Robin Update: Recovery and Transition --- 06-08-2010

I apologize for not communicating sooner. Fortunately, there has not been some BIG problem or issue that has kept me from writing, but lots of little (mostly positive) things that have kept us occupied. Several folks woke me up and reminded me that I was getting behind in my duties, and they wanted to know how Robin is doing.

The short story is that, since Robin got home from the hospital on May 10th, she has been slowly recovering from her illness, and is now about where she was before her illness started. Her strength seems to have returned, and she feels pretty good overall. Best of all, she is not doing the "loopy talk" that had me so worried. It is amazing what an eight week break from Chemo can do for you! On the downside, somewhere in the process, Robin seems to have lost more feeling in her feet, which has made her more afraid of walking, so she really has not tried much. The Chemo break is nice, but the cancer in her bones got much worse when she was still taking Chemo, so we are very concerned about what is going on when there is no Chemo. She has been having more pain in a few new places, and we fear these may be signs of new growth. Just goes to prove that there is a dark cloud for every silver lining.

DETAILS: After Robin got home from the hospital, a pharmacy delivered supplies for continuation of her IV medication. A home health care nurse came to the house to teach me how to give the medication. It was an interesting experience. I didn’t have to poke Robin because her port was accessed. I got pretty nervous about the procedure, trying to remember to do everything in the right order and trying to remember to clip the line and not get air in the tubes. Fortunately, I only had to do it about nine times. By the end, I was starting to get more confident, but I was afraid to get too comfortable with the procedure, believing THAT would be when I would make a big mistake! Well, at least it's done now, and the drugs seemed to work!

Our son, John, came home from Texas A&M for the summer the week after Robin got out of the hospital. He has an internship at a company on the far North West corner of Houston. Since we live on the South East corner of Houston, John is just about as far away from his job as possible. It is really nice to have him home. John enjoys cooking, and we have enjoyed being his "guinea pigs" as he tries new recipes (without a cookbook, of course). He has been a big help with Robin, too, especially when it comes to things she doesn't like to do. Robin says it is the way I ask--- I don't know--- but she doesn't argue with John; she just does it.

May 16th was our anniversary, making, as we like to say, "34 years of living hell." Due to Robin's health, our celebration was minimal. We were not able to go out, so we ordered pizza (Woo-Hoo!!!). I saved up my "mad money" and bought Robin a ring that she was wanting for quite a while.


My youngest brother, Jim, came from Jacksonville to visit with us from May 20th -25th. It was quite a pleasant visit (in spite of the "stinkiness" of which his daughters warned us). On Sunday, May 23rd, Robin was feeling well enough to go to Church with us and out to eat afterwards. It was the first time in quite a while that she has been well enough to go somewhere besides a Doctor's office. I think the combination of John being home and Jim visiting with us gave Robin a big boost in her recovery.

Robin has been out a few more times since then, including being able to go to Mass the last two weekends (5/30 and 6/6). In fact, on Memorial Day, John needed to return his apartment keys in College Station, so Robin suggested that the three of us take it as a road trip. We drove up there, John showed us around the campus and the town, including his favorite watering holes (although he wouldn't let us go in). On the way home, we stopped for dinner, getting home about 7:30 that evening. We all had a good time, but it took Robin about two days to recover.

Currently, Robin is working to get an appointment at the world-famous M.D.Anderson Cancer Center. Most of the effort has been in getting all her records sent to MDA. The case manager said they want everything! Each doctor or hospital has its own procedures and forms for record transfers. And Robin's file is huge; her records at Deke Slayton Cancer Center takes two five-inch thick folders. Once they get the data, a group will review them before they will see Robin. Robin's oncologist hopes they may be able to use some newer Chemos that are not yet available to the public.

There are so many people who we would like to thank. Many people have sent cards and emails to remind Robin that she is loved and that many people are praying for her. One person in particular, Pat, sends a card every week, so that Robin looks forward to the arrival of Friday's mail. Robin has recently received several "Spiritual Bouquets" promising that Masses and prayers are being said for her around the world. Linda and Ruth continue to come to pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy with us each week. Dottie makes sure Robin eats well each week. (Robin usually shares with John and me). Terry and Ken each call Robin at least twice a week (and they refuse to talk to me when Robin offers). Robin's mother and father call every day to check on their daughter. Alexis comes over and reads to Robin when I need to be away for a while. These are just the examples that come to mind. I know I am missing a few. Robin's pain and her worries are significantly reduced and she feels a sense of peace when you reach out to her in various ways.

One beautiful gesture occurred on Sunday, May 30th, after Mass. The lady who was sitting behind Robin gave her a Rosary. Robin's sight is so poor that she really didn't know much more about it. When we got home, Robin showed the Rosary to me so I could describe it to her. It was clear from the markings that this beautiful Rosary came from the Holy Land. The back of the centerpiece was a glass disk containing sand from the Holy Land. A few days later, Robin received a Spiritual Bouquet, along with several special prayer pamphlets and cards, and a note from Argelia. Robin had me read everything, end-to-end, to her. The note explained that Argelia received the Rosary as a gift while travelling in the Holy Land a few years ago, and she felt moved by the Spirit to give the Rosary to Robin. We were both touched deeply by this gesture of love.

Please know that we pray for all of you each day, and we thank God for the gift you have been to us. We also pray for the many folks who are also fighting various cancers and long term diseases.

Once again, thank you all,

                  --- Larry, Robin, & John