New Year

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Oncology Report

This week has been another busy one. I have made a number of phone calls to get the wheels moving again between both sides of the state. We met with Tom's oncologist tonight. He showed us the scans and we went over the Radiology report. He believes this test to be inconclusive and would like run additional tests. The chest area did not show a definite spot on the Octreoscan but what he called an area of interest. He is ordering a CAT Scan and would also like to have another blood test in about 30 days as the increase in calcitonin levels is not considered significant at this point.

This week I have also made calls to the nurse at U of M as Tom's primary doctor suggested. This Octreoscan was not sent to the Regents at the U of M and it has taken a couple of phone calls to make sure the scans get into the right hands. We are now waiting for the new surgeon to look them over and see what the next step will be at their facility. Along with these phone calls I have been keeping Tom's Case Manager abreast of the information and she is ready to step in and help in whatever we need. She has given me a lot of good advice and direction when I was not sure who to call. I am very glad to have a "professional" to go to with questions. So we are in the waiting pattern again. which is nothing new with this type of disease. It sure makes one think about what's "important" in life.

With school about to begin the kids will be focused on their new year. We are still shopping for their back to school needs which give us parents a different thing to focus on also. Prayer Warriors: Please continue to pray for a clear path from all of the doctors. Pray for our patience as we wait for more tests and their results. Thank you again for so many words of encouragement and comfort.

Not What We Wanted to Hear

We got a telephone call from Tom's primary doctor. He had a chance to go over the results of the scan and did not want us to wait until next week to hear the results. As much as he hated being the one who always is the bearer of bad news, he felt even a week was too long to wait. The scan shows "tumors" developing behind Tom's sternum. So the cancer has spread into his chest. At this point we are not sure what our next step will be. He wanted us to call our Oncologist tomorrow and move up our appointment and has recommended that we contact the University of Michigan and make plans to spend another football season in Ann Arbor. Look out Tom and Dawn, here we come!

Some good news: The scan did not show any cancer in the liver, kidneys or that whole lower quadrant. This truly is the best news we can hope for because once this cancer spreads that low Tom's odds drop drastically. At this time it sounds like more surgery followed by radiation. However, this is all preliminary and we will know more in the next week.

Psalms 31:14-15
But I was trusting you, O Lord. I said, "You alone are my God; my times are in your hands."

The Good, The Bad & The Bloodtest

This fall is going to be a little different for the Andrew's family. The boys have decided not to play football this fall. Even though this is breaking their dad's heart, he is not pushing the issue. Tom was able to walk his niece down the isle and give her away at her wedding last weekend. Where have the years gone? The little girl that was our flower girl in our wedding now had our daughter as her flower girl. I broke into tears when he said to me, "I want to be around to do this at Katelynn's wedding." However, no hurry!

I can finally say that Tom's health care is now on the West Side of the state. Dr. Campbell will be overseeing all of his care at Spectrum Health's cancer center. We got the results back from Tom's last blood tests and they were not what we had hoped for. There was an increase in the Calcitonin levels. This was our indicator that the cancer is spreading. This combined with the lump they had found recently on Tom's neck has us back on defense. We will not know for sure until after the next round of scans. Tom goes into Butterworth on Wednesday, August 13 for his injection and the first scan. He will return on Thursday for his more scans. We will meet with Dr. Campbell on the 25th to go over the results. Those eleven days are going to seem like an eternity! We have been through this before however this time we know what we are dealing with. Tom is staying very upbeat and positive. He knows that this will be a way of life from here on out. He is just going to keep fighting the good fight and loving every day.

So life has it's ups and downs and we sure have been on a ride for the past year. We will continue to laugh often & love much.

Goodbye, Farewell, Amen

Tom and I were on a whirlwind this past week. For just one week Tom's cancer took second stage; we received the news that Tom's uncle had unexpectedly passed. If Tom ever had a hero or somebody that he looked up to and admired, it was his Uncle Norm. So began a week of scrambling around. While all of Tom's vacation time has been used up because of his hospital stays, his employers (Spectrum Health & Wayland EMS) graciously gave him the time off on such short notice so we could attend the funeral in Florida. A family member stepped in and loaned us the money to buy the airline tickets. Once again grandmas to the rescue to babysit the kids. Although Tom has been involved in fire/ems for over 7 years, this is the first time that I have attended a Fire Fighters funeral. I don't think I ever understood the bond that these men and women have until now. To see Tom and his cousins in full uniform honoring their Uncle was a very powerful and moving. To watch the honor guard bring the casket out of the church to a sea of fire fighters standing at attention was something I will never forget. Through all the sadness came the joy of making new friends while down in Florida. Steve and Jan, friends and church family of Norm and Christie's, opened their beautiful home to us while we stayed in Orlando. When we first walked through the door I felt like one of my children were with me as I leaned over and told Tom "Don't touch anything!" We were truly touched by their kindness and hospitality. We landed back in Detroit at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning and hit the ground running. Once back in Wayland, Tom's first stop was at the station to pick up his schedule for the month. Then we headed home so Tom could give the kids a hug and grab a quick shower before heading off to work all night. Tom is the perfect person to perform sleep studies; I swear that man never sleeps!

Before we flew out Tom had his blood work done. I was able to make all the calls and Tom's next scan has been approved and scheduled. This next scan will let us know if the new lump on Tom's neck is cancer or just the scar tissue from his last surgery. The procedures are a little different than at the U of M. I'm not complaining at least we do not have a 2 1/2 hour drive , hotel expense, and more time off from work. Our insurance company has now assigned us a case worker. She has already been big help to me in managing Tom's care.

Please keep in your prayers Tom's Aunt Christie and his cousins Shawn & Robbie during this difficult time. To my prayer warriors, (Tom enjoyed the chance to meet some of you from Willow Creek Church) continue prayers for Tom's scans to once again be cancer free. There are so many verses that come to mind and were said in this past week, but one that has been on my hearts says: "Always be full of joy in the Lord: I say it again rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your need and don't forget to thank him for your answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Norman Miller
MILLER, NORMAN L., age 56, of Seminole County, FL, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, on 7/26/08. Beloved husband and father, Norm was an Elder of the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church, Winter Springs, FL, a retired Battalion Chief of the Anchorage Fire Department, Anchorage, AK, as well as a retired Division Chief of the Seminole County Fire Rescue Division, Seminole County, FL. Norm is survived by his wife, Chris and sons, Shawn and Robbie. Viewing will be 5-8PM on Thursday, July 31, 2008. Funeral will be 11AM Friday August 1, 2008. All services will be held at Willow Creek Presbyterian Church, 4725 E Lake Drive, Winter Springs, FL 32708.

Back to Ann Arbor

Here we go again spending our vacation time at the University of Michigan. This should have been a routine follow up appointment and a farewell to Tom's surgeon but as things always go it was not that easy. They looked at a bump in Tom's neck that his physical therapist found last month. Dr. Teknos stayed very positive that this could just be a stitch or a place where he tied off a couple of vessels. There is really no way to tell for sure without a scan. They have moved up his September scan to get him in for one ASAP. Tom will also need a blood draw to look at his calcitonin levels along with a base line of his calcium. The good news is that we will now have all of these procedures done on this side of the state under the care of Dr. Hart. This was the first time the kids went with us and they were well behaved. We took a little time to show them around the hospital so they could get an idea where Mom and Dad have been disappearing to these last few months. Of course we could not leave Ann Arbor without taking the kids over to the Big House.

On this trip we were also able to spend a few days in Cleveland. This will be the kids only vacation this year and it was nice to just relax with good friends. We took the kids to the Cleveland Zoo and while the boys hit the links at the country club, the girls enjoyed laying out poolside and watching the kids play. The adults even got a night out on the town with a dinner and a show, thank goodness our eldests are now at the babysitting age.

This week will be the start of another round of phone calls to get the ball rolling for Tom's next step. I'm again glad for this blog as it saves so many phones calls and is convenient. Please remember to keep Tom in your prayers.

Doctor Who?

This is the week that Tom will discuss his future care and where that will take place. I hope that we will get all our questions answered during this visit. We will also discuss the prescriptions that Tom is currently taking, and see if he can stop taking some that the doctor previously discussed. I know that Tom is very comfortable with Dr. Teknos and this may be a little disturbing having a new doctor that will be in the drivers seat, but I feel more at peace with this step than when we first got the news.

Tom's neck is very tight and feels like a hard lump as I have been giving him neck massages. He says that I do a good job working the scare tissue. We were not able to get to the PT last week, but I guess I'm all he has got for now. I can't imagine doing these massages all day, my hands are sore after 30 minutes. Tom's energy level is about the same. I now hear the same old snoring some nights and believe it or not, it's a beautiful sound!

Please continue to pray for Tom's healing and direction of care. I thank so many of you that inquire what specific things to pray for and that keep our family in your prayer life. I know so many of you have "stuff" going on in your own lives and I appreciate it when we can all be "real" with our lives. Today our pastor shared peoples "Impossible" in their lives (some of the notes made me want to cry) that God can make "Possible" and it made me think of all the blessing along the road of trusting him as he shows us that nothing is impossible!

Challenges

Happy 4th of July to everyone. I want to say thank you to all the people who have served and continue to serve our country. Even though we do not all agree on how our nation should go forward, and whom will be our leader, at least we have the freedom to voice our opinion.

Tom has been doing well. He has been pushing himself to get his energy level back to where it once had been. I was thinking the other day that it has been a while since I was up for long periods at night listening to his breathing. Next week I am going with Tom to his PT. I will learn the proper technique to give him a neck rub. Every time I do rub Tom's neck and he jumps from the "prickles" I stop, but Tom says that it is necessary to wake up his nerves. Tom was also able to see the new Lemmon-Holton Caner Center and said that is was quite impressive. I wonder how many times we will get to visit this new site.

Tom also received a letter last week from Dr. Teknos stating that July he will leave U of M to be affliated with OSU (yes I mean Ohio State University). Though we are saddened with this news we are wondering if this is an opportunity to bring Tom's care back to the West Side. I have since made phone calls and found out that we do have an Octreotide Scan here in GR. We will confirm with Dr. Teknos that his oncologist, Dr.Campbell and primary, Dr. Divic will continue Tom's care. It would definately be eaiser to plan a 30 minute trip than a half day trip, and nicer for the pocket book too!

Prayer warriors, please continue to pray for Tom's energy. Also for the path of Tom's continued care. Thanks be to God that Tom is doing so well. He has such a positive attitude. We have learned so much on this journey, more than we could every convey.

Relaxing - Not Yet

I hope that these summer days do not fly as fast as this past week! It seems as one event ends for the kids another starts. I wonder when we will all get to relax this summer.

Tom is doing well. His energy level is lower than he anticipates it to be. His physical therapist seems to be happy with his shoulder and arm range and motion. They will now concentrate on his neck area (the swelling still is apparent some days). Tom is sure enjoying being with the kids this summer. I am glad that they have time to spend with their dad. I really feel that we are all appreciating each other more this past year. The kids sure do show more affection this past year than I've seen before.

I have a friend at work that gave me a book last fall that is called "Streams In The Desert". It is a daily devotional book. It is designed to especially help those who are going through a difficult time in life. The other day I opened it up and read about how we sometimes try to walk around obstacles when we become discouraged and/or fearful. We would rather take the easy way around than walk through and face it. It also talked about physical ailment and how God can heal. I looked back at this past year and could identify with this devotional. In this past week I also found a poem in this book that I would like to share:

Be still! Just now be still!
Something your soul has never heard,
Something unknown to any song of bird,
Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,
A message from the Father's land afar,
That with sweet joy the homesick soul will thrill,
And comes to you only when you're still.

Be still! Just now be still!
There comes a presence very mild and sweet;
White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.
It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent
To teach you what the words He uttered meant.
The willing, waiting spirit, He does fill
If you would hear His message,
Dear soul, be still!

Amen

Summer

Well, school is officially out for summer break for the kids. They are loving the later bedtime and no homework! I tease them about homework at night and have volunteered to make some up, but so far nobody has wanted to do more than hang out for the last few days.

Tom has been busy also. He still has physical therapy 2 times a week. They really do a number on him because he comes home really sore. Tom has still had some rough nights. His breathing has become much more regular than I have heard since pre-op. Tom still tires easily. Even on the nights that he gets a full nights rest his energy has not been what it has once been. He does not admit to it much though. He has been trying to bicycle everywhere around town; good exercise, but it may also have something to do the with $4.00 plus gallon of gas!?

Thank you for the phone calls and e-mails. It really makes us feel good to know that there are so many people pulling for our family. I was thinking back on last year and how Tom almost cancelled a couple of his appointments because they were not convenient and how detrimental that could have been. I have always loved the Trisha Yearwood song "How Do I live Without You" and it has taken on a new meaning to me. We truly have been on a roller coaster ride and I hope the path does not have any loops ahead. I hope that we have a future with a smooth clear path. This weekend we have Fathers Days coming up and I think the kids and myself see this as more of a celebration than ever before. Happy Fathers Day my love!

Oncology

Tom met with Dr. Campbell today. They went over the results of Tom's scan in April, which were clean. Dr. Campbell also talked about somostatin therapy. At this time he feels that there is no reason for this treatment. He will continue to monitor Tom's scans and calcitonin levels. If there is any indication that the cancer has returned, they will start this therapy. As far as he is concerned, for today, Tom is cancer free. As we left the Dr.'s office we could see heavy smoke rising above Grand Rapids. Tom said something big must be burning. We turned on the radio in the car and horrified to hear that Aeromed had crashed into Tom's hospital. Tom was worried that someone he knew may have been killed. We were relieved to hear that the pilot and his passenger were able to escape onto the roof of the hospital before the helicopter blew up.

Tom will have to return to Ann Arbor in July for another follow-up appointment with his surgeon and of course blood work. He just can't get out of there without getting poked once. During the July visit we will make his appointment for his next Octreotide scan which we anticipate to be scheduled sometime in September.

Tom is otherwise feeling well. He is staying busy with school and work. He got a little break last week when his friend Dan was in Detroit and invited him over for a Tigers game. They had great seats. Tom had to get up early the next morning to be at work by 9:00 a.m. and was dragging all day, but I could tell by the excitement of his voice that it was worth it. Kyle has decided to take up golf so the boys have been hitting the driving range. Tom was happy that he was able to swing a club (thanks to all the physical therapy). Unfortunately it has not improved his golf swing as he was hoping for.

I thought I would leave you with this poem that Tom found and shared with me:

Paranoia
© Copyright by Linda Nielsen
I know I have aches and pains,I've had them both for years.
But now each brings a panic,and a fresh new set of fears.
If I even feel a tiny bump no matter of its size,
I feel my cancer has come back,to claim another prize.
Fear is with me all the time,it haunts me night and day.
To think this batch of cells gone wrong,just yet might get their way.
The doctors nod when I dash in,and send me on my way.
Assuring me that once again,I'm really here to stay.
For in a car I could crash,or get stung by a killer bee.
Maybe take a header down some stairs,this all could happen to me.
I have to learn that dangers lurk,and recurrence is but one.
But not worrying over trivial things,is easier said than done.
Having lived through such a scare,it's hard NOT to be afraid.
For if they'd only say I'm cured,I'd really have it made.
I know in time this will subside,my worries should be less.
Life for me will once again,be filled with happiness

May

May is always a busy time of the year. Each school has their "field trip" and many other activities. The kids enjoy being outside, the sun is up longer, and as schools are winding down with their themes/projects; it's hard to get the homework done at night. Thank goodness we can actually count down the days to help them focus on the few homework days we have left. I have to remember not to "whine" when they have homework and try to be a good example. Many people laughed last year when I stated, "I've passed 1st grade for the fourth time!" However, I can gladly say that all my kids really pushed themselves this year and they were able to do many things on their own.

Speaking of school, Tom has had two classes under his belt this semester. His class will be done the end of June, then he will be taking 2 classes next fall. It really is amazing to see his motivation. Tom is doing well with all that he has going on. I know that I could not stand in his shoes and keep up at his pace. Next Thursday, we see Dr. Campbell. He will be consulting us on the next step of Tom's progress. We will be discussing Somnostatin Therapy, per request of Dr. Teknos. I am preparing to take a lot of notes because I'm sure this will be another involved process. We also received the bill for Tom's gallbladder surgery. We are definitely over the $200,000 mark within the last year. I am thankful that this is not out of pocket cost.

Tom and I have also reached another annual stone, another year of marriage. This is year 19 for us. At the hospital we had a technician laughing as we told him the secret of our "happy marriage": Whoever leaves, has to take the kids with them! So here we are together for another year and all the more grateful for each other.

Feeling Good

Tom went back to work on Friday night. He says that he is feeling better than he has for a long time. He pulls his stitches every once in a while and can't wait for the starry strips to fall off, but that is his only complaint after this surgery. I can tell he is doing better as he is joking around and seems to be enjoying life more. He is still struggling with reflux but is handling it well. He forgot to take reflux medicine the first night home from the hospital and paid the price dearly all night. He is really hoping to be done with hospitals for a while. He would like to not see a doctor period, but we still need to continue with his cancer for many years to come. The fact is that we have two doctors appointments yet this month.

Next week he starts his college classes and that will give him something else to focus on. It also is a great opportunity to talk with the kids about their future and what getting a higher education means in the adult world. They have asked many questions about college. In the past few years the boys have been to games at Western and Kyle thought it was cool to see the place where many of our family members have attended and graduated from. Tom would like to take them to the college he is attending to show them around. It will be interesting how it impacts their thinking in the years to come. College choice and consideration is really not that far away anymore.

Thanks again for all the concern. I don't think that I could handle all of this without the help of so many people. I was told this past week that I am a strong person. I can't take the credit, it's truly a gift from above.

No More Surgeries!

Tom was released today from the hospital. He did not sleep well and must have proved that he was doing well by walking the halls for 1/2 the night. Do they understand that he is a 3rd shifter? He had a roommate about 3:30 a.m. and then could not sleep after they brought him in. He walked the halls for about 1/2 hour at a time, I had no problems sleeping however.

It is nice to be home again. Tom slept most of today and is saying that his stomach is a little painful. He is trying to handle the pain with Tylenol but will probably take a vicodin to sleep tonight. He is talking well and his breathing seems to be back to normal. He will need to see Dr. Vanderkolk on May 23, but other than that, no major restrictions until then. It seems that all we do is spend our vacation days in hospital rooms this year. It would be nice to have a different type of get-away!

The kids were all so happy to see us both home again. They were asking dad lots of questions about how he is feeling. I hope they understand that this is not an on-going procedure like his cancer. Thanks to both the Grandmas for helping in our emergency. It was nice to know they were lovingly taken care of while we were gone. Thanks again for all the phone calls and concern. This surgery was much easier than the last. I mentioned to Tom that when the billing is done, I'm sure that we will have exceeded our "Out of pocket" expenses. I jokingly told him that if he needed anything else "Taken care of" now was the time because we should not make this a yearly habit!

I pray that Tom will continue to feel better. I pray that he will continue to live a healthy lifestyle so that he will be with me for many more years to come. Each time we have these emergencies in our lives, I'm learning how precious our time is together.

Better

Tom came out of surgery about 4:00. Dr. Vanderkolk said that his gallbladder was very infected and that he was unable to determine whether he extracted all the gall stones. So far Tom does not have any problems, but his symptoms would persist if he were to still have a stone in his ducts. Tom was brought back up to his room at 4:50. He is doing very well. He is alert and is only complaining of the incision sites. His throat feels better tonight than yesterday after the endoscopy. We are hopeful that Tom is able to go home tomorrow. Tonight Tom is on a liquid diet. He will need to eat solid foods before they will release him. We'll have to see what tomorrow brings, but he is doing very well. Again I will keep you posted as we continue the Saga.

Under Again

It is Monday, 1:47p.m. and Tom went into Surgery to have his gallbladder removed. Dr. Vanderkolk was able to fit him in today. His pancreas levels are obviously low enough to warrant surgery, but he may still remain in the hospital until the infection is gone. Tom looked rather anxious as they wheeled him away, but he had a conversation with the Anesthetist before surgery and hopefully that calmed his fear about his airway & neck tightening/swelling. Dr. Vanderkolk did mention that he may be able to go home today. Tom would love to be able to leave; I think he should be happy to just be able to eat. The last time he had food was at work Saturday evening. I joked that it's pretty pitiful to be excited to get water with his medicines! I will keep you informed as to the next steps as I am able. Thanks for the phone calls, they mean a lot to us. I know that many of our prayer warriors are at work for the Andrews family again today. Thank you for so diligently praying for all of us.

Surgery II

Tom is currently in the Grand Rapids Hospital and getting ready to have his gallbladder removed. He has had attacks since Monday, so much for thinking it was the flu. He has an infection in the pancreas that they need to get under control before they will perform the surgery. He had an endoscopy at 6:00 on Sunday evening to extract the gall stone that were obstructing his duct, but when they went in, the stones had already passed. This is a good things as they will more than likely proceed with Laproscopy. As long as his infection is cleared, they will perform the surgery on Monday. I am at the hospital and will try to update as time and an open computer will allow.

Thanks and keep up the prayers!

Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall

I believe that I have felt all the weather related experiences this week. The warmer weather and the windy sunny days early this week made me think that "Spring is in the air". The weather became a little uncomfortable in the middle of the week when I was getting in and out of my "stuffy" car (not having to carry a coat & gloves was wonderful though). Then the cooler air blew in with its force this weekend. Today I took back out the winter coats that I had washed and was ready to put away for a season.

It has been very hectic around here. Not only am I getting a new washer/dryer (OK, not out of the storeroom brand new, but new to me); we are preparing for our annual City wide garage sale with about 6 families going full force with the pricing, shuffling, and displaying of items; we have also decided to paint the laundry room while the big appliances are out and that includes getting new light fixtures, towel racks, etc. Tom has put in another 6 day week including a day with two 12 hour shifts. Can we cram anything else in? I am amazed at his ability to cope. He is feeling better this week but his breathing still sounds labored at night. He has a refill on his prescription of the acid reflux medicine and told me not to worry about the other medicine the Dr. had prescribed and the insurance denied coverage. I can tell when Tom gets tired as his throat seems to tighten and his voice gets more raspy sounding. Just little hints that his body has been through major trauma.

I have made this blog long enough. It's funny that sometimes when I first sit down to type I think to myself "What am I going to talk about this week? There's nothing major going on." Then I just type and it's like talking to a friend. Maybe it's not worthy of a News Breaking article for our local channels, it's just life. Thanks for taking time to share.

Spring

Spring break was busy and went by quickly. Last week was back to the bump and grind of working, school work, practices, etc. The kids are now counting the days to the end of school.

Tom had the flu last week and is still recovering; this has become quite the battle as his immune system is not what it used to be. He was down but not out and he still worked 6 days last week. I really do not know how he does it. He is truly a driven man! Tom's breathing has become an issue during sleep once again. I hope this gets better as he starts to recover. We have not had a return phone call in regards to the uncovered prescription, but hopefully I can work on that this week. Starting in May Tom will be on the weekend shift at the hospital and resumes his college education during the week nights. It is both good and challenging for our family. Once summer break is here the kids will see a lot of their dad during the week days, but the weekends are going to be a big change. Our times together will have to be "Intentional Time." At least we do not need to add the expense of daycare this year.

This week at church the message was about praying. Tom and I were helping out with the toddlers and did not hear the message, but I realize more each month how important the power of prayer is and has been in our family. It goes beyond the cry for help and acknowledgement of an answered prayer. It has been so much more in my life and I hope it is/becomes so much more in many lives.

West Side

The kids are having a good and busy Spring Break. The boys are in Hunters Safety and Katie was invited to an indoor water park/hotel with a few friends and a brave mother and grandmother.

Tom has been doing better at night. I'm not sure if it is the PT or being on the reflux drugs regularly, but something has been doing the trick. He started to workout at home and has been feeling more energy. Hopefully he has finally moved up to a new level of wellness.

We've had some bumps with U of M and getting an approval to which Oncologist Tom was going to see. Finally after traded phone calls, we have an appointment on May 8 with Dr. Campbell here in the West side. Tom and I are very happy to be seeing a Dr. close to home again.

Last week I went to pick up a new prescription that Tom had filled. I was told once again that our insurance would not cover it. I inquired about how much it would cost; thinking it probably would not be worth fighting. I was told it was $314.00. I replied that they could hang onto the prescription until the powers that be could get the coverage straightened out. I have made a few phone calls to both the insurance and Dr.'s office to have them hash it out, but have not heard anything yet about it. However, Tom had been previously prescribed a type of medicine that seems to be currently helping him.

Thanks for the e-mails and phone calls. It has been easier to share Tom's good news than the phone calls we made last summer. Please continue to pray for Tom's complete healing.

April Fools - No Joke

We finally had a decent drive to U of M today. We met with Dr. Teknos and went over Tom's latest scans. At this time it appears that they have successfully removed all the cancer. This of course is great news! However, with this type of cancer there is a fear of the cancer returning somewhere else. So what is our next step?

Tom will be referred to an Oncologist, hopefully in Grand Rapids, where they will discuss the use of a preventative new drug that attacks and shrinks tumors with this type of cancer.

Tom will return to the U of M in 6 months to repeat the Octreotide scan. He will need to have these scans every 6 months eventually moving towards one a year.

We also discussed with Dr. Teknos Tom's difficulty maintaining an airway at night; breathing, swallowing, and swelling. They scoped Tom's throat and looked at his vocal cords. The Dr. even let me look at them (it was cool). His difficulty with breathing and swallowing are due to swelling around his vocal cords which is still the effects of the surgery. Adding to this, Tom now has acid reflux which is enflaming the tissue around the vocal cords. The doctor has prescribed a steroid pack and a new prescription to counter the acid reflux, yeah more drugs for Tom to try to remember to take. As Tom continues to heal the edema (fluids) will be decreased as the new blood vessels grow. Tom will return to U of M to meet with Dr. Teknos on July 15 to evaluate the swelling. Of course Tom could not leave the hospital without donating his blood again. They will check and probably readjust his Thyroid medicine. I believe they are also checking his calcitonin level.

Tom continues in his physical therapy 3 days a week and is making good progress with movements in his shoulders, neck, and arms.

We have been battling this cancer for two years and we are finally on the offensive. We couldn't have done this without of the support of so many. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and encouragement. All the way home my mind was singing "Thank You Lord!" We still have a long road ahead of us, but at least for tonight I think that I will be able to sleep.

Upcoming dates:
July 15, U of M at 10:45
Consult with Oncologist (TBA)
September (TBA) 2008, U of M for 3 days, Octreotide scans

Hope

The eventful drive home Friday did not get interesting until just east of Battle Creek. Tom decided to head north and drive out of the snow and for the most part we did. I was glad that he did because later that day we heard of many accidents and could not believe how Kalamazoo was dumped on. Our next drive to Ann Arbor will hopefully be a pleasant one once again. We will be heading back to talk with Dr. Teknos about the results of all of Tom's scans on April 1st.

Tom is still sore from the positioning of his arms in the CT scan. He was sleeping better at the hotel and we decided that he needs a firmer pillow than we have at home to help prop his head higher and help with his air flow. The kids had signs to welcome dad home. It really made him smile as we pulled into the garage to see the first one and each kid pointed out where they contributed on the signs. The kids are also glad that the next trip down to U of M will be a one day affair.

Today is Easter Sunday a time to spend with family and look backward/forward at the choices we have made in our lives and hope for what the future has in store. Pastor Brian said today that his Hope for our community is that we Discover Hope. Tom and I do hope that the tests come back with good results. However I know that whatever the outcome will be my hope runs deeper than and is not focused just on this test. I said earlier that I am a pessimistic person and by nature I truly am. Without Jesus I would not have the "hope" I do today because it is against my nature. I hope your family has had a Happy Easter.

Scans and more scans

We are here at the Holiday Inn North Campus in Ann Arbor Michigan. Tuesday evening the drive was horrible. The fog was so bad that the road was hard to find. I thought that with the snow being gone we would have an easy drive, silly me. Once we got settled at the hotel we went to the pool for a dip. They have an indoor-outdoor pool and we swam outside in the drizzle. It was great having the pool to ourselves and the water was so warm you did not notice the cool night air. Wednesday, Tom had an injection of Nuclear medicine. Thursday, he had 2 different types of procedures. The first procedure I was able to be in the room with him and the tech. They did a scan with 6 camera pictures from his head to his toes. They then took him to the other scanner and he had a 1/2 hour procedure including a CT. They made him place his hands above his head and that is impossible for Tom to do. He was in quite a lot of pain when he came back to the waiting room.

We have had a shuttle service bringing us back and forth to the hospital which has been great. On Tuesday afternoon we drove to Cabela's and checked out the areas in the store we had previously missed. The weather yesterday and wet and cold. Today the sun is shining. We may try to get to the U of M baseball game and over to Tom's cousin to see them and his aunt and Uncle who are also in town. Tomorrow we head to home and I hope that we do not have to drive in the 6-10 inches of snow they are calling for.

On Our Way?!

Another beautiful Sunday. The sunshine sure does the spirit good! On Friday Tom started his physical therapy. The therapist said that there are somethings that Tom just will not be able to do as he did pre-op. There have been some muscles and nerves severed during his surgery that will hinder some of his movements. Once we return from his procedure Tom will have to be concentrating on this part of his recovery process. Tom said that it was somewhat painful and after he was done he sat for 20 minutes with ice packs.

Tuesday evening we head back to Ann Arbor for the next step in Tom's progress. I am not sure how this will work out, but I am bringing 3 books with me during this trip. We received a letter from the U of M that states on Wednesday Tom will get his Nuclear Octreotide injection. I will have to wait in the Family waiting room A while he is brought to Waiting Room D and then into the patient rooms for his procedure. On Thursday it states the Tom will have the Octreotide scan and Friday states that he will have a return visit (probably another scan). Tom and I will be heading back home Friday afternoon. How will this work and how long will these visits take? I can only guess that we will be there for a few hours each day. We'll see how true our estimate actually is. I hope to see a little more of Ann Arbor this trip over. Other than the night out with his cousin I only took one road into and out of Ann Arbor. Tom really wants to show me how neat the town is.

I hope to be able to blog again while we are at the hospital to let you know how things are going, and I truly plan on it being an uneventful visit as far a the medical aspect. I pray that Tom feels well during this trip and that he does not have a reaction from this medication. Thanks for all your words of encouragement and words of hope. As I keep telling Tom, I'm not a good cheerleader. He says, "You're here for me and that is all I need." I'm glad that he did set any high expectations for me. I am known as the pessimist of our family. Tom has always been the optimistic one. I know one thing for sure that I could not be handling this on my own and God has seen to it that I have so many of you for a sounding board. I know that I have shared this with you before, but I have these words pasted to the inside cover of my bible and have referred to this many times during our journey. They come from Jeremiah 10:23-24: "O Lord, I know it is not within the power of man to map his life and plan his course-so you correct me, Lord; but please be gentle. Don't do it in your anger, for I would die."

How's Tom doing?

It was so much fun watching the 2nd grade music program. Katie was up front and center and cute as can be. The auditorium seats were filled and the walls space was also occupied with standing room only. There were lots of parent and grandparent there for support. Tom was also able to go to the 7th grade band festival (at his high school Alma mad er) with Kyle's class. Our school took 3rd place! Tom said they did a great job reading the sheet music and with the songs they had to perform but he was most impressed with the politeness of our school's students.

Tom has had a busy week with school activities. The kids are so glad that their dad could make it and it showed on their faces. Tom is still struggling with his swelling and sleeping. He is up about 6 times a night with his non-breathing issues. He claims that he sleeps better during the day without me, should I be offended? The cat and I only take up about 3/4 of the bed! Some nights the swelling in his face and neck are very apparent. There are days that his voice sounds strained. The tingling in his arm has been persistent also. He also struggles with his chewing issues. I feel so bad that he is struggling for such a long time. I keep asking him if it's better than last week but so far no great progress has been made that either of us can tell. Thanks again for your cards and e-mails. I believe they keep our spirits up.

Approved

The phone calls to the various offices has paid off. Saturday we received a letter of approval from our insurance company. You can believe that I will be taking that piece of paper with me when we go in two weeks. It has also been explained to me that the question from the insurance company was "why this type of scan and not the iodine". Once the reviewer understood that Tom is allergic to iodine, it was approved. I then verified that Tom would not have an allergic reaction to this nuclear medicine by calling the nuclear medicine department at the U of M. The person I spoke with checked with their pharmacy while I was on line with them to make sure we were all clear on performing the scan. I know that this is the easy part of this procedure and that the true test of waiting will be once it is complete and we wait to see Dr. Teknos for the consultation.

The kids are getting tired of the winter (and are picking on each other while inside). I think that we all need a change of season. I hope that as we March through the next couple of weeks we will all get to appreciate this spring season. God has so many blessings in store if we will just wait for his perfect timing.

Paperwork Chase

I know that it has been a little over a week since my last writing, but life is getting busy around the Andrews' house and it isn't even spring yet! Kyle had his band concert tonight. I watched him walk to his seat with all the other 7th graders and can't believe how tall that boy is. He looked like one of the high schools kids. Parent/Teacher conference are going on and I have talked with 2 of the 3 kids teacher(s). There were no surprises as to how the kids are doing. I have to say that I am proud of all of them. They all try so hard to do their best. I know they each have their own struggles in school, but it is great to see them work so hard and then it's like it just clicks (the light bulb goes on) and that is the rewarding part.

Now on to Tom's progress: Tom is doing about the same as last week. I know that he is trying to stay focused on the things he can control. We talk about April 1st and what it could mean, but I think that I am the one dwelling on the possibilities (at least I am the one who will admit it anyway). The main comment that Tom will say is that he hopes he does not have to wait to have the results from the procedure any later than April 1st. He wants to get on with life! I hope that is what we hear in April also.

I have made traded phone calls to find out what office to begin pushing so that the papers get to the appropriate people and that Tom's scan will be approved. I found out that Tom's primary Dr's office had faxed paperwork to the insurance company in regards to the scan. However the insurance company is questioning why this type of scan instead of the iodine scan. Tom's primary office has to defer that to the Specialist at the U of M. So, by the end of this week I plan to call the nurse at the U of M office and see if I can get a confirmation that they have submitted the supporting documents. At least they are not saying a definite "no" at this point. I do not expect any fast answers, having already had that experience with the Pet scan last July. I hope that you will remember to keep us on the "prayer list" as we go about our busy days.

Insurance

Another blustery day here in Michigan. Last night I woke a few times to hear the rain hitting the house. When I finally rolled out of bed, I realized that it was not just rain, but feezing rain, as the weather forecasters predicted. Next we will have a snowy mix that should make for an interesting commute for Tom tonight and myself on Monday. The kids are on their Mid Winter Break, as if they needed one. They are now counting how many days they need to go in the summer time!

Tom is doing ok. Thanks for so many inquiries and continued prayers for improvement. Tom has some hair growth in the back of his neck, it is not even yet but I told him to be happy it is growing in black and not that "other" color! His facial hair is growing father down than the Dr. anticipated. His back right shoulder seems to be itchy much of the time but other than one small circular patch of red skin, his back looks normal. Tom continues to have labored breathing all night and is up many times a night. His is glad to be back to work and I think it keeps his mind off the future test and results.

Speaking of future tests, we received a letter from our insurance company stating that they are inquiring about the Octreotide test. They have not approved the procedure and want "Supporting documentation that the Octreotide test is helpful for Thyroid Cancer." The Regents of the U of M have 45 days to respond, which brings us to March 31 which is after his testing dates that we have set up at U of M. It also stated that if the "patient" proceeded with the test prior to receiving the authorization letter, we may be responsible for the entire cost of the service. I sure hope that these companies work together and get this approved so that we can continue with Tom's progress. I don't think we could afford this test. We just got the bill for Tom's blood work from U of M, $$$. I can wait to see how much our consulatation cost. Let's just say that with all of Tom's procedures, the bills add up to 1 1/4 the price of our house! I'm grateful that we have such good insurance and hope that whoever is making the decisions for approval really put the quality of life as a considering factor.

So here we are again, waiting for the powers that be to make up their minds about what will be done for Tom. Until December I had all the confidence in our insurance to approve what was necessary for Tom's health. The unapproved prescription bill was not a big thing and we could afford to pay out of pocket. This time I am hopeful that they will get this resolved in the next month as we can't handle it the same way. Prayer Warriors: Please pray that this be resolved and that we (I) do not become to "anxious" while we wait & please pray that Tom can sleep at night.

Energy?!

Tom has been on his new Thyroid medicine and says that he is finally feeling more energy than before. However, it still does not compare to his pre-sickness levels. I hope that he will continue on this path until he feels at a comfortable level. He is amazed at how much better he feels compared to pre-surgery. He said that he really stuggled at work and now realizes how sick he truly was with his cancer. He was a little nervous going back after being off work for so long, but he said that it just clicked once he got back. I think along with so many things, Tom has a new "perspective" on life.

On Monday around 8:00 I sat the kids down to talk with them about their dad. For those of you that do not know how our house is layed out, we live in a multi-level with open stairs leading to the uppper/lower levels. When I have something serious to tell them I always lead them to the stairs to have our talk. Well last Monday was no different. I told them I had something to say about dad. They all walked over to the stairs to sit and listen. I don't really know how this started but it tickles me that they sit in birth order: Kyle at the top, Cody in the middle, and Katie at the bottom couple steps. I told them that the doctors have not said dad is cancer free. I told them that was why in March we would be gone for a few days. Cody looked realived when I said that are not confirming he still has his cancer, but the tests will tell us for sure. I also explained what the blood test that dad has done tells the doctors. They had a bunch of questions which I tried to answer to the best of my limited ability. Then I told them that people are praying at 8:00 every Monday for dad. I suggested we do the same. I prayed and told the kids that they could say something if they wanted. Katie had a few things to say. They boys were quiet and Katie looked up at them like "Say Something!" I said that it was ok to say things from their hearts that it was sometimes hard to say it out loud. Once we finished, they agreed to do it again every Monday.

Thanks to so many of you who are keeping our family in your prayers. We appreciate your words of encouragement and your willingness to help. I hope that you will join the Andrews family in prayer each Monday.

Back to Normal?

It was Tom's first week back to work. I think it was a little harder than he anticipated, but he made it through. It did not help that our children were off due to snow days and the house "buzz" is always louder with kids running around. Tom braved the cold and turned on the fan to drown out some of the noise. Kyle did a great job watching his younger siblings and loved his end of week reward. I hope he thought it was worth it.

I am fighting yet another bug. This hacking cough is enough to drive a person crazy! However, there is no rest for the weary and I can say that I'm glad it's Friday! Thanks for all the words of encouragement this past week. I love the anonymous comment about the calcitonin prayer. I will be one to stop at 8:00 this Monday and say a prayer for my loved one!

Test Results

Tom received a phone call from the nurse at U of M with his latest test results. As he suspected, they are adjusting his Thyroid medicine again (I heard this can go on for 6 months and up to a year). Hopefully this will help his energy level as he starts back to work this week. We were not thrilled with the results of the Calcitonin levels. We had hoped that after radiation his levels would return to normal (normal being around 10). A higher calcitonin level is an indicator that there is still cancer. Before Tom's surgery his was at 11,000. One week after the surgery his level had dropped to 187. His latest level was 129. His Dr. said that we are not going to worry about it now because it is still dropping and not going up. The real question will be answered in March when he goes for the scan.

For now Tom is jumping back into work and physical therapy trying to keep his mind off odds, percentages, and the March scan. The kids don't know that dad has to go back for more procedures yet. I'm just relying a lot on prayers to help us all through.

Back to Ann Arbor

More tests? Aren't we done yet?

We had a horrible ride to U of M today. We were stuck in traffic in Kzoo for over 1/2 hour with traffic backed up as far as the eye can see. Tom was a great driver and we were only 10 minutes late for the appointment. They must have been waiting for us because Tom got right in to see Dr. Teknos, which was a first! Tom was poked & prodded and then we got to the consult.

Tom's neck continues to swell in the evening and Dr. says this is normal. He warned that his swelling and firmness may stay with him for up to a year. The edema (fluid) in Tom's neck it's turning to scar tissue. Tom will need to start Physical Therapy. He still does not have full movement of his neck and Dr. doesn't want scar tissue to hamper the movement of his head and neck. Dr. also explained that three weeks after the last radiation treatment would be the worst point in recovery before Tom would begin feeling better. Tom is on the other side of it now and should start improving a little each day.

Tom's taste buds should come back within 3-4 months after his last treatment. Dr. said that "Things will start tasting better again and not so much like cardboard." His energy is within the same range. He said that each week he should notice a difference.

Tom got poked again today while at the U of M. They are checking his Calcitonin levels, Thyroid, and calcuim levels. These results will be in within the week. Tom will not have to see another Dr. again until March. He will go back to U of M for a three day procedure. This is called for a scan called the Octreotide scan. This is better than a PET scan because it focuses on Neuro Tumors. This is in the nuclear medicine department at the University of Michigan with the same functions as the PET scan. Then we go back again to get the results on April 1st -no fooling!

Thanks for all the prayers that were said today and before in anticipation of Tom's consultation. Tom is thankful that he has been released to go back to work next week. He is still not sleeping all night but within time this should be improving along with everything else. Even though we are not out of the "woods" yet, we are getting more answers and having less questions. Is Tom cancer free? The Dr. have not confirmed that, yet but I believe we can pray for that.

Happy New Year

Tom, along with our calenders has turned another year older! He was looking forward to turning the page and doesn't mind saying so. It also lifted his spirits with the Michigan victory on January 1st. What a tribute to the retiring Lloyd Carr. I'm sure our Ohio friends could hear our house cheering!? Now it's back to school, work, and the long winter days. Just like the slightly longer amount of daylight, Tom is getting a little stronger each day, but he still tires easily as he works on small house projects. I can tell that his strength is not what it was a few months ago. It's amazing to me that 3 months ago he was so sick and tired of being sick before his surgery. I remembered thinking "if we could just get through the surgery" but that was only a small piece of his recovery process. I know that he is not the last to fight this type of disease, but I sure wish that nobody else would have to go through this difficult recovery. However, we both have a new respect for others that suffer with many type of illnesses. It is so reassuring when talking with other couples that have been/are going through a similar types of situation that what we feel, think, and focus on are normal for our life at this point and time. Thanks to all of you once again for your support. I don't think that I can say it enough times to truly say how much you have touched our hearts. I think doing this blog has helped many of you see a part of our family as much as it has been cheep therapy for myself personally.

As we look forward to what 2008 has to bring, I hope that it brings health and happiness to all. We are looking ahead to small things such as when we will get the boat out, what improvements to work on, and what family movie we will watch next. Tom is looking forward to the next PET scan that shows no cancer. The kids will say they are looking forward to the next break from school. I hope that we can go back to life as normal. OK not the old normal but a new and appreciated normal. I hope that 2008 brings you all that you've wished for.