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A tree went down last August and destroyed a car and hit the house.
I was upset – little did I know. Fortunately, insurance covered the
removal.
During the
same hurricane season, a branch fell at Oakley and damaged my Dad’s truck.
I was upset – little did I know. Unfortunately, no insurance on the old
truck.
A huge part
of an old oak tree at All Saints’ also went down.
I was upset – little did I know. Fortunately, insurance covered the
removal and
the repair to several
gravesites.
A few more
aggravating things happened during the year until April 25.
My home
caught on fire while we were there. It
was destroyed.
What little was left
had to be demolished.
I was very upset. Little did I
know. We did have good insurance.
We are
living in a rental house with some rental furniture,
some furniture found at the many
consignment shops in Williamsburg.
We were
getting ready for Anna’s wedding on August 11.
Geoff was
not feeling well, but we thought it was anxiety over the wedding.
We both did
our services on August 4 and came home to Williamsburg.
On Monday,
my throat was so bad, I called my doctor. I had bronchitis and was put on antibiotics.
On Tuesday,
Geoff went in for a routine blood test that he has periodically
because of the
medication he takes for his heart and his psoriasis.
Within a few
hours, both his cardiologist and his internist had called in a panic.
Two of his
enzyme levels were 6 and 8 times as high as they should have been.
Geoff was
sent to a gastroenterologist.
The
diagnosis was not good – possibly pancreatic cancer.
On Thursday,
he went in for a sonogram. On Friday, a
CAT scan.
Geoff
skipped the “bachelor party” – a fishing trip in the bay he had been looking
forward to.
We got
through the wedding, leaving each event as early as was polite.
Nineteen
members of Geoff’s extended family came, but he had little time to visit with
them.
We were both
off on Sunday, family had all left, and Geoff slept most of the day.
On Monday,
we went to see the GI doctor together.
The news was still grim
On Tuesday,
we talked to our accountant about finances
On
Wednesday, we went to the bank to put all of Geoff’s accounts in my name as
well.
On Thursday,
Geoff had an MRI.
On Friday,
we talked to the doctor. The news was
mixed.
The good news: Geoff does not have
pancreatic cancer as feared.
The bad news, he has a rare cancer:
cholangi carcinoma – in plain language, bile duct cancer.
He is
feeling bad most of the time with only a couple of hours a day of limited
energy.
We decided
that he could not do his services tomorrow – and I will not leave him.
Thanks to
Harry Harper for going to All Faith and
to Gordon Hughes for being at All Saints’
again this week.
Gordon is
trying to get us in touch with a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic.
Doug
McCarthy has had this same cancer and we are in touch with his doctor at Johns
Hopkins..
Right now we
have an appointment with an attorney on Tuesday –
our wills were destroyed in the fire…they were not current anyway.
We have a
appointment with the local doctor on Wednesday and
an oncologist at MCV, in Richmond, on Thursday.
I am sad
that I am not in St. Mary’s County this week-end as Annie Hill nears death.
I am in
touch with her family and have Harry covering for me.
I visited
with Annie several times at the nursing home and in the hospital –
she was weak, but her usual
cheerful, saintly self.
Since Annie
is no longer lucid, I feel a little bit less guilty for not being there with
her.
I am sad not
to be at the tea scheduled for tomorrow “in my honor”.
I thank you
for those kind thoughts – with special thanks to Barbara Seeman for planning
this event.
I am now
upset – little did I know when it seemed that the worst had happened
that it could get even worse.
We have good
health insurance that will pay much of the cost of the treatments Geoff faces.
However,
“health insurance” does not insure us, or assure us, of good health.
Just two
weeks ago we thought we had a wedding and a home to rebuild.
Now we are
wondering how we will rebuild our lives.
You know
that I have for years had an interest in the peacock.
He is a
beautiful, proud bird.
I learned
after the fire that in Russia he is called the firebird.
So I have
been thinking about this peacock rising out of the ashes.
The peacock
is a symbol of eternal life.
He now has
taken on a whole new meaning for me.
I pray that
we will not only rise out of the ashes, but will have some time left together
in this life
before we move on to the next.
The only
“gift” I want right now is the gift of your prayers and your patience.
Right now, I
feel that I have, as Paul phrased it, groans too deep for words.
With the
help of my family doctor, I am holding on and holding up.
I hope and
pray that in the days, weeks, perhaps months, ahead that Geoff and I will be
able
to practice what we preach.
While
writing this, I went downstairs and got something to eat.
I dropped
the pottery dish I was using and looked at the back to see who made it and/or
where it came from. The inscription of the back: Hopeful!
I pray fervently that we can remain
HOPEFUL and that our hope is not shattered like the dish. Please pray for us
strongly and loudly.
Faithfully,
Kathie Price+
Rector, All
Saints’ Church, Avenue, Maryland
Facing More Challenges and Changes
Following our frustrating
admission to Johns Hopkins last Wednesday, there have been
several people in that community who
have been outstanding.
Doctors
Choti and Theissen would not have been more patient and pastoral with us.
They
have explained Geoff’s condition thoughtfully and thoroughly.
Dr. Theissen has sent Geoff
home to rest and recover from the ERCP and the panchreatitis
that he developed following the
procedure.
We
are at Oakley this week and, if all goes as planned, we will leave for Ohio on
Thursday.
Dr.
Choti, the surgeon, has explained that he will schedule surgery in two or three
weeks.
At that time, if the spots
in Geoff’s lung, liver, and lymph nodes are not malignant,
he will proceed with surgery to remove the bile duct and
the gall bladder,
and create a new duct.
If
the spots indicate that the cancer has spread, no further surgery would be
effective.
In
that case, some chemotherapy and/or radiation might be possible.
To add insult in injury, Holly
was driving to Williamsburg to get Geoff’s car on Sunday
and was re-ended in a ten car pile up on 95.
She
was not hurt, but her car was seriously damaged, but driveable.
One tire was being scraped
by the bumper. At a service station,
they changed the tire out
or the smaller “donut” spare and she
went on to Williamsburg.
In Williamsburg, our new
neighbor, Jacque has been watering the plants and
bringing in the mail.
Our
friend, Bonnie, had taken the dogs home with her.
She brought them back for
Holly and helped gather up the things we needed from home –
we had left prepared for an
overnight stay, but not for two weeks!
Holly is in negotiation with
the insurance companies –
we are hoping that the damage won’t exceed the value
of the car.
George, the architect for my
old and new house, arrived at Oakley on Monday with
the first plans for the new house.
He and Geoff are excited,
but I must admit I am having a hard time visualizing it
and even getting my brain to try to
focus on it.
I got my computer from
Williamsburg and thought I could catch up on a few things here
at the Rectory while Geoff rests.
Alas,
the cloud over my head has descended again – there is a virus in the computer.
I
have no e-mail capability – outgoing or incoming.
I can receive e mail on my I
Pad, but outgoing is more challenging and I have no way
to print anything.
I find myself trying very
hard to be positive and upbeat for Geoff, but it is becoming
increasingly more difficult!
Thanks
to my friend, Teresa, at home in Williamsburg, who has been in touch almost
every day.
And
to Doug and Donna McCarthy who call frequently.
And
to Gordon Hughes who visited with us at Hopkins and is helping us understand
the
“medical jargon”.
And
to Harry Harper who is there to cover for me whenever needed.
And to Mary Friess, the only
other member of my parish to call with
words of comfort
and support – Mary is our local cancer survivor saint!
I believe in the power of
prayer – If I did not, I should turn in my collar!
I have Daughters of the King
who have called/written from Seattle to Homestead, Florida.
Bill Lewis, a priest in the
diocese and a former assistant to Geoff at Rock Creek, called
and prayer long and well with me.
I
know that the answer is not always the one we want however.
My
prayer is that this cancer if operable and that the long surgery goes as well
as possible.
I
ask your prayers for the same.
Faithfully
and hopefully,
Kathie+
Facing More Challenges and Changes of This Life
Dear
Annie has gone be with God - with special
thanks to Harry Harper, myself acclaimed assistant!
As
I read the gospel during the Burial Office, I knew that I had to listen
carefully-
"let not your heart be
troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me."
I
am trying hard. That is a verse that has gotten me through some rough times
before.
I
pray it will again. My guardian angel
seems to be off duty!
Just
when you think things cannot get any worse, they do.
We
got what we thought was good news - not pancreatic cancer, but bile duct cancer
rare
and more treatable.
We
were sent to the Emergency Room at the VCU Medical College of Virginia.
The
doctors in Williamsburg thought Geoff was deteriorating too quickly to wait any
longer
for our negotiations with Hopkins.
Tuesday
he was in the ER for 18 hours - and they did nothing.
Geoff
was admitted to a room at 2 a.m. and given some medication for itching a
side affect to jaundice and elevated
bilirubin.
On
Wednesday, at 8:30, we were told he was scheduled for the needed ERCP that day.
At
9, Hopkins called to say they were ready for him and they would transport him
to Baltimore.
Our
insurance would not cover the move because MCV could have done the same
procedure we
were electing to go to Hopkins
expecting better treatment.
Round
and round we went until 2 when I got Geoff released and drove him to Hopkins
myself.
We
stopped in Ashland for lunch as he had been NPO since the night before.
Geoff
could not even eat all of what he had ordered and went to the car while I
finished my meal.
I
was in constant phone contact with Hopkins several times during the day
with the assurance that they were
getting ready for him.
Holly
made a reservation for me at a nearby hotel.
At
4:30, we were close to the hospital and I was told everything was in order.
We
got to Hopkins shortly before 5. Admitting had no record of our coming.
The
waiting room was full and noisy and Geoff was very ill.
I
fought for a blanket and found a pillow in an abandoned wheel chair.
I
took him to a quiet part of the lobby and he stretched out on a sofa and slept
fitfully.
Admitting
never helped much, but a security officer and a greeter could not have been
nicer.
It
was they that found him in the system.
I
called patient assistance and found that they "close at 4:30"
I
finally found someone on call in the administration office and things began to
move.
Geoff was admitted by 8:30.
On
Thursday, tests were done and the good news was that the cancer seemed
to be contained in the bile duct.
Friday
more tests and scans were done on Geoff and late in the afternoon the surgeon
sat down with us to outline our
options. This time it was bad news.
New
tests have shown some small spots in the liver, the lung, and the thyroid.
This
may mean the cancer has spread.
If
it has, surgery will not be an option -It will be too late for that.
If
it had not spread, as we believed earlier in the week, surgery might have given
Geoff a normal,
in remission, life.
If
it has spread, chemo will be the answer and the prognosis is not as good.
I
believe every comforting word in the Burial Office with all my mind and soul
the
heart is lagging a bit behind.
I
was married to my first husband for 17 years - it ended in a painful divorce
Geoff
and I have been married for 17 years - will it end in a painful death?
Right
now, we don't know.
We
have a house to rebuild - or lose the insurance money.
We
had plans for some fun things in our retirement.
We
are now in the proverbial limbo.
After
the Burial Office, I returned to Hopkins for an appointment at 4 with the
doctor more
tests were run this morning.
Geoff
is determined to fight and I will be there every step of the way with him.
Thanks
to Rona Harding for being with us today - the Bishop's office contacted her.
Bruce
will do Morning Prayer next Sunday as we were supposed to be in Ohio for
Geoff's brother's retirement party.
If
Geoff is strong enough, the doctors have encouraged us to stay with those plans.
He
needs a couple of weeks to get healed from the procedures before surgery can be
considered.
I
again ask for your prayers and your patience.
Doug
has given me Psalm 118, verse 17 for a mantra on to which I now hold.
Don't
hesitate to call me with your own concerns - or to be a comfort to my own.
Faithfully, Kathie+
Challenges
and Changes Continued!
A few things overlooked in the last
update:
Less
than two weeks before the wedding, we came from Oakley to find the master
bedroom,
on
the first floor of the rental house, leaking from the ceiling light/fan!
Guests were coming soon – but the
builder was able to fix the leak quickly and efficiently!
Geoff
got into my car and discovered that the inspection sticker had expired in July!
No
more driving until we could get to Virginia!
Leverett has called three times to
check on Geoff.
Two
of those times we were able to talk to Chamberlain – our granddaughter
and the
brightest light in our life right now!
My friend Barbara has called three
times as well.
We left Johns Hopkins on Sunday, August
26 and went home to rest at Oakley.
We left on Thursday for Ohio…in Geoff’s
big car with Holly driving.
We
spent that night in Pittsburgh where Holly and I visited the Children’s
Hospital
to see little Lilly Smith, her
mother, Kathleen, and her grandmother, Sue.
For those of you who
don’t know, Lilly has Krebbe disease and
has been in the hospital since March
– she will turn one this month.
She is improving and
there is hope that she will be back in St. Mary’s County
by her
birthday!
We
went on to Ohio on Friday for the retirement party on Saturday.
Geoff’s
mother, at 98, is as sharp as a tack and had already figured out what was going
on
from the questions she had asked that Geoff had not answered
directly!
Geoff
had a good time at the party connecting with family and friends from high
school.
We
got back to Oakley on Tuesday early afternoon.
We
had some minor issues in that I could not find the keys to my car for the drive
in the dark
to Williamsburg.
Finally
found them- in the first and last place I looked!
Did
I mention earlier that my computer crashed in the midst of all of this!
I
had left it at Best Buy for repairs and went to
pick it up before we left for home.
We
got to Williamsburg and found that the internet still does not work – which was
the problem
it went in with…a minor challenge
but a frustrating one.
In
Williamsburg, we have gotten our wills in order, as well as powers of attorney
and
advance directives.
Geoff
is on a very limited diet – low fat and low fiber – he has lost 25 pounds which
he needed
to lose, but not this way.
The
current challenge is to try to get him to stick to the limitations –
very difficult for one who loves to
eat all the wrong things!
Bishop
Johnston (Virginia) just called with great concern for both of us.
He
reminded me of how important it was for me to have some “pastoral care” too!
My
head knows this, my heart knows it, but right now my brain is not listening!
Geoff
just returned from some errands and the garage door to the rental house is
stuck – open.
I
don’t need to tell you how difficult these little things become when we are
already under
great stress.
Someone
at the Republican National Convention, I think Condoleeza Rice, said that
with a diagnosis of cancer there
comes a new normal.
I
know what she meant. We hold hands a
little tighter, sit and sleep a little closer,
speak a little more gently, listen a
little more intently.
We
are living in a limbo of stress until the surgery on September 19,
not knowing where September 20 will
find us…or in what condition.
I
ask for your continued prayers that the cancer will prove to be operable and
after a challenging recovery we will
be able to return to a “normal” life…
whatever that is!
Faithfully
and hopefully,
Kathie+
