NEW CHAPTER

Hi everyone,

For those of you who didn't know, my soulmate Luis has passed on to a whole new dimension (heaven) on February 28th.

Since his passing over, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this site. But 2 inspiring things happened to me today that I couldn't ignore.

One, my best friend Amabel, reminded me about the book that I wanted to write about in the future. She also showed some interest in my blog and wondered why I haven't been updating- which made me very happy and inspiring thoughts soon began to unfold. I want to give thanks to my BFF for the great encouragement!

And two, I realized that just because Luis is not with us physically, it doesn't mean he isn't here spiritually.

He has communicated with me on a spiritual level which is very comforting- and I do believe in the after life communication with us.

I've been opening some new doors and exploring the spiritual side of our beings- and boy is it exciting.
I'd love to share the things I'm finding out here in hopes I can be of any help to any one like others have been to me.

So for now, I will leave and return on a later date.

Until next time......sleep in peace and wake with joy.      

NO CHEMO

Hey guys,

I wanted to let you guys know that Luis will not be having chemo tomorrow.

Playing Video Games While Waiting

When we visited the E.R. on Tuesday for the biliary tube issue, they took some blood work from him as usual.

Before we left the hospital, they gave him a prescription for antibiotics just in case of an infection.

A different kind of blood work called culture was also taken but the results hadn't come back yet- until today.

It showed an organism bacteria was found in the blood- and Dr. Vashi wants him on a 10 day antibiotic via IV.

A company called Coram will  be coming out to our house tomorrow to connect a pump that will infuse the medicine over an hour. We will also be trained on how to connect and disconnect the pump for the remainder 9 days.
 
They'll be no chemo tomorrow and his dr wants a follow up a few days from now. She wants to make sure he's properly covered with antibiotic before giving him chemo again.

It's amazing how things happen sometimes. We were just chatting this morning about (believe it or not) wishing there was no chemo tomorrow.

His leg can use a little more recovery time and he had BIG plans to enjoy the super bowl with family. Well, his prayer was heard.     

We look at what just happened as another counted blessing- and not as a down fall. We believe God is guiding the doctors on every decision they make with regards to his treatments. And everything is going as planned.

"The great secret to happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles." :o)

Until next time........have a peaceful and blessed night.  

BILIARY TUBE ISSUE!

Hello everyone,

I hope you all are doing great and are in the best of health. I have some new news to share with you guys.

But first, let me mention that the pain that Luis was experiencing seemed to lessen. He's doing much better.

Dr. Rohman did tell us that with the nerve blocks, Luis will have days where it feels like the block isn't working at all.

We believe he might've been experiencing one of those days. Luis told me to just go ahead and cancel the appointment with Dr. Rohman.

BILIARY TUBE ISSUE

A couple of days ago, his biliary tube stopped draining. We went in to the E.R. and were told he needed it replaced. They told us to come in the following morning- (which was today) for the procedure.

Everything went good and he's sound as sleep at the moment. Dr. Vashi just spoke to me and said sometimes those tubes get loose and wore out causing it to get out of place. He said they replaced the tube with a thicker one. Things should be working like new  again.

Also, the old tube started to leak right after chemo and Luis was getting really annoyed by it. This new tube actually fixed that issue as well. No more leaks!

Right now, he's in recovery for a few hours and is expected to come home later today.

Chemo is still scheduled for this Friday. If anything changes I will let you guys know.

I have a few hours to spare so I will let you guys go so you guys can enjoy the rest of your day, as I will go and continue enjoying mine as I get my workout done here at the treatment center.   

QUICK UPDATE

Hi my lovely family & friends,

Hope you guys are doing great! We are doing well besides Luis having some pain issues again. I just wanted to share what's been happening at home in the last week or so.

Cousin Alex and Will

Everything was good a few days after chemo. He even had some visits from family a day after- which I must say, he enjoyed very much.

But sometimes even when things are looking good,  and he's feeling great- even then, a better treatment can bring some unpleasant surprises for us.

We're quiet use to these unwelcome surprises. I like to call them obstacles and challenges.   

One surprise was his leg swelled up again last week- and although it's getting better (as I'm writing this), he did spend all last week upstairs in the room.

We didn't want to put too much pressure on the leg so he kept his cute little behind in our bedroom just playing video games.

The second surprise was the pain he used to have back in October (right before the first nerve block procedure), has come back. We were told that this nerve block can last up to several months or even past a year.

It seems it lasted around 4 months for Luis. It might be time for another visit with Dr. Rohman (aka- Dr. feel good.)  
 
I will keep you guys posted on what's next, if there will be another nerve block. It might be a false alarm.

Until next time......have a blessed night. 

BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD

Hi everyone,

I have a few new updates on Luis and how everything is going with this new treatment.

Yesterday was his usual exam, and chemo followed shortly after. His blood work came back good, and he also gained 8 lbs- (must be those weight gainers I've been making for him.)

This new treatment seems to be a walk in the park compared to the previous one (hooray for that!)

Even with last weeks chemo, he bounced back incredibly well. The next day, we were at the junk yard getting a part for our car.

Let me be the first to say, it's not an easy task to take parts off of junked cars. I'm glad I was with him for the experience of the physical labor. We must've been
working on that adjustment link for an hour. We finally got it off.      

"God is working! And we can finally see some of his work. That's staying in Faith." ;o)

Since the last nerve block procedure, Luis's lower back/rectum pain has lessened. We've been having many opportunities to cut down on his morphine doses here and there. Not every day is the same though. Some days are better than others. And some are even great, going several hours without any morphine.

I encouraging him to take his pain meds as needed- and constantly remind him how great his doing on his own- without pain meds. Things are going great for us.

We've also been using our own methods to help minimize his pain. Such as, taking baths, and laying in there for 30 minutes. Warming up kitchen towels to put on his lower back. I also make him this tea right after his meals that supports healthy digestion.

It's a great feeling to finally see him with less pain- and now with even lesser pain. What a blessing that is.

Until next time.........have a great night!       

 

CHEMO TIME

Hi guys,

Earlier today, we had an appointment with Dr. Neelam and I'd like to say it went well.

His blood work all came back good so she went ahead and put in the order for his chemo.

However, she did mention that she was very concerned about the previous bleeding situation that occured a couple of weeks ago.

She said it's not a good thing that the tumor bursted. Luis immediately interrupted her saying, "That's okay with me- I'm glad it did."

Her reply was, "Well......it's a good thing that it bursted but it's also not a good thing because you can still bleed again or even get an ulcer." (Who wants to think like that?)

Can you imagine if doctors shared ONLY their good thoughts and spared the bad ones from patients? Every patient would look forward to their doctors visits as well as the test results- and not to mention, patients would be expecting to get better.

Although today started out painful for him, things are looking better already. Luis and I are in the infusion room getting his chemo. Hey, just when I told you guys in my last post that his new chemo is for 3 hours. Well, the nurse informed us earlier that it's only for 2 hours.

Luis said, "Even better." And what I say to that is, "Thank you father- (again) for making his treatments easier for us all." God knows how much I waited for a much milder treatment for him.

As I sit here updating you guys, he is sound asleep in his comfy chair snoring- (must be the Benadryl). But I know healing is taking place right now. So for now, I will leave you guys with one last thought:

The healing presence of God is in each one of us, we may not be aware of it, but it's there. ;o)

Sending much love to you all!    
     

SMALL CELEBRATION

Hi everyone,

I have a new update but first, I would like to make a correction with regards to my previous post.

There was a misunderstanding with Luis and his doctor with regards to his new chemo treatment. His chemo is not every Friday for 3 hours- it's a cycle that goes 2 weeks on and 1 week off.  

We're very excited about that week off in between cycles (God heard my prayer and answered.) This gives him more time to focus his attention on life, healing, and ABOVE ALL, perfect health.

I apologize for the long post (again.) I know most of it is me, expressing my thoughts and feelings about everything.

"I blog to express not to impress."

EMERGENCY VISIT

On the 27th of Dec (right after his second nerve block procedure), Here's the link to my post about the first nerve block procedure- in case you haven't read and would like to know.  

Luis experienced some bleeding in his stool. I called Dr. Rahman and asked if it was from the nerve block. He said it shouldn't cause any bleeding and said to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't continue.

The same day, we went ahead and went out to eat pizza with the kids. Shortly after we came home, he had another episode. Plus, this time, he threw up blood.

We knew it was time for another E.R. visit. It was past 11:00 pm and because he wasn't having any pain, he decided he will drive himself to the treatment center while I stay home with the kids. We knew they were going to admit him for further testings.  

The next morning, he calls me up to say that Dr. Vashi will be giving him anesthesia to insert a camera down his tummy to see where the bleeding is coming from.   

I got us ready and took a taxi to the hospital to be there before he was done. As we waited patiently for him to return to his room, I couldn't help but sit there and wonder what now. At one point, I started praying out loud asking God, "What does this mean father? Please guide me and let me feel your presence. I need you."

"Prayer is when we speak to God. Intuition is when God speaks to us."

GODS MESSAGE 

As I stepped away to make a few phone calls, I remember passing up a couple of ladies who were chatting. One of the ladies said to the other, "They say 6 months to a year...."

But I didn't hear the last words of that sentence. And as I got closer, I heard her say, "After you pass the 1 and a 1/2 year period, you're good to go."

That was my first message that day.

My next message was in the hospitals parking lot. I was getting out of my car with my youngest- and as I looked over at a cars license plate, it read JESC C ....

I'm sure you can guess what that stands for. ;o)

My last one, was when we were on our way home from the hospital. I kept thinking about Luis and prayed for him as I pictured him in my mind (as I always do), at home, happy, healthy, joyous, and doing the things he loves to do.

As I pull over at a gas station, a gentleman approaches me and hands me a card with a web site on it reading, TheKnowledgeOfGod.com  It also has a paragraph sharing briefly what this web site is about.

We all have messages and feedback that are constantly speaking to us, guiding and directing us in our life!

Only you will know the meaning of the things that come into your life. So you must be alert to what is happening around you so you can ask questions and receive the meaning of the message for you.

I believe this was my feedback from God letting me know through the woman's words at the hospital, the license plate, and the card, that everything's going to be okay.        

OUR CELEBRATION

When Luis came back to the room, he was still out, sound asleep- as I waited for Dr. Vashi to give me the results.

He enters the room and tells me that the tumor is bleeding. But the good news is that the bleeding has stopped.  He also wants to stop giving him the blood thinner shots that I was giving him daily for the swelling and blood clog on his right leg. He said that might've also caused the bleeding.

Guess what? It's been over a week since I haven't given him those shots and the swelling is gone.

"I always expect miracles to appear in my life."

He had a couple of options for us but because Luis is no longer bleeding, these options don't matter to us. I will let the doctors worry about those- as I continue on expecting for things to improve.

When Luis woke up, I was right beside him and the first words I spoke was, "The tumor  is dying babe. It's bleeding." What a great feeling that was just to say.

Luis had tears in his eyes and shared a little story with me about his spiritual connection to God right before they give him the anesthesia.

It went something like this: "I swear babe, when I was downstairs in imaging, Dr. Vashi told me he doesn't know what's going on with me because all my blood work and stool sample came back fine."

"He said I don't really need blood transfusion but he will give it to me because of the blood I lost in my stool- and when I threw up."

"When doctors can't explain, there comes God. I was even allowed to leave my rosary on while they did the procedure on me."

I said to him, "That's great! So you had Jesus with you the whole time too?" He just smiled at me as he tried to hold himself from crying of joy. :o)

He also told me that I was his angel and my spoken words were exactly what he needed to hear. That just lifted up my spirit even higher. We were both happy and celebrating from the inside.


Until next time.......know that none us have it easy. We all have a story to tell. But guess what? You're the author and get to decide how the story goes. Well, I'm deciding how this goes.