Hi everyone! This is Daren (Karen's brother if you don't already know). I'm sure you noticed the new link to the top left of the page. I know Doug was asked to post that same link (http://www.runforkaren.com/), but didn't go into detail since it is probably a little difficult to talk about a fundraiser which benefits his family. So, I thought I would let those of you know what is going on that might not have visited the site.
A friend of Karen and Doug has organized a fundraiser in which he and others in the New Jersey area will be running a half marathon to raise money for the family and kids. These donations have been made tax deductible which I think is pretty awesome! The website that has been created is really good and explains the whole thing.
Having said all of this, there may be some stuff in the works to hold some events the same day as the run in different areas such as Georgia and Arkansas. I still need to talk to a few other folks who might already be working on these things and we will see what happens. I will keep everyone informed and please feel free to give me some feedback if you would like. Just email me at dspurlock@pgtc.com and let me know what you think, if anyone is interested, etc.. I have to admit that I am a little reluctant because there are so many people who have given not only during Karen's recent battle, but even the first one five years ago.People have given more than I could have ever imagined whether it be monetary donations , donating their time and efforts, or just a simple phone call or card. But, I feel like Mr. Andrew Stout has laid a great foundation with this fundraiser and I owe it to Karen to do all I can as she would do the same for me. Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you soon.
Friday, January 15, 2010
little learned but some news
Dr. Schnapper, karen's local neurologist, has been brought into the loop when we had to go to the ER last saturday. So, Duke has been in contact with him to get karen some local help with our issues.
First, about 2 weeks ago karen just started or stopped eating, and drinking very little. at first it was not that bad but it got worse up till she fell out saturday. at that point she became so weak that it is hard for me, or Sarah to even get her a step away to a portable restroom. sarah had to take her to Dr. Schnapper's and that was a very hard ordeal getting her in and out of the car. it was clear we needed some kind of help.
throughout the week as i emailed duke and talked to dr schnapper, we found out that karen all of the sudden had a high liver count in one of her blood work ups. duke stopped the chemo on thursday and will not start it back until the liver count is normal.
in the mean time i have been so worried about how weak karen had been getting (which i was convinced was from the lack of food or liquids) that i was ready to try and get her admitted into the hospital to try and get fluids in her and her strenght up. apparently you just can't get people admitted and it takes more than i would have ever thought to get it done. a little good news came today with out announcement.
i knew that dr schnapper had been talking to duke and trying to coordinate local help for us but i was not sure what they were working on. today a nurse from the group "Visiting Nurse Health System" came to the house to assess karen and our needs and told us that once a week they would be arriving to the house to do karen's blood work and therapy. this means karen's mom will not have to transport her to do these things which might have been near impossible for just her. i had some helpers set up to help her but this will be sooooo much better. there will still be a need to get karen to and MRI at least once a month but i know i can get lynette help for that day.
so , the other good news is that karen vital signs are all great.
the bad news is if the liver thing doesn't get corrected it may hurt this clinical trail and we may have to go in a new direction.
hopefully we can get her stregnth up and get the echemo back on track
First, about 2 weeks ago karen just started or stopped eating, and drinking very little. at first it was not that bad but it got worse up till she fell out saturday. at that point she became so weak that it is hard for me, or Sarah to even get her a step away to a portable restroom. sarah had to take her to Dr. Schnapper's and that was a very hard ordeal getting her in and out of the car. it was clear we needed some kind of help.
throughout the week as i emailed duke and talked to dr schnapper, we found out that karen all of the sudden had a high liver count in one of her blood work ups. duke stopped the chemo on thursday and will not start it back until the liver count is normal.
in the mean time i have been so worried about how weak karen had been getting (which i was convinced was from the lack of food or liquids) that i was ready to try and get her admitted into the hospital to try and get fluids in her and her strenght up. apparently you just can't get people admitted and it takes more than i would have ever thought to get it done. a little good news came today with out announcement.
i knew that dr schnapper had been talking to duke and trying to coordinate local help for us but i was not sure what they were working on. today a nurse from the group "Visiting Nurse Health System" came to the house to assess karen and our needs and told us that once a week they would be arriving to the house to do karen's blood work and therapy. this means karen's mom will not have to transport her to do these things which might have been near impossible for just her. i had some helpers set up to help her but this will be sooooo much better. there will still be a need to get karen to and MRI at least once a month but i know i can get lynette help for that day.
so , the other good news is that karen vital signs are all great.
the bad news is if the liver thing doesn't get corrected it may hurt this clinical trail and we may have to go in a new direction.
hopefully we can get her stregnth up and get the echemo back on track
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
average at best day
today karen's diarrhea pills worked better, she drank a little more fluids, and did not throw up. all good, but she slept most of the day and is so week that she is having a hard time walking the 30 feet to the rest room.
she has promised me that she would try to sit up more tomorrow and work on some word search games she likes, surf the web, but stay awake. she lays back so much i think it affects her balance when it comes time to walk.
hopefully she will have a great day tomorrow.
she has promised me that she would try to sit up more tomorrow and work on some word search games she likes, surf the web, but stay awake. she lays back so much i think it affects her balance when it comes time to walk.
hopefully she will have a great day tomorrow.
Monday, January 11, 2010
a little better today
karen's elbow is a little better today and she seems to be feeling a little better. she still is not eating that much but she is drinking enough. she also told me that she felt her balance was better and overall feelings were good. i talked to her duke nurses today to try and get things worked out and they gave me many things to try. there may be a Rx we are missing that is a pill that should be helping with appetite and taste. i am not sure where that one has been or if we misplaced it but we need that one ASAP and they are going to get it for me hopefully tomorrow.
karen seems a little depressed and has mentioned to me once that she thinks the treatments are not working. she may need some friends just to talk to during the day. she tells me she is too tired to talk sometimes, but always enjoys talking to her friends and just does not get enough of that. sometimes her friends say "we didn't call because we thought everyone was calling so we wanted to give some space" over all not many calls have came. i have told karen that if she is getting tired and wants to get off the phone people will understand if she say she needs to go, so please remember, if you call she may cut it short and it is not your fault at all.
karen seems a little depressed and has mentioned to me once that she thinks the treatments are not working. she may need some friends just to talk to during the day. she tells me she is too tired to talk sometimes, but always enjoys talking to her friends and just does not get enough of that. sometimes her friends say "we didn't call because we thought everyone was calling so we wanted to give some space" over all not many calls have came. i have told karen that if she is getting tired and wants to get off the phone people will understand if she say she needs to go, so please remember, if you call she may cut it short and it is not your fault at all.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
worried and run for karen
first, i am very worried about the amount of food and liquids karens takes in every day. for the last 2 weeks she just hasn't been eating (she usually takes 2 or 3 bites) and then says she is done and this doesn't taste good to her. now, 2 weeks later she is getting almost too weak to walk by herself. yesterdays hospital stay was an eye opener showing me that i must not be doing enough for her and getting the fluids and food in her she needs. she gets so mad at me when i try to get her to eat more. i have tried being nice, mean, reasoning with her and well everything i can. so, now if there are any hints anyone can give me or us, it would be great.
Andrew Stout, a long time friend of ours, has set up a facebook group and a website for karen. the site is www.runforkaren.com and the facebook group is also called run for karen. here is one more example of a great person working hard for us.
Andrew Stout, a long time friend of ours, has set up a facebook group and a website for karen. the site is www.runforkaren.com and the facebook group is also called run for karen. here is one more example of a great person working hard for us.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
always exciting in this house.
this morning as we were getting ready for the day i noticed that a bruise on karens arm had swollen over night very unexpectedly. she bumped her arm about 2 weeks ago and i have been watching it everyday to make sure it was OK. i thought for sure that this was a bad infection the way it looked to me...right away i knew we needed to see a doctor as soon as possible about the elbow.
after karen was dressed we started to walk to the kitchen for breakfast. (karen has been complaining the last few days about being light headed). about 6 steps in karen said she didn't feel well and her leg was spasming. next thing i know she is slumping into my arms mumbling something. we slowly made it to the floor karen was totally out of it. her bad leg and arm (left) were both spasming and her face also seemed to have something was going on, but what i do know is that she was not responding to anything i said even though she seemed to be looking me right in the eye. jenna got me the phone to call 911 and as i talked to the lady karen came around and was her own self. we called her local neurologist, and duke u for advice. both said to go ahead and go to the ER have her elbow checked and get the neurologist on call to look at her.
so, from 9am until 7pm we spent the day at the ER. the first x rayed her elbow and just think it is a bad bruise that will take a long time to heal because of the blood thinner she is on. they put her on an IV to get fluids on her because she either fainted because she was dehydrated or it was a seizure from her tumor. her neurologist upped her seizure meds to take care of the seizure end. we left the ER with a CAT scan CD to take to Duke and our local neurologist so they can make sure nothing new (bad) has happened.
we will work hard to keep her hydrated and hopefully the tumor is stable like it was at duke monday.
last it is always amazing to me how many people are out there ready to help us a at drop of a pin. sure some people have plans that they cannot get out of and that is understandable, but it never takes me long to find what i need to make sure my kids are taken care of and karen is taken care of. we can never thank all of them enough...we have been blessed, and i know that God is working in this situation some how.
after karen was dressed we started to walk to the kitchen for breakfast. (karen has been complaining the last few days about being light headed). about 6 steps in karen said she didn't feel well and her leg was spasming. next thing i know she is slumping into my arms mumbling something. we slowly made it to the floor karen was totally out of it. her bad leg and arm (left) were both spasming and her face also seemed to have something was going on, but what i do know is that she was not responding to anything i said even though she seemed to be looking me right in the eye. jenna got me the phone to call 911 and as i talked to the lady karen came around and was her own self. we called her local neurologist, and duke u for advice. both said to go ahead and go to the ER have her elbow checked and get the neurologist on call to look at her.
so, from 9am until 7pm we spent the day at the ER. the first x rayed her elbow and just think it is a bad bruise that will take a long time to heal because of the blood thinner she is on. they put her on an IV to get fluids on her because she either fainted because she was dehydrated or it was a seizure from her tumor. her neurologist upped her seizure meds to take care of the seizure end. we left the ER with a CAT scan CD to take to Duke and our local neurologist so they can make sure nothing new (bad) has happened.
we will work hard to keep her hydrated and hopefully the tumor is stable like it was at duke monday.
last it is always amazing to me how many people are out there ready to help us a at drop of a pin. sure some people have plans that they cannot get out of and that is understandable, but it never takes me long to find what i need to make sure my kids are taken care of and karen is taken care of. we can never thank all of them enough...we have been blessed, and i know that God is working in this situation some how.
Friday, January 8, 2010
she does better with other people
karen seems to do better here at the house when i am not around. i am not afraid to admit that sometimes i do things for her that i should make her do on her own, but when i try to be hard on her she gets mad at me. so, i am very glad that her friend Sarah is going to be here next week and Lori the weeks after that. i am going to ask them to be harder on her and make her work. now that the Christmas break is over for me and someone else will be here almost full time, i think karen's attitude will be better.
on a side note my brother mike first brought this to my attention and i have been doing some research on it, but would love any input anyone else wants to give me...search on google "baking soda cancer treatment" and investigate for me then let me know what you think...i would appreciate any input about this.
on a side note my brother mike first brought this to my attention and i have been doing some research on it, but would love any input anyone else wants to give me...search on google "baking soda cancer treatment" and investigate for me then let me know what you think...i would appreciate any input about this.
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