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Great news....

I think I will end with the great great great news.... Keep you guessing.




Wednesday Night:  Radiation never called to have us come in.  Brace felt awful and we were awake from about 2:45-4:00am trying to figure out how to sleep after I gave him pain meds. 

Thursday Morning:  I got Brace set up with food and meds this morning.  I didn't exercise and didn't shower before Jim and Martin arrived at 8:50am.  Then I did about 1/2 hour of Glee and was on the phone with radiation, oncology, home health and the pharmacy. 

I texted the amazing Alice to tell her how terrible the communication has been with radiation oncology.  This morning, while we were moving the bed,  Gene, the Director of the Radiation department at the Cancer Center, called and apologized for the bad communication.  He said they would call us late afternoon or tomorrow (Friday) for a treatment.  Instead of restarting the scan they hope to move all the programming to the new machine at the Cancer center.  If you missed a few of my posts, we have now missed SIX radiation treatments due to their server problems.  I keep remembering the blessing from Jim Hope that said the doctors would make mistakes, but it wouldn't change the outcome. 

We will probably have radiation Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, no Christmas, Thursday and Friday.  Now doesn't that sound fun when you feel awful? 

When I was on the phone with Dr. Carroll to get chemo set up they said they wanted to meet us today. So off we went without Karen showering... pretty sad right?   As you may remember, Dr. Carroll moved to the Hoag Cancer center from UCI Health and so we met with him in the new digs today. We discussed how sick Brace was and he couldn't really keep anything down.  He told us again the most miserable treatment is head and neck cancer doing radiation and chemo at the same time. (Brace liked hearing this)  We met with him for an hour and then he told us the great great great news.  He looked at the MRI results and the tumor in his nose is GONE!   He had to say it several times for us to really get it. They are still going to continue with probably 3 more rounds of chemo and finish the 33 radiation treatments.  They just want to make sure they get every cancer cell there. 

Some of you might wonder about the brain tumor.  We haven't heard from the brain surgeon, but Dr. Carroll was thrilled that it had not changed.  He said he would be really worried if it was gone because that would mean it was probably cancer and it had spread to his brain.  

Brace threw up this morning like he has many times this week and now refuses to take any of the existing formula.  Understandable but, then what do we do?  I called Home Health and after talking to them an hour today they are bringing Kate Farms formula tonight.  (This should make Robyn Robinson smile, she likes this brand)  We are running out of our bags for the liquid pump for his g-tube so they are bringing more of those too. 

How is Karen?
Probably my worst day yet.  Just so many emotional advocate battles today, I could barely appreciate that the tumor was gone.  I am terrified that Brace is losing weight and not eating or drinking even 10% of what he needs. Maybe I will be happy and appreciate the news tomorrow? 

How is Brace?  He feels awful, but feeling a lot better with Electrolytes seeming to stay down, new anti-nausea meds and doing the pump at half speed.  Hopefully one of the those things will make a difference and he won't throw up tonight.  Again, not looking for advice.... just love and support.  (You guys rock at that)

What to pray for? 
Pray that Brace can keep formula down.  He's lost 20+ pounds so far. 
Pray that he can sleep through the night so he can heal and Karen can cope. 
Pray for the nausea to stop.  Who knew that was such a terrible thing?  Penrods know.  
Pray for Carey Penrod.  He needs your prayers.  

  • Thank you to Jim Hope and Martin who came to move the heavy bed to the truck.  I now have my family room without a bed in it for the family party Monday. 
  • Thank you to James Swift that came to hang with Brace so I could attend a student concert. 
  • Thank you to Craig Williams for taking a half hour to find Adult Pedialyte at CVS.
  • Thank you to Corey Procuniar and Ed Mauss for being willing to drive. 






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