| Author | |
Louise
Forum Pro
Joined: March 29 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 326
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Last fall, a little before Thanksgiving, Sara’s boyfriend Clark who is a very gifted pianist, was offered a job has a music director on a crew ship going to Australia. After negotiating the duration of the contract (they first wanted him to go for six months, but he could bear being away from Sara for so long, so they settled down for six weeks) he accepted the deal. This wasn’t his first crew ship experience; he had previously been director on the famed Queen Elizabeth ship among others. As the ship was leaving a few days later he quickly took an appointment for a physical exam.
During the routine exam the doctor noticed a suspicious mass. After further testing they found out that he had a tumor in one of his testicle. Surgery was quickly schedule and of course the ship left without him. The surgery went very well, and he was told that with this type of tumor there is no need for radiation or chemo. His CT scan did show that there was a bit of enlargement of one of the lymph nodes, which is where the testicles drain, so there was a chance that it had spread there. They gave him until after the holidays to see if his tumor markers would come down to normal.
Two weeks ago he had further testing done and they found out that the cancer had indeed spread to the lymph nodes.
His enlargements are not very big, so it's a Stage 2 cancer, what's known as "low risk", at the moment, but he does have to have chemotherapy. After discussing the options with the chemo doctor, he found that there were two ways to go; one was a 12-week, four-cycle chemo treatment, with two different drugs being used, and the other was a 9-week, three-cycle chemo treatment, with three different drugs. One of the possible side effects of the two main drugs used in the first option is numbness of the hands - since Clark is a pianist this would be very bad, as it might not ever get better. The other drug also increases the risk of another cancer (leukemia in particular) in years to come. On the other hand (no pun intended) with the alternate treatment there is risk for his lungs (one of the drug, blemycin can cause lung damage), but it has less of the drug that can cause the numb hands (cysplatin) and the drug that makes future cancers more likely. Since he really can’t risk the possible damage to his hands he had to go for the second option. Thankfully being an ex-champion swimmer his lungs are very good. He started chemo this morning.
I am sorry for this long winged post. It truly was a shock to learn that this fine young man (one of the most caring one I have ever met) has cancer. And that poor Sara has to go through another heartbreaking period in her life. 
Please pray for his complete healing and for strength for both of them.
Blessings,
Louise
__________________
Louise, mom of 11
http://timetokeep.blogspot.com/
http://ecolebuissonniere.blogspirit.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 2:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What a soul your girl must have, for our Lord to send such suffering! Email me Louise with drug specifics, sounds like I might know all those options pretty intimately...
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Victoria in AZ
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 672
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 5:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh, Louise, how sad. Praying for Clark. Please St. Peregrine, patron saint of cancer patients, intercede for Clark's healing. Let Sara know she is surrounded with love and prayer.
__________________
Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 6:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am so sorry. I'll pray for Clark and Sara, Louise.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmyown
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5128
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 9:05pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Louise,I will pray.
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 10:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Our family is praying, Louise.
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ladybugs
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3732
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 10:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm sorry, Louise. Prayers from here.
__________________
Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
alicegunther
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1992
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 11:10pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am so extremely sad to read this, Louise. Praying right now.
__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!
      
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
momwise
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
|
| Posted: Jan 23 2006 at 11:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Adding CLark to our prayers for cancer patients
__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Leonie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2831
|
| Posted: Jan 24 2006 at 1:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
How sad and hard! Saying a prayer!
__________________
Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Kathryn UK
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 924
|
| Posted: Jan 24 2006 at 4:40am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for Clark here, Louise.
__________________
Kathryn
Dh Michael,  Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
The Bookworm
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Natalia
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1343
|
| Posted: Jan 24 2006 at 7:40am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for Clark,
Natalia
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
krgammel
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 19 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 66
|
| Posted: Jan 24 2006 at 7:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I will offer my prayers to St. Cecilia, in hopes that her intercession will bring healing.
+Kristen
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mumofsix
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 205
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 12:35am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for complete healing for Clark, and for courage for Sara.
Jane.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erica Sanchez
Forum All-Star
Joined: March 05 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1538
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 12:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yes, praying here as well!
__________________
Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 10:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh, Louise, this just breaks my heart. We will certainly pray for Clark. My favorite doctor in town also suffered this way.......I will ask him to pray, too.
Actually, we will pray for all of you.
oh, and my daughter who is also a gifted pianist.....or a wanna-be..... will offer up her disability for Clark. She has not been able to play seriously for a whole year now
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Louise
Forum Pro
Joined: March 29 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 326
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 11:21am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for all your prayers. Sara is able to be with Clark during the chemo treatments. Here is what she wrote today.
I'm writing from the hospital right now... Clark is participating in a study where he writes an essay and has access to a computer during chemo (just for today, though), and the study lady kindly gave me a laptop as well.
This is the third day of the first cycle of chemo; Monday was the first - it was rough. He was vomiting violently for most of the evening, and had a terrible headache. Yesterday Dr. Godley gave him presciptions for two strong anti-emetics and a Tylenol laced with narcotic for headaches, so yesterday he wasn't sick at all, which was a relief. He's already pretty exhausted, though. He's been eating very lightly, too. We are usually in the hospital for six to six and a half hours; I pack sandwiches and crackers and juice and tea bags, Travel Scrabble, lots of books... luckily the chemo doesn't hurt going in, and they start him off with anti-nausea drugs, so it's not terribly unpleasant. He's still coughing some from the irritation of his throat from the vicious vomiting on Monday, but it's better today than it was yesterday. The worst part is getting the IV in, usually; today he was dehydrated and so his veins were very hard to get - it took two tries. He gets Bleomycin, Etopocyn, and Cysplatin, and lots of saline to protect his kidneys. The Bleomycin isn't every day, because it's extra strong
stuff.
It looks like its pretty rough going.  Sara also shared about other patients receiving chemo in the same room. I'll spare you the details, all I'll say is it is pretty heartbreaking.
Thanks again,
__________________
Louise, mom of 11
http://timetokeep.blogspot.com/
http://ecolebuissonniere.blogspirit.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Elizabeth
Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5595
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 11:34am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Louise,
Tell Sara to really press the docs to put in a port. It's a simple surgical procedure and will enable them to bypass the whole vein thing. It's pretty standard, though I never got one. And because I never got one, all the veins in my arms are hard--it's still really difficult to stick me. His venous access situation won't improve, but a port will allow them to bypass almost all the futile sticking.
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Louise
Forum Pro
Joined: March 29 2005
Location: North Carolina
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 326
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 11:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Elizabeth wrote:
Louise,
Tell Sara to really press the docs to put in a port. |
|
|
Thanks Elizabeth. I'll tell Sara right away.
Blessings,
__________________
Louise, mom of 11
http://timetokeep.blogspot.com/
http://ecolebuissonniere.blogspirit.com/
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
esperanza
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 855
|
| Posted: Jan 25 2006 at 2:28pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Praying for Clark's recovery and for Sarah to be strong. My dad has been cancer free for the past 19 yrs..he had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma ...glad to hear Clark's was not advanced.
__________________
In His Peace,
Tammy Gonzalez in VA
dh-Johnny
mom to Tara-'85, Noelle-'88, Jeremy-'91, Elizabeth-'93, Emma-'96, Dominic-'99, Gabriel-'01, Elijah-03
and Jacinta-06
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: Prayers for Clark (Sara’s boyfriend) who
