What a wonderful last two weeks we have had!!!
I had almost forgotten that Gene has cancer, but of course, I really think of it all the time.
On Sunday, the day after the Race for Grace benefit (a truly inspiring and uplifting day for Gene, our family and friends!), we left for Amarillo, Texas, to attend the Executive Meetings for the American Quarter Horse Association.
This was one of Gene’s first official duties as President of AQHA. Of course, I am biased, but I feel Gene did a wonderful job. I did get to hear him give an introduction to the employee assembly on Tuesday morning – he was great and talked about customer service. (As we all know, customer service is so important no matter what business you are in.) Gene complimented the great AQHA staff on their customer service. It was a busy four days and the Executive Committee covered many items.
It is always a special time for me at the AQHA, as I get to be with Robbyn Treadway, Jana Trotter, Nicole Phillips (she could not be with us this trip) and newest member Karen Blodgett.
We had a fabulous meal at Robbyn and Don Treadway’s beautiful home with a gourmet meal – both the Treadways are wonderful cooks.
Jana Trotter entertained us on Tuesday in Herford. Texas. Nothing is small in Texas, and we toured Jana and Johnny’s gigantic feed lots. The Bar G must be one of the biggest cattle feeders anywhere.
We had a lovely luncheon at Jana’s home and (of course) we then went shopping – Herford has some lovely and unique shops.
We arrived home on Thursday afternoon, just in time for Gene to start his fourth treatment on Friday.
8 a.m.: Arrive at Cancer Center, do labs, have doctor’s appointment. The doctor is pleased with Gene’s blood counts so that is a positive note. Then he starts his three different medicines intravenously and after that is done (usually around 4 p.m.). Gene gets a chemo bag that has a meter to regulate the flow of chemo. He wears this for 48 hours … usually until around 8 a.m. on Sunday.
This time, we had a little scare: Gene went to the office to do some paperwork and he heard this alarm. First, he thought it was a fire alarm in the office. He went outside and the noise followed him out the door. Gene then went over to the house and went all through the house and the noise kept following him. He then looked at his meter and it had an error, something like "line blocked." He immediately turned the meter back on but we both felt we should have one of the nurses look at it.
To make a long story short, we went to the emergency room and the oncologist nurse met us. The meter was then working fine, but we felt much better knowing it had been checked.
Gene is now feeling tired out and weak. I hope in the next few days he will again be feeling better.
Till next time,
Barbara
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
April 25 Update: Comfort Foods!
I wanted to share these "comfort-food tips" I've learned along the long road of being a caregiver:
We are trying to drink lots of water and Gene feels much better when he does. I have been adding sliced lemons to his water, which makes it seem to taste better.
I look forward to hearing your ideas for great (but easy!) comfort foods, too.
– Barbara
Next time: I will tell you about asparagus and how it has helped people with cancer.
- A great comfort meal: Marie Callender's Turkey Pot Pie (white meat turkey). This is really a satisfying already-prepared meal, especially for lunch, but it does take an hour to cook in the conventional oven.
- Sugar-free lemon pie filling (the instant one): This is really good and soothing to eat. Of course, lemon meringue pie is better but has sugar, which Gene has to be very careful of as he is type II diabetic.
- Another great find: Bisquick Shake 'n Pour Buttermilk Pancake Mix. Delicious and so easy – just add water to the container and shake, pour and grill. We use the sugar-free syrup, too, so it is comfort food without a lot of work.
We are trying to drink lots of water and Gene feels much better when he does. I have been adding sliced lemons to his water, which makes it seem to taste better.
I look forward to hearing your ideas for great (but easy!) comfort foods, too.
– Barbara
Next time: I will tell you about asparagus and how it has helped people with cancer.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
April 19 Update
This past Saturday was such a very special day for Gene, and for support of cancer patients and cancer survivors, with the Race for GRACE (Grand Island Area Cancer Endowment).
GRACE was started by Lisa Willman and Julie Pfeifer. Both of these amazing women are cancer survivors and started The Grace Foundation to help families and cancer patients.
GRACE was started by Lisa Willman and Julie Pfeifer. Both of these amazing women are cancer survivors and started The Grace Foundation to help families and cancer patients.
Tracy Babcock, a real estate associate with Gene, organized the Century 21 "Running 4 Gene" group, with great T-shirts in the bold color of yellow (which is Century 21's color).
What a fantastic day it was on Saturday, a bright sunshine-y day with great temperatures, so not too cold. Another shining example of family support was our daughter, Cindy, and Jim and Samuel Duncan drove 85 miles to be in the walk/race. Taylor, our granddaughter, was taking her SAT so she could not come.
We are so proud of Cindy – she ran the 10K race. She was a real trooper. She has never run that far but she finished the race with flying colors.
We are so proud of Cindy – she ran the 10K race. She was a real trooper. She has never run that far but she finished the race with flying colors.
This was the second year for Race for Grace. Last year they had 500 participants, and this year they had 1,100. What a supportive community Grand Island is.
Monday, April 9, 2012
April 9 Update, Part Two
We are so thankful for all our friends’ cards, notes and emails – every day we get another card or call of encouragement. Please know that it does help so much to know you are all thinking of us.
Yesterday a beautiful arrangement of Easter Lilies from Jana and Johnny Trotter came right before our Easter Dinner – how very thoughtful of them!!!
I did discover a great magazine at the Cancer Center. It is free to families that are dealing cancer and is called CURE and contains cancer updates, research and education: curetoday.com
Gene and I will be married 49 years on June 27, and for all those soon-to-be 49 years, we have done most everything together. We worked together in business, worked at the ranch and showed horses together … and now it seems very lonely for me and I know Gene feels the same.
We just can’t do the things together we used to. My favorite time was doing horse chores with Gene: Every evening at 5:30, we fed, watered and cleaned stalls for probably 20 years or more, and then exercised and fed the dogs. Now it is just me doing chores. We don’t have horses right now, but it is about an hour-long job morning and night taking care of our Chesapeake hunting dogs. Some evenings when Gene feels up to it, he walks with us, too. It just seems like something is missing when we can’t do this together. Hopefully soon Gene will feel up to doing more.
– Barbara
Yesterday a beautiful arrangement of Easter Lilies from Jana and Johnny Trotter came right before our Easter Dinner – how very thoughtful of them!!!
I did discover a great magazine at the Cancer Center. It is free to families that are dealing cancer and is called CURE and contains cancer updates, research and education: curetoday.com
Gene and I will be married 49 years on June 27, and for all those soon-to-be 49 years, we have done most everything together. We worked together in business, worked at the ranch and showed horses together … and now it seems very lonely for me and I know Gene feels the same.
We just can’t do the things together we used to. My favorite time was doing horse chores with Gene: Every evening at 5:30, we fed, watered and cleaned stalls for probably 20 years or more, and then exercised and fed the dogs. Now it is just me doing chores. We don’t have horses right now, but it is about an hour-long job morning and night taking care of our Chesapeake hunting dogs. Some evenings when Gene feels up to it, he walks with us, too. It just seems like something is missing when we can’t do this together. Hopefully soon Gene will feel up to doing more.
– Barbara
April 9 Update From Barbara
Thank you to all our family and friends for your love, prayers and thoughts for Gene and me these past six weeks.
I promise to keep you updated; I know it has been two weeks since my last post, but being a caregiver takes a big toll on one’s time.
Gene had his third treatment on March 24. Our doctor is wonderful about working Gene’s chemo treatments around Gene’s schedule.
We were so fortunate to have Jim Brett Campbell, senior director of marketing and publications for the American Quarter Horse Association, visit us recently. Jim spent two days with us in order to do a story on Gene and our family for the AQHA Journal. Cindy, Jim, Taylor and Samuel Duncan (our daughter and her family) came to Grand Island, and Jim Brett took pictures and recorded some of Cindy’s memories growing up in the family with horses.
This past week was also an eventful one. Don Treadway, AQHA executive vice-president, made a special trip to Grand Island from Amarillo to meet with Gene and discuss the agenda for Gene’s presidency.
One of Don’s favorite places to eat is right here in Grand Island: The Grand Island Saddle Club … great food and friendly people!
On the subject of food, Gene and I are learning so much about what Gene can eat and what not to eat during this time. We have learned beef broth (in the small packets) is great for an energy boost or when his stomach is queasy.
As Gene is a diabetic, we are always looking out for sugar-free items. Today we had some delicious sugar-free ice cream (Blue Bunny) with sugar-free peach pie.
We hope your Easter Sunday was special and that you remember to tell your family how much you love them! Life is too short!
More soon.
– Barbara
I promise to keep you updated; I know it has been two weeks since my last post, but being a caregiver takes a big toll on one’s time.
Gene had his third treatment on March 24. Our doctor is wonderful about working Gene’s chemo treatments around Gene’s schedule.
We were so fortunate to have Jim Brett Campbell, senior director of marketing and publications for the American Quarter Horse Association, visit us recently. Jim spent two days with us in order to do a story on Gene and our family for the AQHA Journal. Cindy, Jim, Taylor and Samuel Duncan (our daughter and her family) came to Grand Island, and Jim Brett took pictures and recorded some of Cindy’s memories growing up in the family with horses.
This past week was also an eventful one. Don Treadway, AQHA executive vice-president, made a special trip to Grand Island from Amarillo to meet with Gene and discuss the agenda for Gene’s presidency.
One of Don’s favorite places to eat is right here in Grand Island: The Grand Island Saddle Club … great food and friendly people!
On the subject of food, Gene and I are learning so much about what Gene can eat and what not to eat during this time. We have learned beef broth (in the small packets) is great for an energy boost or when his stomach is queasy.
As Gene is a diabetic, we are always looking out for sugar-free items. Today we had some delicious sugar-free ice cream (Blue Bunny) with sugar-free peach pie.
We hope your Easter Sunday was special and that you remember to tell your family how much you love them! Life is too short!
More soon.
– Barbara
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