Radiation Started-9/4/09

Hi All,

Hope this finds you all doing well. Things have been busy with school starting for us this week. Lexie is enjoying her 5th grade class with Mrs. Matteson. She is with several kids she had in her class last year. Trinity is in 2nd with Mrs. Franklin and Joshua is happy in Kindergarten with Mrs. Cathcart. He is fortunate to have his buddy Luke from Church in his class.

I am so glad the Lord had me start radiation the first week back to school. I was given the whole Summer with a reasonable amount of energy. This week I feel weak! Radiation really kicks your butt! And I'm praying it kicks so much more than that! I will have a total of 20 days of radiation. The first couple of days I didn't get the full treatment. So, if I calculate it all out correctly I will be doing my last radiation on Sept. 30th. I have weekends and holidays off.

Next week Dr. Rigberg' s office set up for me to go to St. John's hospital in Oxnard. Dr. Rigberg found a local Dr. that would stent the Superior Vena Cava. Evidently not everyone that stent's will do that vein. So, I go Thurs morning at 8:30 to have another CT scan of my heart. This one will be specifically looking to see exactly how the tumors are currently effecting my Superior Vena Cava. Then Dr. Hayward will talk to Dr. Rigberg and they will make a decision as to whether I need it stented right away or if I have time to see if the radiation can shrink them.

Today I have been feeling tired, fatigued, nauseated and headachy. Maybe it's just the heat? Well, I'm sure that is not helping. It does make it hard to be optimistic. But I am sure trying. I appreciate all the prayers so many have been praying. It is helping us all together just face each day. For the most part the kids are handling all this great. They still act like normal kids. I still wish they would listen better. But at least they are all normal. God has been our strength!

Love and appreciation to all!! Peggy