March — 2015
March 2nd, of 2015, was a turning point for us. Connie had not been feeling up to par for the last three months. She had some good days, but she also had some bad ones.
On this day we had gone to see Dr. Fleischmann, my Rheumatologist. I cannot remember if we had a late appointment at 4 PM, the doctor was just running late. But it was close to 5:30 or 6 PM when we arrived back in Allen after coming up Hwy 5 rather than getting on Central Expressway. We decided to go to the new Wendy’s that had opened in front of the Walmart in Lucas. I think we both had the same thing which was a single with fries and a soft drink. That night Connie threw up which she had been doing a few times now.
The next morning, I knew things were not good as Connie said Sparkie I need to make an appointment with the doctor. Now Connie never wants to go to the doctor. It was hard enough for me to get her to go once a year, just for a check-up. So, I knew something must be wrong if she wanted to see the doctor. Little did I know and would not know for another 7 to 8 weeks what was going on. I called the doctor that day March 3rd and got an appointment for March 12th, which I felt good about as it was not too far into the future.
On March 12th, we met with Dr, Cooley and I know I was now genuinely concerned as I remember him telling me to be quiet. He would ask Connie a question and I was afraid she was going to downplay things, so I started answering. He reviewed her colonoscopy from just two years prior and everything looked good then. I think he ordered a sonogram for the next day, but I am not sure. I know he gave her some pills and she thought they were helping at first.
On March 13th, we went in for a sonogram, but I do not remember much about it, and it must have not been very revealing as we did not go back to the doctor till about the 26th. Connie has some good days and some bad days during that the next two weeks.
Sometime between Connie’s appointment with Dr. Cooley, Connie, Lizzie, and I went to a new Mexican restaurant called Ernesto in McKinney. Lizzie was looking for a lot of boxes of cracker jacks as she wanted them for her father’s birthday party. Even though Connie was not feeling well she had been looking for them for Lizzie. Connie had found some, so on the way back, we stopped at a dollar store where Lizzie bout a lot of boxes of cracker jacks. When Lizzie needed something, Connie was always on the lookout for it. You were such a good friend to her Connie, and I know she appreciated it.
On March 25th, we went in to see Dr. Cooley again and he did an endoscopy. Lizzie, Connie’s best friend went with us. The results of the endoscopy show that there was nothing wrong there. A strange thing happened; we met some good friends that we had not seen in about 20 years. The last time we had seen them was in the early to mid-90s. Their name was Frank and Chris Stanesic. We used to see each other a lot and I remember going to see the movie “Hannibal” with them. They had moved to another part of the Dallas area but still came back to Dr. Cooley for their colonoscopies. It was good to catch up with them. The next day was a Friday and Connie and I went out with our friends Margaret and Andy.
Since Dr. Cooley did not find anything when he did the colonoscopy, he scheduled Connie for a PET scan on March 31st, which was a Tuesday. That was when we got scared as the doctor called us a few hours afterward and sent us to labs that afternoon for blood work. Since Connie had done medical transcription, she was more aware of what they were testing for. They were testing her for some different types of cancer. The one I remember was Ovarian. We would get the results on Thursday, April 2nd.
April — 2015
I did not sleep much Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning I went to the 7 am bible study. At 8 I went into the church and prayed till the 8:30 mass started. I tried to call the doctor to see if they knew anything. but they kept putting me off. On Thursday, the 2nd we went in to see Dr. Cooley and he gave us good news. He did not think it was cancer because nothing showed up in the blood work that he had ordered but he still did not know what was going on. Too bad he turned out to be wrong but at least for a few weeks we did not think it was cancer.
If I remember correctly on Tuesday the 7th, Connie was feeling well enough to do Meals On Wheels (MOW), which she did the first Tuesday of each month with Lizzie. I know she was not feeling well on the first Tuesday in February as I remember doing MOW with Lizzie.
On Wednesday, the 8th, Connie was scheduled for an MRI at 7:30 AM in Plano. We got there early but it was late when they took her, and I do not think we got out of there before 10. According to the doctor, the MRI was ok and did not give any indication of what may be wrong. The next day we did adoration for Lizzie, from 10 to 11. Connie seemed to be filling ok.
On Friday, Connie, Lizzie, and I went to find a tulip field in Pilot Point. It was probably no more than a 45-minute ride, but I got lost trying to take some backroads. We had left before 10 and I had gotten us so lost that we finally reached Pilot Point around 12:15. We still had not found the tulip fields, so we stopped at a Mexican restaurant called “Ernesto”. I was thrilled that Connie was able to eat some. A little bit more than usual. As we were leaving Lizzie, ask the lady when we were paying our bill, where the tulip fields were. It turns out that we were only about 5 minutes from them. We spent about an hour at the tulip fields and then headed back home. I took the direct route home and it took us only about 45 minutes rather than the three hours it took us to get there. We had goten there a couple of weeks to late as most of the tulips had been picked over or were dying but we still had fun.
On the 16th, of April, which was a Thursday, Connie went into Plano for a small bowel test. She had to drink this stuff and it was chalky if I remember correctly, but the next day the doctor called us and said the small bowels test did not show anything unusual. We were relieved but wondered how many more tests she would have to undergo to find out what was going on.
Connie was told to drink a lot of water after drinking all that chalky stuff for the small bowels test and she did. For some reason, she was struggling as the chalky stuff seemed to have hardened, so on the afternoon of the 20th, I took Connie to the emergency room. For those of you who know Connie, you know she must have really felt that she needed to go because she hated doctors and hospitals. After we got there, they decided that some of the chalky stuff had hardened. Luckily, it was down really low, so they gave her enemas to remove it. The next time we talked to Dr. Cooley he was surprised to hear that had happened.
On Thursday, April 23rd, your last birthday, you got your haircut. You were not feeling well that day, but we went and met Lizzie for your birthday. We went late around 1 or 1:30 and ate at Paradise Bakery. I can remember you sitting there and realizing how bad you really felt. It was so hard bit at that time we still did not know what was ahead of us. I was just hoping things would be ok and that you would feel better the next day. On Friday we were going to go with Lizzie to the Colony and meet up with Maddie her niece who was in town from New Mexico for a band competition. You were still feeling so bad that we did not go.
Saturday, the 25th Connie was feeling ok and we had a good day. We were going to sub at a bunco group that night and she was excited as she liked all of the people in that group and was hoping eventually if someone dropped out, we would be invited to join that group. On the way over, we had a long conversation. We were supposed to go to Albuquerque New Mexico in a couple of weeks to celebrate our friend’s (Lizzie’s father’s 80th, birthday). Connie and I both had gotten to know him well and she was concerned about going because she had no idea from day to day how she would feel. I told her not to worry we did not have to let them know until the last minute and we would not go if she was not up to it.
Connie had a great time that night, even though she was not feeling as great as she could. One of the funny things about playing bunco with Connie was that she would sake the dice for a long time and hard. I remember Brian telling her she was going to shake the dots off the dice. When I was her partner, she would always tell me I was not shaking the dice hard enough.
The evening ended with them asking her to be a sub in a ladies-only bunco group and she was so excited because she enjoyed all the ladies in that group. Unfortunately, she never got to play. We had a great time that evening.
On the 30th, we had another appointment with Dr. Cooley and he still did not know what was going on. He wanted to redo the first test where the Dr. thought it was cancer, but they still did not know for sure. We had done the first test at Envision in Allen, now he wanted us to go to get it done again (I think it was a cat scan). This time we were going to Envision again but the one in Plano had a newer and much better machine for doing the testing. He was hoping to get better information for making the diagnosis. He also talked that we were looking at something rare and started talking about maybe sending her to the Mayo Clinic, Baylor, Scottish Rites, etc.
It was around 2:30 or 3:00 pm That I got in the car to go there. They had called to schedule her appointment for the next day May 1st. She had to drink 2 or more bottles (I am not sure how many now) an hour before the appointment. Rather than get there over an hour early and drink the liquids, we decided it would be better if I went and got them and she could drink them on the way to the appointment the next day.
Eve Guilbeau’s funeral was that day and I had planned on going to it. It was at 3 pm so I ended up missing it. Connie and I did not know Eve well, but they attended the 8 AM mass on Sundays. Her husband worked at the same place as Dave and Lizzie knew the family. Eve was a school teacher and she came down with ALS. It was a long difficult struggle for the family. She had two daughters who were in college.
May — 2015
Friday, May 1st came, and I know we were scared because, after all this time almost 6 weeks, we still did not know what was wrong. Connie and I left the house at 2 PM and took Sam Rayburn and the North Texas Tollway to the Envision Center in Plano. Connie would drink the stuff she was required to as we had to her 3 PM appointment. We arrived and did not have to wait too long as she was finished with her cat scan before 4. If I remember correctly, we stop by a hamburger place to eat but Connie was unable to eat.
We arrived home and Connie was so tired so I got her settled in the TV room and then ran out to CVS to pick something up. When I got back home, Connie and I received a call from Dr. Cooley, that based on the last results he thought she had cancer but was not sure and if so what type. I got home and found out what Dr. Cooley had told Connie, so I called him, and he gave me the names of a possible type of cancer she might have. He suggested our next step was to do exploratory surgery. We had talked the day before when we were at his office about what to do if this test did not show anything. He had said then we had two alternatives one was to do a colonoscopy and the other was exploratory surgery. Since Connie’s previous colonoscopy was only two years ago, he did not think he would find anything.
After talking to him and getting a surgeon name Dr. London to call on Monday, I start looking up some of the terms he used, and I got very scared. The next morning on Saturday, May 2nd I sent this email to some close friends. It went to over 30 people.
Dear Friends,
We have an initial diagnosis. Rather than to try to call or talk to everybody individually, Connie and I decided to send an email, so that you all get the same information that we have at this point.
It was a hard call to take and, and we are adjusting to this news. We are not sure of the prognosis or treatment until after exploratory surgery and talking to an oncologist.
The initial diagnosis is cancer of the abdomen. Connie will be having exploratory surgery as soon as it can be scheduled to confirm this diagnosis. The doctor called us last night before 7 to tell us. He said the machine that was used yesterday was not available 3 years ago and this is the first time he had sent a patient for its use.
Connie & Sparkie
On Monday, May 4th, I called Dr. London’s office at 9 AM. I was lucky as they said they could meet with Connie and me that day, but we would have to go to his office on Independence Pkwy in McKinney instead of his office in Plano. The appointment was at 3 PM. I remember the ride there very well as we were both scared and did t know what was going to happen. We both liked the doctor, and he told us not to get carried away yet, till he had a chance to go in there to take a look. He said there would be plenty of time to worry later if we needed to, but no one was 100 percent sure what was going on yet. We scheduled surgery for Thursday morning on the 7th at 8 AM. He asked us to go back to envision where they had done the previous cat scan on Friday and get a CD of the results and bring them to his office the next morning.
We left there and went to Envision to get the CD of the results. They were having all kinds of problems and it took us almost two hours to get the CD. I had at the time thought about leaving and coming back in the morning but then they were able to get me a cd.
Connie wrote this email to Laura Gustin on May 5th.
Hi Laura,
We received your package! Thank you so much for the blessing bracelet. I wish they would let me wear it into surgery, but they won’t. So, I’m going to ask Sparkie to put it in his pocket for me. The bracelet Is so special and the idea of gratitude behind it is wonderful. I will wear it every day!! Also, I love the picture of the pooches!! They are so pretty and they look so happy. We sure miss having a dog very much.
Laura, again, thank you for thinking of me and sending the bracelet. It means a lot to Sparkie and me. We hope we will have some good news after the surgery on Thursday morning. Please keep us in your prayers.
Mucho hugs,
Connie & Sparkie
This morning the 5th, I drove into Dr. London’s office and drop off the CD, it turned out his office in Plano was right next to my family doctor. I think I remember us having a good day as we were still praying that it would not be cancer and that you would be ok. We also found out that day that Fr. Tim’s mother had passed away and he was supposed to do an anointing of the sick for you the next day.
I remember Wednesday the 6th of May very well. I went to Bible Study at 7 AM and then stopped in the church to say a prayer. I also attended the 8:30 daily mass. Somewhere right after mass, and I am not sure if I was at home or the church, I received a call telling me if I could bring Connie up to the church, that Fr. Tim would do the anointing of the sick for Connie. I was astonished because I had just learned Fr. Tim had just lost his mother and thought I would have to get someone else. Connie and I left immediately, and FR. Tim anointed her. We then came home for a few minutes and somewhere around 11 AM, we took a trip to the Methodist McKinney Hospital on Eldorado Parkway. Connie and I had decided to go there and make sure we knew where it was since she had to be there at 7:00 AM the next morning. That way we would make sure we were not trying to find the place at the last minute.
Today the 7th, was probably one of the toughest in my life ad I had no idea how many more would follow. We left early at arrived at the hospital about a quarter to seven. They did not keep you waiting long as they took you back right away. Lizzie showed up first and around 7:15 or &:20 we were allowed to go back to see you. While there Sonja arrived and then Brenda. You were cheerful and we all together said a decade of the rosary. The anthologist came in to talk to you. Connie was in for a surprise as the anesthesiologist was the husband of her OBY/GN. He was so nice, and Connie and he got along great.
Before we knew it was time to take her. I was so nervous as was she. I kept praying all the time because I was so worried. Lizzie, Sonja, and Brenda kept talking to me to distract me, but it was not working. There was a small place to eat outside the waiting room and we went there at about 9. I was so worried, but they were just chattering about all their plans, but I could not participate. We did not stay long and the longer I waited in the waiting room the more anxious I got. At 10 I figured it might not be good news but kept hoping. Shortly after 10 the doctor came down and motioned me to come to a room in the waiting area. I knew then it was not good news. Sonja asked if I wanted her to come with me and I said no. He told me it was cancer and was all over her abdomen. To be specific he said he omentum which is something that covers all the organs down there. He said there were little spots all over it. I ask him if he took out her appendix as she had asked him to do that while he was in there. He said no as it was stuck to her intestines and he was unable to do it. He said we should see an oncologist and start treatment as soon as possible. I ask him if we could travel during the summer and he said to do it soon.
I went to the recovery room and sat there waiting for her to wake up. About 10 or 15 minutes after 11 she woke up and ask me what happened. Then I did one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, I told her it was cancer. She just closed her eyes. I could not lie to her as we needed to start fighting this. Even though it was minimally invasive surgery they decided to keep her overnight because the doctor had to cut a little more so he wanted to get more biopsies. They finally got her to a room around 1:30 or 2 and I say with her except for a few minutes. Lizzie stayed with her while I went to get myself a quick bite and I bought her a little get-well balloon in a cup. Lizzie left and Connie kept trying to get me to go. I know she was worried about me, but I think she also wanted to be alone. I finally left around 5:45. I cannot remember why now but I stopped by Dave and Lizzie as I had to pick up something. They tried to get me to eat but all I could do was cry. I did take some food home but still could not eat. That was one of the longest and most sleepless nights for me.
I arose early on Friday, May 8th, not only because I did not sleep well but because I just wanted to be with Connie as I knew she needed me, or at least I like to think she did. Looking at it now, I think she just needed time to herself to come to grips with what was happening and going to happen to her. I got to the hospital about a quarter to 7 and went right up. She was sleeping and resting or appear to be. If I remember they brought her breakfast and she was not eating. She was still sleeping a lot and I was not sure she would be able to go home. Around 8:30, I called Dr. Connor’s office who was the oncologist who was the doctor the surgeon (Dr. London) had recommended. They called me back shortly after I called and I got Connie an appointment for the following Thursday, the 14th.
I remember little about Saturday the 9th, but on Sunday around 12 or 12:30 we sat out in the garage and I remember Cookie and Sue Ellen coming by and Connie telling them about cancer. I could be wrong on the date as it could have been the 3rd, instead of the 10th.
On Monday, the 11th, Connie was feeling good, so we went to the movie. If I remember correctly, we caught a 12:30 showing of “Hot Pursuit” starring Reese Weatherspoon and Sofia Vergara. It was so funny and gave us some good laughs which we both needed.
On Wednesday, the 13th, Mike from Tempo came and did the spring inspection for the air-conditioning. I remember how nice he was to you. In fact, he was so nice that we always requested him and would wait until he was available.
The 14th was the first meeting with Dr. Connors. We both really like his demeanor and were extremely comfortable with him. I remember telling him I had thought about taking you to MD Anderson in Houston. He told me if he thought it would be better for you or that you needed to go, he would drive us himself. He was waiting for the results of the gnomes testing to be sure of the treatment plan. In the meantime, he scheduled a PET scan and to have your port put in the following week. I think the thing that struck me the most about that day was my trying to get scheduled to get the port put in. They told me at the front desk that they would call me to schedule it once they had clearance from the Insurance company. She told me I was lucky that Connie had Blue Cross and Blue Shield as they usually provided the ok quickly while some other insurance companies could take up to three weeks.
Here is the email I sent after we visited with Dr. Connor on the 14th.
Dear Friends,
While we did not get either good news or bad news today, we felt your prayers. They provided us with calmness and hope as we went in to see the doctor. A big thank you to all.
We still need your prayers as they try to determine the source of the cancer. They have sent the biopsy from last week’s surgery to a lab that can do more advanced testing in the hope that it will give them more direction. Right now, the next step is a PET scan to determine how much cancer and to get a port installed so that they can begin chemo as soon as they have an answer. They are hoping to know by next week so that she can begin the chemo. Different sources have different prognosis and treatment. Please pray that it is from a source with a good prognosis.
Connie is not feeling very well and sleeping a lot. She is having a hard time keeping food down. She has lost a significant amount of weight in the last two months. They are hoping that with the right chemo they can get her to feel better.
Please continue to pray for Connie and I thank you very much for that.
Sparkie
That Friday, the 15th, we returned to Dr. London’s office, for a 2:45 appointment. Even though it was minimally invasive surgery he did cut a little more than he wanted to, to get a better look at things. He needed to check the wound to make sure it was ok. One thing about Dr. London, we learned over time, he could deliver bad news but in such a way that you knew he really cared about what was happening to you. Connie and I never ask for a timeline, but we knew he thought it was serious.
On Sunday, the 17th, I wrote.
Hi Guys,
Connie is going in for a PET scan in the morning at 5:45 am. Please say a prayer that she will get good test results. On Tuesday she will be having a port installed in hopes of beginning chemo on Thursday.
Thank you so much for your prayers.
Sparkie
On Monday, the 18th, of May we were supposed to go in at 8:45 for a PET scan at Dr. Connor’s office. If I remember correctly, they called and it was rescheduled to 5:45 I remember us getting up at 4:30, and when we got there a sign on the door to come on in and go back to the scan area. We got there at about 5:15 and they were ready for her and took her right away. We were on our way home by 6:30. The next day on Tuesday Connie went to have her port put in for the chemo. Lizzie went with us. It was in North Dallas and the appointment was at 2:00 pm. Connie was not feeling good and we did not have any trouble finding the complex but we drove around it a couple of times before we found the right suite. They took her back a little before 2 and Lizzie and I stayed with her until they told us to leave. What was going on was posted on a TV screen, so we knew where she was at in the procedure. They were done a little before 3 and I was able to go back to see her. They would only let one person back at a time, so I stay a little while, and then Connie ask for Lizzie, so I left and let Lizzie go back to visit with her. We left a little before 4 and Lizzie and I were amazed at the difference in Connie. It was like she was back to being her old self. Whatever they gave her while they were doing the procedure took away her wanting to throw up and she was doing so well, I remember vividly how much fun the ride home was. While most of that day was bad, that evening was good.
We were supposed to have had Connie’s first chemo treatment on Thursday the 21st, but on Wednesday the doctor’s nurse called and canceled the chemo and reschedule an appointment with the doctor for the following Thursday. They had done a bunch of extra lab work and that was all completed but the doctor had not heard back from the lab doing the genome testing that he had requested. It felt this was important so he could start Connie on the correct protocol. Here is the email I sent out to update everyone.
Hi Guys,
I just want to let you know that the doctor’s nurse called this afternoon and canceled Connie’s appointment for tomorrow. They have gotten back all the extra blood work they ordered but have not gotten back the results from the advanced lab on the biopsy taken during her exploratory surgery. The blood test did not reveal the source of cancer, so the doctor does not want to start her on chemo until he gets the test results back from the biopsy. He indicated last week sometimes they can never determine the source but if they can that will give them a better idea of the chemo to use.
Please keep Connie in your prayers.
Sparkie
It was during this time I was trying to find anything to get more calories into Connie as she was having a hard time eating. I went to the smoothie place and had them make a small smoothie that had 700 or 800 calories, but she could not keep them down. I would buy deserts full of calories and she could not keep them down. It was so hard as she was losing so much weight. I am guessing she was already down 30 lbs. and just could not keep anything down as this email to her friend Mary shows. It was written on May 21st, 2015.
Hi Mary,
I have not been on the computer in weeks because it saps my strength. Sparkie has given me your mass cards and read to me several emails you sent. So, I wanted to write to you and thank you for all the encouragement. It has helped in many ways. Could I please ask you to pray for my ability to eat and keep food down and for help in dealing with pain and especially the effects of nausea? There have been many days where my faith in beating this is so high and then nausea hits and it brings me to my knees. Nausea really is the hardest thing to cope with. If you can’t get food down, other parts of the body start to break down too until you’re a physical mess. Constipation and insomnia is a problem too so you can see what I mean.
Your cards and emails mean so much and I read and re-read them to boost me up when I’m low. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. Sparkie and I appreciate it so much. We’ve called Lizzie Brier, Sparkie, and me the “Cancer Crushers.”!! Lizzie is our coach and helper at the Oncology Center and we’re hoping to beat it. If you and Rick are ever thinking about going somewhere or doing something sometime in the future – do it now instead. This thing hit us like a ton of bricks. It came out of nowhere with no symptoms or signs. You have to live every day before something happens.
I’m starting to fade out so I will close. Again, thank you so much for caring and thinking about us. We wish you guys good health!
Mucho hugs,
Connie
For the next week, Connie had her up and down days, and we were anxiously waiting for the doctor to get the test results from the genome test. On Wednesday, the 27th, Dr. Connor’s nurse called and said he had the test results in, and the doctor would like to meet with us in the morning. We were happy that they finally had the test results but very anxious and nervous about what the doctor was going to tell us the next day. Below is the email, I sent to friends after the nurse called.
Dear Friends,
We received a call from Connie’s oncologist nurse a little while ago. They received the advanced lab report back this afternoon. The doctor is reviewing it and Connie will see him at 11:45 am tomorrow.
Connie and I ask for your prayers that they were able to determine the source so that they will know the best chemo treatment for her. Also please pray that the source is one that has a good prognosis and is curable.
I thank each and every one of you for your prayers.
God Bless You!
Sparkie
PS: If you would like to be removed from this distribution please let me know. I know all of you are busy and probably have a lot of emails coming in. I will understand if you do.
For the next week, Connie had her up and down days, and we were anxiously waiting for the doctor to get the test results from the genome test. On Wednesday, the 27th, Dr. Connor’s nurse called and said he had the test results in, and the doctor would like to meet with us in the morning. We were happy that they finally had the test results but very anxious and nervous about what the doctor was going to tell us the next day. Below is the email, I sent to friends after the nurse called.
On the 28th, we met with the doctor and there was some good news and some not as good. From the Pet scan, he did not think the cancer had spread beyond the abdomen. I do not think the little cancer cells on the omentum showed up but there was another area that did but was not very large. That was encouraging. Then he told us about the genome test results and they narrowed it down to two possibilities. So, after 6 procedures, exploratory surgery, and many countless blood tests for all kinds of diseases she was going to have to have another procedure. The procedure was a colonoscopy. It needed to be done so he could confirm which cancer it was. We had been at this for almost three months and still were trying to nail down exactly what it was. We knew it was cancer but were not sure of the type. I knew the colonoscopy was going to be a problem because Connie was having a hard time keeping anything down. Lizzie went to the doctor with us and that brought great comfort to Connie. I called on the car phone to schedule the colonoscopy for Connie. I kept telling the nurse that I did not think Connie could keep anything down. She could have the amount she would have to drink by a third, but I told her I did not know if she would be able to do that. They told me she had to. We schedule it for Wednesday, June 3rd. I was worried about Connie being able to do the prep work. The following is the email I sent out after that visit.
Dear Friends,
First, let me thank you for your prayers, they do make a difference and provide us comfort. The results from the PET scan were encouraging. They reveal the cancer was only in the abdomen and that it was small. As for as the source of the cancer they were able to narrow it down to two possible sources. Connie must now undergo another procedure next week to either confirm or eliminate one of the sources. After 6 procedures, exploratory surgery, countless blood tests for various diseases we hope they will be able to identify the source with this next procedure. When the origin is determined, the oncologist says he can design the right chemo to fight it.
So many of you have asked to provide food for us. Connie’s worst symptom is nausea. It takes her down real low and keeps her down. As it is, she cannot eat but a few tablespoons at a time – that is, if she can even get that down and keep it down. The doctor said to get her whatever she thinks she can get down. Most of the time, if she is able to eat one day, she may not be able to tolerate the same thing the next day. So, we really don’t need anything at this time. She’s in a good place mentally as she’s gearing up to fight this cancer. Please don’t stop praying for her. She asked me to pass along to all of you that she is praying that God will grant all of you good health for the rest of your life.
We ask and appreciate your continued prayers. We are hoping whatever the source it will be treatable by chemo with a good prognosis.
Sparkie & Connie
On Friday, the 29th, Connie, Lizzie, and I were going to go to a movie. The movie was Sam Andreas starring Dwayne Johnson. Connie. Lizzie and I were all going to go see the 2:30 PM showing. This was a terrible day for Connie as she just sat in the chair in the TV room and hardly moved and she had not eaten anything at all. I called Lizzie and told her I was not sure we could go. But Connie kept insisting we go; I think she just wanted to see Lizzie. So, I called Lizzie at about 12:30 and told her Connie still wanted to go. I am not sure how she did it, because we could tell she felt lousy, but we did go. The movie was about a 9.0 earthquake hitting California and it was full of action. Connie liked movies like that. After we returned, I went out to a Mexican food restaurant for takeout. I got cheese enchiladas. When I got home, I try to get Connie to eat some of it as she had not eaten all day. She took one byte of the enchiladas and one chip and that was it. Some of the hardest parts for me was her not being able to eat and seeing all the weight she was losing. I think that was the last movie we went to.
On Saturday, Connie still did not feel well, and Sunday was even worse, so I sent the following email on Sunday afternoon May 31st.
Hi Guys,
If you have a minute say a little prayer for Connie. She has thrown up several times today and cannot get any relief from the pain.
Thanks