Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!
2011 has finally arrived! We look at this year as a year with new opportunities, experiences, meeting new people who may become friends, welcoming brand new lives into our families and pray for good health for all our family and friends. May this be a year also of growing closer to our Lord and Savior as we seek His will as we spend time in his Word and prayer. Blessings to you all!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas Day!
Just a note as we prepare to have our family Christmas with Jeremy, Anita, Claira at Paul & Britt's place. We are looking forward to watching Claira open her presents this year as she was only 6 months old last year.
We hope all of you had a wonderful day.
As far as an update with trying to get Rick's back pain resolved, he has an appointment with a neurologist on January 24 but in the mean time, he will be going on Monday, 27th & Wednesday, 29th to a Nucca Chiropractic doctor.
His pain when it hits him is getting more severe.
Looking forward this evening to a great time with our family tonight.
Merry Christmas!
We hope all of you had a wonderful day.
As far as an update with trying to get Rick's back pain resolved, he has an appointment with a neurologist on January 24 but in the mean time, he will be going on Monday, 27th & Wednesday, 29th to a Nucca Chiropractic doctor.
His pain when it hits him is getting more severe.
Looking forward this evening to a great time with our family tonight.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Lupron shot postponed
Rick's results of a CAT scan he had last Friday were reviewed and the doctor said that test came back as also not showing any cancer tumors.
Praise God! The oncologist thinks Rick needs to refer back to his primary doctor and perhaps get a referral to a neurologist. Hopefully we can get an appointment with someone soon.
Rick got a call from the doctor's office yesterday that he will have to wait till January 20 for his next injection of Lupron (this product is a hormone that blocks nourishment from cancer cells and suppresses them from multiplying) because his previous one was given as a 4 month dose injection and not 3 month. So when they checked it out with Priority, they informed them of that.
I guess on the positive side, that means that except for the back pain, which is getting worst by the way, Rick won't have the shot's side affects for the holidays, only the back pain. Let's pray that God will lead us to someone that can identify the source of this pain and be able to provide treatment to give him relief in that area. We are praying for the Great Physican to remove this pain and heal him.
Praise God! The oncologist thinks Rick needs to refer back to his primary doctor and perhaps get a referral to a neurologist. Hopefully we can get an appointment with someone soon.
Rick got a call from the doctor's office yesterday that he will have to wait till January 20 for his next injection of Lupron (this product is a hormone that blocks nourishment from cancer cells and suppresses them from multiplying) because his previous one was given as a 4 month dose injection and not 3 month. So when they checked it out with Priority, they informed them of that.
I guess on the positive side, that means that except for the back pain, which is getting worst by the way, Rick won't have the shot's side affects for the holidays, only the back pain. Let's pray that God will lead us to someone that can identify the source of this pain and be able to provide treatment to give him relief in that area. We are praying for the Great Physican to remove this pain and heal him.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Dear family & friends,
As another year is soon to turn over and become 2011, Rick & I want to wish you a very Merry & Blessed Christmas. We have had another year with health issues as recently as Thanksgiving week when a bone scan Rick had because a sudden onset of severe back pain gave us a report of cancer in his bone. That was Nov 29th. Quickly an MRI was done and after a very stressful and prayerful two weeks, Rick’s oncologist told us on December 14th that Rick does NOT have cancer in his bones. The report of the bone scan was a mis-diagnosis. What a huge relief! Of course, we were so thankful it was not bone cancer! Yes, he does have prostate cancer, however the Lupron shot he gets every 3 months has been working at suppressing the cancer cells and he is still considered in remission. Wow, that news was all we needed to hear to make for a wonderful Christmas gift! We want to thank God for seeing us through another difficult trial and to everyone who was praying for us and thanks for the all cards and calls. We sure felt the loving support friends and family extended to us.
On to what’s been going on with family. Jeremy & Anita are looking forward (as is grandma & grandpa) to a new baby the end of March. Our grand-daughter, Claira is such a joy and we love the special times we can spend with her. Now she will soon have either a baby brother or sister and her life will change a lot. Claira recently got a new big girl bed so I guess she isn’t a baby anymore. We are looking forward to watching her tear into Christmas gifts this year. Jeremy is busy working at Walters Gardens and recently took on a new position. Anita is busy being a stay-at-home mom. They built a home near us in 2009 and Jeremy put in a beautifully landscaped yard this summer and fall.
Paul & Brittany will have just celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary on December 19. Last year we completely enjoyed their wonderful winter wedding. What a great day that was! They live about 5 miles from us at this time and Paul has been working for an Ag chemical company. Brittany graduated from Hope College this May and she has been working part time for a landscaping business. She keeps busy with her sister, nieces and nephews and college friends. Britt has a real talent with photos and making photo books. This summer she took photos of me with my beloved 28 year quarter horse, Jake. I treasure those photos and then for my birthday she made me a lovely photo book of those pictures. It means so much to me!
After almost 11 months of unemployment, I found a full time position as a customer service rep. for Walters Gardens, North America’s leading wholesale grower of perennials. I work specifically for the Canadian customers which make up a large amount of WG sales. I produce the documents for the USDA for inspection before shipments and the customs documents of the plants that we are shipping across the border to Canada. I also enjoy taking phone orders and customer’s questions for our US customers. I really appreciate this position and have always liked plants plus now I am learning a lot about perennials. The people I work with are great and it is a family owned business. Did I mention the 3-1/2 mile drive to work? That’s nice too. Yes, this is also the company that Jeremy works for.
I made a decision for a life change for healthy eating and exercise and as a result I lost 55 lbs. since 12/1/09. I feel great and have much more energy. It will take more effort now that I am back in an office desk job but I am determined to maintain.
Rick stays busy as service manager at Holland Bus Co. He always has repair projects going on at home. We also still do the haying in the summertime. This past January, Rick retired from the Zeeland Fire/Rescue Squad after 24 years of service. The city of Zeeland gave him a very nice retirement open house. So no more monitors going off at 3am. Do we miss that? No.
We love going up to the Wolf Lake cottage north of Baldwin. For us, that is where we can really re-charge our batteries and relax from life’s hectic pace. It is pretty and peaceful and a wonderful place to enjoy with friends and family.
God Bless **** Nancy & Rick Windemuller****
Dear family & friends,
As another year is soon to turn over and become 2011, Rick & I want to wish you a very Merry & Blessed Christmas. We have had another year with health issues as recently as Thanksgiving week when a bone scan Rick had because a sudden onset of severe back pain gave us a report of cancer in his bone. That was Nov 29th. Quickly an MRI was done and after a very stressful and prayerful two weeks, Rick’s oncologist told us on December 14th that Rick does NOT have cancer in his bones. The report of the bone scan was a mis-diagnosis. What a huge relief! Of course, we were so thankful it was not bone cancer! Yes, he does have prostate cancer, however the Lupron shot he gets every 3 months has been working at suppressing the cancer cells and he is still considered in remission. Wow, that news was all we needed to hear to make for a wonderful Christmas gift! We want to thank God for seeing us through another difficult trial and to everyone who was praying for us and thanks for the all cards and calls. We sure felt the loving support friends and family extended to us.
On to what’s been going on with family. Jeremy & Anita are looking forward (as is grandma & grandpa) to a new baby the end of March. Our grand-daughter, Claira is such a joy and we love the special times we can spend with her. Now she will soon have either a baby brother or sister and her life will change a lot. Claira recently got a new big girl bed so I guess she isn’t a baby anymore. We are looking forward to watching her tear into Christmas gifts this year. Jeremy is busy working at Walters Gardens and recently took on a new position. Anita is busy being a stay-at-home mom. They built a home near us in 2009 and Jeremy put in a beautifully landscaped yard this summer and fall.
Paul & Brittany will have just celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary on December 19. Last year we completely enjoyed their wonderful winter wedding. What a great day that was! They live about 5 miles from us at this time and Paul has been working for an Ag chemical company. Brittany graduated from Hope College this May and she has been working part time for a landscaping business. She keeps busy with her sister, nieces and nephews and college friends. Britt has a real talent with photos and making photo books. This summer she took photos of me with my beloved 28 year quarter horse, Jake. I treasure those photos and then for my birthday she made me a lovely photo book of those pictures. It means so much to me!
After almost 11 months of unemployment, I found a full time position as a customer service rep. for Walters Gardens, North America’s leading wholesale grower of perennials. I work specifically for the Canadian customers which make up a large amount of WG sales. I produce the documents for the USDA for inspection before shipments and the customs documents of the plants that we are shipping across the border to Canada. I also enjoy taking phone orders and customer’s questions for our US customers. I really appreciate this position and have always liked plants plus now I am learning a lot about perennials. The people I work with are great and it is a family owned business. Did I mention the 3-1/2 mile drive to work? That’s nice too. Yes, this is also the company that Jeremy works for.
I made a decision for a life change for healthy eating and exercise and as a result I lost 55 lbs. since 12/1/09. I feel great and have much more energy. It will take more effort now that I am back in an office desk job but I am determined to maintain.
Rick stays busy as service manager at Holland Bus Co. He always has repair projects going on at home. We also still do the haying in the summertime. This past January, Rick retired from the Zeeland Fire/Rescue Squad after 24 years of service. The city of Zeeland gave him a very nice retirement open house. So no more monitors going off at 3am. Do we miss that? No.
We love going up to the Wolf Lake cottage north of Baldwin. For us, that is where we can really re-charge our batteries and relax from life’s hectic pace. It is pretty and peaceful and a wonderful place to enjoy with friends and family.
God Bless **** Nancy & Rick Windemuller****
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Good News!
No bone cancer! Praise God! Rick's oncologist reviewed the MRI from Sunday night, compared the 2 bone scans and with the results of the recent PSA, he says Rick does not have cancer in his bones. Yes, he still does have cancer as we knew before, but he is still in remission and the Lupron shot he receives every three months has been and is still doing its work of suppressing the cancer cells from growing. This is the best news we could have received! So many prayers answered. A huge sigh of relief and much happiness we have in these findings. As to the initial bone scan results being interpreted incorrectly, people are people and errors can be made. Rick is scheduled to receive another Lupron injection December 22. Please pray that the side affects he has experienced with this injection previously will not be severe and that he can handle it well, especially with this shot being given just before Christmas. The cause for Rick's back pain still has not been identified and that needs further testing but it is not related to him having cancer.
We want to thank everyone who has been thinking and praying for us through this trying time. You have been a huge support and we are just so very thankful to God for granting us a favorable answer to those prayers.
Rick & I want to wish every one of you a very Merry & Blessed Christmas.
We want to thank everyone who has been thinking and praying for us through this trying time. You have been a huge support and we are just so very thankful to God for granting us a favorable answer to those prayers.
Rick & I want to wish every one of you a very Merry & Blessed Christmas.
Monday, December 13, 2010
MRI - an endurance test!
Sunday evening we arrived at Holland Hospital and at 9pm a MRI was begun on Rick.
To lay very, very still on your back with your arms tightly by your side and to be slid into a long tube completely encapsulating you is trying. Rick couldn't have headphones for music to take his mind off the terrible rattling noise as the MRI does its work because they had to have Rick's head in a restraint so he could not possibly move. So he just had ear plugs to lessen the noise. He was in the tube for 40 minutes and was removed only to wipe his face from sweat and just for a moment let him sit up to get some air. Inside the tube it was very hot, with little air and very uncomfortable for Rick's back. Then Rick was slid back into the MRI machine for another 40 minutes.
After what seems to feel like an eternity, they slid Rick back out, injected a dye and he went back into the tube for a final 10 minutes.
1-1/2 hours in the MRI tube's hot, tight quarters, loud noise and uncomfortable position finally was over and Rick & I left the hospital around 10:40 pm. The frigid wind hit us as we walked to the car but Rick thought it felt good and the fresh air revived him again. We now will await for the MRI results as we meet on Tuesday, December 14 with 2 specialists, both morning appointments.
Please pray for a good clear reading of the MRI and that we may receive good news on Tuesday.
We also hope to have the reason for Rick's back pain identified.
To lay very, very still on your back with your arms tightly by your side and to be slid into a long tube completely encapsulating you is trying. Rick couldn't have headphones for music to take his mind off the terrible rattling noise as the MRI does its work because they had to have Rick's head in a restraint so he could not possibly move. So he just had ear plugs to lessen the noise. He was in the tube for 40 minutes and was removed only to wipe his face from sweat and just for a moment let him sit up to get some air. Inside the tube it was very hot, with little air and very uncomfortable for Rick's back. Then Rick was slid back into the MRI machine for another 40 minutes.
After what seems to feel like an eternity, they slid Rick back out, injected a dye and he went back into the tube for a final 10 minutes.
1-1/2 hours in the MRI tube's hot, tight quarters, loud noise and uncomfortable position finally was over and Rick & I left the hospital around 10:40 pm. The frigid wind hit us as we walked to the car but Rick thought it felt good and the fresh air revived him again. We now will await for the MRI results as we meet on Tuesday, December 14 with 2 specialists, both morning appointments.
Please pray for a good clear reading of the MRI and that we may receive good news on Tuesday.
We also hope to have the reason for Rick's back pain identified.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Update
We have been given some good news in the PSA results from Wednesday's blood work which does show that the PSA is in a low range. This would indicate that the Lupron shot that Rick had in September is working in suppressing the cancer cells. We meet with Rick's surgeon and oncologist on Tuesday, Dec. 14 and Rick will get another Lupron shot. We also should be able to discuss the results of the MRI that will have been done on Sunday night at 9pm. To us right now, this is good news and we hope definitive answers will come from the results of the MRI. Please pray for a good clear MRI and a clear interpretation by those who will read it. Of course, keep praying for a miracle.
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