Driving Restriction Friction

This has been a very busy week for TheWoodruff4.  Denny went through chemo last week and it knocked him pretty hard.  He wasn't looking or feeling too well.  This week, though, he is doing much better.  We saw Dr. Murphy on Thursday morning for a mid-cycle check.  His counts are good and the topotecan is working.  The biggest problem is the driving restriction.  Superman was viewing Lois as the enemy; saying the words were being put into the doctor's mouth.  However, Lois says Superman has selective hearing and didn't remember Dr. Murphy saying he couldn't drive on the interstate, long distances, or back to Missouri.

I brought this up during our meeting with her because the friction is getting pretty tense every time we have to drive him somewhere. He felt he could drive himself to chemo treatments, taking 90 mg of Morphine, in the rain, in road construction, through downtown Nashville during rush hour.  We (Dana, Daniel, and I) understand his frustration but do not want to have anything happen to him or someone else on the road.  So whoever drives him has to have thick skin.  Our driving is critiqued from the minute we get in the car until we get home. Depending on who drives, we are either mad as hell or nervous wrecks by the time we all get home.  However, we will gladly do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe.

On a more happy note, Denny and I got to attend Daniel's Senior Awards Day Banquet.  Dan was given 2 leadership awards, a National FFA scholarship of $1000, and 6 scholarships from Auburn; including an out-of-state-tuition waiver.  When Dan's name was announced I looked over at Denny and saw tears in his eyes.  He was so proud of his son and so happy to be there. I got choked up when I took this picture of them.  So much emotion wrapped up in those little blue award squares.

We have much to be thankful for during this time of transition.  Our baby, our youngest, our son is getting ready to leave the nest.  No more running like mad dogs trying to get to every function, proofreading projects at the 11th hour or ironing official dress for FFA events.  I'm going to miss it but I find I'm looking forward to tailgating at college football games, Parent's Weekends, and school shopping for supplies with the smell of pencils, paper, and new books in the fall with Dana and Daniel.  This chapter is closing but I'm looking forward to the next book.

TheWoodruff4 wish to send encouragement and love to our friend, Ann Price.  Ann is a cancer warrior princess and we are in awe of her tremendous strength.  She fights every day for more time with her beautiful family.  Don't give up, Annie!  Hear us cheering you on?  All you have to do is listen.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day!  May the sun shine and the burgers be cooked just right.  God Bless America!

The Miracle on Laguardo Street

In my last post, I told you Dr. Murphy had much to say.  What I didn't do was give you many details. Dr. Murphy, as optimistic as she usually is, was very realistic.  The meeting with her on April 25th was pretty grim.  We didn't want to put much on the blog until the kids were home and we could talk about this as a family.

Dr. Murphy told us that the Topotecan was barely holding the tumor down.  She didn't know how much longer it would be effective.  She also said that Denny's body is wearing down.  His counts have been okay to give him chemo but they are a little lower each time.  In order to even continue the Topotecan, she has to have bone marrow counts.  Denny's body has been through so much that the battle is getting harder.  Dr. Murphy told us when the Topotecan failed, the tumor would grow extremely fast.  Denny would not have much time.  She said she was going to keep looking but at this time she had nothing more to treat him with.

As you can imagine, this was devastating.  However, Superman said as we were leaving Dr. Murphy's office, "I've heard this before and I'm not ready to quit fighting."  I said, "You know what?  That is what I love about you!  Me either!"  Denny kept taking the morphine to help with the pain and pushing himself to eat.  He drank Ensures, Gatorade, ate vegetables; did anything he could to help his body keep fighting.

On Monday, May 5th, we met with Dr. Murphy again.  She has Denny scheduled for chemo on Monday, May 12 - May15.  She looked at Denny and said, "I don't believe it!  The Topotecan is holding!"  The tumor bulge in the roof of his mouth has receded.  His face wasn't as swollen.  His mouth still has a little droop due to facial nerve involvement.  He is still going to need to stay on the morphine because of that nerve.  He can drive small distances; like into Lebanon or Mt. Juliet but no long drives.

In addition, she said there was a FDA-approved drug identified in the biopsy that Denny could not have because it wasn't approved for his type of cancer.  Being the fighter she is, Dr. Murphy located a "Samples Pharmacy" that has a supply of this drug.  He doesn't have to go through the insurance process or fight with any clinical trials to get it.  She says it is an option she is willing to try.

Our main worry was that Denny was not going to make it to Dan's graduation.  That has been his goal since he was first diagnosed; to see both of his children graduate.  Dr. Murphy said, "That is not a worry. You have gained a little more time."  It's our Miracle on Laguardo Street!  TheWoodruff4 are still holding strong.  Superman is fighting for every minute of time.

Thank you for all the prayers,cards, phone calls and emails.  Wayne Foster, I need to give you a different phone number.  Denny doesn't get the messages left on the answering machine.  Remind me the next time I see you!  Ronnie & Tammy, thank you so much for the smoked pork.  It came in handy for us.  I didn't have to worry about what to fix for dinner. Thank you to Marilyn, Denny's stepmom, for staying with him after his hospital adventure.  He enjoyed his visit with you. Pam and Dorothy, I have no words to Thank you two for all you have done.  You are neighbors beyond compare!  Ron & Karla, Thanks for the little sign.  It couldn't have come at a better time. TDK & Lana, thank you for the beautiful quilt.  I promise the Thank you note will go out soon to your church.  Mark Youngman, Thanks for the encouraging texts while I was waiting with Denny in the ER and the visits to his hospital room.  You are truly a blessing!  If I have missed anyone, it is not intentional. Just know you all matter to us.  We couldn't get through this without you.

Balanced on a Blade

We went to see Dr. Murphy on Monday, April 25th.  She had several things to say. 

1. Radiation is no longer an option.  The Vanderbilt Doctor got the file from the Washington University Doctor.  He said the field of radiation done in 2004 was the strongest possible dose.  There is no way to do any more radiation in this area.

2. The biopsy sent to Boston revealed a couple of drugs currently on the market.  Dr. Murphy sent information about Denny's tumor to Dr. Lovly, a thoracic malignancy doctor.  She looked at the genetic markers identified in the tumor and told Dr. Murphy the drugs would have no influence on the tumor. This was devastating.

3. The topotecan chemo is the only option left.  Denny is balanced on a blade trying to keep the cancer in check.  Dr. Murphy is doing all she can to keep this cancer suppressed.  

Denny feels the topotecan working.  His face swelling is almost back to normal.  He visited with family over the weekend.  He seemed in good spirits and is eating much better.  Maybe Superman can turn this thing around!  Please send prayers his way!  Thanks.

Downtime for Deb

This will be a quick post, everyone.  I've been running the fast track for the past two weeks and need a little downtime. 

Marilyn, Denny's stepmom, went home today.  Denny was glad he got to spend some quality time with her.  Daniel is in Oklahoma City to compete in a National FFA Competition.  Dana is going through Finals at college. The house seems very quiet.

Denny is doing well.  The swelling in his face has gone down.  It is almost back to normal.  We were getting 2 different stories as to what the swelling was.  One doc said, "Blood clot".  The other doc said, "Tumor".  Dr. Murphy confirmed, today, that it was the tumor.  The topotecan is starting to kick in.

Dr. Murphy also reduced the pain medicine a little.  Denny felt the dosage he came home from the hospital with was too strong.  He is still comfortable and has started eating much better.

We have also been told that radiation has been taken off the table as a treatment option.  The dosage that he had in 2004 was so strong it can never be given again. 

Denny had labs drawn today and the blood counts were good.  He goes back in a week for another follow-up with Dr. Murphy.  She is keeping a close eye on Superman and continues to search for options.

It is storming here.  The clouds are dark and the rain is steady.  We are warm and dry; relaxing and resting.  Stay safe, everyone!  Good Night!

Superman and The Super-Fly Senior Chicks

Denny went into the clinic yesterday for his Nulasta infusion. This shot is needed to help keep his white blood cell count high so he can fight off any infection. He has had adverse reactions to this shot before but yesterday went well. Now that Denny is not in pain, he thought he should come off of the pain meds. He doesn't like the way they make him feel. However, the nurse practitioner said he needs to stay on them because pain like he is having is hard to manage. If he waits until he feels pain to take the medicine, it can't get ahead of it and work effectively. Our neighbor, Dorothy, was a hospice nurse before she retired. She, along with Marilyn, went to the clinic with Denny. She was immensely helpful with the situation yesterday. Thank you, Dorothy! I was teasing them about being the Super-Fly Chicks. Marilyn said "No, we are like those older ladies on that TV Show. Whatchacallit? Cougars?" Haha! Some good news? Denny ate very well yesterday and the swelling in his face is going down. The other good news? Dan got another scholarship! Looks like the Roller Coaster is headed back up the track!

Quick Update

I'm getting ready for work but wanted to give a quick update.  Sorry there was no post yesterday.  I was crazy busy!  I brought Denny home from the hospital about 2pm yesterday.  The swelling in his face was down from the day before.  The swelling is not only the tumor inflaming the facial nerve but also another blood clot.  The clots in his neck never really went away.  For some reason, the one on the left side is active again. Thanks to Pastor Mark for his visit to the hospital yesterday.  Denny really appreciated it. 

Marilyn, Denny's mom, is here and she will be taking care of him while I am at work for the next 3 days.  He is still not eating very well so she is going to try to get some ensure and soup in him.  He is very groggy on pain meds.  So I've asked her to get him up and moving a little bit.  I'm afraid he is going to have more problems with blood clots if he is always laying down.

Today he is headed into Vanderbilt for a Nulasta shot.  This is to build his white blood cell count.  Denny doesn't tolerate this well.  His blood pressure just drops suddenly.  Our neighbor, Dorothy, who is also a nurse is going with them.  He will be monitored in the hospital when the shot is given and Dorothy will be there to make sure all goes well. Thanks, Dorothy!

TheWoodruff4 are thankful for family and friends.  Thanks for the encouragement and prayers during this difficult time.  Superman is fighting; he just needs us to help push him through this little bump in the road.

Baby Steps

I haven't been into the hospital yet.  I've been disinfecting his room and bathroom again.  He is coming home tomorrow so I want everything to be ready.  I'm washing all the sheets/towels in Clorox.  He is almost finished with the antibiotic so I don't want him to re-infect himself.

I called the hospital and spoke to his nurse, Angie.  She said he ate some breakfast and seems to be resting comfortably.  I know he was yesterday so the pain is being controlled.  They plan to take him off the pain pump today and switch to oral pain medication.  They expect more of an up-and-down response because the only way to keep the pain medicine level is through IV.

He will get his 3rd chemo treatment today at 2pm.  Angie will be monitoring his pain levels.  His 4th and last chemo treatment for the week will be tomorrow at 10am.  After that, they plan to discharge him to come home.

Yesterday, the swelling in his face began to increase.  His speech became more difficult because the facial nerve is affected by the tumor swelling.  The swelling increased overnight so the doctors were called in to make sure he wasn't have an allergic reaction to something.  That has been ruled out.  They have told him to lay on his right side in an effort to drain some of the fluid collecting on the left side.

The swelling, in addition to affecting his speech, is also impairing his eyesight.  The swelling is causing his left eye to be pushed upward causing it to not track correctly.  This is giving Denny some major depth perception problems.  This is making him very anxious.  Losing his eyesight has always been a very, very big concern for him.

I have to work 3 back-to-back 12 hour shifts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Dana is still away at college getting ready for finals week.  Dan is preparing to leave at 5:30am Sunday for Oklahoma to compete in the National FFA Soils Competition.  Denny's mom is coming to stay with him during this time.  I will have peace of mind knowing he is not here alone.  Our neighbors next door are nurses so if anything emergent happens, they are just steps away. 

As soon as I finish getting everything ready for Denny's homecoming, I will be heading to the hospital.  He would enjoy visitors.  His room number is 11012.  Please do not call the room! He cannot reach the phone.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  I read the facebook comments to Superman yesterday.  He thought they were very encouraging and appreciates all his family and friends. Superman is taking baby steps to wellness. They may be small but they are headed in the right direction!