Celebration Service arrangements for Cheryl

A service of Celebration for Cheryl will be held on Thursday, January 26 ~~ 2 pm at :

Valley Bible Church
646 29 1/2 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81504

Family requests in lieu of flowers to make donations to:

Arizona Assistance in Healthcare
c/o Cancer Treatment Centers of America
14200 W. Fillmore Street
Goodyear, AZ 85338

Cards can be sent to Howard at:

3180 Bookcliff Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81504

Arrangements to come

Today and tomorrow we will be finalizing arrangements as best we can.  Please check back later! ~Trish

On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

I am now sitting in the most calm and serene room, with my friend Cheryl.  At approximately 6:20 pm Cheryl went Home to be with the Lord.  Her family was here and was able to say goodbye, but the Lord allowed me the privilege of praying my friend in to his arms.  Cheryl held my hands and looked me in the eyes and breathed her last breath on this Earth.  Many of you have been praying for her and Cheryl wanted me to thank all of you for her prayers and ask you to continue to pray for Howard and the kids. She is now at peace and in no more pain.  She fought a good fight and she was amazing all the way through.  Please remember that first and foremost for Cheryl was always Jesus Christ.  She ended her blog each time by saying I live for Him, well now she lives with Him! Praise the Lord that she went quickly and peacefully!  Just remember the foundation we stand on.  Cheryl was having such a hard time breathing all week, but she still managed to sing to us "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand".  Stand on the Rock as Cheryl did!  Her verse that she asked me over and over to use was Isaiah 40:31.  Be blessed!  We will post arrangements after they have been made.  For tonight please allow the family to grieve in private.

Plan "G" for God January 21st

"As energy allows I will try to continue posting, but my energy level is decreasing so don't anticipate much."  ~~Cheryl~~

This is Trish--
Just an update on the real plan that took place -- "God's Plan":
So we spun our wheels for hours trying to get Cheryl Discharged -- I even signed the papers twice!!  Her oxygen needs doubled overnight and she is now needing 10 liters of oxygen.  We tried to use a concentrator and plug it in, but the car battery did not like it.  Then everybody was trying to find us enough tanks, I had been praying all day.  I really started to feel uneasy in the morning, but wanted so badly for Cheryl to go home that I was ignoring my gut.  All of a sudden it hit me!!  This is about GOD'S PLAN!!! Not mine, not the case manager (even though we love her dearly - "our best friend in the hospital"), and not even Cheryl's.  So while everyone was spinning their wheels looking for oxygen I went to talk to my friend about a new plan, one that involved more peace for her.  So we are still in Arizona, we have been moved to a hospice center.  We have a great room with a patio and huge patio doors.  Howard and the kids arrived this morning at 5 ish followed by a couple of friends.  Cheryl's Dad and sisters will be here at 2ish.  Cheryl is still in pain often and her breathing is becoming more labored.  Please pray that she remains calm and peaceful.  We are not checking her blood levels anymore and she will not be getting chemo.  Please pray for this time as she visits with her family.  PRAY FOR HER TO REMAIN CALM!!

January 19, 2012 "PLAN B"

So we were all ready to leave Arizona, just waiting for the oxygen arrival.  The respiratory therapist got here at 4:30 with the oxygen and we were getting nervous about her arriving so close to leave time.  When the therapist got here she explained to us that the special airplane oxygen only goes on a "pulse", (meaning it is only activated when you breath in), she also said Cheryl's oxygen level would have to be 88% or higher for her to leave the tank with us and OK Cheryl for air travel.  Cheryl did not pass the test, her oxygen level was too low for air travel.  Therefore PLAN B is now in effect!  After our emotional breakdown of planning all day to get on plane and then being told we couldn't travel by air only 2 1/2 hours before our flight, PLAN B has now been enacted! The airline tickets were canceled and we are getting all our money back except a $17 fee!! Praise the Lord for that!  Tomorrow morning we will head out from CTCA "by land".  We are renting a Mini Van from enterprise and driving to Grand Junction.  My understanding is it's about 10 hours.  The oxygen company opens at 9 am so we are hoping to get the oxygen by 10 ish?  (I said hoping ~~ here is where your prayers are needed!)  Cheryl's cousin Andy has agreed to come with us (Blessing number ? hmm.... not sure since the blessings keep coming!). Please pray for our travels on this journey as we try so hard to get Cheryl home to her family.

Other blessings:

• My airline ticket home was able to be canceled without ANY fee
• Howard called and was so blessed to have received a recliner for Cheryl! It was already delivered!!!

In Cheryl's words: "God knows what He is doing!"  Even though we were upset at the change in plans we are all still smiling and laughing ~~ We were even joking about getting a clown car for the ride home or a VW (and yes they did offer a Jetta!)

Thanks to all of Cheryl's fans out there for prayers!  Keep them coming!!

January 19, 2012

What a month can do to ones's perspective on life.

I'm headed back to GJ today to be with the family. Like I've been saying from the start our GOD is an AWESOME GOD, For instance Mom is here and she flew, and Trish is here and she's coming to GJ also.  Due to the medication reactions it is necessary for me to return to GJ for a better quality of life with my family.  Hospice will be coming to help me to achieve that better quality.

We will be flying out tonight on a 7:45 flight arriving in GJ at 9:53pm.  Please pray for our travels and continue to keep us in pray.  ~~Cheryl~~

Trish here just wanted to add a praise the Lord for CTCA and all they have done for Cheryl.  They have been amazing!  And as always our Cheryl remains as amazing as ever!!

January 17th late night!

Trish here blogging for Cheryl!  Sorry I didn't blog earlier, I know you are all waiting to know what's going on!  After I blogged this morning God gave us a small miracle!  Cheryl woke up and stayed up for several hours!!  She was awake, alert and talking!!  She still was slightly drowsy, but was able to have conversations and her pain level is down to a 3 or 4!! The doctors here have been working very hard to achieve this goal of better pain control with the ability to be awake.  So she is no longer on the Morphine for pain, they changed it to Dilaudid.  While she is not consider allergic to the Morphine they think she does not metabolize the end products of Morphine, meaning that the Morphine is lingering.  The Dilaudid seems to be working better.  Her levels have not been checked again yet (they usually do that in the mornings), but they are watching her levels closely.  Since she did get 2 units of blood yesterday she looks much better.  She has her coloring back again (it's amazing what a little blood will do!).  Anyway just wanted to make sure I got this Praise report out to you all who are fervently praying!  I really enjoyed Cheryl today as she was more like herself.  Her oxygen levels are still dropping when she is active and at night, but she is holding her own! Her cousin Andy was here tonight too.  It was really nice to have company and conversation!  As Cheryl says always, "God knows what He is doing" and boy am I praising Him for a better day, with better pain control and better wakefulness! Till tomorrow!  ~ Trish ~

PS pray for her Mom who flies in tomorrow! (See you soon Mrs. Dearing!)

Tuesday morning January 17

Cheryl is still very sleepy, although she does have moments of alertness where we can have short conversations, but she often can only last a few minutes.  Her oxygen levels keep dropping.  She is on the maximum for a nasal cannula (nose oxygen) during the day and at night she needs a mask because even with the nasal cannula she drops.  Her Hemoglobin and Hemacrit are up from yesterday due to the 6 hour transfusion yesterday, we will have to see if those levels stay up though.  He platelet count continues to drop.  With low platelets she is at a higher risk of bleeding.  Of course again until she is stable she cannot have any chemo.  Even though she doesn't feel good, she is still Cheryl, still the woman of God she has always been.  In our small conversation yesterday she made a point to remind me that "God knows what He is doing. We may not understand, but He knows".  Praise God for the amazing witness Cheryl still is even when she is in so much pain and is short of breath with every conversation.  Please continue to pray for her and her family.  Pray also for her mom as she prepares to come here tomorrow.  Pray also for her sisters and brother who can't be here.  I praise God for the opportunity to be here for Cheryl.  She has helped me though so many tough times and I am appreciative of the opportunity He has given me to be here with my friend and sister. More to come later after we see the doctors.

Monday January 16

It's Trish again posting for Cheryl.  Mondays are always a busy day in a hospital and Cheryl's day was no exception!  The pain management doctor came in and readjusted her pain medicine, hoping to maximize pain relief, while still keep Cheryl alert (less tired).  Cheryl seems more alert when she is awake then before, but still taking long naps.  Her blood levels (H & H ~ Hemoglobin and Hematocrit) dropped again as of this mornings labs, so Cheryl needed yet another transfusion.  She is to receive two units of blood, one of which is in already.  Her platelets are still low.  They are watching that level closely.  She is still on oxygen and still short of breath on exertion.  The Palliative Care doctor was in too (her job is to manage symptoms and improve quality of life) and is planning on getting Cheryl more comfortable while she is here.  Many other people came in as well, including the Mind & Body doctor, physical therapy, case management, and the nutritionist.  The oncologist (cancer doctor) was just in and he reiterated again that for now they will try to keep Cheryl comfortable and keep watching her blood levels.  Chemo will only start when her blood levels are up and it is safe (won't cause her more harm).  Until then it is symptom management.  I have read all her comments to her and she is so appreciative of everyone's support!  Her Mom is flying in on Wednesday day (pray for her travels).  I haven't made a flight home yet, but I'm looking at Thursday or Friday depending on cost and times (amazingly my manager asked me if I wanted an extra day off!).

Please continue to pray for her and her family.

January 15 Sunday

This is Trish helping Cheryl blog today.  She is still very weak, tired and in pain.  The doctors are trying to get a better hold on her pain control, so they started a "PCA"; which is a Morphine drip where patients can push the button themselves and deliver medication to themselves.  She also has a pain patch on giving her a continuous dose of medication.  She is still really short of breath anytime she does anything, like getting up to the bathroom or even readjusting in bed.  She has been on antibiotics for pneumonia for three days now, along with a small amount of IV fluids.  Her blood counts are still low, but have stayed the same since yesterday (that's a good thing).  With the low blood counts, pneumonia and shortness of breath all chemo is on hold for now.  Please pray for Cheryl to regain some of her strength and for her pain.  The main cancer doctors will be in tomorrow and we will then have a better sense of what comes next.  Pray also for her Mom as she travels here on Wednesday to be with Cheryl.  I saw Hailey's picture from her party and I am so thankful to Cheryl's church family for all the support they are giving to Cheryl by taking care of what means the most to her, her family!

January 14, 2011

Ok, I feel like a dirty dish rag left on the floor. and I can't get up. Slept so-so thanks to all the breakthrough meds but they are still trying to find me a happy place.

Get up to use the bathroom and have to breath deeply for 20 minutes afterwards to catch my breath. NOT FUN!

Pray for the Almighty Physician to make HIS presence know, soon. My Pneumonia is preventing further treatment an my cancer is still growing. I know I still have to get worse to get better but I'm ready for less pain.

Trish has been a God-send and I couldn't have done this past two days. I couldn't have done it without her.

I'm looking for volunteers to join me once things get rolling after this Pneumonia stuff, if I need a caretaker who is available??

Thanks for the help with rides for the kids and meals for them & Howard. Boy my grammar is getting pretty poor since I started this blog...oops....

Until Later....

January 13th

What a long day... Trish got in at Midnight and we had pickup at 7am.

Clinic labs were at 8 am, but since my oxygen was so low even with the tanks - they took a chest x-ray and decided I have pneumonia.  I've been admitted to the hospital through the weekend at least for IV antibiotics (Levaquin) via my port.  Trish gets to stay with me.  I can't have any chemo until the pneumonia  and shortness of breath resolves.

So glad she is here to help.


Still trying to figure out pain management, in addition to constant shortness of breath, I'm still having the rib/bone pain all the time.

January 12, 2012

Hello, I'm finally on. It's so much effort to lift my lap top and plug it in that I sometime just have to wait until I have someone to help me. I get out of breath so quickly.

Good news I slept rather well, and I feel very good considering I've been up since 7:30 this morning to get on the flight. I really expected this flight to exhaust me like the last one, but thanks to all the efforts of the oxygen company people, I had a plane approved compressor so I could safely fly. To be honest, I'd head to bed now (10pm) but I'm waiting for Trish to get in from NY. She's to be landing shortly, should be here by 11pm I hope. We have an early day with my pick up at 7 a.m.

The oxygen is helping and I do have more energy, so things are working. I'm sure they will order some sort of respiratory work up now that I'm here so we can see where my oxygen levels are going to stay. My primary seemed to think once I got back to this elevation that I might not need it, but I'm not so sure after being here all afternoon.

I am going to get ready for bed and rest in the chair until Trish gets here.

Until later.....

January 11, 2012

Wow! I'm feeling a little stronger, but still very weak. Slept well but was up multiple times while peeing out whatever they put in the iv with my blood transfusion.

Went to my primary who decided my oxygen levels are still to low to travel without oxygen so a local company had to jump many hoops and loops to get me an airplane approved oxygen supply. It creates its own, it's not a tank.

My flight tomorrow is Noonish, and I'll land before 1:30. My primary and I are convinced my oxygen level will improve enough when I get down to the Phoenix elevation that I shouldn't need the oxygen, but we need to cover all the bases to get me there.

I don't have my cell phone so travel should be interesting again.

Some friends just brought us dinner, so I'm going to go.

Until later......

January 10, 2012 p.m.

Hello,

I am home from the hospital and the blood transfusions are complete; I received two units of blood. Good news! My blood platelets are higher!!!

Please pray that these units of blood are the magic energy button I need to safely travel to Phoenix on Thursday. Thanks!!!

Oh, and I forgot to post Happy Birthday yesterday to my beautiful daughter, Hailey Marie!!


Until later......

January 10, 2012

Sorry I didn't blog yesterday. Very long day.  Went to primary out of breath. Needed oxygen. Slept so-so. Got lab work done day early. I'm anemic and need a blood transfusion. Headed to hospital now for cross checking. Another long day. Not sure what time I'll be home but wanted you updated.

Until later.....

January 08, 2012

Hello ~ I'm home!!!!

And I hurt. Yesterday's travels wore me out.  I can't get comfortable and I do NOT have a comfortable safe place to sit in my house. I need a sturdy comfortable recliner, and I'm too worn out to go buy one right now.

I must say sorry to everyone who wanted a text saying "I'm home" but I left my phone at my uncles, and you KNOW I don't have your phone numbers.

My oxygen levels are too low and I'm wondering if the elevation is making it worse. I went to Morning Worship, it was wonderful to see everyone, but could not attempt the potluck.  Excuse the lack of details, but I'm fixing to head to bed, yes,....even at 7:30 p.m.

Until later......

January 06, 2012

Feeling rather exhausted considering I've done a whole lot of nothing.

This morning I had an Occupational Therapy apt, which is good, because she gave me breathing exercises to try and get my energy level up. My oxygen levels are too low when I do too much.

Then I got a wonderful massage!!! Gotta get more of them!

After a small lunch I was able to come back to Hal's and was here by 2 pm. Then I crashed with the expected nap for at least two hours.

My flight tomorrow is at roughly 4pm and I'm getting picked up at 2pm. Have to figure out what I'm taking home and get my luggage ready.

God Bless....Until later....

January 05, 2012

Hello All!!!

I slept fairly deep last night, but did experience a bit of pain throughout the day. Rather achy today. But at least that mental cloud I've been under is gone!!!

Did my laundry before and after apts yesterday and had today off. I've taken a couple short naps even wrote a couple of letters & cards. Watched a bit of tv, and visited on the 70+ degree porch with Uncle's Hal & Bill.

Don't like relying on the walker to get things done but the living room is too big to cross without it.

Please continue for my energy level to improve. I'm scheduled to fly home on Saturday. I really need to be there for Hailey's birthday, on Monday. I'll only be home until Thurs 1/12, but I'm going home!

Thank you so much to my VBC family for acknowledging my children and their birthday's I have not had the energy and the finances. They all chose a single B/day Christmas gift that they knew what it was, so having me not there to make a big deal with cake etc, I'm sure was hard. The YG took care of Troy and others took care of the younger two. God Bless you!!!! They will never forget this birthday.

Until later......God Bless.....

January 04, 2011

Please forgive me! I've been to tired to post anything more than... "I've done nothing today but sleep and have no energy" So I just let a few days get by....

What really was happening was that I took my morphine wrong. I'm OK, but I miss-read the instructions and was taking the break through morphine too often, as in waaaayyy too often!

Yesterday, I managed to get an 'emergency' pain consult with the Dr. to ask his advice on what to do and how to stay alert and what to take etc. SO we have a plan. I also had my labs drawn yesterday. Unfortunately, my blood platelets have gone even lower. Pray for a miracle and that this pill chemo I'm taking is doing 'something' to slow down this cancer.

My oncologist is not here this week but even if he were here, I've been too weak to fly home. BUT yeah for me...since I'm feeling so much better today, and have been getting stronger I booked my flight home for Saturday Jan 7th. Unfortunately, it will only be until 1/12, but that works for me right now. The only thing that could put a huge damper on my plans is that my friend, Trish, is joining me in Phoenix for the next trip. She's flying to Phoenix the same day. If my blood work I have drawn at home on 1/10 says no chemo port chemo, then I'm not sure what to do. She'll have to last minute change her flight plans to come to CO and be with me there. Hoping/praying that isn't necessary.

In addition today I met with the occupational therapist and they ordered me a walker. I'm an old lady now needing help getting across the room. I get out of breath quickly and tire easily.

But guess what? I get to go home!!!! Even if it is only for 5 days! Just pray I continue to get stronger, I don't want to be a burden on the plane

Until later.......

January 01, 2012 - Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!

I slept rather well, on and off for 10+ hours. But I'm still very weak. After break fast I took a short nap.

Considered church but just didn't have the energy to make out of the house.

Joan & Bill stopped in to check on me after services. and I've been watching tv, (as much as you can be hind closed eyes) and now I'm checking email and my blog.

Not much to report other than a total exhaustion. No energy. Really pray it improves soon, or I can't travel alone.

Thanks all.....Until tomorrow....