I Miss Riding This!

Jessica is helping me get better at this weblog stuff and this is my very first picture download I have done on this page.  This is my ride to work, when I work!  Just having some fun with the pictures!

Health is good.  Many side effects coming from the last part of this radiation treatment.  I have been dealing with some nausea, a bloody nose that won’t stop, a very sore chest and throat and today, just very tired.

I thank our Father for continuing to care for me.  I wanted also to take time to lift the many friends of ours who are at Mt. Hermon, may God bless your time!  Get well soon John, my prayers to Pastor Joe and Family, my prayers to Clara, and all of you.

Aloha

Start Of A New Week

Yes, a new week indeed and it sure feels good to not be nauseous.  I think God really felt sorry for me this last week, because the new medicine I received works well on me.  Today, I was able to catch a ride with my friend Stan to radiation. As much as I love my wife Jody, it sure was fun riding in a pick up truck talking man stuff with Stan!

Radiation was running a little behind schedule today, something about maintenance and upkeep on the machines.  I can tell the radiation beams are working lower on my neck and throat areas only because I have new pain sensations in new areas.  I mean I always have pain, but when the beam moves positions, more pain comes while the other places begin to heal.  It feels like I will be having a hard time talking this week, my vocal chords may feel some of the effects of the radiation.  Already, my throat is super dry and what little saliva I have is very unmanageable.  All in the name of healing, Amen!

No extra appointments this week, just radiation.  Please be in prayer for my upcoming hearing tests that sets the pace for scheduling my chemo dosages.  Blood work is also coming up as is pre-chemo consult with Dr. Kleckener as Dr. Goodman is in Israel for the next three weeks. 

Have a wonderful week and God Bless.

Feeling Great, Doing Better

Thank you God for guiding my doctors to come up with a better dose of meds to control the nausea from the chemo.  Dr. Leung, chemo pharmacist and Dr. Goodman combined their knowledge, started me on a new cycle of meds and so far it has been great!

My nausea is all gone, my weight is going up slowly, no more dehydration and I actually swallowed some jello Jody made for me today!  Small things like that are so cool because when I had that nausea, nothing was good.  My new pain killer meds help a lot with my throat dryness too. 

I am really taking it easy as the doctors suggested, rest and relaxation must be kept up. Friday morning after my first dose of meds, I felt so good, that by midmorning I was starting to do some work out in the garage and shed, then realized I shouldn’t be doing that.  So I stopped and just rested, watched a lot of TV and slept some.

May you all have a blessed day Sunday.  I still miss going to service but rest in God’s comfort that this is His will.  I will sing my worship, review the message and rejoice in His mercy and grace, all in the comfort of my Serta-Pedic perfect sleeper.

See Ya

Trying New Medicines

The past few days have been spent at the chemo lab trying to get this nausea thing under control.  The old medicine combinations I was trying were no longer working.  This caused me to be very sick and I could not keep any of my nutrients or meds down, which in turn caused other problems.

I really have to share how God has continued to protect me in so many small yet tangible ways.  Like whenever I have had to upchuck, I am always near a depository! You can not imagine how much a relief that is unless you have had it happen to you with no where to go.  Like when I need to go in to see the doctor, who’s schedule is always full, God makes space for me every time.  Like when the electricity failed during one of my hydration treatments, A space was found immediately for me in the emergency room, no waiting, no registration stop, no Q&A.  Once in the room, God sends our friend, Kaiser ER Nurse Glenn Morimoto into the room for a quick hello, he see’s the drip on my IV has stopped, pulls out a gadget, pokes something in my line, squirts some on the floor, presto, my line is working again!  God you are an AWESOME and MIGHTY God, thank you for all you do in our lives!!!

Today, I started a new dose of anti-nausea medicines and hopefully this does the trick.  Jody and I have been plugging away at trying to maintain my weight, it has been fluctuating between 165 and 160 lbs.  Jody has been so good to me, watching out for all the things the dietician told her about, helping me to get around and waiting hours at a time while I am getting hydration, meds, IV drips.  Also, Dr. L. at radiation (yes, still doing that) continues to marvel at how good things are going considering the very intensive levels of treatment I receive. 

I can just begin to see a light at the end of tunnel one.  Soon, phase one will be over and I get a break, yippee! 

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.  I pray that God is keeping each of you as you go about your daily life. We lift up those who have their own illnesses, trials or challenges.

Feeling Weak, Doing Better

Thank you very much for your responses, e-mails, calls, cards, letters, scripture and prayers.  I look forward to each day bringing something new to read or open.

Today is a better day.  I have been weak and end up sleeping or just laying down a lot.  My body has taken a toll and I just have to rest.  I lost a few more pounds although I am eating what I am supposed to. 

The chemo treatment is still doing its thing and I know it all has to do with why I feel lousy.  Plus radiation is going strong and the two combined are really tough. 

One thing I must apologize for is not getting back to each of you right away when you write.  I read everything and truly appreciate all you write. It’s just tiring sometimes to write back right away.  I know you all understand.  More updates to follow.

Trusting Him,

5:30 PM Sunday June 18, 2006

Happy Father’s Day and Bon Voyage Japan 2006 Mission Team!

Finally, I have the strength to sit still long enough to update.  First, Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers out there.  I pray your day was easy going and that your families and friends got to hang out.  Also, Fremont Asian Christian Church sent their missions’ team off to Chiba Japan this afternoon for a very intense 14 day trip. Praise God for a wonderful day of smooth preparations and a great send off.

My last update was Tuesday, the day before my second round of chemo treatment. I started the day with radiation treatment at 7:45 AM, just to make sure I would not be late after chemo, and then off to the chemo lab.

Well, I can only say thank you God for giving me the strength to make it through this round because it was not pretty.  My day started at 8:30 AM Wednesday morning with a weigh in at 163 lbs.  I was 168 lbs. when I first found out about having cancer and bulked up on protein shakes to a hefty 180 lbs by my first chemo treatment, so you can see the changes I’ve made. After weigh in, I got my choice in chairs, sat down and began the IV drip.  For the next six hours I took in hydration, steroids, anti-nausea meds, chemo and flush.  My first clue that something was different was when they told me I had one more flush to go and maybe another hydration.  I was surprised and asked why the extra flush.  The pharmacist told me that I got a higher dose of cisplatinan (chemo) then last time so I got the extra flush. What a joy that was to find out.  Jody and I went home around 4:00 PM and prepared.  Got the buckets out got the plastic bags next to the bed got the extra towels out and I just went to bed.  Little did I know that I had a lot of things to do before I went to bed.  While I was in treatment, Jody talked to my dietician and found out that I had been a very bad boy the past week. Losing weight like I did, telling Jody I was too sick, sore or tired for the feeding tube and not swallowing enough water was not acceptable and the dietician said Jody had to take charge!  I was supposed to be eating a lot more than I had been so when I came home from chemo, things were going to be different.  No more listening to my whining, no more backing down when I got snappy, no more agreeing with me just because I said so. We were going on a schedule and she was sticking to it.

Thank you Jody for getting tough on me because I needed it. After the chemo treatment, I was in no shape to do anything.  Nausea, vomiting, pain, sleep, lack of sleep, itchy, tired, sore, hot, cold, hives, constipation, runs, bleeding, you name it, it happened in the last four days.  Jody kept me and my feeding tube going, she helped prepare my meds, cleaned me up, put me down, constantly checked on me and made it all possible to bear.

Oh, did I mention that my radiation treatments last week focused on my tonsil and uvula, which by last Friday were burned, bleeding, swollen and very sore.  I really had to rely on the pain meds to get through this weekend, which on top of everything else really zapped me.  Today I woke up feeling much better but didn’t push anything.  I walked around the house some, sipped some warm green tea and read some newspaper.  When the kids got up they gave me a card and some letters proclaiming ME to be the best father in the whole wide world…ahh shucks, sorry Pastor Yee, not you this year! Jody and I shared in prayer and then she was off and running to get Chase ready to leave for the airport.  The rest of today I have been resting as the pain medicine makes me drowsy.

Praise God for my last Thursday consult with Dr. L, radiation oncologist.  After her exam and measuring stuff she told us that tumors were half the size, bumps she felt before could be hardly felt, she had a big smile saying things were progressing.  I have been through 17 of 30 radiation treatments and it’s going to get tougher, but if reports like that continue to come in, I say bring it on!

That should bring you all up to date since last Tuesday.  Sorry if this was too long and graphic.  My goal is to keep you as up to date as possible. Please be in prayer for my weight maintenance program and for a hearing test tomorrow at 4:30 PM.  Also, I have an appointment with speech on Friday at 10:30  AM.  The rest of the week is radiation every day at 1:15 PM.  May God keep each of you and continue to use you to brighten the lives of those around you.

Aloha in Christ

Update Tuesday June 13, 2006

Just a quick update on my liver ultra sound.  The test was negative for any abnormalities, which is great.  We will still be testing for the reason why the counts are still high in the liver functions.

Today I went in for a consult with Dr. Goodman, my oncologist.  We reviewed my reports and are ready to go to the second round of chemo therapy.  I will go to radiation treatment early, 7:45 AM and then go to the chemo lab at 8:30 AM.  It will take about 4-5 hours.  The best part about going in so early is that I can choose any chair I want and this time I will get the chair closest to the bathroom.  I had to go about 15 times in the last round and I had a cool chair with the best TV but it was the farthest from the bathroom.  I hope I don’t have to beat up any senior citizens for the best chair! 

I am starting on some pain medication to help manage the pain in my throat and mouth.  Normally, I refuse to take any kind of pain meds because I don’t like the feeling of being out of control.  This time, I am trusting the doctors, my wife, my nurse friends and you guys.  It hurts and I need to manage it so I am taking it.  Pray for healing so I can get off the meds as soon as possible.  Thank you all for your continued support in prayer and fellowship.  More updates to come.

Sunday Thoughts

Because of my radiation treatments, my saliva glands are slowly shutting down.  This is causing my mouth and throat to become very dry.  I have some mouthwash that helps replace the saliva, I have to use it about every two hours.  Each night, I get up about every two hours to rinse and gargle, it has become a routine and I just get up.  This morning, around 4:00 AM as I got up, I found my mouth extra dry, so dry it hurt to move any part of my mouth.  I wanted to just keep my mouth still and hoped the pain would go away.  As I walked into our bathroom and turned on the light, I saw myself in the mirror and busted out laughing.  It hurt but I couldn’t stop laughing because while I was trying not to move my mouth, my face became totally squished up, like I trying to make a funny face for a camera shot! The funniest thing is, that because of my laughing, I was able to stretch all my facial muscles and this helped relieve the pain in my mouth. After that laugh, I decided that each time I wake up, I will just start laughing, get everything stretched out and keep my outlook positive.

Sometimes it is so easy to develop a negative mindset.  For instance, yesterday, Jody and I drove to my friends shop to pick up the Japan 2006 mission team polo shirts and t-shirts that they will wear in Japan.  As we were driving home, I told Jody that I really wanted to be at church tomorrow for the team sharing and commissioning ceremony. I really felt like I should be there for the team.  I began to think that I needed to give them more encouragement, more confidence and that they needed me. Then it hit me that I was starting to develop a negative mindset, starting to feel sorry about my situation and go against my doctors orders of limited contact with crowds.  Jody was silent, after I told her that I wanted to go to church, “just one last time” and then I told her, if I go, every week it will always be “one last time”.  She just smiled as I answered my own plea.  Thank you Jody for understanding and letting me figure things out.

This morning instead of pleading to go to church, I decided to plead to God for forgiveness.  To forgive me for thinking that I needed to be in church to guide and encourage the team and to forgive me for thinking that the team needed me. God is so much bigger than me and He already promised that He will be with the team wherever they are. I thanked God for His mercy and grace, for watching over us each and every day and for being such a forgiving God.

I know God has a plan for my life, that He closed the door on me going to Japan next week only because he has another door to reveal soon.  Our Father fights the battles for us, and then will reveal the next chapter.  I go on each day, patient for God to reveal the next chapter and I am reminded of Romans 8, Life Through the Spirit.  Using this adversity of cancer, this darkness in my life, to reveal later where He wants me to be!

God, you are in control of all things, I submit to you and await your glory.  Thank you for the lessons in church today here at our house!

For His Glory

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.     Romans 8:28

 

Yea, It’s Friday!

Sorry its been so long for updates, thanks for checking up on me.  Here is the latest going on in regards to my treatment.

Today I saw my speech therapist.  She reviews my progress through radiation treatments in regards to my throat and mouth. So far, I am doing good.  I have lost my sense of taste and my throat hurts some.  I am still eating and swallowing, although it is getting more difficult with each radiation treatment. Eventually I will not be able to swallow.

I just finished radiation and now I get the weekend off!   I look forward to the weekend because I don’t have to go anywhere and no treatments. However, next week is no fun, chemo treatment, yuck!  So, here is my schedule for next week, please pray.

Monday June 12, 2006 Radiation treatments resume 1:15 PM Mon-Fri.

Tuesday June 13, 2006  2:00 PM. Pre-chemo consult with Dr. Goodman.  Pray for some results with liver ultra sound, lab blood testing. I get some pre-hydration via IV also.

Wednesday June 14, 2006 Chemo via IV drip 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Thursday June 15, 2006 2:00 PM Follow up appointment with Dr. Barber, head & neck surgeon.  Review of treatments, measure tumors, questions and answers.

Other than that, it should be a great week! I miss all of you and look forward to the day we will all gather to celebrate.  One thing I really miss is seeing friends at church, FACC and SLJCC.  God has truly blessed and surrounded our family with some very special people. People like you who pray and call and write and e-mail and leave comments at xanga.  All of you are very much appreciated. Thank you for being there for us!

One last request.  Please be in prayer for our church this Sunday.  We have sharing by the Japan 2006 missions team, followed by a commissioning ceremony. They wil depart for Chiba, Japan on Sunday June 18, 2006. Thank you God for making this all possible with so little interference.  FACC is also having their annual church member meeting to discuss church business for the coming year.  Thank you for all you are doing in your lives to help make other lives better!

Aloha In Christ

Prayer Request

Today I will be going to Kaiser x-ray to get an ultra sound of my liver.  This is a continuation of my earlier tests to try to pinpoint the reason my liver is acting up. My appointment time is 8:30 AM at Kaiser Hayward.

Last week Friday my chemo treatment doctor met with me, ordered tests, reviewed prior tests and basically told me that he is stumped as to why my liver is acting up.  Dr. Goodman told me that he would order an ultra sound at x-ray and it looked like there was a two week backlog of appointments.  I tried to get an appointment Monday morning but no one would answer the phone, I left a message and no one called back.  Today, I tried again to make an appointment and this time I waited on hold for 25 minutes until someone picked up!  When I told the medical clerk of my pending doctors’ request, she told me the first available appointment was July….then she said “you’re so lucky, I see an opening tomorrow if you want.”  I told her that I would gladly take the appointment and also said “there is no such thing as lucky in my life, I rely on faith.” and she said “Amen to that.”

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see

Hebrews 11:1