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Thursday, April 22, 2010

good needles?

 Just thought it was time for an update.

Dave has been having more good days than bad days over the last few weeks – which is great! (Although when he’s having a bad day or two, it’s pretty discouraging for him and brings him down somewhat.) As hard as this might be for some to believe, we still firmly believe that Dave’s main tumor in his esophagus is breaking down and he that is why he is still coughing up some pretty stinky, gunky, and occasionally weird stuff.

Last week Dave started acupuncture sessions on the advice of a friend. I was actually a little surprised when he agreed to try it, as I thought his aversion to needles might be an issue. When he said yes, I made a mental note that he wasn’t making the connection to acupuncture and needles, but decided not to bring it up. So, he’s laying there on the table with pins sticking out of his ankles, wrists and stomach and he says, “I DID NOT think this through. I HHHHAAAATE needles.” I started laughing at him. He wasn’t upset, just wondering how he ever agreed to this! When it was done his back and overall discomfort was better, but it didn’t last long. We went again last night for a 2nd treatment and he actually fell asleep at the end of it. (The needles can’t be that bad!) He actually felt and seems much better afterwards, but it just doesn’t seem to be that long lasting so far.

When we got home from acupuncture, he had his obligatory shots of freshly juiced wheat grass, and then he wanted to go for a walk. He hasn’t really gone for a walk (except from the bed to the couch) since Good Friday, so I said “Sure”, of course. It was a short 15 minute walk and Dave’s not walking very quickly these days, but it was still good for him. (Brady’s not used to walking that slowly, so I was fighting with a pulling dog.) About halfway through the effects of acupuncture wore off but it was still good for Dave to be out and moving. I give him a back massage almost every evening which also seems to help relieve muscle tension.

One of the reasons Dave wanted to go for a walk was because of something I read out loud to him at the acupuncturist’s office as he was being treated. She had a book there called “Nutritional Immunology”, written by a Chinese doctor, that I picked up and started reading. There was a paragraph about lymph nodes which was something we’d also learned about at CHI in Michigan. (They, and many other health experts, encourage rebounding (on a mini-trampoline) for your lymphatic system and overall health.) We each have 500-600 lymph nodes throughout our bodies that are responsible for filtering and draining bacteria and cancer cells. We have 4 times the amount of lymph fluid in our bodies than blood. Unlike blood, that is pumped through our bodies by our heart, lymph fluid has no pumping system and relies on muscle action from general activity (ie walking, rebounding) for it’s movement through the body. All cancer therapies recommend getting outside and staying active to help fight cancer.

Dave had been gently rebounding every morning for 15 minutes, up until a few weeks ago, when he just felt awful and thought it was making him feel more nauseous. He did start up again a few days ago though, and last night decided that he was going to try to get outside more to try to build up his strength no matter how badly he feels. (Previously when he felt really bad, he just didn’t want to go for a walk, and when he felt OK he didn’t want to go for a walk because he was worried that it might make him feel bad!)

This evening we drove out to 'Dreamers' and walked out to Diamond 12 to watch his men's baseball team practice. This is the first summer he hasn't played baseball since he was 11 years old. It was a cool night and a little windier out there, so we didn't stay long, but it was good for him to get out briefly and see the guys.

We’re really hoping that Dave’s at a turning point right now. He thankfully has been having fewer and fewer ‘bad’ days, but he still has some pain each day. (The tumor is blocking the bottom of his esophagus, just above his stomach, and and when he has to cough up the ‘stuff’ that collects there, it’s painful for him. Also the feeding tube is still a pain.) When he has ‘bad’ days, this is usually an overall feeling of sickness, nausea and sometimes headaches still. On a bad day he can't even be bothered to turn the tv on, answer the phone and can barely get his food in. We still feel this is part of the ‘healing crisis’ as his body deals with eliminating cancer waste.

Sometimes Dave does still get down if he's feeling crappy. He’s pretty much sick and tired of being sick and tired. Also, being unable to physically eat is emotionally difficult and draining. Regardless, I am convinced that he is beating this already and remind him of this daily. However he’s the one that has to deal with this 24/7 so it’s understandable that he gets frustrated.

For those of you that haven’t seen Dave in a while, his hair is starting to grow back. It’s about 1/2” now, but is very thinned out from the chemo drugs. (He stopped chemo 2 months ago.) It seems to be fuller at the top than the sides right now, so he he's got a bit of a mohican thing going on. Actually a friend from Toronto shaved his hair off to support Dave. He came down to visit a few days later and already had a very heavy 5 o’clock shadow! I’ll have to ask him how his hair looks now.

Anyway, we truly feel that God has heard our prayers, and your prayers, and has assured us that He is in control and Dave will beat this. We are blessed to have so many people praying and family, friends, students or past students that just call and ask how he's doing, or send him an email or mail a letter. Although this is Dave's fight, he doesn't often feel alone through all of this.

Thanks so much.

Oh. I received another delivery of 200lbs of carrots yesterday. Instead of caregiver, Dave has started calling me his carrot-giver.

Val 

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update Val.....we love you guys!!

I know God is listening...and healing!

Hugs to all,
Lisa

Michelle and A.J. said...

Hey Carrot giver!!

Great update! So glad Dave is getting out! Now that the weather is getting nice!

God is doing an awesome work here!

So encouraging!

Anonymous said...

Good morning Dave & Val (carrot-giver - like) :-)
I feel like I am learning so much from your updates and it helps me know how to pray. I haven't written for a while but we do pray for you daily (and nightly when I waken , which is often). Dave I do believe that God is healing you and creating new life within. Springtime is such a visual example of new life all around us - soak it in and find comfort in it.
Set your sites on playing Dreamers 2011!!
Love to all - Barb

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your words of encouragement this morning.

******JOB 33:12-33******

Praying for your family

Phyllis C.

Jessie Zellas said...

I had tears of joy after reading your update. It all sounds very encouraging. Glad to hear the good days are outweighing the bad days for Mr. Richards. One day at a time. All good things come to those that wait. Really happy Christopher was able to see Mr. Richards as this was one of his priorities. He thinks the world of him. Val, you are certainly educating all of us regarding lymph nodes, etc. Again, if there is anything we can do to help, please let us know. You are in our thoughts and prayers daily.

Judie Webb said...

Dave and his Carrot Giver ...

More good days then bad is sounding wonderful! It may be a slow process in your path to recovery and healing, but you are not alone.

Sounds like you are both doing all the right things to get through the bad days ... and move forward together.

Thanks so much for coming out to the last games, and cheering on the volleychicks "less then spectacular" season!

Enjoy the warmer weather!

Judie Webb

Anonymous said...

It's so good to hear that Mr. Richards is on the top of the good days! I would like to suggest a chiropractor that I have. He can treat Cale's leg and Mr. Richards'back and other pains. I have been seeing the doctor for about twenty years now and he does wonders.

Dr. Ted Gdanski
519-451-4010

Tell him I sent you guys,so you'll be accepted as patients.

My prayers have been with you all and will continue until we win this battle!!

Andrew Thompson