What a surprise!!

Isaiah 58:8-11:


"Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail."

When the phone rang this morning, and I looked at the caller id, I was prepared for the worst. As Tim reported, mom and dad were given difficult news by the oncologist two weeks ago and this morning was the appointment with the oncologist to get results of the CT scan. Even Monday, his labs revealed that his tumor markers were elevated, evidently confirming the news the doctor had shared two weeks ago--that the chemo was no longer working. He had recommended mom call Hospice. Well...the CT scan revealed the seemingly impossible...the pancreatic tumor has shrunk!!! The lung nodules have also shrunk. The doctor was a bit baffled, to say the least.

So...now, dad will start chemo again. The chemo regimen may change, as the more toxic of the two drugs creates debilitating side effects including neuropathy in his limbs and fingers and vision problems. A new Phase 3 clinical research trial is beginning in St. Louis. Dad may be a candidate for the study--his M.D. is looking into that as a potential option.

While this is wonderful news, and we're all thrilled, the disease continues to take its toll in numerous ways in mom and dad's lives. They show amazing strength, though the challenges are vast.

As always, we are deeply grateful for the continued prayers and support. We are confident that this progress is due to the power of prayer, the wonderful care dad receives from mom, and the positive outlook he has maintained throughout this experience.

With love and gratitude,
Angie

A Little Good and Bad

Good Evening,

The doctor decided not to give dad a treatment last Thursday because dad was on antibiotics for cough and congestion. His vision and the numbness in his leg continue to bother him. He’s also had an increase in back pain. His tumor markers have increased slightly which has led the doctor to believe the chemo treatment is not working. Dad insisted and the doctor allowed him to get another treatment today and the doctor wants to do another CT scan in a couple weeks. He said if the tumor marker doesn’t decrease after this treatment he believes we should discontinue treatment and call in hospice. Unfortunately there’s not really another treatment option besides a clinical trial and dad may be too far along to qualify for the trials. He’s already tried both chemo’s used for pancreatic cancer, options are limited.

Thankfully, the support structure around dad has allowed him and the family to lead as normal of a life as possible over the last year. Things became so comfortable in a way the doctor felt he needed to have a serious talk with dad and mom at today’s appointment. The doctor seems to think that dad has 2 months to live. We’ve heard these predictions before, starting with the initial 6 month prediction almost 15 months ago. Hospice was also recommended over 6 months ago. Mom took the news especially hard while dad refuses to give up and doesn’t let the news get him down. In a way it’s not new news, we’ve known the odds all along. A certain peace about the diagnosis has allowed the family to get comfortable and hide within a form of faith mixed with denial which makes a conversation like the one they had today extremely difficult to hear again.

Through all the doom and gloom there’s a lot to be thankful for. Thankfully dad has had few side effects to the 40 plus chemo treatments he’s had since August of 08. Dad has rebounded from everything from E Coli to the common cold with a strength and confidence to be admired. He’s been blessed with good nurses and doctors that understand and care deeply about him. He has close friends whose kindness and support over the last year were instrumental to his success and whose actions, no matter how big or small, are respected by the family and greatly appreciated. We have a new healthy addition to the family with baby Sam. Dad’s been able to travel with few problems, ignoring the advice given to him over a year ago not to leave the house. We have a mother and wife who’s never let any of us down, who’s always taken care of us, whose wisdom and strength seem to be supernatural at times. We have a father whose life I can’t describe with words, whose actions have taught me lessons I’ll never forget. Last and definitely not least we have a friend in Jesus who has unselfishly answered so many of our prayers. We do indeed have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I’m also thankful for being able to spend another deer season with dad. It was a little different this year. It was the first time in over 30 years dad hasn’t been at deer camp in Douglas County. (23 years for me). We decided to switch it up with the comfort of home mixed with a bow hunt inside Columbia city limits. All things considered, it was the best spot I had, but unfortunately we couldn’t use a rifle. I got dad set up with a crossbow and a ground blind. Him and mom came up on Friday night and stayed until Wed. It was mom’s first deer camp. I think she liked it. I even got her to eat a little deer tenderloin. The hunting was good, with the peak of the rut hitting on opening weekend of firearms season. Unfortunately I missed a nice 10 and an 8 with my bow at 30 yards. I’ve got excuses for the misses but I’ll save you the details. Both had a doe with them and multiple bucks. It happens. Dad had one of the biggest bucks he’s ever shot at 7 yards from his stand looking at him. Unfortunately he couldn’t close the deal. Ask him about the hunt if you get a chance. We tried to dodge the rain at times and sometimes we just stuck with it. Dad walked the quarter in and out of the woods with no problem. It wasn’t an easy walk. I was extremely proud of him. The peace and satisfaction that comes with sitting in the stand during mid November is something dad has always loved. It’s a time a year that is extremely special for me and dad, I’m glad to say that this was one of my best deer camps ever, although a little bitter sweet for multiple reasons. I think the highlight of moms deer camp was the shopping and relaxation. We met some friends at the Mizzou basketball game on Tuesday. Mom and dad both enjoyed the game. I’ve attached a few pics from deer season.

Although hearing the doctor’s report is definitely a reality check, dad continues to move forward and is still fighting this disease as hard as he ever has. We are behind him 100 percent. With the way things are going I'm taking dad's odds. He's missed the 7 for several rolls.

I hope all of you have a good Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving’s at home this year. I should be around for a few days. Stop by and visit if you get a chance. I’m sure there will be plenty of food around. Good luck on your south zone opener.

Cheers,

Baby Sam Has Arrived!!!

Angie had her baby. 7lbs 11 ounces-19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing fine.

Mom and dad made it in time for the delivery. They are extremely happy and grateful.

The Latest Scoop

Good Evening,

Dad is continuing to take treatments and shots every two weeks. His vision is blurred at times and his right leg has gone completely numb. I believe the numbness is neuropathy brought on by the chemo and the blurred vision is a symptom of the cancer. He's been fighting a cold the last week or so but I think he's got it under control. Dad still has his appetite and his weight loss has stabilized for the time being. I think he's lost around 115 pounds.

Since the last post mom and dad have traveled down to Alabama to help Ang with a yard sale and to Branson with family friends Merlin and Joyce. I've attached a picture from the trip to Branson.

Angie's baby (Sam) is due this week. Mom and dad are planning on making the trip to help take care of Ben when the baby comes. Dad's planning on coming up here in a couple of weeks for deer season. Not sure if he'll be able to hunt or not but I've got him a big one scouted out if he decides to.

Thanks for the continued support,

Take care,

Our dear cousins, Bill and Connie Reid, are participating in a walk funded by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in St. Louis October 18. They are walking in honor of Connie's friend and in honor of dad. Please don't feel pressured to contribute. I just wanted to take a moment to thank Bill and Connie for this kind gesture and to provide additional information to anyone who may want to offer a donation, or to participate in another way. The link to Bill and Connie's team page is below, followed by information about PanCan and the event in St. Louis.

http://pancan.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=316311&lis=1&kntae316311=40D8C9C3C02647559E9B8E9538D3C80C&supId=265099601

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is a non-profit organization working to advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer. The organization funds research grants, provides information and resources to patients and their families at no cost, pushes for increased federal research funding and educates the public about this disease.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, yet it receives less funding per patient than other leading cancer killers. Your support helps the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network fulfill its mission and provides hope to the over 37,000 Americans who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.

Good Report

Dad got the results of his Cat Scan Monday and the cancer has not spread. One tumor in the lower lung doubled in size but the tumor on the pancreas decreased in size a little. We're extremely happy with the report. The doctor decided to keep him on the same treatment plan for the time being. Dad thanked the doctor for all he had done and the doctor looked at him and said, "Don't thank me, thank God." Needless to say, the doctor is very surprised and excited about the results of the test.

He had to get a pint of blood prior to his treatment today due to a low red blood cell count.

All things considered he's doing pretty good. We went dove hunting the last time I was at home and I think he's planning on coming up here in a couple weeks for urban deer season. I met him and mom last weekend at Springfield for my buddies annual fish fry. Mom's doing good and Angie's staying busy with work and a new baby on the way in November.

I wish you and your families the best,

Take Care,

PS: The golf tournament last weekend was a success. The conservation team raised over $4100.00 for the American Cancer Society.

If your a MO state employee I encourage you to donate to PANCAN through the MSECC. It's code 8247.

Cat Scan Tomorrow

Dad's been doing good since the last post. He's continuing to take treatments every two weeks. He's taking another Cat Scan tomorrow. We hope and pray the cancer has not spread. Please keep dad in your thoughts and prayers tonight and tomorrow as he gets the test.

Thanks for your continued support,

Gorlinski Memorial Golf Tournament

The Conservation Relay team is having it's annual golf tournament Saturday, Septmember 26th at Lake of the Woods in Columbia. More information can be found at the team's website at http://conservationrelayforlife.missouri.org/. I'm not going to be able to make it but if your looking for something to do that weekend it should be a good time.

Good Evening,

Since the last post mom and dad have both had birthdays (August 3rd and 5th) and both seem to be doing good. Dad had a treatment last Tuesday and he got the pump taken off today. For now, the doctor decided not to do a CAT scan until his tumor markers increase. The current plan is to stick to the same treatment plan.

We spent last week in Florida on a family vacation. We stopped to pick up Ang, Ben, and James on the way down. It was a good time. Lots of sitting on the beach, eating, and of course, fishing. Dad and I went on a 10 hour deep sea fishing trip. We ended up about 43 miles out. I was a little worried that dad was not going to be able to pull it off, but as you can see in the pictures, he did just fine. We caught our limits of Red Snapper, Amberjack, and King Mackerel. We had the privilege of seeing a whale shark (largest living fish species) and a few dolphins on the way back to the marina. We brought back a lot of fish.

I'm so appreciative of the time spent with my family on the trip. The fishing trip was extremely special. While we were on the trip dad passed the one year mark of his diagnosis. It's hard to believe it's been a year.

As always, thanks for the continued support and prayers and I wish you and your families all the best.

Take Care,

Check out the video below.

Ben and I spent several days with mom and dad this week and had a great visit. One night, the Bixler brothers hosted a fish fry....pretty serious business as you can tell from this shot.



Dad is very tired and experiencing painful side effects secondary to the Neupogen injections he receives to replenish his white blood cell count. The chemo regimen he is on attacks the bone marrow, depleting red and white blood cells and platelets. However, as Tim described in the previous posts, dad never skips a beat. He is pushing and fighting and doesn't want to sit around and talk about cancer. Funny....one of Grandpa Bixler's canes was at the house. Uncle Craw told dad that he should use it to get around. Dad replied, "I don't want people to see me with it and think I'm sick."

For their birthdays, mom and dad received a veranda swing for the back yard. We couldn't get these three out of it to move it over the fence!




As always, thank you for the continued support and prayers.

07-17-09

Dad had another treatment this week even though his platelet counts were down. He went to Cape every day for 4 days prior to his treatment to get shots to raise his white blood count. His oncologist is thinking about decreasing the dose of chemo by 25 percent. Dad will get another CT scan in a couple of weeks. The results of the scan will give us a better of idea of what treatment option to pursue. Hopefully the cancer has not spread.

My grandmother (dad’s mom) fell last week and broke her shoulder and hip. Dad and his siblings have been staying with her at the hospital in Cape. It sounds like the doctors are trying to get her stable enough to perform surgery tomorrow morning.

Later,

"There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
-- Albert Einstein

"Never Give Up"

Mom and dad just left Columbia to head back to Sikeston. Dad had a treatment last Tuesday, took the pump off Thursday, and headed up here Thursday afternoon. We had a good time although dad was extremely weak. We watched the city's fireworks on the 4th, spent some time at the winery on Saturday, went to the farmers market, did some work around the house, etc... Dad got stung by a wasp when we were working outside. His hand swelled up a little. Wasn't anything a little vinegar and baking soda wouldn't take care of. I've attached a picture from the 4th.

The treatments are starting to knock dad more that they used to. He's still losing weight. Over 115 pounds. It amazes me that he's still getting around like he is. He stumbles around a little when walking but keeps on going. He's definetly a fighter. I question whether I'd be able to handle something like this as well as dad has. Probably not. My observation is that he's struggling to keep going, although he doesn't gripe or complain. I think he's trying to teach me a lesson, all of us for that matter. His own words to me this weekend were. "You gotta keep on going, never give up, no matter what the situation."

I hope those of you close to the situation get something positive out of dad's fight against cancer. Deep down I don't think he's fighting for himself, it's for all the people he loves. Dad's always seemed to live for everyone else. Caring for others more than himself. As I've grown older I realize how hard it is to live like dad. It's admirable.

Dad has to go to Cape for shots that will boost his white blood cells Thursday thru Saturday of this week. He'll probably take another treatment next Tuesday.

Hope all of you had a good 4th.

June 26, 2009

Good Evening,

Mom and dad are both doing well. Mom shook her cold and dad seems to be gaining a little strength . Dad's starting to get out some. They went to see Kenny Rogers earlier this week in Sikeston and yesterday they celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. Dad's continuing to work in the garden and around the house. They'll be around town this weekend. Dad's scheduled for another treatment next Tuesday. Mom was talking today how dad has had 21 treatments so far.

Have a good weekend,

Back at the House

Dad was discharged from the hospital this afternoon. The infection in the colon has healed but they're going to keep him on antibiotics for a couple of weeks. The doctor said it may take a month or so to get rid of the pneumonia. Dad still has a cough, but has quit coughing up blood. His white blood count is back to normal. He's weak. As weak as I've seen him, but I'm hoping he'll start getting his strength back now that he's out of the hospital.

Thanks to everyone who called, sent cards, and stopped by while dad was in the hospital. Thanks for checking on mom as well. She's feeling a lot better.

Well, got to go, Ribeye's tonight!

Still in hospital

Dad's still in the hospital. He still has the infection in his colon, pneumonia, low blood counts, stomach and back pain (which may be caused by the shots they're giving him to raise his white blood count), etc..

The doctors seem to think he's going to pull out of this. If the blood levels rise over the next couple of days they may let him come home. If that's the case, he'll be on antibiotics for a couple of weeks.

We did go outside for a bit yesterday. He wanted to see how hot it was outside so the nurses let me take him. We thought about trying to escape once they let him out, or at least go to Andy's, but we settled for a stroll around the hospital instead.

He's about as tired as I've ever seen him. I guess it's to be expected.

Mom is still sick but may be feeling a little better.

Have a good day

June 16, 2009

Mom called this morning and said dad has pneumonia. Mom's sick and can't go visit because his white blood count is so low (although it's starting to increase a little because of the shots). I'll probably head back home to check on things here in a day or two.

Dad just called as I was writing this. He sounds a lot more congested than he did yesterday but was hopeful that the antibiotics would help him.

I'll keep you posted.

Have a good day.

Back in the Hospital

Dad’s been battling low white blood counts the last couple of weeks. Apparently the chemo wears down bone marrow over time which results in fewer white and red blood cells being produced. As a result, his immune system weakens. A couple weeks ago he had to put off getting a treatment for a few days while he took shots daily to boost his white blood count.

Mom and dad spent last week down at Angie’s. Dad was getting noticeably fatigue while he was there. He got back on Friday and spent most of the day Saturday out at the Relay for Life event. Late Saturday night he started shaking pretty bad and his fever shot up. Mom took him to Southeast Hospital and they admitted him early Sunday morning. Currently, all his blood levels are messed up and he has a bacterium of some sort in his colon. They’ve got him on several antibiotics and when I spoke with mom earlier they were giving him a couple pints of blood. They’re still waiting for the results of some of the cultures. With his immune system being down they’re keeping him somewhat isolated, although family and friends are allowed in with masks.

Dad’s in good spirits.

He’s got one heck of a garden. I went home for a day last week and he took me out to give me the tour. You can tell he’s putting some time in on it. Tomatoes, squash, okra, peppers! He’s got plants hanging from buckets, squash growing out of tree trunks. He’s got the best blackberry crop he’s ever had. When I drove up last week he was in the front doing some yard work and he had blood all over his arms. Apparently he tried to get the riding mower under the apple tree and the tree won the battle. I couldn’t help but laugh.

I’ll keep you posted as we find out more.

Take care,

Matthews reunion

Mom and dad attended the Matthews High School reunion this weekend with Uncle Craw and Aunt Jo. They had a great time.

SPEECHLESS

I don't have the words to explain the feeling this morning when dad called with the results of the CT scan and told me the cancer has stabilized and has not spread. In a world with so much negative energy it's so refreshing to see the power of hope and prayer at work in my father's life. I can't thank you enough for your continued support.

The plan is for dad to continue to take one 48 hour treatment every 2 weeks for the next 8 weeks. (4 Treatments) Then he'll take another scan.

Mom and dad are looking forward to attending their class reunion this weekend.

God Bless all our family and friends!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Tim


Message from Ang!

Tim beat me to the punch. I had actually postponed calling mom to hear the results of the scan until after a meeting. During the meeting, I received a text from mom which read, "The cancer is stable!" I definitely had a moment of quiet rejoicing. It is important to note that the cancer has not shrunk, it has stabilized. The drugs approved by the FDA for pancreatic cancer are not expected to shrink the tumor, necessarily, but are developed to stop the growth. Thankfully, dad is responding well to these treatments.

Benjamin and I are headed to MO this weekend while James is out of town. We are especially looking forward to this visit.

Mom was telling me this morning that they had special prayer for dad at church Sunday and that one special lady in particular had a special prayer for mom. She said she felt so refreshed after the service and was so encouraged by it. Again, we are so sincerely grateful for the continued prayers and support you all have demonstrated. We truly believe the roots of healing begin with the prayers of friends and family. We need to continue to encourage dad to maintain his weight and strength, as his physical properties are necessary to his fight. We also want to encourage everyone to write your legislators to ask them to support bills funding more cancer research.

Love to all,
Angie

Conservation Relay for Life Event

If your in the Columbia area this weekend and looking for something to do our Conservation Relay for Life Team is holding it's annual Kim Graham Memorial Shoot for a Cure Sporting Clays Classic at River Hills Sporting Clays in Booneville, MO tomorrow. It'll be a good time and all proceeds from registration and food sales benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information and driving directions visit the team's website at http://conservationrelayforlife.missouri.org/

Mom and dad are going to the cardinals game so they won't be here but I should be around. Stop by if you get a chance. We'll shoot something.

A Little Time Away

Good Evening!

I just got home after spending the last 5 days with mom and dad. I have to say that this trip was by far the most relaxing trip we've been on since dad's diagnosis. We had a blast. We spent a few days in Branson where we caught an air show that included a B-2 Bomber and the Thunderbirds followed by a surprise trip for mom at a property (Paradise Lake) north of Springfield. Dad and I fished while mom posted up with a book most of the time. The hardest choice for mom for a few days was whether to read in the hot tub or next to the firepit overlooking the 5 acre private lake. This place was great. Very secluded. The first thing mom asked me as we were traveling by the dairy farm on the way back to the property was if we were lost. I hated to leave. Mom said it reminded her of where she grew up next to the Whitten Lakes near Little River.

Dad is obviously very weak. He refuses to give up and continues to tell us he feels fine. His white blood count is low and he has to go in to take a shot Saturday morning to help raise the count. After he gets his shot they're going up to the Cardinals game for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Networks day at Busch Stadium.

Dad planted a garden last week. Hopefully the storms didn't level it.

I hated to leave them today.

Please continue to pray for my father.

Quick Update

Dad is tolerating the new treatments fairly well. The pick line was taken out last week and a new port was put in. He seems to be doing pretty good. Unfortunately he's continuing to lose weight and has lost over 100 pounds. I guess it was good he had a few extra pounds to start with. He's taking a 48 hour treatment every two weeks and the next CATscan is on May 15th. The family is staying busy. Mom and dad went to Alabama a couple weeks ago to watch Ben for a week. I think they're going back this weekend for Ben's B-day. Angie's staying busy with work and Ben. I've also got another nephew/niece on the way. Yes, Angie's pregnant. As for me, I've been spending lot of time in the woods turkey hunting and at the lake fishing in between going home and work. I've had some success so far. Our group caught hundreds of small and largemouth bass a couple weeks ago in 20 ft of water using grubs and swimming minnows at our annual Bull Shoals Lake trip. (I'll attach a photo of some of the bigger ones.) The crappie are moving towards the banks at Lake of the Ozarks and are already on the banks at Truman. I've caught several limits of crappie over the last month but still haven't got a turkey. We're doing a small family vacation in a couple weeks and are planning a few more for the summer. Hope everyone is doing well and taking care of yourself.

Stay positive,

Tim

Doctor called.....

To tell dad that the tumor markers they drew yesterday were 5,000 lower than those from the end of Feb. This most likely indicates that dad responded positively to the chemo he received two weeks ago. There is anticipated fluctuation in these numbers. Hopefully, this decrease is a good sign. They will check the markers again in two weeks to see how he responded to yesterday's treatment.

Bad news

Dad learned at his oncologist appointment today that his tumor markers had jumped from 4,000 to 15,000. A rise like this typically indicates that the cancer has metastasized. The doctor attributed this spread to the length of time dad went without treatment while he was hospitalized. There is no line of treatment beyond what he is currently receiving. He received a treatment of 5FU and oxaliplatin today, which will be infused for the next two days. They will check the markers again next week. If the markers have not decreased, the doctor recommended that dad discontinue treatment. Obviously, mom and dad are distressed today, but remain hopeful that the tumor will respond to the treatment. Mom and dad asked the oncologist if there are any clinical trials for which dad would be appropriate. We also are checking the online clinical trials databases. Given the advanced state of dad's cancer, it is doubtful that we will find a clinical trial. Please continue to pray.

March Madness

Isn't that the truth!? Dad received his first chemo treatment last Tuesday after being prevented from receiving treatments due to the blood infection and subsequent complications. He went to St. Louis to have his liver stent replaced, at which time it was discovered that the stent had been the source of the infection all along. Tim had guessed that from the beginning. Just to recap....the doctors (after days of discord on the issue) decided to allow the infectious disease physician to remove dad's port, as the doc was convinced the port was the source of the infection. Dad learned last week that all cultures taken from the port after it was removed were negative (no infection). Because the port was removed, a pic line was placed in his arm so he could receive his antibiotics. Mom has to flush the line twice daily. She is doing a fabulous job, though admits she did not miss her calling to be a nurse!

So...back to the chemo. Dad is now on to a Phase 2 chemo regimen consisting of a cocktail of 5FU and oxaliplatin. The oxaliplatin is more toxic than the tarceva was, but has shown promising results in preliminary studies completed at MD Anderson. Dad also has a new oncologist, as Dr. Sorscher is now only seeing his patients in St. Louis. This was a difficult transition, as mom and dad had developed quite a fondness and trust for Dr. Sorscher and his nurse, Sherry.

Dad is feeling quite fatigued from the chemo, but is hanging in there. He is watching lots of basketball and has been doing some yard work. Benjamin and I spent my spring break with mom and dad and had a great time. Somehow, I got through the whole week without taking a picture of dad and Ben, but here is one of "MiMi Lou" and Ben at the park that I love. Funny .....Ben started calling dad "Grandpa Lou!" Ha.



An interesting theme that has emerged is that each doctor who saw dad at the time he was diagnosed has been shocked to see how well he is still doing. His GI specialist in St. Louis said he must be a special man....he admitted he did not expect to see dad back at 7 months post dx. Everyone, even the specialists, agree that dad's attitude is the source of his strength and perseverance.

Please continue to pray for dad and mom. Each day is a blessing no matter our circumstance.

TGIF

I met mom and dad in St. Louis last night and dad had his stent replaced this morning. The procedure went well. The doctor said the stent was blocked. More than likely this is what caused the bacteria in dad's blood. They let him go home after the procedure.

Although dad has not been healed, I do believe there have been a few miracles along the way. There's power in prayer and I have no doubt the hope and prayers from family and friends have played a role in dad's success. He is determined more than ever to continue to fight the disease. He says he doesn't even feel sick. He hasn't given up and I ask that you don't either. Please continue to pray for dad. It helps.
Have a good weekend.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1879016-1,00.html

Fixin to go home!

The hospital is in the process of discharging dad. The infectious disease doctor took control of things yesterday and formulated a plan. The results of the test performed last Friday didn't show much and there really not sure how dad got E. Coli. They took his port out this morning because it could be infected with the bacteria. This afternoon they hooked dad up with a pick line so he can get chemo, blood, etc. Mom will have the flush the pick line twice a day. Dad will have to be on antibiotics through an IV (maybe through the pick line, I'm not sure) at Sikeston every day for the next 14 days to make sure the bacteria is gone. They're not going to give dad chemo while he's on the antibiotics. Dad is coming up to St. Louis on Friday to get his stent replaced. Dad's comfortable with the plan. He's in good spirits and glad to be going home.

Ball of Confusion

Wow! That's about all I can say about today. I don't think I've ever been so confused in my life. I can't begin to write about the experience we had today at the hospital. Mass confusion, disorganization, lack of communication, pride, and lies. Man, what a mess. Whatever your thinking, it was worse. As a family we have seen a lot over the last year. But never have I been more disappointed with the way things have gone as I was today. To top it all off, I don't think we made a whole lot of progress.

The good news is that dad's doing ok. We stayed up past midnight last night playing old Elvis concert clips on You Tube and telling stories. I'm surprised they didn't call security on us. It got pretty loud.

I pray that tomorrow starts out better than today and hope the medical staff can put pride aside and work together. I have a feeling dad may be coming home tomorrow. I'm thinking about checking him out of the hospital. There comes a point when sitting in the hospital can do more harm than good. I realize this is a difficult situation for the doctors and the medical staff and some of the inefficiences are frustrating to them as well. I don't necessarily think the problems today were the fault of a single person, but yet a small glimpse into a much bigger problem.

Ding! Ding!
Round two tomorrow.

No New News

Well, I wrote a pretty good blog this morning but decided not to post it. That's happened several times over the last 6 months. The title was going to be something like "Inefficiencies in Large Organizations." Think about that one for a while.

Anyway, we don't know anything new. Dad has a lot of pain. His fever is normal and some of the cultures came back negative yesterday. They've found more spots on his lungs, in his stomach, and in his colon. They're assuming they're probably cancer. The substitute doctors (weekend crew) apparently can't call many shots so we're waiting for the A-Team to get back tomorrow. I'm about to head up to the hospital. Mom's not feeling well so she's staying in today. I'm going to take some favors up to dad and were going to have a party at the hospital. Mizzou / Kansas game at 1. Everybody welcome.

Still in the hospital

The bacteria infection in dad's bloodstream is E. Coli. They ran a test this evening at 4:30 using nuclear medicine to try and find out where the infection is coming from. To do the test they took some blood from dad this morning and sent it to Paducah. Apparently they take the red blood cells out of the blood and inject the white blood cells with the medicine. They took the blood around 7 this morning and had it back from Paducah and in him a little after noon. The theory is that the white blood cells that contain the medicine will travel to the area of the infection and show up on the scan. We will probably learn more tomorrow. It seems like the antibiotics have helped him. He still has quite a bit of abdominal pain. He's lost his appetite but is still eating some. He's on the 5th floor at Southeast Hospital in Cape. They say there going to keep him until the cultures come back negative. If it clears up he'll be on antibiotics for a couple of weeks and will not be able to get a chemo treatment. The bacteria is a big deal and can be fatal. Hopefully it was caught early enough. Please continue to pray for dad.

Today...

Dad was admitted to Southeast Hospital. His liver enzymes are elevated, his fever spiked to 103.8, and some new symptoms have emerged including severe chest pain. They have ruled out pneumonia, heart attack, and lung infection. They are running many tests to identify the source of these symptoms. We'll keep you posted

Riding the Cancer Train....

The cancer has spread throughout dad's lungs and to some lymphnodes. However, the actual pancreatic tumor has remained relatively stable in size, which is an excellent indication that his body has responded to the Gemzar. Dr. Sorscher gave dad three options: continue the course of treatment he is currently on, try a different combination of drugs that are slightly more toxic and not FDA approved yet for pancreatic cancer, or discontinue treatment. Dad chose option 2 and started today. The 5 FU/oxaliplatin combination is delivered for 48 hours continuously through a pump that carries the meds through dad's port. He does this once every other week. This combination is typically used with patients who have colon cancer. However, a recent clinical trial using these drugs with patients with pancreatic cancer was recently completed at M.D. Anderson. Results indicated that 1/3 of the patients experienced some decrease in the size of their tumors. So, dad thought it was worth a shot. The side effects are expected to be considerably more intense, including severe reactions to cold food and temperatures, swelling of the hands and feet, and difficulty breathing. Hopefully, dad will not experience these. There currently is not Phase 2 drug protocol for people with pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Sorscher and Sheri, his nurse, continue to be amazed at dad's optimism and drive to fight this cancer. They contribute his success to treatment up to this point to his attitude.

Dad participated in the creation of the annual Wildlife Dinner at church. The men transformed the church gym into a wildlife spectacular, complete with once-live bears, leopards, moose, deer, boar, and many other animals. Even amidst an ice storm, the wildlife dinner was a huge success. The Bixler men were invited on stage to perform their famous hambone.Can't wait for that video to surface on you tube (wink).






The ice storm devastated most of southeast Missouri. Mom and dad lost many of their trees. Tim worked all day piling up as many of the branches and limbs as he could.












Ben and I spent several days with mom and dad in Sikeston. He loves getting spoiled almost as much as they love spoiling him. Dad even tolerated Barney for an afternoon.....sort of.......










Mom made a poignant statement today. She said she misses how simple life used to be. Now, if you know my mom, you know she rarely complains about anything in her life. This was not delivered as a complaint, but as a somber reflection. She commented how much different things were pre-cancer....when days didn't revolve around chemo drugs and side effects, phone calls with insurance companies, trips to doctors, fear over blood levels, chemo reactions, and the unknown. I many times find myself becoming overwhelmed at the busyness of our lives, but mom reminded me in her gentle way that though things are stressful, life is full of many blessings. The simplicity and busyness of each daily opportunity and obligation and accomplishment should be fully embraced and appreciated because, "That's just what we've always done." I have never heard her complain about any detail involving dad's care. She is living her vow, "in sickness and in health" with love and devotion that is deeply admirable.

Aunt Marge emailed this to me a few weeks ago and I loved it....

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! Seems appropriate for dad's blog.

Hope you all are well and warm and loved,
Angie

Take Action

I know everyone is busy, but we would be most grateful if you took a few minutes to write your legislators in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act (HR 745). It was introduced in 2008, but evidently there was not time before the close of the session for it to be discussed and passed. Now that congress has reconvened, it is crucial that we demonstrate support for this very important bill. It would be the first pancreatic cancer legislation in history.

Please take the time to copy and paste the address below enter your browser, click on the first option (to write a letter to your representative), enter your zip code, and send a note of support to your representatives. There is already a letter template for you. Just sign your name and hit send!

Thank you!!!
http://www.pancan.org/Public/take.html

Jan 29th

Mom and dad went to up to Cape this morning so dad could get some blood. Apparently they didn't have the right type of blood so dad came back home. They're going back up to try it again tomorrow. They're still out of power.

"It is what it is"

Good Afternoon! I hope most of you have found a warm place to lay low for a few days. Most of you will have to have a generator so you can read this. It sounds like SE Missouri got hit pretty hard. I spoke with dad earlier and he seemed to be doing OK. He said this was the worst ice storm they’ve had since the 1950’s. They lost power at 5:00 yesterday and have limbs in the yard and on the house. The fireplace is keeping the house warm and they think they have plenty of supplies to last for several days. Dad was in the process of trying to rig up a way to make coffee for mom when I spoke with him earlier. Mom got her first camping experience cooking chicken noodle soup over the fire.

Dad had a CT scan on Monday and should get the results early next week. He didn’t have a treatment this week but is scheduled to get a couple quarts of blood tomorrow. He’s had increased pain in his chest the last couple of weeks and is continuing to lose weight. He’s also been running a fever that last few days although I think it’s came down a little with the help of some antibiotics. The appointment next week is important. We’ll have a better idea of how the cancer is reacting to the treatments. Depending on the results, the doctor may decide to switch things up because the body adapts to the treatments over time.

We continue to hope for the best and appreciate the continued support we are receiving from friends and family. With me and Angie living hours away your love and support for dad has made us feel a little more comfortable about not being there on a day to day basis. I know he’s in good hands. Dad’s spirits are still good and he’s putting faith in God to heal him. We understand God cannot heal everybody, but we have to keep in mind that healing someone is extremely easy for God to do. Please continue to pray for dad if you get a chance. If you’re not a prayer, your wishful thinking and positive thoughts are greatly appreciated as well.

On a side note, I really enjoyed the Wildlife Banquet at the church last weekend. I can only imagine how much work something like that takes. That was top notch. I want to thank all the men and women that made it possible. The banquet has always been something my family has enjoyed. I hear rumors about a winter theme next year. I’m looking forward to it.

We’ll keep you posted,

Treatment today

Dad received a Gemzar treatment today. His labs looked good with the exception of a slightly high liver enzyme level. Elevated liver enzymes can evidently be caused by the chemo. Anyone know anything about this?? He's a little tired, but thankfully doing well overall.