Prayer Request

Dear friends,

Sharing news in an email has its pros and cons.  It can seem impersonal (con), but it's definitely more time efficient to get the same written info to lots of people (pro)....so here goes!  I will be repeating some info for those who already know, but new info to follow...so stay with me, please!   For those who want the details, some details are here (as you know me, that's my style), but if you need to skim, I've underlined topics, so you can jump to those! :)

My sister, Carol, was admitted to St. Clare hospital in Fenton last Saturday, July 9.  (She called me that morning asking me to take her to the ER because she nearly passed out in the shower that morning, was very pale, and not feeling well.)

Initial diagnosis:  severely anemic, with planned tests to follow since she also told them she had been experiencing some swallowing issues recently.

While in hospital she had an endoscopy and colonoscopy on Monday, July 11.  The colonoscopy was clear, but the surgeon saw what she believed to be a malignant tumor in the esophagus.  A biopsy was taken and then a cat scan was taken of her trunk area, in which they found 2 lesions on her liver.  The liver was then biopsied.  They also took an MRI of her head, which turned out to be negative.

The endoscopy surgeon was so positive upon seeing the tumor that an oncology team and surgeon were called into place.  We saw the oncologist 2 times while in the hospital discussing the possibilities, and the 3rd time we saw them on Thursday (her last day in hospital), they confirmed that everything was malignant....esophagus and liver both had the same kind of cancer cells.

Confirmed diagnosis:  Carol has gastro-esophageal cancer with an 8 cm tumor that started with adeno-carcinoma cells where the esophagus meets the stomach.  There is a smaller malignant tumor located further up the esophagus, and the 2 spots on the liver (4 cm and 2.3 cm).  It is classified as Stage 4.  The doctor said it must have been there for a while.

Carol came home from the hospital on Thursday evening.

Next steps / proposed treatment:

1.  Tuesday, 7/19 Carol will have a port surgically installed (out patient surgery at St. Clare-Fenton); 8:00 am surgery time; she has to be there by 6:00 am; my sister Donna and her husband Lou (who is legally blind) will take her there and bring her back.

2.  Wednesday, 7/20 -- 3:00 pm I'll take Carol and my mom to see her oncologist (Dr. Becker-Koepke) for her first office visit with her.  She should receive a schedule for the upcoming chemo treatment plan and talk about more information.  At this point they are not doing any surgery to remove the cancer...just treating with chemo.

Other matters:

Besides this yucky news, Carol had lost her job last November and currently has no health insurance.  She lives with our mom (age 93) who no longer drives.  Carol, however, has never smoked or drank and has been an avid Jazzersizer for nearly 20 years!  The doctor said she should get back to Jazzercise as soon as she feels up to it.  Those things are on her side.  Even more than that, she is a child of the King, and that's the best part of all.  We are approaching it with a positive attitude (as Carol says...."she's got her pink fighting gloves on", and we love this quote from a fellow believer:  "God specializes in the impossible."  Mark 10:27 says "With God all things are possible.")  However, there will be need for lots of support.....prayers, love, cards, calls, laughter (yes, send those jokes and comics--her favorite is Garfield), lots of encouragement, and financial.  Our family will be supporting her and helping her navigate through everything, so if you know of anything at all that may help, please let us know.  (I have already received some great ideas.)

Carol's home address:  2946 Caspian Lane, St. Louis, MO 63125

Carol's email:  jazzer92@att.net

We know that every person knows someone who either has cancer, has gone through cancer, or who has lost a battle to cancer.  It is everywhere!  Not everyone knows Carol up close and personal, and it may not mean as much to you...but we will covet your prayers and other things if you are able to help either directly or indirectly as you feel led. 

I know there will be some things put together in the future to help raise some money for the expensive chemo treatments, as well as a caring website to keep people informed of her situation and where you can post words of encouragement.  For now, I'm planning a garage sale at my house on Wed. August 3.  If you have anything you'd like to donate, please let me know.

Thanks for your "listening" ears.

Love,

Linda & Rich Conrad