|
joycetherunner
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Joyce
Gender: Female
Interests: running, hiking, cooking, learn new things, clumps management, cleaning, "beatify" the surrounding.....
Expertise: organizing
Occupation: child care caseworker, medical
Industry: Social Service
Message: message me
Member Since:
3/20/2007
|
|
| update on Randy PauschIn Sept. of 2006, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Thanks to everyone who has done so much to help me and my family. If you're new to this page, here's a short summary of the adventure . A chinese translation of the summary is here. A Chinese translation of this page has been provided, courtesy of a team in China (contact person: Tao Yuting) - thanks! it's here. Another Chinese translation, by Lichao Chen and Kathy E. Jiang), is here. A German translation by Lisi Driner (thanks!) is here.March 5, 2008: Good News and Bad News |
The good news is that the tumors appear to still be basically held in check.
The bad news is that the side effects of the chemo drugs have become too toxic. My kidneys are now performing at well under 50% efficiency (Creatanine is 3.4, and BUN is 54, for those of you scoring the game at home). My blood pressure has soared up to 200 over 100. . I may technically have "high output congestive heart failure," but that's not nearly as bad as it sounds.
The painful part is that we think my abdominal cavity has started to fill with fluid, a side effect of the kidney inefficiency and high blood pressure. . That particularly stinks because the fluid pushes on lungs and heart. I can't sleep (or breathe clearly) while lying down; I have to sit up and try to sleep that way. And I get totally out of breath after a flight of stairs.
So we're doing a bunch of things to address these issues:
- we're stopping all chemo
- I'm now on high blood pressure medication
- I'm taking a diuretic that is supposed to get my body to empty itself of fluids, so that my body (in theory) starts to absorp back the fluid in my cavity and start to urinate it out over time.
- I'm seeing a nephrologist (kidney specialist) tomorrow.
- Yesterday I got a blood transfusion, which greatly helped my low red blood cell count and is giving me more energy.
This is a setback, but hopefully a small one. However, if the damage the chemo drugs did to my kidneys is permanant, that would be really, really bad. More news as it develops. |
| | |
| 2008 #1couldn't resist the urge to run.....so, i finally ran my 1st winter run on sunday. it was so nice. i ran from home to the forest. it was so white.....crisp.....quiet.....cold w/some noise coming from cars passed by.....i heard my own breathing.....until MH called and asked, "where r u?" i told him to meet me on harms. o.....thank God for running! i didn't look at my watch.....i didn't care about the distance.....i just enjoyed my run! time to pray. time to think. time to listen. time to connect. time to work out problems. SHUT UP. LISTEN. COMMUNICATE. | | |
| grandma passed away last night. thanks for all who had prayed for her salvation. she has accepted Christ couple of times while refusing Him couple of times in the past few years. roger shared the gospel w/her again about a week ago, she gently nodded her head when roger asked her to put her trust in the Lord. thank God.....even though the road was rocky, yet your prayers and our prayers were heard. i am OK b/c i know she is. everyone has to face this day soon or later. it's a solid, strong, & confident feeling w/no fear when I KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE! a future w/our creator! He is faithful! He has kept His promise for ME that my family would be saved and He delivers! Hallelujah! | | |
| Happy or nothappy or not.....it's a choice, not by chance. | | |
| Goodbye Lai LaiLai Lai-Mrs. Chan passed away on 12.3.07 in HK. She was 76, diagnosed w/final stage liver cancer, a friend of my aunt (father's older sister).....she was so close to our families as if she is part of the Man family. "Everyone" knows that she likes me alot.....she even joked about getting her son to marry me when we grow up. I remember the 1988 Summer visiting HK. Bak Bak-her husband, Mr. Chan spent half of his monthly salary for me to buy stationary. I was 2 young to understand their love (they were not rich). Thank God I get to see them again this July. Hopefully, I get to see Bak Bak again.....he is 86 (still in good health). He twisted his ankle before Lai Lai leaves. He was 2 tired la. He is a perfect husband in my eye. He took care of her, washed her, took her to doctors, and loved her til the end. They always hold hands wherever they go.....I wish MH & I are gonna be like them when we grow old. They bought me 2 sets of clothes when i met them the 2nd time in HK this Summer. They said I was 2 "lo sut"! Bak Bak was so proud of his fashion sense + "fashion sales" background. After he gave much thought about which style would fit my shape, what color would look good on my skin, and my personality. Finally, he handed me this bag of clothes w/love. I was speechless.....tears in my heart. I am blessed. I miss you and thank you for your love. | | |
|
