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."
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Still Waiting
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
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
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Denied
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!"
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!"
Monday, June 1, 2009
Moving up Test?
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.
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.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Message
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
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
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Reflection
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"
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"
Thursday, May 14, 2009
What's new?
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!
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!
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