A Mountain in the Road???

Gordy encouraged me to write this posting to let everyone know what is happening. I am staying overnight at David and Gretchen Miller's home in West Burlington, IA. In case readers have forgotten, this couple stayed with me the day Gordy had his biopsy at the hospital in Cape Coral, FL. They also provided a place for me to sleep that night when Gordy stayed in the hospital after his biopsy. We now have a deja vu moment. Gordy is in the hospital; I am staying with the Millers. We are so grateful for their friendship.

After a relatively good weekend following Gordy's 5th chemo treatment on Friday, both of us felt pretty darn good about his medications and their effects. However, Wednesdays seem to be down days health wise. Yesterday afternoon, Gordy fought a difficult battle with nausea and vomiting. We tried everything including breathing techniques I used when giving birth to Ryan. The product didn't stay in his body. Around 2 p.m., he began to vomit and this did not stop. The evening hours were not good. Overnight he was up many times and the morning brought no relief. There was nothing to throw up except bile. Now this is not good for anyone but someone who is going through radiation and chemo for base of tongue cancer, this is excruciating!!

Coach Patterson was on the docket to drive Gordy to radiation this morning. At 6 a.m. we both knew this was not going to happen. I called Pattersons and postponed his driving duties. For the first time, Gordy stretched out in the back seat of our car and prayed that he did not get sick as I drove him over the country roads to Iowa. Upon our arrival at the Cancer Care Center, he had radiation and then we visited with Dr. El-Khoury, the oncologist, who decided Gordy needed at least 4 hours of hydration with various liquids via IVs. He also prescribed a liquid ativan and increased his morphine patch strength.

Gordy continued to vomit and kept apologizing for his actions. The oncology nurses and staff are very understanding and empathetic. They are wonderful!! Around 3 p.m. Dr. El-Khoury suggested that Gordy stay overnight for observation. Gordy did NOT give any resistance to this suggestion. I was relieved. I also felt rather unsure of driving him back to Macomb in his current health state, and I also knew we had to be back in West Burlington by 8:30 a.m. So folks, he is getting a lot of good "stuff" through his IV at the hospital and we are all feeling better that he is under the watchful eye of medical professionals.

Tomorrow he will not have chemo. He will have radiation. At this point, he may have chemo next Friday but this is not for sure. June 10th is the end of his radiation treatments if everything goes as planned--not sure at this point.

His entire neck area is crimson red and looks burned. I kidded him today that even though he is a suburban boy from Hinsdale, he is now a red neck! I guess when a person is relieved to be in a hospital and that the person who usually cares for him and loves him very much is relieved he is in the hospital, then we know that's what is best.

Someone asked me the other day, "hey, what's Gordy eating these days?" "What kind of soup does he like?" "How about you and Gordy going out for pizza?" I am reminded that everyone is not a part of my world right now. Gordy has not had anything by mouth for at least 4 weeks. Everything is introduced to his body through PEG. All medications are administered through PEG.

The treatment is hell. However, I thank God that a doctor didn't say that Gordy has pancreative cancer or something else like that because this cancer's prognosis is positive. We are most thankful. The journey to that end is a very rough one though.

For all of you caregivers out there--I applaud and empathize with you!! This is a journey I will not forget. When I taught a leadership class at Spoon River College, the emphais was on servant-leadership--by serving others we become leaders. I am serving Gordy now but I sure don't feel like a leader. To give you a little insight into our days right now, here is a brief schedule:

5 a.m. I give Gordy Reglan through PEG. Both of us sleep a little. This medicine must be given 30 minutes before "product" is given.
5:30 one can of "product" or food is given through PEG--one can takes approximately one hour to go through PEG.
6:30 Phenergan suppository for nausea and vomiting.
7:30 shower
8:00 leave for Burlington
9:00 arrive at the Cancer Care Center
9:30 radiation Monday through Friday
10:00 leave Cancer Care Center for Macomb
11:30 Reglan
12:00 second can of "product"
1:00 nap
3:00 Mirapex for restless leg syndrome
3:30 phenergan suppository and liquid vicodin
4:30 Reglan
5:00 third can of product
7:30:Miropex and liquid vicodin and phenergan
8:30 Reglan
9:00 fourth can of product, miropex and liquid vocidin

This is approximately what takes place each day. I administer all of these things which I don't mind. If I am out for something, Gordy can usually do some of the above; however, I like to be there to help out.

Tomorrow is another day and Gordy and I am trying very much to live each day as it comes and not project. This "mountain" will pass; we will get through it. Hey, we are Team Taylor and this thing called cancer is not going to bring us down. I just wish that my husband did not have to experience all of this pain and discomfort. I'm sure you understand, my dear family and friends.
Your continued support is a constant comfort to us. THANKS!!!!