OH MY GOSH! Okay guys, gals, ladies and gents. I know you can't tell from reading this post, nor can you see the expression or the happiness that I am currently feeling right now. I am ecstatic with the news I just heard from my sister.
Okay so, I have been back in Battle Creek for about an hour now, because my Mom has to get a little work in tonight, and I have to clean up around the apartment a little bit as my Brother is flying in town tomorrow morning, and the rest of my family who is driving will arrive in the evening tomorrow. So onto my wonderful story. A few minutes ago I got a call from my younger sister, Courtney. She ended up staying up at the hospital for a few more hours than we got to today, and man, I tell you I wish I would have really stayed up in Ann Arbor tonight for this news.
So the Doc apparently came in and had a talk with Tricia, Courtney, and Nate (Nate is Tricia's boyfriend who has been by her side since day 1; they have been together I think 9 years). This conversation was about her today and her x-rays that they had taken. So if you read my post earlier today you'll have read that they had taken her NG tube out and she started a clear liquid diet. Even though it wasn't food, it was still something to put in her stomach to stop feeling the need of hunger; after all it's been since Saturday since she's been able to eat or drink anything.
So, what I've gathered is that the X-rays are showing some promising results, and that the NG tube has done some more than excellent work. Not only that, but the Antibiotics that she's been on, with some pain meds, and nausea meds, that her system might have started to open back up.
We've been told that the original prognosis of a few days to a few weeks could possibly end up being put on hold. That's right! Now nothing is set in stone, but it's great news to hear, and if this ends up coming back and having her body functioning properly, the only thing we may have to worry about is finding another experimental drug to keep the cancer dormant once again.
I have to say, that this excites me in a way that I cannot nor will be able to describe. I'm just totally lite up and glowing right now from this news. I know that more tests and x-rays will be taken tomorrow to see if we are actually on the right track, and if we are, hopefully we can start to get her back on soft foods, and then in another day maybe try regular food.
Like I said, nothing is for certain, on both ends, but I feel that the reason good things and good results are starting to happen is because of all of the support, love, and the thousands that are praying for my sister is helping. I really think it is all of you who God is hearing and is getting the picture that we want and we need Tricia to stay with us! You all are so wonderful, and I feel this is nothing short of a miracle through the work of God from prayer.
Okay, I have to finish up and get to bed, as I got to get up around 6 to head up to Detroit. Once again everyone, THANKS FOR PRAYING! It means the world to me.
Love always,
-Chad Hayes
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tricia and her Frog Slippers
Hey everyone! So it's Wednesday afternoon and we all got her back at the U of M hospital around an hour ago. So before we got to the hospital Mom and I stopped at a Hallmark store and we got her a big balloon and a pair of green frog slippers to surprise her when we arrived.
So when we finally got up to her room, one of the Doc's were in the room with her and we waited outside till they were done. So when the Doc came out he told us some GREAT news. Tricia's NG tube was just taken out and that she is now allowed to drink liquids and if all goes well and according to plan, they will try to start her off on soft food like yogurt and stuff tomorrow.
So with visiting only for about an hour so far, Tricia has gotten her NG tube out, drinking some tea, and some juice. And she has also put on her frog slippers and walked around the halls with Mom for a couple three or four laps around the top building floor. Tricia seems to be pretty happy today with the pain and nausea under control. Talking a lot and very ecstatic that the tube has been removed.
So with such good news, I feel that everyone who has been calling, sending love, and visiting as well as the thousands of prayers that have been said for Tricia, I feel it is definitely working out a lot. Especially the prayers, without the prayers and the works of God we wouldn't in such a good situation as we are right now. And I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart who have been with us for so long and those who are recently following us and praying for us, as it means the world to each and everyone one of us.
So even though this is noonish time of writing this, if anything else changes I will put up another post to keep everyone updated. Love you all! -Chad and family!
So when we finally got up to her room, one of the Doc's were in the room with her and we waited outside till they were done. So when the Doc came out he told us some GREAT news. Tricia's NG tube was just taken out and that she is now allowed to drink liquids and if all goes well and according to plan, they will try to start her off on soft food like yogurt and stuff tomorrow.
So with visiting only for about an hour so far, Tricia has gotten her NG tube out, drinking some tea, and some juice. And she has also put on her frog slippers and walked around the halls with Mom for a couple three or four laps around the top building floor. Tricia seems to be pretty happy today with the pain and nausea under control. Talking a lot and very ecstatic that the tube has been removed.
So with such good news, I feel that everyone who has been calling, sending love, and visiting as well as the thousands of prayers that have been said for Tricia, I feel it is definitely working out a lot. Especially the prayers, without the prayers and the works of God we wouldn't in such a good situation as we are right now. And I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart who have been with us for so long and those who are recently following us and praying for us, as it means the world to each and everyone one of us.
So even though this is noonish time of writing this, if anything else changes I will put up another post to keep everyone updated. Love you all! -Chad and family!
Monday, March 2, 2009
News of Tricia Today.
Today my Mom, Patty and I, Chad arrived at the University of Michigan Hospital to see Tricia at 10am this morning. As we walked in she had been up for a little while and her vitals were doing fine. We spent most of the day with her, and as of now it is almost 7pm and we are still here with Nate, her boyfriend by her side as well.
So earlier today around noon the two head doctors came in to chat with us on the options that have been placed before Tricia. She has a choice of taking the time she has left to spend time with her family and friends or to try and go for surgery, which has a very high risk. Due to the fact that her first surgery two years ago taken such a long time to recover, and with the recovery taking so long, she also incurred an infection, which caused for a second surgery. So being back then with her more in health and better condition, they have said that it is going to be a miracle for her to come out of the surgery. So if she has chosen to go with surgery, there is the most likely scenario that if she even makes it out and off of the surgery table, that she'd spend the last of her time in the ICU with a lot more pain and misery.
Basically what is happening is Tricia's system is starting to shut down due to the blood clot cutting off circulation to her lower and smaller intestine area and has begun to die. She has had her NG tube in now for over 48 hours to try and release the pressure of the air surrounding the area as well as any other fluids that may get in the way to cause bloating, and pain.
So given the two options, we have told Tricia that whatever she decides she wants to do, we will back her up 110% and make it the most comfortable for her situation as we can do. But the outcome both looks slim, and the only thing that we are really riding on right now is for God's Hand to touch Tricia and heal her. So if the chosen route of spending the rest of the time with family and friends and living what time God has given her left, we have been told it could be from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. There is hope that her body will block off the part of her system that is dying and create a way to go around it, which could extend her life on earth for maybe a month or two longer. I, myself am praying that the blood clot will go away and get blood back into her bowel system and give her another chance to try and recover.
And even if we can find a miracle for the blood clot to disperse, her cancer still has to be brought to an issue as it has started to once again grow and the original experimental drug has failed, and the second one they tried a month ago has failed. Basically what we've been told today is that if God doesn't step in, they've exhausted every medical thing they can do for her.
So I am just asking everyone to pray for Tricia and her health and for God to ease her Pain and Nausea, and to clear her Blood Clot, and also to pray for my Mom and my younger sister Courtney who right now have very heavy hearts.
To those who are keeping up with my updates, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart, and it means the world to me that you are all keeping faith and praying for us and with us.
Love,
Chad Hayes.
So earlier today around noon the two head doctors came in to chat with us on the options that have been placed before Tricia. She has a choice of taking the time she has left to spend time with her family and friends or to try and go for surgery, which has a very high risk. Due to the fact that her first surgery two years ago taken such a long time to recover, and with the recovery taking so long, she also incurred an infection, which caused for a second surgery. So being back then with her more in health and better condition, they have said that it is going to be a miracle for her to come out of the surgery. So if she has chosen to go with surgery, there is the most likely scenario that if she even makes it out and off of the surgery table, that she'd spend the last of her time in the ICU with a lot more pain and misery.
Basically what is happening is Tricia's system is starting to shut down due to the blood clot cutting off circulation to her lower and smaller intestine area and has begun to die. She has had her NG tube in now for over 48 hours to try and release the pressure of the air surrounding the area as well as any other fluids that may get in the way to cause bloating, and pain.
So given the two options, we have told Tricia that whatever she decides she wants to do, we will back her up 110% and make it the most comfortable for her situation as we can do. But the outcome both looks slim, and the only thing that we are really riding on right now is for God's Hand to touch Tricia and heal her. So if the chosen route of spending the rest of the time with family and friends and living what time God has given her left, we have been told it could be from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. There is hope that her body will block off the part of her system that is dying and create a way to go around it, which could extend her life on earth for maybe a month or two longer. I, myself am praying that the blood clot will go away and get blood back into her bowel system and give her another chance to try and recover.
And even if we can find a miracle for the blood clot to disperse, her cancer still has to be brought to an issue as it has started to once again grow and the original experimental drug has failed, and the second one they tried a month ago has failed. Basically what we've been told today is that if God doesn't step in, they've exhausted every medical thing they can do for her.
So I am just asking everyone to pray for Tricia and her health and for God to ease her Pain and Nausea, and to clear her Blood Clot, and also to pray for my Mom and my younger sister Courtney who right now have very heavy hearts.
To those who are keeping up with my updates, I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart, and it means the world to me that you are all keeping faith and praying for us and with us.
Love,
Chad Hayes.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Update on Tricia.
Okay, earlier today I got news from Nate (Tricia's Boyfriend) that Tricia was to undergo an emergency surgery due to the fact that her larger intestines were cutting circulation off to her lower intestine. To those who don't know Tricia is my younger, older sister who is 23 years old. So I got the call around 1:30pm. So I got my things around then went over to my Mom's to wake her up(she works night shift and had just gotten off) and told to her get her things around and that we needed to head up to Ann Arbor.
For those of you who don't really know, Tricia about two years ago under went two major surgeries due to a rare cancer called, Pediatric GIST. The Cancer is one of the most deadly cancers that is alive today, where survivors and the victims of the cancer are lucky to live five years after being diagnosed with this type of cancers. Due to the growing number of this kind of deadly cancer, almost all of the drugs on the market today are experimental.
Tricia's first surgery consisted of her stomach and liver. They removed a quarter of her stomach at the bottom, and almost half of her liver. And about a month or two later she had another surgery from an infection from her first prior surgery and had a chunk of her stomach area taken out.
Okay so now she has been in the hospital a few times over the weekend due to her stomach area hurting once again. And a little while ago I was informed that her first chemo drug that was holding her cancer dormant stopped working and put her on another drug to try and hold it. Since this kind of cancer grows rapidly, the doctor's must keep a close eye on her. It's been almost two whole years since anything really has happened, but I have gotten the word that it is starting to grow once again.
So we have delayed surgery from her Doctor due to the fact that she thinks surgery is not the way to go as the risk is far too great than the reward. So we have been draining her stomach for the past four hours to try to get the liquid out and air that has surrounded the intestines as well.
So for now we are just sitting here in her room just talking and have a pretty good time. Tricia seems to have gotten rid of her pain, and it seems to be under control for now. She is pretty tired, since she's been in the Emergency Room for the past twenty four hours and been awake the whole time without having anything to eat as well.
I will try to keep everyone posted, and up to date as I get information. But for right now everything is going okay. The only thing we can ask for is to pray for Tricia and hope that a new drug will stop her cancer from growing and spreading and become dormant once again. For those of you who have been wondering, and asking questions and your concerns, and I appreciate it. Thanks for reading, and I will keep you all posted.
-Chad
For those of you who don't really know, Tricia about two years ago under went two major surgeries due to a rare cancer called, Pediatric GIST. The Cancer is one of the most deadly cancers that is alive today, where survivors and the victims of the cancer are lucky to live five years after being diagnosed with this type of cancers. Due to the growing number of this kind of deadly cancer, almost all of the drugs on the market today are experimental.
Tricia's first surgery consisted of her stomach and liver. They removed a quarter of her stomach at the bottom, and almost half of her liver. And about a month or two later she had another surgery from an infection from her first prior surgery and had a chunk of her stomach area taken out.
Okay so now she has been in the hospital a few times over the weekend due to her stomach area hurting once again. And a little while ago I was informed that her first chemo drug that was holding her cancer dormant stopped working and put her on another drug to try and hold it. Since this kind of cancer grows rapidly, the doctor's must keep a close eye on her. It's been almost two whole years since anything really has happened, but I have gotten the word that it is starting to grow once again.
So we have delayed surgery from her Doctor due to the fact that she thinks surgery is not the way to go as the risk is far too great than the reward. So we have been draining her stomach for the past four hours to try to get the liquid out and air that has surrounded the intestines as well.
So for now we are just sitting here in her room just talking and have a pretty good time. Tricia seems to have gotten rid of her pain, and it seems to be under control for now. She is pretty tired, since she's been in the Emergency Room for the past twenty four hours and been awake the whole time without having anything to eat as well.
I will try to keep everyone posted, and up to date as I get information. But for right now everything is going okay. The only thing we can ask for is to pray for Tricia and hope that a new drug will stop her cancer from growing and spreading and become dormant once again. For those of you who have been wondering, and asking questions and your concerns, and I appreciate it. Thanks for reading, and I will keep you all posted.
-Chad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)