RUTH IS WITH THE LORD!!!

Ruth went to be with the Lord yesterday morning about 7:30. She died peacefully at home in no pain with my dad and I.
We are set on food, we just ask that you spend time with your families and live life to the fullest as Ruth always did. If you think of a friend that you have not spoken to in a long time, give them a call and tell them how much they mean to you.

Thank you so very very much for all of your prayers and support throughout this nearly 5 year journey we couldn't have done it without you.

Bob, Sarah and Ruth in spirit.

UPDATED:

Ruth's Memorial will be on Thursday May 12 at 4pm at the Edwards Interfaith Chapel. For any other information please see her Obit in the Vail Daily on Monday May 9th or see link below:
Ruth's Obit

Update on Ruth- 4/22/11

Once again we are going through a challenging week.

Ruth's blockage is back and she has not had any nourishment for 6-7 days. She is not on any drip other than a measured morphine pump and has chosen not to have the NG tube inserted again. She has no way to eliminate fluids that build up in her stomach other than throwing up. She is most likely below 80lbs now.

She has been home since she left the hospital a few weeks ago and the three of us were able to go to Boulder last weekend to get out of town and returned on Sunday evening as Ruth was not feeling well.

We now have hospice on board with us completely and they are helping us out a ton. Most likely we are looking at a week to 14 days. Her pain is being managed as well as her nausea. At this time she is still coherent but a little loopy with all the medications.

Please know that we appreciate your prayers and support. We are trusting in the Lord in this matter and that he will take her home quickly.

We will keep you posted with any updates on this blog and know that we are trying to spend as much time together as a family during her last days.


Thank you.

Sarah, Ruth and Bob

ANOTHER MIRACLE!!!

Once again we are blessed by God's grace! Ruth had a bowel movement on Friday night and we got the NG tube out of her on Saturday. She has spent the weekend resting and eating smooth foods and will return to work on Monday! Thank you for all of your prayers and support as we know for a fact that prayers work!! Sarah

4/7/11 Update- AM

Yesterday was a big day. Ruth's blood count was higher so they were able to drain 2 more liters out of her belly! She was also released and came home last night. She is walking around the house and enjoying being home. Today we plan to shake her upside down and I am sure she is excited to get on the treadmill. She still has the NG tube down her throat which she is not thrilled about. Home health care is helping us out at the house and my father and I are learning all the ropes for the medications that we will need to be giving her. It is a quick learning curve but I am confident that we will have a better understanding of it all in a couple of days. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. Sarah

Update on Ruth- 4/5/11- not so good

On Sunday my Dad and I brought my mom into the ER in Vail. Ruth had been in severe pain since Saturday afternoon. She has been admitted and a few tests have been done. They were able to determine that there is a blockage caused by the tumor. Her white blood cell count is very low so we are unable to drain any more acites (fluid) out of her belly. Surgery is not an option due to many factors. At this point she is in the hospital working on a pain management plan and getting her white blood cell count up and hoping to come home within the next day or two. She does have that NG tube back down her nose into her stomach. We are overwhelmed by the supportof our friends, family, community during this difficult time. We know that you feel the need to do something however at this time my dad and I are asking for your prayers and support. I will continue to keep the blog updated as I can. Thanks- Sarah

Had my second round of chemo with the drug that has been successful in the past on Feb.7th and that went well. Then on Feb. 10th, I went to Denver to have my belly drained again- removed 4.2 liters and lost 10 lbs! I will get a blood transfusion tomorrow, 2/15, because my white blood cell count is low and I have no energy. Hopefully I will be feeling much better by the end of the week - in time for a week off from school for a "winter" break. Couldn't have timed it better! God is always so faithful in rescuing me. Whenever I feel low and needy, He just steps in and provides for my every need. I am so in tuned with my body and can sense when something isn't right, so I can usually be proactive in my treatment. I will get an echocardiogram before my next chemo on Feb. 28th, and will have a CT scan sometime that following week to see how well the chemo is doing and what changes have taken place since the last one a few months ago. Until then, please continue to remember me in your prayers, as I do believe God honors the prayers of those who love Him. Bob and Sarah need your prayers, too, because they have been dealing with this chronic illness for a very long time and have never complained about anything - not even once! I am indeed blessed!
Love you,
Ruth

It's hard for me to admit to myself and you that this is the first time I have felt well enough to get to my computer and post something on my blog. After getting the ascites (fluid) removed from my belly on Wednesday, I have been in a lot of pain. I was not able to go to school on Thursday or Friday, and felt too sick to get the chemo infusion as planned on Thursday. I rescheduled the chemo for Friday, but my blood draw showed that my red blood cell count was too low to give me the infusion. So, I am now scheduled for 2 units of blood on this Monday, MLK Day, and will hopefully get the chemo on Tuesday. I am greatly discouraged that I am already a week behind where I thought I would be in the process - the fluid is already building back up which is a sign that the cancer remains unchecked by anything I am doing. I am still taking the alternative remedies for my immune system, enzymes, and sticking to the vegan diet because I know they can't hurt, and just might help in the overall scheme of things. That cancer is a tough one to beat! I have had to resort to taking some powerful narcotic pain medication and the side effect for that is constipation which causes even more pain! I feel like an old lady talking about all my aches and pains, but I did want you to know what's going on. I was able to meet with the head doctor of a Phase 1 clinical trial for endometrial patients at the University of Colorado Medical Center that could possibly be something I could participate in down the road if I remain strong in all of my bodily functions. Sarah has left the park, Patagonia Conservacion, and is traveling with her friend Caroline in Argentina. All seems to be above and beyond her wildest dreams. Bob continues to work 12-14 hour days, take care of me, the house, and all the shoveling, and still swims 3 mornings a week and runs 3 days a week. We both pray that God will loan me some of his energy, as I could really use it. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and phone calls. It is so comforting to know that you are pulling for me and encouraging me to get through these rough days because there are brighter ones ahead! Our Lord is so faithful in meeting our every need, so at times like this, I know to just draw closer to Him. Love you-
Ruth

News from Sarah is all good - sounds like she is enjoying every minute of her experience at Conservacion Patagonica! Bob is glad that finally everything has gotten back to "normal" at the club after the holidays. I'm back at school but have been struggling with a lot of abdomenal pain and overall discomfort due to the fact that the fluid has already come back in my belly. I will be starting chemo again with a drug that I had success with over a year ago but was taken off of because of the danger of congestive heart failure for users over a long period of time. Since I have tried all of the chemo drugs that are on the "approved" list for my kind of cancer according to my insurance company, I really have no other alternative at this time. I hope the doxorubicin (trade name adriamycin) will be as effective as it was previously. My homeopathic physician has been unable to get the enzymes from Germany that he hoped to give me intravenously over the holidays, so that is on hold for now until after I get through a few rounds of the chemo. My oncologist will order an echocardiogram prior to the treatment on Monday or Tuesday of next week, and will infuse me with another drug that helps counteract the negative symptoms that might occur. I have an appointment on Wednesday, Jan. 12, to meet with doctors at University of Colorado Cancer Center in Denver about eligibility for any clinical trials they may have going on for endometrial cancer. I will also get the fluid drained from my belly that afternoon at Presbyterian St. Luke's where I have had it done the past three times. I feel so relieved that we have a plan for my treatment - I felt like we were floundering for the past few months trying different chemos that were ineffective and losing ground rather than making progress. The Lord is in control and He is faithful, so with your continued prayers and support I know that we are on the right track for now. Will keep you posted as any new developments (good or bad) come up.