Sunday, April 5, 2009

4/05/09 “Change has come”, and in a big way !


Over the last few weeks I have been receiving emails stating “Change is coming” stay tuned. After one or two I thought nothing of it but they just kept coming. And this week checks began arriving from folks who had saved their change for the month of March and then in turn forwarded it to Peggy and I as April showers. I can’t believe the response to this, we have heard from people all over the country, and April has just begun! To those of you who have participated in this our heart felt thanks to each and every one of you. And I know that Cathy Marczyk spearheaded the whole idea so a great big hug and thank you to Cathy and Ron, what a wonderful idea and it could not have come at a better time.

This was a difficult week to put it mildly. Chemo on Monday with all of the cumulative effects of the radiation kicking in and you have a real tough situation. We have been experimenting with using the peg tube and one of the nurses put us on a medication to take half an hour before attempting a feeding. Every time we would use the peg tube fifteen minutes after eating I would have terrible diarrhea and lose everything I had just attempted to put into my stomach. Also the chemo has a caused a lot of vomiting and dry heaves this week which have been extremely uncomfortable. So weight loss was an issue as the week progressed. In fact most of the weekend was spent in bed between anti-nausea drugs. We did get extra fluids at the hospital every day this week and that helped a little bit. We also have have stopped using the medication before tube feeding and if we can plan it between the Lorazipam and the Compozine we have a decent chance of keeping it down!! Also this week the killer mucus started in my mouth. What makes it tough is it gets really thick and the salivary glands have stopped doing the job of thinning things out, so it is near impossible to clear from your mouth. I rinse with salt water about 25 times a day and that can help a bit. Good friend Dan Berggren came to drive me on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and it was great to see him. I realize that these next three weeks will just get more and more difficult and I pray for all your positive thoughts as we move forward. Here is praying for a better week this week.

I once again thank all of you for your beautiful expressions of love and concern for Peggy and I. I have been so humbled by all of your support and I pray that I will have the strength to see through the next three weeks and then on to putting ourselves back together! Also thank you for your generosity, the “Change is Coming” campaign is a stroke of genius and all your support is so appreciated!! I’ll look for you all at 7.00.

16 comments:

  1. Dan,

    I was afraid that we weren't hearing from you because things were not going well, and I'm sorry to hear that is true.

    I'm sorry that you have to deal with the vomiting, the diarrhea, and the killer mucus... I'm glad that the hydration helped some, but I wish it had helped more.

    You are more than halfway there, and you will soon be on your way to putting yourself back together. I hope that you are still able to get out and notice the little buds coming out on the trees, to notice the new flowers blooming, and to smell the new grass as it comes in. Spring and renewal are on their way.

    I think about you all the time, and I miss seeing you and Peggy at church. I look forward to the day when you are up to the trip; I know it will be a while, but we will all be there when you are ready. Including Holly, who we just voted today to hire as our consulting minister for another year!

    See you every night at 7!

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  2. Sending extra hugs your way.
    It sounds more difficult than we can even imagine. We're sorry to see you have to go through this, but glad to see that you are staying focused on getting through these treatments and onward to a healthy future.
    Hang in there!
    Love, Cheryl and Dann

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  3. Has anyone seen any data on vitamin D in head and neck cancer. There is so much data on vitamin D and its role in many different cancers but I have not seen anything about head and neck. take a look at www.vitaminD3world.com for some good summaries on its anticancer effects

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  4. Hang in there guys!

    Love and Hugs,
    Donna and John

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  5. Hang in there guys!
    Nancy B

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  6. Prayers for an easier week and plenty of health coming your way. Walking side by side with you, carrying some of the weight, these are your friends. We are here for you, at 7 and the other 23 hours too!

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  7. I know you mostly through your music and the kind words of your friends in this blog, but I have listened to you for years and wish you a speedy and complete recovery. change is coming!

    Charlie

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  8. Lots of hugs back to you and Peggy. We are holding you tight in our hearts, and holding on to hope that things will get better for you real soon. You have turned the corner on your treatments and are heading for home and healing. We are here for anything you need.

    Love,
    Cathy and Ron

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  9. Pennies fron Heaven ... Bing Crosby Lyrics
    A long time ago
    A million years BC
    The best things in life
    Were absolutely free.
    But no one appreciated
    A sky that was always blue.
    And no one congratulated
    A moon that was always new.
    So it was planned that they would vanish now and them
    And you must pay before you get them back again.
    That's what storms were made for
    And you shouldn't be afraid for
    Every time it rains it rains
    Pennies from heaven.
    Don't you know each cloud contains
    Pennies from heaven.
    You'll find yor fortune falling
    All over town.
    Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
    Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
    If you want the things you love
    You must have showers.
    So when you hear it thunder
    Don't run under a tree.
    There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me

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  10. Hugs to you and Peggy. So sorry you're having a rough time of it. I can't begin to imagine what you're going through. Hang in there! We are thinking of you every day. We visited friends in Malta this past weekend and listened to your music the whole way, singing along. You have brought such beauty to the world in your music. We're sending good energy to help you get through the next three weeks.

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  11. Hi There,
    My love to you both,
    You remain in my heart and thoughts, as I am still sending that good ol' inner hug. This time will pass and leave riches behind. I'm sorry that it is so hard right now. So many are reaching out to support you. Their love reverberates through every moment of the day. Feel well soon. You are on the home stretch!!!

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  12. Hey Pops,

    I got the flaps up - wearing my rally cap for you! Hang in there bud.

    Dr Lane
    Formerly from Fredo

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  13. Deborah Forest HartApril 9, 2009 at 7:50 PM

    We just want to send along some more hugs-- and fervent hope that at the soonest possible moment, things will be getting better. Hug, Hug, Hug, Deborah & Andy

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  14. dan-more change is coming!! love, stef, val, and the rest of us over here.

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  15. Dan and Peggy - Allegany is waiting for you so take the pain one day at a time but keep your eye on the future solace of being in the park. We've saved a week for you because we know you'll be back, beard and all!
    Positively looking forward to seeing you this summer.
    Lynn

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  16. Sending you and Peggy chocolate hugs (with almonds for Peggy!).

    Every day the sun shines down on you, know that your fans are blessing you with warm wishes and healing hugs (and that wonderful Vitamin D).

    Take it one day at a time. That pie's going to taste that much better once you're on the other side of this experience.

    We anxiously await the dulcimer dance.

    Carol

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