Pictures

Thanksgiving Pictures from Christi's house

2007 Christmas Pictures

This weeks update

Aunt Linda and I brought Mom to the oncologist on Wednesday. She will go back on next week for them to read her blood work and prepare for her next infusion if the results are good. He is checking her protein levels to determine if that is the cause of the swelling in her feet. He continues to take things one month at a time. He did mention that she will be re-doing all of the scans again soon to check the spread of the cancer

I received a call from Mom yesterday. She stated that Todd and Aunt Pat had come to visit; as well as Aunt Linda. (Special thanks to A.Linda for doing Mom's laundry.) What a perfect day for a visit... Mom found out that the couple who reside in the next room - the wife passed away. The husband (Mr. John) did not make it to the hospital before she passed away. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Everyone is saying that they do not expect him to live a long time without his wife. She has been in the hospital for several weeks and he has declined without seeing her.

Today is a remarkable day. Thanks to all for the birthday wishes. My co-workers helped me celebrate yesterday with a lunch from Mike Anderson's and a delicious chocolate on chocolate cake. YUM!! This morning, Chris took Lauren and her friend Destiny to school; so that I could have time to eat breakfast with Mom. Thanks Chris!

Shopping Adventure

Mrs. Delores thanks for a fun-filled night and morning of shopping. Mom and I usually do the traditional after-Thanksgiving shopping, but due to Mom being down - Mrs. D decided to fill in. Well, we began at 11:30 pm Thanksgiving night with shopping at Tanger Outlet in Gonzales. Whereas, the stores were really just opened and not really any sales to speak of... we were able to find some great gifts at great prices. Due to the lack of sleep, we were as giddy as the 14 year olds standing behind us at one store. Just not quite so annoying and loud about it. We were able to hit Walmart, Academy, Walgreens, Target, and both malls by 1pm on Friday. All in all, the day was a success. Only down side was the wait and rudeness at IHOP; but the food was still delicious or else we were starving and deprived of sleep.

Marty and Liz - maybe next year you want think we are so crazy?

Thanks Pammie - for the heads up on the stores opening at midnight!!!! It saved me!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving Update

Thanksgiving was great. We were all at Christi's house for the holidays. Maw-maw came in with Nancy, Darrell, Christina and Patrick. Her back is still hurting her. Results should come back this week. Karen and her bunch came into town; as well as, Angela and Heath with Baby Eli. The kids were all great and loved playing with all their cousins. The adults enjoyed cooking, eating, and visiting with all. The only ones missing were Ashley, Hanna and Austin - hopefully for Christmas. Mom did great and was not too exhausted for another adventure out of the rehab on Friday; but due to my shopping mayhem she waited until Saturday. Friday, Aunt Linda and Maw-maw went and watched the LSU game with Mom. Saturday, Mom spent the afternoon with us cleaning house and resting up from all of the shopping. Sunday, well - I don't know of anyone who opted to really get out of bed due to the cold and wet weather.

I hope to post some pictures from the holidays soon.

What's been going on?

Well, work has officially blocked me from using blogspot at work now. Therefore, I am getting a little behind on posting.

For the last two weekends, Mom has come to spend the day with us. She seems to be getting stronger and was able to actually walk a couple of times to stretch out her legs. She said that it is such an amazing feeling; even though it is so painful. She feels so free being out of the wheelchair. Some of you may be wondering if she is able to walk again. No, but at my house the wheelchair cannot fit into the bathroom; therefore, she must walk or be carried to the throne. She does not seem to mind this at all.

She was able last Monday to finally get her infusion (anti-cancer drip). Her calcium level was still low but improved and she needed to get it as it has almost been 6 weeks since the last infusion. She returns to the oncologist on Wednesday of this week. Not expecting any life-changing news - just a routine follow up. But I will keep you posted.

She is beginning to plan the holidays and who will be where and what we will be eating. This is something good that is keeping her occupied as she gets bored being so idle at times.

Please keep in your prayers...
Ben (my friend Pam's son) who is a quadriplegic from an automobile accident and is now suffering from severe headache and they are unable to determine the cause.
Mr. Doug (Pam's stepfather and friend) who has been recently been diagnosed with cancer and now fighting a battle of his own.
My friend Shannon's father who has been battling cancer and recently determined he is 95% better; just a few more rounds and hopefully he will be all clear.
Uncle Sam (my grandmother's brother) who is either in the hospital or just released.
His daughter (Sara-Louise) who needs guidance to get her life straight.

Maw-maw who is suffering with a ailing back from either arthritis or a pulled muscle.
And my family that we continue to find the strength to continue moving forward especially into the holiday season.

Sorry if I forgot anyone on the list. Just please comment and add.

Pictures of Eli

Here are the pictures of Angela and Heath's baby - ELI!!!!

Thanks to Aunt Melissa for the pictures!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Mom has had a great last couple of days.

Here is a picture of Mom from Tuesday.

Mom came home from the hospital on Friday night (10/12). On Tuesday, she went to her radiologist appointment and all went well. We will go back in 3 months to see Dr. Wood. He ran his finger down her back and she had no pain. He will not do additional radiation at this time. Yesterday, Christi and Aunt Nancy took Mom to meet with the oncologist. He did not tell us anything new from our visit last week with him. The medicine will take a couple of months before he can tell if it is helping. We will go back in a month to see him again. Mom will go to get her infusion this morning.

She seems to be doing okay - the riding is difficult and bumpy; but I think she is happy to get out of the rehab for a brief period of time.

Special thanks to Christi and Karen for taking turns spending the night at the hospital. Also to Aunt Linda, Uncle Paul, Aunt Pat, and Mrs. Linda for sitting with Mom during the days.

It's A Boy!!

Angela and Health had a healthy baby boy. All are doing well.

Eli Tate Williams
Born: October 10, 2007
Time: 2:07 pm
Weight: 7 pounds 4 ounces
Length: 18.5 inches

Mom had an amazing great day yesterday. She had lots of visitors and great phone conversations. She was happy and laughing. She only took a couple of naps. The brain doctor came in the evening and said that she did have two strokes that is effecting mainly the left side of her body, but with a little PT she will regain some of the lost strength. He did not see any tumor in her brain, but there was in her skull. We already knew this. Thank you God for answering my prayers. She will remain in the hospital for a couple more days until the oncologist comes to visit her.

Hospital Stay

Hi All. Mom is currently back in the hospital. Backing up a little... on Tuesday of last week, we found out that Mom would not walk again. On Wednesday afternoon, Christi and my aunt noticed that Mom was being very abrupt and slurring. Thursday and Friday, I received more calls from concerned individuals. Saturday, she had plenty of visitors and a trip to my house for the afternoon and first half of the LSU football game. Chris, Mrs. Delores (Pete's mom) and I all noticed a definite decline in Mom's control. After returning to the rehab center, I put a call into the doctor. Sunday and Monday morning, we were talking back and forth; finally she was taken by ambulance to the hospital. The doctors believe that she had several mild strokes. We are still waiting for all of the test results to determine what the cause is... (1) natural causes (2) blood clot in the cardiac arteris or (3) mets (cancer spreading).


Please do not get offend if we have not called to let you know. At this time, we do now know what to tell people until the doctors come in and speak to us. We are doing the best we can given the situation that we are in. We ask that everyone pray for my Mom, my family and the medical staff.

Pictures

Mom

Go Lauren! Go Rebels!

Ortho appointment results :(

I have typed, erased, and re-typed now six times. I seem to be having trouble finding the right words today so I am going to just type what I think.

Mom will NOT be getting the rods put into her femurs. The risks are too many compared to the positive. Because the bones are so brittle... she is prone to fractures. Because the bones are so brittle... she has a 50-60% chance that the screws at the head of the femur that hold the rod will probably come out. Because of the lesion (under her breast)... this increases the chance of infections if they were to place the rod(s) in the femur(s). If they were to place the rods and the screws would come out, then she would have to go into another major surgery and have the whole area (pelvis/hip/leg) rebuilt. All of these surgeries would not guarantee that she could or would be able to walk. With each surgery the pain could increase; which these are not the root of any pain she is currently having.

The good news is that at this time, she is in good spirits, has no pain other than the initial complaint (L2 area shooting down her buttock/side to her knee), her appetite seems to be coming back, the tumors treated with radiation seem to be shrinking, and she has everyone supporting and praying for her.

Update on scans

On Friday, Mom and I went and had the CT scan done of her chest and abs. They were testing to see if the cancer had spread to her lungs and liver. These test came back good. There were no signs of cancer in her lung or liver, but we did get a scare. They saw a defect on the top of her lung. We had to go back to the ER for more testing Friday afternoon to see if it was a bloodclot. All was okay.

More good news from the scans, the soft tissue mass that was located in her pelvic region did not show up on the scan. After hearing this news, Mom was reminded that the pain in her back is not as bad. Thank God the radiation did its job.

Although, Friday was rough... her weekend seemed to be good. Lots of visitors and rest. Her appetite seems to be getting better.

Thanks again for all of the continuing prayers and kindness. We need them tomorrow is the othopedic appointment. We should find out if Mom is strong enough to get the rods in her femur.

With Love,
Kim and family

Oncologist Appointment

Mom and I went yesterday morning for her full body bone density scan and CT scan of her pelvis. On the scans, we did not learn anything new. Her bones are filled with cancer from her head to her toes. This makes the bones extremely brittle.

She is scheduled for a CT scan of her chest and abs next Friday to determine if she has cancer in her lungs and liver. Preliminary test show that they do not suspect that there is cancer in these areas.

The oncologist appointment with Dr. Hanson also went okay; nothing new. Mom will not be doing chemo at this time. Her cancer is a hormone receptor-positive type breast cancer with mets. They started her on a pill to block female hormones (Arimidex). Side effect is that this pill will speed up the aging process; stiffness, mood swings, hot flashes, etc... After the appointment she when to "Infusion" to get a anti-cancer bone drip (Zometa). She will continue to get this infusion once a month. The cancer feeds off of the hormone "estrogen"; therefore, reducing them from her body should eliminate the spread of the cancer. She will continue on the pill and drip for 6 months or unless something changes.

Links to the medication she will be taking:

Infusion: http://www.us.zometa.com/info/cancer_bones/breast_cancer.jsp

Daily Pill: http://www.arimidex.com/

Thanks for all of the continued support and prayers!