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!