In the meantime we have been very busy with all the usual activities. Juanita has been quilting up a storm and I have started chasing down Chinook salmon on the nearby Coquille River. I have also been busy with my trusty Nikon camera and put together another video with the Gopro Hero.
Dredging the port
We have had visits from more long time travel friends and a couple of our blog readers have dropped by or spent time with us in the RV park. I expect several more friends will stop in on their way to winter locations. Which brings me to another subject.......
We have made a change in plans to spend the winter in Tucson, AZ, and will instead stay in Port Orford for a second winter. As many of you are already aware through Juanita's Facebook page, a recent CT scan indicated that my dear wife needs to begin a series of chemotherapy treatments to prevent an enlarged lymph node from possibly impairing liver function at some point in the future.
We have been aware for several years since Juanita was diagnosed with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) that chemo would be needed to treat one or more issues at some time in the future. Well, that time has come. She feels just fine and is good spirits, but we both realize that we need to take preemptive action while she is otherwise healthy.
I can assure all of you that this is not a life threatening issue and that Juanita's prognosis is a good one for the long term. She is eager to get this latest life adventure behind her and asks only for the good thoughts and prayers from her many friends. I will be with her every step of the way.............
As mentioned earlier, the Chinook salmon season has begun on local rivers and I have already started chasing down the big fish. I landed a 19# salmon on Friday, so you can easily imagine what was on the menu that evening. Yummmmmmmmm!
I enjoy trolling along the Coquille River whether or not the salmon are biting and took the Nikon along to show you why.
During our day long boating trips, we often see Osprey, Eagles, sea lions, harbor seals and even the occasional deer along the shoreline. Although not shown in the two photos, we are also accompanied by dozens of other fishermen and need to use extreme caution not to cause a disruption in the otherwise orderly fishing boat circulation. Some old fishermen apparently think they own the river and are quite verbal if crossed.
At any rate, we are looking forward to another nice winter on the beautiful Oregon coast and hopeful that Juanita can spend her time between monthly treatments enjoying the good life. Her message to friends has been, "don't worry about me....I am in good hands."
Yes, she is!
You will both be in my prayers and sending hugs to Juanita. Keep us updated.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandie! You and Jim have been in our prayers as well. We will keep everyone posted on Juanita's progress. I'm sure she will do just fine.
DeleteBut of course we do worry about both of you, but with a little help from the Lord all will be well...
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right about this Rod, but I take the prize as Juanita's worry monster. LOL!
DeleteBest wishes Juanita and Gordon! I know you really like the area, so the location shouldn't be any problem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy. Staying here for the entire treatment process assures that we won't run into the heat of early summer down south, so there is a benefit to remaining on the coast. And as you say, we like it here.
DeleteSorry to hear that Jaunita is now needing the chemo. I can't exactly say I know what you are going thru -yet- because I'm typing this from my wife's hospital room while they do all the prep investigation prior to starting chemo for those darn lymph nodes playing around in her brain. I'll certainly be thinking of you two over the next few postponed RVing adventures.
ReplyDeleteTom...all the best to you and your wife as well. It looks like you are just ahead of us in the process. Juanita doesn't see her surgeon until next Thursday and still has to set a start date to the treatment cycle. I'm sure we will all get back on schedule one of these days.....
DeleteA good attitude does wonders. I'm sending positive thoughts Juanita's way, as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gypsy!!
DeleteGordon,
ReplyDeleteHere's a voice from the past. I haven't been on the wire since Cathy passed away. I wish all the best to Juanita and you and hope you will keep us posted on her progress.
Chris Haden
Hi Chris...it's good to hear from you again!! We think of you occasionally when going through photos of past travel and have fond memories of dutch oven meals in Idaho. Thank you for thinking of us...Juanita also appreciates all the messages of support she has received and highly values the positive input received as she faces a new challenge. We have confidence that she will do well with the treatment and will keep everyone posted.
DeleteThis is a little late, but we are wishing Juanita all the best. We both hope everything will be all right.
ReplyDeleteThis is a little late, but we both are wishing Juanita well. We hope everything is OK.
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DeleteThanks for the note Ray and Cindy. No, you are not too late at all. In order to get further opinions, we put off Juanita's treatment for a couple of weeks. Now that we have all the information needed to make a informed decision about her treatment, she will have an infusion port installed tomorrow and begin a week of hospital inpatient chemotherapy on Monday. The first session will be a closely monitored slow infusion over four or five days followed by a two day outpatient treatment every 28 days for about six months or less as required to alleviate the problem. We are both in very good spirits and are confident of a positive outcome. The positive energy from all of our friends has been nothing less than amazing and very much appreciated. I will post an update in a day or two....
DeleteGordon,
ReplyDeleteRuth is doing fine considering the chemo induced fatigue, some nauseous feelings & lack of appetite.
Here regimen is two different drugs each on alternate weeks with one as outpatient and the other in the hospital for several days while they monitor the decreasing amt in her blood.
We just got home today from the 2nd in hospital session & go to the 2nd out-patient early tomorrow.
She currently has a PICC line in her arm but that is being replaced by an upper chest Mediport next Tuesday.
Her Lymphoma is located in her brain. Her symptoms (memory & mobility problems) were initially diagnosed as Alzheimer's & maybe MS. 3 weeks from the start of the first treatment and it is looking like all the mobility aids I bought & installed in the 5th wheel may not be absolutely necessary until old age gets to us (she is 71). Her short term memory is still lacking but she has better days.
Part of her in hospital treatment includes 24 hr IV hydration so she needs to go pee quite often. I stay in her room so the worst part for me is getting up many times at night to manhandle the IV stand while she uses the walker to get to the toilet. Of course, all the usual nurse visits just compound the number of wake-ups.
Next Tuesday is also the first follow-up MRI so we may know if the tumor is actually decreasing more than just enough to ease the pressure.
I hope everything goes well with Juanita.
Thanks for the note Tom. Please pass along to Ruth our hugs and positive thoughts. It sounds like progress is being made and a positive outcome is probable in the near future. We know well what you have been going through.
ReplyDeletePlease stay in touch and we will do the same. All the best to you and Ruth......
Hey Juanita, this is Suzanne Ashlock - sorry to hear about the chemo. We can be chemo buddies maybe. I've been diagnosed with breast cancer, surgery Nov. 5th, then chemo will start in December. I've got a blog (of course) http://godmustthinkimabadass.blogspot.com/2015/10/god-supposedly-gives-us-only-what-we.html Let me know how things are going.
ReplyDeleteJuanita and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gypsy! Juanita is doing real well after her first treatment in the hospital last week and I'm in the process of writing an update blog....might take me a day or so however.
Delete