A Week at Home!!! YES!!!

Do you all realize how long we've been gone???? We just kept rolling when we started home. Joe popped open a can of Glytrol & I ate part of a can of vienna sausages (UGH!!). We did stop for a snack somewhere around Tuscaloosa, but got right back to rolling. Joe has really had a hard time since we've been gone. He's lost about 32 lbs. We just didn't realize how hard the radiation would be on him. He stayed exhausted..no appetite..nausea & vomiting..pain swallowing ..then extreme pain when the food reached his esophagus then stomach...then the fevers. After 12 days in the hospital..they called it tumor fever. Hey, we are also survivors of Hurricane Ike! We still had no power the day we started home. We were so...glad to cross that Alabama state line. Now for the gooooood news..Joe is eating much better & keeping it down. He still has no energy much..but that will just take time, good nutrition and rest. We are scheduled for more tests the latter part of October...We're hoping & praying that they will still show..no tumor present! So..please continue to keep us in your prayers. Love you all....Joe & Sandra

Back N Bama!!! Yea

I don't have the details of the visit but the doctor did see Joe on Wednesday (thank the Lord) and they hit the road home this morning. God has blessed them today and they are back in Alabama and will be home before midnight if all goes well. Thank you all for praying and caring!!!! ~Sherry

PS
Maybe you will hear from Sandra before tooooooooooo looooooooooong.
LOL

Praise God!!

Joe hasn't vomited or had a fever today!!!!! He has drank 4 Glytrols, 2 teas and 2 peanut butter crackers(pre-packaged).
The doctors appointment has been re-scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22 however Sandra is trying to get them to work him in tomorrow. Pray that this happens, they don't want to stay another week. Still no electricity or phone line....but being thankful for cooler days.
We are so glad to tell you about Joe being better, praise God.

Appointment

Joe did not get to see the doctor today because the hospital is still under lock down since Ike. Sandra thinks that they will re-open on Wednesday. She is calling trying to get them to see him tomorrow. Joe isn't doing very well and Sandra thinks he is possibly de-hydrated again. He is still drinking the supplement but hardly eating anything and he drinks a small amount of tea each day. He has slept most of today.
Sandra is thankful for a beautiful "cooler" day in Houston. They still do not have power and now the phone line has died as well. They are having to be very careful with the use of their cell phones because of not having a way to charge them.
Hopefully all of these things will turn around tomorrow!!!!
~Sherry

Survived the Hurricane

Most of you probably know by now that our friends survived the hurricane. They did as told and hunkered down....with a mattress in the closet along with other "if need be" items. It was a very long night for them but with some rest, thank the Lord. The bad part is that they are now without power and it is hot!!! Of course they can't cook either but Sandra stocked other edibles before time. Joe said "I don't want to ever have to do that again." He is not feeling well at all and just can't hardly eat, however he is still drinking the nutritional supplement. He has slept most of today. They are to see Dr. Phan at 1pm on Monday. Pray that Joe will get where he can eat something without so much pain. They really want to come home!!!!! ~Sherry

Back @ the Apartment

Joe was released from the hospital on Sunday. The doctors have decided that Joe's condition is "tumor fever", which they think will begin to get better after the second week of it. A doctor told him that he would probably just wake up one day and realize that he was lots better. Joe is eating and keeping his food a little better, even though he still vomits some and has fever from time to time. He still "NEEDS" prayer so please keep remembering him.
They want to be at home soooooo bad!!! Let's pray together that God will work this out very soon. Joe has an appointment with the doctor on Monday, the 15th. It will be great if he is better enough to come home, so please pray believing.
Sandra doesn't have internet at this time. Love from them to you by Sherry.

Saturday Sept 9th Still in Hospital

Just letting you all know we are still in the hospital. When Joe goes 2 days without fever, they are supposed to let us leave. He is keeping down Glytrol ( a nutritional suppliment like Ensure).
The doctors still keep saying it takes 3 weeks or so after radiation to get better. We're into the 2nd week..so maybe it will be soon. Keep on....Keeping us in your prayers...Love..Joe & Sandra

Tuesday Night Still In Hospital

Hello again..I wish I could tell you all that Joe is feeling just great, but that is not the case...yet. He is still running a little fever and having a lot of trouble eating. The actual swallowing is not the problem; its when the food gets in his esophagus & stomach, it causes him lots of pain. They say its because his stomach is so raw from the radiaiton. This morning they were planning to put in a feeding tube, BUT...this afternoon both Dr Phan & Dr Mercle came in agreeing to "NO FEEDING TUBE" yet. Dr Phan wanted him to try to drink enough of the nutritional suppliments these next few weeks (plus other fluids) to meet his nutritional needs. It is very difficult for him, but he is trying so hard. Dr Phan reminded Joe of what she told him in the beginning " You are going to hate me before this is over". Its been very painful for him because his treatment has been so aggressive. Please keep remembering us in your prayers as we are still needing God's help...We love and miss you all.....Joe & Sandra