So when is the next cruise?

We had an awesome cruise. We got back home Sunday night a little before midnight. I was overwhelmed because I felt happier and better than I have in over 6 months. I was surrounded by healthy, happy people and it was contagious. The week surpassed any expectations and definitely a blessing. Thank you for all of the prayers. They were all answered.

First, I have to give Bill kudos. He spent hours and hours on logistics with airlines, cruise company, medical supply company, wheel chair rental, travel agent and other people. Everything went smoothly. Thank you Bill.

In Colorado before the cruise, I was on oxygen full time. Once we got to Flordia, because we were at sea level, I only needed oxygen at night along with a couple of times during the day. We also rented a wheelchair for on board. We only needed to use it the first day. It was really liberating not being tied to the oxygen machine.

The kids went on some shore excursions and had a great time. They got to play with some dolphins. Theirs was named Newton. He was a prankster. When the trainer wanted him to go with the one group of people he went back to the other group. Kelly had fun petting the turtles. She liked to pick up the small ones and see their flippers flap vigorously. They also went to the Mayan ruins at Telum.

Bill and I went into town to do some shopping at Jamaica. We found some 25th anniversary rings. Bill also bought me a cancer survivor ring. It was very special. It was also very hot. It wore us out. We spent the next 2 port days on the ship in the air conditioning.

We found all kinds of stuff to occupy us while on the ship. Bill and I won a couple of hats playing trivia. We all won some document holders playing movie trivia. I won about $40 playing nickel slots. We won't mention what happened to other people at the casino. Kelly and I also played some Bingo. Kelly, Bill and I attended an art auction. I can't believe the kind of art they had on the ship. Original Rembrants that were 350 years old. No we didn't buy them. I won a bottle of champagne and a picture of the ship in the raffle. Kelly, Bill and I played cards. We had some good family time.

So again thank you for all of the prayers and send God a few thank you prayers as the cruise was truly blessed and God's presence was there.

-------------------- Prayer Request --------------------------

Please join my family in praying for the family of Stephanie Harvey. Stephanie was my brother-in-law's sister who was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer a year and a half ago. She passed away Sunday night. Please pray for comfort and strength for her husband Steve and 3 kids, Rachel, Christina and Steven. The oldest is 9 1/2 years old.

Have a peace filled week.
Michelle

This post is brought to you by the number 57

Great news! My CA19-9 cancer tumor marker was 57 today. Normal is 55. I am 2 points from normal. I think that is reason to celebrate. I think I will take a cruise. Oh, wait, we already have a cruise scheduled to start tomorrow! YAY!

So we have lots of great news to celebrate. I am doing better after getting out of the hospital 2 weeks ago. I am still on oxygen, but my breathing has improved a lot, so I need less: 2-3 liters per minute instead of 5. A chest x-ray done yesterday showed my lungs are healing. My blood work also looked good. I am still working on getting my energy back.


We are taking a 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise. We fly out on Saturday to Florida and board the ship on Sunday. We disembark and fly home the following Sunday. Our itinerary includes Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. The kids are signed up for shore excursions at every port. They will be visiting the Mayan ruins at Tulum during our stop in Cozumel. They will swim with the dolphins and visit a turtle farm at Grand Cayman Island. In Jamaica, they will ride a gondola to the top of a mountain and then ride down on a wheeled bobsled all the way to the bottom.

Bill and I are going to take it easy and just enjoy the amenities on the ship. I am excited to have some time away from medical stuff, and looking forward to spending some quality time with my sweetie.

Love and God Bless,
Michelle

Home Again Home Again Jiggety Jig

Michelle was released from the hospital Thursday morning and is very relieved to be home in her own bed once again. After struggling for over a week with only small improvements from day to day, Wednesday was a banner day as her pain management issues resolved and the medicine to get her digestive tract working again finally produced tangible results.

The radiation damage to her liver continues to be a major source of pain, and after all she went through in the last 2 weeks, her supplemental oxygen needs remain fairly high (5 liters). The pain pump that was installed last Friday is working well, and she is getting good (but not perfect) pain relief with much reduced side effects.

We are very hopeful that with continued breathing therapy using the inspirometer supplied by the hospital, her oxygen needs will return to the pre-hospital level of 2 liters, if not go away completely.

Dr. Marschke said that as long as she feels up to it, we will still be able to take our trip (we are scheduled to depart 2 weeks from today). While we are still hopeful that will be the case, she definitely needs to show more improvement before that will be practical.

Chemotherapy is on hold for the moment. Michelle was scheduled for a treatment this past Tuesday which we skipped for obvious reasons, but since we are going on vacation the week after next, and since the Gemzar caused the radiation recall effect resulting in the damage to her liver, we want to regroup a bit and discuss all our options with Dr. Marschke before restarting treatments. He wants to meet with us next week to follow up on Michelle's progress and then again after our vacation to discuss chemo treatment options.

Michelle's mom and dad, Ron and Sharon Beyer, have been staying with us since their arrival from the Phoenix area last Thursday June 25. It's been great to have them here. Dad worked on the deck nearly every day while Bill and Mom spent every day at the hospital with Michelle. Yesterday Bill helped Dad finish the decking, so the project is almost complete! Only the steps and railing remain.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and the notes, emails, flowers, and other good wishes you sent our way during this latest ordeal.

Love,
Bill & Michelle