SilverFly
11-12-2006, 09:02 PM
I feel a bit guilty asking for prayer requests since I haven't been here in a while, - especially with all the other requests here and bad things happening to people elsewhere. Even so, it's obvious trying to handle things myself hasn't been working out very well (to say the least). I'm trying to remain optimistic but this is increasingly difficult given the numerous trials we are having to deal with beyond the main issue of my wife's health.
(old thread)
(http://http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=661068&highlight=prayer+request+for+my+wife#post661068)ht tp://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=661068&highlight=prayer+request+for+my+wife#post661068
(http://http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=661068&highlight=prayer+request+for+my+wife#post661068)
To update the situation with my wife. Last September (2005) we found out that her cancer had spread to her bones which is very common with breast cancer. This was pretty devastating at the time since she had gotten a "clean bill of health" following the 3 month chemo session in the spring of 2005. In spite of suffering some minor fractures in her ribs and collar bone there was some "good" news that her cancer responded very well to hormone therapy and with monthly medication infusions much of the bone damage has been repaired.
Radiation treatments have also been effective at healing the fractures and knocking the cancer back in problem areas, - even though they have been almost as hard on her as chemo. The hope was (and still is) that her cancer can be managed as a chronic illness and she might have many quality years left (hopefully enough to see a cure :pray:). Unfortunately she was insistent on keeping vacation plans this summer, and she downplayed a pain in her right hip. A week after we got back from vacation in August, she was barely able to walk. It turned out the upper part of her right femur was weakened to the point it was on the verge of breaking. Had we known earlier it could have been treated with radiation and probably healed fine. As it was she had to have a metal rod inserted the full length of the bone with a pin into the part going to the hip socket.
This surgery was the last week of September and she should have been up and functioning at some level by now. Instead she is still pretty much bedridden with back pain, anemia, nausea, and can only walk short distances with assistance of a cane. She has had recent MRI, CAT, and PET scans which show no new cancer "hotspots" to explain her current problems. I'm hoping the main problem is her not eating much due to the nausea, and is causing anemia and her not healing well. What has us worried is that her tumor markers took a little jump and the doctor says she might need a brain scan if she doesn't improve soon.
I also believe a big part of her health problems are stress related. The main thing stressing her (and us) is that her sister was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer last month, and she is currently receiving chemo. We are all very worried about her sister, but it is especially hard on my wife and mother in law.
To make matters worse, we have been having major issues with our 16 year old daughter misbehaving at home and school. While she is a smart/talented/beautiful girl, she has ADD with some learning disabilities and also has extreme lack of patience and EXTREME anger problems. I am very upset that my daughter doesn't seem to care that her behavior is adversely affecting her mother. I am at a total loss as to what to do to turn her around.
Last (and least) on the stressor list is the fact that we have not been living in our house since we left for vacation in July. We were getting our hardwood floors refinished while we were gone when the contractor called us saying we had a massive hotwater leak with several inches of water under the whole house. To make matters worse, there was some dry rot in the subfloor and toxic mold. Even though insurance has paid for the "water damage" (mold abatement is costing us $9K!) the mold cleanup and repairs have taken much longer than expected and we have been living at my mother in law's house since mid August. With 3 adults, 2 teenagers, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and one bathroom, - things have been stressful to say the least. Fortunately we will be moving back into the house this coming weekend. Of course, this raises the issue of who will take care of my wife on the nights I work and when I have to sleep during the day with the kids at school.
Please say a prayer for my wife, her sister, and my daughter.
God bless.
(old thread)
(http://http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=661068&highlight=prayer+request+for+my+wife#post661068)ht tp://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=661068&highlight=prayer+request+for+my+wife#post661068
(http://http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=661068&highlight=prayer+request+for+my+wife#post661068)
To update the situation with my wife. Last September (2005) we found out that her cancer had spread to her bones which is very common with breast cancer. This was pretty devastating at the time since she had gotten a "clean bill of health" following the 3 month chemo session in the spring of 2005. In spite of suffering some minor fractures in her ribs and collar bone there was some "good" news that her cancer responded very well to hormone therapy and with monthly medication infusions much of the bone damage has been repaired.
Radiation treatments have also been effective at healing the fractures and knocking the cancer back in problem areas, - even though they have been almost as hard on her as chemo. The hope was (and still is) that her cancer can be managed as a chronic illness and she might have many quality years left (hopefully enough to see a cure :pray:). Unfortunately she was insistent on keeping vacation plans this summer, and she downplayed a pain in her right hip. A week after we got back from vacation in August, she was barely able to walk. It turned out the upper part of her right femur was weakened to the point it was on the verge of breaking. Had we known earlier it could have been treated with radiation and probably healed fine. As it was she had to have a metal rod inserted the full length of the bone with a pin into the part going to the hip socket.
This surgery was the last week of September and she should have been up and functioning at some level by now. Instead she is still pretty much bedridden with back pain, anemia, nausea, and can only walk short distances with assistance of a cane. She has had recent MRI, CAT, and PET scans which show no new cancer "hotspots" to explain her current problems. I'm hoping the main problem is her not eating much due to the nausea, and is causing anemia and her not healing well. What has us worried is that her tumor markers took a little jump and the doctor says she might need a brain scan if she doesn't improve soon.
I also believe a big part of her health problems are stress related. The main thing stressing her (and us) is that her sister was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer last month, and she is currently receiving chemo. We are all very worried about her sister, but it is especially hard on my wife and mother in law.
To make matters worse, we have been having major issues with our 16 year old daughter misbehaving at home and school. While she is a smart/talented/beautiful girl, she has ADD with some learning disabilities and also has extreme lack of patience and EXTREME anger problems. I am very upset that my daughter doesn't seem to care that her behavior is adversely affecting her mother. I am at a total loss as to what to do to turn her around.
Last (and least) on the stressor list is the fact that we have not been living in our house since we left for vacation in July. We were getting our hardwood floors refinished while we were gone when the contractor called us saying we had a massive hotwater leak with several inches of water under the whole house. To make matters worse, there was some dry rot in the subfloor and toxic mold. Even though insurance has paid for the "water damage" (mold abatement is costing us $9K!) the mold cleanup and repairs have taken much longer than expected and we have been living at my mother in law's house since mid August. With 3 adults, 2 teenagers, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and one bathroom, - things have been stressful to say the least. Fortunately we will be moving back into the house this coming weekend. Of course, this raises the issue of who will take care of my wife on the nights I work and when I have to sleep during the day with the kids at school.
Please say a prayer for my wife, her sister, and my daughter.
God bless.