Video Shoot

Harry is out with Benny Grunch today shooting new videos. I am not sure which song they are shooting - but I am sure it will end up on you tube after airing on Frank Davis.

Yesterday was an up and down day. He ate part of a po-boy yesterday and asked for PB&J sandwiches today for the shoot..... He's hanging with his cousin Mike today.

Tomorrow Harry will be with Johnny Vindigni attending the services for Emile Guess. It will be a sad day for all..

Thanks for the prayers..

Mona

Laundry

Now I know this may not seem like a huge triumph to anyone but me, but I came home yesterday to find the laundry washed, dried and folded. I was so overwhelmed that he was able to do that after the past few days... Amen....

Mona

More Ups and Downs, more up today

Harry had a very bad day on Friday. Things have picked up quite a bit since then. We have seen 3 doctors in the last 2 days and they have adjusted some of his medicines and that seems to be working. He is still not eating the way he wants to but we have found a nutritional supplement that is finally succeeding at getting him to better health. He is stepping down on one of his pain medications and has completely gotten off of the other. Today is the best I have seen him since June. He will have a CT Scan of his chest within the next 2 weeks and then we see his oncologist to find out where we are and when we start the next round of chemo. It is my understanding that when we start that it will be 1 time a week for 3 weeks, 2 weeks off and then the same routine for a total of 3 rounds of full chemo. He will have to have surgery to put a bard port back in - but he came through that with flying colors last time and I expect nothing less this time.

Over the weekend we were blessed to have my sisters and their families, Harry's mom and Harry's cousin and his family for a BBQ. And even though he was tired - he really really enjoyed the company.

Thanks again to all

Mona

What a week!

This past week has been the most up and down I think we've had. Today is a very up day. Harry and I went to eat at Fiesta last night. Now he did not eat a lot but he did eat. He woke up this morning and was talking about eating eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast and how he was going to fix it. He also realizes that he no longer fits in any of his clothes - so he is planning a trip to Walmart for jeans and maybe even Academy. That's a lot for him and he knows he will probably be tired tomorrow. But if we get out a little every day.. it can only help.

I cannot say this enough - if you or any member of your family is ever facing a battle that requires radiation oncology - the only Doctor you want is Dr Paul Monsour at EJGH. He and his entire staff are the most caring, confident and concerned I have ever met. For Harry going to that office as we did on Tuesday is like a HUGE B12 shot.

Harry is so looking forward to playing music again - if things keep going the way they have the last 2 days - it could be sooner rather than later...

Thanks again to all.......................

Dr. Monsour

We saw Dr. Monsour yesterday and discovered that the pain Harry was feeling around his heart is pericarditis. It is treatable by taking advil - so that is what we started last night and it looks like it is working. We go back to see him in 2 weeks and he said we would do tests to see where we are when he is out of pain. It was great to see all those guys again, Harry really enjoyed seeing them again. Dr. Jeanfreau also started Harry back on his heart medications. Harry also asked about going out to a restaurant tonight for dinner, so we'll see how he feels today. I am not going to say we turned a corner but I think that Dr. Monsour again worked his magic and relieved some of Harry's fear about his progress. So I will post again soon.

Mona

After the Weekend

Harry had a great day on Saturday. But we are still having a nausea problem and his pain is becoming a little more prevalent. I am calling his doctor today to see if there is another nausea medicine they can give him - the very expensive one they gave him for during chemo worked the best. So we are looking for something in between. We go to see his radiation oncologist tomorrow for his 1 month visit. And we see the rest of the doctors next week. So I will update again soon.

Mona

Day 4

We had a few challenges yesterday but I think we have overcome them, one of the biggest is nausea. I found some nutrition that has no lactose in it and he seemed to be able to hold that down better than all the other things we have tried. I think that he may have become completely lactose intolerant - which is not uncommon and could reverse but after 4 hours of research on the web - I found some products that should be able to keep his nutrition up without lactose and gluten and I am working on others but for the time being - no milk or dairy products.

Today Harry is out with his cousin Mike from LaPlace and a newly discovered relative named Bob while I am working. What a grace from God that Mike and Janice Ravain came back into our lives right as we were beginning this journey. I am sure he will be completely exhausted by the end of his day but what a fabulous boost for his spirit to get out... Mike - I cannot thank you enough..

I will post again after the weekend.