December 31, 2009

Well, we had a great weekend at church. We had Dr. and Mrs. James Wilkins with us. This picture of Scott and I that was taken on Sunday, Dec. 27th, 2009.

Wow, reality is starting to set in. Today while at MD Anderson it started to hit me that this cancer journey is about to begin again. I am so dreading it, but I know there is a reason for everything. Friends of ours in China told me, I guess someone at MD Anderson needs to be saved. So please pray that we will be used to lead people to the Lord. Also, pray for our church. It is not just Scott and I but it is also our family and church family going through this with us. Most of all we pray for souls to be saved. Today when I had my blood work, it took just one stick and I didn't even feel it. Praise the Lord! Thanks for your prayers.
So I need to report to MD Anderson, Monday, Jan. 4th, at 9:00 am. Please be praying for my doctor, Dr. Pamela Soliman. She is very positive since they found it so early and me being cancer free for 6 years. She said I will probably have 6 rounds of chemo again. Oh boy! It will be administered different this time too. I will know more about that after surgery. Another praise is that I will not have to have blood work every week. Just think this time next week, I should be looking to get out of the hospital.

Monday, April 28, 2003

Scott made some more phone calls and we went to sign up for SSI Benefits. He seemed to stay on the phone between Dr. Atkins office trying to get a referral from him to MD Anderson. Also, talking to Tara at MD Anderson. She would fax us paper work, Scott would fill it out and send it back.

Paula's Journal
Got up Monday morning not feeling good at all. I was real dizzy and sick to my stomach. Scott had to call Social Security office to set things up for Medicaid. They had to go to the office to sign some papers. I stayed in their room to be close to the bathroom. Not a good day for me.
Deb is feeling good and said she is in denial about things. They came home for awhile and went out on a date, which was the game plan for the day.
While they were out, Jim, Julie, Ren and Lorin called. They all called back later to talk to Deb. Jason and Gina got to talke to her.
I started to feel better tonight, was able to eat some cereal and pretzels. I hope I'm better tomorrow, Deb has an appointment at the clinic to see Dr. Olson to take out her stitch and maybe find out some test results.

Debbie
Scott took me out on a date Monday night. He took me to Babins, we had Mahi Mahi. Who knows how long it will be when I will feel like going out, let alone eat. Scott is so good to me. I thank the Lord for him.

Trying To Decide What To Do?????

For those of you have been following my blog, I have been posting about my cancer in the past. In fact, 6 years ago and now it has come to a time we have to write in the present. I will go to my doctor at MD Anderson on Thursday and will find out more information about my upcoming surgery on January 4, 2010. I have been trying to decide to continue writing the past and also add the present. If it gets to be confusing, someone let me know.

As for now, I would like to ask you all to be praying for us and to put us on as many prayer lists as possible. God hears our prayers. I have also started a Care Page which will make it easy for my family to keep you updated. So just go to www.carepages.com/carepages/cancernowwhat and sign up. You can also invite your friends and family to join it.

I have also opened an online Avon store to try to generate some income for us while I am off work. Please stop by and shop and invite others to stop by. Go to www.youravon.com/dnetterville or you can also go to my Profile page on Facebook and click on my store there. If anyone has problems ordering let me know. I have had one problem and I will contact Customer Service or you can tell me what you want to order and I can place it for you.

Again thank you for your prayers.

Yearly Check Up - December 22, 2009

Today was my yearly check up at MD Anderson. It started at 11:00 am with blood work and urine specimen. Then to get a mammogram and then on to my doctor's appointment at noon. Everything was going real good, I was even excited that I had lost 14 lbs. since my last check up. While sitting the the exam room a lady came in to have me re-sign some papers for a study I have been in for a few years for the study of markers for ovarian cancer recurrence. They upt it to 10 yr. study and there are only 100 patients in this study. All day I kept thinking of MD Anderson slogan on vans and such "Making Cancer History". Well, after she left the exam room to myself I started thinking "what if it comes back". So when the Physician Assistant came in Wow, did she gives us a blow. She said my CA-125 marker was elavated to 71. For 6 yrs. my count has been good, I think it is suppose to be at 35. Not what we expected to hear. I tried to stay strong, but the tears started coming. OK, we can do this. Scott is asking how I am and I am asking how he is. The doctor comes in and they do their exams and we start asking questions. Like since the count is not as high as before what does that mean? She said it could be from an infection or virus. A couple of Fridays ago I was sick in the morning, so maybe that has something to do with it. I hope!!!! She said it has been good for 6 yrs they just want to make sure. So they sent me for blood work again and a chest x-ray. Tomorrow morning at 7:30 am I will be having a CAT scan. So please be praying for us. I should find out something tomorrow about the CAT scan, cause I asked how quick we could find something out. This is not the Christmas present I wanted. We are doing OK, I guess. We are just calling folks and as them to put me on their prayer list.
Thank you to all our friends and family.
II Kgs. 20:5

Cancer Journey

As I continue to post my blog I will begin to add some pictures. Some of them will not be easy for me and some may not be easy for you. But it was my niece, Julie who suggested that I take pictures.

When we were told I had cancer, so many things go through your mind. We decided we needed to get a professional picture made of us together. So the first picture is one Scott and I went and had made at Sears.

Sunday, April 27, 2003 - The Journey Continues

Paula's Journal
It's Sunday, April 27, 2003. Deb set her alarm for 5:00 am to take her pills so by the time we leave for church she will be done in the bathroom. As we were getting ready Deb and I were in the bathroom and she said she doesn't like to look at herself in the mirror because she has lost so much weight and doesn't want to look "sick" before she is suppose to.

It was finally Sunday. I (Deb) was so looking forward to go to church. I told Scott I wanted us to sing (Bro. Mike, Scott and I) because I didn't know how long I would be out of church. The whole service was geared for us, the music, the specials and the message.
Everyone was alittle stand offish. They seemed afraid to talk to me because they didn't know what to say. The first song was someone needs to testify. The Holy Spirit tole me I needed to testify before we did our song. I was shaking like a leaf. I just wanted to share with the church that it was OK to talk about my cancer. We know it is serious and it wasn't going to be easy but we wanted our church family to be able to talk to us freely.
We sang "I Feel Like Traveling On" on the last verse the guys left me singing a solo. The rest of the song service was a blessing. I thought we would go through a whole box of tissue. Even Bro. Mike's message was a blessing. After the invitation they had Scott and I come forward. All the men came forward to pray and annoit me with oil. What an experience! Trusting God to do whatever He wants with me. Of course, we are praying and believing Him for my healing.
Another blessing for the day was that they took up an offering for us, it was over $1300.00. God is so good. Another month taken care of.

Paula's Journal
The poeple at their church are friendly and love Deb and Scott. They annointed Deb and that was very moving. We stayed for both services and had lunch at the church. We went home and chilled the rest of the day.

Urgent Prayer Request

Would like to ask y'all to pray for Rhonda Patterson, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian cancer. A friend of mine in New Mexico emailed me to ask us to pray for her. So family and friends please add her to your prayer list.

Also, I would like y'all to be praying for me. Always before my next check up at MD Anderson I get alittle nervous. I know the Lord is in control, but we are human. My appointment is Tuesday, December 22. God has truly been so good to me.

There are so many out there with cancer. Sometimes it just overwhelms me. Continue to pray for George Doering.

Pass this on.

Saturday, April 26, 2003 - The Journey Continues

Paula's Journal
On Saturday, April 26th we had to go to the hospital for Deb to get her TB test read. Everything was OK. We left there to go to Ryan's for lunch and than to Walmart. Deb was hungry for a hamburger casserole that mom made. We stopped to get the ingredients.
We got back to the house, changed clothes and sat on the porch for awhile. It was a beautiful day. After supper, which Deb really enjoyed we played a few games of Sequence.

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Friday, April 25, 2003 - Journey continues

Dr. Williams came in and wanted to know what had happened the night before. I explained to him how rough and blunt Dr. Atkins had been. He apologized over and over. He also said he wanted me to stay in the hospital. I had inquired about getting out so I could go to church. Paula and Scott arrived shortly after Dr. Williams left. Scott went to look for him so he could talk to him. He told Scott he would let me out to go to church. Praise the Lord!

Paula's Journal
Started for the hospital around 7:30 am. It was kind of quiet on the way. Deb was in good spirits and was waiting for Dr. Atkins to come. Dr. Williams had already been in and told her she couldn't go home yet. Still waiting for all tests to come in and she had to stay because of her TB test had to be check 48 hours after it was given.

We waited all morning for Dr. Atkins to come. One of the nurses came in and I jokingly said, "You know what would taste good, a Coke." She said I could have some but just a few ounces. I was on limited fluid intake. I told her I'd take it for lunch.
Finally Dr. ATkins showed up. He didn't say anything, did the exam and left. The nurse was very apologetic for his mannerisms. We were thankful he was a good doctor but his bedside manner was awful.

Paula's Journal
Dr. Atkins came in did the exam and left. Deb showered and by than it was almost lunch time. We asked her nurse if she could go outside in the afternoon. We got the OK. Scott and I left for lunch.

Finally it was lunch time the nurse brought in my Coke. She handed it to Paula and said, "Here I'll give it to Mom so she can give it to you." I got only 4 or 5 ounces. I drank it very slow. But we sure had a good laugh about the nurse thinking Paula was my mom.

Bro. Mike and Shelly came to visit. I received two plants, one from the church and one from Bro. Mike and Shelly. I also received several phone calls. From Oregon, Amber and Melanie, Sue, Tanya, Pam, Patty, Julie, Scott(my brother), Ren and others. Many of the calls there wasn't much talking just crying.

Paula' Journal
After lunch we got a wheel chair and took Deb outside. It was a beautiful day and she enjoyed being out of her room. Dr. Williams came in right before supper and said that Deb could go home but had to come back Saturday morning to have her arm checked where they did the TB test.

Dr. Williams talked to Scott and I about getting into MD Anderson or UTMB in Galveston. We prefer MD Anderson, for one reason it is close to Mom's and second is the best for cancer treatment. I got to check out of the hospital on April 25, 2003. Scott immediately began making phone calls to try to get me into MD Anderson. We knew it wasn't going to be easy without insurance and a referral.