Radiation Has Begun

Hi Everyone!  I'm back.  I was sick early last week with some sort of cold/flu thing.  Couldn't really tell which one it was!  But it seems to have passed now and thank goodness!

I thought I'd give you an update on Scott. He's doing very well. We had the feeding tube put in last Wednesday. This is for the sake of precaution, just in case the radiation makes his throat too sore for him to eat and swallow. The Dr. said that most people don't need it but it's better to have it and not use it than visa versa.

He started the radiation on Thursday. He'll get it 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The mild chemo continues on Monday's. If all continues to go well, the treatments will be done by mid-April and then the feeding tube will be removed around the beginning of May. We don't know yet how long they'll wait to take the port out but we're getting there with things.

Thank you again for your kindness, prayers and generosity. I will keep ya'll posted as we complete this process.

https://www.gofundme.com/scotts-cancer-treatment

Love to all, Pam

Update On Scott

Hi Everyone. I want to give ya'll an update on how Scott is doing. Very well actually. The mild chemo treatments don't seem to be messing with his stomach at all, thank goodness! There are some side effects but they're mild so we can deal with them.

The radiation will be starting soon. First, because this is on his neck, a feeding tube will have to be put in which requires surgery. I'm waiting to get the exact date on that. I'm assuming next week sometime.

He's going to be missing a lot of work again. The surgery is an overnight stay in the hospital. The radiation will be 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

Mondays he will be getting the mild chemo and radiation so he won't be able to squeeze in any work time on Mondays. I'm not sure he'll be able to work at all towards the end of the radiation treatments but that remains to be seen.

I'll keep you posted. If all goes as expected, the treatments should be done by mid - late April. We're both stressed and we're both tired but having the medical stuff out of the way will be a huge relief. He's responding very well to the treatments!

Love and hugs!
Pam

Scott's Cancer Treatment Fund

Update On Scott

Hi everyone!

I'm a little behind on email, my blog and the Never Ending Sampler Stitch Along.  I've been very tired with all that's been going on with Scott's Cancer Treatment.

Today, I'm going to try to get caught up on my email.  I'm trying not to push myself right now.

Scott is doing very well. There will be more chemo starting on Monday but this one targets the actual cancer cells and not the good cells. Thank goodness! What he went through was horrible!

The radiation will be starting soon but I don't have any dates yet so I'll let ya'll know when I find out more.

We could still use some help if anyone can. More lost pay and bills coming our way. I've done pretty good staying on top of things thanks to all of you and your generous donations. I hope I can continue to do that through the duration of this process.

Thank you to everyone!

Pam

Update on my Husband

Hi everyone,  Scott is doing well. So well in fact, the 4th round of chemo has been cancelled!!!

In a couple of weeks, he'll move on to the radiation treatments.

He felt good enough today to go back to work. He was climbing the walls sitting around here watching tv.

I'll let you know when we get to the radiation. I pray this will all be over and behind us by Spring.

We still need some help but I'm so grateful for your generous donations, for your prayers, your concern and your kindness. I'm just so very thankful.



https://www.gofundme.com/scotts-cancer-treatment

Pam

Update On Scott

Hi Everyone! Round 3 of the chemo is over. It was a really rough weekend but Scott's color is back and I'm hoping we can get some solid food in him today.

Round 4 of the chemo was cancelled. The cancer responded really well to the 3 rounds so now, he moves on to the radiation and a different type of chemo which we're told, isn't so horrible on the body!

So it looks like we're at the 1/2 way point!

Thank you so much for your kindness, prayers and generosity. I'm so grateful! We still need help though. There's a huge deductible coming now, a ton of more hospital bills and he's lost so much time at work. Right now, I'm just trying to focus on paying our regular bills.

I know everything will be okay but I need to keep our heads above water. Please share on facebook!!

Thank you so much everyone,

Pam

https://www.gofundme.com/scotts-cancer-treatment

Update On Scott's Cancer Treatment

https://www.gofundme.com/scotts-cancer-treatment

Hi everyone! Scott is doing pretty well. Today is the last day of round 2 of the chemo. They'll be stopping it this afternoon and then he'll have a 2 week break before round 3. Other than being tired and trying to balance the side effects of the chemo, he's actually doing better with it than the 1st time around.

Thank you again for your generosity, your prayers and your kindness. We still have a way to go but you helped to make the road a little easier. Thank you so much! I'll keep ya'll updated on Scott's progress.

Love and Hugs, Pam

May I Vent A Little Bit?

Please feel free to ignore my post if you want to.  I just need to vent a little.

As some of you know, my husband was recently diagnosed with cancer.  It's my understanding that it's 85% treatable and curable and that's absolutely what we want. Thank God for that!

I've spent the last 3 hours trying to find some sort of grant or financial assistance for cancer patients and there's a lot out there.  Unfortunately, we don't qualify for any of them.  At least not anything that I've found so far.

So many of you have helped us already and I feel awful constantly asking for donations.  Esp. when the economy has been tough for a long time and it's Christmas and everyone has their own problems to deal with and pay for.  I just can't believe there's no help for middle class couples.  This is so humiliating for me. 

Despite our insurance, the bills are unbelieveable.  I'm getting them now almost everyday.  Although Scott was able to work the last couple of days, he'll be off again for the next 10 - 14 days.   No work, no pay.  He started his 2nd round of chemo this morning.  And come January 1st, we have to start all over again with an outrageous deductible.  I'm still paying for a surgery that he had last December.  I was down to the last $1,500.00 when this cancer thing started.  I had hoped to pay that off by the end of the year but that won't happen now.

I'm working like a crazy lady republishing my cross stitch patterns, which I had intended to do anyway but I'm pushing myself now which isn't good.  My one fun thing is the Never Ending Sampler Stitch Along.  I've been watching the progress photos over on Facebook and it's so cool to see all the different color combinations....remember, there are no rules!  Not even for me!!

Well, I was wondering, instead of me asking again for donations, I was wondering if anyone out there would be willing to sponsor us?  Meaning, help to promote our Go Fund Me site by regularly posting it on your blogs, Facebook, Twitter and anywhere else you can think of.

I'm at my wits end.  I am so scared.  I cannot stand to be in debt.  I can't work enough to pay for all this.  Honestly, I don't understand how people who have worked all their lives, have always lived frugally and simply and have integrity, can end up in the position of having to beg for help when we live in the United States of America, pay taxes (like crazy), help our neighbors, help our parents, are kind to animals (how many have we rescued and cared for?)....I'm sorry, I just don't understand it.

My mom keeps telling me that I have to have faith.  Yes, I'm Catholic, I have faith but God didn't plant a money tree in my backyard and a person can only work so many hours a day.

Our only hope to just to keep our heads above water is our Go Fund Me site but I need help promoting it.  I don't have a lot of friends and I don't have a lot of family.  Just my parents and my cousin.

Well, I just thought maybe some of you would help me with the fund raising end of this, by just promoting it.  I am so grateful for all the help that we've already received.  And the prayers and then kindness.....and everything.

And thank you so much for letting me vent about this.  I try to keep my blog for my needlework and related projects but I'm at a loss now.  And I'll try to stop complaining, at least for awhile.  I just know that writing it all down, helps to get it out of the system.

I'll post the next band for the Never Ending Sampler Stitch Along next week sometime.  I know everyone needs to get caught up.  I think, I will take a break from working until next week.  Sometimes, a time out helps us to refocus.

Thank you again everyone.
Love to all!

Pam

Scott's Cancer Treatment Update

Hi everyone, Scott is doing good. His strength is back which is good because the 2nd 5 day round of chemo starts on Friday. His appetite is good and I keep giving him Ensure for all the protein and vitamins that it has. He's working now through Thursday and then he'll be home again for 10 - 14 days. I'll keep the updates coming.

If you can share this on your blogs, facebook walls and other social media sites, I would be so grateful. We need all the help we can get.

And please keep praying that he continues to do well with this. Thank you so much for your support everyone!

Love and Hugs, Pam

 https://www.gofundme.com/scotts-cancer-treatment

For anyone who prefers Paypal, there's a Paypal Donate Button in the sidebar to the right.

Christmas Cat Counted Cross Stitch Pattern

I've just released another of my Counted Cross Stitch Patterns.  This beautiful white Christmas Cat is ready for your holiday stitching enjoyment!

Available at Magcloud:  http://www.magcloud.com/user/kitty-and-me
and at Etsy: http://www.kittyandme.etsy.com/

Update on Scott's Cancer Treatment:

He's at the hospital today having bloodwork done and the port put in.  Chemo will start on Friday.
Thank you to everyone who has helped with donations for his treatment, for all of the prayers and the support that you've sent to us.  I'm so grateful!!!

If you can help us with his his treatment fund, please visit our Go Fund Page page.  And if you could share our page on your blogs and Facebook, I would so much appreciate it.  Thank you so much!!!

Pam

Thank you!

First, I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has made a donation to Scott's Cancer Treatment Fund.  This is a difficult time for us.  I'm still a little in shock and I know he is too.

My father in law is coming up today.  He'll be doing all the driving.  I've never been one to do long distance driving and especially in the city.  Treatment is being done at Loyola University in Chicago.  And we live way up north in the country on the Illinois/Wisconsin border.

Anyway, tomorrow, the stint will be put in.  Since my father in law will be with Scott, I will be home working.

I'm in the process of republishing many of my retired Counted Cross Stitch Designs.  And I'm planning on doing some new designs too!

At the moment, I'm working on this design:

For my cross stitch friends who like my cat designs, this Christmas Cat will be available later this week.