This blog was set up for our dear Tami who is fighting the life threatening disease - Cancer. Hopefully the blog will help you come along the journey with us and provide a way to encourage others to join us for her AFAF community fundraiser. For details, click on the marathon photo.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Hope for a smoother ride.......
HI All.....Tami is out of the hospital again....oh how we hope and pray she could stay out of there and just heal......Amy said she was feeling much better and acting like her regular self again. Madison is enjoying her mission home experience and is excited about the future, Tim is working and the girls are going to school....we hope for a smooth ride for a few weeks.....we can only hope.......
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Roller Coaster Ride continues..........
Hi All......I started the last blog with...."Another roller coaster ride".......welll......we might as well start like that again because nothing seems to be going smoothly. I came home a week ago Tuesday night and Amy arrived in Massachusetts that same evening. Her first few days were very similar to my first few days out there. Tami was very tired and just sleeping.....Then Amy called me Last Saturday and told me Tami had a fever again....It was over the limit that Dr. Lambert had given me. Tami just wanted to sleep but thankfully Dr. Lambert called Amy back and told her to get her to the emergency room again.
Dr. Lambert was at a symposium and out of town but her team took care of Tami. Dr. Lambert supposses that Tami was never free of the infection from her blood clot and it just came back and this time it was in her kidneys and blood. Tami has been very sick....she said she only remembers being that sick one other time. But yesterday Amy e-mailed us and said, "A Much Better Day". We were so thankful for that. Dr. Lambert gave Tami some Orange flavored Metamucil and Amy said she was totally enjoying that prick to her taste buds!...Orange Flavored! She so enjoyed that.
Dr. Lambert also said she has another trick up her sleeve to try to block the leakage Tami is still experiencing. So they'll try that in a short while. The last one they did has not helped her a lot but hopefully the next one will. All in all....as the little problems come to many of us every day.....I've heard some say. "Well, it's not like Tami so I can handle this"......she is helping many of us with the troubles of life just by summoning the strength to keep fighting......."Fight To The Finish".......As Tami was so very sick a few days ago, her fight had just about gone out of her, but with a little more energy, her fight is still on and we still have HOPE.......She finds a way to "GO WAY DOWN DEEP" to find the push to carry on. We hope all is going well for those of you who read this....Amy's sister Taylor is going on a mission in May to New Mexico. Tami and Amy skyped in the hospital and they were able to be a part of that fun experience of opening a mission call.......We are so glad that things have smoothed out a little and we continue to hope for a smoother ride for her shortly. Lana is going out to Mass. on Monday and will stay for two more weeks. I can't believe that my 2 weeks and Amy's 2 weeks have come and gone. We're all hoping for a few weeks of healing and peace.
Love, Judy
Dr. Lambert was at a symposium and out of town but her team took care of Tami. Dr. Lambert supposses that Tami was never free of the infection from her blood clot and it just came back and this time it was in her kidneys and blood. Tami has been very sick....she said she only remembers being that sick one other time. But yesterday Amy e-mailed us and said, "A Much Better Day". We were so thankful for that. Dr. Lambert gave Tami some Orange flavored Metamucil and Amy said she was totally enjoying that prick to her taste buds!...Orange Flavored! She so enjoyed that.
Dr. Lambert also said she has another trick up her sleeve to try to block the leakage Tami is still experiencing. So they'll try that in a short while. The last one they did has not helped her a lot but hopefully the next one will. All in all....as the little problems come to many of us every day.....I've heard some say. "Well, it's not like Tami so I can handle this"......she is helping many of us with the troubles of life just by summoning the strength to keep fighting......."Fight To The Finish".......As Tami was so very sick a few days ago, her fight had just about gone out of her, but with a little more energy, her fight is still on and we still have HOPE.......She finds a way to "GO WAY DOWN DEEP" to find the push to carry on. We hope all is going well for those of you who read this....Amy's sister Taylor is going on a mission in May to New Mexico. Tami and Amy skyped in the hospital and they were able to be a part of that fun experience of opening a mission call.......We are so glad that things have smoothed out a little and we continue to hope for a smoother ride for her shortly. Lana is going out to Mass. on Monday and will stay for two more weeks. I can't believe that my 2 weeks and Amy's 2 weeks have come and gone. We're all hoping for a few weeks of healing and peace.
Love, Judy
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Major storms.........of Living and Life
Hi again from Woosta....
Well another roller-coaster ride from back east, including a major Noreaster that shut down schools, government and mass transportation including airports for 3 days.
Tami was very weary and tired when we got back here....I was somewhat concerned for her overall lack of energy and pain levels. She thought she had strained a muscle in her groin when she arrived in Salt Lake but that pain kept getting worse and worse. Tami forced herself to attend a fireside in Weston the Saturday after we got back because Dr. Lambert was taking her mother and Tami wanted to meet her. We drove about 45 minutes away but Tami knew she was getting to the point that she couldn't walk. We really enjoyed the musical fireside and meeting ward members and Dr. Lambert and her mom, but I believe Tami had to take an extra pain pill or two to make it there. She worked hard to be able to go to church the next day, but the pain had escalated and Tami seemed soooo tired. We also noticed that the area of pain in her leg had swollen and was extending inflammation down to her knee.
I finally called Dr. Lambert for the second Time last sunday and she told me, "If you're worried Judy, take her right to the emergency room. It was 11:00 at night and Tami wanted to just stay in bed, but I finally said, "Come on Tam, we have to go." After spending the whole night in the Emergecy room, they concluded that Tami had a blood clot with a surrounding infection in her upper leg. So the last week we've been in 3 different rooms on two different floors and she's had multiple contrast Tests and x-rays. The pain with her blood clot caused her to be unable to put any weight on her leg and more problems than she had anticipated.
The contrast cat-scans showed some fistulas that Dr. Lambert might be able to fix this coming Wednesday with a non-invasive surgery. She said it's like putting some glue in some openings she has and hope that the openings heal-up before the glue disintegrates....She feels optimistic about this and so Tami thinks maybe the blood-clot brought about some ways to ultimately get a bit better. There is also some concern about some spreading of the cancer, but like Tami.....we have to forget about the distant mountains to climb and just climb the ones in front of us.....and we talked and cried and decided....if we worry too much about the future....we miss this very day and the people we can love and share within it.
We watched the snowstorm from our 7th floor window and 24 hours of non-stop wind and snow. The roads were shut down so I had prepared to spend the night at the hospital. What we hadn't expected was the fact that Tami was released from the Hospital on Saturday Night but we were unable to go back to the Hope Lodge because they were still snowed-in and snow plows had made getting back impossible....so sadly...we spent the second night doing a sleep over and getting very little sleep Finally at 4:00 today, the snow plows had cleared the parking lot and we were able to get in. Quite an adventure in the snow.
I'm heading back home on Tuesday and Amy, Abby's daughter who lived here for a few years and actually helped us many times with rides to and from the airport, is coming the same day. Her sister Kemper who lives in Nashua New Hampshire will bring her down. Nashua is only about 40 miles away from the lodge. What a blessing to have Amy come and help Tami. We feel very blessed that she was able to come and spend two or three weeks out here. At that point we hope Tami is able to be a bit more independent and feeling better.
Tami has been melancholy as she thinks about home and the girls and Madison leaving on Wednesday. She's excited for Mattie and her new adventure, but sad about not being there and missing her. We've studied conference talks and scriptures and cried and enjoyed the peace of the spirit as we've pondered and she's thought about Madison. Her heart has again been full as she has considered all who have helped Madison on her way.
We can hear the snow-removal trucks still working outside as Tami works to get her TPN ready for infusion. We are grateful for the Cancer society and the Hope Lodge....It's not home, but what a blessing to have a place to stay, people to meet who are going through their own tests, and people who care. Can you imagine the costs of room and board out here? I can't. We feel blessed.
Well another roller-coaster ride from back east, including a major Noreaster that shut down schools, government and mass transportation including airports for 3 days.
Tami was very weary and tired when we got back here....I was somewhat concerned for her overall lack of energy and pain levels. She thought she had strained a muscle in her groin when she arrived in Salt Lake but that pain kept getting worse and worse. Tami forced herself to attend a fireside in Weston the Saturday after we got back because Dr. Lambert was taking her mother and Tami wanted to meet her. We drove about 45 minutes away but Tami knew she was getting to the point that she couldn't walk. We really enjoyed the musical fireside and meeting ward members and Dr. Lambert and her mom, but I believe Tami had to take an extra pain pill or two to make it there. She worked hard to be able to go to church the next day, but the pain had escalated and Tami seemed soooo tired. We also noticed that the area of pain in her leg had swollen and was extending inflammation down to her knee.
I finally called Dr. Lambert for the second Time last sunday and she told me, "If you're worried Judy, take her right to the emergency room. It was 11:00 at night and Tami wanted to just stay in bed, but I finally said, "Come on Tam, we have to go." After spending the whole night in the Emergecy room, they concluded that Tami had a blood clot with a surrounding infection in her upper leg. So the last week we've been in 3 different rooms on two different floors and she's had multiple contrast Tests and x-rays. The pain with her blood clot caused her to be unable to put any weight on her leg and more problems than she had anticipated.
The contrast cat-scans showed some fistulas that Dr. Lambert might be able to fix this coming Wednesday with a non-invasive surgery. She said it's like putting some glue in some openings she has and hope that the openings heal-up before the glue disintegrates....She feels optimistic about this and so Tami thinks maybe the blood-clot brought about some ways to ultimately get a bit better. There is also some concern about some spreading of the cancer, but like Tami.....we have to forget about the distant mountains to climb and just climb the ones in front of us.....and we talked and cried and decided....if we worry too much about the future....we miss this very day and the people we can love and share within it.
We watched the snowstorm from our 7th floor window and 24 hours of non-stop wind and snow. The roads were shut down so I had prepared to spend the night at the hospital. What we hadn't expected was the fact that Tami was released from the Hospital on Saturday Night but we were unable to go back to the Hope Lodge because they were still snowed-in and snow plows had made getting back impossible....so sadly...we spent the second night doing a sleep over and getting very little sleep Finally at 4:00 today, the snow plows had cleared the parking lot and we were able to get in. Quite an adventure in the snow.
I'm heading back home on Tuesday and Amy, Abby's daughter who lived here for a few years and actually helped us many times with rides to and from the airport, is coming the same day. Her sister Kemper who lives in Nashua New Hampshire will bring her down. Nashua is only about 40 miles away from the lodge. What a blessing to have Amy come and help Tami. We feel very blessed that she was able to come and spend two or three weeks out here. At that point we hope Tami is able to be a bit more independent and feeling better.
Tami has been melancholy as she thinks about home and the girls and Madison leaving on Wednesday. She's excited for Mattie and her new adventure, but sad about not being there and missing her. We've studied conference talks and scriptures and cried and enjoyed the peace of the spirit as we've pondered and she's thought about Madison. Her heart has again been full as she has considered all who have helped Madison on her way.
We can hear the snow-removal trucks still working outside as Tami works to get her TPN ready for infusion. We are grateful for the Cancer society and the Hope Lodge....It's not home, but what a blessing to have a place to stay, people to meet who are going through their own tests, and people who care. Can you imagine the costs of room and board out here? I can't. We feel blessed.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Feeling of the love of many........
Hi Everyone......
Just a note or two from Worcester.....Tami and I finally got in to Worcester about 2:30 this morning....Tami was exhausted and tired and when we got to long-term parking...we got a bit nervous with a man who hopped on the shuttle with no luggage at 1:00 in the morning.....we both felt nervous and uneasy but the shuttle driver helped us by dropping him off first...Tami still said...Jude, make sure no one is following us. We were glad to have each other and not be alone. Tami spent the whole day infusing food, taking care of her appendages and tubes and just recovering and tired. She was so happy to be able to come home and visit with so many....She said, "Thanks seems so empty Jude because so many people have done so much for us and supported Madison so amazingly. She didn't get to visit with everyone, and for that she felt sad and just wanted to hug and share thanks. For those who have shared sky miles for a Christmas reunion, helped with flights, shoveled our walks, purchased items for Madison, brought food, visited, called, prayed, sent cards and cared.....She cannot share her level of appreciation. Tami and Tim and the girls actually feel the "Angels sent down to them from somewhere up above....They come to us in our darkest hour.....and we feel the Love of Him from whence they came. May we all feel that peace in each of our daily struggles......We love you....
Tami and Judy
Just a note or two from Worcester.....Tami and I finally got in to Worcester about 2:30 this morning....Tami was exhausted and tired and when we got to long-term parking...we got a bit nervous with a man who hopped on the shuttle with no luggage at 1:00 in the morning.....we both felt nervous and uneasy but the shuttle driver helped us by dropping him off first...Tami still said...Jude, make sure no one is following us. We were glad to have each other and not be alone. Tami spent the whole day infusing food, taking care of her appendages and tubes and just recovering and tired. She was so happy to be able to come home and visit with so many....She said, "Thanks seems so empty Jude because so many people have done so much for us and supported Madison so amazingly. She didn't get to visit with everyone, and for that she felt sad and just wanted to hug and share thanks. For those who have shared sky miles for a Christmas reunion, helped with flights, shoveled our walks, purchased items for Madison, brought food, visited, called, prayed, sent cards and cared.....She cannot share her level of appreciation. Tami and Tim and the girls actually feel the "Angels sent down to them from somewhere up above....They come to us in our darkest hour.....and we feel the Love of Him from whence they came. May we all feel that peace in each of our daily struggles......We love you....
Tami and Judy
Monday, December 31, 2012
Hope for a Happy New Year...........
Happy New Year Tomorrow........
I just had a good visit with Tami and Tim after yet another Doctor's appointment. Things went well and they're trying to help Tami and get her well enough so she could visit at home to get Maddie to the Temple and have her missionary farewell. I think most of you know that Madison is leaving on February 13th for the Denver Colorado South Mission. Tami would like to be able to fly home and go through the temple and then return to Massachusetts to finish her healing. Dr. Lambert siad that might be a real possibility. At some point, she would like to get to the point that she can eat and drink and feel like she is doing well enough to leave her important insurance and Dr. who cares and loves her. That may take 1 or two months or 6 or more months. Dr. Lambert doesn't know for sure how she will heal and so we just take it a week or two at a time. We think Tim might be able to come home in a couple of weeks and then go from there. All in all, we look forward to another year and in some ways we're glad we can't see what it is that our trial for this year may be. If Tami had known what last year had in store for her......she may have turned tail and ran....but not knowing, we put our trust in the Lord and go forth each day and do the best we can. Tami sounds good, she feels relatively well and longs for a good cold glass of water..........
But knowing she can't, her spirits are still good, she has hope to heal and she has actually helped me to do better by thinking of her and changing a little myself. Isn't it a wonder that those we love can inspire us to be better by what they suffer? All in all I was pleased with the fact that they had a wonderful Christmas with her family, her hopes are up and she looks forward to a better year.
Love, Judy
I just had a good visit with Tami and Tim after yet another Doctor's appointment. Things went well and they're trying to help Tami and get her well enough so she could visit at home to get Maddie to the Temple and have her missionary farewell. I think most of you know that Madison is leaving on February 13th for the Denver Colorado South Mission. Tami would like to be able to fly home and go through the temple and then return to Massachusetts to finish her healing. Dr. Lambert siad that might be a real possibility. At some point, she would like to get to the point that she can eat and drink and feel like she is doing well enough to leave her important insurance and Dr. who cares and loves her. That may take 1 or two months or 6 or more months. Dr. Lambert doesn't know for sure how she will heal and so we just take it a week or two at a time. We think Tim might be able to come home in a couple of weeks and then go from there. All in all, we look forward to another year and in some ways we're glad we can't see what it is that our trial for this year may be. If Tami had known what last year had in store for her......she may have turned tail and ran....but not knowing, we put our trust in the Lord and go forth each day and do the best we can. Tami sounds good, she feels relatively well and longs for a good cold glass of water..........
But knowing she can't, her spirits are still good, she has hope to heal and she has actually helped me to do better by thinking of her and changing a little myself. Isn't it a wonder that those we love can inspire us to be better by what they suffer? All in all I was pleased with the fact that they had a wonderful Christmas with her family, her hopes are up and she looks forward to a better year.
Love, Judy
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Gifts of Christmas..........
Merry Christmas......
A Christmas miracle in that Tami is at the Hope Lodge with her girls and Tim for Christmas and they went to see Les Miserables in Woosta. Tami is very weak and tired but to hear her on the phone this evening gave me great peace and hope for Tami. I don't think any of us can comprehend her going without food and water....she said it was like being on a 40-day fast......and endure the ravages of her body.......She said a day doesn't go by that she doesn's think of the words and feel of the faith and peace of........"Be Still and know that I am God". Her faith is strong.....her hope is great....and her spirit is strong. What greater gift could we as her family have today than her gift of love and life. And what a gift to have so many send cards and letters and the gift of a ward member to fly the girls back to be with their mom and dad for Christmas. The gift of friends who take care of the girls and have given so much of their means and time. The gift of the American Cancer Society at Hope Lodge for their untiring efforts and funds to have a place in the inn for all who have been to help and Love. Words could not adequately express Tim and Tami's thanks and the thanks of her extended family for all everyone has done. This has been truly a Christmas to remember. May your days be merry and Bright.........................
With Love,
Judy
A Christmas miracle in that Tami is at the Hope Lodge with her girls and Tim for Christmas and they went to see Les Miserables in Woosta. Tami is very weak and tired but to hear her on the phone this evening gave me great peace and hope for Tami. I don't think any of us can comprehend her going without food and water....she said it was like being on a 40-day fast......and endure the ravages of her body.......She said a day doesn't go by that she doesn's think of the words and feel of the faith and peace of........"Be Still and know that I am God". Her faith is strong.....her hope is great....and her spirit is strong. What greater gift could we as her family have today than her gift of love and life. And what a gift to have so many send cards and letters and the gift of a ward member to fly the girls back to be with their mom and dad for Christmas. The gift of friends who take care of the girls and have given so much of their means and time. The gift of the American Cancer Society at Hope Lodge for their untiring efforts and funds to have a place in the inn for all who have been to help and Love. Words could not adequately express Tim and Tami's thanks and the thanks of her extended family for all everyone has done. This has been truly a Christmas to remember. May your days be merry and Bright.........................
With Love,
Judy
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A good day..........
Hi Everyone,
It's been a few days since we've posted and we're just hoping each day for the best and with Tami's new IV nutrition, she seems to be feeling better and even up and taking a shower and a walk today. Those things seem like little things to us, but They are giant steps to Tami. Marsha said she got to talk to Tami today and said she sounded good. Each day really seems like a miracle after all her set backs.....even Dr. Lambert asked Tim if she could share her testimony about life's miracles with operating and working with Tami. As I stepped outside tonight with the wind blowing, the sun setting, the geese flying overhead, my heart was full of Thanksgiving for the little miracles and the blessings the Lord has given us all. The road is long and hard, but each day is a gift from God and we just thank Him for letting us have the journey. We hope Tami can heal rapidly and soon be again in out midst.
Love, Judy
It's been a few days since we've posted and we're just hoping each day for the best and with Tami's new IV nutrition, she seems to be feeling better and even up and taking a shower and a walk today. Those things seem like little things to us, but They are giant steps to Tami. Marsha said she got to talk to Tami today and said she sounded good. Each day really seems like a miracle after all her set backs.....even Dr. Lambert asked Tim if she could share her testimony about life's miracles with operating and working with Tami. As I stepped outside tonight with the wind blowing, the sun setting, the geese flying overhead, my heart was full of Thanksgiving for the little miracles and the blessings the Lord has given us all. The road is long and hard, but each day is a gift from God and we just thank Him for letting us have the journey. We hope Tami can heal rapidly and soon be again in out midst.
Love, Judy
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