Friday, June 10, 2011

Here is a very quick update on the Buehner household. Paul had his back surgery about a week and a half ago. He is home and trying to heal. It isn't a fun job for Paula and Grandma Lovely to be his nurse, because he is hard to keep down. So far he is being a good patient and pretty much following the doctor's orders.
During Paula's last visit to Moffitt, she was told that the mass on her side could possibly be Sarcoma. She is scheduled for a biopsy of it on Tuesday, June 14. The oncologist said it would need to be removed and that he would not be able to do that surgery without clearance from her cardiologist. Lately Paula has been experiencing a lot of heart racing and high heart rates. The cardiologist is scheduling a nuclear stress test to see if she is able to undergo the surgery for mass removal. There is not a whole of information to report at this time, because there are so many tests that need to be done to figure out what she is actually up against, and to determine if she is even able to withstand the surgery.
Please be in prayer for them at this time concerning Paul's healing process and Paula's difficulties with the mass, breathing issues and heart rate irregularities. We have faith that God will continue to touch her body and heal it in ways that we can't even imagine!

April 19, 2011

It has been way too long since we have last brought you up-to-date on Paula's situation. Last word you had Paula was going to do Radiation treatments for the tumor in her chest. In December 2010 she started the radiation. These treatments were successful in that they did zap the large tumor she had in her chest. However, because of the location of the tumor, the radiation did damage to her Lungs and Heart. Paula began having very rapid heart rates. She was told this was due to the radiation treatment and she was put on heart medicine. This medicine worked at keeping Paula's heart down. The lung damage consists of 1/3 of one lung being damaged and part of the other lung. This will mean much less lung capacity for her. Paula will have to learn to live with this as the damage is irreversible. During the last week of February Paula came down with Pneumonia and was hospitalized for several days. Several weeks later she had to return to the hospital because she was so weak and having a very hard time breathing. After running tests and doing a CAT scan, the doctors found that the pneumonia was still present and that she had Radiation Fibrosis, which is lung damage due to radiation treatments. Also present in the CAT scan was an enlarged growth under Paula's left arm. Paula went for a needle biopsy and today she found out that the mass was negative, not Lymphoma! Praise God! Because of the decrease in lung capacity the doctor had her doing breathing treatments from a nebulizer and taking steroids. The nebulizer once again had adverse effects because it caused an increase in heart rate. So Paula was told not to use the nebulizer unless it is was needed at that moment, to stick with her inhaler and doing daily breathing exercises. Paula will be monitoring the mass under her arm and if nothing else changes, she won't have to return to Moffitt in June. Paula continues to have good days and bad days. There is no rhyme or reason to it, just something she is trying to get used to. On another note, Paul has been to the doctor and was told that it is imperative that he have back surgery as soon as possible. He has been suffering with back pain for quite a while now and his doctor said he must not wait any longer. He is favoring one leg over the other because of the pain, and therefore he is losing muscle in one. His surgery is to be sometime in May. Please be in prayer for him as he is really struggling with not wanting to do this because he feels it puts him at a disadvantage in taking care of Paula. A true servant's heart is what he has and sometimes its hard to make him realize that its ok. We have been so blessed to have many, many family and friends provide meals for Paul and Paula over the last few weeks. It has been a true life-saver. Thank you so much for those of you that have been able to do this. We have established a site for them at TakeThemaMeal.com and it is a terrific site. If you are interested in checking it out go to www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=ADUL6622 . Or you can go to www.takethemameal.com and use the Log in of the last name Buehner and Password of 4450. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! All our Love!

December 5, 2010

During the Thanksgiving break, Paul and Paula went to Moffit for Paula's regularly scheduled chemo treatment. While there the doctor told them that he had looked over the recent PET/CAT scan that Paula had had and that the treatments had not be productive in treating her lymphoma. In fact the cancerous tumor in Paula's chest had actually grown. They sent them home and told them they would be in touch the following Monday. That Saturday after Thanksgiving Paula went on a local Christmas shopping trip with her mother and sisters. After a bite to eat for dinner, Paula began having trouble breathing and started feeling really bad. Once she made it home, she was having severe pains in her neck, having great difficulty breathing and started vomiting. Paul and Shelli took her to Moffit that evening and the tests began. After a hard night of uncertainty, it was determined that Paula's problems were due to the large tumor in her chest. It was putting pressure on her lungs, heart and nerves and causing life threatening issues. The doctors determined that radiation was necessary. After a few days of staying at Moffitt, Paula came home with the plan of doing radiation treatments every day for 4 weeks. So she has begun making daily trips to Tampa to do these. The oncologist feel strongly that this radiation will destroy the tumor in the chest and eliminate the problems she was having. After these treatments Paula will have to return to her primary oncologist and discuss possibilities for treating the remaining lymphoma. Please pray for Paula as she is making daily trips to Tampa. A big thank you to the family and friends who have volunteered to assist in taking her to Tampa for these treatments so that Paul can be at work as much as possible.
As this holiday season is upon us, Paul and Paula would like to wish each of you the Merriest Christmas ever and new year filled with God's love and blessings. It is because of dear family and friends like each of you that Paul and Paula have so many good memories to fill their hearts with smiles. Remember that it is because of the dear Baby Jesus coming to earth, that each of us have received that greatest gift of all in our eternal life that is waiting for us in Heaven above. Merry Christmas and God Bless you all!

September 23, 2010

Paula has completed the first cycle of her chemo treatment. This treatment several people have volunteered to take her to Tampa on Tuesdays and to stay at the house with her so that Paul could be at school as much as possible. It has also been a huge blessing having several friends and family members contribute by bringing meals for Paul and Paula.
Paula's biggest problem has been that the neuropathy has returned and it is hard to control this pain with medication and the doctors tell her it could get even worse. Paula cannot not take to much medication for the neuropathy, because it could do damage to her kidney and cause her renal failure again. They did reduce the amount of the chemo that they are giving her because of this. Paula has been battling this lymphoma for over 14 years, and thus there is no previous documentation for the doctors to use to develop and treat her cancer. Paul has told Paula that she is writing a new book for Moffitt and that her situation will be beneficial for others in similar situations as hers in the years ahead. What a blessing that should be!
Paula started cycle 2 of the treatment which consists of three treatments, one week apart. She will have a Doctor’s visit on Sept. 27 and from there it is possible that he will set up a CAT scan sometime in October to see what is happening.
Paula does feels better than she did a month ago, still having some issues with the wheezing, breathing and some pain in the chest, but it has improved a lot since she started the treatments. She continues to try and exercise with a short swim each day.
As always, Paul and Paula covet and appreciate all your prayers. Thank you in advance for continuing to ask God's hand in Paula's life.

August 22, 2010

We are way over due on a blog update, so here goes. Paula is continuing to progress and heal from her second hip replacement surgery. It is a long process but it is a blessing to have the new hips in place. Paula has been struggling with her breathing over the past couple of months. The doctor felt she was in need of sinus surgery. However, a week or so before the surgery was to take place her calcium levels were high. The doctor would not agree to perform the surgery until her levels were reduced, and the ok was given by her oncologist at Moffitt. So Paula was admitted into Moffitt to be given some medications to lower these levels. After a few days in the hospital, her calcium was lowered and she was able to come home. However, her inability to breathe continued to get worse and after the weekend she returned to Moffit for blood work, this was last Monday, August 16. About an hour after getting home from Tampa, Moffitt called and said her calcium levels had risen once again and they wanted her to be admitted back into the hospital as soon as a bed was open. Paula was then readmitted to Moffitt on the 16th. While there, her endocrine system was given a thorough check, and all was clear there. So they ordered a CAT scan. The results showed the mass in her chest cavity had grown since her last scan 6 months ago and is closing off her windpipe, thus the explanation for why she is struggling to breathe lately. The doctor had stressed the importance of starting some form of treatment to slow the growth of this mass and Paul and Paula will be meeting with her primary oncologist, Dr. Saba at Moffitt on Monday, August 23. Because of her kidney failure and damage, there are not many treatment options. We are asking for your prayers during the next couple of days for a clear picture of which treatment (if any) will be best for Paula. And without fail, our prayer is for a divine healing and shrinkage of this mass as soon as possible.
"I am the Lord that heals you" Exodus 15:26

June 1, 2010

Paula had her hip surgery two weeks ago today. The surgery went as expected, and they were able to give her another new hip. This surgery went a lot better than the first one, and I am sure Paula is thankful to only have two hips, so she doesn't have to do this again! She was able to leave the hospital on time and come straight home. There was no need to go to the rehab center this time, and thank God for that! Paula is continuing to do her "daily therapy" exercises and is seeing strength and mobility improvement each day. She is hopefully to be able to get into the pool and so some therapy there as soon as she is cleared by the doctor. For now she enjoys watching the grand kids at play with Papaw on these hot afternoons and days.
Paula has been taking some medications for her nerve damage for several years and recently the doctors have cut this medicine in half, and we are hoping this will have a positive impact for her in the months to come. Paula will be going to Moffit in Tampa in June to talk about what is going on with this cancer.... our prayer is that it is in Remission! She is feeling pretty good and just needs to get stronger in hopes to make a trip to Ohio this summer to spend time with family... especially the youngest grandchild, Riley!
Your continued prayers for a positive report from Moffit that Paula's cancer is in remission will be greatly appreciated! We can never underestimate the healing powers of the our Creator.

May 6, 2010

"When you come to the

end of your rope,

tie a knot and hold on!"

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

If ever a statement is true this is it. Paula has visited several of her doctors lately. She received good news once again from her kidney specialist, that her kidneys continue to function properly and she continues to be able to refrain from having dialysis. Hallelujah!

Her "new hip" as we call it, is healing pretty much as expected. It continues to progress through water therapy in the pool and walking, but it is unable to reach all of the desired functions because of the deterioration of her "old hip". The "old hip" has been diagnosed in stage 4 avascular necroses, which means that it is worse than the other hip was before it was replaced. It is causing her a lot of pain, and is continuing to increase in pain daily. She will having hip replacement once again on May 18th. Of course, Paula is dreading this operation. After having been through it once, she knows what is to be expected, and that is not something to look forward to. Paula said just this week, she is so tired of being in pain, and just wants to get this over with and behind her.

Immediately around the corner is her next visit to the oncologist at Moffitt, and this will take place on June 21, if all goes well with the hip surgery.

Paul and Paula are asking for you to please prayer for upcoming surgery and the healing of both of her "new hips" along with prayers for her next visit to the oncologist in June.

Please know that never a day goes by that your prayers, cards, phone calls and visits are not truly a blessing to Paula and the family. They know that all that has been done and is yet to come in regards to Paula's body healing is done through prayer and blessing from God! He is our maker, creator, sustainer, and healer!