Update April 26th

More good news than bad this time:

Gary's tumor count (tracks the cancer activity) is now down to 57!!!  It started out at 693 on Dec.21st!!!
The target number is 40, so he is getting very close.  This shows very positively that the cancer is not spreading.  What we still do not know is if the tumor is pulling away from the artery, and we will not know that until we go to St Louis May 18th. 

Gary has had several good days since last Friday (April 22nd).  His pain has subsided enough that he has reduced the pain meds he is taking.  He did not sleep quite as much and started to get a little sassy (this is good!!).  Unfortunately, he had a chemo treatment this morning, so he will be set back for a few days.

For the best news:   Gary's birthday was yesterday...68 years young!!!  Next one he will celebrate will the 69!!!

Last Sunday, April 17th, Bolivar High School sponsored an alumni game for Relay for Life, in honor of Gary.  About 30 girls came to play, & several of his former players (boy's teams) from Pleasant Hope, Jasper and Gravette, AR came to just be there. Several members of his family were there also.

Gary was very surprised and elated to see everybody.  After the game was over (which included our daughters Dawn and Brandi, and daughter-in-law Lea Ann) they all got in the middle of the floor in a circle and had Gary get out there with them. They circled their arms and said a prayer.  What a moment!!!  The whole afternoon was very fun and emotional.

Again, thank you for your prayers, phone calls, visits, cards, etc.......

Until next time...... Jannis

Update April 12, 2011

Since the last blog, this has been Gary's situation:

        First the good things:

• He has gained four pounds....2 lbs in each of the last two weeks!!!
• He has been to his shop for about 30 minutes at a time for several days!!!
• He spent all day this past Saturday lying in a lounge chair watching friends help build the frame for a storage barn that he had started last fall!!!

        Now for the not-so-good things:

• He still has stomach pains and had to add Tylenol to his current medication (the Fentanyl patch 100 mg and Oxycod 5 mg)
• He still sleeps a lot
• He still has trouble with the taste of some of his favorite foods

In addition, he had a visit with his cardiologist today and found out that he has a leaking heart valve.  The doctor is going to treat it with medication now until he is through with his cancer treatment, then he will do surgery.  Gary said he is not really concerned about the leaking value, but is concerned about the pancreatic cancer.  He took this news better than I would have (I think).

All we can do now is keep following the doctors orders and hope for good news in May from the doctor in St Louis.  We will whip the cancer first then the leaking heart valve.

Thank you for your continued prayers.  Also, we have seen such amazing support from family and friends.  They have brought us meals, shopped for groceries for me, cleaned up our yard, built the frame of a barn, spent many hours visiting with Gary in peson and on the phone, sent numberous cards. Tax season will be over next week, so I will be able to take over the grocery shopping and preparing meals. 

Till later...... Jannis