April 23, 2009 Update - He is a blessing to everyone

No More Chemo!

Gus made that decision Monday when he talked to the doctor. He was scheduled for one more cycle starting this Saturday, but Gus deals with fatigue as well as other side effects when he is on chemo. Gus and I both want him to have the strength and ability to golf daily on his trip if that is his desire. Now this gives him three weeks of no treatment so he can build up his endurance.

Gus did have another CT Scan done last Tuesday. This was his seventh. We will meet with the doctor next Tuesday to hear the results. Neither one of us are concerned because Gus feels so good.

Gus did buy his new set of golf clubs and yes he has been borrowing Lane's plastic cup to practice his putting in the house. His new set of clubs are Adams Idea. Yesterday, he golfed for the first time this year and even birdied his last hole. Gus didn't like to discuss how he did on the other holes so we can all just assume not so good. He has no strength in his upper body and so struggles in driving the ball very far. There is not much flexibility in his shoulders, either.

When I look at my husband and acknowledge the fact that he has walked this path for over 10 months and during that time he has known the depth of despair, the pain of loss, and yet has found joy wherever he could, I am in awe. He is a blessing to everyone.

April 17, 2009 Ca 19-9 Update

Another Incredible Praise Report!

Gus' CA 19-9 is now 34!

Gus and I are both aware that one of these times we will see an increase in the numbers, but for right now we are cherishing every moment. I was in such shock when the doctor called yesterday that I even made her repeat what she told me. I would place a bet that my CA 19-9 is higher than Gus' now. We feel so blessed. Thank you for all those prayers.

April 15, 2009 Update

Gus' trip to Denver was such a blessing. As he boarded the plane in Bozeman in one of the worst snowstorms of the season, he knew that his dear friend (who was dying of pancreatic cancer) had slipped into a coma. It had been five days since he had visited with her in her home. I am sure Gus' tears flowed all the way to Denver. As Gus landed, he received the news she had passed away. His time with his mom and two sisters was exactly what he needed right then. They surrounded him with love and food in an environment that didn't center on cancer. He came home restored and he had gained five pounds in six days!

The doctors are so pleased with Gus' health. His one doctor considers him "practically normal" and she loves telling him that. We met with our main medical oncologist yesterday and he agreed to all of our terms . . . meaning an end to the chemo. Because Gus is doing so great, he only has to have one more cycle of chemo. Gus will take his final chemo tablets May 8th and as long as his report card remains great, he has total freedom from any treatment. They will monitor Gus by his CA 19-9 blood test. That will be done here in Sheridan every three weeks. Gus and I both felt after visiting with the doctor that he had never had a pancreatic cancer patient quite so healthy before.

Gus is scheduled for a CAT scan next Tuesday, April 21. The doctor admits the scan does not show the status of Gus' tumor, but the test will show whether or not the cancer has spread to surrounding organs. The test always makes Gus so uncomfortable before and after that it is not one of our favorite days.

On the recreational side of life, Gus has decided to purchase a really good set of golf clubs before his golfing trip to Seattle in May. In my ignorance, I felt the ones he purchased a few years ago were sufficient. Lane has been outside for a couple of months practicing his driving skills. As long as his dog accompanied him, the dog would retrieve the ball from the snow and Lane wouldn't lose the golf ball. If Lane was not outside driving the ball, he had his putter inside practicing with a plastic cup. That is partly why I cannot understand Gus' desire to spend money. All you need is one driver and one putter, your dog and a plastic cup.

Gus and his horse...