Here is Sheila’s latest email from today:
Jan 27th ‘05:
Jay is still in the hospital but will probably get out tomorrow.
They took him off the morphine pump at his request today. They are going to try and get him on oral pain meds so that he can go home. He realized today, the longer he is on the pump they are going to have to keep him in. He is feeling a little better today so they think the steroids are working. His double vision is being caused by a weak muscle in his eye and he is being referred to a different specialist for that.
He will probably be released tomorrow.
More tomorrow
Sheila
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Ok well I was checking on eof my favorite gadget websites Gizmodo.com and I saw the perfect alarm clock for Tiffany
The story is here
Here is a picture of it
Basically this alarm clock is a glowing ball that hangs above where you sleep. The glow and music go away (if you set it to put you to sleep) and then when the alarm sounds the ball glows and of course makes a noise/radio. They way you hit the snooze on this alarm is you smack the ball. But….after being smacked the ball raises in height a few inches forcing you to stretch even higher to smack it again for the next snooze. Eventually you have to stand up in your bed or turn it off at a different location and reset the clock. LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Like I said it is the perfect alarm clock for my wife Tiffany who’s favorite words in the morning are not, “I sure love you boy!” or “I will take the first shower”, or even OK, I am off to go fix breakfast”, nope, her favorite words are….”just five more minutes.” (with a smile of course, heh) That is OK, because if she did not say those words I would think that an alien stole my wife and was “sitting” for her as she fought intergalactic space battles saving planets all over the universe including earth!
Ok, well…maybe I went to far on that one…or did I?
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It snowed TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now if you don’t know it yet, I think I was born to love snow! It is cold (a great thing for a hairy fat guy) fun (to play in) and pure (white at least in the Biblical understanding….not a comment talking about skin color)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Snow more than a lot of things and it is one of the many things that make me giddy as a school boy and the last day of the year and it turns out to be a snow day! heh.
Ξ January 26th, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Jay |
Here is Sheila’s latest email:
Jan 26th 2005:
Jay is back in the hospital.
We came to short stay today for blood work. They gave him platelets, magnesium and an antibiotic.
The doctor’s think that his severe pain that he has developed is archnoiditis caused by the chemo they injected inflaming his blood brain barrier.
They think that steroid should clear it up. They are a more concerned about the double vision. He has a consult with neurology and an ophthalmologist tomorrow and they had a brain MRI ordered tonight.
They MRI was clear and that reinforces the Doctor’s theory.
The Doctor’s thinks that this will be a short stay but he will get a lot of steroids and they have put him on a morphine pump and oxycodone for the pain.
He is in room 712 and the number is 412-578-1076.
Thanks,
Sheila
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Please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got to go to Wednesday evening dinner. God bless yall!
Ξ January 26th, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Jay |
Here is Sheila’s email from this evening:
Jay started having double vision today and his arm is feeling strange. We think it is most likely from the chemo they injected into his spine yesterday but it is a little concerning. The home nurse called his Doctor and they said he could wait to come in tomorrow. We are going to the hospital tomorrow and they should be able to get to the bottom of the problem. He had a hard time handling that I wasn’t here today but my mom did a great job of helping him out.
I’ll have more updates tomorrow.
Thanks.
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So I guess we can add this new prayer and thought need! Thank you! and please don’t forget to KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!
yall have a great night/day!
Well, the last I heard from Jay the Steelers were between plays and it was a commercial. We did not talk about the cancer and Jay told me and tiffany how much he loved one of our Christmas gifts we gave him that he finally got to open because he was home.
the last I heard from my parents was that they were still waiting for Jay’s platelet counts to get higher, and for his temp to regulate to normal….so I am guessing that that is where our prayers and thoughts need to focus for now….so they can start the experimental chemo. So as always please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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UPDATE FROM SHEILA TODAY (1/25/05) morning:
Things are really no worse or no better.
Yesterday, we had to go to medical short stay. They technically want him at short stay every day but Jay has talked a few of his Doctors into letting him stay home and have the home nurse come by a day or 2 a week. Our home nurse is wonderful but she can’t do transfusions or chemo so we have to be at the hospital for that. He has needed a platelet transfusion about every other day so that is the logic he used for taking every other day off. He is off today but we have to be back at the hospital Wednesday. It may be possible for him to get Thursday off too but it’s something the Docs okay on a day by day basis Today, I’m going into work for a while to touch base and have some face time with the people there and my mom is coming to spend the day with Jay today. I can do most of my job remotely so it works out well but today’s face time I think is very important.
Jay still needs a tremendous amount of constant care so leaving him alone can’t even be considered at this point.
He had a lumbar puncture yesterday (spinal tap) and they put chemo in his spinal. This new chemo really causes him to have drastic personality changes for some time after they give it. Riding him home last night was very interesting. He seems better this morning. I just patted his leg and said “I love you too” a lot. 
Well, I have to finish getting ready for work and try to find my keys. I’ve been ever so slightly more absent minded during this ordeal so I’ve been on a perpetual quest for some missing item ever since this started. Today, the quest is for my keys, oh and Jay’s Steeler hat which if I don’t find soon (even though they lost) may cost me the “wife of the year award”. Jay’s pretty tolerant about stuff but his evil twin isn’t.:-)
Take care everyone.
Sheila
==========================
For those of you who may care… I got a great CD the other day and I would love for anyone to listen to it…
I See things Upside Down by Derek Webb! his other latest CD (The House Show) is great too!
Let me share a little from one of my favorite songs from his latest CD:
t-shirts (what we should be known for)
(words and music by Derek Webb)
they’ll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they’ll know us by the way we point and stare
at anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare
they’ll know us by our picket lines and signs
they’ll know us by the pride we hide behind
like anyone on earth is living right
and isn’t that why Jesus died
not to make us think we’re right
chorus
when love, love, love
is what we should be known for
love, love, love
it’s the how and it’s the why
we live and breathe and we die
they’ll know us by reasons we divide
and how we can’t seem to unify
because we’ve gotta sing songs a certain style
or we’ll walk right down that aisle
and just leave ‘em all behind
they’ll know us by the billboards that we make
just turning God’s words to cheap clichés
says “what part of murder don’t you understand?”
but we hate our fellow man
and point a finger at his grave
chorus
they’ll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they’ll know us by the way we point and stare
telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
thinking we can hide our scars
beneath these t-shirts that we wear
Do you see what is going on in his music? He is calling out for the church (Christianity) to be held accountable for what they d and say…and hopefully his music will challenge Christians and churches everywhere to start living out the truth found in the bible…..so others can not put generalizations about Christians based on what they hear from the vocal minority of Christians that lived their lives the way that this song suggests. I apologize on behalf of any Christians that are not know for their love and unity…..these are things that Christians should be know for love, love, and love….exactly what Christ lived and provided for this world, but sadly the humanity creeps into the church and sadly that is what is remembered about Christian in general, instead of allowing anyone who is not a Christian to develop a relationship with a true honest flawed person that has been helped and is continuing in our walk with Christ to become more and more like Christ, that loved everyone…even his enemies.
Ok, I am off my soap box, but if you are a Christian I ask you to buy this CD and listen to it and allow your life to be challenged…and if you are not a Christian…then buy this CD and get a dose of truth for a real open and wise Christian. It just may give you a glimpse of what Christianity could be when we are not hiding behind our t-shirts and keeping our scars hidden from the rest of the world.
==========================
OK its over..I hope you got through it all, but if not…that’s is OK too.
Ok for all of you who need a pick me up after that here is something for you:
Ξ January 21st, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Jay |
Here is Sheila’s email from today:
Jan 21st evening
Well, they let him come home last night. We went back to the hospital today for transfusions and spinal injections. They didn’t do the spinal injection since he still has a fever. There was much debate over whether or not they were going to let him go home today but they finally did. They gave him an antibiotic, potassium and platelets. Tonight his Doctor called and said his potassium was still low even after the infusions and they called in some potassium pills to a local pharmacy.
We have to go back to the hospital tomorrow and we are expecting 6 - 12 inches of snow here in Greensburg (a little less in Pittsburgh) Thank goodness I have 4-wheel drive.
We’ll be 4 wheeling all the way to the hospital. The Doctor said maybe he can try to get him Sunday off so he can stay home. They rescheduled his spinal injection for Monday.
He is still very weak but using his cane to walk around a bit. It makes me feel better that he’s using it since he’s so weak.
The Doctor today said that they can not start the next chemo cycle until his platelets stabilize.
He still can’t talk and the Doctor told him to be quiet for 2 weeks to let his vocal cords heal (yeah, right!). I keep teasing him and telling him I have Doctor’s orders to tell him to shut up for two full weeks. He just gives me that dirty look that says so much.
Please take care everyone and those of you in PA don’t let the snow get to you.
Sheila
=======================
Love yall God bless!
Yep, Jay is hopefully sleeping in his own bed tonight!!!!!! It will not be long lived, because he goes right back to the hospital tomorrow to receive his spinal tap for the start of his experimental chemo, but he agreed when I told him that I am sure one night @ home is much better than 26 days in a hospital! heh. He is doing much better and I will post Sheila’s emails below!
Two things I just thought yall might like to know about the first is:
The liberator. These are basically 7-14″ power extension cords. Yes, yes, I know, “what in the world is D.G. telling me about these”….well, it is not everyday that you come across something that is cheap and practical and these are both.(the link above gets you five in one pkg.) It basically allows you to plug in power chords into every slot of a power strip instead of those transformers taking up two to three slots and not allowing you to use them. here is a picture of what I am talking about:
The second thing I was very cool that I saw today while surfing the web was this:
Ring of Sauron
Very cool indeed if you ask me, but then again this is not practical or cheap, just very cool, heh. You can even set it to glow the embers and show the Elvish with a motion sensor!!! Heh OK, yes I am a Geek, but a proud geek!
========================
Sheila’s Emails:
Jan 19th:
Jay really wants out. He is begging and trying to negotiate with the Doctors to let him out. This is a very good thing.
They are going to do another full body CT Scan tomorrow and do another intrathecal (in the spine) chemo treatment tomorrow. He is begging them to let him out no later than Friday.
Yesterday, surgeons came into lance the area on his arm where one of the PICC lines he had was. It was highly inflamed and they will be coming back today to check on it.
His white count (3,500) is up and his platelet count stabilized at 64,000 (no more transfusions). They are still giving him potassium daily because it remains low. We are going to try and find out the next steps today. Today is day 25 and he said he is going stir crazy. I keep reminding him that he has a week more to catch up with me because he was out for a week. He just grumbles at me. This too is a good sign :-).
Take care everyone,
Sheila
————–
Jan 20th:
He might get to go home today. We will have to administer IV antibiotics at home but we’ve done this before. We also have home healthcare.
Before he can leave today he will have to have a spinal tap where they will put chemo in the spine, he needs a blood transfusion, and potassium and magnesium. It will be much later today if they do release him.
Wait, we just received word from his nurse that the spinal tap can’t be today because the chemo drug did not arrive at the pharmacy downstairs. The chemo they are using is highly specialized and the pharmacy does not have any on hand because Jay is one of the only people using it. It’s long acting chemo that stays in the spinal fluid for 2 weeks.
He may not get to leave until tomorrow now but we will see.
I have started packing up his room. It resembles end of semester moving from college rather than a hospital stay. He definitely gets any comfort from home he can think of to make him feel better.
Right now we have 2 computers, a Swedish foam mattress pad, 4 back massagers, 4 foam pillows, a Swedish foam pillow, a vaporizer since it is so dry in here, about every episode of Star Trek on DVD, D and D figurines, magazines, books, his pocket PC, camera, clothes, about 6 weeks of Ensure supplement drink that they have been sending with every meal and he refuses to drink it, his own soft blanket from home and about 10,000 other things. I believe in making sure he’s comfortable and so do his parents and aunt so he has everything he might want that will fit in this room.
I’m glad he might be getting to go home because my airbed sprung a leak the night before last and I wake up literally on the floor. I get up several times to refuel but I’ll be getting a new one before our next visit for chemo.
Well, I will keep you up to date as to where he will be and how he is doing.
Take care,
Sheila
========================
Great stuff, and of course I told you above that now Jay is home so our thoughts and prayers are working, now it is just time to gear up for the experimental chemo! Thank you all for your love and care! and as always, Please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful weekend and Friday!
Ξ January 18th, 2005 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Jay |
Here is Sheila’s latest update from this morning:
Jan. 18th Morning:
Today, Jay is feeling a little better.
His colonoscopy seems to be clear according to the Doctor but they did do some biopsies to do further testing. It will be a while before that gets backs.
He still does not have the full results of broncoscopy. He ate solid food for the first time last night.
They are changing his antibiotics today to make sure it’s not the antibiotics keeping his fever high. He’s begging to be sent home and that is a good thing.
I have to run home today to do some laundry and get more supplies. Jay’s cousin Christy is leaving today for Dallas but his aunt and parents are staying through Friday.
I hope all of you are doing well. Things are improving here.
Thanks again,
Sheila
==============================
Good news!!! (and that is something we all need right about now.)
Well, I just wanted to say I had a wonderful day today! My mind has been so occupied about Jay that it has been difficult to “get my head in the game”, but today, God showered me with love and support.
1) First off this morning, my wife kissed me…and even though that happens every day, she gave me a huge hug, and that meant more to me that a million HDTVs heh. Thank you Tiffany for…….love!
2) A member from our church told his co-workers about Jay’s situation, and they all took a collection up from work to help with my expenses when I fly back up there for the bone marrow transplant in around 3 months! It floored me beyond all words.
3) Also, yesterday someone who I had a “unhappy” discussion with on Sunday (who I called to apologize that evening) came into my office to apologize to me! It is amazing to see how God is changing hearts and lives each day (including my own…even through this difficult time)!!!! (even though it happens yesterday it stuck with me though today)
4) Lastly, I just had a wonderful prayer time today and a wonderful staff meeting! It is a good day and now I am going to finish up my work (even though that is in reality impossible) and go home to give my big brother a call! Thank yall for your thoughts and support!
Please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God bless yall!
Well, talked to Sheila (and my Mother, and my Father, and my Aunt, and my Cousin!) today and it looks like there is not really any more new news. Jay still is having a temp, but it is not as bad as it has been in the past, but 101.5 is still not fun for Jay.
They are giving him something that looks like a fruit drink for the possible fungus coating his vocal chords, and who knows what else. So they are still working on that. He got a new Central line in and it seems to be working good, so that is good news as well.
I will put Sheila’s email that she sent out yesterday telling about Jays update and Birthday. So just in case you want to read that it is below:
===================================
Sheila’s Email:
Jan 15th, 2005
TODAY’S HIS BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He’s the big 35!
Today, Jay gets a broncoscopy for his birthday. They are going to look in his
lungs again because they found growths in his lungs. His white cell count is
now over a 1000 and that is going to help with the mucositis. They have set up
a colonoscopy for Monday because the full body CT Scan they did showed some type
of colitis.
I believe the doctors are trying to be extremely thorough this time since the
cancer eluded them last. He will be here at least through Tuesday I would
imagine.
We finally got a good sleeping regimen 2 pain pills and 1 Ativan keeps the pain
away and the aliens at bay.
Things are scary for him right now because they can’t figure out where the high
fever is coming from. His blood cultures are negative and the PICC line came
back negative. They think the lungs hold the answer.
He ate for the first time yesterday when he had a small cup of rice pudding and
a small container of Jello. Then they told him he couldn’t eat anything else
because of the procedure today.
They still have not put in another central line. They will put it in once the
fever is down.
For those of you who have been asking about me, I saw my Doctor yesterday and he
agreed to change my medication to the newly FDA approved drug Tysabri. I’m
celebrating no more intramuscular injections and no more flu once a week. I’ll
start it in Feb. YEAH! This should help me stay healthy to help him.
They are about to do the bronoscopy so I need to go.
Take care,
Sheila
(added Jan 17th 7:41 am MST)
Jan 17th Morning:
Well, his Birthday went well and the Steelers were kind enough to win the game
for him. It must have been even more exciting when you’re fighting the effects
of Demerol. He was in and out for the first part of the game but he wore the
terrible towel on his head (a birthday gift) to help them win (he was too tired
to wave it) at the end of the game.
The morning he is preparing to have a colonoscopy. They came in told us that
staph the infection has cleared from his blood but they found evidence of it in
his lungs. They are puzzled by this because it usually clears up everywhere
with the antibiotics. They said he may have to undergo another test to make
sure the infection is not effecting his heart.
He had another central line placed in his chest yesterday.
He is slowly getting better but they can’t release him until the infection is
cleared. He has been in here 23 days and he is really ready to go home.
Take care everyone.
Sheila
=========================
Now after talking to someone who liked the Honda ad (Tim) he told me about the trunk monkey ads, and so I did a search on them and thought I will allow yall to enjoy in the fun of these ads:
Trunk Money Ads
and just if you have not seen the office linebacker ads from Reebok you have got to see these: (please note that there is some curssing on these (sometimes they are bleeped out) but man they are so funny…especially if your from West Texas where everything is Football, heh.)
Terry Tate: Streaker Spoof
Terry Tate: Vacation
Terry Tate: Draft Day
Terry Tate: Office Athlete
There are more of these but I am not sure where you might be able to find them, because Reebok is no long producing them. but you might be bale to find them.
Sometimes in the midst of the hard times laughter is the best medicine! Also, if you have not purchased the Strong Bad Sings CD you need to get it (Thank you Jay and Sheila for a great Christmas gift! It is so funny and reminds me of the good old Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast CDs out there!
=============================
Ok one last thing is my sermon I preached today in church it is a lot longer than what my normal sermons are, but this is a teaching sermon, and it is all Revelation…so if you want t dig in and get a refreshing understanding of Revelation…then enjoy this sermon.
Holy living In an Unholy World (don’t forget you need to Download Adobe Reader to view the sermon. You can find the link on the right side of my blog under the links. Thanks! (feel free to discuss the sermon if you want in the comments of this blog or you can go the the church weblink in the sermon and talk about it there if you like. Thanks!)
(almost all of the facts came from Dr. Mulholland an amazing Professor that I took for Revelation in Seminary…oh and if you think that seminary’s do not have a sense of humor, the class number is 666, ha ha ha. Oh man that cracked me up, heh!)
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Thank you all for your prayers for Jay and please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!! love ya and God bless yall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ξ January 15th, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Jay |
Well, please keep us al in your prayers! Tiffany and I are about to leave to go do one more artificial insemination this morning @ 8:00 am in Albq. and we would appreciate any prayer our way for that one….
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they postponed Jay’s broncialscope (sp?) to today @ 11:30 am Eastern Time…so please keep him in your prayers today. I know he is nervous about it and everyone is on the edge of their seats.
Oh and I am not sure if you will see this Jay….but………
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its not every day you get to celebrate your life with a team of Dr.’s shoving a camera and other stuff down your throat!!! Congratulations!!!! Heh heh. I love you more than I could ever express, and please keep up the fight, and I will see you soon!!!! Love you!
==============================
OK We are off to the Dr. love yall, and please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been searching for this one for a while and here it is….I f you have not ever seen this…it is truly amazing!
The Honda Ad (with NO computer effects)
(Oh and it requires Flash)
Also, while I was with jay i watched a cool special on some channel (can’t remember where on “Free Runners” these people are amazing too, and you should really check them out if you can.
===================
Jay Update:
Well, I just got off the phone with Sheila and Jay, and it looks like we are going to go another round with this stuff. The day I left Jays fever went back up (how high I have no idea) and they took out his pik (sp?) line that was in his arm that they hook up all the IVs to and they found infection in that line. That is a good thing because they know where the infection is and can take care of it. (i.e. pull the Pik out and put a non-infected one back in)
the bad news is they did a CT scan on him today and they found a few polips (sp?) in his lungs. This means that they will need to do a Broncoscipy (sp?) tomorrow, and find out what those polips are. Now this is especially nerve racing because it was this procedure that they did that put him in the ICU for around 10 days just a few week ago, but they are hopefully that this time his lungs are healthy enough to be able t handle the procedure and they can find out what is going on down there.
Yeah…if you feel anything like I do then you are sick of all the bad things happening and want some good stuff, but this is just not the time for that now, and we need to send out a prayer call again…with updates…so everyone can focus their prayer even better.
Please KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=======================
Well, I went back to work last night for the Wednesday Community Night that our church hosts for the community (even though the majority of people who come are the church members, ha ha) and it was good to see everyone there all the faces smiling and hugs supporting Jay and our family. It is also great to see the faces and people that you have been feeling their prayer over the past couple of days. I think God upon my every remembrance of them all…….Sometimes I thank him for the challenge of them….ha ha ha but mostly the love and support they shower upon me in our ministry setting!
I am dog tired (I guess that is a true statement if the dog has run around lake Michigan 4 times, swam the English channel 3 times, and fought a tiger) I am preparing a wedding rehearsal tomorrow, the wedding Saturday, and then a sermon on Sunday…over (get this) the book of Revelation!!! heh. I laugh at this because it took my Seminary Professor every day for a month from 8:00-11:30 am and then from 1:00-4:00 pm to cover the book of Revelation, ha ha ha….so my sermon will cover the different ways that Revelation has been interpreted and then give my way (which happens to be my Professor’s way…which seems to me to be a very Jewish way of reading it) and apply it to a chunk of scripture in Revelation.
I will post the sermon here after I preach it just as always so all of you can read it.
========================
Well, I think that is about it for tonight. I know Sheila will send out another email tonight, but I might have to attach it to this blog tomorrow. So be on the look out for it soon. (and I know that her email will be spelled correctly, heh) Oh well, the things you people have to put up with (my grammar and spelling, heh) I am getting used to the new keyboard and mouse that I got for Christmas so I almost feel like I am learning to type all over again, heh. Thanks again for all your prayers and love and support! I can not express to you all enough how much you mean to me, Jay, Sheila, and my entire family! Yall to put in into two words…..Stinking ROCK!
Love yall and please always remember to KUTPs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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