June 21 Update

Happy Hot Summer!

It was so nice to get a little more rain on Wednesday, but we realize how dry it is for most of Nebraska and the surrounding area. (Sorry, I don’t know how to do a Rain Dance!)

Father’s Day was very special with Cindy, Jim, Samuel and Taylor spending the afternoon with us. We had a “comfort meal” of mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and hamburger steaks. Homemade pies made by our own Grand Island pie maker and friend Virjeanne Baker were a special treat.

Gene had his seventh treatment on Monday, June 11. Tuesday he got the shot that he so dreads, but he knows it helps the white blood cells build back up. This shot affects Gene similar to flu symptoms – but he is very brave about all the treatments he gets.

We feel very fortunate that Gene receives such excellent care, and I am so thankful that we can get Gene’s treatments right here in Grand Island.

The St. Francis Cancer Center is such a wonderful facility. Everyone knows your name, and the nurses and doctors are very caring and concerned about your every need.

It is also amazing to see how many cancer patients come to St. Francis. The most disturbing of all is to see how many people are affected by cancer. All the patients greet one another, and there seems to be a community among all of us.

Tonight, Diane Sawyer on ABC News will be talking about a cancer breakthrough, and it may involve a young person finding some new discovery. Let’s hope and pray that something can be done about this dreaded disease.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers – they are working!

Next time, I will tell you about a great book I am reading that everyone needs to read. It is about being the best YOU can be.

Till then,
Barbara

Caregiver Tips:

We all know the benefits of drinking water, but Gene and I both see a marked improvement when Gene concentrates on drinking lots of water. I am sure it flushes away some of the toxins that are in his system.

I mentioned before that I like to put fresh lemons in our water, but now I am putting cucumber slices in our water glasses. This is very refreshing, and what a simple way to make your taste buds more active.

June 11 Update

What a fun-filled weekend we had!

Gene and I drove to Omaha on Friday and had a wonderful dinner with our longtime friend Barbara List. Then on Saturday morning, we were in the run/walk for pancreatic cancer held in Omaha.

Daughter Cindy and granddaughter Taylor ran in the 4-mile run. Gene and I were so proud of them. Taylor passed her mother, but Cindy was a real hero: She ran the 4 miles in very good time, even though it was a tough run. There were many hills, which Cindy doesn’t have to face in Broken Bow!

While in Omaha, I did sign a petition to be sent to Congress to increase the financial support for pancreatic cancer research. Pancreatic cancer only gets a very small percentage for research from the government, and this is such a difficult cancer to detect. We desperately need a screening test.

I want to say a big “thank you!” to our wonderful family and friends for the continued prayers and thoughts for Gene during his cancer treatments!

It is because of all your prayers that Gene’s cancer tumors have shrunk in size … by 90%. Dr. Ramaekers is so pleased with Gene’s progress, and we are, too. But, of course, we have to be ready for a plateau.

We had another call from our good friends Butch and Charlene Morgan from Colorado, checking on Gene. J.D. Yates calls at least once a week.

We are so thankful for our “Horse Family” – everyone has been so concerned and helpful to both of us. And we can never forget our Grand Island support team of family and friends. (If Virjeanne Baker keeps bringing us homemade pies, we will be too fat to move.)

Today, Gene is having his seventh treatment. We arrived at the St. Francis Cancer Center at 8 a.m., and he will probably be here for at least six hours today. I never look forward to the days after Gene’s treatments, but I know we have to take the good with the bad.

We are both trying to be very positive, but I have many bad moments where I silently pray that Gene does not have to suffer like we all have seen so many of our loved ones do. They say God only gives you what you can handle, but sometimes I think I have already handled more than my share.

On a more practical note, here’s a new comfort tip: It is helpful to bring your slippers or flip-flops along when you are getting your treatments. I always need to remember to bring a shoe horn. Sometimes it is difficult to get shoes on after several hours of sitting.

I would love to hear your comments and any advice or tips on making this journey through the dark tunnel of the unknown.

Thanks so much.

Till next time,
Barbara

May 24 Update

Dear Friends, 

It is unbelievable how supportive you have been to Gene and me during this very stressful time for both of us – and of course Cindy, Jim, Samuel and Taylor! 

We had such a great surprise yesterday. Taylor (our granddaughter who will soon be turning 18) and Samuel (our grandson who will be 14 at the end of the month) drove down from Broken Bow to spend the day with us. We are so very fortunate that we have such wonderful grandchildren. We are so very proud of them – they are very nice kids plus good students and athletes. Of course their parents, Cindy and Jim, had a big hand in their upbringing. (I have attached this wonderful picture of Gene with Taylor and Samuel.) 

It has been an up and down week. Gene was scheduled for his sixth treatment on Friday but his white blood count was too low. So on Monday, he had a shot of Neupogen and they continued these shots through yesterday for a total of three shots. 

We are hoping that on Friday, Gene will be able to take his sixth treatment … which of course will take all day and then he leaves with a chemo bag, which he wears for 48 hours. 

Gene has been worrying about his schedule for his American Quarter Horse duties as he is now president! We had all the treatments scheduled and our travel plans scheduled around them, but we will make it work. 

Each week, I learn more about being a caregiver. There are so many great FREE publications available at the Cancer Center. The one I picked up today is great – “Caring 4 Cancer.” 

There are many tips for the newly diagnosed cancer patient, such as: 

Bring paper and pencil with you to doctors’ visits for taking notes, or ask a friend to come with you and take notes. 

MY SUGGESTION: If possible, take one or more of your children with you. It was so helpful when we went for our first visit and took our daughter, Cindy. Cindy had many more questions than I would have thought. 

Our doctor has been wonderful, and at each visit he puts Cindy on speakerphone – so she feels she is very much a part of what the doctor is telling us on how the treatments are progressing. 

Another tip: Sign up for a customized weekly e-newsletter that will provide you with timely, helpful tips and support as your treatment plan progresses: www.Caring4Cancer.com I will check this out and let you know and if it is worthwhile. 

Remember, as I said earlier this week: “Love is often hidden till it’s given away. Love is a gift we can give every day!” 

Barbara         

May 14 Update

It seems like a merry-go-round!!! One day feeling great (maybe good) about how Gene is doing, and the next day … not so good.

Thankfully, he has had more good days but does get very tired, so I always have to remember to walk slow (I am noted as being the fast walker of the family).

We just returned from Jacksonville, Fla., where we attended the AQHA Region 10 show. WOW, it was very successful: They had almost 250 trail participants, plus many in the English classes, western classes, youth classes and reining classes, and I hope on Sunday they had equally full entries in the cattle classes.

It was wonderful seeing so many people that share Gene’s and my love of the American Quarter Horse. We saw many old friends and also met new friends.

It was so rewarding to hear all the good comments that AQHA is doing for membership, and we are fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers that worked this show.

I always like to give a few ideas or hints I have learned along the way during Gene’s cancer treatments. (By the way, at our last doctor’s appointment, Gene’s cancer cells had shrunk 60%. That is good news but as we know not a cure. As the doctor said, these nasty cancer cells are always looking for a way to get around the treatments!)

So, on to those tips: 

• The very best sugar-free syrup we have found is “Walden Farms.” It is calorie-free plus sugar-free. I even warm it up before putting on the pancakes. (This is a good find for those looking for comfort foods while watching sugar intake.) 
• Be sure if you are a caregiver to have a good thermometer on hand. I like the easy one that you apply to the ear. 
• I have been having Gene use a face spray tanning lotion every morning. I think it gives him that "little bit of color." (He asks me every day, “Do I look pale?”) 
• Gene is going through extreme feelings of hot and cold, so he does not drink ice in his water or have really hot food. It gives him a tingling feeling, almost like a shock. 
• I have been buying lots of lemons to put in his water. It is so important for any cancer patient to drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins in his or her system. 
• Hand sanitizer is also very important as we all know, but I am trying to make it a habit to use it, especially when traveling. 

Finally, I did forget to mention: SHHHHHH! Let’s not mention this blog to Gene. I am not sure he would be too thrilled to know that I am telling ALL!

Keep Praying and Believing in Miracles,
Barbara

April 25 Update: To Texas and Back

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

April 25 Update: Comfort Foods!

I wanted to share these "comfort-food tips" I've learned along the long road of being a caregiver:

• 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.

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. 

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.

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.

– Barbara

Update: See a few photos from Race for GRACE 2012 here.