Oxygen Machine

Nano called me from work today saying that Pops made a call to Dr. Shin this morning concerned about feeling out of breath. Apparently, they are sending someone out to bring him an oxygen machine to help him get the oxygen he needs.

Please continue to pray for Pops that he makes new red blood cells.

Z & M

Photos taken today with my new camera!

More Christmas Pics

Christmas Visit

We had a wonderful trip to Nano & Pops for Christmas! We all piled into the mini-van and headed North on December 21 and finally arrived in Snellville on Dec 22. It was so good to see Nano & Pops... seeing them on Skype just isn't the same! Zach and Mia had so much fun running around the house chasing after the cats, especially Cleo! We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together as a family with Uncle Ichie of course. And Frank and Linda also joined us for dinner on both nights.

Despite Pops being sick and much weaker he was always in good spirits. He is strong and such a fighter. However, it was evident especially on this visit how the cancer has effected him. He was much weaker and at times his nausea kept him from eating, but we all (especially Richard) kept him eating as best we could. The hope is for him to gain weight and build up his red blood cells. I think Zach and Mia were the best medicine of all to lift his spirits. They love their Pops (and Nano) so very much.

We hated to go, but we headed back to South Florida on Dec 27 arriving home on Dec 28. We spoke to Nano, Pops and Richard on our way back home and they informed us that Pops had unfortunately gotten Bells Palsy again. He went to the ER on Dec 28 and got some medicine which hopefully will relieve his symptoms.

Pops does not go back to the Dr. for a couple weeks so I will update his status again soon.

Zach's 3rd Birthday Party

Update - Dec 8, 2009

Pops finished up his 10 sessions of radiation this week and has been struggling with a lot of pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite and other issues. He just isn't really eating. We have all been on him to eat, but he just isn't eating. A glass of milk is not enough. The radiation seems to have helped the major pain in his lower back/pelvic region and he is no longer taking the morphine. He does have pain pills if he needs them, but the radiation should have taken care of most of the pain. Now, to get Pops to eat!!

Pops and Nano went see Dr. Shin at Emory today (his primary oncology MD) and it was a big wake up call for Pops. Dr Shin told him that if he wants to start taking a new drug that might work to help fight his cancer he first would have to build his body back up. He must start eating and exercising (walking) to build himself back up to prepare for the new drug. He needs to build his red blood cells up so that he has enough oxygen circulating through his body. So, hopefully, now we will begin to see Pops start eating more and more and gaining some weight back. This increased energy and oxygen flow should also help his breathing and overall state.

Please continue prayers for Pops and Nano. We need him to get strong again like he was only a few months ago. This way he can start taking the new treatment that they have for him.

New Ultrasound Pic of our newest Little Girl!!