Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Fast for Travis

The amount of love and support we have gotten has been incredibly overwhelming.  We appreciate the money, packages, help with kids, selling our cars, the e-mails, the facebook messages, the phone calls, prayers, the fasting, etc!  It's been so amazing to say we don't need anything and have people figure out what we need and just do it!  I talked with my Bishop last night and he wanted to know what the ward could do and I got to tell them that we have the most amazing family and friends supporting us and so we really are doing okay (that's not a challenge!!)!

We still have concerns and stresses, and so we have our down moments.  But, are trying to stay positive and focus on the blessings in our lives!

I decided to organize a fast for Travis and have chosen to do it Wednesday, April 7th!  I would like to invite anyone who would like to, to join me in fasting for Travis!

I am sorry I have not had the time to respond to everyone individually, but do know that your prayers and love is felt!  We do read your messages and appreciate them so much!  We are so blessed!

-Stacy Jean-

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Some Important Information Learned

Today I had my appointment early in the morning at 7:30. Actually two appointments. I met with the GI first. This had more of the feeling of a follow-up. The ball is pretty much out of his court now, that became apparant fairly quickly. He gave me things to look for after the cancer has been cured, and if they occur I will need to go back in and see him. But that will be down the road, and unrelated. So we won't cover that here. He gave some comforting words, and mentioned how if I had not gotten as sick as I did, then I wouldn't have found this. And shed light into how he was impressed by the miracle. He believes the issues I'm still having are from the cancer alone.

Then came the meat and potatoes appointment with the surgeon Dr. Foley. He did an excellent job explaining all the scenarios that could play out for me. And there are still a ton!!! We really don't have details about what's going to happen to me, other than I am getting an ultrasound so we can possibly see what stage the cancer is in (all we now know is it's probably not stage 4, and most likely stage 1 or 2 - but this is unkown, can't stress that enough). The other detail we for sure know, is I'm meeting with him again on Wednesday the 7th, to discuss the surgery on Thursday the 8th. We don't know what kind of surgery I'm having, just that it's happening on the 8th. For sure. No doubt about it.

The scenarios seemed endless. I can sort of break it down. There are pieces to the puzzle that we can isolate. I think of it as one of those flip books...ya know, the kind where you can give the monster (or whatever creature the book is focused around) a head, then you can flip the book to give him a different monsters midsection, and feet, etc. Then you end up with a bit of a funny looking monster, and kids eat that stuff up. Off topic, let me get back on.

Okay, so the "Head" of the puzzle is which kind of surgery I am going to have. They are either giong to open me up and operate that way. This would mean I'm in the hospital for around 4 or 5 days after surgery. I'm in a lot of pain for that time, and a short time after. But the total recovery time is 6 long weeks. Not the best option, but the most aggressive, and is often quite necessary. This option would be certain if the cancer is past stage 1 (into 2 or 3). The other option is similar style to a scope. It would be likely if the cancer is in stage 1, and we are positive about it. I wouldn't be admitted, it would be one and done, and head on home. This would be best case scenario. I could literally be cancer free by next Thursday if this is the case, and it's successful. Ideal. If the cancer is more developed, or if they won't be able to get it removed with the simple procedure, then it would require the first type, the rough one. I'm fine with either as long as I can be cured. That is ALL I am concerned about. How I get there means nothing to me, I'm willing to do it all, and with a good attitude!!!

The midsection of our little monster, is whether or not I'll be required to have a permanent colostomy or not. Needless to say, I'd prefer not. But like I mentioned just above, I'll do ANYTHING. And I'll be happy to be alive, with or without a colostomy. Needing this after surgery will be permanent if they do not have enough tissue to put me back together after removal of the cancer. I would never have it reversed, and it would be a part of my life forever. Key word there? "Life". It's all I want. It is possible I won't need the colostomy if they have enough tissue. It is also possible that I will need a temporary one done with my small intestine to allow the area with the cancer to heal. This would only be a for 2-3 weeks or so and I'd have it reversed. It would strictly be to allow proper healing. Again, I'm more than okay with that as well.

The feet of our monster deals with further treatement. Radiation. Chemotherapy. Will I need them? I most likely won't receive any Radiation treatments. They are generally done before surgery, and with the current size of the cancer, they don't think it's worth the reward. So not likely to get that. (anything could change mind you). Chemotherapy is more attune to what kind of cancer I have, and/or what stage it is in, and/or how successful the operation was. What I mean by what kind of cancer I have, is whether or not it shows that it was hereditary. (note: someone in my family does not need to have this for it to be hereditary, it could have been passed down with no one actually developing it; and there is lesss than a 5% chance it's hereditary.) If it is in one of the more advanced stages, Chemo is more likely. If the surgery wasn't 100% successful, obviously Chemo would be necessary as well. So those are the possibilities for that. As a side note, the Chemo would not make me as sick as typical Chemotherapy. Nor would I lose my hair. So sorry dad, I won't be joining you. Also my sisters, I know you are disappointed that I'm not going to ask you to shave your heads.

So, that's in a nut shell. I think I should point out the doctor LITERALLY (and I mean that in every sense of the word) talked to us straight for an hour. Feeding us with information. I can't stress this enough, he literally talked straight for an hour. Only pausing to breath. I didn't speak. Stacy didn't speak. We just listened, for an hour straight of fairly speedy talking. So there is no way I can fit all of it here in the blog, nor do I want to!! These are just the basics of what is happening.

I do not mind what my "monster" looks like at the end. I do not mind if I get the harder of the two surgeries, get the Colostomy, and have to have Chemotherapy. I do not care. What I care about it is keeping faith, and living. If I can do those two things, than I dare them to throw anything at me. Because I will fight it, and I will win. No questions asked. Well I may have some questions, but then I'll kick it's butt after I know it's name!

I have a lot of hope, I have a lot of faith. I know it's a miracle we have found this when we did. It's likely have killed me if I had waited till I was 50. It certainly would have done its damage regardless.

I have the best family and friends that I can imagine, and I'm so thankful for it. The support we've received, the prayers, it's been a miracle in and of itself. I thank everyone, and want you to know I love you. I am going to win, and I'm going to live. And I'm gonna be dang happy doing it!!!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Rough Day

It's been a rough day today. I'm not sure if the pains/problems I'm having are leftover from the irritation from the C Difficile or from the cancer itself. Who knows. I'm nervous for Tuesday, but I have all the faith in the world right now, and the best support possible. Stacy is, in my eyes, the only person in the world strong enough to do what she's doing. I'm so thankful for her. I am praying for a much easier day tomorrow, it's been a rough one. I've spent a lot of time sleeping, and a lot of time in the room I've grown to hate (facilities). I'm still pretty dehydrated too, I can't seem to drink enough! But I'm just so happy that we've found what we did now, rather than later. It's mixed emotions. And one wild ride so far.

Friday, March 26, 2010

CT Scan today

Well most of the posts here thus far are from e-mails I sent updating everyone on Trav, but I'm caught up now with what has already happened!  Thanks for taking the time to check-in on us and supporting us!  I'll try to keep this updated as we know things!

Today Trav went in for the CT scan!  He's too dehydrated so they had a hard time placing an IV.  Then when we went to get blood drawn they were not able to do it.  I'm trying to get him hydrated by tomorrow so they can draw it, and so he does not end up hospitalized.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Paperwork...Diagnosis

The GI doctor's office called wanting to set Travis up for a CT scan for tomorrow.  I set it up and got the instructions.  They did not give me any results, but I immediately had a feeling the polyp was cancerous.  When I talked to his doctor the day of his colonscopy he told me that we may do a CT scan for the pain he his feeling, so I figured that was the reason we were scheduling it, but just felt we were gonna find cancer.  Travis was working on getting paperwork filled out for work and so he called his GP to ask a few questions.  In talking to him he found out that there were some test results back.  He then convinced his doctor to give them to him, he was reluctant.  He let us know that a test came back cancerous.  It's kind of hard to explain the details of what went on emotionally for us.  Travis has had a couple blessings, and in this last one he was told he would recover and it was such a specific blessing I know he is going to be completely fine!  So, on the one hand I know he is going to be fine, but on the other hand I'm sick to my stomach.  I mean it's cancer, that's something you never want to hear.  Travis was justifiably upset, and so I called the GI doctor for him to get more information.  The nurse on the phone was a bit rude, it wasn't the one we usually talk to, and she did not understand why I was calling for the results so quickly.  I told her Trav's name, she then told me to hold.  She came back on the phone telling me that they were going to pull up the results and have the doctor call us back.  It was a quarter to five by this point, and I was worried they were not going to call us back that day.  So I said "We know it's cancerous, and have questions."  She got really quite and very nice and regretfully said "Oh, you do."  She then told me that she would put a note to have him call as soon as he can.  He called about half an hour later, in the meantime I looked it up and came up with a list of questions.  To most questions he gave me different scenarios or just said I have no idea.  It's too early to know much.  They were waiting on the CT scan for more information.  Basically all we know is that all the biopsies came back fine, except for the one of the Polyp.  We do not know what stage it is in, what the treatment process will be (radiation, chemotherapy, surgery), how deep it is.  He was so great and spent 10 minutes on the phone with me, and this was after they were closed.  Feeling like I didn't know much still I thanked him and got off the phone with a plan for the CT scan tomorrow, along with blood work.  Then on Tuesday we will meet with the surgeon and the GI doctor for results and figure out how we are going to get rid of the cancer!

The last couple days have created more questions then answers, so we just hold onto the things we know are true.  We know that Travis is going to have a complete recovery.  We know that the Lord loves Travis and our family.  We know that we have a great support system.  We know this is part of the plan for our lives.  We know there are blessings and lessons to come out of this. 

I have also learned how incredibly strong Travis is.  He has suffered so much already, but continues to make me laugh and takes time to spend with the kids in the ways that he can.  He continues to try to comfort me when I'm feeling weak.  He is an amazing Dad and Husband and he is going to be alright! 
We appreciate all the calls, e-mails, and facebook messages.  If you would like to contact either or us directly Travis's e-mails is broncosfreak87@gmail.com, mine is cybermommy@gmail.com and our phone is 801-317-4936!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Colonoscopy

Travis began taking another round of Vancocin at a higher dose.  He began to improve and got excited to get back to work!  Then the night of the March 22nd Travis began to get worse again.  The pain was getting worse and so was his bathroom trips.  He called the doctor on the 23rd and they decided to schedule him for a colonoscopy for the next morning at 6:45 am.  He had a rough time with the awful drink they gave him; he drank it until he just kept throwing it up. Trav woke up a few times during the colonoscopy and that was pretty horrible, he says he woke up saying "ouch" and they said "just a minute Travis" and he went back out. They said he does not have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. There was no swelling. It’s obvious he has had C.Dificile, but his last test came back negative, so they were running another test. They took some biopsies. There was also a polyp, which they biopsied. It was bleeding and so they believe that may be what is causing some of his blood, possibly irritated by the C. Dificile. They also took his blood again to run some more tests. We should have results by Friday. His doctor did not remove the polyp because he wanted the biopsies run first. He said he may be able to remove through another colonoscopy, but most likely will have a surgeon remove it to make sure we get it deep enough.


There is still a strong possibility that he currently has C. difficile and so we are continuing with Vancocin. He was also slightly dehydrated and so we need to make sure he drinks enough so he won’t need to be hospitalized with an IV, the doctor told me this like 5 times in the ten minutes we talked!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

GI Doctor

We went and saw the GI doctor, he recommended repeating Vancocin but at a higher dose. He said that Travis should be feeling better within a couple days or we should give him a call back. They took an x-ray today to rule out any complications related to C. Difficile, as well as ran a CBC (which he didn’t pass out again, he thinks he’s been de-sensitized to needles), as well as a stool sample. We will find out tomorrow if there is any concern. Basically throughout this whole time he has had abominable pain, bloody mucous diarrhea in excess of 10+ times a day, nausea, and lightheadedness. There have been moments that it let’s up, but he has never been completely better.

Friday, March 12, 2010

New Meds

He continued with about half the bottle and began to improve, but then got worse, not quite back to the start, but similar bathroom experience and a lot of intense abdominal pain. He also experienced nausea and dizziness all throughout this. So the doctor prescribed Vancocin on March 5th. I spent quite a bit of time trying to track down this medicine, and it ended up being a 1000 dollar prescription, thankfully we have insurance so that wasn’t our bill! Travis once again started improving, even better than before. But on March 12 the blood and Mucous returned, and the pain/pressure started coming back. We put in a call to the doctor Monday morning, and he said Trav needs a scope. So he set up the appointment, but the GI doctor then decided that he wanted to just meet with Trav.