Dear Bloggers,
For a place I didn't know at all 6 weeks ago, Houston has become very familiar.
Several of you have called and we appreciate it, but there really wasn't much to report as you will see below.
In between appointments, if we have time to go out to lunch we try a new restaurant, which we love. By now we are going back to "favorites!" Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, French and others come to mind.
This week has been a lot of sitting around. Not enough time in one block to get much done while John is looked at over and over again Definely magazine mentality. (Last time I read a book called Paris Wife, given to me by a dear & thotful friend) Monday we were in the original bldg (oldest) and there was lots(@4miles) of walking. (It is not as efficient as the newest one that we prefer.)between appointments. I was afraid John wouldn't be able to walk that far, but he was a trooper.
Monday we(I) was primed for the biopsy and when they rescheduled it I was really let down. Didn't seem to phase John. They decided to run yet another test! They are nothing if not thorough!
Tuesday lab tests and more going over meds, vitals and instructions.
Yesterday was a 75min MRI with his arms above his head. Ouch.
Finally the day of the biopsy came today, Thursday. It was an endoscopic procedure where they inserted a tube down his throat with a tiny needle on it to extract tissue from the pancreas. It seems to have gone fine as he has no pain except for a scratchy thoat. We were sent home with the description of the procedure and images of John's insides! We are to call next week for pathology results. Now nurse Jackie is making hot bouillons on the hour. I'll have a Pinot Noir, please!
As his doctor, Dr. Bhutani, explained to us, he is Indian by birth and in America by choice. His assistant, Dr. Wang, was Chinese from up near the Siberian border. What ever happened to American doctors? The Pancreatic head doctor is an Amerian, Dr. Fleming.
One sees every nationality; it is a veritable united nations. I was enjoying picture taking, but camera went out of commission yesterday. Off/on switch is dead. Anyone know a camera shop in Jax or Savannah?
Hospitals could take a lesson in patient care. From the time one pulls up at the door of the clinic, there are valets, a man on a walkie talkie has radioed ahead for a wheelchair, they help you out of your car and would push you if you needed that. On the return they help you into your car and with John tuck his legs in the car and put his walker and briefcase in the backseat and hug us and wish us God Bless-that is one Salvadorian who we see each time. You feel like you are being tucked into bed or your deck chair!
In the waiting room there are signs all around that if you have waited longer than 20 minutes, please see the desk. For all their thoroughness they are real people movers. Those who aren't patients have magazines, puzzles. coffee & tea delivered to waiting room, one nurse who we have gotten to know brought out a bag of ice for my broken ankle-misjudged the last step at Thg! Drat!
When I went into see John after it was over he said he didn't know when they were going to take him!! I took that as a good sign! On top of that he said that the last thing that he remembered were attractve women tucking him out! The surgeon probably wondered why he had a smile on his face!
One highlight was seeing two of Jackie's friends, one from high school and one from college. We spent 2 delightful evenings renewing old friendships. Thanks dear friends!
We have also seen John's Houston family where we are going tonight, our last night as we head home tomorrow. YEH!
Hope to see many of you in the days and nights to come. We are touched and humbled by all your warm wishes and prayers. Eh voila, they are working!!! A BIG THANK YOU.
Warm hugs and lots of love, Jackie and John
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
11/20/2011 update
After a brief hiatus I am back with news of John. Good news at that!
We spent the week at MD Anderson seeing leading specialists in kidney and pancreatic cancer. John went through a few more tests. It turns out that the kidney is not a problem. It is a cystic lesion-not malignant.
We had known earlier about the pancreas, but were reluctant to mention it because of the implications, especially at the time of Steve Jobs demise. However, John has a neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Anderson has some of the world's best doctors in this cancer. They believe that John's condition can be treated with drugs and not require surgery, radiation or chemo. In fact, two of Anderson's doctors developed the drugs used in this treatment and will be available for consultation.
We will be returning to Houston the week of December 4th. John will have an endoscopic ultrasound biopsy. This will be done by inserting a tube down the throat and a super-fine needle to extract tissue samples from the pancreas. If the diagnosis is confirmed, John will be able to proceed with the drug treatment before the end of the year.
We are thankful to the Lord for his blessings and all of you who have had John in your thoughts and prayers.
On a lighter note, we had a delightful evening with John's family in Houston including spirited card games.
The trip to Austin-3 hours away with Jackie at the wheel, was enjoyable. We were able to see Jackie's neice and nephew and families. Our only regret was it was all too short. We were brought up to date on the activities of the children-horseback riding, volleyball, cheerleading, etc. One is already off at Texas A & M in a tough course of engineering and cadet corps. Another is thinking of going to Duke-John's alma mater!
We spent the week at MD Anderson seeing leading specialists in kidney and pancreatic cancer. John went through a few more tests. It turns out that the kidney is not a problem. It is a cystic lesion-not malignant.
We had known earlier about the pancreas, but were reluctant to mention it because of the implications, especially at the time of Steve Jobs demise. However, John has a neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Anderson has some of the world's best doctors in this cancer. They believe that John's condition can be treated with drugs and not require surgery, radiation or chemo. In fact, two of Anderson's doctors developed the drugs used in this treatment and will be available for consultation.
We will be returning to Houston the week of December 4th. John will have an endoscopic ultrasound biopsy. This will be done by inserting a tube down the throat and a super-fine needle to extract tissue samples from the pancreas. If the diagnosis is confirmed, John will be able to proceed with the drug treatment before the end of the year.
We are thankful to the Lord for his blessings and all of you who have had John in your thoughts and prayers.
On a lighter note, we had a delightful evening with John's family in Houston including spirited card games.
The trip to Austin-3 hours away with Jackie at the wheel, was enjoyable. We were able to see Jackie's neice and nephew and families. Our only regret was it was all too short. We were brought up to date on the activities of the children-horseback riding, volleyball, cheerleading, etc. One is already off at Texas A & M in a tough course of engineering and cadet corps. Another is thinking of going to Duke-John's alma mater!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
11/15/2011 update
Sorry for the blank blog! Computer here in Houston doesn't like my password so this is coming by way of my generous son-in-law in Summit,l NJ.
As I explained in my email, nothing much is going on until Friday.
Monday, we saw two kidney specialists, one from NJ and one from Iran. John told the Iranian more about his country than he knew. He(the doctor) pronounced his government "idiots/awful."
Spent rest of the day finding things to do. Suggestions?
Tuesday night we shall dine chez Turbidy, John's younger son and family who live here in Houston.
We have nothing at the Clinic until Friday so Jackie has arranged a trip to Austin (2 hours and 15 minutes from the Galleria according to my neice, Randee, who would know!) to visit Randee and her 2 girls and Rick and his family.
We'll go up on Wednesday and spend the night and come back Thurs.
Three appointments Friday which will keep us hopping.
John's-and Jackie's, spirits are good. We are enjoying the time together. Have found good places to eat-even breakfasts thereby eliminating the dreaded drap hotel eatery.
This note reminds me of why I am not more active on Facebook, saying a lot with nothing to say. ( I got up, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast ad nauseum!) Tho' you will eventually be able to view my paintings and photograph there-know you can't wait!
Love to you all, Jackie and John
As I explained in my email, nothing much is going on until Friday.
Monday, we saw two kidney specialists, one from NJ and one from Iran. John told the Iranian more about his country than he knew. He(the doctor) pronounced his government "idiots/awful."
Spent rest of the day finding things to do. Suggestions?
Tuesday night we shall dine chez Turbidy, John's younger son and family who live here in Houston.
We have nothing at the Clinic until Friday so Jackie has arranged a trip to Austin (2 hours and 15 minutes from the Galleria according to my neice, Randee, who would know!) to visit Randee and her 2 girls and Rick and his family.
We'll go up on Wednesday and spend the night and come back Thurs.
Three appointments Friday which will keep us hopping.
John's-and Jackie's, spirits are good. We are enjoying the time together. Have found good places to eat-even breakfasts thereby eliminating the dreaded drap hotel eatery.
This note reminds me of why I am not more active on Facebook, saying a lot with nothing to say. ( I got up, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast ad nauseum!) Tho' you will eventually be able to view my paintings and photograph there-know you can't wait!
Love to you all, Jackie and John
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