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Thursday, August 28, 2008

More Courage!

So Ken's doctors appointment for the blood sugar wasn't so fun. He is now dealing with diabetis. He has to check his blood sugar 6 times a day. OUCH! He is taking medicine and trying to understand what foods effect his blood sugar levels. The doctor also wants him to take cholesterol medicine and have his eyes checked.

I think that Ken is sick of doctor's appointments, being poked, bleeding, having bruises, taking medicine, ect., but he keeps on going and telling jokes, singing his songs and trying to find the joy the day. He inspires me!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Light

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Ken started his 10th chemo session today. After this just one month to go. He is still experiencing numb fingers and toes so the doctor is not going to put him back on the Oxaliplatin. Ken's response to the doctor, "I was hoping that you would say that!"



Ken also made an appointment with his primary care doctor to check on his erratic blood sugar levels. He isn't looking forward to this appointment. If there is anything to report from that appointment I will let you know.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Brother Bonding

Ken and his brother Nathan are going to go camping tonight. They both took Friday off of work and they are going to pull his tent trailer up to the Payson area. Their brother Paul is supposed to meet them there on Friday after work.

Ken has been aching to go out camping with his tent trailer that he bought last year. I am glad that he found a way to make it work. Next week Ken has his 10th session. He certainly deserves a little down time and some fun. Hopefully he will take a few photos so I can post them.

More good news.

I got the results back from my heart holter. My heart is fine. I have what is called APC's. Which are Atrial Premature Contractions. The cardiologist said that the top chambers of my heart contracts prematurely at times. He said that this is a benign condition and that I don't need to worry about it. I have a clean bill of health for donating blood again. YES!

The bad and the good news!

Well, Ken has been dealing with the cold induced neuropathy ever since his first dose of chemotherapy. He takes 2 chemo drugs; 5FU and Oxaliplatin. The Oxaliplatin is responsible for the side effect of cold induced neuropathy. As long as the neuropathy is brought on by the cold stimulus there are no worries. But after Chemo session #8 (July 23-25) Ken feet and hands started getting numb without the cold. When the neuropathy changes like this, it can become permanent. When Ken went in on Augist 6th for his 9th session of chemo and told the doctor that his fingers and toes that were still numb, the doctor decided to skip the Oxaliplatin and only give the 5FU. Ken agreed with the Doctor and seemed relieved to have a break from that drug. So almost 4 weeks without that chemo allowed Ken to eat without reprecussions, his share of a warm macademia nut cookie topped with 3 scoops of icecream. YUMMY! The doctor will decide next week whether or not Ken with receive more Oxaliplatin. I think that Ken's toes are still a little numb, so I guess we will see what the doctor says

100th Birthday!

A little off the subject, but nonetheless very noteworthy, I went to my Grandpa's Burdick's 100 birhday celebration in Northern California on August 1st. We had wanted to make the trip into a family vacation but with all of Ken's time off of work for chemo sessions and gas prices so outrageous we decided to just fly me out. I hitched a ride from the airport with my brother Marty and Sue and family (thanks guys). I am so grateful that I got to go. My grandpa looked great. He seemed pleased to be honored by so many. We had 42 members of the Russell Burdick family there. It was great to see all my brothers and Irene. My nieces are growing-up to be lovely women and mothers. I am so proud of all my family.