Surgery Tomorrow

Ace will go into the hospital for outpatient surgery tomorrow.  He has two granuloma's which the doctor will laser to remove.  He will also receive botox to his vocal chords, I think to paralyze them so he will not be able to use them for a few days.  That's what I took away from the last visit to the doctor.  We will go into the hospital in the morning at 7:00 and sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening, I will bring him home.  I was told he needed to be with someone for at least 24 hours.  He will also have the granulomas biopsied.  Dr. Tarontola does not think they are cancerous, but wants to make sure they are benign.

Throat Still Bothering Ace

Dr. Coughlin Visit

Went with Ace to see the ENT doctor.  There are some red spots on his vocal chord that have not receded, therefore the Doctor made an appointment to have go into hospital for outpatient treatment biopsy.  He doesn't think it is cancer, but they want to make sure.  He will go in on 29th August 2015.

Still has some discomfort

I haven't written in Ace's blog for a while, so here is an update.  He is doing fine, although he still has some discomfort and after he talks a lot, his throat hurts and he sounds gravelly.  If this continues, they are going to take another biopsy of his throat.  He seems more tired than he used to.  If we run all day, he's more tired than I am.  He falls asleep while he is watching TV more often than he used to.  I don't know if its the aftermath of cancer or he is just getting older. 

Dr Coughlin Visit - Not pleasant

We went to see the ENT doctor yesterday. He once again put a "wire" with a camera on the end down Ace's nose deep down into the recesses of his throat.  The problem persists. He still has some red spots on his larynx.  Whatever is down there is affecting his vocal cords on the left side.  The doctor doesn't think it's cancer, but says if they do not go away by the next visit in 6 weeks, he will have to go into hospital as outpatient and get a biopsy of them. Ace still coughs up white mucous which the doctor said he should not be doing.  When Ace talks too much, he has some discomfort and his voice gets very raspy. He sometimes can't sleep very well and has to sleep in an elevated position.   He is often short of breath and doing anything physical is difficult for him.  Cancer has taken a toll on him, or maybe it was the chemo or radiation, but he is not 100% yet.

Fathers Day

Sorry I haven't written in Ace's Health Blog for a while.  He is doing so well, I can't think of anything to write. He's still having fatigue and his speech is labored, but he is functioning at almost full throttle.  He's been in California for 2 weeks to see his mother.  He spent Father's day with his sons in California and had a lovely time. I spend every other week at Darby's while he receives chemo.  I plan everything around Darby's chemo and I'm so grateful that we don't have to go to the doctor 3 times a week anymore and I can just deal with Darby's schedule.

Mother's Day

I heard from all the kids, so it was a good day. Darby came over for dinner and left the dog for us to have until tomorrow.  Brian and Shireen stopped by on their way to a movie.  Kelly, Debra, Jim and Brian called.  My life is good.  Ace is feeling pretty good, but has an appointment with an ENT doctor next week. The oncologist thinks the radiation may have damaged his vocal chords. He is still having some pain at night and his voice is raspy and sometimes he has trouble swallowing.  His energy level has improved slightly.  He takes more naps than he used to, but always feels tired.  I'm not going to worry until I have something to worry about.  Dr. Tarantola assures us that the cancer is gone.

Checkup Today

Ace will see Dr. Tarantola today for his first checkup since he completed his radiation therapy.  He still has some soreness in his throat and often has trouble swallowing.  Perhaps Dr. Tarantola will explain if this is normal and what Ace can do to lesson the discomfort.  Other than that, Ace is feeling pretty good.

Extra Bed Partner

I never thought Ace would allow a dog to sleep in our bed, but Dusty gets away with it.  We have Darby's dog this week, while Darby works getting his store closed.  Dusty is the smartest dog I've every known.  He has even won Ace over.  Dusty follows me around, but if I'm busy, he will sit with Ace and watch TV.

Ace got a new phone

I'm giving advice in this blog to all who read this.  If your loved one buys a new phone, take a two-day trip the day he gets it.  After many hours doing research on the internet and  3 long visits to Verizon, and much self-talk (out loud), Ace finally settled on a Galaxy something or other.  You would think he would work with it for a couple of hours and he's ready to go.  He didn't get all of his data transferred. He had to reload all his apps.  He can't find something that he is sure should be there.  He was most excited when he found that he had lost his notes.  "Who looks at notes after you write them."  Apparently, Ace keeps his passwords in his notes.  He was so engaged in setting up his phone, he forgot to set the garbage out until at 10:30 last night, when I reminded him of his one obligatory duty of the week.  He didn't sleep very well last night. I suspect he was worried about his "notes."


By the way, he is feeling just fine.

Continuing Improvement

Ace is pretty near 100%.  He is talking about taking a trip very soon.  I probably won't write in this every day as I have been doing.  It would just be more of the same.  If Darby wasn't still struggling, we would be back to normal.  Ace still has to eat very slowly to avoid choking. The doctor said it would be a couple of months before every thing is back to normal.

Back to normal

Ace's hair has returned along with most of his energy. His neck has healed and he is doing just fine.  I probably won't write in this blog as often since there is nothing to report.  We just went through an episode with me.  I was very sick for 24 hours with stomach flue. I woke up yesterday morning at 3am heaving with a ferocity that I've never experienced before.  After many hours of losing fluids out of all my orifices, Ace took me to the doctor and he gave me IV of fluids and Zofran.  I came home and slept the rest of the day.  I'm fine this morning, just a bit weak.

Improving every day

The full voice has returned.  Ace can now yell up the stairs at me instead of being forced to come up the stairs to get me to do something.  His energy level is slowly returning. He still takes a nap during the day most days, but doesn't sleep as long. He now has a nasty cold and complains a lot that it's hard to swallow, but is eating and maintaining his weight at around 170.

Happy Easter

Easter is a wonderful holiday. The great gift of Easter is hope.  As a Christian, I have confidence in God and his goodness and love.  The fact that Christ has risen does not change the contemporary world, but we believe that not only Christ is risen, but we too will rise.  Ace is doing good. He still has a bit of a sore throat, but is improving daily.

Getting Better - Still a Ways to Go

Ace and I went on a little 2-day mini vacation just to have a change of scenery.  We went to Des Moines to shop and stay over night.  We didn't buy much, but we enjoyed the quiet time and rest.  Ace broke his glasses so he had to buy Walgreens glasses for him to be able to read.  We relaxed and shopped.  Ace's throat still hurts, but is getting better daily.  His voice is back.  I still have a hard time hearing and understanding what he says, but with the rate of his improvement, I hope he will be back to normal speaking in another two or three weeks.

Voice returning intermittently

Patience is the word around here.  I will be able to hear and understand Ace again.  It's coming back a little at a time.  Every once in a while a word comes out in his old voice.  He still whispers most of the time, but we can see that he will talk again. He is feeling better every day and we hope will soon be back to his old self.

Voice now croaky like a frog

I still can't hear Ace when he talks, but that is partly because my hearing is a bit impaired.  He is talking a bit, but still in a whispery, croaky voice.  His neck is healing nicely and he is swallowing with less effort than he was a week ago.  It will be two weeks Monday since he had his last treatment and the doctor promised that we would notice an improvement in two weeks.  His energy is coming back, but not as fast as he would like.  He is still napping a bit during the day, but only short naps. We are so grateful that the treatment is over and pray everyday that the cancer is gone forever.

Ace is Improving, but Still can't speak above a whisper.

Ace is getting better every day. He still speaks in whispers. He tried to talk today, but sounded like a frog croaking.  He went back to a whisper.  His appetite is returning and he got a haircut yesterday. Today he wanted to go to the movies, but I couldn't find the time.  It's one day at a time.  I feel confident he will speak again in his old voice.

Ace's neck healing

Ace's neck looked a lot better today. It has improved a lot in the last couple of days.. It didn't feel hot to the touch.  He felt better yesterday and slept last night in the bed instead of the chair.  He is on the mend.

Still Can't Talk

Ace's neck looks better, but he still can't talk above a whisper.  When I'm out of the house, he doesn't answer the phone.  His neck is healing and all the blisters have popped and it no longer looks like raw meat.  He has trouble swallowing, but is improving.  He ate a tuna salad sandwich yesterday. 

Getting Better

Aces neck is not as red and raw as it was 2 days ago.  He is sleeping better and eating again.  He still can't talk or swallow big bites, but he is improving slightly.  He seems to be sleeping quite a lot and is really tired most of the time.  It's a slow process, but we're moving in the right direction now.

Neck burnt and peeling

Ace's neck looks like hamburger meat and is hot like a very bad sunburn. He gas had all the radiation treatments.  We are at the bottom of the hill and on our way up now. His throat is sore and he still isn't eating very well. We're eating a lot of pasta and soup, but I hope he will be able to eat hamburger again.  We were told that at the end of 2 weeks, he would notice an improvement in everything.  I can't wait.  I'm grateful for hockey season so he has something to watch on television. 

No Radiation Today, Hooray

It's wonderful being able to stay home today.  Ace is feeling lousy, but he doesn't have to face the radiation machine today and only one more day left.  We were told yesterday that it would take two or three weeks for the pain to subside. We have an appointment Tuesday to talk to the doctor and then we won't have to see the doctor for two months.  We will have to go once a month to have his port flushed for 6 months and then he will have it removed if all goes well.  We are optimistic and hopeful.  This has been a difficult week since Darby and Ace both were hurting and I felt I was being pulled apart.  How grateful I am for my son Brian who has taken care of his brother when I am taking care of Ace.  I felt like I needed to be both places all the time.

One More Day of Radiation

Ace's neck looks like it's been burned.  He complains that it hurts, burns and itches.  We put lotion on it, but it didn't help.  He's hurting, but is comforted that he has only one more treatment.  He has medicine that he takes several times a day and it helps temporarily.  I don't know what to do to help him.  He lost 5 pounds this past week and the doctor told him to drink Boost because he needs protein to help the healing process.  He ate egg salad and today had noodles with butter only.  He said it slipped down easily so for the next few days, we will have noodles or mac and cheese.

Three More Days of Radiation

Three and counting.  Ace saw a lady doctor this morning who told Ace that he should only whisper from now until after treatment.  The only way to keep him from talking is to leave him alone and I'm not sure he wont talk to the television. He can hardly talk anyway, but the doctor said talking might hurt his vocal cords.  I have trouble hearing him already, now he will have to come tap me on the shoulder if he wants to communicate with me.  We are counting the days until radiation is over.

Four More Days of Radiation after today

Today will be long.  I will go with Ace at 10AM for treatment and then with Darby at 11:30 AM.  Ace had another night of getting up and down and taking medicine.  We can't wait until radiation is over.  He can only speak with a whisper now. I'm fearful they are frying his vocal cords.  We're having problems communicating.  He can't speak loud and I can't hear very well.  I have to be right next to him to hear him.  I keep telling myself, "And this too shall pass."  We will sleep through the night again.  Ace will again be able to yell up the stairs at me and I'll be able to hear him.  We took our good life for granted and we will again go back to it, but I'll never take it for granted again.

5 days of Radiation left

Ace cannot talk today and his throat hurts constantly.  He couldn't talk to his  mother yesterday.  He texted to his sister.  He ate jello almost exclusively and had trouble sleeping last night.  We have only 6 more days of radiation.  I believe radiation has been worse for him than the chemo. Ace said he wouldn't take the hydrocodone, but his pain convinced him he should take it. I thought the medicine would make him sleep, but it didn't. It did take the edge off the pain though.  We had a birthday dinner for Darby yesterday with lots of good food to eat, but Ace could only get the jello down.  I had real whip cream on the top, so he did get a few calories.  I couldn't get him to drink a protein drink, but he said he would today if he still couldn't eat.

Rough Night and Daylight Savings Time

I love and hate Daylight Savings Time.  Ace didn't sleep very well so I didn't sleep very well either.  His throat hurts all the time now as predicted by the doctor.  The mouthwash helps but only temporarily. He went to church this morning in spite of the fact that he felt awful.  He's more dedicated than I am. I would have stayed home and whined.  He was out of here by 6:45 because he had a meeting at 7:00.  He can hardly talk, but away he went. 

Seven Days Remaining Radiation

We have seven days left of radiation treatment.  It feels like a job going to radiation. Every morning we have to be there by 10AM.  Every day his voice gets a bit raspier and he is eating less because his throat hurts.  The doctor gave him some pain medicine but he is not going to take it unless it gets unbearable.  He also gave him some liquid to swish and swallow that he takes 6 times a day.  It does help. 

Radiation Effecting Ace's Voice

Once again Ace's voice is raspy and labored.  He is having trouble talking, swallowing and eating.  The doctor said yesterday it's to be expected and gave him a prescription of Hydrocodone.  I don't think Ace is going to fill the prescription.  He is going to try to just struggle through.  Hydrocodone is an addictive drug and he thinks it will make him want to sleep a lot.  If it gets worse, he may have to take the drug.  Darby's doctor prescribed the same drug and Darby has refused to take it as well.  I've taken the drug for back problems a couple of years ago and I didn't get hooked and it helped a lot.  I don't know why they won't take it when they absolutely need it.  Both Ace and Darby are handling their pain and suffering courageously and I'm in awe of both of them, even though they both frustrate me.

Throat Sore - Problem swallowing

It's been a long winter. I hope March will go fast. April is usually warm and Darby and Ace both will do better when it's warm.  Ace's throat hurt him today and he had trouble swallowing. Even the spaghetti I fixed for dinner caused him pain when he ate it.  Now, I'm concerned that he will lose weight again because he doesn't want to eat anything.
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Check - Another Radiation Day Over

We are a bit weary of all these trips to the Cancer Center and we are eagerly awaiting the end of the treatment.  Ace is doing well. He has a bit of a sore throat, but we are told that is to be expected.  The fatigue has set in. but we are prepared for that too. It's winter and there is not much to do anyway. I'm so grateful for hockey season so Ace can watch a lot of television.

Radiation Equals A Sore Throat

We saw Dr. Longo (Ace's Radiation Doctor) Wednesday.  All is going well, but he did say that "There is no way Ace will go through this without getting a sore throat."  He also again warned us that the discomfort will increase with each treatment.  So far Ace is doing very well. He is a bit tired and complains once in a while that swallowing is difficult.  Dr.  Longo also stated some statistics to us. He said 80% of people with the kind of cancer Ace has and the treatment Ace has are cured.  20% will have a reoccurrence of the cancer within 2 years.  Ace will be considered cured after 5 years.  We are optimistic and grateful for the good doctors we have had and the treatment that has effective.

15 more days of Radiation

Ace and I saw the doctor today.  He said there is no way Ace is going to go through this without having a sore throat.  His voice is already raspy and we are told that the discomfort will be accumulative.  He will progressively become more uncomfortable and have a raspy voice as his treatment progresses.  He has a great attitude and does exactly what the doctor orders.  We trust the doctor to do everything possible to help him.

First Radiation Treatment uneventful

Kevin took Ace for his first radiation treatment.  It take 35 to 45 minutes to get to the Midwest Cancer Center for Ace to get radiation and then takes 10 minutes for the treatment.  We are told that the side effects will accumulate.  The last treatment will be worse than the first. As it was, Ace didn't feel any side effects from this first treatment.  His hair is growing back.  He looks like a chia pet now. He tires easily, but feels okay.

The hair is growing back

Ace is doing very well. He starts radiation next week for 20 days in a row, 5 days a week.  The doctor says it will feel like getting a sunburn.  He has complained a bit about a sore throat lately, but it just might be the cold weather and the dryness we always endure with the house closed up and the furnace running. He's extremely happy this week because Kevin and his family are here from California.  They haven't been here since 2010 and we are delighted to have them here.  The kids are excited about the snow on our back porch.  Aaron laid down in it and made snow angels.  It was 18 degrees, but they didn't seem to mind the cold while they were playing in the snow.

Radiation Ordered

This has possibly been the worst day of my life.  This morning Ace's doctor said he would have to have radiation treatments for 20 days. We will have to go to west Omaha 5 days a week for four  weeks.  They fitted him with a facial mask made of plastic to use while under radiation treatment. The mask will protect his face. The told him it would feel like he was getting a sun burn every day of the treatment. Other side effects is fatigue.  After Ace's appointment, I rushed to go to Darby's appointment with the doctor to talk about the results of his CT Scan.  The cancer in his liver and in the lungs have increased in size from the last CT Scan reading.  After hearing that disappointing news, I got high-centered in the Prius and spent 2 hours trying to shovel myself out.  I was almost out, when Darby's neighbor came over and gave me the final push out of Darby's driveway. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

The New Normal

We had a quiet weekend.  We did go over to check on Darby and to church.  It was damp and cold.


Going to the doctor 2 or 3 times a week was my normal for several months. Now that Ace doesn't go so often, we have a new normal.  I still think I have to keep up that pace. Maybe I can get back to quilting. We're not done yet, but it seems that the pace has slowed considerably.  Hopefully Ace won't have to have radiation and then I'll feel it really is over and all we have to do is pay the deductible incurred.  We used to meet our deductible sometime in June. Now one visit to the Cancer Center almost does it. The important thing is that Ace is almost recovered and his hair is coming back in scruffy and uneven.  He will have to start shaving again. He is hoping the ear hairs won't return, but one has to take the good with the bad. Now I can concentrate on Darby exclusively.

Ace is home

Ace is home and we are almost back to normal.  I picked him up at Midnight Wednesday and I had to take Darby's to chemotherapy the next morning.  Today we will do laundry and wash the cars. I'm so grateful for the nice weather. We have had no snow yet this winter.  I believe Ace's hair is beginning to grow back in. He looks scruffy.   He is feeling good and weathered the trip to California with no ill effects.  Ace doesn't move very fast, but Eppie moves at a snail pace so she slowed him down enough that he didn't wear out as I expected he might. 

Ace coming home tonight from California

Ace will be coming home tonight from California.  I had plans to get lots of things done while he was gone, but didn't do very much.  I didn't even do any quilting.  I spent the week worrying about Darby's big decision this week.  When I worry, it's a full time job for me.  I did the usual things, but didn't do anything extra.  I lost 2 lbs this week so we know eating out every day with Ace is the reason I don't lose weight.  I watched the President's speech last night and was very impressed. He would have been an awesome president, if he would have had any support from the opposing party and some of his own party.  I didn't have any one to discuss the president's speech with.  Ace probably would not have watched it all, but it's nice to have someone to talk to. In short, I'm so happy he will be home tonight.

Ace doing very well

Ace has had his last chemo treatment we think.  He will have a PT Scan February 2nd which will determine whether he has radiation or not.  We are hoping he is done with chemo and will not be required to have radiation.  He is flying to California Monday which makes me just a bit nervous.  He gets very tired.  It will be a long trip for him, but I think he will be alright.  I hope he will let his family know when he is exhausted.

Last Chemo Treatment?????

Ace got his sixth chemo treatment today. Dr. Tarontola told us this would be the last chemo treatment.  I guess I thought now he would be well and just go in for follow up checkups, but we still have to get a Neulasta Shot on Monday and he has to have blood checks once a week and a PET Scan is scheduled for the first week in February.  We haven't been given a clean bill of health. I hope that will come when he gets the PET Scan in February.  We are grateful that he doesn't have to have chemo in three weeks, but we wish they would say "You are now cured," or "You are in remission."  Maybe I'm just impatient.  I'm really grateful for Ace's progress and continue to pray for his full recovery.