Vacation pics......and more answered prayer.

Today was round 10, hip hip hooray!!!! I am doing well with 10, just a few more to go. My platelet count was very low for 9, it had dropped to 108. Today it was back at 160. This is nothing but answered prayer.

Now for a few vacation pics.

View from the balcony.




Self pic, arent we cute?



Anudder cutie pic.



Bubba Gump Shrimp Co



My "Bucket of Boat Trash"




Our race team is "So Fast, So Clean"........I did find "Fast Clean" in Cancun



Shot of the bay...



Last but not least, us again.....




We are so thankful we were able to sneak away for a few days. God IS SO GOOD to us. I will have a 2 week break to go to the Busa Bash at Deals Gap on the 25th. looking forward to seeing some of my hooligan friends.

Brenda and I still ask for your prayers. This treatment is getting rough each time, but I thank Jesus for helping me every step of the way.

Believe,

Kevin

I am such a slacker.....

March 18th....wow, I need to post more. In Casa de Vman things are going as planned. I had round 9 of my chemo cocktail last Friday. The good news, my abdomen is healed and my Onc added Avastin back to the mix. It makes for a long treatment, 5 hours, but I know it is what is gonna make me better.

I am cleared to start playing softball again and I hope to get some batting practice in soon, I am only 3 months behind, lol. There are a few of us that start hitting in January. I dont know how my reflexes will be so I am going to start the season off a few levels below what I normally play.

It seems that everyday I am so thankful for being ALIVE. Cancer may still be in my body but the drugs are working. All the experiences over the last few months have made me a better person. I know that is hard for some to fathom. But believe me when I say.....do not take your life for granted.

Thanks for all the prayers, emails, calls......they mean so much to both of us. We both still have out days that register high on the tear scale(borrowed from Michele and used WITHOUT premission, lol).

I know some are asking for vacation pics....as soon as I can get some time to resize them I will post them up.

Keep in touch.

Believe,

Kevin

Hope

What a word. For many years, I used it without ever considering the FULL meaning of the word. I am so thankful I still have hope and the desire to continue attacking this disease with everything I have got. As my fellow fighters know, treatment can sometimes get harder, and that is the cold hard facts of chemo. I just want to say round 8 was my best yet! Thank you Jesus for allowing that to happen. We are both so blessed.

On Friday, we did discuss options when my cycle is over. It looks like I am gonna switch to the oral version of 5FU with an infusion of Avastin every 2 weeks for 6 months or so. Onc wants my mets to be as small as possible before RFA. I am not looking forward to more chemo, but I know that is my road to recovery.

Vacation update....just a little bit of good news. Vacation Express has issued us a large credit to our credit card for all the issues we experienced in Cancun. It is so nice to see customer service still alive and working.

We cannot say it enough, thanks for all the prayers, calls, email, cards, etc. Both of us know, I am still in a battle for my life. Yes progress is being made, but I have along way to go. I have put 100% of my Faith in God for complete healing. To all my friends and fighters, keep up the fight and never throw in the towel.

Believe,

Kevin

Back from Cancun and a CT scan....

Brenda and I returned from Cancun this week. We spent last Friday night in Atlanta after eating at a South African restaurant with some of our Hooligan friends. After a great meal and some sleep, we were off to Cancun.

Our 4 star hotel turned out to be the worst we have every stayed in over our many travels through the Bahamas, Mexico and Caribbean. We got to the hotel, the Great Parnassas around 6:30 PM, checked in and were told the hotel was over booked and they were sending us to a comparable resort, the Great Solaris. Come to find out this is a 3.5 star hotel....

After the taxi ride, unloading the luggage and checking it with the bellhop, we proceeded to the front desk. I presented the certificate from the Parnassas. We were promptly told there was no rooms here either. Needless to say we were fit to be tied. The Manager then sent us to the GR Solaris where we finally got a room sometime after 9pm.

Sunday we returned to the Parnassus to check in, we had a room, woo hoo! After getting to the room, we noticed the A/C was not working. The bellhop told us they are working on the A/C and it should be fixed within the hour. So off to town we went.....

Back to the room around 10 to still no A/C. I am so furious. Brenda called the front desk to tell the staff. A person was sent to check on the unit. He said he fixed the unit and the temp will drop within the hour..... We waited and the temp actually went up. At 11pm room temp was 81 degrees!

After more complaining we were sent to a room with 2 twin beds and no jacuzzi, quite a few rooms below what we payed for. Needless to say the A/C worked and we were both beat. Bright and early we were both back at the front desk. After speaking to the front desk manager, we were upgraded to a different suite. Finally something was going our way or so we thought.

After getting into the room, 2 hours after we told it would be ready, the room was good. We went back to town and arrived back late. Both of us were ready to soak the night away in the jazuzzi(be quite Michelle!) After getting the tub full, adding bubble bath and getting in..the tub was broke! One more call to the front desk and someone was sent to fix the tub....after that we were both fed up and just went to bed.

The next day, we spent the day at the beach and pool, so relaxing. We came in around 4 to get ready for dinner. Brenda jumped in the shower and no cold water, only scalding hot water. One more call to the front desk. We were told that they were coming to check. After an hour I called back and was told that there was an issue with the cold water system. I blistered the guy for being lied too and not told this an hour ago. Later that night, the jacuzzi was just what we needed. Learing from experience, we checked and it was broken again, one more call to the front desk, some one was there quick and fixed the tub.

These are just the big issues we had, I will not bore ya with the small ones. Needless to say our travel agent, Vacation Express and Elite Tours have all filed a complaint with the hotel. I will keep you guys posted on the out come....

Other than the issues with the hotel, we had a great time. Both of us needed some time away just relaxing and this vacation accomplished it! I do have a few pics and I will get a few posted up soon.

Now for some GREAT news. I had a CT scan today and 4 lesions in my liver shrank by more than a third. Keep in mind, there were 6 to start with, nothing was seen on the 2 smaller ones. The nodules in my lungs are stable and not growing. This is nothing but answered prayer. We both thank God for answering this prayer.Keep in mind this is without Avastin, I should be back on it in maybe 4 weeks.

Round 7 went well today and after meeting with the Onc, I am now a candidate for RFA as long as the shrinkage continues. Thanks you all for the prayers, calls and emails.

Believe,

Kevin

This is a first....

I actually went to work today for a few hours. We are moving into our new office and I felt I need to be there for a bit to get stuff prepared for the Monday rush. Plus I had to reset my remote access program so I can work for home for a bit.

Thanks for all the calls and prayers, there is no way I could or better yet no way Brenda and I can make it through this trial without the Love of our Savior.

Believe,

Kevin.

Round 6 today

Well I am home from round 6 now. This one, Brenda and I both were kinda dreading. You just get to feeling "normal" and wham, back to the treatment room. I know that the chemo is what will help rid my body of all the cancer cells, it just seems to not be getting any easier.

Last week i was able to work on my trackbike for a bit. This is the longest I have been without riding any at all. That is due to my belly wound. Any pressure or stress to that area will prevent it from healing. Today at my wound therapy visit, my opening is about 5mm around. My Doc believes it will be completly closed sometime next week. Then the 4 week countdown to Avastin is on. I know God has allowed me to heal quickly.

I have many prayer requests this week:

I havent spoke much about my parents at all. But I know they read my blog and I want them to know, even though there are a few miles between us, both of you are never far from our thoughts and always in my prayers. My dad, my hero and major inspiration in this world is having a few health that really need our prayers. Remember my mom also, she needs strength to continue to care for my dad. I love you guys!

Michele took round 11 on Monday, I can only imagine what that much chemo in her system is like. I know she is recovering this week. Her Onc has stoped her treatment with this one. The end of chemo is a scary thought, kinda like a security blanket so to speak. I am always praying for your comfort my friend.

Bradyr's CEA level is rising. He will be starting chemo back soon. A mix of FOLFIR will be his new drugs to be administered. Brady is a HUGE help and inspiration over at the Colon Club. Keep up the fight my friend.

I have met so many people fighting this disease. All need your prayers and I can never remember all the names. I pray everyday for a cure. I know it is possible and I do believe someday there will be one.

Brenda is having a rough time this week. Please whisper a prayer for her. I cannot imagine what her having to watch this being done to a spouse, I have no idea how to relate or how to help comfort her....

Attack Life and Believe,

Kevin

Wow that was quick!

Well folks, I am simply amazed again. I am getting ready to head to work, Normally my Tuesday after chemo is still kinda in a fog. Today I woke up bright eyed and ready to attack the day. I am so thankful for God being so good to me, allowing me another day.

Brenda and I are finalizing our last minute travel plans for the end of the month. It looks like we will be driving to Atlanta, catching a plane and spending a few days in Cancun. We had this vacation planned for last September, but well, cancer kinda got in the way.

On the prayer front, many requests. I am asking early, I have a scan scheduled for Feb 29th. Brenda and I ask for your prayers for the upcoming scan. I BELIEVE in my heart that what is still left in my body is shrinking and the chemo is doing its job. The only thing missing is a scan to prove that.

Jake has been moved to a private room. Simply a miracle according to the Doc's involved.

Remember all my friends fighting this disease, Michele, Bradyr, Susie. We pray everyday for each of you, all are special to us. Keep fighting and never throw in the towel.

Believe,

Kevin