BLOG IS MOVING TO CARING BRIDGE

FROM JAMES - PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BLOG IS MOVING TO CARING BRIDGE.  Please go to the following website and bookmark it.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/beautifulbride0994

Caring Bridge should allow you to more easily post comments (without needing a google, aim, etc. account).
I have moved all updates to the "Journal" area of the Caring Bridge site.  I will also attempt to move all comments to date.  Thank you.

Thursday, August 12th

Lynne is finally home and resting.  She had a good final night with pain under control.  Some increased pain and anxiety upon hospital release.  We got to the PET scan center and through the procedure ok.  Great care all around!  Results should be in by tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, 8/11

Lynne's pain levels are getting more under control today, but not enough to get her released from the hospital.  She will spend one more night before tomorrow's PET scan scheduled for 1pm and expected transition to HOME!  Thanks for your continued support.

Tuesday, 8/10

It was kind of a tough day for Lynne pain-wise, but she improved during the course of the day and is expected to be released on Wednesday. The medical people had to work our way off IV drugs to pills only in order to be able to release her. The Pet scan has been moved to Thursday at 1pm, since it has to be done as an outpatient procedure (???), and it would not have been possible to have her released in time for the originally scheduled PET scan.  Thanks for the prayers, visits, and great support from family and friends.

Monday, August 9th, 10pm

From James from Paoli hospital --> Please continue to pray for Lynne and our immediate/extended family. This week has already become even more difficult than we anticipated. Today was our first meeting with our oncologist, and we received confirmation of what we suspected - the diagnosis is stage 4 adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. It is stage 4 because the cancer has already metastasized to at least two places (sternum/bone and liver/soft tissue). Detection of the liver growths are based on an ultrasound and CT scan - and are expected to be confirmed via PET scan this Wednesday. The PET scan, along with some blood work and other tests, is expected to provide a solid basis for a treatment plan.
After a few days of significant discomfort from the surgical biopsy, Lynne dramatically improved during our week in Michigan. We went from being concerned that we might run out of pain medication while away from home to relying only on Advil - or even nothing at all at times. However, since we traveled home on Friday some sternum pain had returned and has been slowly increasing in intensity. This afternoon at about 4:30pm Lynne had intense pain in her sternum area – to the point where we had to call for an ambulance. She is resting peacefully now and is being kept overnight at the hospital.  We will meet with the oncologist again in the morning.

Update from Vacation at Gull Lake, MI

From Lynne:  After the crisis of last week, our time away from home has been a fantastic and much needed break. The pain meds are working and I am starting to feel much better. My sister, Barb, and her family had previously planned to join us this year which has been extra special under the circumstances. An unexpected blessing came when we found out some good friends from our old church in Wheaton, IL are also at GL this week. Our children are enjoying themselves immensely, which brings great joy to our hearts.

We haven't heard any results this week. We have an appt scheduled for Monday morning when we return. We anticipate hearing final test results, a treatment plan and perhaps more detailed testing. I welcome your continued prayers on my/our behalf as it will no doubt be a difficult week. I can honestly say that God has given me a peace beyond understanding this week. Of course I think a lot about what is happening in my life, but I am not in despair. So many of you have carried me already with your fervent prayers. Please do not stop! I need it!