A MARCH 2023 UPDATE

 Dear Blog Friends,    I thought I'd better give you a March Update since I haven't written lately.  First of all,  I do want you to know that George and I are fine--for two old people!!!   We are slowing down but enjoying life!!!!!   Today I'll share a few pictures from  THREE  March events you may have missed (unless you follow me on Facebook)...

FIRST was our little trip to Cades Cove (in the Smokies) to celebrate George's 81st BIRTHDAY on March 9.

SECOND-- shows you some of our DAFFODIL collections in our yard.  The Daffodils must love our rainy weather since they have really put on a show this past month.

THIRD-- was our little spur of the moment trip to KENTUCKY   (March 25 and 26).   We seldom go anywhere much anymore --so this was a nice change for us,  and we NEEDED it.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!!!!

The Birthday Boy enjoying some ice cream at Cades Cove in the Smokies

I love this picture that George took on his Birthday --showing the silky water at the Sinks in the Smokies.

 Two very happy people enjoying George's Birthday at Cades Cove in the Smokies.

Daffodils in our Yard,  March 2023

These little Daffodils were given to us many years ago by George's sweet Daddy.

More pretty Daffodils in our yard;  We have so many different varieties.

This is from the PINNACLE at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Middleboro, KY..  You can see the little quaint town of Cumberland Gap below.  We love to visit the Pinnacle every time we get near that area, but this time --the high winds and cold temperatures made it more difficult to take pictures....  

From the balcony of our room at the lodge at Pine Mountain State Resort Park,   we enjoyed watching the sun disappear behind the mountain.   NOTE the colors in the sun's rays!!!!  I called it a Sun-Bow!!!!! ha

Another beautiful photo of the fantastic Kentucky mountains,  taken from the lodge at Pine Mountain State Resort Park

The next day,  on our way home,  we stopped at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.   The waterfall was dirty but beautiful after all of the rains we have had.

Finally,  an update on son BERT who has terminal cancer:  

March 1st-- Bert had his last visit with Palliative Care.

March 2nd-- Bert had his last visit with the Oncologist

March 10--Bert was evaluated by HOSPICE care.

March 13-- HOSPICE took over his care.  We (the family) are very pleased with Hospice so far.  They visit him often,  have taken over his medications and have them delivered to his home the next day after being ordered,  and have given the family much information about cremation,  giving his organs for research, etc. They have taken a lot of responsibility off of the family --AND they are keeping him out of pain.

Right now,  Bert is doing remarkably well.   Even with this terrible cancer --he has been healthy in all other ways (which really is helping).   He still cannot eat/drink much since the cancer is in his throat and has destroyed his taste buds... The Radiation treatments HELPED shrink the big tumor but in the process,  he has struggled swallowing and eating solid foods...  Hospice has provided some healthy 'clear' drinks for him which help him get the necessary calories....  Because of his lack of hunger and being able to taste,  he is losing weight plus the fact that he doesn't have much energy.   BUT--he'll tell you if you ask that he is doing FINE...  Bless his heart...

I took this photo last Wednesday  (March 29) when we took Bert to the Soup Kitchen for lunch.  He was able to eat 1/2 cup of Curried Chicken soup  and drink some water.   He took the rest home to eat that night for his dinner.... 

I'm so proud of him and his wonderful attitude.   As I said before,  we don't know how long we will have this wonderful guy on this earth,  but every day we do have him is a BLESSING...

HAPPY EASTER to ALL!

Love,

BETSY and GEORGE 

 Update on Bert’s  cancer:

-On January 24---Bert (my eldest son, age 59)  went to the doctor with a ‘knot’ on his neck.  This was the beginning of a new journey for our family.  After some preliminary tests, the doctors suspected  CANCER from the beginning,  but they weren’t sure.  SO many many tests including an MRI, several CTScanes, 2 biopsies, etc..  were performed..  (At first we all were hoping that he had a more common Thyroid Cancer which is easy to cure... That didn’t happen!)

-Finally,  on  February 2nd,  the bad news came.  Bert not only has cancer.  He has a  VERY rare, life-threatening, no cure cancer named  STAGE IV ANAPLASTIC THYROID CANCER.   This particular cancer travels fast throughout the body.  Bert already has some cancer spots on his lung.  

-After several days of devastation,  I finally shared Bert’s story on February 9th on Facebook and  on the 11th on this Blog... It was hard --but the outpouring of love and support and prayers was (and continues to be) fantastic. I am glad that I have so many wonderful friends.  (NOT sure what I would do without all of you and my wonderful family.)

-Since the 9th,  Bert continues to have many appointments and tests.   We are so glad that he is getting great care at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.   He has seen and continues to see a variety of specialists while dealing with his cancer and treatment.  Besides his PCP doctor,  he now has a Thyroid Doctor,  an Oncologist, a Radiation Oncologist and a Palliative Care Doctor.  All of these doctors work together as a team.  Amazing and Awesome!

-Bert is not married and his son lives in Florida.  His father died in July this past year.   SO--his two brothers and I are his only close relatives.  George and I drive over to see Bert at least once a week,  and his brothers are the ones taking him back and forth to all of his appointments.  Those two sons are the ones keeping Bert in their homes now (since they don’t want him to be alone).   Thanks be to God for these amazing sons,  Mark and Jeff,  and their supporting wives, Robin and Dawn.  Without them,  I’m not sure what we could do at this time in our lives.

-Since Bert’s tumor in his neck is growing fast,  that team of doctors is moving quickly to help him and keep him comfortable.  Right now,  Bert struggles with a very stiff neck, and cannot turn his head to the right now.  He struggles with eating and is mostly on liquids or very soft foods now.   He has trouble sleeping and has a raspy throat.   So far though, there are no breathing problems.

-He began some Radiation Treatments on Feb. 15,  and will have these treatments for 10 or more days to see if they are shrinking the tumor some..  (Did I tell you that they cannot remove the tumor since it is wrapped around all of those nearby glands? That would cause even more problems for Bert.)

-On Feb. 15,  George and I took Bert to see the Palliative Doctor... That was such a great experience for Bert and for me.  This caring, compassionate doctor talked to Bert to get his ‘wishes’ for his future.  We even talked about  Hospice...  As a family,  we are most concerned for Bert’s comfort with a lack of suffering through his last days.  We do not know how long we will have this sweet boy on this earth but  we don’t want him to suffer...  This is all in God’s hands.  

-As a Mom,  I truly don’t know how anyone can go through this without God in their lives.   All of us in the family have a lot of faith, and that faith is what is carrying us through this journey.  Another thing which helps me tremendously is that Bert has an incredibly great attitude.   He has accepted what is happening to him and never complains.  God Bless this wonderful son of mine.   Please continue praying for all of my family --and especially Bert.   Thank You.

Love to all,

BETSY and GEORGE