Tulsa

Hello from Tulsa!  I would prefer not to live in Tulsa, but everyone we have met here are wonderful and kind people, particularly at this center.  Each day we meet a new person and then see the ones that have become friends.  Right now I have six couples who are treated here at the center that I pray for.  One of the ladies, Lydia, is now cancer free from her breast cancer and she will not have to come back until three months from now.  Just yesterday I heard of a man from Burleson who is currently in the hospital right now here at the center that I hope to meet.  He works with a friend of Elizabeth's and he too has pancreatic cancer.  It is certainly a place I recommend for anyone dealing with cancer even if it is for a second opinion.  
I am currently reading four books, but the one I read today on the flight here is one that I mentioned several posts back called "Don't Waist the Pain". (This book is written by a sister and a brother who share their intimate journals as the sister fights ovarian cancer and the brother has a 12 year-old son with an aggressive childhood cancer.) The chapter, Praying for Your Doctor, gave me an aha moment.  Pat and I went to four different oncologists for their opinions.  Without a doubt I knew God had a doctor just for Pat,  but we had to rely on God to show us who that doctor was going to be. Pat said we began the search, "whoever we pick there is no turning back".  After we choose we have to put our trust in them.  "Praying for our doctors is one of the most practical ways we can work out this dilemma of trusting so much while depending entirely on God". Many times I have prayed generically "please guide the doctor, give them wisdom" or something similar, but they encourage me to pray specifically.   We can pray for strength and we can even pray for them to change their mind.  Doctors can be instruments to be used to heal, but ultimately God is the one who will heal Pat.  "Doctors can be the beneficiary of our prayers".  
As Dr. Stresdta was examining Pat, I was praying.  Pat's fever is a concern and she wants to know the source of the fever.  One idea she has is that the Zometa could be causing the fever. Each time Pat received the injection he was hospitalized the following week.   ZOMETA is an injection that can work to slow down bone-destroying activity that cause bone to wear away.  This injection is given once a month.  So, Pat will not get the injection today.  

We met with naturpathic and nutrition today. Since Pat lost 5 lbs last week, they are concerned and want to make sure that we continue to give him the best nutrition possible.   Since Pat's stomach is so small, we have to make good choices.  He currently takes 14 pills (also supplements) in the morning and 17 in the evening.  Those pills alone fill his stomach.  So, he is challenged with his meals and fluids.  I like meeting with the nutritionist because she gives me ideas or reminds me of different snacks to give him since he has to eat six small meals a day. I have to say that this is one of the most intimidating parts of this journey.  It is easier to not eat than to decide what to eat.  

Pat is currently receiving chemo now.  When he gets his chemo, he also gets Benadryl, fluids, nausea medication and steroids.  It takes a little over two hours.  (That is why this post is lengthy!).  We are still on the every two weeks treatment plan, so we will return on the 29th of December.

Many of you have mentioned to me that you want to know what to pray for specifically.  I ask that you join me in praying for no more fever and ER/hospital visits.  I also pray that this week he feels exceptionally good because of the Christmas holidays.   

Your encouragement, support and prayer serves us, but you are pleasing God.  It is amazing and humbling to hear from you that are praying and thinking of us daily.  Please know that his great medicine for all five of us.  I know that commenting on this site may be intimidating and we thank you brave ones for  your words of love written for us to read. 

Have a great night!
Smiles!
Paige
xoxo  

A Quick Howdy

Hello!  Just want to pop in really quick and say howdy!  Been busy doing laundry and getting ready to leave in the morning.  It has been a really, really good day for Pat.  It is just the difference of night and day compared to how he felt two or three days ago.  We are thankful for the good days. 

I had some sweet God hugs through out my day today and yesterday and I am telling you that they are pure gifts.  God has put into my path some pretty special people this week and they all make me smile and I felt their love in their hugs.  Also, your sweet comments here on the bridge are such comfort and encouragement.  Days like today make the harder days earlier in the week fade away. I will be reporting back in from the great state of Oklahoma tomorrow and it is going to be cold.

Good night and sleep tight!

Paige

xoxo  

My New Devotional

Hello!

Boy do my feet hurt tonight.  Yes, I went Christmas shopping today for about five hours and I did make a dent in my list, but I have more to go.  

Congratulations to the entire Spartan team  for their 1st ever win vs. a varsity basketball team tonight by beating Diamond Hill-Jarvis' varsity 51-44.   Good game G!  More basketball Friday vs. Frisco at home.

One more congratulations.  I have been giddy all day long waiting on the birth of Caden Matthew Fanning who entered this world tonight at 8:03 PM.  Congratulations to Matt & Ashley and proud grandparents, Angie & Jordan!  Wow! Knowing that you are going to meet your grandchild has to be one of the most exciting moments here on this earth!
 
I have to agree with what Pat said today.  He is dreading Thursday when we travel to Tulsa as he has to face the whole cycle again.  Today was the first day that he has felt really good since his last treatment two weeks ago.  My prayer is that his next chemo treatment will have less side effects and better days following treatment.  I am so proud of Pat and his fight. He is so faithful in following doctor's orders.  He takes his medicines, drinks his water and eats healthy.  Once in a while, we cheat and have something sweet, but not very much.  
 
The past two weeks have been tough with the side effects for Pat and his hospital stay.  There are days it is hard for him to leave his chair.  When he has bad days, it is hard for me too.  I have found one of the toughest part of this journey is keeping my mind focused.  I have to choose to trust God.  I may be scared, but I remind myself that God knows all things about me.  He knows of my fear, my hurt, and my frustration.  God also knows when I want to pout or take my toys and go home because I am tired of this new game.  

Last week I went to the dentist and was chatting with my hygentist, Cari.  I could tell she hadn't heard about our news, so I told her.  While she was cleaning my teeth (she always asks me questions when she has her cleaning utensils in my mouth) she asked me if I could share one thing that I have taken from all of this what would it be?  I have to trust God. God is good and all things go through His hands. I have to trust Him in every aspect of my life whether it be small or large.  All of this was planned for us.  He has a purpose.

Below is part of the devotion that was in my inbox today that I want to share. 

Jesus calls us to a level of intimacy that can only be sustained by his constant presence in our lives. Discipleship without Jesus is no discipleship at all. We may not understand all that discipleship involves or all that it will cost us, but Jesus calls us to take the first step, and, through that obedience, we develop the additional faith necessary to take the next step.

His call is a command for you to comprehensively and absolutely walk away from the way you do life now so you can follow him down an exclusive path through the narrow gate that leads to the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus wants you to know him and, through that relationship, He will empower you to live an extraordinary life, full of grace and truth. He calls you to a miraculous life, one that requires edge-of-your-seat faith to follow him, where you find yourself asking in joy, "What's next, Jesus? What are you going to do through me today?"

God is real and each days he knows exactly what I need.

In His Grip!
Paige

Woot Woot! Great News!

Hey guys!  I am so excited and just did the happy dance on the elevator, but my kids would be happy to know that I was on it by myself!  That makes me grin!  Are you ready for the good news........Pat's tumor markers are down and let me give you the numbers so that you can celebrate with us.  When we came in here in October during our first visit, his tumor marker was 1145.5 and today it is 152.2! I wish I could draw the trend line for you.  God is so good and he hears our prayers. I wonder if I could do a cartwheel here in the infusion center? Better not!

Pat is beginning his chemo now.  It has been an easy going day!  Pat's Uncle Mike & Aunt Jeri drove us to the airport this morning.  Jeri, you did an awesome job and we are so glad that you don't drive like the taxi drivers in NYC!    

On the flight here I was just closing my eyes, as I was crammed in the middle seat trying to keep my elbows to myself, and was just thanking God that I actually looked forward to coming to Tulsa to the Cancer Center.  Now, I am speaking only for Paige, not Pat.  After visiting three cancer centers in Texas, I am so thankful that we are here in Tulsa.  I truly felt so depressed when we visited the other places.  My thought was "we will be just another patient without a name" and "I don't want to be here".  When I am here at CTCA I feel at home and secure.

It has taken me a while to get this blog finished! Pat and I have new friends and nurses here, so I have been chatting.  There is a couple, Carolyn and Ray, who are in their early forties from Dallas they have only been married three months before coming to Tulsa in October.  He has Pancreatic cancer also and they have not been home at all since they arrived in October.  Carolyn and I have become fast friends and it is nice to have someone to share the journey with you that is experiencing the same.  She just popped over for a quick visit and a hug.

I hope that you have a good weekend.  I just got a text from Natalie that the boys are playing now in Santo and they are behind by 1, third quarter, so kick it up a notch Spartans!

I smile as I say goodnight!

Hugs
Paige
xoxo

PS  I have attached a picture of the living tree here at the center.  I heard Pat tell the bellman at dinner that his name will be at the top of that tree!  You are right baby, you are right! 

Almost Morning!

Hello!  Almost good morning!  It has been a busy day and I am just about to nod off, but wanted to check in and say hello!  

All is well in the Easterling household tonight! A big thank you to the Hadleys and the Restons for the MAV tickets.  You guys are awesome and you know just how to send a big ol hug, particularly from Kansas, Hadleys!  We appreciate your thoughtfulness so much!

We leave tomorrow mid morning for Tulsa.  We are scheduled to meet with Marie, our Nurse Practitioner in the afternoon and chemo about 7:30 tomorrow night. We will return Friday afternoon.

Tomorrow night Garrett has a tournament that begins, but we will only be there in spirit!  One of you Spartan Moms please have mercy on me and text me play by play!!  That would be cool!  I'll take quarter by quarter score update if I could at least ask for that.  

I am signing off...gotta pack!

Hugs!
Paige
xoxo