My One Friend...

Dear Family and Friends,December 2008

When I found out I had cancer (sorry if this is the first time you have heard this), I cried a lot.  I had all the typical questions. Will I die?  How will my family be affected?  Will it ever come back?  Will chemotherapy and radiation be worth it?  What did I do wrong?  Why me? I already have diabetes....isn't that enough??  I wondered if it would change me and what lessons I would learn from this disease.  Then God opened his arms and showed me (and my family) how much he loved me.  He demonstrated his love by using our family and friends to encourage and uplift us.  God also showed his power by answering prayers and proving He still performs miracles!! His love is incredible and so are the actions of all of you in my life.  Here is something I wrote to thank you all for helping me and my family get through this journey.  We couldn't have made it without you...and my one friend.

One Friend is all you need...

One friend sends me cardsOne friend listens to me cry

One friend helps me do laundryOne friend drove me to the ER

One friend shaved his head (to match mine!)One friend bought me a hat

One friend encourages my husbandOne friend prays for me daily

One friend bought me a book on cancerOne friend made us dinner

One friend bought me a book not on cancerOne friend sent us a gift card

One friend went to the altar for meOne friend shopped for me

One friend keeps telling me he loves meOne friend calls to check on me

One friend took my kids shoppingOne friend walks my puppy

One friend sits with me at chemoOne friend organized a prayer meeting

One friend gave me my favorite ice cream (from Cincy!)One friend cleaned my house

One friend bought “day care” for my puppyOne friend shoveled our driveway

One friend organized a Walk for the Cure in my nameOne friend gave me flowers

One friend lit a candle for me (at Mass)One friend takes my kids to the movies

One friend brought me organic foodOne friend gave me MonaVie

One friend knitted me a prayer shawl One friend gave me a thoughtful gift

One friend made me a prayer quiltOne friend sends uplifting emails

One friend sent a box full of gifts from friends in TexasOne friend organized our meals

One friend brought me a huge bag full of hatsOne friend developed a blog for me

One friend takes my kids for the dayOne friend lent us movies

One friend takes my kids to the lakeOne friend gave me a book report on cancer

One friend incentivized my kids to keep their rooms cleanOne friend explains all the doctor stuff

One friend took my kids to a musicalOne friend took my kids to the pool

One friend takes care of me when I am sickOne friend gets my kids off the bus

One friend says he will never leave meOne friend took my kids during surgery

One friend honored me at a church dinner program  One friend keeps me up on cancer research

One friend had a “flower shower”  when I finished radiationOne friend drops by the see me

One friend sponsored me in “100 Voices of Hope” for breast cancer research

One friend took my family to Alaska when I finished chemotherapy

My one friend (Jesus) never left me

One friend is a Gift from God...One friend is all you need.

Carol Sluder-2008 Breast Cancer Survivor

Holey Cow How Time Flys

Dear Friends and Family: I really am sorry I just plain got lazy about updating the Blog. We entered into the Radiation Therapy phase of our journey and it is now COMPLETE! 33 treatments and Carol has been released! She is now recuperating and treating her surface burns (1st and mild 2nd degree burns on her skin). Her fatigue has been manageable for her... and as a family we've all tried to help out!

Her next phase is too wait! I know YUCK! But that is the way cancer is treated. We wait and see if it returns. In the meantime she is taking Herceptin via IV every three weeks (a preventative). She will begin Tamoxifen (hormone therapy) in two weeks from today. That is another preventative measure as her cancer cells are "sensitive" to hormones and want them to help grow. So... the idea is we'll just take those hormones away! No fertilizer...hopefully no growth!

Outside of that... school is well underway for the girls, work is good for me (and I've been truly blessed with many great co-workers) and Carol is a terrific patient.

We do have two prayer requests of significance: 1) Is our friend Al Gianotti's oral cancer is really really getting the best of him. Please pray for a miracle in that God will prevail and place His healing hand on Al, Denise, the kids and all that are involved in Al's journey. 2) Please pray that Carol's cancer is gone for good. I have grown to so appreciate Carol over these past 11 months of treatment... she has been a guiding light to God's grace in many ways to all of us, and to our friends and family. She deserves to live a long and fruitful life, and I know it sounds selfish on my part, but I do love her and can't help but be selfish...so there! We do have another prayer request and that is... please say a prayer for all of those suffering from Cancer. May there be a cure for each and everyone of them. Again, I am sorry for the long long long time between posts and will do better next time. Until then... please be well, be blessed and have a wonderful wonderful Fall! - Eric

P.S., An optimist is someone who has dealt with reality enough to know you cannot expect perfection, see perfection, or be perfect... but accepts life as it is, and make’s the most of it. - R.E. Sluder

Talk about Pumped Up!

First we visit the Colt's new stadium "Lucas Oil" on Sunday thanks to Tom and Betsy. Then today Carol was told her heart "injection fraction rate" went from a low of in the mid-fifties to 75 in her last test. Now I should elaborate a little and then you'll celebrate!

Carol's rate started out at 77 which is very very good and it means a very healthy heart. When you take certain types of chemo the drug also attacks good cells and some of those "good cells" make up heart tissue. Her rate after a couple of tests indicated she was down in the fifties which is on the low side (can't go below 50). She was pretty bummed about it... as was I.

Then comes God... she has prayed as well and me and the girls, and several hundred of you that she'll be healed from the cancer, suffer no ill affects, and many other great wishes.

Adding to this story you should know that we counciled with a few physicians about it and were told that her rate may raise a point or two, but otherwise she would have to live with it. "It's just something that doesn't recover once the damage is done to your heart" a typical answer we would receive.

Well.. The Great Healer had a different plan...It brings tingles to even write His response which was... He took her rate from the mid-fifties to 75 which is back to normal (actual a high normal..like terrific)!!!

I'll leave the rest to you... she had three tests indicating how it would drop after each test while on chemo. Now... though modern medicine says it won't, her rate is back to normal! With that, I really cannot write anymore because what else can I say as a man here on earth other than THANK GOD! Good night, and be well - Eric

Zap!

Well it's official... she got her first dose today of radiation. Her head didn't spin around and nor did she spew whirled peas either. when I came home she was and is the same ol' same ol'... the Carol I know and love.

I would love to share more excitement about the treatment, but she said she laid there and the machine moved around and next thing ya know she was done -- Boda Bing, Boda Boom!

On another note a dear friend from Texas stopped by, Laura, her mother and son Evan. They had a great visit today while I was working.

An angel showed up to take Carol to her appointment and then came back and helped Carol get the house clean for Laura's visit ~ thanks Teir, you're a sweetheart!

Outside of that, next up... dose number two! Be well, - Eric

A Radiant Personality

Yes, Carol has been told that many times... what a personality you have there girl! So radiant in nature, so out going, and glowing. Well... we never guessed that she would be Radiant after all, but of course we're speaking about Radiation Therapy.

It begins Tuesday and will continue for 35 doses over the next several weeks. I've wondered serveral times if she'll glow, but after many inquires I still get a profound and puzzled "NO"... dang! I kind of figured if she glowed a little, it'd fun since it's summer and she could compete with the Fire Flies, but oh well.

School begins tomorrow so the girls are heading to bed now. Carol has another heart test to measure her output since she is still taking Herceptin. So we've got a few prayer requests: 1) School goes great for both girls, 2) her test is very succesful and her heart output is stable, and 3) her radiation therapy goes very well and she doesn't suffer from much fatigue.

Thanks everyone for the prayers, and hey we got two comments last time ~ WHEW HEW! Most importantly a big thanks to our Father in heaven for seeing her through to this point, and blessing her with His presence through the Holy Spirit. Good night, and be well! - Eric

Somebody is Pulling Your Cord!

I believe that is what Carol felt yesterday as her stitches were being removed. Dr. Schmidt struggled to get one of the sutures un-done! He finally gave it a big jerk and as Carol put it... "he yanked on that string and my insides just about came out!"

Of course the doctor was doing the right thing... he needed to get the stitches out, and I think Carol's skin had adhered to some of them, so she left with a little pain under her arm. You would not have known it when you greeted her yesterday evening... because she was just glad to get this phase of our journey over with ~ YEAH!

We're both a little nervous about the "spec" but both Dr. Schmidt and our big brother the good doctor has assured us all normal procedures have been followed and neither would have done anything differently. That is why radation therapy is always mandated after the first two phases are complete! We're okay... we feel good about it, and are putting our complete faith in God!

Next step... Carol meets with the Radiation Oncologist Wednesday 7/23/08. We'll report back when we know what all is involved with this therapy. In the meantime, we're just doing our family thing, and helping Carol to continue to mend. She's one strong cookie, and I truly admire her stamina. As always (I know it's beating a dead horse but can't help it) we're truly glad for your help, and most importantly your prayers! Be well, - Eric

Just a spec...only one little spec!

We're doing great as Carol continues her recovery from surgery last week. Her incisions are looking really good, and she's got a fair amount of energy (all things considered).

The past weekend was tough as her insulin pump did not deliver insulin as it should have due to a failed connection to her body. Her sugar ran sky high... and we spent the entire weekend getting her straighten out.

Her pathology report came back... and all of the tissue around the original tumor sight was "clear." Two of the three lymph nodes were "clear," One lymph node had .3mm of cancer in it... "just a spec" the doctor said, "kind of like a single ink dot from a writting pen." He was well pleased with those results as he had prepared us ahead of time that cancer would probably still be present. He said that is why patients have Radiation Therapy afterwards to kill those last remaining strong holds.

So... though we had hoped we would get the "all clear" we'll take a report that is dang near just as good!

On another note, we've been surrounded by guardian angels over these past few days. Diane, Lanie, Debbie, Julie, Heidi, Cynthia, Melissa... have kept us fed... thank you ladies! Jennifer, and Diane has kept our daughters busy ~ bless you! A few hundred are praying for us ~ bless all of you! And... I think I've finally conquered laundry! Our sincere thanks to all, and many blessings to you in return. - Eric