We will need to make sure that going forward everything is clear with this office. However, time will tell if we are all on the same page. Tom will be getting poked next week to see where all his levels are at. I am hoping that they are stable and there is not another big jump in Calcitonin levels. Tom will need to make an appointment one week from his blood work date to see Dr. Campbell and get the results. Communication is the key in working with the different offices.

I am doing a study and presentation this fall on Hope. It comes from the book called The Anatomy of Hope. It is a great book that a friend gave me to read about 2 years ago. Many of the writings stuck with me throughout these years and I thought it was appropriate for my Holistic Healthy class. It brings to light again the mysterious affect that Hope (and in my opinion faith) has on a person's outlook when encountering a serious disease. It also brings back to mind readings of hope and faith from the Bible. I have read this before and I love what Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:21-23
"Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving kindness begins afresh each day."

I continue to communicate with my God daily. He is my Hope. Amen

The Next Step

2009-10-11T07:15:00.000-07:00

It amazes me how fast time flies. Kyle and I were having the generational talk about time getting faster as we get older. I warned him that when he looks back at the High School years some day it will seem like a short span in his life. Cody's football team has not won a game this year, but he has made some great tackles and he is enjoying it! Katie loves the Michigan History study that her class is doing. At this point she is talking about wanting to be a teacher. I love her ambition!

For the month of September, Tom is at a slower pace. It has been nice to have him at home in the evenings. He is taking a much needed breather in his hectic life. He told me yesterday that he thinks the newest medication is working with his swelling, and I am grateful for this small relief. Though he still deals with daily aches and pains, he keeps smiling and telling me that he is just glad to be here. As we have just passed the 2 year anniversary of his surgery, I have counted this time as a precious gift.

I had a conversation with Tom's primary doctors office and was told that our insurance has denied Tom seeing the U of M Oncologist. Since the University is "Out of Network" they would like Tom to see another Oncologist at a Thyroid Clinic in Detroit. Tom has decided that we will stay with his current Oncologist on the West side of the state. Since this is the case, I have chosen to have a much needed conversation with someone in the Oncologist office as to our future relationship. I am just not sure who is the best person to talk to. However, it is time for Tom to get his blood count again and that opens the door the lack of communication with this office. This will not be easy and I hope that we can work together moving forward.

Please continue to pray for Tom and his struggles. Also that the conversation will go smoothly and stay positive with whomever I speak with at the Oncologist Office. Lastly that we do not get discouraged in the path that we have been set upon.

PET Results

2009-09-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

Today was Katie's picture day and we had fun last night picking out an outfit for her day. It was a great opportunity to go through her clothes and get rid of the things that are too small. Tom and I were able to see Kyle in the band last Friday during half-time. I never saw that child step so lightly before! Cody will have his first football game tomorrow and he is totally into it!!! I believe that they have him in offense, defense, and special teams so he will be on the field more than off.

I called Tom's primary doctor today asking about the PET Scan. Their office manager is on maternity leave so things are running a little differently there. Dr. Divic called me back and said the scan shows normal in the neck and chest. He is still perplexed about the Calcitonin numbers. He said that we should be back to monitoring the blood and waiting for another 4 to 6 months to see what happens. He inquired about seeing the Oncologist, either Dr. Campbell or going to the U of M. I explained that at this point we do not have any appointments as we are waiting for our insurance company to approve switching out of network doctor in Ann Arbor. It was funny that he had to ask me what I talked about to his Office Manager before she left. She is truly missed by more than just her staff.

We turn back to daily focusing on "life" again for a while. I believe that both Tom and I felt relief when we got the news. However, we are still all keeping that number in the back of our minds. Life is so fragile and we all need each other to hold each other up and accountable for our actions while we live. We are not given the understanding today to know why things happen and what purpose this bears unto our lives but I believe this verse from Ecclesiastes 7:14

"Enjoy prosperity whenever you can, and when hard times strike, realize that God gives one as well as the other - so that everyone will realize that nothing is certain in this life."

What happened?

2009-09-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

The first day of school is officially done. The kids all survived, and the boys found their classes with little incident. Ready or not, we are getting into a routine. However, miss Katie will be exhausted tonight as she awoke at 5:00 am and was too excited to fall back to sleep!

Tom has his PT 3 days a week starting Wednesday of this week. He will hopefully get into a better schedule because they have his appointment times all over the board this week. With Tom's schedule it is hard for him to make early morning and middle of the day times. It would be nice if this one thing would work smoothly.

Today I received a call from the Grievance Coordinator. He stated that Tom's PET Scan has been approved and that the Oncologist would be receiving the Authorization number soon to schedule it. He could not tell me what had been done to change this to an Approval. However, I did get a history lesson on who is making this decision. In the past it was our insurance company who approved them. It changed hands to an outside approval company in November of 2008. The criteria is different for each company. The PET scan criteria had not been met since the change of companies. There is no explanation as to why they approved it in December and it sounds like this is the last time that it will be without the Criteria being met. Tonight I had a few minutes to talk with Tom about the authorization and he said that he does have a PET scheduled for Wednesday, September 16 @ 9:00.

I have a light heart tonight as I thank God. I had so many verses pop into my head that I could not write them all down. I will share this one:

"Bless the Lord who is my immovable Rock. He gives me strength and skill in battle. He is always kind and loving to me; he is my fortress, my tower of strength and safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield." Psalms 144:1-2

Decision Time

2009-09-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

We are at the last stretch of summer vacation. The youngest is the only one excited to be going back to school. Since the boys are starting new schools I wonder if they have a little apprehension about what their days ahead will look like. We enjoyed watching the WMU vs UofM yesterday with family at Swan Lake. Our family was all in WMU but it was good to see Michigan having a much better start to the football season. It was a beautiful day for just being outdoors and enjoying company.

Last Thursday we met with Tom's Oncologist. The morning started with receiving news from his PCP that Tom's calcitonin levels jumped to 536. If you recall in July his last count was 395 so in a month the increase was 141. This was not encouraging to hear. I decided to bring along the 300 plus page report that I had been going over to to discuss the Denial and Appeals with his doctor to see how we could get this Approved or if we need to concentrate on a different type of scan for now. At the beginning of our consultation Tom and I were shocked to hear the doctor proclaim that once again his numbers were jumping to indicate the cancer is definitely growing and that he recommended a PET scan as our next step. I replied that I am sure he was aware that Tom had been denied the PET scans twice before. We were shocked and disappointed that Tom's doctor did not appear to have any knowledge of the Denials & Grievance's. His response was that he would make a phone call to the insurance company and get this through. We waited out in the lobby to hear that the Oncologist did get through but nothing was resolved. We were also assured that they would get it resolved on Friday and they would call us. In short we felt that we were shuffled through his office. Friday came and went with no phone call.

That evening Tom and I had a long conversation. This is his life that we are dealing with and we are not satisfied with the current level of care that he is receiving. We decided to follow the advise of his Surgeon 2 years ago and move his care back to the University of Michigan Hospital. Tom discussed this with his Primary Physician on Friday who agreed that he needs to return to the U of M where they have a team of specialists who can deal with this rare cancer. His office has started the paperwork. We do not anticipate any prob elms with our insurance company switching our Oncologist.

While we feel that this is the right decision, it will not be an easy one. This will mean Tom will have to start making trips back & forth to Ann Arbor at a time when school is starting and we are in the midst of Band, Football, Cheer leading, and I have now returned to working full time. Maybe this will force Tom to slow down and not work so many hours. Thanks for continuing this journey with our family & your support. We can't do this alone.

Let Love

2009-08-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

We are down to the last full week of summer break. We only have a few supplies to buy for Kyle and then the kids will be ready for school. On Tuesday Cody will get oriented with the Middle School and meet this years teachers. Katie will be at the same school, but they have made major improvements and she is excited to see what they have done. Kyle is going into High School and just received his schedule during his orientation; he hopes that he does not get lost.

Tom continues with his health care. Last Thursday Tom and I were able to meet one of the Lymph edema Therapists. She went over Tom's case and explained in detail how the Lymph nodes work with the body. I once again am amazed at how the human body is made up and works together to keep us healthy. She did a demonstration of how to manually drain the lymph nodes, which is about a 10 minute process that he will need to do everyday. Tom will wear a compression bandage around his neck and a "stocking" with a compression bandage on his right cheek each night while he sleeps. She also confirmed that this is a lifestyle that Tom will practise for the rest of his life. Tom will start this Physical Therapy the week after Labor Day.

I also had a call from the Grievance Coordinator at the insurance company. Tom's PET scan has been denied once again. I asked for the Committee Appeals Meeting transcripts and told them that we will take this Appeal to the next level. I have received the hundreds of pages of notes and plan to bring them to Tom's Oncology appointment this Thursday to go over the necessary steps.

Unfortunately it is taking a little longer this time around for the Calcitonin levels to be reported from the lab. It should be reported in the next few days and I am anxious to know what they are. Tom is feeling much better since he received his new Thyroid medicine. I can tell that they are helping with his energy level. Some days I feel that I have my healthy husband back.

This week has been a blow to Tom and I. As we try to comprehend the steps to take and what this means to Tom's care, we are learning how to handle each other's reactions to this news. I have to admit that tension was a little high here for a few days. It is another reminder that there is no "quick fix" and that this disease is life changing. This brings back the meaning of why we wanted to share life with each other and the love that brought us and keeps us together. Life is hard to handle and love smooths our paths. I will conclude with a verse that is so embedded into my being and I hope that you feel it too:

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out." 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Fragile Life

2009-08-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

We are definitely into football season once again at the Andrew's household. Cody had his first week of football practice and he was all smiles on Thursday when he could "make contact". Kyle will be on the field this Friday night during the first Wayland football game half-time band performance. The game is Wayland Wildcats vs. Jenison Wildcats. For those who do not know, I grew up in Jenison. When asked by Katie who I will be cheering for, I told her the Wildcats of course! She told me that if I cheer during Jenison's good fortune she will have to tickle me :)

There was another round of phone calls during the week. The Grievance Coordinator called to confirm information about Tom's case & to ask further questions. I am told that on Wednesday he will present the case to the committee and that our Case Manager will let me know the outcome. Tom had his blood work done last week and if the results can be forwarded by the time of presentation, it will also be included. On Friday, Tom's primary office called and said that his Thyroid levels were a little low. He will need to get a small tweak of his medicine. His results for the oxygen test were also completed. His oxygen levels are considered normal.

As we patiently await for the results of yet another round of insurance approvals, calcitonin levels, and x-ray readings; we continue with life. Today in church our pastor was talking about how fragile life is as there have been two young deaths in our community. This touched my heart and made me think about the many people who are asking "Why" Though that is a valid question, I believe that we sometime focus on the question when it could be a time of deepening our faith & letting God lead the way of His will. I will conclude with a verse our pastor shared:

Psalm 24:1-2 "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."

Busy Week w/No Results

2009-08-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

We are well on our way to getting the kids ready for back to school. Kyle, Tom, & I went shopping together for Kyle's first year in High School. We had a successful day and everyone left feeling happy about the purchases. Kyle liked his clothes, Tom liked his style, & I liked the deals!

I received a phone call from Tom's Case Manager. Everything has been faxed to the Grievance Dept of our insurance company and his case will be reviewed on August 19 for his Pet Scan Approval. On Thursday I was trading phone calls with the Office Manager at Tom's primary office. I had to laugh when she called, Tom answered the phone, and she said, "Hi Tom, can I talk with Val." Apparently she knows that I am his official Health Advocate. That night Tom successfully completed his Pulse oximetry test. This time he left it on his hand all night. On Friday Tom saw a Lymphedema Specialist. Dr. Hodgson went over Tom's medical history and has determined that Tom needs to see a Therapist in his office. These sessions may include the manual lymphomic drainage, bandaging, and therapeutic exercises. He may be fitted with a compression garment to wear at night to prevent fluid buildup. Tom envisioned a hockey mask, like Jason from Friday the 13th. That will be something to wake up next to! I plan to accompany him to his PT as I will need to learn how to preform these procedures at home.

On Thursday, August 20th Tom heads back to Spectrum for more blood work and a chest x-ray. His next doctor visits are on September 3rd with his Oncologist and September 4 with his Primary. What a way to kick off the holiday weekend! Tom continues to work extra shifts at both hospitals but has assured me that he will slow down after Labor Day. Gee, what a coincidence, the start of College Football Season!

I was looking over Jeremiah once again and found a verse that spoke to me. Not sure if I shared this one before or not but it fits into our time of life. "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.: Jeremiah 29:11-13

Phone Tag

2009-08-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

What a stormy, humid day we are experiencing. I am very grateful to have air conditioning today. All of our children's birthday parties are done for the year (we enjoyed spending time with family & friends) and the kids had a great time at all of them. For Cody's 13th Tom and the guys played Paint Ball. They all came back with smiles and many had a few war bruises too. Then it was off to Band camp for the week. Tom and Kyle returned yesterday from Camp at Fort Custer in Battle Creek. They both came home tanned and tired. I believe Tom was surprised at the walking he did last week. Was it comparable to the marching the kids did? They both seemed to have had a good experience.

I decided to not post last week as I was awaiting answers to my voice mails that I left at various offices. Hands down to Tom's primary office once again! The Office Manager was the only one to return my phone call. They have not had a status update on the PET Scan and she said that she would not be surprised if there was no determination until mid week next week. Tom also tried to do the oxygen test 1 1/2 weeks ago. There is a small machine that hooks a clamp to the tip of your finger and it monitors the levels that Tom is breathing in. Even though Tom taped it heavily to his finger he took it off sometime during the night. When he woke up the next morning he knew that he must have taken it off somehow in his sleep as it couldn't have just fallen off. They are now trying to reschedule getting the machine back to Tom so that he can retake it as they only recorded 2 hours. I do have to add that Tom's Case Manager was on vacation last week. I hope to hear from her no later than Tuesday to get some type of update.

I also appreciated getting advice from an acquaintance about the procedure of Insurance Companies and a few tips about getting results. Tom and I talked about how to go about fighting these denials and that I should be the one to handle these important steps. I do feel better prepared if there should be another denial. I also know that I have the backing of Tom's doctors and their assistance in anything that we need. I am so grateful for the prayer warriors that put forth our various needs before our God. I don't know how we can keep focused without their words of encouragement an knowing that we are not alone. Thank you a million time over!

This leads me to the passage about being persistent in prayer for the things we need. There is a story in Luke that says a friend pounds on a man's door at midnight asking for something to eat and the man does not want to help at this hour. The Bible says: "But I'll tell you this-though he won't do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you everything you want-just because of your persistence. And so it is with prayer-keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on knocking and you will keep on finding, knock and the door will be opened. Everyone who asks, receive; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks." Luke 11:8-10
This does not mean that our Father is unjust or sleepy but that we should be persistent in prayer. Praying aggressively for the doing of God's will & honor of God's name . Keep pounding on heaven's door till the Lord answers. Amen!

Sobering News

2009-07-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

Summer is about half way through & we are trying to enjoy these days before the crazy schedules start again. Tom has been working many hours & my work days seem to fly by.

There have been 3 grievance letters to our insurance company to get Tom back into the test mode. We are back to waiting for the approval. Prayer warriors, this would be my top request at this point in time. Tom continues to have breathing issues & noticed more swelling in his face. This brought about the decision to call his primary doctor. On Friday he went over many things with his doctor. First of all I again have to say how impressed I am with Tom's doc. Tom said he felt a little lost without his Secretary with him to give that last oncologist visits, and such & that was the good news of the day. Doc gave Tom his perspective of Tom's disease:

He first said that every time he sees Tom he believes it is a miracle. He said that after seeing the scans he would not have thought Tom would be in his office today. The swelling that Tom has been having is because he does not have the lymph nodes to reduce the fluids that build up in Tom's face and neck. It pools up while he is laying down & takes most of the day for the swelling to reside. This has been causing his breathing problems, headaches, & lack of sleep which has lead to exhaustion, anxiety & depression. The doctor is going to send Tom to a specialist on August 14 to see if there is anything they can do to reduce his swelling. The doctor is also putting Tom on new/more medication to see if it will help with this. The doctor has ordered an overnight study to see if Tom's oxygen levels are dropping significantly at night. The doctor has also put in a request with the insurance company to see if Tom would qualify for a hospital bed at home. Tom will follow up with the doctor on September 5.

Tom talked about his day to day struggles. Tom was reminded that he doing incredibly well after such a major surgery. They discussed the fact that the cancer is still active and he is by no means cured. Tom needs to focus on what is important right now. The surgery bought him 5 years & if they can stay on top of the cancer he will continue to look at life 5 years at a time.

I told Tom that none of this is shocking to me. I stopped reading all the website information a year ago because it all confirmed this. It has been in the back of my mind for that past 2 years. I try very hard not to take a day for granted (though at times I have greatly failed). So hearing this was once again very sobering and I again thought about how fragile life is. Then verses come to mind. I will share this one:

Psalms 44:5
O God - my God! O my soul, why be so gloomy and discouraged? Trust in God! I shall again praise him for his wondrous help; he will make me smile again, for his is my God!

Grievance Letters

2009-07-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

What happened to summer? We saw a glimpse of it....I have a slight tan as proof! This week Katie is in the midst of Mega Sports Bible camp and she picked golfing as her sport. It's like Vacation Bible school but with a sports theme. We had 120 kids the first day at the Wayland City Park, how awesome! The boys are just relaxing these days. I do have to say it was very strange to come home one day last week to see Kyle & his cousin come from golf together & his cousin was driving! I know he is a good driver, but am I ready for this?

We are still getting paperwork together for Tom's Grievance. Tom's primary sent his paperwork to our home so that we can fax our grievance with it. The next step is to talk with the Oncologist & see where their office is at in this process. Hopefully all our efforts will pay off & the PET scan will be approved. We also got the results for Tom's blood draw. The new number is 399, up 4 counts since the end of May. I am so glad that his primary doctor is very active in Tom's care. I can't say enough how impressed I am not only with Tom's primary doctor, but with the whole office staff.

On Sunday our Pastor was talking about life & how difficult it can be. It was compared to a Chess match. I agreed when he said that some days we get up and don't feel like we are on the winning side or that we are prepared for the battle. I also like how God is 15 moves ahead of us. The great thing is that we know who the winner is!

Poked

2009-07-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a nice 4th. We spent the weekend with friends & family. The weather was not the best, however we had a great time regardless. The kids liked playing in the two different lakes and said that neither lakes were "to cold" to swim in. Tom and I enjoyed watching them from shore on Friday, but when Saturday came around Tom had to get up on ski's. He was very sore by Sunday afternoon!

Tom's oncologist called with an order for Tom to get his blood drawn for the latest report being sent to the insurance company. We have no other information so I would dare say the report still needs to be sent from the doctor's offices. We once again are in the waiting pattern. I hope that the 3rd time is the charm! It has been interesting to hear other people's experiences and perception about the health care system. The sad part is that the consensus is that these approval processes will get worse before the system gets better.

Not too much else to report at this time. We just keep plugging away at the house projects. I keep picking out the stuff and Tom's honey do list just keeps growing longer! Pretty soon all our walls will have color, goodbye primer white!

As we wait I reflect on King Solomon's words, the words of a wise man:
"We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands. We can always "prove" that we are right, but is the Lord convinced?" Proverbs 16:1-2

Insurance Progress Report 2.0

2009-06-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

This week was a hot one! I think we hit 90's for the first time this year. The rest of the family went out and enjoyed Cobb lake on the hottest day this year, thanks for the invite Cathy.

On Thursday I received a call from Tom's case manager. The PET scan has been denied again. This launched a number of phone calls, and I was the one in charge since Tom was @ WMU enjoying the day with Cody. I talked with the Oncologist office and with Tom's primary doctors office. It is still not clear if it is the "head to toe" area of coverage or the PET scan itself that has been denied. The denial stated that guidelines are not met to be covered for a PET. What is clear is that both doctors will be sending in letters to help resolve this issue. I also asked if having a team of doctors agreeing to this procedure would be beneficial. So far we are not getting U of M involved, but I did question if it was a good the idea. It took me half the morning to make all the calls. Tom's reply was the "I must be cured, the insurance company thinks so" I did appreciate his sense of humor but once again by the end of all the phone calls I just felt frustration. For now we wait as the doctors send in their letters and have the medical director review further information to make another determination as to what "fits" into their approval.

Not only does life keep going on through these struggles, there are many small blessings & trials along life's way. We can react to them many different ways. I believe it is not the struggle we will look back on, but the way we handle them. I prefer to pray through them....
Psalms 46:1 "GOD IS OUR refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble."

Still Waiting

2009-06-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

The kids are definitely liking the staying up later and for the most part they are sleeping in, which is worth the trade off for "my" alone night time. We are done with ball season. Katie's team did pretty good, but the girls had more interest socializing than being into the ball game. Cody's team finished 7-3, what a great record. The boys really got into it as the season progressed and it showed! Cody seemed to enjoy this season.

Saturday we went to Michigan's Adventure, thanks Robin for thinking about our family. We had beautiful weather and great fun! The lines were not long at all and the water felt good on such a warm day. I felt bad that we lost my brother at the water park but was relieved to know that his wife had an eye on him. We should have had an adult buddy system! I hope they also enjoyed the park and we did have fun seeing them there. This Thursday Cody and Tom are heading down to WMU for a football camp. Tom is excited that one of his boys is still into football and missed it. I think this camp will be good for Cody and will keep him focused for this fall.

Tom has also been very busy talking with our insurance company. He is trying to understand the process of the people approving tests & scans. He was "misinformed" about why the process was denied, which he was not happy about being told false information. He was able to get his Case Manger involved and hopefully everybody understands what is happening. Since Tom has been denied, the case will go in front of a board of doctors and will be reviewed, including the Oncologist notes about why the test has been ordered. We will have the results by Tuesday. Hopefully it will be approved at this time. Tom feels that 2 weeks have been wasted in the medical world. It is frustrating that we have been told many times how early detection and prevention is the best way to beat this disease and yet waiting on the approval has prevented the early detection that leads to prevention!

We are learning the lessons of patience in our household! It is a strange feeling to be outside of Toms medical circle. I have given it all to Tom to handle...another piece of control out of my hands, which is also teaching me that it is ok to give up things. I love the verse that says "You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel; and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! And I desire no one on earth as much as you! My health fails, my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever!" Psalms 73:24-26

Denied

2009-06-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

It has been very strange getting used to the full time schedule. The kids have been pretty good with the "To Do" lists. Tom has painted our bedroom, so long primer :) He continues to work on the living room also. I went to Saugatuck yesterday with some girlfriends and had such a wonderful time. Thanks girls for showing me the town & I so enjoyed the paddle boat ride!

Tom is on a 6 night working spree again this week. Hopefully he will not continue to spread himself so thin. I can tell that he is wearing himself out. How he does it, I'm not sure. I was hoping that working full time would help him lessen his schedule. I guess time will tell.

Tom had a few more conversations with insurance, doctor offices and such this week. By Thursday we did not have any notification about Tom's scan. I called Tom's primary office to get a status update. I should have waited a day because on Friday Tom received the denial letter from the Insurance company. Tom started his phone calls to get this issue resolved. He was able to find out why it was denied. Now to get it straighted out and back to the authorities of Preauthorization. Tom will not be as patient as I have been, which I understand; it gets old to have round and round phone calls. Lets just say it is frustrating! So we will wait for another week to get his scan scheduled.

Thanks so much for the cards and words of encouragement. They have helped remind us Who is truly in control! Prayer warriors, please help Tom and I to stay patient as we go through this whole process.

Proverbs 12:25 "Anxious hearts are very heavy but a word of encouragement does wonders!"

Moving up Test?

2009-06-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Today was as crazy as Monday's get. I started my new job and was called from school at noon due to a sick child. Grandma to the rescue to pick up a sick girl with an upset stomach! Poor Tom did not get much sleep after she got home. After Katie got settled the phone rang from the Oncologist office. Dr. Campbell is ordering a Head to Toe PET Scan. Of course we know from experience that it will take a week to get the approval & then more time to schedule it. This time around we have 2 PET Scans in GR...one at the Lemmon Holton Center and the other at Saint Mary's....so it will be interesting how far out his date will be for Tom to endure 2 step (including the 4 hour) process. The Oncologist office gave us the option to talk with Dr. Campbell or U of M about the results. Tom is sticking with the GR team.

Tom, once again is not getting caught up in the numbers. I am staying focused on our daily lives and we will continue to play the waiting game. I have to selfishly say that I am glad that these results were after our wonderful 20th getaway. However, we will as we always have, deal the what we are given.

Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.

Message

2009-05-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

Today felt more like a nice fall day than the beginnings of summer. The kids are on the count down to the last 5 days of school. I am getting ready for all the changes that will take place in the next couple of weeks. Tom has been working on the house, painting our living room & kitchen, and that is just the start.

Tonight after Cody's ballgame we came home to a message from Tom's primary doctor. He stated that he received the results from Tom's last blood work. The new calcitonin level is now 395. This is up from the last draw of 285 done in March (the jumps have been pretty big when his numbers have gone up lately). It was suggested that Tom talk with his Oncologist for the next blood work and/or scan. I believe that the scans will not be moved up but indicates that the cancer is still somewhere.

Psalms 28:2 Lord, I lift my hands to heaven and implore your help. Oh, listen to my cry

Reflection

2009-05-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a little emotional. I have started to say goodbye to the people I work with. I am in the process of emptying my office, it's amazing how much one accumulates in 7 years. During all this Tom and I were able to get away on our anniversary for a night away (thanks again Grandma & Grandpa). It was beautiful in South Haven and the weather was itself a gift! I can't believe that 20 years ago we started this journey together. Never did I consider all the ups and downs that life would throw our way. We have been so blessed with our healthy & active children (though they do have too much of "your or my" attitude, opinion, or verbiage at times my dear husband). When I look back to our wedding I remember the thoughts I had and the plans that were yet to be made. So many times we had blessings we took for granted or claimed that we deserved because we worked hard for them. This week I could only praise God that Tom is still here with me. I thank the skill of his surgeon and the determination to "cut out" all the cancer during the long day of surgery. I hold our 20th getaway so dearly in my heart. I pray that we can enjoy many more years together.

Life is hard, marriage can be a challenge, and we can let our own thoughts get in the way of what God has planned for us. Please excuse this "mushy" post as I am not always so sentimental. However, if there is anything I have learned in life is not to look at the "what if" and start thanking God for the "what is".

Galatians 5:14 For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: "Love others as you love yourself"

What's new?

2009-05-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

I finally got my grade and was glad to see the my GPA is a 3.5 so much for starting again with a 4 point! Oh well, it's hard to get back into those school study habits after 14 years of not exercising them. I am glad to be done for the summer as we spend 4 nights out at the ball fields.

Kyle was able to go on a class trip to Toronto Canada and has been gone since Monday evening. He will be back tomorrow morning and Tom and I can't wait to see him and hear how it went. The teachers had the days packed with places to visit. The travel to and from is done during the night. I am sure he will be exhausted! Thank you to the Grandparents for helping him be able to go.

Our family will be making some adjustments as I accepted a full time job doing Accounts Receivable for a company here in GR. There will be new challenges and benefits for all of us at the Andrews' household. I am so thankful that I have had almost 8 great years at Behler-Young and will miss the "team". I have made a lot a wonderful friendships with people across our state and will miss sharing life with them (oh yeah, and working too!) It has been an experience that I will take with me and fondly remember.

I have made traded calls with both the surgeon and oncologist offices in the past week. They both seem to be a little lost in the paper trail. It is hard going back and forth to the different doctors and confirming they got the results so they can make a plan of direction. However, I believe that we are once again concentrating on the blood levels and will be repeating these scans in a few months. Tom should be receiving the blood work order in a couple of days to get poked. I am sure he can't wait!

Well, that is more than enough information this time around. Enjoy the spring weather!

Looking forward to Summer

2009-05-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

My class is done :) Yeah!!! Now onto other focuses this summer. The 2 younger kids are busy with ball and we will soon be at games 4 nights a week. The homework is not getting lighter yet. The kids continue to have really had good attitudes. However, we are up a little later each night trying to get it all done.

Tom has had a few busy weeks of work and will hopefully be able to slow down a little bit and get into the summer fun. I don't know how he does it!

I plan to start making some phone calls once again. We feel a little lost between the oncologist & U of M direction. I hope that everybody is on the same page and that there is a plan of action and that someone will share it with us. It is about time for Tom to have his blood drawn again and that is the immediate next step.

I know that this year our focus should not be on the "cancer" and that we should enjoy the summer and the family/friend time. I pray for peace and patience during these wait and see times. I found this verse and would like to share it:

Psalms 27:14
Don't be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave and stouthearted and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.

Life

2009-04-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

It does not seem like it has been 20 days since my last post. It has been very busy in the Andrews' household. I know that I sound like a broken record, but life with 3 kids keeps one running! Thank you to the Gantzers for sharing their boy during Spring Break. I believe everyone had such a fun time. I have to say that I enjoyed the first bon fire of the year the most that week. The s'mores were sooo tasty!

Tom has remained busy as usual. He was able to also enjoy some of the kids spring break also, but he felt his age a few hours after roller skating! He also enjoyed seeing the family for Easter dinner.

Tom had a discussion with the nurse at the University of Michigan. There was an agreement that at this time there is not a need for him to see Dr. Prince as all the scans were showing clean. However Dr. Prince is still suspicious about the uptake in the Octreoscan in the chest area and the increase in the Calcitonin levels. So until our next meeting in August with Dr. Campbell we will just have to "wait and see" ....the life of a cancer patient!

There is a lot going on in our lives. I have 2 more classes to go & then I will take a break for the summer. The 2 youngest Andrews' are in ball this year and Katie is finishing up another Cheer leading session. Tom may be joining me this fall at KVCC for a Biology class, which will be fun to attend a class together once again. This time it will be him helping me understand the course studies, as last time it was Principles of Accounting. Who's the bean counter?! Thanks for letting us share our Life with you. Have a blessed week.

Results

2009-04-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

It is harder for us to study as the nights are lighter longer and the days are warming up a little. I am glad that Spring break is only a day away! We are not able to go away this year, but we will have fun filled days regardless. Maybe the activities here will be less crowded.

Tom finally had his MRI last Thursday here in GR. I describe the experience as taking a 4 year old to a place they do not want to be, yes I mean figuratively kick and screaming. I am glad that is behind us! The blood count results have come back , the calcitonin level has dropped 13 points, down to 285. It is not as big of a drop as the increase , but it is at least in the right direction.

Next week Tom's Oncologist will read the MRI results and let us know what the next step will be as he is currently taking his Spring Vacation this week. Our next appointment with his office is not until August, so we may have summer filled with more days of fun than doctor visits this time around!

Psalms 38:9 "Lord, you know how I long for my health once more. You hear my every sigh."

Today

2009-03-24T04:04:00.000-07:00

Today Tom and Cody are heading off to Chicago! They should have beautiful weather and I hope they are able to just enjoy the day. Along with Cody, Tom is chaperoning 2 other boys and I know he can handle that. Tom and Cody have both been looking forward to this field trip all year long.

Tom's MRI is scheduled for Thursday, March 26. I have called U of M to cancel the appointment for Friday, but they wanted the doctor's blessing first. However, Tom has other plans for Friday so we will have to reschedule either way. Last Friday, March 20 Tom was poked again and I have a call into Tom's primary office to get the results of his calcitonin levels. So for now we just enjoy the day, and warmer weather!

Thanks for the beautiful cards and words of encouragement, they are cherished in our hearts.
Matthew 6:33-34"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

New Scan Same Results

2009-03-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

The old saying goes....No news is good news. Tom's latest Octreoscan came back clear. While this is good, it just means the cancer hasn't grown large enough to find. Tom's primary doctor believes that with the previous radiation treatment is keeping the cancer from becoming aggressive.

So it looks like we will shift back into a wait and see mode. They will more than likely hold off any scans until August. I am sure, to Tom's delight, that they will only poke him every couple of months for his blood counts.

Tom cancelled his MRI for last Saturday night. He will have to call this week to reschedule it. He felt that there was no hurry to get this done as we have decided to also cancel the U of M visit. There is no need to talk with a surgeon when there is nothing he can do at this point. You can't remove what you can't see. Honestly I believe Tom needs a break from scans, doctor visits, and hospitals (work excluded).

Last weekend Tom was able to enjoy some time out in the woods with his sons. This was Cody's first time hunting. Even though it was a rainy day, I think all my boys had a good time. Cody even got his first rabbit. Tom was very proud. Being in the woods brings back fond memories of rabbit hunting with his grandfather. The boys really got into it but I put my foot down when they asked if they could get a Beagle!

One to Go

2009-03-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Tom had his Octreoscan on Wednesday and Thursday of this past week. I tried to keep my husband amused. I'm not sure if he laughed harder when I was confused about which floor to go to when we were on level 1 and going down to the basement (and there is only one choice for those who are wondering) or when I pushed the wrong button and set off the alarm bell. You would have thought my mind was elsewhere! I was treated to breakfast in the cafeteria when the ordeal was done, unfortunately I spilled my coffee before we sat down. He can't take me anywhere!

Tom's MRI has been rescheduled for this Saturday, March 14, still plenty of time to get the results to the U of M for our consult. Tom is sick of being poked and prodded and I can't blame him. I am hoping that we hear from a doctor before we head there, but only if the news is good.

We take a breath this week and remember to cherish all of our days. Thanks again to those of you who follow Tom's progress and for assurances you share with us. I watched Beth Moore this past week and really agreed with what she said. She talked about walking with God and trying not to control or lead our situations, especially the hard days. Her message was with me all during Tom's test Thursday and beyond. "I trust God. I trust God!" Amen

Testing, Testing

2009-03-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

We had to make a few phone calls to get all the tests set up to be completed before we went to U of M. Tom's allergies to the contrast does not allow him the freedom to be tested anywhere, he must be tested at the hospital. So the next couple of weeks Tom will be busy with the Octreoscan & MRI.

Wednesday, March 4 Tom has his Octreoscan scheduled. He will receive an afternoon nuclear injection and then after a 4 hour wait, he will have his first scan. Thursday morning he will have another scan which is a lengthy process and hopefully they will not need another test a 3rd morning. Wednesday, March 11 Tom has his MRI scheduled and this process will take about an hour to complete.

This will all be forwarded to the U of M for our March 27 consultation with Dr. Prince. I am glad that we were able to move Tom's U of M appointment from April 17 to March 27. It's interesting that the appointment date was changed before we even had this new diagnosis. God is good!

John 17:31-33 "Do you finally believe this?" Jesus asked. "But the time is coming - in fact, it is here - when you will be scattered, each one returning to his own home, leaving me alone. Yet I will not be alone, for the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world."

It's Back

2009-02-19T14:28:00.000-08:00

We met with Dr. Campbell, Tom's Oncologist and went over the test results. Here is what we do know. All indications are that the cancer is active and in the early stages of forming somewhere in the neck again. Because it is so small and the fact that Tom has so much scar tissue in the neck, it makes it difficult for them to find it at this time. The cancer has not spread to the lungs or lower.

Dr. Campbell has order an MRI and a Octreoscan here at Butterworth. He wants these test performed ASAP so that he can forward the results to Tom's surgeon at the U of M for our meeting on March 27.

If these tests show the mass we will discuss surgery at the U of M with radiation to follow at Butterworth, just like last time. If these test are also inconclusive, then we will repeat these scans in 3-4 months until the mass is large enough to be detected.

So until this next meeting Tom will try to keep his focus on work, family, and sprinkle in some fun. Thanks for continued prayers as we try to comprehend this and what this means.

New Feature

2009-02-16T14:50:00.001-08:00

We had added a new feature to Tom's blog called Followers. You will see it on the left hand column. If you would like to join it will keep you updated on our journey. This option will give us an idea of how many people we are reaching with this blog. If you choose to remain anonymous, that is fine also.

I have also added an Endocrine website that gives more information about Tom's cancer, etc.

Tom's CT & chest x-ray is tomorrow at Butterworth. Thanks for your continued support. I appreciate the Prayer Warriors who have not stopped praying for our family, especially Tom.

I turn again to the Psalms (don't be surprised) as I have turned to these all my life, maybe it is the poet in me. Anyway I would like to share with you:

To you, O Lord, I pray. Don't fail me, Lord, for I am trusting in you. Don't let my enemies succeed. Psalms 25:1-2 Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives salvation. I have no hope except in you. Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness. Psalms 25:4-7

Plan Changes

2009-02-10T15:23:00.000-08:00

Today Tom's Oncologist called and he has ordered Tom to go in for a CT and x-ray of the neck and chest on Tuesday at Butterworth. By the urgency in which they are getting him in, leads me to believe the doctor is concerned with the high counts. We will get the results two days later when we meet with him.

We are adding a new specialist to Tom's list of doctors. Tom's primary doctor is referring us to Dr. Tate, an Endocrinologist here in the west side of the state. The meet and greet has not been set up yet, but stay tuned.

Please keep Tom in your list of prayers. He keeps his sense of humor and takes it all logically, unlike his other half.

Spoke too soon

2009-02-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

After blogging last night Tom's Oncologist called today with the results of his latest blood work. His Calcitonin levels has shot up to 298. This is the highest level since pre surgery. It is not what we wanted to hear, but Tom is taking it rather well. He just told me to step up those College classes! At this time he is not going to worry about it, and see what happens when they poke him in March at the U of M. I however do not share my husband's "wait and see" attitude. I am not sure how he goes on with his daily grind. He does it with a smile. He just keeps reminding me it is out of his hands. It is definitely something I need reminding of today.

Tonight I remember Psalms 40:1-2
I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along.

Update

2009-02-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

I think we have finally gotten the good old fashion Michigan crud in our house. Katie had 6 girls over with a birthday/slumber party which went well, but then the "stuff" hit our house this weekend (two kids with fevers and one with a sore throat), it is going around! However the sun is shinning and warmer weather has hit Michigan. I am looking forward to the change and hoping that the change in weather is also the end of the sickness that has seemed to hit many families.

Tom is still dealing with the respiratory issues. It seems every time the kids get something he catches a part of it. He is handling it well, but he is the "weakest link" and the poor man does not seem to get a break. I was able to move Tom's U of M appointment to March. Tom was thinking I should just cancel it, but I reminded him that the Oncologist would like him to continue the visits there as well. We did not get back the calcitonin level from his last blood work yet, so I am anxious to see what the result will be. Tom will be going back to therapy a couple of times a week in order to help him with the swelling of his neck. I am hopeful that this will also help the long term breathing issues.

It is so hard to truly express how thankful we are that so many people continue to ask about & pray for our family. I believe it is what keeps us going. My Aunt has a signature that she attaches to each e-mail and I would love to share it with you as it fits with everyone and where we are in life:

Happy Moments...praise God
Difficult Moments...seek God
Quiet Moments...worship God
Painful Moments...trust God
Every Moment...thank God

Plan for 2009

2009-01-29T16:22:00.000-08:00

This is the first doctor visit of 2009 and it went pretty well. Tom and I headed up to Lemmon Holton Cancer Center today for the appointment with his Oncologist. Of course no trip to the hospital would be complete without Tom getting poked and more blood drawn. We met with Dr. Campbell's Nurse Practitioner. We went over Tom's last PET Scans, which were clear. We talked about the fact that his last blood work had shown his Calcitonin counts were down for the first time, which were encouraging!

We discussed the plan for 2009. In 6 months Tom will have a chest x-ray and more blood work and then meet with the Oncologist to go over the results. It appears that we will live our lives 6 months at a time. In the meantime Tom will talk with his Surgeon at the U of M about his continuing post-op difficulties. He still wakes up most mornings with swelling and difficulty breathing. Tom describes it as living everyday with a noose around his neck. He doesn't complain much but I can tell he struggles. We will head over to the U of M on April 17, and I am sure he will donate more of his blood at that time. I want to move the appointment up but Tom will not let me. I think at this point he just wants to stay out of the doctors offices for a while and I can't blame him.

All in all this was a good appointment. Now we can spend the next months just worrying about "normal" life things; kids, bills, school, jobs. We still are taking one day at a time and not taking life for granted. I am trying to focus on what is written in I Corinthians 14:1 "Let love be your greatest aim"

Winter Blast

2009-01-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

I can wait for the winter freeze that we will be getting this week. The kids are back on the "No School" chant around the house. I will not be surprised to find more spoons under their pillows! We are just trying to get into the groove for 2009 around our house.

Tom was sick on his birthday but is doing better now. He still gets tightening of the throat when he starts to get upper respiratory issues. However, his body is fighting his cold and his breathing is getting better and will hopefully improve, especially at night. Otherwise Tom is feeling pretty good. We even worked out 2 times last week.

Well, not much else to report in the Andrew's household at this point. That is a good thing; after an 18 month battle we are getting a chance to catch our breath. Tom's next Dr. appointment is at the end of the month. We are keeping our chin up and remembering what is important; God, family, and friends.

New Year

2008-12-30T18:12:00.000-08:00

The kids are getting a nice long break. They are enjoying the lazy days and we have had a few "pajama" days with our family. By the time school starts again the children will be in the habit of sleeping in and moving slowly!

We have enjoyed seeing so many people during the Christmas season. It was nice to see those who are scattered during the year make it back to be with their families. We continue to have a few more get together with friends and family as the New Year approaches. Soon enough it will be back to the grindstone of school, work, home projects and other activities. Tom continues on his busy schedule as I try to hold down the home front.

Nothing new to report on Tom's health. We have spent this season being grateful that he had a clean scan. As I was driving to work this morning the announcers were talking about the "New Year's Resolution". Usually I try to watch my weight, walk more, do more sit ups, etc. This year I plan to make my family my main focus and make our time together count. Whatever you do and where ever your focus is this year, I hope that you succeed!
Happy New Year!

Christmas Time

2008-12-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

Well, we are two days away from our next Christmas party and I am not done shopping yet. The weather has not been cooperating with the time I have available to shop. Oh well, we always make the deadline even if it by the hair of our chinny chin chin!

Tom has enjoyed a few days off between jobs. He was a little worried after the first blast of snow because we do not have a snow blower and the Kyle & Cody duo would not have been able to handle the amount that was dumped on us. Luckily we have a great neighbor who let Tom use his snow blower, thanks Rick! We are so glad that Tom's Aunt Christie and her boys have made it safely to Michigan to spend Christmas with the Andrews' family, I think it has been 10 years since we've gotten the entire family together. Tom especially likes gaming with his cousin, it's bonding time.

The next appointment for Tom is a consult with Dr. Campbell, his Oncologist, in Mid January. We can relax for a few weeks anyway and just deal with life. I am not sure what the next test, poking, or prodding will be until we have this consult.

I want to wish everyone a safe and blessed holiday. Thank you again for being there, checking on us, and praying for our family. I realize that we are not the only family dealing with some kind of issue; we are so touched that you have made us part of your life. My hope is that you will stop and think about the reason for Christmas, more than the family time and presents, but the Christ child who gave his life for us and this is truly a reason to celebrate. Merry Christmas

Christmas Present

2008-12-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

I finally have a few minutes to sit and write about this week's experience. This has certainly been the busiest week of the Christmas season. We truly have something to celebrate in the Andrew's house. This past Thursday Tom had his PET/CT scan. I have to say that I was totally amazed at the whole process. It is a 3-4 hour procedure and we were made to feel so at ease the entire time. I appreciate it when the staff not only explains to their patient what is going to happen and why but also to their family. I understood all the processes and why they were performing them. I was made to feel as comfortable as Tom, but did not have to be poked and prodded!

We received the news that his Calcitonin level had dropped (from 188 in August) to 180. We saw this as good news since this has been the first time the levels had dropped in all our test this year. Tom's primary doctor wanted to check the scan results and said that he would be checking over the weekend. On Saturday we received a call from him stating that the scan looked good and shows no evidence of a tumor. There is still fluid on the right side of his neck, but otherwise there was nothing in his neck. There is scar tissue from his radiation from the upper lung and that was all that showed on the scan. I don't think that I could stop saying "thank you" for letting us know. We received the information as we were getting ready for Tom's family party. Tom was appointed "Santa" and made the announcement before passing out the presents. There was a comment that the announcement was the best present.

I am so thrilled to be able to share this good news! I thank God for his timing and this "Present" of time that I have to spend with my husband. Tom and I have spent some time talking of how we have changed during this past 18 months. I believe that we have become a stronger couple and that individually we have tried to be better in word and deed. Tom and I know that this disease could show up again at any point and that this is not a final victory, but we will rejoice all the same! I want to thank so many of you who continue to pray for us and give us words of encouragement. I can't help turning again to the Psalms (can you tell they are my favorite?)
Psalms 111:3 "HALLELUJAH! I want to express publicly before his people my heartfelt thanks to God for his mighty miracles. All who are thankful should ponder them with me. For his miracles demonstrate his honor, majesty, and eternal goodness."

What Next?

2008-12-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

This past week was pretty busy, and December just started. The kids are enjoying the new fallen snow and keep inquiring about the first "snow day" when they first roll out of bed. The kids have taken to wearing their pj's inside out, putting spoons under their pillows (though I nixed the peanut butter on the spoon), and now want to try the flushing ice cubes down the toilet! What next?

Tom was not able to enjoy his weekend. Somewhere he contracted a nasty infection in his lower leg. By Friday we went to the doctor because it had quadrupled the original size. He is now on a antibiotic and cream to help fight the latest disease and we have to go back to the doctor next Friday. The swelling in his leg has gone down in the last 48 hours of taking his meds, but the purplish area is quite a sight! He definitely has a great tolerance to pain but I do catch him gingerly stepping on that leg. That did not stop him from the fun Christmas party on Friday evening nor driving his boys in the Christmas parade this weekend.What next?

While Tom was at his doctors office, he had his blood work done. In a couple of days we should have the newest Calcitonin results. On Thursday, December 11 he will have his PET/CT scan, which is a 4 hour procedure. The results are going to his primary doctor and they will call us with the results, usually within 3 business days. So by Christmas we should know what our next step should be. I keep asking with this disease if they will have a clear understanding of the test results but so far everyone I've asked and everything I've read is not leading to an absolute. What next?

I appreciate so many inquiries about Tom and his health. Some of you have shared tears with me as I try not to sugarcoat our life and am "being real" with this disease and all the hardships. However, I can not say that everyday is hard, it is precious! Tom and I have learned so many things during this journey and we will continue to hold each other up. I will continue to pray and listen to God's still, soft voice. What next?

Well, this year I have learned to give this all to God and let His will be done....I then have to give it all to him again and leave it with him instead of trying to take it back, as you can tell this is the hardest thing for me. I know I am not in control and who is. As it says in Psalms 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God" That is what is next.

What's Your Focus

2008-11-30T18:03:00.000-08:00

Katie and I had a lot of fun decorating the Christmas tree. I can say that the Andrews' house is finally ready for the Holidays. It is a two day process to move furniture, take the everyday stuff down, bring boxes up, unpack and repack to bring the boxes back down; but it is done until the new year. The boys were more interested in sledding in the new snow and tonight there are inquiries in the house as to whether we will have school tomorrow. The kids all are hoping to add another day to the Holiday break.

Tom was busy this weekend working, but he did take a break to enjoy some turkey and family time. We had a lot of fun on Thanksgiving with the family and were literally "stuffed" before we left. It was nice to connect with our loved ones and have a day to just be thankful for all that we have.

This past week we also started making the list of who we bought for and what we still need. I wondered again what our focus is and should be for the holiday season. I get so caught up in the shopping, baking, volunteering, and planning that I sometimes forget to stop and think about the "Reason for the Season" This year I plan to take some time and thank God for his precious life-giving gift.

That's Life

2008-11-24T17:06:00.000-08:00

What a busy week we have had, and it only gets busier as the holidays near! The kids have a bunch of school programs coming up this month and that does not include the Cheer leading, church parties, work parties, and family parties. I am not stressing yet.

Tom and Kyle got their deer on opening day...OK they actually got 4 deer all together. Tom got 3 and Kyle got his first buck. Way to go Kyle! My frig was full on Thursday, and I worried about the shelves breaking from all that weight. Then on Friday was the start of our mini vacation to Ohio. Yes, we traveled 300 miles to visit friends and watch Michigan get the wind knocked out one last time this year. There were 7 families (28 people) at our friend's house. We all had a good time regardless of the loss. The nice part is that we were warm and dry watching the game on one of their many big TV screens. We had a good time connecting with friends, some that we have not seen for 2 years. Now we are all back home settled in and tired! I am glad that this is a short work/school week and then we have family time. I am looking forward to turkey and catching up with the family members we do not have many chances to see.

Tom's schedule is not getting any lighter. I am glad that he at least made time for the important medical visits. He is also looking forward to the family get together this holiday season. Tom continues to have good days and bad. There are days that he looks very swollen. The mornings are the worse as he tries to get his mouth and salivary glands working again. The other day he flicked the bottom of his chin, it was as hard as a rock. He doesn't let these things get him down though; and I am grateful for that.

I can say that our family has come a long way in the last year and we still have many more memories to make. We have a lot to be grateful for and still some lessons to learn. As Cody would say when he was a little boy, "That's life"

Deer Hunting

2008-11-14T13:55:00.000-08:00

Another week has passed. I don't know where the time goes between blogs. Weeks feel like days and months fly by like weeks. This week was fun because I went Christmas shopping and did not need to spend a dime. Every year Grandma needs assistance with the kids ideas (they are specific on the video/DS games, toys, etc.) and it gives me an excuse to spend a day with my mom. Katie wanted to know what she was getting and did not think it was fair that I knew and she had to wait. Cody tried to "find" them until I reminded him that Grandma brought them home to wrap. Oh well, anticipation is half the fun!

Tom and Kyle were out the door as soon as Kyle got home from school Friday to do the "manly bonding" a.k.a Hunting. I told them both that if they saw brown, shoot it down! Our freezer is empty and waiting. Tom and I laughed as we were pulling onto our street today and saw two does standing in the middle of the road in the "swamp" area. The biggest one was not quick to move, almost daring Tom to start his season one day early. I hope that this is a symbol for the weekend. The boys are actually going hunting for more than one day this year as friends of ours, we call them Mom and Dad Shaw, are home this winter and have graciously opened their home to the guys. I know that they will be taken care of as the Freyblers and Andrews are trying to encourage another generation of "hunters"

I made traded calls to Tom's primary doctor about the upcoming procedures; you would think we'd remember how these went in the past. I do know that after the PET/CT scan is done that the primary doctor will call us with the results. Not much else to report. I can't express how much it means to have others continually praying for Tom. I know that we are not the only family facing "things". With this down economy and others challenges, we all need to pray for each other. I will end with this verse that has been placed upon my heart. 1Timothy 2:1 "Pray much for others: plead for God's mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them."

Another Friday

2008-11-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

We have enjoyed the "spring" like weather here in Michigan. This is probably the last warm day until early spring of 2009. The darker evenings are always hard for me to get used to and the kids hate being kept closer to home so early in evening. We were watching a lot of TV this week as we were tracking the outcome of the 2008 election. I found it interesting that the kids had their opinions about the election and who they wanted to win. Kyle was even talking a lot about the Proposals. I am glad that they took an interest and hope they continue this interest into their adult lives.

Thursday I received a call from Tom's primary doctor and the PET/CT scan is set up for December 11. I am not sure how we will get the results back. I assume that his primary doctor will call us as he has in the past. I am glad that the approval process did not have to go through Arbitration and was settled rather quickly between Dr. and insurance. So until December, we will be in the waiting pattern enjoying another year together and, along with millions of other families, joining the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday shopping and preparing for the big day. I pray that we will also be celebrating another clean scan.

Round 1, Winner...The Doctor

2008-11-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

As our weeks typically go, it was another busy one at the Andrews. The kids were all anticipating the Friday night event of collecting free candy, a.k.a Halloween! However Thursday evening was special for Tom as he was invited to the Middle School as a guest of honor. Each 8th Grade student picked a Hero and Kyle (no surprise) picked his father. It was very touching. Tom and I thought he did a great job. Tom also had his first instructing class and had really enjoyed it. He is looking forward to the next two weeks when he can do it again.

On Tuesday we had received a letter from the insurance company rejecting the request for the PET/CT scan. It stated that since this was not a FDA Clinic treatment they were considering this as an Investigative study and denied the scan. Of course, Wednesday started my phone calls to the various offices asking what this meant and what was the next step? Thursday evening, we received a phone call from Tom's primary doctor's office stating that the doctor was working very hard with the insurance companies along with talking with other physicians to get this scan approved. Apparently he has taken Tom's case to heart and was out there fighting for him. The office manager said that she had never seen him so upset. Then on Friday while I was at the kids' parties at school, Tom talked with the office manager and she said that Tom would be scheduled for the scan in December. I was so relieved! Of course my sarcastic husband would joke with others this weekend stating that the insurance company has deemed him "cancer free" and that he was "cured" I however told him that there were people out there that cared for him and were fighting for his life. As if others did not know before, I am the serious one.

I can't say it enough times, thank you for listening, reading, and caring about our family's situation. Though we have had some rough days & events, we are still just going on with life. This week as I was talking with my mother I was explaining to her that our God has a total sense of humor. Wednesday when things seemed bad I was just going over & over how miserable things can be... complaining in my head & heart. Then it came to my mind that I can't change the circumstance but I can change my attitude, (a Beth Moore sermon) and I thought of many things she had said. That night I sat down to watch her show and that sermon came on. I had to stop myself from laughing the whole show. God not only told me, but showed me. It was like Wednesday he was saying, "You just listen child, I am going to get this through your head one way or another!"

TGIF

2008-10-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

It is a rainy one today. It is not the best day for the last high school football game of the year. Though I was considering going to it, I guess I'm a fair weather kind of fan because I have decided to open a window and listen to the announcers from the comfort of my home. That's one advantage to being close to the school. We had parent teacher conferences and again all the kids are doing as expected. They have all made improvements and I know where our challenges lie again this year. Who said the that parents have the "easy" job?

Tom continues to balance home, work, and the task of instructing. He is working on a presentation that he has to give next Wednesday. Luckily Kyle is, what I consider, hi-tech and is helping his father put together a powerpoint. All those months of Kyle making little movies and such has given him the understanding of how the software package works. It is interesting to watch son teach father.

The order for a PET/CT scan is now in the hands of Tom's primary doctor. His office manager has called me to confirm that they are submitting this to have it scheduled. The insurance will more than likely need a Letter of Medical Necessity, which I believe holds up the procedure more so than the other types of scans. We have time to wait anyway so this time I am not jumping on the phone everyday to see if it has been approved.

Thanks again for all the phone calls, e-mails, and conversations. I know that it is hard to understand the procedures and the past week the question was asked by many, why do you have to wait so long for another test? The best answer I can give is that the doctors do have a plan of attack and are being cautious in this plan. I have confidence in these doctors that are caring for Tom. I also have faith that even though I do not understand the path that we are on right now, there is a purpose for events that happen in our lives. This summer as I was on one of my many walks I stopped asking the "why" is this happening. I acknowledged this hard path and started asking God, "what" do you want me to do with this?

Time Will Tell

2008-10-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to Dawn and Tom for putting us up for the night. Also, thanks to Grandma for taking the kids for the night and getting them off to school. It was nice to know that all was well in the home front as we traveled across our state. Tom and I joked about how well we are learning Ann Arbor and how we can get around so that we did not even bring the map this trip! OK, so I forgot to pack it, but it was not needed anyway.

We met with Dr. Prince this morning and had a good "Meet and Greet" He stated that he had looked over the September scans and patiently answered my questions. Basically the consult was covering this once again:
Only the thyroid can create C-cells (calcitonin)
Calcitonin levels means that these cells are somewhere in the body
Calcitonin levels can fluctuate but a steady increase means an increase of levels indicating activity
These cells can grow rapidly or take a longer course of time to form into a tumor

Choices are either to do nothing or repeat scans. Here are the scans we can choose:
Octreoscan - Most of the time the dye is receptive to this type of cancer, small possibility that it will not be receptive
CT scan - Shows lump size where there may be infection, does not indicate activity
PET scan - Active cells show up the more active the cancer is the brighter the indication, hard to decipher if there is cancer if there is any infection or what is possibly the effects from a surgery
PET/CT scan - Done together is the most effective way and as we have a history of the cells uptaking this type of dye there is a good indication this will happen again

So with that being said, we will choose the course of a PET/CT scan. This will be done sometime in December on our side of the state. Dr. Prince also explained the reason for waiting a minimum of 3 months between scans. The first and foremost is that when these scans are done they do contain radiation and there is precaution as to how much a patient should receive. The other reason is that doing scans farther apart gives the active cells time to form and to find where the cancer is. He stated that the tumor could likely be either in his lungs or in the lymph nodes behind his lungs. He did not feel that it would be in the neck area due to the extensive surgery and radiation in that area, but would not entirely rule it out. Simply stated "They can't treat something that they can't see."

For now we are in a wait and see pattern again. As Tom and I were heading home we once again talked how this is possibly what life will be like for the rest of Tom's life. It is hard for Tom and I to understand all the whys and hows, but once again we will go on as life as usual, no with a better appreciation for life. I will thank God everyday that he is here. One year after surgery is a huge accomplishment and I do not take that lightly. Thanks Prayer Warriors, as you have covered us in your prayers, you have help us through one more step. My last thoughts I will share with you comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "What a wonderful God we have-he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them the same help and comfort God has given us."

Impressive

2008-10-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

We are definitely enjoying the bright sunny and somewhat warm days here at the Andrews' household. I love to see the colors change on the trees and Tom loves the cooler temps. Tonight is homecoming in our town and we plan to cheer on our Wildcats as it will be a perfect night for a game! Tom and the boys enjoyed the Western Michigan Bronco's homecoming last weekend with some of the "boys" while Katie and I saw a movie and had great time with the "girls"

This week Tom received a call from Dr. Prince, who is the U of M doctor we will see next Friday. He was looking over Tom's file and had a few questions that he called to discuss. For some reason, their office had not received the last tests that were done here on the West side. He stated that he wanted to look them over and have his team ready and the right people to meet with Tom as we were coming a long way. I was shocked and Tom was impressed that he was looking at our file so early. Thankfully their office has time to get the films before we go and can have a clear understanding of where Tom's disease is at.

Well, until then our days are plenty busy. Each day we have something going on in the evening at our house. The days will thankfully go by fast as we start to anticipate what this meeting will entail. I pray that the "team" we need is present and that the next step is clear to those who have Tom's life in their hands. Thanks again for all your prayers that cover Tom.
Psalm 116:1-2 "I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breath!

One Year Ago Today

2008-10-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

The road was long with ups & downs. The doctors said surgery was the way
We talked with many to understand why life's road led us here today
The morning of surgery I kept my tears at bay
We said our "Good-byes,& I love yous" as they prepared to roll you away
I tried to keep calm on that warm beautiful day
Eight hours of surgery seemed an eternity away
Your sister came to sit by my side
We laughed, we cried, we prayed
That all happened One Year Ago Today

When the time had passed that your surgery should have been done
My mind kept thinking "Why so long? Could something possibly have gone astray?"
It took all my strength to sit and wait for the doctor to come out and say that you were OK
I couldn't concentrate on anything, I hardly had words to pray
Three and one half long hours later the surgeon finally came to say
that you had quite on impressive amount of cancer and would have a long hospital stay
That all happened One Year Ago Today

Two more anxious hours later they led me back to you
I tried not to cry as we talked a lot of things through
You don't remember a thing, but I do
I just could not take my eyes off of you
Thanking God you pulled through
That all happened One Year Ago Today

A year has passed and we have had a tough road.
We have both had to carry a heavy load
We learned lots of lessons all the way through
I understand I took a lot for granted and now everyday I thank God for you
It started one Year Ago Today

A Pretty Fall Day

2008-09-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Another week has flown by. I can't believe how warm the month of September has been. I have enjoyed the sunny days and know that this will not last forever as the winter gray skies will be here before we are ready for them. The boys are starting to talk about getting the snowmobile back out and sharing stories of past rides. It always helps to have a hobbie during the winter to tolerate the cold weather.

Tom continues to take classes and is now an offical CPR Instructor. I've told him that I would like to be certified again becuase mine expired as a senior in high school (we won't talk how many years ago that was :) He taught a class last Wednesday and really enjoyed it. I know that with his personality that he would make a great instructor. I could tell that he was excited about the aspect of offering the class again in our community.

Kids are doing well in school. I am pleased to say that they seem to be trying hard and concentrating on their studies this year. It's just the usual routine at the Andrews' household. Other than some deep discussions about life Tom and I are staying positive about what will be. Thank you for the words of encouragement and those who have shared a personal story about a loved ones struggle/successes.

Our Why> series at church this week was talking about Why should I believe in God in the first place? One of our assignments was to take a walk and find evidence. As many of you know, I love to walk as it is a great time to reflect. I found evidence in my thoughts, experiences, and in the beauty of our world. I extend this challenge to those of you who have asked the question. "The heavens declare the glory of God: the skies proclaim the works of his hand" (Psalm 19:1)

Fall

2008-09-19T04:28:00.000-07:00

This fall has been different! The boys have a free schedule (though I think Cody misses football) and the kids either do not have much homework, or can handle it on their own. I can still hear the football whistles from our house and I have mixed feelings about the boys not participating. Our evenings have changed and I can say I enjoy my time at night. It is nice that the kids are becoming responsible and independent. This week our friends from Ohio called and were asking for some pictures of Tom at the U of M during his surgery. Their daughter is doing a report on cancer and Tom is her subject. I teased Tom that he is being studied now in another state, how cool!

Tom has been busy once again. He is out this morning with Kyle for the anterless hunt and I hope they get one as our freezer has one pound of venison burger left! I hate to pay the ground beef prices and see all the grease when it fries (sorry my Bambi huggers). Since our last doctors visit, Tom has a new attitude of "Just tell me when and where to be for the doctors, otherwise I'm just going to go on with life". I know that he is tired of being poked and the uncertanity of this disease. I, on the other hand, have gotten back onto the internet to find out all I can about the significance of the calcitonin levels, but not during the middle of the night. I have read a few conflicting reports, but I have also read some positive outcomes of MTC. I am focusing on the positives and being certain that each day our experts are making new discoveries and breakthroughs. I also have found a few things that are significant to MTC and will be asking a few questions when we go see this new doctor on Friday, October 17. Hopefully he will have a few answers.

I thank God for so many supporters and pray that Jesus also walks with you each day. We are in a series at church asking the Why> questions and though not all of them will be answered in this series, it has been good to discuss and know that it's OK to ask. Most important is the answers that our Lord gives us (interestingly not always the answers we expect) and the blessings his gives us along the way.

Another Ride

2008-09-08T14:36:00.001-07:00

I talked Tom's primary doctor to get the calcitonin results. His latest count is 188. This is up from July of 148 and in January it started at 129. We now can show an upward trend in his calcitonin levels which is the indicator that the cancer is growing somewhere. The nurse that I talked to said that the CAT scan can miss a Minuit area where the cancer could be. At our meeting last week with the oncologist, he again said the fluctuation of the levels may occur. However an upward trend is something we did not want to see. Tom's primary doctor now is stating again that we need to visit the doctor at the U of M. Their office is working on getting a Referral letter and an authorization to meet the surgeon back on the East side.

What does this mean? Will we have surgery, radiation, or the therapy that we once talked about? We will again be in the waiting pattern until we meet with him. So after a few days of enjoying the sunshine and feeling good about the future, we have a reality check once again.
I read many verses tonight but one that stays on my heart is 1 Peter 5:7 "Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you."

Good News

2008-09-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

The storm has finally hit Michigan and we needed the rain! The kids are getting into the rhythm of school and a new school schedule. They all seem to be adjusting and like their teachers again this year. We shared some news with the kids last night and they were all smiles and celebrating with us. Last night we had a message from Tom's primary who stated that the CAT scan was normal.

We met with Dr. Campbell today for the results of his CAT scan and the doctors must have talked because he walked in commenting on the great news. The CAT scan did not show any enlargement of the lymph nodes or other abnormalities a.k.a. no cancer. He also said that it is not that uncommon to have something show on the scans that is not cancerous. At this time there is no indication that Tom has any tumors. He said that the calcitonin levels may fluctuate a little and that he would like to watch it closely. This will be Tom's normal range and should be fine as long the level does not progressively climb up. Before he was able to see the doctor he had to get poked. They are looking at his calcium level as well as the calcitonin levels. Depending on what the calcitonin levels show this time he will either be checked every 4-6 week or 3 months. He is also scheduled for a CAT scan at Butterworth campus for the beginning of December with a consult on December 18. As we left the Lemmon-Holton Cancer Center, Tom and I agreed that it was nice to come out of the office with some good news for a change.

We are so happy to be past two clean scans. It is like a breath of fresh air. We can now concentrate on some of our everyday life stuff. I thank God for his blessings in life. I know that we are not yet in the clear, but each day as I trust in his goodness he shows us his grace.
Psalms 34:1-4 "I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together, and exalt his name."

Start of School

2008-09-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

I know that it has been a while since I blogged. Not much to say about Tom's results. We have two more days to wait to hopefully get more answers than questions this consult. The kids had their first day of school and did pretty well other than Kyle forgetting his lunch. They think it's funny that before school starts and during the first few days, the teachers have the parents sign a mound of papers. I joke with them about getting homework first! Tom thinks this day should be considered a "Back to School Holiday"!

A friend of mine shared a story last week about a friend/coworker who's husband had been given months to live from a type of cancer and now the cancer is in remission (among others that I've heard in the past year). It is good to know there are so many success stories and it keeps our hope alive. I was given a book called "The Anatomy of Hope" by a friend at church. It really does play a part in any long term disease. Thank you to so many that have given us words of hope during our idle days.

Switchboard Operator

2008-08-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

I have just spent my entire Friday on the telephone. I have talked with the University of Michigan, Tom's Oncologist, and Primary Doctor. After talking with U of M they are on the same page with Tom's Oncologist that we need a CAT Scan to determine what it is that we are seeing on the Octreoscan. Tom is scheduled to have yet another CAT Scan on Friday, August 29. We will then follow up with the Oncologist on Thursday, September 4 as well as talking with the surgeons at the University of Michigan.

We will now spend the next two weeks playing the waiting game. Hoping and praying that this will be nothing more than a false positive scan. While Tom tries to stay positive I can tell these numerous doctor visits are wearing on him. When you work all week in a hospital, the last thing you want to do on your days off is spend it back at the hospital, not that he ever takes a day off. Last night I told the kids what was going on and they did not have too many questions. We all said a prayer for dad before drifting off to sleep.