A request for some prayers

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Everyone,

This certainly has been a year of health issues for the mothers of both Cristi and I. My mom was life-flighted to a hospital and stayed in ICU for a week, then an observation room for another. They thought she was having a heart attack so the local hospital flew her into Boston. It turned out to be a bad combination of drugs prescribed to her. The interactions caused her pulse and blood pressure to take a dramatic drop.
She is OK now... a whole new regiment of medications. This happened about 4 weeks ago


Now, Cristi's mom was just diagnosed with Extensive Small Cell Lung Cancer. The prognosis is not good, and surgery is not an option. This is one of the fastest spreading cancers. Her sister passed away only 2 weeks after she was diagnosed with this disease, and she was only 38.

Both smoked heavily. If you truely want to scare yourself into quiting smoking, lookup this disease.

This is a very hard time for the family. There is some small hope. Some people have beat this, not many but a few. She is going to see an oncologist tomorrow to help determine a course of action. I also have contacted my surgeon and he has refereed us to 2 specialists a Vanderbilt that deal with this in their Cancer Center. They treat people with this disease, and also run clinical trials.

The family is devastated as you can well imagine. So, I am asking that as you say some prayers for those on the site facing surgery, please include Cristi's mom in your thoughts.

Rob

[Ross]

Man Rob, when you have problems you really have them.

I'll certainly add to my list of prayers and keep her close in them.

I wish there were more to say and do, but it's in Gods hands not ours.

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Rob,

You and yours will be in our thoughts and prayers. Personal note to follow via email.

Take care and give my best to Cristi.

[Nancy]

Dear Rob-

Sorry to hear this. All will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Georgia]

Rob, I'm so sorry for you and yours. My prayers are with you and your mother-in-law. My brother died of oat cell carcinoma (lungs) at age 44; it's a tough fight.

[hensylee]

Dear Rob - you are all in my prayers, of course. You have had a tough year with Moms. Moms can't be replaced, so I know how hard it is for you and Christi. I will pray that God's will be done. Ann

[ccrawford]

Rob - Sorry to hear of your trials and tribulations. Hard to figure out why this stuff happens like this, but it does. You have my very best thoughts and prayers. Chris

[Karlynn]

Rob,
I will certainly include you and your family in my prayers. May you find some small sense of peace during this trying time.

Karlynn

[fyrfytr]

Hey Rob,
Just wanted to let you know that you all will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope things turn out OK.
Take Care

Dave
_______________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Rob,

I wish you and your family all the best. I hope everything turns out well.

Take care.

[mommy3]

Rob,

You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this time of sadness. Take care!:)

[epstns]

Rob,

When I read your post, it took me back a few weeks. If you were reading then, you remember that we just lost my mother to renal carcinoma. It was diagnosed earlier in the summer as low-grade transitional cell cancer, but at surgery they found another different tumor. So, in mom's case, surgery was an option, but not a better one. She never made it home from the hospital.

I mention all this only as a reminder that you should do all you can to be mom's medical advocate. Our parents were raised to "do what the doctor says" and not question it. Had we questioned further and forced testing to identify the other tumor, we would not have opted for surgery, instead would have opted for hospice and a chance to better appreciate mom's final days.

Our prayers are with you, wherever this monster takes you and mom.

[Mb]

Dear Rob:

Your family is certainly going through a tough time. Our prayers will be with you. Please remember to take care of yourselves.

Best wishes;

Marybeth

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for all your kind words, thoughts, advice and prayers.

Steve, so sorry to hear of your family's loss to this terrible disease. Also, thanks for your strong advice. We are taking a very active approach to this with her mom and her doctors. Time is so precious, and the doctor's appointments, tests, etc,, seem to take away too much of it, prior to getting treatment.

She is meeting with the oncologist today, and we have all her paperwork , etc. also forwarded to some specialists for a 2nd opinion later this week.

Georgia, my wife's sister died of oat cell also. From what I am reading, oat cell is also another name for small cell carcinoma.

Hopefully the news we obtain today will provide us with a positive outlook to fight this. She is a fighter, and for her age, she is in such good condition, and is strong willed.

Thanks again,

God bless,
Rob

[EVELYN]

Rob

consider it done!!

I wish for you and your family the very best.

Evelyn

[LUVMyBirman]

"Our parents were raised to "do what the doctor says" and not question it"

Never understood this philosophy. Took me a few years...but we have almost fully broken my parents of the "habit".

Watching their child have an earthmoving experience assisted in that decision I believe.

Thinking of you Rob and Cristi. We will continue to pray for a turn of events.

[KathyH]

Rob, sorry to hear about your mother inlaw. I will sent my prayers your way. I have read alot about how much better positive and strong willed people can do when they are sick. I knew someone that was told they only had months to live, but he was determined that he could beat the cancer. He was an advocate for his health and he lived another 3years, and enjoyed his life.
Best Wishes,
Kathy H

[Heather Fisher]

I will certainly keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. We lost 3 family members to cancer in the last year. I know what a trying time you are going through.

Heather

[Ben Smith]

Hey Rob,

You, Cristi, and all of your family are definately in Cinday & I's prayers.

Keep me posted bud.

Ben

[Rain]

Rob,

I’m so sorry for your sad news. What a horrible time in your lives.

Being ‘strong willed’, ‘in good condition’ and a ‘fighter’ is certainly in her favor... those are the people who beat the odds.

I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Take care,

Rain

[Johnny Stephens]

Rob - I'm sorry to hear that your family is going through these tough times. All my best wishes to your family...

Johnny

[pegne]

I am so sorry of the difficult times you and your family are having. I will certainly include you in my prayers.

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Friends,

We finally had some good news yesterday. The scans showed the cancer has not spread beyond the lungs! Very good news! The tumor in her left lung, where her pain is, is in the pleura wall. We can be grateful that its location is causing pain otherwise she would never know she had it. That tumor has doubled in size in 6 weeks. The other side hasn't grown much at all.

She started Chemo yesterday. She is on a standard protocol along with a trial drug, gleevec. They will check her progress in 2 months and if she has results, she will continue on these drugs for 6 months. If she doesn't show results, they will change her to another group of chemo drugs. If they can get her into remission she may have a chance. This cancer almost always reoccurs but we will deal with that if it does. We are all feeling pretty good about things today. We don't know what side effects she will experience, if any. There are many and the most important thing is to prevent infection. Every 3rd week of her 4 week chemo cycle will be the lowest point for her white blood cell count and when she will be most at risk. We'll lock her up in her room that week!

All your thoughts and prayers have helped! Keep it going!
Thanks for all the support.
Rob, Cristi and Family

[Ross]

That's good news in a sense. No matter what, it's going to be a battle. I'm still praying for the best possible result. Keep us updated of course.

[epstns]

Rob,

We'll NEVER run out of prayers . . .

And, I'm hoping that mom receives one of the "good outcomes" each time she gets to a milestone point.

[bvdr]

Thanks Rob for the update. I will continue to remember your family in my prayers. Ross is right, it will be a battle....but it just may be winnable.

[Karlynn]

Rob,
Thanks so much for keeping us filled in. You and your family will continue to be in my prayers.

Praying for strength, peace, healing and grace,
Karlynn

[LUVMyBirman]

Oh Rob! Wonderful news! Thank you so much for keeping us up to date on her progress. Like you noted....' chemo is usually first. Once the tumor is reduced an option is to 'excise resection' (beleive that is the term) to remove it. Done!

Wishing you and yours all the best. Give Christi my best and enjoy your Thanksgiving!

[Rain]

Hope you have a wonderful Thanks Giving with your family. It's times like these that make us realize how special those family dinners are.

[hensylee]

Dear Rob - she is especially in my prayers - as you and Christi are.

[Christina L]

Rob,

So sad to hear about Cristi's mother, but the good news is that the cancer has not spread yet. Hopefully, the cancer will be able to be put into remission for many years.

Your mother-in-law and entire family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Chris

[carlapv]

Dear Rob,
I am so glad you got this good news. My father had multiple myeloma and is one of the very few people to have survived it. Survival is almost unheard of. I will always believe that it was his attitude that made the difference. I am telling you this so that you know that there is always hope and that prayers can and do make a difference.

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Carla

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Rob,

Just wanted to let you know that It's been a rough year for alot of us and that your in my thoughts and prayers as well as your family. My father just found out 6 months ago that he needs a heart transplant and was forced into retirement. Just wanted to let you know that I am right there with you and hope that things will look brighter and brighter as the days move on. Take Care, Harrybaby666:D :D :D :D

[sylviayasgur]

hi rob!
glad to hear the good news. just wanted to let you know that you, critsti and your families are in our thoughts and prayers. please keep us up to date on how things go.
wishing you all the best, sylvia

[KimC]

Rob, you got it. I'll add your family to my prayer list! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Peace,

[fdegranville]

Rob,
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. It is such a hard situation to handle because we feel powerless. I have a friend who received the same diagnosis 5 weeks ago, but it already had spread to his bones- which is what took him to the doctor- pain in his hip. He was told he would have 6 months at the most. He is only 54 and quit smoking 13 years ago. I'm am glad that they caught your MIL's in time. I know you must be a huge source of strength and support for Christi, let us help you when we can.

Prayers for your family,
fdeg