My First Blog

Hi everyone. I have decided to start this "blog" to kind of help everybody keep updated on Shirley. I know that there are a lot of people who love and care for Shirley and would love to know how she is doing. I think this makes it easier for everyone to stay updated.

So here we go. Oh, let's remember, I am not a computer genius, so I hope this works.

Most of us know that Shirley has been diagnosed with this rare form of cancer called Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma). I will give you a brief background on how this started. It began with a pain in Shirley's side that wouldn't go away and a visit to the ER. At that point they thought she had Shingles. Well, guess what...you also have a spot on your liver. And the tests began!!!! She was diagnosed with this awful cancer on March 11th. Dad, Shirley and I went to this awful doctor's appt. and met with this horrible doctor and poor mom was not able to go because she was struck down with the awful flu. Mom and I think God was doing her a favor. Anyway, we were told her cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and some of her bones.

The next few weeks took Mom and Shirley to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. They pretty much agreed with the treatment KU had offered so back to Kansas they went.

Shirley chose a doctor to use here at the Cancer Center at KU and we have started treatment. She gets an IV of a chemo drug called Gemzar and a chemo drug in pill form called Xeloda. She does her treatment once a week on Monday for 2 weeks and then has a week off. Recent tests have shown these drugs are working. Her tumors on her liver have shrunk, some have disappeared and her tumor markers are down.

These drugs make Shirley nauseous and she is very fatigued but I think she has these drugs figured out and handles it pretty good. She continues to hold down her full time job, takes care of her house and two children or 5 children if you include Mike, Tasha and Ping. She is doing great at holding it all together. I'm not sure she would agree with that, but I am watching from the outside and trust me, she is.

Mom, Kathy and I go to every chemo appt and doctor's appt. with Shirley. They call us her entourage. She is so cute - every time she sits down in that recliner and tries to go back, her feet fly up in the air. We all visit and laugh the couple of hours we are there. And then we either go to lunch or go back to work. Mom takes Shirley home and we wait for the next week.

Well, that is pretty much it for my first post. Hopefully I will continue to update on a regular basis, maybe get some pictures on here, who knows, maybe even get Kathy to post on here too. She is a great support on Chemo days and I am sure has a lot to say.

My main reason for doing this again, is for people out of town or in town to keep up on the medical condition of a person we hold very dear to our heart. I have no doubt that this is going to be really long and hard fight, but I have no doubt it's a fight that Shirley can win. There is no other choice.

Please keep her and our family in your daily prayers. I love you all.