Hi Guys,

Thanks you ALL so very much for your prayers and for your concern.

Just got another email from my aunt and the news is definitely not good.
My cousin saw the doctor yesterday and the cancer is now in her lungs as
well as her liver and upper abdomen.   She was told she has a 1 in 4
chance of surviving this all.   Monday they will do some bloodwork I
guess to see if her body will even tolerate the large doses of chemo
that they would have to give her to try and treat this all.  It is so
sad and sure leaves one feel so helpless as you realize there is nothing
you can do to make this all better.   Many, many prayers are going out
to her and this is our one hope for healing!!!

I am plugging along.   Carole---yes, they did hydrate me when I was at
the hospital and then again yesterday when I was at the doctors office.
Keeping hydrated seems to be the biggest challenge especially when you
have so much cramping and such.   Doesn't make one overly eager to put
anything in their gut at all.  They did put me on an antibiotic as well
and I'm not sure what the next step will be----probably a visit to the
GI docs.   They told me not t eat anything for at least 2-3 days and
told me to drink lots of clear fluids.  Also told me to buy some
gatorade and mix it half and half with water and drink at least one full
glass per hour.   Yuck---I hate the taste of gatorade!  This sure is a
miserable thing and I pray it is not going to become a constant to have
to deal with!   Uggggh.........its also a bit scary to see nothing but
blood!

Harv and Sarah,   thanks.....I will definitely join you under that shade
tree!  Sounds so peaceful and relaxing!!!  Harv, thanks soooooo much for
that heartfelt hug----you'll never know how much that means!
Joan----thanks for sharing your best chocolate!!!  That is so generous
of you!   Harv----I did tell my entire family about my cousin, but they
know I am not feeling all that well, so one of my brothers has taken the
ball now and will notify family of updates and such.   He is also
sending my cousin some flowers from all of us and a care package from us
to let her know we are there with her and pulling for her!  I am
thankful that my brother is taking care of this all and is willing to do
so!

Diane, maybe when you get more settled, you or John could share a bit
more with me about this colitis stuff.  I hope it heals and never comes
back, but my doctors don't seem to think that is going to happen.   Sure
don't want or need another autoimmune disease and especially this type
of thing!    I know, I know, things could be so much worse and I should
quit my complaining!

Thanks Kelly and Gwen for your prayers and encouragement as well.

Lots of hugs to you all and wishes for a lovely weekend for everyone!!!

I gotta go lie down for a bit again.   Phew, I am tired!

Hugs everyone!

Donna G

Diane --- I am on an antibiotic called levaquin which is a sister drug,
I am told, to cipro.

Char2 --- I am hanging in there.   The cramping is pretty bad and makes
you just want to lay in bed curled up in a ball.   Yes, I do have
arthritis.  I have RA.  I can not take the med you mentioned
(azulfidine) as I believe it is a sulfa based med and I am allergic to
sulfa meds.  As far as when I can eat, the doctors only said not to eat
anything for at least 3-4 days, and then I guess it is up to me if I
want to try to eat, but honestly, I don't feel like eating or drinking,
but am trying to drink to keep ahead of the dehydration issue.   The
cramping is hideous and makes you totally uninterested in putting
anything in your gut, not to mention exhausting.   I get so shaky
feeling when I am up and in the bathroom, that I immediately go back and
lay down as soon as I can.   I am hanging in there though and just
praying lots for my cousin and for anyone else that needs them.  And of
course, sleeping a lot as well.

Thanks for sharing with me about your mom.   Glad to hear she is doing
ok and has not too much problem with the colitis.

Haven't seen you around much lately.   Hope that means you are doing
better and out enjoying yourself!

Donna G

Hi Char2,

Thanks for asking.   Yes, I am feeling some better.   Finally got the
bleeding to stop and am just today starting to add back in a few solid
items such as soups, banana's, etc.   My PCP says to add things back
very slowly as it will still take the cramping a while to completely
clear.  The GI docs says they will do some additional testing, but not
until the colon lining has had a chance to heal more thoroughly.   I'm
not sure how they will be able to test anything once things heal up, but
then, I really don't have a good grasp or knowledge about colitis at
all.   The GI doc doesn't even want to see me for at least a month.
Weird!   The PCP wants things looked at right away, but the GI doc says
no, so what do you do?   Guess my PCP will help me along until it is
time to see the GI doc.   The GI doc approved the antibiotic I was put
on, so guess that is a good thing.   Still have a fair amount of
cramping and bloating and such, but otherwise doing much better.

Have been spending most of my time this week talking with my cousins and
praying with them as they struggle to come to terms with the fact that
it looks like their sister will not survive this cancer.   It is
spreading very rapidly.   She started chemo today and they will recheck
her in 21 days.   If the chemo looks like it is working they will
continue her on it, but if it doesn't look like it is doing anything for
her, they will then stop the chemo and just work at keeping her
comfortable during what time she has left.   Such a difficult situation
and very emotional talking with my cousins and my aunt and uncle.
Ugggh.    

Anyways, thanks for asking and thanks to all of you for the continued
prayers and thoughts!!!

Hugs!

Donna G