Deck the Halls

Well, this will be a strange Christmas. Ken is in the hospital. He’s been there for about a week and will be there for at least two more. He got an infection in his ankle, and the infection turned out to be MRSA. The doctors are opening it up and cleaning it daily, and loading him up with antibiotics. He’s finally beginning to feel a bit better, but for a while he was in excruciating pain with the ankle.

In the meantime, I had a horrid allergy attack and felt miserable. I’m finally getting better, and plan to go see Ken tomorrow. I had not been able to see him so far because of my respiratory problems.

It might sound as if this is a terrible Christmas, but we don’t look at it that way. At least we can all be together, even if it’s not at home. We’re just grateful for that. We’ll love every minute of our oddball Yule festivities.

Dan has been a rock throughout all this illness. He took Ken to the doctor, and he’s been the one to go see Ken every day at the hospital. He also had to look after me and run errands for me as well. Nicole and Steven also have pitched in to go see Ken and help out. We’d have been up the creek without them.

So, Merry Christmas to all of you. Hope your holidays are blessed

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The bad is that Ken has been having a lot of pain in his abdomen. He finally went yesterday and spent about 10 hours getting tested – blood work, X-ray, CT scan, the works. The good is that his problem is something manageable – diverticulitis. The ugly is that now he has to have a colonoscopy.

He is being referred to a gastroenterologist. The doctor yesterday gave him medications to clear up the intestinal inflammation causing his pain, and told him to go on a liquid diet for 2 days, and then ease back into solid – bland – food. Hopefully, Ken will feel better fairly quickly. Apparently, this is not a severe case of diverticulitis. Surgery has not been mentioned as an option, and he wasn’t hospitalized for treatment.

Hey, it could be worse.

Holding Steady

Ken got the results today from his PET scan. The tumors haven’t shrunk any more, darn it, but they haven’t grown any either. That’s good news. The PET scan showed calcification in the tumors, which means that those parts are inactive or dead.

When I get all the photos collected from from the Las Vegas 2009 C Troop reunion, I’ll build a web page for them and post it here. So far, I’ve gotten photos from Max, Tom, and a few from Kooch. Gary is sending me a CD of their photos. I’m also trying to get Nicole’s photos downloaded, but so far that’s been a futile task. It will happen, though. For right now, here’s a group photo of the guys, courtesy of Tom Motley.

This one is a bit older. But it’s still easy to pick out some of the guys. There’s a little more gray hair, though. This photo is from Larry Cotton.

No News Is Good

Ken is looking and feeling great. He really should slow down a bit in this heat. Even for those who don’t have cancer or take chemo, it’s debilitating. But he likes testing himself.

His next chemo is Sept. 15. His next PET scan is Sept. 29 (I think).

I mainly wanted to put up these photos of Ken and his beloved hunting dogs. Some of you may scoff (although I bet most of you won’t), but along with all the family and friends support Ken has gotten, I think one of the things that has also enabled him to combat cancer so successfully is the unconditional love he gets every day from these dogs.

A 55 lb. lap dog

Doggie love x 3

More Good News

Ken had a PET scan last week and got the results today. Once again, the pancreatic tumor and the liver tumors have shrunk. The spot on his back is stabilized. That’s two PET scans in a row that the pancreatic and liver tumors have decreased. The PET scan also shows them as “dead” spots, meaning they are not active.

In the meantime, Ken looks and feels great. He’s pretty much at his ideal weight and has an appetite like a wolf.

I’ll probably have some new photos to post next week. This weekend we are having the annual college roommates reunion at the Jones’ house in Houston. Carlotta keeps referring to it as “The Big Chill”. I keep insisting that “The Big Chill” was about people who were in college in the 70s. Since we were in college in the 60s, I think it’s more appropriate to call the get-together “The Hot Flash”.

Pass It On

My Father as most of you know served in the 1st Armored Calvary in Vietnam from 1967-1968. He wears a ball cap that has the 1st Calvary patch and the years he served in Vietnam. During my trip to Seattle with my parents, I have discovered a kindness that I have been unaware of, or frankly oblivious to in Texas. Everywhere we went, almost everyday during our trip in the Seattle/Victoria, B.C. area, someone walked up to my Father to say these 5 simple words: “Thank you for your service”. I am in awe of this kindness, and proud of my Father all in one. I want to take this time to tell my Father, Ralph Mottola, Kooch, Pop Bacon, Jerry Armstrong, and all the other men and women of 1st Calvary, “Thank YOU for your service! “ We can not say this enough, for the sacrifice, bravery and pain you endured to fight for our freedom in this country.

Please start in making the effort to acknowledge all our men and women in the service. They of course, are the reason we have our freedom today. Five simple words, “Thank you for your service.”
Nicole

“If you ain’t Calvary, you ain’t shit! “

TA TA

Ken & I are off to Seattle area tomorrow to have a visit with my Cousin Fred & his wife Gloria and do some sightseeing. We come back May 7. Nicole is coming up Friday, May 1, and so are Fred & Gloria’s son & daughter in law, Alex & Adrienne. Alex and Adrienne can only stay the weekend, but Nicole is staying until May 7 & coming back with us. On May 4, the 3 of us take the ferry to Victoria BC for an overnight. We are going to see Butchart Gardens and we’re staying at The Fairmont Empress. One other thing we really want to do is see the flower fields in Skagit Valley. Of course, we want to see Seattle too. Alex is in charge of that.

Ken’s getting chemo today. His neutrophils and WBC were fine. He continues to be a Cancer Warrior.

This weekend was spectacular. Nicole found out about the Purple Stride race sponsored by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She got together a team. She emailed people about it. And so many of our wonderful friends showed up to support her & Ken. Ralph Mottola came all the way from Phoenix. He brought 3 huge containers of spaghetti sauce. I swear that’s part of the cancer cure. Jim & Carlotta came from Houston. Tom & Tee came from Houston. Jamie & Kristen Armstrong & their twins Ethan & Kyler (adorable and sweet!) came from Houston. Jamie is Jerry Armstrong’s son. He & Kristen and the Hoods became fast friends when they all ended up living in the same apartment complex in Houston. Very small world. Jennifer Perroni came from Houston.  Michael & Lisa came from La Grange. Nicole & Steven had a barbeque at their house for everyone Saturday night. Incredible food. For that, Lindsey & Brandon & Natalie also came. The day of the race, sweet Supawn came with tiny Cassie, the Yorkie. Jim & Carlotta also brought their grandson Sage with them to the race & to the barbecue. He’s 6 going on 30 and very well behaved. My niece Beth and her partner Matt also came out. I was a total loser as a photographer this weekend. Fortunately other people, mainly Lisa, were champs at it. Oh, speaking of champs, Nicole came in 2nd in the women’s open division. Isn’t that awesome? Everyone did well, actually. The runners were Steven, Nicole, Lisa, Michael, & Jamie. Ken is bound to keep getting better with all this love and support.

Here’s the whole damp crew Sunday morning. It rained on us a bit, but then quit for the race.

SOMETHING IS CERTAINLY WORKING

So, the doctor & PA have been saying that Ken’s pancreatic tumor could be arrested, but would never shrink. They didn’t bargain on Mr. Will Power. The last PET scan showed his tumor has shrunk by one-third. The spots on his liver showed up as probably just dead cells now. The growth on his rib is stable. He has said numerous times that he has felt better the last several weeks than in the previous 3 or 4 years. The new chemo regime he’s on has fewer side effects than prior ones. In fact, it really doesn’t seem to have any, except he usually has the hiccups for a day or two after treatment. Altogether, things are looking bright. He has been on chemo for two years. Most people diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer don’t live much past six months. He’s a Wonder Guy.

There are some different theories as to just why his tumor is on the run. Steven says it’s all the fence building he’s had Ken doing. Roy & Judy believe it’s crawfish. I think it’s color therapy. I’m pretty sure Ralph attributes it to spaghetti and meat sauce. Whatever it is, we need to keep doing it.

Ken & Molly, who obviously thinks she’s human

LE BON TON

Oh, yes, indeed, we did have a wonderful time in Lafayette, LA. Roy & Judy have been there many times, and weeded out all the mediocre restaurants and sights. We were the fortunate beneficiaries of their experiences in Lafayette. We had nothing but great food, and saw wonderful sights. My two favorite dishes were the fried green tomatoes with lump crab sauce at Des Amis in Port Breaux, and the shrimp & oyster po’boy at Shucks in Abbeville. The Tabasco shop and grounds on Avery Island was fun and gorgeous. Azaleas were blooming riotously everywhere. It rained most or all of every day, but it didn’t dampen our fun. Best of all, it was great to get to spend time with Roy & Judy. They are great traveling buddies as well as wonderful friends.

The photos from the trip can be seen by clicking the tab “Lafayette” right above “Le Bon Ton”.

The four of us at Shuck's

THE ENERGIZER KENNY

Honestly, if the cancer & chemo didn’t slow Ken down a bit, I doubt any of us could keep up with him.   The guy is a dynamo.  He has had a couple of rounds of the new chemo, and he has said several times that in the last couple of weeks, he has felt better than he had in years.  The steroids he has to take right before and after the chemo give him about 3 days of hiccups.  He hiccups day and night.  He has multi-part hiccups.  It’s almost funny, but since it must be really really annoying for him, no one is laughing.  For a few days after the chemo, too, nothing tastes good, or tastes at all, or  has a metallic taste.  So, he hasn’t gained back the weight he once had.  He’s Skinny G, again.

As to his activities, he went on about a 4 day hunting trip last weekend and had a thoroughly great time.  This week, he’s made two trips about 175 miles west of here, to line up more hunting gear.

As of now, our travel plans are only for 3 trips.  March 13 – 16, we are going to Lafayette, LA.  We’re meeting friends, Roy & Judy, from Tennessee.  We’re going to eat lots of crawfish, listen to Cajun music, and just do whatever we want to.   From April 28 – May 9, we’re going to be in Seattle, visiting cousins of mine.  We’ll do as much sightseeing as we feel like, and a lot of visiting with the cousins.  We did get passports so we can go into Canada and see some of Vancouver.  Then, there’s the annual 1/1 Cav C Troop reunion, sometime in late September, in Las Vegas, Baby.  We may find other places to go and more mischief, though, before or after those trips.

Gilberts, Hoods, & Itzy, at the annual Jim Jones' Birthday Party