Praying for a Miracle

Tribute Videos

2010-09-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

Here are the two tribute videos we used in my mom's Celebration of Life service.

Pat's Tribute Slideshow from Charlie Lyons-Pardue on Vimeo.

Pat's Family Reflection Tribute from Charlie Lyons-Pardue on Vimeo.

California Service

2010-07-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

My mom's California service will be on August 21st at 2:00 pm at Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene in San Diego, CA http://www.missionnaz.org/Connect.aspx

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Bonita Park (this is where my mom has worked for the past three years and where my parents live) designated for an 18 hole miniature golf course for the Nazarene campground. This was a projects she was excited about and was talking about it the day before she passed away.

http://bonitapark.com/contactus.html

Having Fun

2010-06-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

My mom is having fun in Heaven without us. She went home to be with the Lord yesterday at 4:00pm. She was surrounded by her family with her grandkids running around.

The Celebration of Life service will be Wednesday, June 30 at 10:00 am at the Angus Church of the Nazarene http://www.angusnaz.com/ near Ruidoso, New Mexico. There will also be a celebration service in San Diego, California at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Bonita Park (this is where my mom has worked for the past three years and where my parents live) designated for an 18 hole miniature golf course for the Nazarene campground. This was a project she was excited about and was talking about it the day before she passed away.

Bonita Park

HC 71 Box 1159

Capitan, NM 88316

575-336-4404

A New Chapter

2010-06-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

My Dad, Amy, Aunt Kathy, and I accompanied my mom to her doctor appointment today. They drew blood and Aunt Kathy took the lab work to the hospital. While she was doing that we had the doctor appointment.

The doctor reviewed her medications and symptoms. She explained the options my mom had. The first option was to continue Chemo. She had never finished the last chemo and there were a few other chemo possibilities. The second option was to go on Hospice. She asked all of us what we thought but the three of us left the decisions to mom. She said she felt she had fought hard and decided to go on Hospice. She then went on to ask the doctor if she was giving up too early. The doctor said no and that she thought my mom has fought long and hard against this battle.

We are not sure if the doctor was a Christian but she talked about God a lot through the appointment. I asked if she had ever witnessed a miracle at this stage and she said anything is possible with God.

When we got in the car I saw my mom cry for the first time through this battle. She apologized to us for giving up. She said she promised she would try everything. We were quick to tell her she did not give up. She fought this cancer in a way we've never seen before. She endured a lot, with no complaints, and had an amazing attitude this last year and a half.

We are happy that the focus will be on her comfort and that we will have help from Hospice.

My mom is an amazing lady who fought cancer with God, humor, and perseverance. I couldn't have asked for a better example of how to handle difficult situations. The battle is not over...we will continue to fight with prayer (the best medicine). Pastor Rick Hutchison and Stan Yocum (her boss) said sometimes things need to get to the impossible for miracles to happen. I know many people are praying, please keep it up.

Along with praying for a miracle, please pray for my mom's comfort level and breathing, and the family as we adjust to the new chapter in our lives.

Busy Day

2010-06-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

First of all, Amy and I are soooooooo happy we are here with our mom and dad. We have been able to help a lot more here than in San Diego. :)

Monday, June 21st was a long busy day and my mom was a trooper. She needed labs done, chest x-ray, and a Zometa shot. She usually sleeps around 20 hours a day, so the festivities from the day were going to keep her from her beauty rest.

We borrowed a wheel chair from the camp ground to help her get around. Aunt Kathy, Amy , and I loaded mom in the car with two oxygen tanks and a wheel chair. We went to the oncology office first. It was a VERY busy day. They drew some blood for the labs and were concerned with her current condition. The nurse said it was a possibility that we could squeeze her in to see the doctor. We loaded mom back into the car and took her across town to the hospital to get a chest x-ray. After the chest x-ray we got back into the car and headed back to the oncology office.

Her labs showed that her potassium levels were very low. They started my mom on a potassium IV that lasted for four hours. We were not able to see the doctor on Monday (we have an appointment on Tuesday, June 22nd.

We left that house around 10:30 in the morning and didn't get her home till 6:30 pm. She was exhausted from all the fun activities from the day.

We were also able to arrange having a hospital bed and wheel chair delivered to the house. We wanted the hospital bed for many reasons. Her normal bed is too high and she needs her bed to be at a 35 degree angle to help her breathing. My mom wanted the bed in the living room so she wouldn't miss out on the fun. : ) We are thankful for the bed and newer wheelchair to help my mom be more comfortable.

Amy and I came just in time. All four of us kept busy between running my mom around town and figuring out the hospital bed.

Keep praying for a miracle.

An update from Pat's sister, Kathy,

2010-06-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sara asked me to write an update on her "Praying for a Miracle" blog, so I will do my best. Many friends have been asking specifically how to be praying, so I hope this will help.

Howard brought Pat home on Thursday, June 17th after 10 days in the hospital. I drove up the same day to be of help in any way possible. I had not seen her for awhile so I was not prepared for the decline in her health.

She is retaining fluids and it is very apparent in her feet and ankles. She finds it hard to find a comfortable position for breathing and resting.

Pat is scheduled for a lung x-ray, lab work and Zometa shot on Monday. On Tuesday morning she is scheduled to see an Oncologist. It will be a struggle for her to get ready and out to the car for these trips to town. She needs help in walking even short distances and it leaves her breathless.

A special prayer meeting just for Pat was held at her church last night at 8:45. About 25 people dropped whatever they were doing, when notified, and made their way to the church to lift her up to our Lord. We continue to ask for your prayers on Pat's behalf. Howard, Sara, Jeff, Amy and the rest of the family also need your prayers.

On a lighter note, congratulations to Sara on completing all of the work for her master's degree!!!!

Sara and Amy were planning on coming June 29th to stay with their parents for the month of July but decided to come sooner. They flew to NM today and really surprised Pat this evening.

In the Hospital Again

2010-06-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a summary of the many things that have happened this past week.

Last Monday 6/7/10

Mom went to the cancer center in Ruidoso to see her nurse Karen. My mom skipped her chemo the Thursday before because she was still fighting her infection and was having a hard time getting out of the house. As of last Monday she was still having a very difficult time breathing. She could only sleep and breath sitting up and leaning over with her head on a table. Karen her nurse decided that it was best to send her back to the hospital (she just got out of the hospital the Wednesday before) to get the breathing situation under control.

An ambulance picked her up from the cancer center and got her to Albuquerque in two hours. She was hooked up to oxygen and watched the movie Rudy in the Ambulance. My dad went home to pack and met her at the hospital; also, my Aunt Suzanne drove up from Roswell.

This is when the waiting game began. While at the hospital she has had many tests, x-rays, scans, and ultrasounds. The big decision was deciding what to do to help her breathing. There were two options:

Option 1- Insert a medicine into her lungs that would scar her lungs and keep them from filling up with fluid. The procedure would be extremely painful and there were mixed messages on the guarantee of how effective it would be.

Option 2- Insert a drain into her lungs. This drain would allow my mom to drain her own lungs when she felt the need.

My mom decided to go with the drain. This procedure was done on Friday 6/11/10. The procedure went well and my dad went through the training on how to use the drain.

The focus has mainly been on her breathing. She has been doing breathing treatments and talking with doctors about things she can do at home and while she is sleeping to help her breathing. Also, for the first time my mom is starting to take pain medication which is amazing. Cancer is in the bones can be very painful and the doctors have been amazed that she has not needed pain medicine since day one. They want to transition her to pill form of her pain meds before she leaves the hospital. The pain meds have been helpful and have helped her sleep better.

While in the hospital she has had some problems with her blood pressure and she has become dehydrated again. Thankfully she is in the hospital, so that they can help her even though they keep her from resting in the day because of the many nurses, student nurses, technicians, and doctors in and out of her room.

On a positive note my mom has been sleeping better and she got up and walked around for the first time without loosing her breath.

Aunt Suzanne has been sleeping in the hospital with my mom. My dad has been staying in a hotel. Aunt Suzanne went home today and my dad will be sleeping in the hospital room with my mom. They still do not know when they are leaving. There also has not been any decision about what the next step is for chemo. We do know that the cancer is growing.

Please keep praying and I will keep you posted.

Rough Week and Googly Eyes

2010-06-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

My mom has had a rough week. A lot has happened, so I’ll try to cover what has happened.

Thursday, May 27th

Mom requested a chest x-ray because breathing has become more difficult for her. The x-ray showed that her right lung was filling up (actually it is the area surrounding the lung). The doctor drained a quart of fluid from her right lung. The fluid was pushing the bottom of her right lung up, which was effecting her breathing.

Friday, May 28th
She went back for a chest x-ray. The doctor was hoping that the lower portion of her lung might drop back into position to ease her breathing. The x-ray showed that the lower portion did not drop and that the area was filling up with fluid again. Any action was put on hold because of the holiday weekend.

Saturday, May 29th – Sunday May 30th
We all noticed a change in my mom over the weekend. She was continuing to have a hard time breathing. She was sleeping all day, was listless, had no energy, not eating because she couldn’t keep it down, and was having coughing fits. There was talk about going to the ER but mom had no energy to want to get up and go.

Monday, May 31st
Things continued to get worse so the decision was to go to the ER around 8:00 pm. They immediately put her on an IV of fluids for dehydration. My dad saw an immediate change in her as she began to get fluids. After they got her IV started they took x-rays. They found that she had an infection. They then put her on antibiotics through the IV. She was a trooper through all of this and endured 7 hours on an uncomfortable bed in the ER. My mom was admitted and stayed till Wednesday, June 2nd.

She is home now and is still sleeping all day. She’s trying to eat and she still has the coughing attacks. Overall there has been a change. We all hope for my mom to be comfortable and we hope that something can be done for her comfort.

Chemo
She is going to chemo today. Please pray for strength for my mom. It takes a lot for her to go places because she would rather be home sleeping. Also, pray that they can figure out what is going on and they can find a way to make her comfortable. She is still trying to get to work when possible. She doesn't want them to have too much fun without her :-)

Dad
My dad has been AMAZING. As you would expect, he is taking care of her, serving her, and doing anything to make her feel comfortable. Please pray for him as he continues to take care of my mom.

On a lighter note below are pictures from my mom’s chemo two weeks ago. Everyone, even Gretta were all googly eyed over chemo.

My Aunt Suzanne made this for my mom. We are blessed the hope we receive from God.

Results, Graduation, and Chemo

2010-05-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

There is never a dull moment in the Ours’ family. We always have something going on. Below is an update on what has been keeping us busy.

My mom has finished 3 treatments of her current chemo. This chemo has been the hardest on her. It has taken all her energy away and has made her feel exhausted ALL the time. She has done a lot of sleeping and it never takes away the exhausted feeling. However, she still continues to go into work through all of this.

CT Scan Results

My mom had a scan before she came to San Diego for my graduation. My mom decided to wait to hear the results of the scan till after their trip to San Diego. She had a doctor’s appointment on May 12^th. The test results came back that the cancer continued to grow in her liver and lungs. My mom asked for a printout of the results to take home and review. Later my mom noticed that the scan was not compared to the most recent scan (this is proof that it is important to be proactive in your doctor appointments). We finally received the correct results. The CT scan showed that there were no changes since the last scan. This means that the chemo kept the cancer from growing. This is good news but we want the chemo to get rid of the cancer. She will now start a different type of chemo this Thursday May 20^th. The new chemo treatment will be every two weeks. We are hoping that the new chemo will not take her energy away and her hair might grow back.

San Diego

My parents came out for my graduation from Azusa Pacific University. It took a lot of planning and perseverance from my mom. We were concerned that the weekend would be too hard on my mom (traveling, visitors, sitting through the graduation in the heat, and having a place for my mom to rest). The first concern was having a supply of oxygen on the plane and at our apartment. My mom rented a portable oxygen machine that makes oxygen from the air (her name was Bertha). Oxygen tanks and an oxygen concentrator were delivered to our apartment. The next concern was planning a weekend that would not be too much for my mom. Once graduation was over she got to rest in our tiny apartment. We were happy that Amy came for the weekend too. We were all cozy in our two bedroom one bath apartment.

Chemo

Below are pictures from my mom’s last chemo. This chemo session was around six hours, which gave my mom, Aunt Suzanne, and Greta time to read lots of magazines.

Greta

2010-04-06T22:26:00.001-07:00

The Ours family was together for Easter and enjoyed a short weekend together. Kaelee and Isaac were the focus of the weekend. Kaelee is starting to walk and had fun playing on the stairs. Her smile can melt your heart and her laugh is adorable. Isaac has a vivid imagination and loves books. He was really into telling all of us he loves us and giving hugs, kisses, and zurberts. Isaac also woke up both mornings around 5:30 a.m. to play in his clubhouse. He would come down the stairs in the dark and would try to get Grammy (she was sleeping on the couch) to play with him.

Jeff and Isaac having fun in the clubhouse : )

Isaac in his clubhouse at 5:30 a.m.

Kaelee and Isaac had fun at the animal room at Bonita Park

Kaelee's Easter Outfit

Love this pic!!!

My mom started a new chemo a month ago. She was extremely tired, had a terrible cough, had a hard time breathing, and her neuropathy started coming back in her hands, of course she worked at her job through all of this. This is the first time we have seen the chemo and cancer affect her this bad.

A couple of things were done to help her comfort level. She is now on 24-hour oxygen and they lowered the dosage of her chemo to hopefully maintain the neuropathy. The oxygen helped her energy level and breathing.

The oxygen tank has been life altering. It is something that my mom needs to have on all the time. She has a machine at home that makes oxygen from the air. She has a 45-foot cord, which gives her freedom to walk around the house. The tubing loves to get tangled up around chairs or in computer cords. The storage room has turned into storage for oxygen tanks for when my mom leaves the house. My dad is amazing at making sure there are enough tanks in the car or at work.

My mom has named her portable oxygen tank “Greta.” We decided to make a dress for Greta two hours before her chemo yesterday. We gathered scraps of fabric and quickly assembled a dress (please do not critique the quality). The chemo center loved it and they were requesting the same dress to be made for them.

My dad must really love my mom : )

Aunt Suzanne changed the chemo center’s bulletin board for Spring. She did an amazing job like always. : ) We stayed with the Spring theme and did a spring photo shoot.

Please pray for my mom’s strength with this second round of chemo. This time she felt really good the morning after her chemo but was quickly fading by the evening. We are also praying that she will have enough energy to attend my Masters Graduation in California in May.

Please continue to pray for the miracle of healing in my mom’s life. God is capable of much more than we can imagine.

2010-03-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been way too long since my last post. A lot has happened but at the same time there hasn’t been any fun Chemo treatment photo shoots.

First, I’ll give you an update on the Ours Family.

- Amy convinced my parents to take her to Disney World for Christmas. They had a blast and spent a whole week there.
- Amy, Dan and, I spent New Years with mom and dad and had a lot of fun in the snow.
-My Grandma Ours passed away in January. She lived a long life serving Jesus. We miss her but we are happy she is in a wonderful place, pain free. Everyone in the family, except my mom (she had an important doctor’s appointment), flew to Pennsylvania for the service and to spend time with our grandpa.
-Dan and I also got to spend a wonderful weekend with my parents in February - Presidents weekend.

As you can tell we don’t let miles get in the way of spending time with each other. Phone calls also help us keep in touch.

Now, for the update on my mom: The last chemo my mom was on was not making a difference in fighting the cancer. She also received results from a bone scan that said there had not been much change over the year. My mom decided to look into getting an opinion from another doctor and possibly trying experimental drugs. After figuring things out with insurance and using connections through our friend, Wanda Golson, my mom finally got an appointment with a doctor at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center. My mom really liked the doctor and we were hoping it would open up new opportunities. We were bummed that there were not any experimental treatments open that she was eligible for. The doctor suggested trying hormone treatments and she would let my mom know if a new experimental treatment would benefit her.

So, my mom went on hormone treatments and changed to a different Doctor at the treatment center she had been going to in Ruidoso. (Albuquerque Doctors) She has been on the hormone treatments since the end of January. Since then her energy level has really dropped and she has developed a HORRIBLE cough.

My mom had a CT scan yesterday and met with the doctor today for the results. The cancer is back and is as bad or worse than it was the first time she found out it came back. The cancer is still in her bones and has grown again in her liver and lungs. Her low energy was from the cancer taking over her liver and the cough is from fluid in her lungs because of the growth of cancer. On Monday my mom is going to start a new chemo that is going to have guns blazing at this cancer. The chemo is going to be strong. The side effects are hair loss, tiredness, and low white blood cells.

The news was frustrating to hear because we feel like we are back at square one. The doctor said she still has hope. : ) My mom is strong as usual and went back to work after the appointment with the doctor. She’s ready to attack the cancer and I know she is able to do this because of God, my dad’s support, family support, work support, and most importantly all your prayers. Please continue to pray for my mother’s strength and for a miracle of healing.

Below are some pictures from a chemo back in December. My mom and Amy brought back a little of Disney World.

Everyone Deserves a Lifetime

2009-12-13T21:31:00.001-08:00

I am VERY sorry for the lack of posts. A lot has happened since the last post. The posts slowed down because my mom was taking oral chemo, which meant no chemo photo shoots J. I’ll try my best to fill you in on all the latest news.

My mom started experiencing side effects with the oral chemo. They decided to do a CT scan and bone scan. The results from the scans were not what we were expecting. The CT scan showed that there had been no decrease in the cancer and one of the lesions on the liver had grown. The bone scan showed no improvement. So, the doctor decided to change my mom to a new chemo.

The new chemo is three weeks on and one week off. My mom has been handling this chemo well so far and she is enjoying having her hair grow back. We are not sure when the next CT scan is but we are anxious to see if the new chemo is working.

Dan and I participated in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day the weekend before Thanksgiving. With the help of friends and family we raised over $4,600 for Breast Cancer Research and awareness. We walked 60 miles over three days. It was an amazing experience and even though we couldn’t walk by the end of the three days, we would do it again and again for mom. What we suffered was nothing in comparison to what we have seen my mom endure with an amazing attitude. It was an emotional 3 days being surrounded by breast cancer survivors and walking in honor of my mom. The slogan for the event was, “Everyone Deserves a Lifetime.” My mom deserves a lifetime and that is why I pray daily for a miracle of healing.

Well, as you can all imagine, in the midst of chemo and side effects, my mom has done everything but slow down. Here is a glimpse into her life over the last couple of months.

- worked full time
- weekend trip to visit Amy in Chico, CA
- one night getaway with dad to a mountain resort in Ruidoso
- week trip to San Antonio with my dad and my mom’s parents
- entertained 37 people at Thanksgiving
- entertained many friends and family dropping by for little visits
- and much more

Below are pictures to catch you up. Please keep praying for a miracle and strength for my mom.

Weekend trip to see Amy

View from my parents night getaway

Isaac, Dad, Mom, and Kaelee at Thanksgiving

Mom and her girls : )

My mom trying everything to get her port to work...

Brenda keeping my mom company

My mom complained of looking like a boy. Nancy Erwin (my coworker) made bows for my mom to wear. My dad and mom had fun with them at chemo but they look really cute in my mom's curly hair.

Paula explaining nurse stuff to Tiffani (my cousin who is in nursing school)

Paula.....Where does this tubing go??? : )

Aunt Suzanne made a cute interactive bulletin board. People wrote their favorite season and why on the leaves.

Alaska, Colorado, Chemo, Oh My!!!

2009-09-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Even though there is a lot happening it's not as exciting as having a fun chemo treatment every three weeks. Mom is still taking the chemo orally from home. She feels great and only has a few side effects. Her best week is the one between the two chemo weeks. The main side effects are pain in her feet and her feet peeling. (Sounds fun doesn't it?) She has been having headaches which might be from high blood pressure. Of course she always deals with tiredness. All in all she feels very blessed to have no pain and mild side effects. Last week she saw her doctor and he felt like she had great color and was doing well. They will probably do another CT scan in about a month.

We are so thankful for Karen (PA) and her staff at the chemo center. Mom really does miss going to the chemo center weekly. They are always VERY helpful and genuinely concerned for her. I feel that Karen and her team are a blessing from God for mom during this time. They are always so helpful and friendly. The greatest thing is that mom feels very comfortable contacting them when she has a question or a concern.

My parents have done a lot of traveling the last month. At the beginning of September they flew to Alaska, with Erna & Darrell Crosby, to visit Mike & Linda Couch and enjoy the beauty. They had a WONDERFUL time! They also went to Colorado to visit Jeff, Krista, Isaac, and Kaelee. They loved spending time with their grandkids. Isaac turned three on Monday and Kaelee was showing off her new crawling moves. I know this is a lot of pictures but I'm making up for the lack of pictures from chemo treatments. : )

Gorgeous View Flying Into Anchorage!

Amazing Train Trip From Anchorage to Seward

Dog Sled Ride Without Snow in Seward

Future Sled Dogs

Dad and Darrell Both Caught Two Halibut (Very Happy Men)

Denali (Mt. McKinley) Only 20% Of The Visitors
Actually See The Mountain
Because Of The Cloud Cover

The Picture Doesn't Do The View Justice

Mom As A Caribou (they have heavy horns)

Dad As A Caribou (looks much better then mom)

Dad and Mom As A Mixed Up Moose

Darrell and Erna Crosby

Hanging Out At The Princess Lodge In Denali

They all stayed at a lodge and my parents were
given a room with this sign above their door.

The women did last minute shopping in Anchorage before flying out. The men waited patiently With their new friend (the bear). Next to the bear is our friend Mike Couch.

My Mom Brought Some Alaska Back With Her To Work

Train Ride In Cripple Creek, CO With The Family

LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!

Isaac got to blow the whistle on the train
and loved the whole experience.

Isaac Being Silly And REALLY Cute : )

On another note, Dan and I, along with Bernadette (Dan's mother) are participating in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk THIS November. We will be walking 60 miles over the course of 3 days. We are very excited to be a part of this cause and raise money for breast cancer research. EACH one of us have to raise $2,300. Below is a link to make a donation to help us reach our goals. You just need to search our names individually to make a donation. We are under Bernadette Coronado, Dan Coronado, and Sara Coronado.

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Events/General?fr_id=1170&pg=pfind

Thank you in advance for any donations.
Most of all thank you for prayers for my mom's healing.

Chemo Interrupted

2009-08-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

My mom had a super super busy week during the NM district Family Camp last week. On Thursday she started having pain in her feet (not sure if it was from overworking or her chemo). Since feet pain is one of the side effects her Doctor decided to take her off the chemo until the pain got better. She was off the chemo for about 3 days and them started it back up again at a lower dose. We are thankful this has been the only side effect.

Mom received the results from her bone scan (only slight change) :-(

We praise God that she is in no pain! The cancer is in most of her bones so this is a real miracle!!!

BAD SIDE EFFECTS !!!!!!!

2009-08-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

The new chemo has caused major facial hair and nose growth.
Hopefully this isn't permanent :-)

My Mom's friend Carol Molendyk joined her for one of her infusions.
I'm sure my mom won at Skip-Bo :-)

CT Scan-No Change : (

2009-07-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

My mom received the results from the CT scan and there has been no change from the last CT scan. This is another sign that it was time to change chemo treatments. Obviously her body was not responding to her last chemo treatment anymore.

We are thankful for the progress she has made but bummed that there was no progress this past time. Please pray that this new chemo will continue to do a great job at fighting the cancer and that my mom will handle it well. She still has a bone scan next week.

Keep praying for a miracle!!!

Big Changes

2009-07-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

My mom is in a transition point in her chemo treatment. She has now had 9 treatments of the same chemo. Overall, she has handled it very well. The only side effects she encountered in the beginning were loss of hair and exhaustion. Well, with the last two treatments a new side effect has occurred that we knew might happen. She developed Neuropathy, her feet and hands had numbness and tingling. It can become painful or permanent. It was never painful for her but we are praying that it will not become permanent.

Because of the new side effect the doctor decided to change her chemo. The new chemo will be an oral chemo taken at home. For two weeks she will take 3 pills in the morning and 3 pills at night. After the two weeks she will have a week off before she repeats the two weeks again. The great news is that her hair will grow back. Of course with all chemo treatments there are a list of side effects that we pray she will not have to deal with.

Even though the change is nice my mom still has some worries. She is worried if this chemo will let her live a normal life like she still has been able to do. This chemo is every day for two weeks instead of once every three weeks.

She also had another CT Scan today and has a bone scan next week. Please pray for the results of these scans and for my mom's reaction to the new chemo. She is still in high spirits and planning a trip to Alaska.

Commenting Issues

2009-07-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

I realize that some people were having difficulty making comments. I THINK I fixed it...so comment away. : )

Aliens Invade

2009-07-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

My Aunt Suzanne is from Roswell, NM and one of her friends Kenny was feeling a little green. She brought him to my mom's chemo session so the wonderful nurses could take care of him. As you can see my mom took his blood pressure and Aunt Suzanne put a cool cloth on his forehead while they waited and waited and waited for the nurses. :-)

As you can see Kenny was was well taken care of.

Kenny brought the nurses bracelets as a thank you for all their wonderful help.

The nurses asked my Aunt Suzanne if she would redecorate their office (she is VERY creative and an AMAZING decorator). My Aunt agreed but they only gave her a budget of $10. On that budget my Aunt was only able to decorate the bulletin board. She did a wonderful job!

Aunt Suzanne and my mom with alien antennas.

My mom is doing great but is starting to have some side effects. Please pray that they will be able to find a way to make her feel comfortable and still fight the cancer.

Hawaiian Vacation

2009-06-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

My mom and Aunt Suzanne decided to take a Hawaiian Vacation
during my mom’s chemo treatment.

My mom dug out her bikini and tried to get some sun on her legs.
(It had been a few years)

Besides the wonderful vacation Chemo went well for the most part. PA Karen was unable to give my mom one of the medications because of my mom's blood pressure was too high. (It was probably the excitement of being in Hawaii.) The doctor said it was ok to miss it this time.

My mom is still doing great she just enjoyed a visit from Amy and she’s still working 40 ++ hours a week. I think she needed more than just a 4 hour Hawaiian vacation.

Mom and Aunt Suzanne enjoying a few more minutes in the sun.

Mom pretending she is a fish.

Aunt Suzanne, Elisa (office manager) Nurse Nettie and PA Karen (Can you believe Nurse Paula was on vacation - unbelievable that she would miss my mom's chemo day!)

CT Scan Results

2009-05-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

There is a slight reduction in the size of the lesions noted in each lung. Some still remain but they are not as conspicuous as before.

The liver has the same amount of lesions, but with a definite decrease in the size of some.

The doctor was amazed that mom has had minimal side effects and is staying strong. The plan is to keep on with the chemo since it is doing the job. Praise God for continued progress. Continue to pray for healing, God is the master healer.

String Figures

2009-05-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

The nurses were concerned at how quiet my mom was during chemo. Aunt Kathy and mom were intently figuring out how to make Jacob’s Ladder. I think it really taxed them mentally to figure it out. ☺

Maybe we should keep trying!!!!!

The Cat's Whiskers, Eiffel Tower, Cup and Saucer, and Witch’s Broom were much easier. Do these bring back memories? This is something they probably did when they were little girls in Loving, New Mexico.

Paula (the nurse) thought Pat was having too much fun, so she wrapped mom in packing bubbles to control her.

Karen was so busy that she couldn't play with the strings so she used them as a necklace.

Mom is lucky to have wonderful sisters that love her so very much. Aunt Kathy got suckered into helping mom to cook for 30 people (with the help of Carol Molendyk) and helped her get caught up at her work. We love Aunt Kathy!

Please Pray for CT Scan

2009-05-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Please pray for my mom's CT scan. Pray for healing in her body. I'll let you know the results as soon as we know. We are still praising God for the results from the last CT scan.

Chemo Surprises

2009-05-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

Wow!!!!! Chemo was exciting and overwhelming for my mom. Thank you for all who showered my mom with cards and gifts. Before I get into all the emotional stuff I’ll explain what happened.

A couple weeks ago I emailed my mom’s family and friends and asked them to send cards or little gifts to help my Aunt Suzanne fill a sunshine basket for my mom’s next chemo treatment. The response to the email was amazing. My aunt received so many letters and packages the basket soon turned into a huge display.

While my mom was in another room talking with Nurse Karen, my Aunt Suzanne brought in all the gifts and set them up on my mom’s chair. When my mom came out she was completely surprised to find all the gifts.

The basket of goodies not only touched my mom but also touched the nurses (Paula and Karen). My mom was scared they would mess up her chemo because of their crying.

I think Alisa was laughing.

The rest of the chemo treatment was filled with opening cards and gifts. There were cards that were touching, cards that sang, cards that made her laugh, and cards from friends she hasn’t seen or talked to in years. After she opened all the cards she opened the many gifts that included books, CD’s, gift certificates, figurines, spa treatment items, silly gifts, games, puzzles, hats, puppets, moose nugget earrings : ) (from Alaska), paper dolls, homemade candy and much more. Some gifts will definitely be used for fun times in upcoming chemo treatments.

She had to put this puppet together before she could play with it.

All of the letters touched my mom with laughter, memories, and encouragement. But one letter in particular stands out. My mom’s great niece, Adley Van Soest, (Doug and Andrea Van Soest’s daughter) wrote this letter on her own in her room when she was supposed to be resting.

Here is a translation of her precious words (if you need it), “I love God. He is so powerful. God can do anything. He loves everyone. He is so special. He can heal the sick people. He loves you and me. Love, Adley”------These are sweet, very true, and powerful words from a 5 ½ year old.

I think all the fun of Chemo made my mom and Aunt Suzanne’s cheeks a little rosier. ☺

See you later!

I think it is safe to say that there are many people that love my mom and are praying for her. Thank you to everyone that sent a letter or gifts. Also thank you Aunt Suzanne for putting together everything. I wonder what is in store for the next chemo. ☺

My mom will be having another CT scan on May 19th. She has a Dr's appointment on the 27th to find out the results.

Another Exciting Chemo Day

2009-04-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

Kerry Johnson, a dear friend from Hemet who now lives in New Mexico kept my mom company at her chemo treatment. If anyone knows Kerry you know there was no shortage of laughs during the chemo treatment. Kerry was going to bring poster paint to decorate my mom’s head like an Easter egg but didn’t bring it. :(

Paula the nurse, decided to get creative with the medical supplies in the office. She gave my mom a colorful makeover with the help of colored stretchy bandages used to wrap around your arm after giving blood and latex gloves.

Karen always has a ton of question for my mom and my mom gets tired of answering them. So, on this visit Karen made her a yes and no sign to help my mom answer questions without having to talk. It looks like things got a little out of hand.

This is Kerry’s way of shuffling cards. : )

I’m glad that my mom has friends and family that make chemo treatments fun and exciting. My mom looks forward to chemo treatments, I don’t know many cancer patients that can say that. : )

Easter Weekend With the Family

2009-04-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

We were all happy to have the whole family together for the Easter Weekend. I think it was little too much for my mom but we still had a great time. Before most of the family came Mom, Dad, Dan, and I went to Carlsbad and Roswell and had a nice visit with family.

Dad, Granny, Sara, Reagan, Mom, Dan

Issac and Kaelee kept us entertained and they were the life of the party.

My mom’s wig was a popular item to try on this weekend.

Fun Family Pictures

My mom’s Wonderful Doctor

2009-04-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my parents and my mom’s wonderful doctor (Dr. Schnadig). My mom feels very blessed to have him as her Doctor. Every appointment he has spent a lot of time with my mom answering questions and making sure she is comfortable. YEAH Dr. Schnadig!

Tattoo Fun

2009-03-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, a lot has happened since my last blog update. We are still praising God for the results of my mom’s CT scan and she is still continuing her chemo treatments. My mom was able to alter the timing of her chemo treatments so they don’t get in the way of some exciting things (she can’t miss out on the fun). She will still have chemo every three weeks but she waited 4 weeks for the chemo treatment she just had. Now that the dates of her chemo treatments are changed she can enjoy all her kids and grandkids coming to visit for the Easter weekend and she can enjoy Jeff’s Graduation in May.

About two weeks ago my mom caught a cold and has been trying to fight it off for the last couple weeks. It hit her pretty hard and it is still lingering. Pray that she will be able to get rid of the cold soon and try to stay away from any sicknesses.

Our family also found out that our Grandma Ours (dad’s mom) is in the hospital with only 15 % of her heart working. My dad flew out there for two weeks to be with her (he will come home next weekend).

Thankfully my mom is surrounded by many people that love her that are taking care of her while my dad is gone. Erna Crosby has arranged babysitters to spend the night with my mom every night after a scare with my mom choking on one of her pills and Erna Crosby doing the Heimlich maneuver on her. Also my Aunt Suzanne came up Thursday morning to take my mom to her chemo treatment and then she brought my mom down to Roswell on Friday morning. My mom will stay at my Aunt Suzanne’s house till Tuesday. We are very thankful to my Aunt Suzanne for taking time to take care of my mom and taking so many trips up and down the mountain.

My mom also enjoyed a fun day with her mother and sisters in Roswell last Monday. They enjoyed a lunch together and helped my mom pick out a wig.

It is becoming a major deal and pressure to come up with something new and exciting to do while my mom is receiving her chemo treatments. This time my Aunt Suzanne gave my mom and herself tattoo’s (with help from Elisa) during the chemo treatment. They turned the office into tattoo parlor and had the whole office interested in what they were doing. I think my Aunt Suzanne has found her calling in life. : )

Karen doesn't want to miss out on the fun : )

In the picture below my mom has a quilt over her lap. One of my friends and coworker Sindus approached me a couple months ago and asked if her church could make my mom a prayer quilt. I thought it would be wonderful. I filled out the paper work and Sindus took care of the rest. A ministry at her church made the quilt and after mass one Sunday everyone came out and said a prayer for my mom as they tied a knot on the quilt. This touched us that people that don’t even know her took the time to make the quilt and say prayers for her. My mom is now going to take the prayer quilt with her on all her chemo treatments.

Elisa and Paula taking care of my mom

Prayer is AMAZING. It is comforting knowing that my mom is surrounded by prayers from all over world, from people who love her dearly, and from people who have never met her. I am so thankful to Jesus that we have a way to support my mom by praying to Him. Thank you for all your prayers they are working.

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!

2009-03-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

Praise Jesus!!!!!!!!!!! My mom received a call from her nurse practitioner Karen this morning. Karen said the results from the CT Scan shows Definite Improvement…yeah!!! The main improvement was seen in the lungs and liver. One lesion that was 5.5 centimeters it is now 3.8 centimeters. The liver lesions now have dead centers which means they are healing. There was one lesion on a pulmonary artery that is now GONE!! It is still in the vertebra and in the bone but we have to keep in mind that all of this progress is after only 3 chemos. Thank God for his hand in my mom’s healing process. Please continue to pray for my mom as she continues to fight this cancer. She still has a doctor’s appointment next Wednesday for a more in-depth look at her CT scans and discussing the next step.

CT Scan (keep praying for a miracle)

2009-02-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

My mom has her first CT scan since she has started chemo. The CT scan is scheduled for March 5th and her doctor’s appointment to go over the CT scan is on March 11th. PLEASE continue to pray for a miracle of healing in her body.

Chemo Fun

2009-02-27T21:06:00.001-08:00

My mom had another chemo treatment and for the most part it went well. There were a couple minor glitches. Her potassium was still low and her blood pressure was high and her chest started to tighten a little again. They have increased her potassium pills to 5 a day and they have doubled her blood pressure medicine. On Friday she went in again for a shot to boost her white blood cells.

My Aunt Suzanne accompanied her and as you can see from the pictures they had a lot of fun. My Aunt Suzanne beat my mom at Skip Bo. They also put on a juggling show for the doctor’s office. They had the whole office entertained and laughing. I wonder what surprises will be in store for my mom’s next chemo? : )

Chemo Treatment

2009-02-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

My mom had another successful chemo treatment. My Aunt Kathy (her sister) accompanied my mom to the chemo treatment. They tried on blond wigs, played Skip-Bo, and apparently, my Aunt Kathy pampered my mom by feeding her strawberries. My dad and Uncle Marvin stopped by for a visit and a quick snapshot. My parents enjoyed having Aunt Kathy and Uncle Marvin around for a couple days.

The next day my mom went for a shot to keep her white blood cell count up. Mom found out that this one shot costs $4,500.00….thank God for insurance. : )

My mom has a doctor’s appointment on February 18th. Hopefully, after this appointment they will schedule another C.T. Scan so we will see what progress she has made and what the next step is. Please continue to pray for my mom’s strength and for a miracle of healing.

Wonderful Work Environment

2009-02-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

My mom’s work has been nothing but supportive, encouraging, and loving. My mom has been famous for pulling the cancer card at work and even while playing games. A co-worker’s daughter & summer staff (Meghan Tucker) made a sign for my mom that said “I don’t have to deal with this I have cancer.” She keeps it on her desk to use when needed. Well, since they copied her Mohawk hairdo they didn’t want to be left out on the cancer card. During a staff meeting everyone in the meeting held up signs saying, “I shouldn’t have to deal with this, Pat has Cancer.”

They also gave her a Spirit Award, this is what the award said:

“For exceptional courage in the face of extreme trials
For contagious joy reminding all of us that our joy is not dependent
On our circumstances, but our relationship to Jesus

For all you are and all you do, we congratulate you and thank God for your presence at Bonita Park”

Like I’ve said before, we are all thankful that my mom is surrounded by friends that are supportive and keep a joyful atmosphere around my mom.

Low Potassium and White Blood Cell Count

2009-02-02T12:24:00.001-08:00

For the last several weeks my mom has been struggling to keep her potassium at a normal level. Due to her low potassium and chemo she has been extremely tired. On Wednesday she went in for her weekly blood test and they called her later in the afternoon asking her to come back in. She found out her potassium was very low and her white blood cell count was low. She had a four hour IV of potassium and a shot to stimulate her white blood cells. Thursday and Friday she also had to go in for the shot to stimulate her white blood cells. From now on she will have to get a shot to stimulate her white blood cells the day after every chemo treatment. She also has new pills to hopefully help keep up her potassium levels.

My mom has her next chemo treatment next Thurday. Please pray that she will take it well and that the chemo is doing its job. My mom has been a trooper and is still trying to live life normal even though she is really tired. I love her so much and I'm glad she's fighting this cancer with a great outlook on life.

Next Chemo

2009-01-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

My mom's next chemo is on February 5th. She goes for weekly blood test and she will have chemo every 3 weeks. Thank you for all your prayers.

Mohawk Madness

2009-01-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

Last week my mom was showing off Her new mohawk at the Bonita Park staff meeting. This week my mom’s friends surprised her by wearing mohawk wigs (made by Ilene Marsh) at the staff meeting. I'm glad my mom is surrounded by people that keep things light and fun.

My parents have the same haircut : )

2009-01-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

My parents are both sporting the same haircut but for once my dad is the one with more hair. I love you dad and mom!

Chemo Treatment a Success

2009-01-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

My mom's chemo treatment was a success. She did not have any bad reactions and everything went smoothly. Erna Crosby accompanied my mom to the chemo and beat her at Skip-Bo. My dad also stopped by to deliver lunch and join in on the fun. We are thankful that her body accepted the chemo and still praying for complete healing in her body.

2009-01-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

My mom’s hair has been falling out over the last couple of days. This morning she decided to take matters into her own hands. Instead of letting the chemo making her hair fall out she went ahead and shaved it. My mom called her coworker Brenda to come down and cut her hair. Brenda trimmed and shaved it and my Dad finished off the job with a close shave. But leave it to my mom to make the situation funny. Half way through the shaving my mom decided to wear a Mohawk for the rest of the day. She got a good laugh from her coworkers when she took off her beanie. My mom also had her weekly blood test this morning. My mom informed the nurses that her hair started falling out but only on the sides. The nurses looked at her with perplexed looks until my mom took off her beanie to show off her Mohawk.

Prayers for Granny

2009-01-14T16:39:00.001-08:00

The other night my Granny (Pat's mom) fell and broke her hip. She has had surgery and is now recovering. Please pray for her recovery and for her spirits. Her family loves her very much and prays for a speedy recovery. I also want to give a big shout out to my Aunt Kathy and Aunt Suzanne who are holding down the fort in New Mexico.

Plan B

2009-01-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow my mom will be starting a new type of chemo. This chemo is in the same family as the original chemo. She will now be getting two different types of chemo every three weeks. PLEASE pray that my mom is able to handle the chemo and that the chemo does its job. We are also praying that the delay in treatment has not affected the progress of fighting her cancer.

Hiccup in the Road

2009-01-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

Today was my mom’s second day of Chemo. The plan today was to do only one of the chemo treatments (the same as last week). Last week she had a small reaction to the chemo and they had to stop it and continue very slowly. Unfortunately, this week she had a bad reaction. The nurses immediately stopped the chemo and after discussing the situation with the Doctor decided not to continue. She will meet with her Oncologist tomorrow in Ruidoso to come up with Plan “B” that includes a different type of Chemo.

On a lighter note my mom was glad to have the company of her sister Suzanne during her Chemo. My mom got a new itouch to keep her occupied during her treatments she can listen to music, play games, and watch movies while relaxing in a Lazy Boy. Below are pictures of my mom all cozy in her chair, with her wonderful nurses Paula and Karen (they are wonderful!) As you can see Aunt Suzanne also enjoyed the Lazy Boy chair with snacking and napping. :-)

Praying

2009-01-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

I know my mom has been comforted and is very thankful for the calls of encouragement and the many encouraging words on Facebook. So many people have asked how they can help. The most important thing that everyone can do is get as many people as we can to pray for healing.

Thank You Jesus for Friends and Family

2009-01-03T18:44:00.001-08:00

I am so thankful for the wonderful, loving, and supportive family and friends my parents have. Dan and I left Friday morning after being there for two weeks. It was VERY hard to leave my mom because I want to be there for her. Even though I'm ready to pack up and move to New Mexico (never thought I would say that) to be with my mom, I'm comforted knowing that they are surrounded by so many people that love them. The most important support my mom has is my dad. He has the heart of a servant and he loves my mom very much. My dad is always making sure she is comfortable and is keeping the house running. It is also comforting knowing my mom has two sisters that love her and are only a couple hours away. Bonita Camp Staff has been nothing but understanding and loving. The camp staff is being flexible with her work schedule and is providing lots of encouraging words and hugs. Then my mom has the support of so many friends from all over who are calling with love and support. My family is very thankful for the blessing of a wonderful family and friends.

What Cancer Can't Do

2009-01-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

This is a poem I saw at the oncologist’s office. My mom and I really liked it.

What Cancer Can't Do

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit

Author Unknown

Port

2009-01-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

My mom woke up the day after chemo felling better than she had been. She did not have to take any pain medication and she was feeling great. Later on Tuesday, December 30th she had minor surgery to put in a port. The port is connected to an artery so all her chemo and blood test will be done through the port. This also keeps the nurses from having to find a vein every time.

1st Chemo Treatment

2009-01-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

My mom had her first chemo treatment on Monday, December 29th. My parents live out in the mountains and they usually have to drive three hours to the big city for doctor appointments. Thankfully there is an oncology center just down the road from my parents’ house and doctors from Albuquerque travel to Ruidoso once a week to meet with their patients. Several nurses run the facility and take care of the patients and administer chemo. The oncology office is very welcoming and my mom made quick friends with the nurses. My mom sat in an easy chair with a blanket and pillow and had everyone at her beckon call. They began the day by giving her pre-meds to help prevent reactions to the chemo. She had a reaction within the first 20 minutes of the chemo. They immediately stopped the chemo and gave her some more pre-meds. The rest of the chemo went great. The nurses said that from now on they will wait longer between her pre-meds and chemo to prevent another reaction. Overall the chemo went well and my mom loves the facilities and nurses.

Christmas

2009-01-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas. My parents had all their kids and their two adorable grandchildren home, and they hosted 34 family members. All of us kids and Dad did all the preparations to get the house ready, and we made my mom lay on the couch. We had a wonderful time spending time with family, playing LOTS of games, having a gift exchange, and eating good food. Another highlight from our Christmas was Kaelee's baby dedication. Jeff and Krista decided to have Kaelee dedicated after our family Christmas dinner. My parents pastor, Rick Hutchinson, and his wife, Sue, came and dedicated Kaelee to the Lord with all the family there. We feel very blessed with the family we have and we are thankful for the memories made this last Christmas.

My mom's Cancer is Back

2009-01-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

A little over two weeks ago we found out that my mom's cancer is back. My mom is very special to our family and I know very special to others. I'm creating this blog to keep people updated and to get as many people as possible to pray for a miracle of healing. I will update this blog at least once a week. Here is a little summary of what has happened so far:

Her breast cancer is back, and has now spread into her bones, lungs, and liver.
The doctor said that the cancer is manageable but it will be a lifelong battle (praying for a miracle).
Currently the doctor is concerned with how much the cancer has taken over the liver.
My mom has been suffering from hip pain (cancer is in her pelvic bone) but the doctors are surprised she is not in more pain.
They are putting her on two types of chemo that will be on a 28-day cycle. She will have three weeks on, and one week off, and every four weeks the doctor will reevaluate her process and treatment.
She began chemo on Monday, December 29th.
She had minor surgery on Tuesday, December 30th to have a port put in. The port is in good working condition and they will begin putting the chemo through the port instead of trying to find veins.

My mom is in good spirits and is being strong through everything. Please pray for her spirits and strength as she fights this cancer. Please pray for my dad as he takes care of my mom. Most of all, please pray for a miracle of healing of her body. I love my mom so much and I know so many of you also love her. I hate to see her go through this. We are all holding on tightly to God through all of this.