Team T.

Update

2012-01-30T13:24:00.002-05:00

I have a good friend in Tennessee that lets me know when I need to update my blog. She checks it often and usually assumes that no news is good news. She called me Saturday and I realized that I had not written for awhile.

I meet with Dr. Gupta tomorrow for my normal appointment. I will get my tumor marker results and get my PET Scan scheduled. I am also going to talk to him about my Neupogen shots. They boost my counts, but made me feel really bad this last time. I am going to see what my other options might be.

I have continued the same chemo schedule since October. I go two Fridays in a row and then I am off a Friday. The chemo is starting to wear me down and a few adverse side effects are creeping up. Hopefully, my tumors are shrinking so I can cut back on the treatments. I guess we will find out after the PET Scan.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T20:55:00.002-05:00

Over the last month, Teresa has been able to keep a "normal" routine with the chemo treatments. This is due to the fact that the 2 shots after treatments has helped with the low white blood count issues. This past Tuesday, she had an appointment with Dr. Gupta. During the appointment, we asked if he had any plans to check the tumor on her liver. He responded by offering her the opportunity to get an ultrasound on her liver the following day.

Well, Teresa went and had the ultrasound and got immediate feedback from Dr. Pearce (Radiologist). Although the ultrasound and PET are two totally different scans, Dr. Pearce said he could see enough of her tumor in order to gauge that it had shrunk approximately 2 cm. Needless to say, this was the greatest Christmas present that we will get this year!

As a result, she will keep the same regimen for a while and get a PET scan after a couple of more rounds. That means she got treatments today followed by another on December 30th. It will be a busy next week or so with family coming in from Ohio and Florida but Teresa is looking forward to it.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Rob

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T10:05:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Please take time to enjoy your family and friends this weekend. Thank God for all of your blessings."It is good to give thanks to the Lord.." Psalms 92:1

I also wanted to update everyone on my health status. I apologize for not posting anything sooner. After a I get a few phone calls from folks that check my blog regularly, I realize that I better post something.

I was not able to get my regularly scheduled chemo this past Friday, November 18th. All of my counts were way too low to administer chemo. Dr. Gupta put me on a really strong antibiotic to help my body fight infection. He decided to let my body get built back up and then do chemo as scheduled on Friday, December 2nd. I will then get some sort of "booster" type shot on December 6th and 7th. The shots are supposed to boost my counts back up, so I can get chemo again on December 9th.

If the shots work, then I will probably continue to follow this schedule for the rest of my treatments. Dr. Gupta has not set a date for my next scan, yet. I figure it will be at the end of December or first part of January. He will determine at that time if my body is responding properly to the treatment or if we need to try something else.

The blessing in all of this is that I have been feeling pretty good despite what is going on in my body. I am so thankful that the pain in my lower back and leg is gone. The radiation did the trick! I am thankful that we live in the same town as the cancer center and that Dr. Gupta travels here to see patients. I am thankful for all of our friends and family that mean the world to us. I am thankful for all of Rob's co-workers that do special things for us all of the time. I am thankful for all of the prayers that continue to bless us. And most importantly, I am thankful to God for giving us the strength that we need to get through this.

Brain MRI Clear!!

2011-10-26T09:29:00.002-04:00

Well, we can all breathe a little easier again because the MRI of my brain was clear. No cancer was found!! Words cannot describe the relief we felt when Dr. Gupta read us the results. Now, we can just focus on the current chemo treatment regimen that I am doing and pray for good results.

The chemo did not have any bad side effects for this first round. I mostly felt fatigued. The anti-nausea meds did the trick. I am hoping to feel as good for this next round on Friday.

Thank you again for all of the prayers. We truly believe that God is giving us the strength to battle this again. Keep the prayers coming!!

Love,
Teresa

Not the News We Wanted to Hear

2011-10-19T19:06:00.002-04:00

We met this morning with Dr. Rhees (Radiation Oncologist) to discuss the results of the PET Scan that Teresa had on Monday. Dr. Rhees informed us that the cancer had spread to two more bones (base of neck/right hip) and that the spot on her liver had increased from 3 cm to 6 cm since the last PET Scan in June. Needless to say, this was not the news that we wanted to hear. Especially since she had been feeling better in the last week or so. Dr. Rhees told us that she knew Dr. Gupta would want to start chemo in order to treat the liver. So, before we left the office an appointment with Dr. Gupta was scheduled for next Tuesday. However, we didn't have to wait until Tuesday to find out the course of action.

Dr. Gupta called me this evening and talked about his plan. Teresa is going to start chemo on Friday. She will be given Gemzar and Carboplatin. These two drugs will be given one time per week for two weeks and the third week will be off. Dr. Gupta said that the side effects will not be as harsh as TAC was over 2 years ago. At this time, he said that we are not backed in the corner. However, he said that he is concerned with how fast it is growing on the liver. Dr. Gupta feels that there are two things that are working positively in her favor as she heads into the treatment. First, the spot on the liver is smaller than the first time. Second, the treatment the first time had significant response from her body for a long period of time.

I know that Teresa is a strong individual and she will attack the chemo and cancer with the same attitude that she has had over the last 2 1/2 years. Her spirits are down but she will battle. Her faith in God and the love for her girls will continue to help her through the next few weeks. Please keep her and the rest of the family in your prayers. We know that they have been answered to this point and have no reason not to believe that they won't be in the future.

Done with Radiation!

2011-09-30T12:30:00.002-04:00

I received my last radiation treatment on Thursday morning. Dr Rhees said she is confident that they treated the right area, but it may be 4 - 6 weeks before I feel real relief. She said that obviously the tumor had done some nerve damage and it will take a few weeks for the nerve endings to re-train themselves on how to respond to movement, etc. I will meet with her again on Tuesday to go over my treatment plan regarding all of my prescriptions.

My tumor markers had gone down from 63.4 to 42.6 in just a short amount of time. We usually celebrate that as good news; however, Dr. Gupta said he is not sure that we are going to be able to rely on those numbers anymore to accurately pinpoint what is really going on with the bone cancer. He scheduled a PET scan for October 17th to get another clear picture of where the cancer has spread, tumor sizes, and locations. I will get another tumor marker test at the end of October to see how they have changed in a month. I am scheduled to meet with Gupta on November 1st to go over results and set up my next treatment plan.

I have been very thankful that I have been able to drive and take my girls to all of their activities. I have been able to attend all of their sporting events, too. It is the simple day to day tasks that really mean the most to me. We are so blessed to have so many people in our lives that offer to help us out, too. We really appreciate it!!

Week #2 of Radiation Completed!

2011-09-25T08:42:00.002-04:00

Two down and one to go. I will finish up my radiation treatments on Thursday. The doctors said that the radiation will continue to work in my body up to a month after the treatments are finished. The main way we will know if this has worked will be my pain level.

I finally started a new drug called Neurontin on Friday evening. The doctors had been trying to get me to use it two weeks ago, but I was very hesitant about starting it. The potential side effects made me nervous, but I felt I had no choice but to try. I just needed some relief.

Amazingly enough, I felt so much better yesterday. It was the first time in weeks that my pain was minimal. My goal all week had been to feel well enough to go to Indianapolis with Rob and the girls to the Sagamore Athletic Conference football games at Lucas Oil Stadium. I had my heart set on the spicy shrimp cocktail at Harry and Izzy's, too.

We had a parking pass and the restaurant was very close, so I didn't have to do too much walking. We had an awesome lunch with friends and did a little shopping. Western Boone also thumped the Chargers, so that was fun to watch, too.

I had my tumor marker test on Friday and will get those results at our meeting with Dr. Gupta on Tuesday afternoon. I am also scheduled to get my once monthly infusion of Zometa and Faslodex injection on Friday, but we are not sure if Dr. Gupta is still going to go with that plan or change it.

Please continue to pray for us as we go through this and that these treatments and medicines work to control my pain.

First Week of Treatment update

2011-09-16T13:24:00.003-04:00

The radiation treatment is going fine. They are zapping the tumor from three different directions, so hopefully it will do the trick. I am taking steroids twice a day to help lessen the inflammation. They also put me on an acid-reflux medicine to help with a few stomach issues that started this week.

I continue to take Ibuprofen for the pain. I am trying to hold off on having to use something stronger. I want to be able to drive and do things for the girls that need to be done. I don't want to be wiped out and sleeping all the time.

Thursday was my worst day. I was in a lot of pain and had severe nausea, so the doctor upped my steroid dosage. Thankfully, I feel a lot better today. I just feel tired today and have some pain, but I don't feel like I am going to get sick at any given moment. The doctor said I might feel worse, before I feel better. I am hoping that day was yesterday and all the rest will be better!

I wanted to thank everyone for all of their kind words, calls, prayers, and cards. We feel so blessed to have so many people that care about us.

Good News and Bad News

2011-09-10T14:55:00.003-04:00

I thought I would update everyone on my latest news. I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my left hip region for the past few weeks. I had an MRI of the left hip done on Tuesday. The hip looked good. Then, they did an MRI of my lower lumbar region on Friday. The MRI showed that one of the tumors in my L5 vertebrae/sacrum area is pushing on nerve endings.

The Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Rhees, recommended that I do radiation Monday through Friday for three weeks. This should shrink the tumor and relieve the pressure. This treatment should not have any bad side effects. The doctor prescribed meds for nerve specific pain and a steroid to reduce the inflammation caused by the radiation.

I had my tumor marker test on Thursday. The results showed that my markers went up from 52.9 to 63.4. We are not sure if Dr. Gupta will change my current treatment of Faslodex to something else. Dr. Rhees said that I will definitely keep doing the once monthly infusion of Zometa. So, I guess we will just wait and see what he decides is best.

We were really impressed by this team of doctors and their proactive response to my situation. They are all big believers in "quality of life" and recommend treatments that support that philosophy. We feel I am in good hands.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Martina McBride - I'm Gonna Love You Through It

2011-08-19T10:50:00.002-04:00

Martina McBride - I'm Gonna Love You Through It

Good News!

2011-07-27T18:05:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to share that my new treatments seem to be working. My tumor markers dropped ten points. I will continue using this treatment on a monthly basis. My next appointment with Dr. Gupta is scheduled for September 27th and we will get the results of the next tumor marker test then. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!! Please continue to pray that this treatment protocol works. My body is accepting it really well with no adverse side effects.

Happy 40th Birthday!!

2011-07-03T08:31:00.003-04:00

I turned 40 on June 17th and had a great birthday. However, Rob pulled off the surprise of my life by throwing me an awesome party at French Lick a week later. All of our immediate family was there. I couldn't believe everyone had come down to help celebrate my big day.

We all stayed at the West Baden hotel. It is really spectacular. It is something you have to see in real life to appreciate the beauty of it. Some of us even had balconies that looked out into the atrium. It was so neat at night.

Some of the guys golfed while a few of us girls hit the spa. Everyone hung out by the pool and enjoyed visiting. Rob arranged for a trolley to take us to Hagen's for dinner. The setting was absolutely beautiful. The food was delicious!

Dancing, bowling, and a little bit of gambling at the casino made for a lot of great entertainment for all. Some of the kids even went horse back riding. The girls loved hanging out with all of their cousins. We all had a blast.

It was a great weekend. One that I will never forget. Rob did an incredible job planning the whole weekend. I can't even imagine how much time and effort he spent to pull it off. Now he has another year to plan my next birthday surprise! :)

Lastest Diagnosis

2011-06-07T16:57:00.002-04:00

We just returned from Dr. Gupta's office. Unfortunately,the breast cancer has spread to her bones. She has spots on the last 2 vertebrae and 1 on her left shoulder. He is going to treat with a different type of drug called Faslodex. It is a hormone therapy that is administered through a shot once a month. Right now, he does not feel that it is necessary to go with chemotherapy. She will also have Zometa administered through an IV once a month to help keep bones as healthy as possible.

As far as cancer spreading, Dr. Gupta said that it going to the bone is better than flaring up in her liver again. The cancer in the bone usually grows at a slower rate. He really thinks that he can keep it in check without taking drastic measures. Her next appointment is scheduled for Tuesday, July 26th. Hopefully, we will be able to see some results by that time. However, he told us that it may take a little time for the medicine to work its magic.

Obviously, this is not what we wanted to hear. If one thing is for sure, Teresa will keep a positive attitude and battle the cancer. Please continue to keep Teresa in your thoughts and prayers.

Rob

PET Scan

2011-06-02T18:32:00.002-04:00

I haven't been feeling very good the past few weeks, so I got my tumor marker test done about 4 weeks early. My markers had gone up from 49.7 in March to 62.9. Dr. Gupta ordered a PET Scan so that we can see what is going on. I am getting the scan done this Friday at 2:00. He said the increase means that the cancer has spread or that the tumors have started to grow again. It has been two years since my numbers have gone up. I have been so lucky that it has taken this long for the numbers to start increasing again. I will see Dr. Gupta on Tuesday at 3:00 to get my results. Please pray for us as we await the results.

Happy Spring!

2011-04-18T14:09:00.004-04:00

I am so happy that Spring is here! I love to see the buds and blossoms on trees, green grass, and flowers popping up. It makes everything seem alive and renews my spirit.

I love playing outside with the girls. Everything is such an adventure with Kendal. She has a great imagination. We are counting down the days until we open up our pool for the season.

Kendal's birthday is next week. I can't believe my baby will be six years old. The time goes by so quickly.

We have been busy with Rachel's AAU basketball this spring. She is really enjoying it and absolutely loves spending time with the girls on team. It is a lot of fun for all of us.

I have been feeling good, but I am definitely ready for some warm, sunny weather. I am excited about getting our garden planted soon. It is a lot of work, but is really rewarding. The girls enjoy helping with it, too.

Only four more weeks until the girls are out of school for the summer. We are all looking forward to that. I love having them home!

My next doctor appointment is scheduled for June 21st. Dr. Gupta thought we should wait until after my 40th birthday. He said we better have a big celebration!

Thank you so much for your constant prayers and support. It means so much to us to have so many people keeping us in their thoughts. It has definitely made a difference.

Defying the Odds

2011-03-26T10:03:00.002-04:00

We completely spaced it and did not post the results of the check up on March 15th. Anyway, the tumor marker continues to decrease. It went from 64.8 to 49.7 over the last ten weeks. We want to thank everyone for the continued prayers and concerns. We know that God is answering and blessing us each and every day! The next appointment will be on June 21st.

Update......

2011-03-07T11:52:00.005-05:00

I thought I better post something on here or my faithful followers will quit checking in on me. Thankfully, we have not had any medical updates in awhile. I have been feeling great. The girls and I have had to battle sinus infections and colds all winter, but nothing major.

I will get my tumor marker test this Friday, March 11th and will meet with my oncologist on Tuesday, March 15th at noon to get the results. As always, we are praying that my tumors continue to shrink and that the cancer has not spread.

Please continue to pray for us and hope for good news again!

Prayers Answered

2011-01-04T14:27:00.002-05:00

All of our prayers continued to be answered. Teresa's tumor marker was down to 64.8 today. This is a great way to start the new year. Thank you all for your continued prayers and concerns.

God is good!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T21:04:00.002-05:00

We have done a terrible job in keeping the blog up-to-date. Teresa continues to feel good. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season wears her down faster than it use to and I worry about her doing too much. However, she has been able to enjoy it with the girls. In particular, she is looking forward to spending time with family over the next couple of days.

On January 4th, Teresa goes back to Dr. Gupta for her 10 week check up. We continue to pray that her tumor markers stay in check. Hopefully, they will be down. That would be an awesome late Christmas present!

We hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please find the time to enjoy your family and friends. I will post the results of the appointment on the 4th.

Thank you for your continued prayers. We are very thankful for each and everyone of you!

Merry Christmas!

Rob

Wonderful News

2010-10-05T21:15:00.002-04:00

I know that we have been negligent in keeping this blog updated and we apologize. However, we wanted to share the wonderful news that we got today. Teresa had her 10 week check up with Dr. Gupta and found out that her tumor marker dropped even more. It went from 103 at the end of July to 86.6 today. This was truly music to our ears. All of the prayers are being answered. We continue to pray for a miracle and God continues to answer. Teresa and her positive attitude also continue to amaze and inspire all that know her.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!

Rob

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2010-08-24T10:08:00.003-04:00

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk will take place at Wabash College in Crawfordsville on Saturday, October 2nd. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:00 a.m. I will be participating again this year; my team is Team T. If you would like to make a donation or join our team to walk, please sign up at www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

Also, we can order event t-shirts with our team name on the back for $12. They are black with pink letters like our Team T shirts from the past, so old members can just wear those if they want. Let me know if you want a new t-shirt and what size.

Lets take this opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors, remember people we have lost, and raise funds and awareness to help end this disease.

Back to School

2010-08-19T10:30:00.003-04:00

The girls started school yesterday. Rachel is in 7th grade and Kendal started Kindergarten. They both hated for summer vacation to end, but were excited for school to start.

Kindergarten is full day, so it seemed strange not having Kendal here with me. She attended preschool the past two years, but she was always home by 11:00. It will take awhile to get used to the quiet.

We are all excited for soccer season to start. Rachel will play for Tuttle and Kendal will play at the Boys and Girls club. Kendal will also start dance class again soon.

I plan to keep busy by doing volunteer work at the school and completing some household projects. I pray that my good health continues throughout the school year, so that I can enjoy the girls and all of their activities.

I feel very fortunate to have had such a great summer with my family. We are looking forward to a great school year. Please continue to pray for us!

Thankful!!

2010-07-27T18:16:00.002-04:00

Just got back from Dr. Gupta's office. My tumor markers were down to 103 from 128 back in May. Rob asked him if the results were what he was expecting to see. His reply was that I was defying the odds. This is due to the fact that I have such an aggressive form of breast cancer. We feel so blessed with these results. I do not go back until October 5th. He tried to get me to go 12 weeks but I compromised with 10. Now, I can focus my attention on getting the girls ready to return to school.

I know that I have said it many times before, but thank you all for your continued prayers. Through God, all things are possible!

It's That Time Again

2010-07-20T22:34:00.002-04:00

We have not been very good at keeping the blog up-to-date. However, this summer has been great. We were able to take a couple of short trips to Chicago and Cedar Point between all the basketball camps, workouts, etc. that Rachel has been involved with.

Teresa is feeling well. Battles swollen feet and legs after being up for extended periods of time but overall everything is good. You would not know by looking at her that she is battling breast cancer.

On Friday, July 23 she will get her blood work for the tumor marker done. On Tuesday, July 27th she has an appointment with Dr. Gupta. We hope and pray that the numbers continue to go down.

Thank you all for your continued love and support!!

Birthday Wishes!

2010-06-18T11:15:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their good wishes for my 39th birthday. I am so thankful to be another year older. I had a wonderful birthday!!

I can't believe it is already the middle of June. The girls' summer break seems to be flying by. Rachel has been busy with basketball. Kendal finished off her dance season with two performances. We have been enjoying our pool with these hot, humid days.

Thanks to all for their continued prayers.

Love,
Teresa

Great News

2010-05-25T16:14:00.002-04:00

We just got back from the doctor's appointment. Teresa's tumor marker was down again. It went from 152 to 128. Her next visit will be on July 27th. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are very grateful to have all of you in our lives.

Rob

2 Month Check-Up

2010-05-20T21:54:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, May 25th, Teresa has her 2 month check-up with Dr. Gupta. The days leading up to the appointment are always stressful for her and the rest of the family. Please pray that she handles the stress well and that her tumor marker comes back with good numbers. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Rob

Spring Break

2010-04-12T21:21:00.003-04:00

We were able to get away for a vacation during Spring Break. We had such a great time! It was wonderful to spend so much time together. The girls loved playing on the beach. We went with another family and really enjoyed hanging out with them for the week. We had great weather, an awesome condo, and lots of good food.

What a difference a year makes..... this time last year, we didn't even know if I'd be around to go on a Spring Break vacation. We thank God every day for making me feel good enough to enjoy activities with the girls. We are finally used to the new "normal" for us and all have adapted well.

We feel truly blessed to have such great friends and family. We appreciate everyone keeping us in their prayers.

A quick update on my dad: He finished his 9th week of radiation treatments on April 9th. He will be off work for 2 more weeks as his body tries to heal. He has had a lot of discomfort the last 2 weeks. Pray that his upcoming scan shows that the cancer is gone.

Good News!

2010-03-16T21:44:00.002-04:00

I had my appointment with Dr. Gupta this evening. My tumor marker levels had dropped from 157 in November to 152. Not a huge drop, but we'll take it! All of my other blood work came back great and my liver is still functioning normally. I do not have to get any tests until the end of May. Please keep those prayers coming my way!!

Brief Update

2010-02-26T20:44:00.003-05:00

I just wanted everyone to know that everything is still going well at the Ramey household. Rachel is in the middle of her 6th grade basketball season and is really enjoying playing with her friends. Kendal continues to keep us entertained at home and is loving her hip-hop/jazz dance lessons. I am feeling fine. I am really thankful to be able to take the girls to their activities and enjoy watching them play/perform.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and concerns. My next scheduled tumor marker test is March 12th. I will get the results back on March 16th.

A quick update on my dad, Bob Denhart: Dad just finished week #3 of radiation treatment for his prostate cancer. He has to do it for 6 more weeks. He seems to be getting along really good with the treatments so far. Thankfully, he has only had pain a few times. Please continue to pray for him, too.

One Year Ago.......

2010-01-27T09:57:00.003-05:00

On January 27, 2009, I received my 2nd cancer diagnosis. I remember everything about that day. What a punch in the gut! We were definitely not ready to hear those words again. We were shocked. That wasn't the way things were supposed to happen. The breast cancer I had two years prior was the non-invasive kind. No lymph nodes were involved. I had the radical mastectomy to just make sure it was gone. I remember thinking, "How on earth did this happen?".

I was most worried about breaking the news to Rachel. She was at Hoover playing in her first 5th grade basketball game. Rob had to go to the game and act like everything was fine. He avoided eye contact with my dad because he didn't want to tell him the news. My mom and grandma stayed home with Kendal and me. What a terrible night!!!!

My first oncologist painted a grim picture for us. He said I could try chemotherapy, but with Stage IV Breast Cancer in the Liver, it was very advanced and aggressive. He predicted that I could be dead in 3 months.

We wouldn't accept that. Dr. Williams suggested another oncologist that he thought we would like, Dr. Gupta. He gave us hope. I'll never forget his words, "Your cancer is not curable, but it is treatable." He confirmed that the cancer was advanced and aggressive, but he said we would treat it aggressively. He also stressed quality of life. He wanted me to be able to be a mom to my girls. That was so important to us.

With a lot of hope, faith, and prayers, I am still around. My tumors continue to shrink. I have not had chemo since the first week of July. My liver function is normal. Overall, I feel really good.

Please continue praying for us as we are on this journey. Thank you so much for praying for us and keeping us in your thoughts. I think it is fitting to end the post with this: Nothing ahead of you is bigger or stronger than the power of God behind you.

Great News!

2010-01-20T17:05:00.004-05:00

I just returned from my appointment with Dr. Gupta. My tumor markers were down to 157 compared to 185 in November. What a relief!!! It feels so good to know that my tumors continue to shrink. My last chemo treatment was in July, so my body is getting a really nice break.

My bone density scan showed that I have experienced some bone loss, so I am starting on Boniva for that and also increasing my dosage of Calcium and Vitamin D. I will continue taking Femara on a daily basis. I don't have to see Dr. Gupta again until March 17th.

I bet we all sleep better tonight. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. Lets keep praying for a miracle!

Tumor Marker Test

2010-01-19T13:54:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to remind everyone that I get the results of my tumor marker test tomorrow. The CAT scan that I had done the week of Christmas showed that the tumors were getting smaller and had not spread to other areas. We are praying that the blood test will show that my tumors are still shrinking (or at least not growing at this point).

I did not feel well last week; I did not have a single ounce of energy. Of course, our minds started wandering.... what if the cancer is growing again, what if the calcium levels have spiked, etc. Thankfully, I started feeling better yesterday. I'm still tired, but do feel better than I did last week.

My doctor's appointment is at 3:00 tomorrow. Please pray for continued good news and the strength to deal with whatever comes our way.

Happy & Hopeful New Year!

2010-01-06T11:20:00.003-05:00

I've had several people tell me they have checked my blog and noticed I hadn't posted anything recently. I thought I better give a brief update. We had a wonderful Christmas Break!! We were able to spend a lot of quality time with family and friends. That is really all we wanted to do; none of us wanted it to end. We love just hanging out together.

After you have been faced with a life-threatening illness, you really learn to appreciate what you have. Things do not matter, but people do. We would not have been able to make it through last year without the love and support from our family and friends.

I have been feeling really good. I will get my tumor marker test on January 18th. I have an appointment with Dr. Gupta on Wednesday, January 20th.

We are still praying for a miracle. My hope is to be healthy. I want to be able to celebrate Christmas with my family again. I don't want to miss out on anything!

Please continue to pray for us. We want a happy and healthy 2010!!!

CAT Scan Results

2009-12-22T11:38:00.002-05:00

Just received great news regarding Teresa's CAT Scan on her chest, abdomen, and pelvic areas that was done yesterday. The report said that the lesions on the liver continue to shrink and nothing new showed up. This is in relation to her last scan in August. Dr. Gupta thought this is what the scan would show since the tumor markers had been decreasing but we wanted to know for sure. It will help us sleep better at night.

In regards to Bob, Teresa's dad. He got his Bone Scan results back today. A light spot showed up on his chest bone. He will now get an MRI in order to show exactly what is going on in that area. They are still planning to remove prostate in late January.

Thank you all for your thoughtful prayers. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we battle the obstacles that have been placed in front of us. We hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Make sure to time to enjoy your friends and family.

Dad's report

2009-12-15T15:02:00.003-05:00

I know a lot of you that follow my blog know my parents, so I thought I'd post an update about his recent diagnosis of prostate cancer. My dad went to the doctor today to go over the biopsy report and next steps. He will get a bone scan by the end of the week. He will get surgery to remove his prostate at the end of January. They have confidence in his doctor and surgeon, so that is comforting. I think we are all just relieved to have a basic game plan. Hopefully, the bone scan will turn out okay and they can move ahead with the plan as scheduled. They will meet with his doctor next week to go over the results from the scan. I will keep everyone updated on his condition. Please continue to pray for our family as we deal with his cancer.

Another Bump in the Road

2009-12-09T20:16:00.003-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know that my dad, Bob Denhart, was diagnosed with prostate cancer yesterday. He will meet with his doctor on Tuesday to get more details, treatment options, etc. Please pray for my family as we deal with this new bump in the road.

Nothing Serious

2009-11-30T13:52:00.003-05:00

I just got back from my doctor's appointment in Lafayette. After a thorough examination, she determined I have pelvic support problems. She recommended physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support that area. She seemed confident that the therapy would help relieve some of my discomfort. We are awaiting some test results, but feel that they will be okay. So in the mean time.... I should just grin and bear it! It is a good thing I'm tough :) Please continue to pray for us.

Always something.....

2009-11-27T09:07:00.003-05:00

As some of you already know, my appointment with Dr. Gupta went well on Wednesday. My tumor marker went down to 185, which is 10 lower than 6 weeks ago. Of course we were thrilled with the news and want to thank you for lifting me up in prayer. However, a new issue has developed that we decided to share with everyone. I started having some female problems this week. I will go to my ob/gyn on Monday at 11:00. Hopefully, it is just tied to the removal of the ovaries and lack of estrogen which is causing the problem. Anyway, the nurse told me to just lay down or sit with my feet propped so I can get some relief. It seems like there is always something. I guess we are not supposed to get too relaxed around here. Please keep praying.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We felt very fortunate to spend time with our loved ones.

Being Thankful

2009-11-13T10:29:00.003-05:00

I realized that we hadn't posted anything for awhile, so I thought I better give a quick update. I can't believe we are almost half way through November already. It seems like these weeks are flying by so quickly.

I am still feeling good and keeping busy with the girls. I was so grateful to be able to go trick or treating with them on Halloween. Kendal was a fairy princess and Rachel dressed up like a nerd. They looked so cute. We had a lot of fun!

Now we are starting to do our Christmas shopping. Neither one of my girls really had any wants this year, until I forced them to make a list. We also need to shop for Rachel's upcoming birthday. I can't believe she will be 12 in December!

I will get my tumor marker test at the end of next week. I will see Dr. Gupta on Wednesday, November 25 (Rob's b-day) to go over the results and next steps. The anxiety is already starting to set in. I just try to keep my mind busy, so I won't think about it too much. As always, we are hoping for good results but trying to prepare our minds & hearts if it is bad news. That is easier said than done.

I have been very emotional lately. I have good days and bad days. I have just been doing a lot of thinking about the future instead of just focusing on the present. I think all of the Christmas and Hallmark commercials have contributed to my mindset greatly:) ! I am still staying positive and so grateful for each and every day that I feel good. I will not let this get me down.

Please continue to pray for my family and me. Our strong belief in Christ and the power of prayer has gotten us through thus far. I feel his presence daily.

Great news!

2009-10-14T16:18:00.004-04:00

We just returned from my appointment with Dr. Gupta. My tumor markers were 195. Yippee!!! That is such a vast improvement from March when my markers were 1,624. I have another 6 weeks off from chemo. I bet we all sleep well tonight! Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Please keep praying for us. It really does work!!

Still Waiting

2009-10-13T20:42:00.003-04:00

I know a lot of you have been praying and waiting to hear about my test results. We have not heard anything yet. I guess we will have to wait until my appointment tomorrow afternoon. We will post the results as soon as we know. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2009-10-05T10:30:00.003-04:00

Family and friends participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Crawfordsville on Saturday. Team T raised alot of money for the American Cancer Society and for some local efforts to support women battling cancer. I was really proud of my team and appreciated everyone's support.

I have been feeling really good. I still get pretty tired as the day progresses, but other than that feel pretty normal. I thank God for each and every day that I can do my regular mom type of things. You don't know how special it feels to just do everyday things like running errands, cooking, taking care of the girls, etc. It makes you see things in a whole different light and so much more appreciative of life.

Next week, I get another blood test to check my tumor marker levels. My appointment with my oncologist, Dr. Gupta, is on Wednesday, October 14th. We will discuss the results and next steps at that point. Please pray for good results and strength to deal with whatever news we receive.

Thank you so much for your constant prayers. We feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.

Cloud Nine

2009-09-11T11:59:00.000-04:00

We are still on cloud nine that I don't have to get chemo for another few weeks. What a relief! It is great to have such a long break from receiving treatment.

My hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows are growing at a pretty fast pace. I laugh at myself when I look in the mirror, because the eyebrows look like a really bad make-up job. Anyway, I decided to quit wearing scarves on my head this week. I still do not have much hair, but have enough to cover my bald head. I don't look like Uncle Fester from the Addams Family anymore!

We had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. We were able to go to some cookouts and truly enjoyed our time with family and friends. We all had a great time!

Rachel's soccer season at Tuttle Middle School officially started on Wednesday. She is playing Sweeper (the person right in front of the goalie) and is really doing a great job. They are 1 - 1. She loves it!

Kendal's first soccer practice will be Monday. She is so excited to play. We are looking forward to seeing her in action!

Thank you so much for all of the prayers for me and my family. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we wait for the next blood test in October.

Love,
Teresa

Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk

2009-09-09T10:50:00.002-04:00

Visit our page to join our team or to contribute:

The American Cancer Society:

Shared via AddThis

Good News-Details from Rob

2009-09-02T21:38:00.001-04:00

After being on pins and needles the last few days, today's appointment could not have come any sooner. I know how I get and I cannot even begin to understand Teresa's emotions. However, it was a huge relief when he told us that the CA 27-29 marker had decreased. It went from 320 in July to 215 today. Her calcium is also staying within acceptable range. It was 9.1 today along with normal liver functions, etc. As a result of the positive test results, there will be no need for any kind of chemo for another six weeks. She will continue to take the Femara daily. Dr. Gupta told us that his goal is for the marker to remain in check for several months. This is great news and we are thankful for all the prayers. There is no doubt that they have been answered up to this point. Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers. It is our hope that the cancer can be kept at bay and that Teresa can be the mom that she wants to be to the girls. Thank you again for all of your love, support and prayers. We are blessed to have you all in our lives.

GOOD NEWS!

2009-09-02T16:20:00.002-04:00

I just got off the phone with Teresa. She got wonderful news. Her numbers had dropped (even without having done chemo in the last 6 weeks). She has no new tumors. She gets another 6 weeks (at least off) and then they will check her again. God is good. He told her to keep doing whatever she is doing. It is your prayers! Keep praying! Rob will send more info later...I just wanted to get this out ASAP! Yay!

CA 27-29 Blood Test for Tumor Marker Levels Tomorrow

2009-08-31T22:15:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to let you all know that I am getting the CA 27 - 29 blood test done on Tuesday, September 1st. This test checks my tumor marker levels. We are praying that the results will show that there has been no major change since the last test I had done at the end of July. That would mean that the tumors are still contained in the liver and have not gotten any bigger. I meet with my oncologist, Dr. Gupta, on Wednesday, September 2nd at 3:20 to discuss the results and next steps. Please continue to pray for us, especially as we await the results of this important test.

I also wanted to ask for prayers for J.D. Taylor and his family. J.D. is an 8th grader at Northridge Middle School that is battling cancer. He was most recently diagnosed with inoperable tumors on his spine. Please keep this family in your prayers as they go through this tough time.

Sincerely,
Teresa

Back to School for the Ramey Family

2009-08-17T13:45:00.000-04:00

A lot has been happening at the Ramey household the last few weeks. We went to King's Island for one last hurrah before school started. We had a great time and felt very fortunate to be able to go. Thank goodness for scooter rentals for me..... they help me get around on big outings, so I don't tire as easily. I've been feeling really good and always thank God for every day that I feel normal. I do get pretty tired and my legs feel like they weigh about 20 pounds each, but I'll take that with a smile. I'm so happy to be able to do my regular mom type of things. That's what I missed the most when I was feeling sick.

Rachel started 6th grade at Tuttle Middle School last week. She absolutely loves it and really likes all of her teachers. She is riding the bus this year to and from school, so she has to be ready to go at 7:10 a.m. That seems pretty early for us, but everyone is adjusting fine. Kendal has been getting up at 5:30 a.m. so she doesn't miss seeing Rachel in the morning. I told her she could sleep in a little later and still see her, but she doesn't buy it!!

Kendal has her preschool open house this week. She starts school next Monday. She will go three mornings a week. She is so excited about going to her school again. She loved it last year and learned so much.

Rachel starts soccer practice this week and Kendal should start her soccer practice soon. I am looking forward to watching them play. It will be interesting to see Rachel competing with seventh and eighth graders. It is a combined team of 6th - 8th girls. She is really excited about the upcoming season. This will be Kendal's first venture into competitive sports....... it should be a real hoot!!!

Please continue to pray for me and my family. Pray that my tumors do not grow and that the cancer stays contained in my liver. Pray that I continue to feel good, so that I can enjoy my family.

Thank you so much for all of the prayers and good wishes. I am very positive that is the reason I have been feeling so well. With God all things are possible. We are still praying for a miracle.

Love,
Teresa

Happy Anniversary Rob and T!

2009-08-07T17:35:00.005-04:00

Happy Anniversary Rob and Teresa!

Six Weeks off and Praying for More!

2009-07-31T09:10:00.000-04:00

Teresa had her appointment with Dr. Gupta on Wednesday. He said that the tumors in the liver had shrunk in size fairly significantly since she started the T.A.C. in March. As a result, he feels that it is best to give her body a rest. He has put her on hormone therapy (Femara). The drug is suppose to suppress the remaining 2% of estrogen that her body produces through fatty tissue. He will do a CA 27-29 tumor marker test the first week of September. We will meet with him on September 9th to see how effective the drug has been at keeping the cancer at bay. The goal is to keep the tumor marker reading in the 300 range. Otherwise, she will have to resume some sort of chemotherapy. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. We really feel that they are being answered and continue to hope that a miracle will occur.

Prayers Answered

2009-07-24T16:11:00.001-04:00

Teresa just got off the phone with Dr. Gupta. Her CA 27-29 marker was slightly lower at 320. However, her tumors had reduced in size even further and nothing new had popped up. This is great news!! We will meet with Dr. Gupta on Wednesday, July 29 to get a plan of action in place for the next 6 weeks. In the meantime, we are going to enjoy the weekend with family and friends. Thank you all for your continued prayers. They are working!

Marker Test Results and CAT Scan

2009-07-23T23:56:00.001-04:00

The trip to Orlando was very enjoyable. Not only did Kendal get to go to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach for the first time, but Rachel played in the 10U AAU National Tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Kendal enjoyed her time and Rachel's team played very well against teams from all over the United States. They ended up finishing 6th out of 24 in the classic bracket of division II. Overall, the girls went 3-4 for the 5 days. What makes this special is the fact that they only played with 6 girls. By the last game, they were exhausted!

We also got to spend a lot of quality time with Scott, Michele, Aubrey and Sasha. It was great being able to see them each of the 8 days that we spent in Florida. They went to the theme parks with us and to all of Rachel's games. Teresa got along well and really enjoyed her time. We rented a scooter and it was well worth the money. The long walk to the sports complex and the walk around the theme parks would have been too much for her. Not once, did she ever get too tired or have any cold sweats at night while sleeping!

Please keep Teresa in your thoughts and prayers over the next 24 hours. Today, she went and got the blood test done for the CA 27-29 marker. Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. she gets the CAT Scan done. Hopefully, we will get good news that the tumors have shrunk. She does not say much, but I know that she is starting to get a little anxious. It is our hope that she will get the results before tomorrow evening. That way, we do not have to sit on pins and needles the whole weekend.

The Ramey's Go to Disney World

2009-07-21T21:28:00.001-04:00

Post Chemo Update

2009-07-08T14:55:00.001-04:00

Please keep Teresa in your thoughts and prayers. She is going through her worst period of time after the chemo on Monday. She is experiencing the drastic changes in her body that make her break out into a cold sweat. In addition, she is very restless and has no appetite or will power to drink anything. Hopefully, she will start to rebound by mid-day on Thursday. It is tough watching her go through this but we can only hope and pray that the chemo is continuing to do its job. I know that she wants an extended break from any chemo. She told me on Monday when we were leaving the cancer center that she hopes the next time she is sitting in the chair that there is snow on the ground. So, pray that she gets good results back from the CAT scan at her visit on July 29. Good news will give her at least 6 weeks without treatment. We continue to be grateful for all the love and support that we have received.

Today is Chemo Day

2009-07-06T07:14:00.002-04:00

Please remember to keep Teresa in your prayers today and this week. She goes in for chemo today at 10 and then will be recovering from it this week. Pray that the chemo goes in and attacks the cancer and that she recovers quickly and that she's not nauseated. I'll keep you posted as I get updates.

Summer Update

2009-07-01T13:09:00.002-04:00

Everything at the Ramey house has been going well. Rachel recently spent 4 days at a team camp with the varsity, junior varisty, freshmen and middle school teams from C-Ville. She played approximately 15 games in the 4 days and came home very tired. It was a great experience and she really enjoyed herself. Kendal is the same ornery Kendal. She continues to keep things exciting around the house. She participated in gymnastics during the month of June. However, she says that she does not want to do it anymore. So, we will take July off and maybe give it another shot in August.

Teresa has been doing great. The mouthwash for her sores worked wonders. In addition, we are going to get the prescription filled for Emend. This is the anti-nausea medicine that she started with the last treatment. It seemed to help in her recovery. She has been enjoying the girls and the weather. Please keep her in your prayers as she prepares for her last round of treatment for this cycle. Hopefully, we will get good results on Wednesday, July 29!

We hope that you all enjoy your 4th of July weekend!

Doctor's Visit

2009-06-24T22:49:00.001-04:00

Doctors visit went well today. She has developed sores in her mouth. So, Dr. Gupta gave her a prescription for that problem. Hopefully, it will help ease the pain. We were also able to get her CA 27-29 marker test and CAT Scan scheduled. She will get the blood work done on Thursday, July 23 and the scan done on Friday, July 24. She will have an appointment with Dr. Gupta on July 29 at 1:40 to discuss the results and plan of action. If the tumors have continued to shrink, he will put her on an anti-estrogen hormonal therapy. He explained that even with her ovaries out, her body still produces a small percentage of estrogen from the adrenal glands and fatty tissue. If this is the route she is able to take, she will be tested every 6 weeks to check on the tumor marker. So, we are hoping and praying for good results on July 29. That would mean no chemo in the immediate future and her body would get much needed recuperation. She was very appreciative of all the birthday cards, wishes, etc. that she received last week. They were a definite boost to her spirits. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. They are working!!

Friday Night Excitement

2009-06-22T07:40:00.002-04:00

As you all know, T. had chemo last week and usually doesn't feel well until later in the week or even into the weekend but Friday night, she literally ran two doors down to our house (just in case we needed to head to the basement) because we were under a tornado warning. Poor thing, it took all the energy she had to hustle down here as rain was coming down, trees were blowing and the thunder was rumbling but she made it and just laughed as she walked into the house. We had a nice little unplanned visit, the kids had a little playtime and then they headed back home. She was feeling much better as of Friday night and even better, altough not great on Saturday. Keep praying for her and her family!

Happy Birthday, Teresa!

2009-06-16T22:58:00.005-04:00

Join with me in wishing Teresa a Happy Birthday!

If you have pictures of Teresa, please email them to me and I'll add them. bcsaunders@accelplus.net

Doing well

2009-06-16T11:59:00.002-04:00

I just talked to Teresa and she said she slept well last night and is feeling okay this morning. She's resting and her girls are in Cincinnati until tomorrow evening. The anti nausea meds seem to be working. Tomorrow is typically her "bad" day so pray that she doesn't have one this time. Please keep praying for healing and recovery!

All Went Well

2009-06-15T20:56:00.001-04:00

Teresa called a little after 5 to report that all went well today with the chemo. She has a different anti nausea pill this time that is supposed to work really well so hopefully it does and she can bounce back quicker than she did last time. Keep praying for the Ramey family!

Send Teresa Happy Birthday wishes

2009-06-12T17:56:00.002-04:00

Although Teresa likely won't feel much like celebrating her birthday next week, I would like to encourage you to email her, mail her, leave a comment on this blog or write on the facebook wall to wish her a Happy Birthday and a speedy recovery from chemo. Her birthday is Wednesday, June 17th.

Chemo on Monday

2009-06-12T17:54:00.001-04:00

Please be praying for Teresa as she prepares to have chemo this Monday. Pray that the effects are minimal as she has been hit harder each time. Pray that the chemo continues to work against this cancer!

The Latest on T. (from Rob)

2009-06-09T16:54:00.000-04:00

I know that a lot of people are concerned about Teresa and it has been awhile since anything has been posted. Anyway, Teresa is doing much better since the end of last week. We met with Dr. Gupta on June 3 and he is going to give her a new anti-nausea medicine for the next round of treatment that takes place on June 15. He also feels that her recovery time will take longer with each additional round of chemo. Last weekend we got the chance to attend Teresa's 20th class reunion in Covington. This was such a great boost to her attitude. She loved being able to see and talk with a lot of old childhood friends. Things will be "normal" this week. Hopefully, I will be able to take her out for a nice dinner this week in order to celebrate her 38th birthday. Her actual birthday is on June 17. However, she will be down and out from the chemo.Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. If you did not know that she was battling stage 4 cancer, you would not know it by looking at her. She is a fighter and is keeping a very positive attitude.

Pray for Recovery

2009-06-01T10:56:00.002-04:00

Teresa is still recovering from last Tuesday's round of chemo. She is still not feeling great. Normally she has bounced back by now but this time it hit her particularly hard. Please lift her up in prayer today that God gives her strength, rest and recovery.

Chemo Today

2009-05-26T09:58:00.003-04:00

Please be in prayer for Teresa as she has chemo this afternoon at 2pm. Pray that the chemo continues to attack the cancer, that she can rest this week and not be sick. Pray, pray, pray!

Update on Marker Numbers (from Rob)

2009-05-20T18:03:00.000-04:00

We met with Dr. Gupta this afternoon and have received more good news. The CA 27-29 tumor marker came back at 376. This is down from 1624 prior to the start of T.A.C. He also said that all of her tumors have shrunk by approximately 40%. So, this is great news!! We had several other questions for him. First, was how many more treatments with T.A.C.? He told us that she would get 3 more. He really feels that we will continue to see the tumors be reduced. He made it clear that there will be other options once the T.A.C. is over. In addition, he said that he will be able to use T.A.C. again in the future. Furthermore, he said that even without complete elimination of the cancer that drugs could be used to keep the cancer from growing back at a rapid rate. One thing is for sure, we will rest a little better with this news. Teresa said that she just felt that she could breathe better as we walked out of the cancer center. I am sure it felt like the world had been lifted off her shoulders. It is hard not to get too excited because we know things can change at the blink of an eye. However, we know that all the prayers are being answered. Please keep praying for things to go in a positive direction and that the next 3 treatments will be as effective as the first 3. There is no doubt that our prayers are being answered and thank you all again for your prayers, thoughtfulness, etc. We are thankful that each of you are a part of our lives!

Marker Test

2009-05-18T12:11:00.003-04:00

Please be praying for Teresa as she waits for her marker test results to come back. They are anticipating the numbers will go down since the tumor(s) have shrunk. Please pray for this to be the case. She thinks she will get the results on Wednesday when she meets with Dr. Gupta.

Some details on Teresa's good news

2009-05-13T11:20:00.002-04:00

Dr. Gupta left a message for Teresa last night with some details on her tumors. The smaller tumors are still there and the larger tumor had shrunk significantly from 14.8 cm to 8.5 cm. Great news! Keep praying for them to shrink to nothing!

GOOD NEWS!!!!! (from Rob)

2009-05-11T18:01:00.001-04:00

Finally, we have received good news. Teresa talked to Dr. Gupta and her CAT scan looked good. The chemo is getting rid of her cancer. The report stated, "definite decrease in size of metastatic regions." So, you could not ask for a happier group of people than the Ramey household. We know that we still have a huge battle to fight, but for right now we are going to enjoy the good news. Thank you all for your prayers! It is obvious that they are working. Please continue to keep Teresa in your thoughts and prayers. She will get the blood test on Monday that shows the CA 27-29 marker. Hopefully, it will show the same thing that the CAT scan showed. She will meet with Dr. Gupta on Wednesday, May 20 @ 3:40 p.m. to see how many more treatments, etc. I wlll let everyone know as soon as we find out.

Thanks again for all of your prayers!! Also, please keep Whoo Hoo (Grandma Betty) in your prayers. The doctors are trying to get her high heart rate under control.

CAT scan Tomorrow

2009-05-10T22:22:00.002-04:00

Monday morning, T. is scheduled to have a CAT scan to see how the chemo is doing in treating the cancer. Remember to pray for her around 10...that the cancer is GONE!

Also, pray for Rob's Grandma Betty (Woo Hoo) as she is having some issues with her heart and is in the hospital now. Pray for peace and comfort as the family deals with her not feeling well and pray that she gets better soon.

Keep praying!

Pray for Rest-Update from Rob

2009-05-07T08:38:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let everyone know how Teresa is doing. The treatment went fine and she did not get tired on Monday until it was time to put the girls to bed. So, it was nice that she spent the evening doing the normal routine. She slept pretty good on Tuesday night. However, since she had dry heaves with the last treatment the nurse told her to take a different anti-nausea medicine. As a result, the new medicine has not allowed her to rest as comfortably as she needs to. She was up a lot more yesterday afternoon and did not sleep well last night. The good thing is that she is not getting sick but she needs the rest and is not getting it.

Please pray that her body adjusts to the new medicine and that she gets the needed rest. Without rest, she will not be able to do what she wants to do in terms of keeping up with the girls the next few weeks. Also, please pray that the chemo is doing its job. She will have a CAT Scan on Monday to see how the cancer is reacting to the chemo. We are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

Thank you all for prayers and concerns! I have said it before but we are blessed to have such wonderful friends and family members.

Good Weekend, Gearing up for Chemo tomorrow

2009-05-04T08:59:00.002-04:00

Teresa had a good weekend as she traveled to Columbus, IN to watch Rachel play in the AAU State Tournament. They also celebrated Kendal's 4th birthday. She is tired this morning but enjoyed her weekend so it was worth it.

She is slated to have round #3 of this chemo tomorrow at 2pm. Remember her in prayer as she prepares for chemo, as she has the chemo and then for the rest of the week as she feels the effects of the anti-nausea meds. Pray that this chemo is working to kill the cancer. Pray for the family as they go about their activities yet continue to care for T.

Other than losing her hair, Teresa's physical condition has not visibly deteriorated. Most times you would not even know that she is in this battle because she seems so well. I thank God for those good days and pray that they continue for a long time.

Weekend Recap from Teresa

2009-04-28T07:35:00.001-04:00

I asked T. to recap her weekend as she went to Rachel's basketball tourney. Following is by T.:

We had a great weekend. Rachel's b-ball team finished 4th in the AAU Regionals and gets to go to the state tournament in Columbus on May 2nd & 3rd. I really enjoyed watching her play. She was a little tired and banged up, but other than that came away injury free. She never sits out....... it makes me tired just watching her!!

I felt fine all weekend and feel blessed that I was able to make the trip. Kendal stayed in Covington with my parents on Saturday and then went with us to the games on Sunday. She thinks she is such big stuff hanging out with the girls from the team! None of the other girls have younger siblings, so they give her all kinds of attention. We feel lucky that Rachel has such nice girls from great families on her team. It makes the games so much more enjoyable.

Update from today's appointment

2009-04-22T18:22:00.001-04:00

Here is the info from today's doctor's appointment: Dr. Gupta thought that Teresa's body is responding well to the treatment. He is basing this on the fact that she has had no adverse effects from the T.A.C. So, it was decided to administer one more round of chemo. He said he felt it would be a better indicator of how the cancer is responding to the treatment. He felt that she could handle waiting because her condition has not visibly declined. In addition, her calcium is staying in check and she is still pain free for the most part. So, she will have chemo on May 4th as scheduled. A CAT scan is scheduled for May 11th and the blood test for the CA 27-29 marker will be the following week. We (me in particular) want results a little faster just because it is hard not knowing. However, we have faith in Dr. Gupta and know that he is the expert.

We continue to be amazed at the number of people who are praying for us and doing whatever they can to help. Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers but most importantly shoot some extra prayers up for Teresa. Pray that the treatments will slow down the cancer and keep it at bay. I have said it before but Teresa continues to amaze all of us with her strength and courage. She is remaining positive and continuing to be a great mom to the girls. We are all blessed to have her in our lives and we are going to keep doing whatever it takes to keep her around.

Sunday Update

2009-04-19T12:02:00.002-04:00

Good Sunday afternoon all,

Just wanted to send out a quick update on T. She started feeling better on Friday. She was no longer feeling nauseous or drowsy and could stop taking her meds for that. She sat outside in the beautiful sunshine and watched Kendie play. She stayed home Saturday from Rachel's tourney so she wouldn't overdo it. She had a relaxing, restful day at home alone. Today she is feeling good, slept well last night and is going to Rachel's tourney this afternoon.

Keep praying...specifically that the chemo is attacking her cancer!

Keep Praying for T.

2009-04-16T09:26:00.001-04:00

Hi guys...just want to give an update of what I know. I haven't really talked to T. much this week but have talked to those taking care of her. She's really tired and feeling a little more nauseous this time than last. Please pray that this subsides SOON. Last round she started feeling better Thursday p.m. or Friday a.m. so pray that this is the case this time; that she starts to feel better TODAY!

Heading to Chemo

2009-04-13T13:56:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to send out a reminder to be praying for Teresa as she is getting ready to have chemo around 2pm today. Pray that this chemo works! Pray for minimal (no) side effects and pray for strength and patience in facing the weeks ahead.

"Holy Similar...

2009-04-10T11:28:00.002-04:00

I didn't want all that hair on my bench." Those are the words that came out of Kendie's mouth as Teresa blew dry her hair the other night and it was falling out in clumps.

Teresa called Rachel in to play beautician. She handed her the scissors and Rachel cut Teresa's hair into a short do. Teresa and Rachel got a good laugh as Rachel gave her sideburns. Teresa was fully prepared to lose her hair and okay with it. No tears, just laughs and fully understanding that this is part of it.

Another light moment was yesterday. Teresa was wearing her wig and Becky, Woo-Hoo, Shelby and Riley (Rob's mom, grandma, sister and her daughter) came to visit. Kendie pulled off Teresa's wig and told all to look at her mom's hair. They all got a laugh out of that.

T. said Rob shaped it up last night with the clippers. Kendie came home this morning from Covington and couldn't stop laughing at her mom's hair. She kept telling her she looked funny. Nothing but laughter when Kendie is around.

So as of April 9, 2009 T. has officially lost her hair. Her wig is so cute and without a wig, she looks cute. It is the least of her concerns though.

The Ramey's have had a rough week. They have had to attend two funerals of two young family members. One of Rob's cousins and one of Teresa's cousins. Please keep those families in your prayers. Other than that, T. is feeling good.

She is one of the best if not the best mom's I know when it comes to making holidays fun. She is good at decorating and makes even dying eggs special for her girls. She was off to Walmart to do some Easter shopping when I talked to her today.

I have to remind myself that she is still very sick because she seems so good. She looks great, she acts fine. She never complains. The only thing I ever hear her say is that she's a little tired. What mom doesn't feel tired at the end of the day? Especially a mom of an active 3 year old (almost 4:)

On Monday at 2pm, she will have her second round of this new chemo. Please continue to pray for her and the rest of the family as they gear up for another round. We need to pray that the chemo is working. It will be a couple of weeks after this chemo that the doctor will do the marker test to see if it is working. Pray, pray, pray!

Have a blessed Easter!

T. had a good weekend

2009-04-06T23:29:00.001-04:00

I got this email from Teresa tonight:

Weekend went well! I just got tired in the evening. I especially enjoyed watching Rachel play 3 games of basketball and both girls in the swimming pool on Saturday. I got an opportunity to rest up today because Kendal took a 2 hour nap. I feel pretty good given the circumstances. Just please continue to pray for the chemo to work! I will have a blood test for the CA 27-29 in approximately three weeks. Dr. Gupta wants my body to react to the next treatment before he does the test.

In addition, please pray for the families of our two cousins that we lost this last weekend. Nathan Allen, age 21, was found dead on Thursday in his apartment. Chad Simmons, age 26, was killed in a car wreck on Saturday in Parke County. These two were way too young to die.

Going to Louisville

2009-04-03T11:57:00.002-04:00

Please keep Teresa and family in your prayers this weekend. Teresa was feeling pretty good yesterday and this morning and looking GREAT! She got new glasses yesterday and they are soooooo CUTE! Pray that she stays healthy this weekend, that the chemo continues to attack the cancer and that they all stay safe and enjoy themselves. Rachel is playing in a basketball tourney down there. Just keep praying!

Reminder

2009-04-01T08:47:00.001-04:00

Prayer Meeting today...see info in sidebar.

Teresa better; Calcium okay

2009-03-31T15:51:00.003-04:00

Teresa was feeling better this morning. She wasn't as tired as she was yesterday and her cold symptoms seemed to be getting better. She had her calcium checked as a precaution and it was 9.9 which is good. Keep praying.

Keep Praying for T.

2009-03-29T21:00:00.003-04:00

T. doesn't have chemo this week but I want to remind you to keep her in your prayers. She is feeling pretty good but she does feel like she is coming down with a cold. Pray for this to go away. Rob is on Spring Break this week and they are planning to go to Rachel's tournament next weekend. Please pray that Teresa is strong enough and healthy enough to go too. Keep praying!

Team T. T-shirts

2009-03-29T18:03:00.002-04:00

If anyone is interested in purchasing a Team T. shirt, let me know. There were a few left over from Friday night. The cost is $8 (unless we have to mail it to you). bcsaunders@accelplus.net

Team T. 2009

2009-03-28T10:10:00.000-04:00

Relay for Life 2009

2009-03-28T09:39:00.001-04:00

Teresa Gets the Mail

2009-03-27T12:53:00.001-04:00

For those of you who check often...Teresa just walked to her mailbox to get her mail. She looks great! Love seeing that!

Feeling Better

2009-03-27T11:14:00.002-04:00

I was excited to hear Teresa's voice this morning. She sounded normal. She said she stopped taking the anti-nausea meds which make her so drowsy yesterday and feels good. She was getting her appetite back too. She's hoping to be on the upswing now and hoping to stop by the Relay for Life tonight where we are walking in her honor. Pray for continued strength and healing.

Teresa Update

2009-03-26T14:11:00.001-04:00

Teresa is doing okay from Monday's chemo. She has been sleeping almost around the clock the past few days. She is staying awake longer today and gaining some strength and energy to sit up for awhile. Pray that the drowsiness subsides and that she does not get sick and that the chemo is working. I just really want to keep her fresh on your minds and give you an update even though it's not much info. Thanks again for all of your prayers and please continue to pray.

No Nausea; Just Tired

2009-03-25T07:14:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, Teresa slept most of the day as they told her she probably would due to the medicine to prevent nausea. She did not feel sick though so that is good. Her side effects should be subsiding tomorrow and hopefully she will feel well enough to enjoy the weekend. I think Rob is on Spring Break next week. Pray for her side effects to subside quickly and that she has good days while she is off from chemo. Pray that this chemo is working!

Teresa's Chemo today

2009-03-23T20:53:00.002-04:00

Teresa sounded normal tonight although she said she was getting tired. The way this chemo is different is that she has to take more anti nausea medicine which causes her to be drowsy. Her doctor told her that she would probably feel tired and nauseous for about four days. She is being well taken care of this week by sister in law, Sharon.

Pray:

for this chemo to get this cancer.
that she doesn't have the side effects (or at least as badly as predicted)
for this chemo to get this cancer!
repeat 1,2 and 3.

Pray that this chemo works!

2009-03-23T09:26:00.001-04:00

Good morning all,

I asked T. this morning if she had any special prayer request for today and she responded, "just that this chemo works". She said that she can deal with the fatigue, nausea and other side effects of the chemo, but she really wants it to work. Please pray for her as she has this chemo at 2 pm today. Pray that the chemo works!

Get ready for Monday

2009-03-20T14:04:00.002-04:00

Teresa is feeling well today. Perhaps coming down with a cold but other than that, feeling good. She had a blood test today to check her calcium and it came back that it was at 9.5 which is the lowest that it has been since she found out about the cancer.

Okay, I can't tell you how much your prayers for T. have uplifted T. and family. You have all been wonderful in showing your support over the past few weeks. Starting this Monday, Teresa will be having the chemo that her doctor is calling the "big guns". In other words, this is the last resort as far as chemo goes. SO NOW MORE THAN EVER, SHE NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS! Pray that this chemo is effective in treating this cancer; Pray for a miracle in healing. Pray that the side effects are minimal. Teresa is feeling good. Her doctor is amazed at how well she is doing. She says it has to be your prayers. Please, please, please pray for her!

Yesterday's Appointment with Dr. Gupta from Rob

2009-03-19T09:21:00.001-04:00

We left the doctor's office with mixed emotions on Wednesday afternoon. The good news was that Dr. Gupta is optimistic in regards to how Teresa's body will respond to the "big guns". He told me not to get too wrapped up in the CA 27-29 tumor marker. The goal is to get it to go down and remain stable. He mentioned that he has a patient whose marker is in the 200 range and has remained stable. So, I felt better after hearing this news. I was thinking that it had to get in the normal range of 35 or less. The next blood test to check the marker will be in 6 weeks. This will be after two rounds of treatment. He also believes that the removal of the ovaries will be beneficial in the fight. The depressing news is that this chemo is the last defense in fighting the cancer. In other words, the chemo will not be as effective with future recurrence if we are able to get through the 1st battle. We can only hope and pray that the chemo does it's job and the cancer does not flare back up in the liver or other area of her body. The goal is to buy her time. Please continue to keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers. Especially, keep Teresa in your prayers as she begins the new chemo on Monday afternoon. I have heard the following words used to describe the way in which she is battling this ugly disease: grace, courage, and strength. Her attitude and disposition are amazing. Thank you to all of you! Your cards, gifts, prayers, etc. have been a big reason for her attitude. It is not fair and it is not right. However, we are not going to dwell on the negative! Rob

Prayer Meeting Today

2009-03-18T09:34:00.001-04:00

Reminder: Weekly Prayer Meeting today at the Women's Ministry Center at 10 am.

Chemo on Monday

2009-03-17T21:19:00.002-04:00

Teresa was feeling much better today. She was able to get outside to watch the kids play on this warm and sunny St. Patrick's Day. Although she wasn't wearing green so we pinched her:) She's still a little sore but she was in pain from laughing so that was nice to hear.

She will meet with Dr. Gupta tomorrow afternoon and discuss her future treatments and questions that she and Rob have come up with.

Also, she got her chemo schedule. She will begin the "big guns" on Monday at 2pm. She will have this for about 2 1/2 hours and it will only be once a week every three weeks. Strong stuff that is likely to knock her on her behind and this type will cause her to lose her hair. She's anxious to get started though especially now with the ovaries out. Dr. Gupta is hopeful that her body will respond well to this chemo. Let's pray it does!

All in all, she's having a good week. Sister in law Michele arrived and brought Florida weather with her:) Happy Birthday today to Michele. She is providing excellent care for the family.

Relay for Life

2009-03-16T14:15:00.002-04:00

This year we will have a Team T. in Montgomery County's Relay for Life. We will be walking in honor of Teresa and raising money for the American Cancer Society. Please consider joining us as we walk or giving to the team in honor of T.

Click here for the Team T. Page

Monday Morning Report

2009-03-16T11:35:00.002-04:00

Typically at this time on Monday morning, we are praying for T. as she is having chemo but she is taking this Monday off because of her surgery last Friday.

She is recovering slowly but surely. Her pain is subsiding and she is getting up by herself now. She is really just resting and healing. She said she is having mild effects of menopause but nothing major. She said it is tolerable so hopefully that's all it will be; a few mild hot flashes.

Her mom is with her now and her sister in law, Michelle is coming in today to spend the week with her.

She meets with Dr. Gupta on Wednesday around 2 to discuss the next plan of action which is the more intense chemo.

Please continue to pray for her healing from the surgery, pray for a miracle in that the cancer is cured and for rest and peace in this situation.