Holidays

We had a great Thanksgiving. As this is a time of thanks I would like to express my family's gratitude to all our friends and family who have helped us in this difficult time. Since we enjoyed Thanksgiving lunch at my Aunt Lucy's, I want to take this opportunity to single her out. Lucy .... thanks for sleeping on the couch when Angela did not want to be alone. Thanks for bathing her, rubbing her feet, driving the kids to preschool, shopping and the list goes on.... As I am writing this ... and trying not to cry..... Lucy is in the driver's seat of our Expedition and I'm in the passenger seat updating this blog. My sweet observant son Christian, just handed me a tissue from the backseat. The sitter could not make it today, so I get Kat to myself. We just dropped Angela off at PT; and we're bringing Alex and Christian to preschool.

Angela is doing great a PT and her radiation treatments. She asked me to post a Kudo for Mike Stuart, her other radiation technician at Mary Bird. Both Mike's have been very caring and patient to help her through the radiation treatments.

The holidays are a bittersweet time for anyone in our situation. I can tell the whole weight of the situation is starting to wear on her. She is doing her best to keep up the "can do" attitude .... but with Kat's B-day, Thanksgiving, Alex's D-Day, Angela's B-Day, Christmas, my B-Day, New Years ...it is kind of like a holiday marathon for us. Anyway please keep praying .... all I want for Christmas is a miracle.

We're pulling into preschool..... got to go.

KATHERINE TURNS 1

Yesterday we celebrated Katherine's first birthday.....her actual birthday is 11/21. It was a great party and a very special day. I thought that I'd share a few pictures will all of you. As you can tell, she really enjoyed her cake!

Hi Everyone ... It's Me.

This is my first post and I want to thank everyone who has put me in their prayers, it is hard to express what this truly means to me. I want to thank those who have sent cards, flowers, and words of encouragement. To everyone who has helped with food, cleaning, babysitting and the list goes on, we truly appreciate it. Every one's love and support is truly what has helped us get through this difficult time. Thanks for your kind words and thoughtful comments on your posts . It is hard to read the blog without crying. I have all the confidence and faith in God that with every one's prayers we're going to beat this monster. I'm making plans to attend my kids' college graduations. I feel God has a plan for me. I hope and believe it is to help someone down the road to give them hope; like so many angels have given me and my family through this difficult journey. At some of the hardest times, God has appeared through people to remind me not to doubt and he is walking every step with me.

I have had a few difficult days recently with my hair loss and still minimal use of my left foot; but I'm still working hard at therapy everyday and trying to be patient. My PT, Chad, is amazing and goes beyond in helping me reach my goals. My left arm is regaining strength but I had to type this with my right hand only. With all that said, I thank God every day how lucky I am because it could be so much worse.

Today was a day of mixed emotions, we celebrated Katherine's 1st birthday. Her actual birthday is November 21st. It is so surreal to think a year ago I was pregnant and now a year later I'm dealing with this monster in my head.

I know God is seeing me through every moment of this, but I do have my moments. Please keep praying. David and I have been blessed with 3 little miracles and now we need one more so we can raise these little miracles together.

My love to everyone
Angela

Tomorrow Marks the 1/2 Way Mark on the Chemo/Radiation

Angela had another good weekend. We started around 8:30 to make church at 11:00... and we still managed to be 30 minutes late. After another good Burn Paige sermon we headed off for a family outing. We picked up 3 Happy Meals and headed to park by the Zoo. Christian managed to drop his hamburger before the first bite. Luckily daddy's meal came with two. From there we headed to the zoo joined by friends and family. We all had a great time. Angela got a little burned last time.... this time she put on plenty of sun screen. This weekend also marked the first time Angela started loosing some hair. While she still has a lot of hair .... the loss is more pronounced where the radiation treatments are focused. She is starting to where a cap. She still looks great in her Tulane baseball cap. Tammy took her wig shopping last week. She still doesn't need it yet ... but the day is coming.

Tomorrow marks the 1/2 mark for the first phase of her treatment. She is starting to tire out more quickly and I can tell the treatments are beginning to take their toll on her energy. Even with the chemo/radiation wearing her down .... she is giving 110% at therapy to walk and regain her mobility. She goes everyday and works hard for at least two hours. Her therapist Chad is giving her better than his best. When I'm pulling up to pick her up he is always working her to the last minute. I can't say enough about how they have helped her regain some of her mobility. I no longer follow her around the house stabilizing her with a gait belt. She is walking on her own with her cane and a brace on her leg. Angela is also back in her bed. She can get up on her own now when shes needs to. She has come a long way since her surgery.

We both have our moments of hope and despair ... but all in all we're both holding up pretty well. Again thanks to everyone for your prayers and kindness. Please keep praying .... we're holding out for a miracle.

Back in the Saddle

As I write this 3 kids are bouncing around me.... Angela is gaining her mental strength back after the setback on Friday. Saturday night was pretty tough. She was really depressed from Friday's consult with the Neurosurgeon. My sister took the boys to the park to play and Angela broke down that evening while they were gone. I convinced her to to take a Xanax and she finally fell asleep before the boys came home. After a lot of prodding I convinced her to go to church Sunday morning. As usual Burn Page's sermon seemed to be tailored made for us. From there things started looking up. We met my sister for a picnic lunch before heading to the zoo. Angela thoroughly enjoyed the outing as Alex road in her lap and Steele pushed her chair. Her Family Sunday outing was what we needed to get her back on track. She still has her moments but....but she is getting back to where she needs to be.
Thanks for the prayers, support and help! Did I mention the 3 kids....gotta go.

Never Give Up!

Today we saw the Neurosurgeon.....he is a fantastic surgeon....did a better than great job on getting out all the visible tumor.....but he might as well change his name to Dr. Doom. Angela was in tears after her post-op checkup when Dr. Doom gave her his usual you might have a year or two......you might want to make a video so the kids will know that you loved them......take some family trips... make some memories..... enjoy everyday as if you were dying... yadda... yadda... yadda. We all know this is going to be an uphill battle, but with God all things are possible. This thing is beatable. I'm going with Duke's motto "At Duke there is hope!" and Mary Bird Perkin's staff "We have cured people with this." She was in such despair she didn't think she could go through with the radiation treatments. I gave her a Zannex to calm down. While we were waiting for her radiation therapist (Mike Miranda.....incredible bedside manner...great guy!) to come get her, a FrenchQuarterMarket.com customer called on her cell phone from California. I told Sandy that Angela was getting ready to go into a treatment; and I ask could I take a message. She told me she had heard about Angela's tumor and just wanted offer some words of encouragement. She said she has a friend that was diagnosed with a tumor and given a year to live. That was six years ago! Instead of taking a message I gave the phone to Angela..... this was her Angel... her ray of hope ....just at the perfect moment. After Sandy's call Angela's hope began rebounding. The therapist came and took her to radiation.

While I was in the lobby waiting for her a volunteer came up to me and offered me a cup of coffee. I accepted and she began telling me that she volunteers her time at Mary Bird Perkins because she wants to repay the kindness and help that was given her by the physicians and the staff of Mary Bird Perkins. Her 4 year old daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer and given 5 years to live. That was 33 years ago! Her 37 year old daughter is doing just fine. I asked her to please tell her story to Angela, which she gladly did. Two Angels in one day! Angela and I both believe God was telling her "Don't give up - I am with you". Angela's spirit is one of hope again.

THANKS everyone for your prayers and kind words of encouragement. She reads every post. Please keep praying and encouraging her.... post often .... your posts really mean a lot.

Halloween Night

ANGELA & KATHERINE





ANGELA, DAVID, ALEX, CHRISTIAN & KATHERINE

Radiation, Halloween & Stuff

Halloween was great last night at Tammy & Joey Culmone's. The kids dressed up in their costumes and Angela tagged along in her wheel chair. The kids actually got tired before Angela did. The nausea seems to be a lot better now. She is only taking one nausea pill at noon before taking the chemo drug.

She is now moving her ankle about 30% and her toes are her next target. They're at about 10%. She is doing great in therapy and working hard...about 2 hours a day! She is actually walking a little bit around the house without me. I'm having to get on her a little bit about that....but for someone with her mindset (stubborn)...not to mention that I'm her husband...translation...I'm talking to the "wall".

Today she tried to do radiation treatment ("the mask") without taking an anxiety pill before her session. She made it through the session but she was definitely traumatized by it. I think tomorrow she go back to taking the anxiety pill to take the edge off. Today I saw a grown man twice her size walk out saying "I just can't do it."

Thanks again to everyone for your prayers, support and of course the delicious food! Excuse the poor grammar and all the "....." but with 3 kids and someones yummy lasagna baking in the oven..... you'll have to give me a pass

David