BigFred

Not much new to report today.  The 5 days of chemo are over and they were kinda hard on Frederick.  He was a lot more nausea this time and he continues to get tired quickly.   He has his INR (coagulation) rate checked today and it was 3.2 which is good for Frederick.  We also found out that when he doesn’t eat a lot the ratio can be high, so we must continue to get the INR checked twice a week until it gets regulated.  Otherwise, it’s been a relatively quiet week.  By the way, Frederick likes the Italian Wedding Soup!  We also got some protein drink to help supplement when he’s not eating too much.  We have to be careful though because some of the vitamins may react to the coumadin.  We are learning what not to mix! 

Thanks for your continued prayers, calls, encouragment, and all that jazz…

Love

Diana & Frederick

Quick update from the appointment with Dr. Travaglini, the radiation oncologist.  He confirmed that according to the MRI’s, the tumor has not shrunk much.  He says the tumor is approximately 2cm.  It started out as 2.6cm.  He also said that because it is a slow growing tumor, it may be a slow dissolving tumor.  There will not be more radiation treatment.    Frederick will continue with the chemo and then we wait a month for a new MRI to check for any shrinkage of the tumor. Dr. Travaglini is partners with Dr. Douglas who is a cyberknife expert who works with Dr. Vermeulen, the doctor we were originally referred to.  She works out of Northgate, so we switched to Dr. Douglas at Valley, to make it a little easier on transportation time because it’s wearing Frederick out so much. 

As of yesterday, the INR for coagulation was at a good level so that’s good news.  Please continue to pray for the appetite of the big man who is two third of the man he was 2 years ago! (Down to 245 lbs)

We are forever thankful for all the love still pouring in…visits, dinners, dollars, prayers, phone calls…it is all appreciated…Thank God for his people!

Love ya

Diana & Frederick

An additional update from seeing the oncologist today.  Frederick will resume the temodar for 5 days at an increased dosage and then go back to the oncologist in a month.  The INR (coagulation ratio) was at a good level today 2.6.  He will see the radiation doctor Friday and get his INR tested again.  We are praying for no more radiation, (especially since they are saying that the radiation is still at work in Frederick’s head),  and for a steady INR.   I’m being specific so you can pray specifically.    Also, please pray that the Temodar will attack and kill the tumor like nothing doctors have seen before.

Guess What!  Frederick ate a BurgerKing burger today too.  I think maybe my threat of having him drink Ensure gave him a little incentive to eat something.  You can keep that appetite in prayer too. 

Thanks

Diana & Frederick

Today Frederick saw his surgeon, Dr. Raisis. The tumor (as we knew) is still there, however it does appear to be dissolving slowly. The next step will be for a Cyberknife/Gamma knife specialist to take a look at Frederick in a couple of weeks. The Chemo oncologist will see Frederick tomorrow to determine if He will under go more chemo. We see the radiation oncologist on Friday. We don’t know if he will recommend more radiation. Dr. Raisis wants to try to use the cyberknife or gammaknife to remove what’s left of the tumor. The cyberknife surgery will not happen before mid-November. We’ll be doing some online searches to learn about the cyberknife and gammaknife. We do know that it does not mean cutting into the brain again.

The major thing now is for the coagulation pharmacist to get Frederick’s INR ratio under control. Praise God, today it was back down to a reasonable level. Frederick’s coumadin medicine was adjusted and we go back for blood test on Friday. Until the ratio is under control, we will go in for blood test twice a week. The other thing is for Frederick to continue his physical therapy and get his right side stronger. Along with that, pray that his appetite will return. Dr. Raisis recommended Italian Wedding soup as a good soup. Have any of you ever had that soup? I’m gonna see if I can get some and check it out. Let us know what you think if you’ve had it.

So, as always, we thank you all for your continued prayers. I told someone tonight that I am learning to get on my knees more and stay in the word more. That is the only way we can continue to stand. But we know that it is only because of the Lord on our side that we do stand.

God be with you all!
Diana & Frederick

Yesterday was a long day in the hospital.  We started out in radiology around 9 am, getting a new MRI done.  Then we headed to the coagulation department to get blood test.  Frederick’s INR rate was 3.6 which was a little high.  The attendant decided he should see his oncologist.  The oncologist was not available so we were escorted to emergency.  They took more blood, did chest x-rays and decided to give Frederick some vitamin K to counteract the coumadin blood thinner.  They gave him a clean bill of health (as much as was possible considering), and sent us on our way at around 4 pm. 

On Monday 9/17, we start the process all over again as we see Frederick’s original surgeon, bringing the new MRI with us.  Later on Monday we will see the coagulation pharmacist and possibly the chemo oncologist if he can squeeze us in.  If he can’t squeeze us in on Monday, we’ll try to get in to see him some time this week.  On Friday, we do a follow-up with the radiation oncologist.  The last few weeks have been full of doctor appointments and that may continue for a few more weeks!

Please pray that Monday will be a day of all good news!  We are at a point now where we need to get clear, accurate and honest information to use in deciding what we need to prepare for in the future.  You know what I mean. 

Thank you all for your continued prayers.  When you don’t know what else to pray, when you can’t find the words to say, say the name of Jesus for our family.

Love ya

Diana and Frederick.

Praise God, Frederick’s coagulation count was up above where it should be so he can stop taking the Lovenox shots.  He is still taking the Coumadin pills though.  But that’s not quite as invasive as the shots.  Thank you for your prayers.  He is having his follow up MRI’s done on Friday the 14th and we see his surgeon on Monday th 17th and the radiation doctor on Friday the 21st so we’ll be hitting the follow up trail.  Our prayer is that the tumor is completely gone!  After that, we just want to hear all good news from all the doctors.  We believe the report of the Lord!!!

Also, we pray for the families of those killed and hurt six years ago today.  God is still in control.

Love

Diana & Frederick

Just a quick note.  Frederick is doing okay today.  His blood clot level was not up to what it should be so he has to continue to poke himself with the blood thinner and go back to be checked again on tuesday.  Please pray that the blood thinners will do their  job and that Frederick will get a better appetite.  He’s not even eating much of his chicken soup now.  Please pray that he gets stronger in his physical therapy also.

Thank you

Diana and Frederick

Elvis has landed at home.  Frederick was released from Swedish aboout 6pm tonight.  Of course it took  another hour before his meds were ready and the transport person came to get him.  So, with yet another 2 medicines in hand, we are at home.  Frederick seems to be doing better and is even getting around better, but still gets winded quite easily.  His blood coagulation must reach a certain point by Friday and then he can be off of one of the meds.  They did give him the medicine that he has to poke into his stomach.  If all goes well he will be off that medicine and just taking the pill medicine to control the blood clots.  Lord be with us! 

Thanks for the prayers

Diana & Frederick

I was told I should update this blog right away so people don’t worry to much about Mr. Robinson, so here’s the update:
Frederick is doing a lot better. His Oncology doctor has seen him and is saying that the clots are very manageable. It will of course mean some additional medication. It probably won’t be the shots. They are now talking about a pill coumadin (that might not be spelled right). There are some other things they say can help to shrink the existing clots. In addition, they can see that while there is still some tumor left, it is shrinking. Praise God! It seems the radiation is still, 15 days later, working. So we will still have to wait for the one month check up to find out where we go from here regarding the remaining tumor. Maybe by then it will be entirely gone! Wouldn’t that be a wonderful praise report to make in church!

As always, thank you to all of you who read the blog, or heard through the grapevine and went to prayer immediately. Without you all and your continued prayer I know I would be a “walking mess” as I heard somebody say once. We are comforted and encouraged by the people of God who continue to go out of your way to bless us and be there for us. Glory to God for his people!

Keep the prayers coming!
Diana & Frederick

PS, Ericka started back to school yesterday. She is doing okay, not too happy about her patient being in the hospital, but she understands that God is still in control. Please pray that none of this will affect her 7th grade year. I’m still in shock that she’s in 7th grade and will be 13 years old in December.

Diana

After much testing, the doctors have determined that Frederick has blood clots in his lungs.   They said it comes from the cancer, which can cause your blood to thicken.  This is what has caused him to be so tired and sometimes short of breath.   They have him on intravenous blood thinners to help stop anymore from forming.  We also found out that some of the tumor is still in his head, so as long as it is still there, he will need to continue on the blood thinners.  They will see how things went over last night and keep him a few more days so that his original care doctors, Dr. Raisis, surgeon and Dr. Goldberg, oncologist can see him and make a determination about what kind of blood thinners to use.  He could be on a self injected shot or a pill. 

Frederick is kinda down, but mostly tired.  He is in room 315W (w stands for window).  Please, Please don’t just drop in.  Give him a call first. 206.386.6372 is the phone number to the room.  You don’t have to mention that you heard he was down.  Sometimes, that just makes it worse. 

But, through all of this, we still have faith and we still believe that God can change it all in an instant, so we continue to pray for complete healing of Frederick’s body from head to toe.  We are also praying for God to reveal what if anything he is trying to tell us as a couple and individually through this trial.   We are completely convinced that God is in control and he knows exactly what’s best for us.

Love ya’ll

Diana and Frederick