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!