8/6/09

First of all our apologies go out for not updating this in a while.

We have been enjoying the time with numerous friends and family this summer and we are so grateful to all that have visited, called or e-mailed to catch up, re-connect and share stories. As always we appreciate your prayers, and notes as it means so much to Ruth and to us as a family.

Needless to say when there is good news we are eager to report it and the same goes for not great news either as we have so many prayer warriors out there ready and willing to pray.

Ruth continues to vigilantly follow her vegan diet, walking, and attending some classes at the rec center where I work. She continues on her naturopath regime and remains optimistic.

Ruth had her appointment yesterday down in Denver with her surgeon, Dr. Kevin Davis. She does have the option to do surgery to remove the tumor(s) however she has decided to not pursue that option as she has been down that road before, Bob and I do support her in that decision. Dr. Davis did mention that the tumor as is large as it can get without affecting major organs and causing major complications, it is already putting pressure on her bowels. Ruth wants to give Alfred a chance and hope that through his treatment and her diet she will have some relief of pressure of her stomach. She did also get her most recent blood draw results and they do not look good either, the CA 125 level is up, her red blood cell count is down and she is anemic.

Ruth does plan to go back to school full-time when it starts up in a few weeks and is looking forward to seeing the students and staff of Brush Creek after a restful summer.

On a more positive note we do have to give her a haircut already!

Thanks for all your prayers!

I've been experiencing "withdrawal" this past week now that our family reunion has ended and everyone has returned home. We had a wonderful time together, but it went by very quickly! I continue to feel well on my vegan diet and have the energy to do all the things I like to do in the summer in Colorado - hike, bike, and stay connected with family and friends. A recent ultrasound revealed that the tumors in my liver have actually gotten a little smaller, but the number of tumors in the abdominal wall are too numerous to count. It also showed that the amount of fluid build-up in my belly has decreased slightly, and that the 22cm X 3cm tumor mass in the pelvic area has not increased in size since June 6th. I am consulting with the surgeon in Denver about the possibility of removing the large tumor mass now that it seems to be stabilized. I am encouraged by the fact that my body seems to be fighting back, and all without the help of chemo! Praise The Lord!

Ruth had a great time with her family visiting a week ago. It was so special to spend time with them, share meals, and visit and catch up on the latest happenings with her nieces and nephews and their children. We are so thankful that they made the journey to come out and see her. She continues to do well with her vegan diet, whenever she has cheated a little bit (like eating a bowl of homemade ice cream) it has re-confirmed the importance of sticking to the diet with no exceptions. She did have a ultra sound on Friday to have a better idea of tumor numbers, size and location so hopefully we will have the results on Monday. We also remain hopeful that the numbers and size have decreased due to her diet, and regimen with Dr. Alfred Bamberger.

This week is very special in that my family (sisters, their spouses, nieces, nephews, and some of my sister's grandchildren) are all here visiting us in Eagle, Colorado! We are enjoying perfect weather for all of the outdoor activities we have planned, and of course we are just loving all being together in such a beautiful place! What a blessing! I continue to make progress on my vegan diet because Bob and Sarah are so supportive, as are many of my friends who make special dishes and soups for me that they know I can eat. I finished cleaning out a lot of "junk" from my office at school last week which is one more thing that I can check off my "to do" list for this summer. My leisurely days of summer are quickly passing by, but each one has been so wonderful, and I am so thankful that I have had this time to relax and try to regain my strength. I am extremely grateful for your prayers, cards, phone calls, and all the special things you do to make my life so meaningful and so blessed. Thank you!
Ruth

Doing Well!

We had a great time up at Sylvan Lake. Ruth is doing well on the all Vegan diet. She has been enjoying the great weather and going on some good walks and bike rides. She is helping sort various items at the rummage sale (the big one every fall in Minturn) today. Thanks for checking in. Thanks for your prayers!

CA 125 up but so are spirits!

Ruth is doing well and maintaining her strict vegan diet. The refrigerator has transformed from a typical American fridge to all organic and is filled to the brim with fruits, vegetables and many different things that will hopefully help get healthy again. The freezer is filled with frozen fruits and veggies too- we are all excited to be eating healthier!
We are celebrating Father's Day up at Sylvan Lake State Park- which is only 15 miles from our front door.
The CA 125 (indicator of cancer activity) count was up from 160 to 291 (higher numbers are bad) which we are discouraged about, but she has only been on the diet and the alkaline water for a week so hopefully things will start to improve.
We are so blessed to visit with family and friends this summer, we appreciate your prayers, support and advice. We remain optimistic in this battle and are overwhelmed the outpouring of love and concern that is demonstrated over and over again.

It's amazing how much better I feel now that I am finished with my last chemo treatment and am on summer break - a healthy combination that even the doctors couldn't have ordered! After Bob and I met with my surgeon on Monday, I have decided not to participate in any clinical trials and will not have any more elective surgery to remove the growing tumors. Instead, I will remain under the care of my oncologist at the Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards, CO, who will continue to monitor my condition with weekly blood tests and to administer any medications I may need. I am also consulting with Dr. Bamberger at the Center for Longevity and Lifestyle Changes in Edwards to bring my ph level into balance and to detoxify my body so that my immune system may have a fighting chance to slow down the growth of the cancer cells. I am on a strict vegan diet with whey protein added, and am drinking lots and lots of alkaline water. After only a few days, I really do feel more energetic and am experiencing less pain than I was a week ago. Praise God! I am optimistic that my quality of life will improve, and I feel a lot better about putting good things in my body instead of poison! Bob and Sarah support me in these decisions. They have been so dedicated to caring for me over the past 6 months and are thrilled to see me doing some of the things that I used to be able to do before surgery and chemo. I got the results of my blood draw today and learned that my red blood cell count is improving, platelets are up, and my white blood cell count is normal. I am looking forward to visiting with family and friends over the next several weeks and finally being able to plant some flowers now that the probability of another freeze is unlikely. I enjoy "sleeping in" until 6 A.M., having a leisurely cup of tea, relaxing in our comfortable home, and receiving all the cards, e-mails, phone messages, and prayers that people near and far are sending my way. I feel so blessed to have this wonderful support. God is so faithful to answer our prayers with the thoughtful generosity of others. It is truly amazing.