Thank You Rita & Dennis for the beautiful mix bouquet of flowers you sent to me today. It made my day!

Rita & Dennis go back to our soccer parent days with our sons and Rita works at Channel Velocity with Joe.

Rita has shared her faith in God with Joe in so many ways. It has touched him in ways that I can not begin to describe. Thank you Rita for being such a good friend to Joe!

AND thank you both for being our good friends!

Love you guys,
Carol

Treatment Day was today................the results are in.................no change in his platelet count so another week not taking Temador (chemo). The Thrush is gone! The incision and his cold sores are getting better. The slight change in his eye site is due to the water content in his eyes due to the steroid drug........that drug sure can cause some interesting side effects or at least it gets blamed for most of them! Dr Crocker cut him back some more on the steroid! His congestion is season related. Dr Crocker gave him a Rx for Ambien to help sleep.............he seems to "think" more than sleep. If you receive an email from him check what time he sent it and you will know what I mean. Of course he was having some out of mind thoughts while he was in the hospital taking Ambien! Heather & Christopher can vouch for that! Results are not back on the genetic testing yet according to Dr Crocker who is going to follow up on it for next Thursday's treatment day.



Heather & Joe came by my office and Joe had his picture taken for the Relay for Life team with my coworkers. The team name is Papa Joe's Biker Chics. Donations appreciated! The link is: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10SA?team_id=727894&pg=team&fr_id=24846&fl=en_US&et=Uvcj8NWm66uru3_s0j19FQ..&s_tafId=463904

Carol

On a more serious note................we ran into an emotional brick wall at the beginning of the week. We haven't had many so far but we shed the tears and got through it at least for now. I can't begin to know what Joe is thinking, feeling. I do know that I'm not angry or questioning any of this because I'm just numb to it all right now. I do know though that I love, adore and respect this wonderful human being and I will be at his side through this journey....Love you always, Joe...........ALLWAYS........the spelling is intentional, right sweetheart?!?

James was today's caregiver. He also had his ear bent with Joe's "idea" that Joe then decided to can for awhile since James nor I could put our arms around it. I will leave the "idea" to your imagination for now rather than go into detail.................. Thanks James also for fixing the "water hammer" problem in our bathroom!

Today I received notice from Kirsten, the clinical trial & chemo drug coordinator that the MRI to obtain the results from the treatment is scheduled for June 7th at 3:00pm. Those next 24 hrs will certainly be nerve racking.

Heather, Joe's daughter is on her way to spend the night with us tonight. She will be Joe's caregiver tomorrow which is "treatment day". Joe's platelet count will hopefully be even higher than last Thursday and well over the limit for the Chemo drug to be taken again.

Oh and while I am thinking of it, Sue the homemade chicken pot pie is right up there with Lisa Jan's homemade meatballs! Please send me the recipe!

I was just told that my office will be participating in the Relay for Life in Walton County on May 14th as a team on behalf of Joe! The team name is "Papa Joe's Biker Chics". Below is the link to the site that tells more about the event. Donations to the team can be made at this site. All of you are invited to participate on the team as well if you would like. They will have a booth set up selling food and raffling items. Thank you to all my coworkers at Management Services Network!!!!!!!!!

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10SA?team_id=727894&pg=team&fr_id=24846&fl=en_US&et=Uvcj8NWm66uru3_s0j19FQ..&s_tafId=463904

Andrea was Joe's caregiver yesterday. She also had dinner for us. We actually had the meal tonight and it hit the spot! It all was very good. Thank you Andrea!!!!

Today Christopher, Joe's son was the caregiver. I can't begin to tell you how much it has meant to Joe to have this time with Christopher.

I want to thank Mike for taking Joe to Emory last Friday for treatment. Apparently they did a little looking back to the good old law enforcement days on their trip up. On their way back Mike's son had a flat tire on the expressway on his way up the road. So Ed helped out and picked Joe up at the site of the flat tire while Mike helped his son. Thanks guys!

We had a good weekend. Joe & Ed hung out together on Saturday while Cheryl & I did a little shopping. Joe & I probably needed a little time apart.

Sunday morning Joe had me shaving his head for that smoooooooooooth look! He preceded to tell me how to do it. I reminded him that I had been shaving my legs for the past 40 yrs and did pretty good at it so I didn't need instructions!!!

Then mid day Sunday we had a house full! Heather, John & the girls and Mark, Sarah, Jordan & Cheryl. Josie had a couple of her buddys over too, Jinx & Bentley! We always love it when the kids come over! :)

Carol

FYI..................Lisa Jan also makes a killer enchilada casserole! We had it last night for dinner and I'm having it for lunch at work today. Yummy!

Sue Sue we will be having your chicken pot pie this weekend...........can't wait!


I just love not to cook................I hate cooking! Actually, Joe is back at it again....Hurray!!!

Carol

Bobby,

Thank you for your replies............they make me smile!!!!! :)

In are the results from today.................

Platelet count is rising but just under the limit so we go another week without the TMZ. However, Dr Crocker told Joe that his body is obviously sensitive to the drug and so that's a good thing according to Dr Crocker per Joe. Dr Voloschin who is in charge of administering the drug is the one we should direct our questions to according to Dr Crocker. I will contact Dr Voloschin tomorrow. I'm not sure I understand how that is a good thing but maybe it is. Will find out with Dr V. Joe's incision is looking better actually since he shaved his head. Dr Crocker decreased the steroid some more. Joe loves that! Dr Crocker did give Joe a prescription for Thrush which we were warned that it is a side effect.

Joe loved having Steve & Pam as his caregivers today. He had not seen them in awhile so it was all good.

Steve, Joe was telling me how nice the new truck is............niceeeeeeeeeee! I'm holding you & Pam to a dinner invitation out to the Thai Palace real soon! Love you two & thank you!

Now for tomorrow...............Joe's GBI buddy, Mike will be his caregiver. This could be trouble with the two of them together! Mike's nickname is "Whiskey" need I say anymore..........

Carol

Yesterday June was Joe's caregiver. June is known to always be late to wherever she needs to be. However, June was right on time picking Joe up! He must have some clout! They ran into a little traffic going up to Emory but still made it right at 10:30am for the appt.

June, don't be late to Amber's wedding which is in a couple of weeks girl! :)

Last weekend was suppose to be when we were to ride our bikes to Florida with one of Joe's best buddies, Ed. Ed went on but had his sister and son go with him. By the pictures we have seen and Ed's stories, it sounds like they had a great time. Ed brought back shrimp for Joe & I and we had it last night. Man they were delicious! Thank you, Ed!!!!!!!

Today is "treatment day" and the caregivers are Steve & Pam! Joe will have his labs today which, keep your fingers cross, that his platelets will be above the limit in order to go back on the TMZ (Temador). Joe also sees Dr Crocker which gives him the opportunity to ask questions. We make out a list of questions through out the week. So the list is with Joe today to go over with Dr Crocker.

Carol

Let me just say that I have been using this blog to thank many people for their love, prayers & support. I have been using it also to keep you updated with the day to day events and mostly the laughing moments. I have used this blog as therapy for my own self.

I think I'm able to begin to share "other things" with you all, our family and our friends.

Joe has been searching for some kind of sense to this all. He has been touched by the strength of others in their faith in the belief in God and the power of prayer. Never in our marriage have we prayed openly together until now. Joe believes there is "A Plan" that he is not in charge of his destiny but that it is in God's hands with God's timing. He also believes that "good things" are coming out of this that would not have, had it not been for this journey. There have been some specific things to happen since this journey began to strengthen Joe's faith in God.


Well I'm back.............couldn't stay focused at work after finding out that the 2 weeks that Joe will have missed by not taking the chemo drug will result in no additional intake of the drug extended at the end of the 6 weeks of treatment. Left work early today:(

Christopher arrived for the night and was given the duty of giving Joe "The Cancer Haircut" which is so much better than having missing patches of hair that makes you look like one sick dude. I video the event and will post it asap. All he needs now is a suntan on that virgin scalp!!!

Carol

This has been a busy week! I don't even know where to begin!

Christopher was Tuesday's caregiver. When he arrived on Monday night he found Joe & I cutting the grass. Yes that's what I said........Joe was on the tractor mower going at it. Tuesday went fine and after treatment they went to the Vortex for lunch in Little Five Points. The best burgers ever!

On Tuesday night Carrie Ann was back to be Wednesday's caregiver. They had one hell of a day! Carrie Ann (aka Shutterbug) came prepared to take pictures of Joe in his "Jason" mask with his 2 smiling radiation techs. You can click on to see the pictures at

http://picturesbycarrieann.shutterfly.com/6318

After radiation, Joe was scheduled for a PET scan for volunteer research but the appointment time along with the "cocktail" contrast was not ready. So the steroid medication that Joe has been taking kinda took over and Joe had a few words with the staff. Carrie Ann was attempting to apoligize for Joe's behavior only to have Joe go on another rampage. Seeee there is another side to Papa Joe! However Joe did finally have the PET scan after waiting 2 hours. The PET scan is really a good thing cause it will be able to distinguish the tumor and what the treatment results are in some ways better than a MRI. Both will be performed 3 weeks after the last treatment day (May 12th).

Then on Wednesday night Gary & Lisa (aka Snap & LJ from the Notorious Westsiders) came in and spent 2 nights in order to be caregivers for Thursday & Friday. Lisa Jan spoiled Joe with a hardy breakfast both mornings. She also prepared Thursday night her famous, delicious, homemade meatballs & spaghetti!

Lisa announced to Joe on their first road trip to Emory Thursday morning that she had never driven on I-285. Joe's remark to that was "NOW you tell me!" But the drive each way for both days was uneventful and they safely made it back to Covington. Today was lab day and Joe's blood work showed his platelets had lowered some more. So we go into another week not taking the chemo drug.

We did have Lisa running Joe all over to other doctor appts between the 2 days.

Dr Lanclos had the opportunity to show Lisa the "paper plate" demonstration for portion amounts for healthy eating. Joe had already received the visual with me on the last appt. Then Dr Lanclos gave his thoughts on Joe's "red spots" and "low platelets". Apparently Joe's platelets were slightly low at his last check up in February. When Dr Lanclos looked through Joe's records, as Joe describe it, he looked up slowly at Joe and sternly stated "I see alcohol". Apparently drinking can lower your platelets! This was news to us all!

Joe also had an appt with his dermatologist's PA who at our request performed a biopsy on one of his "red spots" that has all of us including the docs baffled. We should know something on Wednesday.

Our weekend was lots of fun!

It started Friday night with Rex, Carol, Janice & Cheryl came over and brought some huge steaks that melted in your mouth, rosemary sweet potatoes and strawberry/blackberry greens salad that was awesome!

Saturday afternoon we headed for Snap's & LJ's to hang out with the "Nortorious Westsiders" and got to see Krod & Debbie who were in town. Rocky decided to rake a place out for a make shaft fire pit in Snap's back yard woods area. Then he preceded to roast marshmellows on the tongs of the rake and a few of us actually ate them! We got to hear all about Krod's "toast" with Debbie's family by Joanie who was hysterical telling it. We loved seeing all of you..............TMT, Tank, Hippie, Bobby, Carrie Ann, Smelley & SueSue!

Oh, almost forgot.........my Joey is going to me a sexy bald man! :)

Carol

Day 1 of week 2 down! Andrea was Joe's caregiver today AND she brought dinner for us tonight. Delicious! Delicious! Ben & Jerry's ice cream too! Thank you Andrea!

Joe is having the best time visiting with all the caregivers...aka great friends!

Carol

The first complete treatment week down and 5 more to go!!!

Joe's caregiver today was David. David will be walking his only daughter, Jenna down the aisle this summer. So going up the road, Joe had the liberty of giving David his thoughts based on what he experienced giving his only daughter, Heather away at her wedding. According to Joe it's just fine for a man/father to cry when it's his daughter's wedding. :) So Renee, make sure you have plenty of Kleenex for David!

I want to end this Friday by thanking once again those who were the caregivers since we started.

Thank you!
Cheryl Blasingame... Sarah Bowen... Christopher Blasingame... Carrie Ann Byrne... James Hyde... David Engle

Carol

We were told in the beginning that Thursdays would be "Treatment Day". We knew that Thursdays would be the day each week that Joe would have blood work done. Joe found out today that "Treatment Day" also included seeing the oncologist. So Joe & James, caregiver for the day saw Dr. Crocker. The conclusion of the visit was that Joe would cut back on the daily dosage of steroids. Joe loved hearing this.

Kirsten from Medicine Oncology contacted me this afternoon with Joe's lab results. Everything was good except his platelet count was a little low. So for the next 7 days Joe will not take the chemo drug, Temodar in order for his platelets to increase. If his blood labs come back next Thursday indicating they have increased then Joe starts back on the drug. Kirsten also changed the times of the day to take the clinical trial drug, HCQ.

It was a long day but with James' help Joe got through it with lunch at Steak n Shake before being dropped off at his office. Thanks James!!!!

Carol

Carrie Ann (aka Shutterbug) one of the "Notorious Westsiders"was Joe's caregiver today.

Yes, Ashley she did bring her camera and according to Joe got some great shots of Josie catching the Frisbee!

Joe had a good time with Carrie Ann. Anyone who knows her knows she never meets a stranger. Well today was no exception. According to Joe he came back to the waiting room after the treatment and found her talking with other patients like she had always known them.

They also went to the local deli in Covington and cheated and shared a dessert! I'm glad Dr Lanclos didn't run in to you! Next, Carrie Ann took Joe to get his hair cut and met his hairdresser, Sandy who has been praying for Joe ever since the tumor was diagnosed. Sandy makes a point of the two of them praying together when Joe is in for a haircut and included Carrie Ann today.

Thank you Carrie Ann & see you next Wednesday!!!

Carol

P.S. Joe & I will be thinking of you & your family when you travel tomorrow for your grandmother's funeral in IL.

Joe has started off the week well.

Sarah, our daughter in law was Joe's caregiver on Monday. Joe had alot of fun with Sarah. They always have joked around with each other! Thank you Sarah!!!

Also, Sarah brought lasagna that her mother Kathy made. Yummy! It was sooooo good, Kathy! Thank you! Thank you!

Today Christopher, Joe's son was the caregiver and kept Joe fascinated by how he was multi-tasking between caregiver and his own job responsibilities. Anyone who knows Christopher knows he is a workaholic and a great son! Thank you Christopher!!!!

Carol

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Arvo and Barry!!! The grass looks great and for putting out the weed killer yesterday. I love working in the yard (really) but I have to admit doing it all by myself was not something I was looking forward to.

Thank you Cheryl for the delicious stuffed peppers for dinner and the fritata & basil grapefruit for breakfast!

Thank you Conyers First United Methodist Church for the Easter basket!

Had a great day today with the visit from Heather, John, Lily & Ava! There's nothing like being grandparents!

Also had a visit from my parents who brought dinner for the 2 of us. Thanks mom & dad!

Carol

Diagnosis from the PA is Asteatotic Dermatitis, dry patches. PA stated not contact dermatitis or drug reaction or hypersensitivity. Was given a prescription ointment.

Good news, Joe received his "Dragon" voice recognition software so that it will replace him having to type which isn't working out so will now. He is excited because it helps him stay in the loop with what's going on at work and he can give his "2 cents worth" to the email discussion. If there is a will there is away!!!!!

Carol

Just heard from Joe & Cheryl and today's treatment went well! Joe does have a rash on his arms and Dr Crocker looked at it and told Joe to see his local dermatologist who is our friend Dr John Fountain. Dr Crocker stated that the anti seizure meds and the steriods do not normally cause a rash on the arms but on the face. Joe is on 10 drugs now so I'm not sure how John is going to figure this out. It doesn't itch or burn. It may be he just needs to stay out of the sun because some of the drugs are sensitive to sunlight. Cheryl and Joe are on their way over to see John or his PA now.

We are off to a great start!!! Everything went as planned today. It did take a little longer on the table for Joe because the radiation team had to adjust a few "beams" for lack of better words. Don't want to zap the good brain cells!!! Must be precise!!! Joe did really well and only was tired when we got home.

We were told today the appointment time for the future radiation treatment starting tomorrow will be at 10:30am instead of 12 noon. Therefore the schedule will be the following:

7:30am-8:30am breakfast
8:30am-can not have anything to eat
9:00am-take Zolfran with water for nausea as you are walking out the door
9:30am-take Temodar (chemo drug) in the car with water
10:30am-radiation
12:30pm-can start eating again (lunch)

Thursdays only-blood work drawn after radiation

I have allowed 1hr 30 min for driving time/traffic to Emory/Winship Cancer Center on Clifton Rd across the Emory Hospital. (I-20 west; I-285North; Church Street Exit turn left off ramp;
Turn right onto North Decatur Rd; Turn right onto Clifton Rd; Turn right into Emory Clinic; Turn left into building A & C valet parking). Radiation staff will give you a blue sticker to place on your valet ticket for free valet parking when you leave.

Radiation Oncology is in the Winship C building on the Tunnel floor level. When you get off the elevator turn left and you are there. Floors, elevators, departments are clearly marked with signage throughout the building. Everyone is very helpful and polite.

If you would like to be a "Caregiver for the Day" then please contact me as soon as possible. There are plenty of days that need a caregiver volunteer. Detailed instructions will be in the kitchen at the house the day you arrive.

Thank you all for your prayers and support! Joe & I could not get through this without you all!

Carol