Team: Fist Bumpers

Team: Fist Bumpers

Purple Stride San Diego Walk September 28, 2019

My heart is so full right now. What a wonderful turnout, for San Diego and for our team. Out of 85 teams ours is 13^th in donations and we haven’t stopped yet. Almost 40 wonderful folks make up Fist Bumpers team.

Sis, thanks for the wheelchair, it’s coming back after I clean a bit of mud off the wheels! Man, that thing is heavy, lifting in and out of the car but it rolls along like melted butter on toast. I never pushed it once, I think team members were fighting over the opportunity to push amazing, optimistic, survivor David Anderson!

This year our pop-up tent was well supplied and manned by team captain Jim – special shout out for your work. I’d like to thank everyone for the various help and support that was offered today and on ordinary days too. I know some of you have family and friends also affected by this devasting disease so thanks for supporting Fist Bumpers. It was great to see returning members and wonderful to see new members. Dare I say, sign up and volunteer for 2020.

Zumba again That energizes me but wears me out a little too. The music makes it easy to follow along, well, not sure how well I followed along but I did keep moving. And if you have FB (face book) or other connections you can watch a short video and see a bit of it yourself. It’s a great warm up.

There just aren’t words to express the joy, comfort, and hope that the day gave me and I’m sure others. It must take a lot of dedicated volunteers to pull this off. Everything from pancakes, games for the kids, snacks, and the survivors’ tent where David likes to hang out. It’s a whole community, which I’m going to start calling my Purple Family. Hearing some of their stories of the short time between diagnosis and loss makes me grateful for the miracle of David now in his fourth year since his diagnosis.

Today, Monday, September 30, 2019, David begins a new chemo regimen. 5 hours at the hospital and going home with a 48 hour balloon like pump that he will then have to return to the hospital to have removed. Every other week. Side effects we’re told are a 7; current meds were a 6. Don’t know what any of this really means until we get into it. We shall see. Stay tuned for more updates. Meanwhile, remember moments matter.

There are some great pictures on FB. It takes me awhile to get the pictures from my phone to my computer, plan to share some in the future.

Doctor. labs. and so on

To our faithful readers, here’s the latest news from recent doctor visit. First off, lets get this over with, no surprise, the cancer has continued to spread. The fluid that was removed a couple weeks ago, did contain cancer cells. The doctor suggests a new chemo regimen and following is my own sort of transcript of the conversation.

New drugs: Folfzrznox (combination of 3 drugs): Fluorouracil (5-FU); Oxxaliplatin; Irinotecan (CPT-11)

Every 2 weeks and comes with a pump for 2 days. Get some by vein in the chemo clinic and leave with a “lemon” like pump. We or they can remove. It’s pretty easy, an elastic balloon. Different side effects. Abraxine might have led to fluid retention. With evidence of disease spreading can’t really attribute swelling to abraxine. He now goes over all the drugs and side effects. These side effects are a little worse, diarrhea. Imodium works, nurses will be after you and give you what you need (apparently some of this might begin while in the chair). Too many others to list – but I have the papers with details.

Doctor will check with chemo schedules (could take pump off after walk) does not want to delay starting this new chemo regimen. This comes up because Purple Stride walk is Saturday 28^th which would be his first pump removal and unsure of how he’ll feel with new meds he’s scheduled to get Thursday.

Doctor thinks this is the best choice. Alternative perp inhibitive (not sure if I’ve got this right but David is sleeping and I’m not waking him for editing), doesn’t think it will really knock it back in an effective way, less benefit. Or switch to supportive care, palliative hospice, time would be shorter but if you feel like we are beating you up, its an option. Reasonable alternative. David, “if I can rid of swelling and pain, could tolerate possible additional side effects, down for trying.” Dr Z put hospice idea out there for us to think about. Hospice would mean no more chemo. David says not yet. Sent over a recommendation for us to see palliative care doctors helpful to manage symptoms. Also gives me a name and number of his social worker for me to talk to. Dr Z says she and I will get along like wildfire. (I thought that was kind of sweet)

This ends with us going to the lab for David to have his legs ultra-sounded to be sure he does not have any blood clots. They squeezed us in. I got to sit in the room while procedure was going on. It was rather interesting. The first gal (I don’t know titles/ranks so won’t even try) was a student from Grossmont. This was fine with David, gotta learn somehow. It did take longer and then the “official” gal came in and somewhat re-scanned and did some explaining/teaching to the gal. All fine with us, new pictures of David’s insides to see. I should get a copy of all his internal pictures; could cover the walls in his man cave.

Not really much else to say at this point. We’re ok (she says with tears in her eyes). Thank you, each and every one. I dropped David off at the house to rest after this adventure and then I went off and bought not one but two jig saw puzzles. They are Christmas but that’s all they had and apparently Christmas starts earlier and earlier each year so this fits right in. The puzzles really keep my mind from going to the dark side! Between the puzzles and thinking how I can fence off part of the yard so I can foster a basset hound, I’m good. David’s ongoing positive outlook, friends and naps occupy his day.

p.s. I am responsible for any errors, emissions or misinterpretations.

See his video and story; google: David Anderson Wages Hope

see how the blooms have opened...

Another procedure and more learning...

Paracentesis is a fun word to say, not a fun procedure. Needed due to malignant ascites (fluid in belly) which David has been suffering from for a couple of weeks. Some of the delay in treatment due to doctor on vacation and the long holiday weekend. Unfortunately, this condition will return but good news, we now have the referral and number to call and the knowledge so David will not have to wait as long to go in for the procedure. If you are interested in more medical detail, you can google. Plus, we have taken a lesson from our play book and will be willing to go to San Marcos facility, if that has an earlier time and book a room so we can drive back the next day at a time of our choosing and not during the heaviest traffic.

Our play book includes the trick of booking a hotel room for our ease and comfort. We learned this when we were having some major motorhome work done. It required us spending the night in a very crammed parking lot, rising early in the morning so the technician (well, maybe the “yard dog”) could pick it up and move it over to the repair shop. We wised up and moved ourselves to the Oregon coast and stayed the remining week in a yurt; allowed us to sleep in and prevented possible parking lot accidents.

Surprisingly, yesterday, the drive from Garfield facility to El Cajon in the middle of traffic went smooth and another plus because I’m always looking for the silver lining, this procedure is a mere $25.

Alas the weight gain is over, they drained 4 liters, that’s over a gallon of fluid which is would be over 7 pounds. Might still be a minimal weight gain, wonder if it’s enough change that the pharmacy will have to recalculate his chemo for Thursday. Guess I don’t have to be concerned with that detail.

Smart phone and smart car have both got me out smarted! After only 3 years of having my own phone, I’m hooked. So when my processor went bad I had to get a new phone right now. Got a Galaxy A20 which is similar to the Motorola that crashed but not exact. Another learning curve. Only one additional trip to the Verizon store for assistance and David figured out the paring to the car. However, last night, couldn’t get the car to lock. Later I was able to lock it with the phone, yes, the phone can lock; unlock; set climate control and start the engine from afar. That is after I cam home and looked in my secret place for the password, had to reset the new phone don’t you know. But I do need to find out why it wouldn’t lock by pushing the handle button, just emitted a shrill long noise. Leaving that for another day.

We will be off later today for chemo. Next chemo treatment falls on Thursday before the Purple Stride walk September 28, Saturday. Another reason that we’ll have the wheelchair for David, he won’t feel much like walking, well, he’ll feel like he wants to walk but won’t have the energy. With the wheelchair he’ll be able to come along with us. I’ve got some folks lined up to help me push! Hope you can join us, walk, run, take pictures, donate or help push David, an amazing survivor! Purplestride.org Team: Fist Bumpers

David Anderson Wages Hope – story and videos

Caretaking Boring?

Just when I begin to reach out to occupy my time between doctor/medical visits and David’s extensive napping, my time is suddenly filled with the business of caretaking. I’m chatting with a friend (enjoying some me time) when I look up and see David walking down the hall. He looks off and is hand signaling “40”. What does that mean? I don’t know but it doesn’t look positive, so I quickly end my phone call. And isn’t it nice my friend immediately understands; says a firm goodbye and hangs up. His blood sugar was 40 (keep in mind that 70 is low!). I thought he had that distracted, unfocused look. I get him to sit down, get out the apple juice and give him a cup to drink. He does begin to feel better, even I can see the change. Now time for some carbs and check BS again, still pretty low so a little bit more juice. I then think about how we walked the mall that morning and he for the first time had not eaten his full bowl of cereal. I start to think I should have known better. (I hope you are all now saying, no, don’t beat yourself up).

I get him settled down and call my friend back to let her know – crisis averted. But not totally true. Some time goes by and David is in the bathroom and using the barf bucket. Someone asks why he needs the bucket – figure it out folks… Trying not to get too graphic.

Meanwhile, a friend has stopped by to look at putting up an umbrella and maybe a little woodwork for some shade (to rectify a big project that went about 50% wrong – I didn’t say totally). So he is coming and going and David is “going” and I am staying calm! I do the only thing I know to do which is wet a cloth and place on David’s forehead. This friend is quite capable and is letting himself in the gate, side yard, unloading, etc. He’s got it all figured out and I only provide minimally input (I knew where the twist ties were). Thank you

David is feeling better but uncomfortable from his swollen belly. We are waiting to hear what the doctor has to say. Its been a few days now and swelling hasn’t changed. I think this may be what created his recent weight gain. We’ll hear from the doctor after Labor Day weekend. All this got reported and emailed to doctor last Thursday during chemo. Neither of us remember exactly what all was discussed but we think the on-call doctor was consulted. It’s amazing how our minds take in information and later it is misfiled and unavailable for review!

Hope all of you had a more fun and uneventful holiday weekend. Even tho I’m retired, I’m sad to see Labor Day because it’s the end of summer. Just a mental thing, not like I go beaching these days.

The doctor has called; left message. Good news is the CT scan shows stable, not so good, fluid in the belly. Options will be discussed. I may send this before we have the discussion. I am working hard at not making any movies on how this episode will turn out. David and I each have plans with friends tonight and tomorrow the car needs to be seen. Oh, that’s another story. The car called us! Yep, wanted us to know the check engine light was on and scheduled us an appointment. Now that’s progress?!

Thank you everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. And don’t forget to join us at Purple Stride walk to increase awareness and funding for pancreatic cancer. Come down and turn your hair and beards purple – we’ll have the spray like last year, thanks to yet another of our amazing friends.

Donate or sign up at Purplestride.org Team: Fist Bumpers