Sad Day

                                                  Josephine [Jody] Shields

                                               1-27 1940       05-20-2012


                          Married to Glenn Shields 51 years 4 months 8 days


This has been the worst day of my life, but I am thankful that we had these many years together.  Who would have thought we could have such a good time together.  There are some some things that we didn't get to do, but I think over all she is happy with what we did do and the things we  accomplished.  She raised 4 great kids with  out the help she needed from me.  Seems like I was always gone working.  Some things just  can't be  done over.

She suffered so much the last week, but I know she is in a better place now.


I wish to think everyone for their concerns and prayers.



Glenn

Friday May 18th - The End

Since my last posting this morning, things have changed.  Mom passed away a little after noon.  There will be a viewing Sunday from 6:00 - 7:30 at the Kevin Brennan Funeral Home at 2801 SW Urish Rd.  The funeral service will be held Monday at 11:00 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3611 Jewell Ave.

Friday, May 18th

It's Vicki again with another update.  Mom is still in hospice and still in a coma.  She has not woken up since Saturday.  She refuses to let the doctors and nurses tell her when she is going to go.  Last Saturday they said 2 or 3 days.  Yesterday, five days later, they said less than 12 hours.  Now today, over 24 hours later she is still hanging on!  Nevertheless, she seems to get weaker each day.  Dad is tired and somewhat frustrated over his lack of being able to do anything to help her and all the uncertainty about what is going on.  He very much appreciates all the friends who have stopped by to help and just chat with him for a bit.  Thank you for your support!

The End May Be Near

Dad asked me to post a blog for him (this is Vicki).  Mom had a seizure today -- Dad called a hospice nurse to come out.  She seems to think Mom had a stroke caused by the cancer having spread to her brain.  The nurse gave her some medicine to stop the seizure.  Mom is unresponsive right now -- she is sleeping and according to the nurse comfortable and pain free.  They have moved her to the hospice center.  They will continue to give her that medicine every six hours so she does not have any more seizures.  The nurse said she will most likely not wake up and will most likely not last more than a couple of days.

While we are all sad we know that this is what Mom really wanted.

I just read what I wrote last time   It was supposed to say it may be the 25th but it's not Christmas.  Oh well time goes by with a lot of pain.  It seemed as though the oxycodone was not working for her.  On Friday I called Hospice  to tell them something had to be done .  Their answer was to increase the fentalye patch to 100mg and to start giving her 2 oxycodone every hour.  Still no results.  Called again Monday and they suggested that we bring Jody into their hospice House , which is almost like a hospital.  They started her on morphine and steroids and Tuesday morning she woke up and said she did not have any pain. 

We came home late Wednesday evening.  But the bad news is she is not her self.  Sees things that is not there.  Mixed up .  I hope it is the morphine that is causing it.  Also her blood sugar was high today.  Must do a better job if checking it.  Don''t know if this could contribute to it or not. 

Starting Monday we will have a home health aid coming in to help her.  Three days a week..

Don't know what else to say other than things could be better.

Glenn

It may be the 25th but it's not Christmas

It has been one of those days.  Early this morning we got a call from the hospital about an appointment that we did not know we had. Some one dropped the ball and for got to call us.  A week ago there was some talk about putting in a catheter so we could drain the fluid from her abdomen here at home.  Sounds good except they whoever some one is for got to call and inform us.  The lady asked if we had had breakfast yet.  Since we had not she said she would check and see if it could still be done.  It could said to be there at 12:00.

We got checked in and they wanted to0 use the port from the chemo.  Good idea except they could not get blood to return through the port.  After about 30 minutes thy got it working and about 2:30 she was wheeled in to have the catheter put in.  Went real good.  Got back about 3:30. After recovery we got to leave about  5:00.  Home around 5:30.  Big day for such a simple procedure.

The hospice nurse will be out Friday to start training us on how to drain the fluid ourselves.  Doesn't look like it will be something we can't do.  The one main thing is to keep every thing sterile to keep things from getting infected.

PS  This catheter can remain as long as needed.

Glenn

18 April 2012

Well right now I am not a real happy camper.  I was writing and almost finished and was correcting some of my spelling and every thing disappeared.  Tough I guess .  Have to start over.  Now what did I write?

We had an appointment at the hospital today to have the fluid removed again.  They were able to remove 4.5 liters from her abdomen and 2.0 liters from her lungs.  We sorta got chastized  for waiting so long to call.  I don.t thing this was our fault this time.  We had called on Thursday and they didn't set it up until Wednesday.  I do think she will feel better by tomorrow.  Right now she has pain.  About Sunday she was in real pain.  She said on a scale of 1 to 10 she was about a 15.  Lots of pain pain pills takes care of that.

We are now signed up with Midland Hospice who wil take care of most things now prescriptions supplies.  They brought out 2 oxygen. bottles and an oxygen concentrator Monday.  Would have brought out a wheel chair but Vicki had already got us one.  Some woman was giving it away.  They can provide us with a lot of support that we will be needing.  They can send people out I think 3 times a week to help her bath and etc.  I have put a hand held shower hear in the show that helps her.  She does not use the bath tub anymore afraid she could not get out of fall. 

We do have ladies bringing in food a couple of times a week.  That helps a lot Gives her some different that I don't try to fix. I do breakfasst fairly good.  But I get lost after that.  Sherri was here last week and  Marcing is here now for about a week.  With her here  I can get out and do some things that I need to do.

Glenn





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

We had a CT scan on Monday then a Doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  Since Jody had not had any chemo for three weeks it was felt that it was the cancer and not the chemo that was causing her to be so weak and have no energy.  From this he assumed the chemo was not doing her any good and it was useless to continue it. 

As things now stand we will sign up hospice soon.  They will contact us in the next few days and tell us what they can do to help us.  Right now we don't need much help, but the time will come when we will need the help.  We have ladies from church bringing in food a couple of times a week.  I do have a problem fixing some things Jody will eat.  The chemo has messed up her taste.  Nothing tastes very good.  Salt is bad.  just a little it seams is to much. 

Sherri is coming tonight for the weekend and then on Tuesday Marcine is coming for about a week.  Then Ron is coming on the 27th.  We are lucky that Vicki lives reasonable close by.  About 75 miles so she has been coming often. 

We don't kinow all that the future holds but we will face it together.

We do go back to see the Doctor in 3 weeks.  May know more then.  Will had more to this as we know more.


Glenn

April 4th update

We had the fluid removed from Jody's abdomen today and they removed 3.8 liters.  Then they did a xray of her chest and found a lot of fluid there Removed 2.7 liters for a total of 6.5 liters.  They said this was about 14 pound of fluid they said.  Told her not to let it go so long again to weigh herself at the same time each day and when she had gained 6 pounds to call for an appointment

She went to take a nap as soon as we got home.  Hopeful she  will feel better when she wakes up.

That's all for now.  More next week.

Glenn

April 4th

Nothing good to report.  Last Tuesday we has a blood test and the platelets were way down.  18000.  Did not have chemo scheduled that day, but with the platelets being so low they  would not have given chemo any way.  Jody has and in very tired and weak.  When we talked to the Doctor yesterday with her being so weak and etc so no chemo. 

We do go to the hospital today to have fluid removed from her abdomen and possible the lungs.  Maybe this will help with the pain.  She is needing to take oxycodone quite regular now.

With Jody being so weak and just feeling terrible the Doctor said it was either the chemo or the cancer that is causing it.  By being off chemo for 3 weeks and no improvement in her well being the chemo is just not working.  We do go in Monday and Tuesday for a CT scan and to see the Doctor.  I think that will give us a real idea what is happening.

I did talk to hospice  and was told a long as we were getting chemo they  could not work with us We may not be getting chemo any more anyway. We will see.  Some ladies from church will start coming in a couple of times a week so that I can get  out  to buy groceries and do other things that must be done.  I just don't want to leave Jody for much more than going to the mail box.  Roger and Latisha mowed the lawn this week that helped and I was able to bet to Walmart.

It is do hard on Jody not being able to be up and do things, we will keep trying.

Roger and Latisha was here this past weekend .  Vicki and family for Easter.  Sherri will come on the 12th. Ron is coming on the 27th and Marcine ,Jody's sister after that. 

This is rambling, but that is me.

Glenn

Not all roses are red , but they all have thorns

Over the weekend Jody was in a lot of pain and discomfort from the fluid in her abdomen.  Called first thing Monday morning and they got us an appointment for 12:15 at the hospital.  They removed 3.3 liters of fluid this time.  Made her feel better in some way, left her with a different pain for a day or so.  More pain pills.  Doing much better now.

Tues we went in for lab work.  took blood to have test.  That only takes a short time to get results.  Not as good as I had hoped.  Platelets were way down (48000).  The 19-9 test was up to 49, but they said this happens.  They did go ahead and do chemo.  Got out of the center about 4:45.  Home at about 5:15 then we both had a good nap.  Especially Jody.  That is very tiring to set there all day waiting for the medicine to drip in.  She did get two short in her arms before we left.  Now we need to go back today (Wednesday) for another shot.  We go back in a week for more lab work, but no chemo.  Then on April 3rd More lab work, see the Doctor, then do chemo. 

Her weight is down and the food doesn't taste all that good.  Have got her drinking a nutrition shake now. Maybe that will help.

That is about it for an update.  Vicki and Sarah were here Sunday and Monday.  Good to have them here.  Ron will be here this weekend.  That will be good.

Glenn



























 

Almost good news

Jody had the CT scan last Tuesday the 6th. They were supposed to compare in with the one from Omaha, but they slipped up and it didn't get done until this Monday. She has had 3 CT scans now.  When they compared Scan 1 and 2 there was significant growth they said.  Between 2 and 3 There was maybe no growth.  So maybe perhaps that is good news.  From the lab report the red white hemoglobin and the platelets looked pretty good.  I found out the blood report has another thing that is interesting.  It is called 19-9 test.  I Think they said this some kind of Cancer marker.  Said the numbers were down a little.  When I got home looked on the reports that I could fine.  About 6 weeks ago the number was 70.  Two weeks it was 45.  1 week ago it was 42.  So I think that is good.  It will be Tuesday when I see this week's report.  We went in Tuesday for more chemo.  Didn't get away from there until nearly 5:00PM.  Makes a long day for Jody.  We go back again Tuesday for more chemo and then a week off.


Jody still gets tired and needs a nap each day.  Seems like she is needing fewer of the 3 hour pain pills.  Still has the 3 day pain patch on.

I just hope this shows that the growth has stopped or at least slowed way down.  Time will tell.

Until next week.  

Glenn

This week nothing good happened

Monday......  Went to the hospital for the removal of fluid from her abdomen.  Removed about 2750 mg.  Then she was in pain for the next couple of days.  Pain pills are great. 

Tuesday.......Went to the Cancer Center for the CT scan and chest xray. 

Wednesday......Had a very nice day. Got up to the 70's with wind from the south.  But during the night the wind changed to the north.  Got woke up about 2:00AM with hail trying to knock out the windows.  Then it rained some then later it snowed.  We had a little of everything.

Thursday.......The day we thought we would get some answers after they had compared the last two CT scans.  Some one blew it .  We were left waiting for about two hours then found out they did not get the scans compared.  The plan was to tell us  if the chemo was working or not.  Maybe they will call yet today.  So we did not get chemo today.  Maybe tomorrow or first of the week. 

For my family.......... Jerry McClurg died Monday.  If Jody feels like it the Will go up to Meriden tonight for the visitation.

Good bye for now.  Hopefully we will know more today or tomorrow.

Sunday March 4

This has been anothere up and down week.  Good days and bad days.  Still popping pain pills as needed.  Usually about bed time.  Seems like when Jody lays down  is when the pain starts.  Some times with shortness of breath. 
We did have a blood test this week but no chemo. 

We go in Monday to have some more fluid removed from her stomach area.  Then on Tuesday go in for a CT scan.  Then Thursday anothere blood test and see the Doctor and maybe more chemo.  By then he will have seen the CT scan pictures and will maybe tell us if the chemo is doing any good.  We did get some of the socks that is supposed to keep the swelling down in the legs.  She did say this morning that she still has ankles.  Hard to get on and of but they seem to do the job.

Until next time prayer is always welcome.

Glenn

This week we had some good days and some not so good days.  But overall not bad.  We had a church assignment at the church on Tuesday morning.  Jody didn't feel up to going, but by afternoon was feeling much better.  It's the pain that is the big problem.    She has not got anywhere near the energy she has had in  the past.  She was able to go nearly  48 hours between pain pills one time.  But all things must come to an end.  It seems like the pain likes to start in about bed time.

Today was chemo day.  Get to the cancer center about 8:30 , check in then to the blood lab.  Then wait for the blood to be tested,  then go see the doctor.  Finally about 10:00 today they get the drips started.  I think there is 7 bags all together.  Got away from the cancer about 5:15.  The platelets was way down from last week, but good enough to gibe chemo.  We also need to go back tomorrow for a shot that will help keep the platelets count up. 

Don' t think there will be chemo next Thursday.  We will see the Doctor problemly making a decision when to do the next CT scan.

     Stay tuned........Until next time.

Thursday February 23

This week we had some good days and some not so good days.  But overall not bad.  We had a church assignment at the church on Tuesday morning.  Jody didn't feel up to going, but by afternoon was feeling much better.  It's the pain that is the big problem.    She has not got anywhere near the energy she has had in  the past.  She was able to go nearly  48 hours between pain pills.  But all things must come to an end.  It seems like the pain likes to start in about bed time.

Today was chemo day.  Get to the cancer center about 8:30 , check in then to the blood lab.  Then wait for the blood to be tested,  then go see the doctor.  Finally about 10:00 today they get the drips started.  I think there is 7 bags all together.  Got away from the cancer about 5:15.  The platelets was way down from last week, but good enough to gibe chemo.  We also need to go back tomorrow for a shot that will help keep the platelets count up. 

Don' t think there will be chemo next Thursday.  We will see the Doctor problemly making a decision when to do the next CT scan.

     Stay tuned........Until next time.

Things are looking better

We have had 3 or 4 pretty good days.  Pain is a lot better. Have been taking the 3 hour (oxycodone)pill only a couple of times a day.  Maybe the patch is working.  Energy is still down.  Have not got in any walking for a long time.  The rash is mostly gone.  Still have some itching, mostly at night.   The redness is practally gone.  Today was a very good day.  We didn't know if they would administer the chemo until after the blood test.  Were very surprised to find the platlets count was up to 297000.  Which is very good   So we had the chemo.  Another exciting daywating for the medicine to drip in. 7 hours.  I  could up and go walking around but Jody was tied down to the drip tubes.  We got there at 8:30 and left at about 4:30.  Tomorrow we get to go back again for some kind of shot to help keep the platlets count up Then nothing until next thursday.

Saturday was good but evening not so good

Jody had a very good saturday. Four of her lady friends  came over and spent the afternoon with her. They brought taco soup,cake and ice creadm.  Jody very much enjoued the visit.  That night about 10:30 the pain hit her.  Had to take two of the 3 hour pills I call them [oxycodone].This lasted about an hour.  Also the rash was driving her crazy.  Didn't have the red all over her.Which was good.So far today sunday has been pretty much pain free.

Another day another doctor visit

Went to see another doctor today about Jody's red rash.  Yesterday she was very red and doing a lot of scratching.  It was about to drive her crazy.  Guess what today the rash was nearly gone.  Not much red or itching.  Maybe the Banadryl and the other medicine is working.  Trying not to take any of the 12-hour pain medicine.  Just the fentanyl patch for pain

More next week.

Another Doctor Visit

Things did not go real good today.  Had the blood test, but platelets were low. 13000.  should be at least around 70000.  Norman range is 147000-412000. SO THEY WOULD NOT DO CHEMO TODAY.  Hopeful next week.  Got a different kind of pain medicine.  It is called Fentanyl.  It is a patch that isworrn for 72 hours and then replaced.  We'll see how it works.  We won't be taking the 12 hour pain medicine thinking this may have caused the rash all over her body.  **********Just got a call from the doctor's office saying we can see the allergist tomorrow.  Maybe he can fine the cause for the rash.       

Wednesday 8th
 Jody had to go see the doctor yesterday.  She had a rash from her the neck to her knees.  Very red.  The doctors was not sure what caused it, they said take benadryl and then give her a prescription that is supposed to help.  About the time the rash started she started a 12 hour pain pill so they gave her a pain patch .  Picked that up today. Have not used it yet.  Will start that tonight.

Tomorrow is chemo again.  With the port it should be a little better. No hunting for a vein that they can get a needle in.  Usually she comes home with bruises on her arm.  Some times both arms.  Overall she had a good day.

I forgot to say that we went down to the American Cancer Society Friday to check out wigs. Most likely she will lose her hair.  We were told that the chemo kills fast growing cells and hair is fast growing.  We did get a very nice looking one.  But as yet no hair loss. Not 100% of the people lose their hair. We'll cross our fingers.

Where we are and how we got here...

This was the family at our 50th Anniversary celebration in June 2011. Seems like everyone had a great time. Everyone was able to come and return home safely.

Since that time, Jody has developed some health issues and we'd like to bring everyone up to date. We'll be going back in time a bit so memory may not be entirely perfect but we'll do our best.

Before the celebration, in December of 2010, she developed diabetes on her way home from visiting Sherri and Roger. She was getting severe headaches and after getting home she lived with the headache for several days before finally going to a health clinic (or as Sherri calls them: Doc in the Box). They checked her out and sent us to the Emergency Department at Stormont Vail Hospital. The first thing they did was do an MRI of her head to verify that there was no tumor or such that would be causing the headache.

Then came other tests: blood tests - which shows that she was now diabetic with an A1C of about 12 something (they like to see the A1C at about 6.5). This was very upsetting to her because she had worked most of her life knowing she was susceptible to diabetes: she ate well, exercised, kept her weight at a proper weight. Her mother, a brother and a sister all developed diabetes so she was always concerned because she had a family history of it.

She was determined not to have to ever use injections, so she went on a strict diet and soon had her A1C down to about 6.5. The A1C is a test that looks at your blood and compiles a composite history of your blood for the past three months. Amazing what tests can do these days. She learned to live with diabetes without any restrictions in her daily life and controlled it with diet and exercise alone. She was able to continue to do all the activities that she had always enjoyed doing - with no restrictions or problems.

About August of 2011, Jody had pains in her abdomen and went to see her regular doctor (not the Doc in the Box). Tests again sonogram which showed major problems: Cancer.

She was sent to a cancer specialist that ran more tests - do you have any idea how tough all these tests are for someone who doesn't like blood and needles? Tests included: liver biopsy, CT scans, blood tests - again. The first liver biopsy was one of the most painful things for her. After many hours in the hospital we were finally able to go home. On the way home we stopped for Chinese carry out. Shortly after we got home she started having severe stomach pains. So severe that I felt I couldn't get her out of the house and to the hospital so we called an ambulance. It was determined that the pains were just the liver reacting to the biopsy and the only thing they could do for Jody were to give her pain killers (again, tough for someone who doesn't like taking medicine and has never really taken any her entire life). After the pain killers kicked in and she started feeling a little better she decided she could be in pain much better at home than in the hospital and so we went home at around 2:00 in the morning. That night we had one of the worst storms around we’d had in ages. Seems like the winds were gusting up to 60-80 miles per hour.

With the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer we soon learned a new vocabulary. One of these new words was metasticize. The results of the liver biopsy was that the cancer had metasticized (or spread) to the liver. After talking to the local doctor it was determined that we would go to the cancer center in Omaha, Nebraska, for a second opinion - and another liver biopsy and CT scan. At that time it was thought that she had the less agressive kind of cancer and was prescribed two types of oral chemo: xeloda and temodar. We started this round of chemo in November right after Thanksgiving.

She did this in two 21 day cycles: 14 days on and 7 days off. After this round of oral chemo, Jody went back to Nebraska on January 11th for a check up that included another CT scan and liver biopsy. She had been retaining fluid in her abdomen, so while having the liver biopsy they also removed 2 1/2 liters of fluid.The results of this check up showed that the tumor in her liver had grown significantly. As a result, they changed her medication to intravenious chemotherapy.

She will be doing this treatment in Topeka once a week for three weeks and then one week off. This first treatment took seven hours of sitting in the chair waiting for the medicine to s-l-o-w-l-y drip. There were seven bags of different types of fluids. Saline solution as well as the chemo medicine. She was also given medicine to help with nausea and to help relax her.

It seems like everytime we go to the doctor Jody has to have blood drawn. Her veins are not very good and it takes several tries before they can hit a good vein and she often comes home with bruises on both arms. She is still retaining fluid and that is causing us some concern, so she went back to the hospital in Topeka to have another 2 1/2 liters removed. The doctors seem to think it is the liver not doing it's job that is causing the fluid retention.

Monday, January 30, she was having a lot of pain and went in to have fluid removed again but they couldn't find enough so nothing was done.

On Wednesday, the first of February, she went in to have a port put in her collarbone area that will make it easier to administer the chemo. At that time they also removed another 2 quarts of fluid. The blood tests they ran this day showed that her platelet count was low. Next Thursday (February 9) they will do another blood test, and if the platelet count has decreased some more, they may put off chemo for another week - which would make it two weeks in a row with one week off.

Thursday, February 2, we went back for the second round of chemo. Having the port in made it so they didn't have to try to put a needle in a vein in her arm.

And that brings us to today. She is experiencing a lot of pain and taking pain killers. One that is good for 12 hours and another that is good for three hours. The three hour kind can be stacked onto the 12-hour kind. The pain seems to come on suddenly without much warning and then we have to use a three hour pain killer to get the pain back under control. As a result we are having to learn how to stay ahead of the pain. Still have not perfected that as yet.

Jody's energy level is decreasing and she is not getting to get out and walk any more. We had been going to the Mall to walk while the weather has been so cold. She needs a regular nap and it is hard to keep her from getting up to do things. She has quilting she wants to get done but frequently has no energy for the work. She has a yellowish star quilt she is working on for her granddaughter, Cheyenne (when she gets married about six years from now!). She has several already made but still has several more to make for the rest of the grandchildren's weddings.

As for me it is rough. Enough said.