Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John waiting waiting to go in for procedure now. Relief please, relief!!
John did not have his procedure. The anesthesiologist was not available due to an emergency and he has to have a specific monitored type b/c of the stroke with was caused by a reaction to demerol. It is on for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
John is ready to go again. I went home last night and he looks good this morning. I think I just heard the doctor arrive. Thanks for the prayers.
He is in the room now. I think they have started.
It is over! It went great!!!!
They took the old stent out and put new one in. He said the placement was much better this time than last so hopefully it will go better. Praise GOD!
Going to get john. Now you can stop praying for him and pray for me. hehehe. He is better just worried about managing pain ok at home. Nast week was hard.
John update: His pain is at bay. Still some nausea but overall doing much better.
Please continue to pray for John. He is better some days and others are hard. The pain is still way better but other side effects remain. Thank you.
Hello Friends...time for a John W. Butler, Jr....news flash. Things are a bit better in the land of Butler. Less pain = Less pain meds= Less side effects for said meds. Still some pain but managing pretty good. Mostly working 1/2 days. Eating a little every meal. Routine PET scan results tomorrow not worried but prayers appreciated. Love Bec
Going to Lost Pines Resort in the morning. Can't wait!! Much needed. By the way, PET scan was good. Something very slightly light up in right groin (random) but too small to biopsy. Dr. says we will watch it. Thanks for the prayers. Love B
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John waiting waiting to go in for procedure now. Relief please, relief!!
John did not have his procedure. The anesthesiologist was not available due to an emergency and he has to have a specific monitored type b/c of the stroke with was caused by a reaction to demerol. It is on for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
John is ready to go again. I went home last night and he looks good this morning. I think I just heard the doctor arrive. Thanks for the prayers.
He is in the room now. I think they have started.
It is over! It went great!!!!
They took the old stent out and put new one in. He said the placement was much better this time than last so hopefully it will go better. Praise GOD!
Going to get john. Now you can stop praying for him and pray for me. hehehe. He is better just worried about managing pain ok at home. Nast week was hard.
John update: His pain is at bay. Still some nausea but overall doing much better.
Please continue to pray for John. He is better some days and others are hard. The pain is still way better but other side effects remain. Thank you.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John waiting waiting to go in for procedure now. Relief please, relief!!
John did not have his procedure. The anesthesiologist was not available due to an emergency and he has to have a specific monitored type b/c of the stroke with was caused by a reaction to demerol. It is on for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
John is ready to go again. I went home last night and he looks good this morning. I think I just heard the doctor arrive. Thanks for the prayers.
He is in the room now. I think they have started.
It is over! It went great!!!!
They took the old stent out and put new one in. He said the placement was much better this time than last so hopefully it will go better. Praise GOD!
Going to get john. Now you can stop praying for him and pray for me. hehehe. He is better just worried about managing pain ok at home. Nast week was hard.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John waiting waiting to go in for procedure now. Relief please, relief!!
John did not have his procedure. The anesthesiologist was not available due to an emergency and he has to have a specific monitored type b/c of the stroke with was caused by a reaction to demerol. It is on for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
John is ready to go again. I went home last night and he looks good this morning. I think I just heard the doctor arrive. Thanks for the prayers.
He is in the room now. I think they have started.
It is over! It went great!!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John waiting waiting to go in for procedure now. Relief please, relief!!
John did not have his procedure. The anesthesiologist was not available due to an emergency and he has to have a specific monitored type b/c of the stroke with was caused by a reaction to demerol. It is on for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
John is ready to go again. I went home last night and he looks good this morning. I think I just heard the doctor arrive. Thanks for the prayers.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John waiting waiting to go in for procedure now. Relief please, relief!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
Thanks for the notes of support to all. We are doing well otherwise. The nurses at St. Luke's are awesome at keeping him as comfortable as possible. Our room also has a nice view from the 20th floor, that helps.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
Hi all, Asking for prayers for John today, I am taking him in to be admitted. yesterday was good and today he just feels terrible. Gotta have the stent checked out. BTW, stent and cancer both suck!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is feeling a bit better each day. The stent has been rough but just a bit of progress is hopeful for our emotional well being. Thanks for your prayers. Love BBB & JHi all! John has an appointment with an ENT in med center tomorrow.
Our ENT in Tomball saw a nodule on his vocal cord. She thinks it is due to all the procedures he has had lately but wants us to see someone who can take a closer look just to be on the safe side. Please pray for him.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
Some sweet prayers for john tonight would be so appreciated. The stent is so very painful!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
The swallow study was good. Stent in place. Getting new meds. Hopefully time will heal pain.
Thanks for the prayers. I think they really helped John feel better today! I appreciate it!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
John's procedure went well. He is having some nasty pain in his neck but hopefully his body will be more used to the stent tomorrow.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
John's procedure went great!!!!!
My 3 year old just said, "mommy did you know michael douglas is going to take the same treatments as daddy?"
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed and supported us through Facebook on our family's journey through cancer. No journey with cancer is ever over and I will continue to keep you all abreast of John's progress. Today we shout out loud, God is good, he is so good indeed!!!
John has a procedure tomorrow. Minor one due to difficulty swallowing. I feel bad. DR. said he could do Tues but it may be his partner. Receptionist said if we do Wed he can be there for sure. He called me today bc he arrangements to be there for procedure today and we were not there. He was so nice I feel bad. I want all drs working on john to love us therefore take great care of him. Please pray for procedure.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
Tomorrow is orientation for preschool for Brookie, a throat scope and PET scan results for John. It is a big day and I just now started to feel nervous. We could use some prayer tonight.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
The procedure went just fine. Now for PET scan Thursday!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
The dilatation went well. Another in 2 weeks. Happy days!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
Prayer warriors, John is doing well. OT & PT 3X a wk. Movement coming along in left arm & slight movement in left fingers. He will have a dilatation of his esophagus on Friday at 10:30. This is the same procedure that the stroke followed. They feel he had a reaction to Demerol. He will have the procedure inpatient to be monitored with different anesthesia. We are confident it will be fine but nervous all the same.
John's procedure is tomorrow. We have to be there a 10:30 and the procedure with be about 2 hours later. Thanks for all the prayers!
John did not have his procedure. He woke up last night with a red hot neck and low grade fever. The doctor said come on in and he was assessed to have cellulitis. He will be in the hospital (St. Luke's) for the weekend on IV antibiotics. His procedure has been rescheduled (tentatively) for Monday. Thanks for your continued prayers.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
The girls and I are staying home today while John's parents visit. I feel a bit guilty but so tired of driving back and forth from Med center. Catching up on things around this house! John is still doing well.
John is rolling home. (from the hospital)
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John's cleared for soup tonight. modified barium swallow was good. gonna do again in a few days.john can lift his right leg. progress.
John has been released from stroke team. doing great. rehab at st lukes prob starting tues. second rehab eval monday. he is eating slowly. starting to move right side more and more.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
john is having mri now.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john had a complication w procedure. he is very ill. poss stroke or metaticised to the brain. I am so scared. please pray as hard as you can.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Thanks so much for all the prayers for John.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
Update: John is having his procedure tomorrow to either put in a soft stent or dialate his esophagus. They will also do a biopsy of his esophagus if necessary. This is with a new dr in the med center. He gets great press but we have not even met him. We ask for big, big prayers tomorrow. Procedure is at 10:30. Please pray that the procedure is a success and that my ears can understand what it all means.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
John ate a popsicle. I cried. Thank you Laura for suggesting that it might be easier. It was and it made his day to day something so yummy! God is good and gives it when you need it most.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
John has a scope of his throat tomorrow. gonna try to go way down and figure out why swallowing is so hard. he is feeling good though. could you keep him in your prayers tonight? love bec
John had another scope today. Showed massive ulceration from the radiation. It can heal but there is lots of scar tissue. Each time they go in, he is at high risk for a tear. The radiation it took to kill his cancer cells was very strong and this is a side effect. Please pray for him. He is so strong but it is so hard not to eat. So much of your life revolves around food. Your prayers make us strong. Love Becah
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Outside listening to the sounds of tomball while john has his endoscope. birds, trains, it is nice.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
90 percent improvement from first pet scan. some swelling still around esphogus that is likely due to treatment. we talk to oncologist tomorrow to find out for sure that treatment is complete but it looks really good.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
Results today....praying and feeling really good.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
John is coming home today. Please pray that my nursing skills kick in hardcore. He may have a PET scan next week as well so if you would like to throw in some prayers for good results, we sure would appreciate it.
John is home. Thanks for the prayers but please stay on your knees as he continues to get better.
John is home. worked half day today against my advice but he wanted to. he is skinny. he and I are weighing in frightenly close in numbers. neighbors-no more desserts. asking for prayers over the next week for healing, strength to indure, ability to eat and a clean pet scan on may 4th. love bec
John update: Fever on monday & tuesday. chest xray showed slight pneumonia! Must have the defuncted port-a-cath out Monday as it is a risk for infection. PET moved to May 11th due to poor chest x-ray, don't want a bad read. If PET is clean, we won't need a need port. He is feeling pretty good now. Still very skinny!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
Who knew one could sleep so soundly to the sound of a chemo pump in the background? I do not recommend it but if you are faced with the situation don't knock it til you try it.
John was admitted to the hospital. He is having extreme side effects from the chemo and radiation. Please pray for him. He has not been able to get comfortable or stop vomiting for 3 days. He will be fine but this is an extreme treatment. Thanks for your prayers.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John starts a round of chemo today. Would you mind saying a quick prayer this morning? Thanks so much.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
The radi machine is down. Repairman on the way. So we wait.
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
please pray for my sweet john tonight. it is getting very hard as we enter the last week of radi/chemo. there is more chemo after this but the intense radi will be complete which should lessen the pain. your prayers ease the pain. thanks.
It seems like cancer is everywhere and I do not like it!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
Prayers for John tonight are appreciated. He is still doing good and attitude is positive but it is getting rough and painful. Thanks friends!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
3 days of the big treatment down and 31 to go!!!
Hi Friends,
Below you will find something I have wanted to do for a long time. I copied and pasted all of the Facebook posts I wrote about John's illness and put them on this blog. This is the best way I know to begin to tell our story. There is much more to it but it helps with the chronology of things. It was hard to read and on some posts I just closed my eyes (good thing I can drive a MAC desktop blind). Sometimes lately I get frustrated with John easier than I should because he is not always the same positive, funny guy I married but reading this made me really stop and think about what he has been through and continues to go through with his esophagial stent. This has been one hell of a year for all of us at the house of Butler. It is hard sometimes because he does not understand how hard it is to be a caregiver and I can't even begin to really understand his pain. I hope this blog will help us both tho work through it all.
This week we were all off for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because we went to Lost Pines Resort, spent Thanksgiving with John's parents and other family, spent an awesome black Friday with my mom and decorated the house for Christmas. This week was also hard because as we prepared for our favorite holiday and the celebration of Christ's birth, we were also tainted with all the memories of this time last year.
Things are so much better now because the cancer is gone. But eating is still a challenge and the stent is so painful. Yet life is still really good. I have a loving husband to keep me ward at night. Our children are happy. We have a dog, a precious baby dog who brings so much joy. I love my job. In some ways, I have never seen my house look more beautiful.
That is why it is time for this blog, time to begin to tell our story. This whopper of a story that began on December 23, 2009. In was a warm winter day in Spring, Texas when out of nowhere or maybe from somewhere very special, the Butler Family was thrown a heck of a curveball. That curveball was cancer. A curveball started a game like no other we have played before. In some ways the game is over. But cancer is funny because even when the game is over there is an after party and that after party can cause one heck of a hangover. Like those days of youth when we partied all night, the morning after is bitter sweet. Your head hurts and your stomachs is queasy but you made some memories you will never forget and in my case I am just glad to have my partner with me to lay around and relieve the night .
And so it began like this.....
It began on December 23, 2009 but I can't get FB to go back that far so January 9th is the first entry. Please excuse grammar, typo and capitalization. I copied it straight from FB with no editing. Bec
Jan 9, 2010
The pump has been disconnected. First round of chemo complete. He is doing good, great my gram says and she is the nurse who has seen it all. Monday we go to get a mask made for radiation and that will start week after next I think. Thanks for the prayers.
John had a super day. Up and about the house all day. Did yoga (ask me if I exercised today). Very little nausea but everything tastes kinda strange and he says our kitchen smells like a school cafeteria. Thanks for the prayers. We are so blessed. Yippee!!! Off to get fitted for the radiation mask tomorrow.
John is at work today. I pray that he has the sense to come home if he gets too tired.
Hi all, Thanks for praying for John. He is doing great. Lots of energy. He is able to exercise as usual which is more than I can say for myself...hahaha! The only significant side effects this week were a really dry mouth and most foods taste pretty blah! But a friend has given lots of good suggestions to help with both issues. Radiation starts 1/26. Thanks for the prayers and love. Becah
John starts radiation today. It is at 11:30. Please pray for him.
John's radiation went well. He is downstairs cooking dinner as usual (and he thought cancer would make me learn to cook...ha!!). Radiation plus weekly chemo tomorrow... Thanks for all the prayers. They truly lift us up. Off to bathe the girls!!
6 days of the "big part" of our treatment down and 28 to go. Chemo and radiation tomorrow. Prayers appreciated. So far John is holding up well. Things are tasting funny but he feels good otherwise. Thanks for the positive energy.
Almost 2 weeks of the 7 weeks course of treatment down. It is getting harder to eat, it does not hurt just dry mouth and everything tastes weird. Got him a "HULK" at smoothie king today, 1800 calories in the large. I took a sip, gained 3 lbs. BTW, now that John eats very little I am making great efforts to intake his portions at each of my 3 daily meals. Just being a team player. Thanks for prayers.
The days are getting tougher for John. We are still good and we knew it had to get worse before it would get better. Please pray for him to stay up about all of it. Love Becah
John update: All is good. 4 weeks down & 3 to go! The "big treatment" will soon be history. It is painful but he is a super hero. I love him and I am so proud of him. I am grateful for his efforts for our family. Your prayers are really helping. Thank you.
John begins his 8th and last week of radiation this week. Thought last week was the end and it got extended. he is good though.
Day 37 of radiation for John...2 more after this. Boy is he ready.
radiation complete....oh yea!!!
The girls were squashing me tonight and I said I can not breathe. John said, "Girls, get off mommy...it will be bad for all of us if she stops breathing!" I really am loved or at least needed!! HA!
John got some new meds today. He slept for 4 hours and I slept for 3. A world record in this house for the last month. Please pray he gets some relief from all these side effects. Still have major radiation side effects and now yummy chemo.
John is a bit better. more rest w iv meds. still got a way to go but it is a comfort to be at the hospital w real nurses w drugs on hand that don't have to be crushed or swallowed. nurse becah is ready to retire I am an M.Ed. not an MD. thanks for the prayers, calls, texts, emails. Food for my babies. Family and friends thank you
Someone should invent double beds for hospitals so you can lay next to the one you love who is hurting!
Got to hospital this morning. john was gone. thought he flew the coup. alas he was in xray.
John is still in hospital. potassium level must come up a bit more to go home. he is better though. maybe 50 percent up to snuff. thx for continue prayers for comfortable and a break.
why are waiting rooms so cold? I always bring a blanket but today I need two.
the scope revealed nothing, absolutely no disease! praise God!!!Hi FB: John update: He is feeling pretty good but eating is still very hard. We have a scope of his throat tomorrow and a PET scan on Tuesday. As I said before if the PET is clean.....no more chemo!!! Please prayers for ability to swallow and a clean PET!!! I will send knee pads if your knees start to get bruised. I am asking for big prayers!
the report is on the dr's desk. I am going to start biting my nails. please read it and call us.
oncologist likes his pet but still sees a bit of activity in a right lymph node and the hypopharnyx. this will warrant the two more rounds of chemo originally prescribed. john is a bit bummed but we are still so close to cured. endoscope to stretch his esophagus tomorrow should help him eat. please keep your sweet prayers coming. love bec
Getting a new port a cath tomorrow in prep for chemo!
Dr. does not like the ulcers in the esophagus and wants biopsy. There was no radiation where some of ulcers are so ulcers are not explained by that. Could be do to stress or acid reflux but "C" has to be ruled out. Scope 6/9. Seeing another ENT for a different scope of the throat and poss. biopsy to figure exactly what is showing on PET scan in that area. First ENT said throat looks clean and maybe just ulceration.
Prayer warriors: John is going to have a procedure at St. Luke's next week to insert a soft stent into his esophagus. I don't know much about it yet. We just found out Thursday that he is a candidate and this may help him swallow so we can start chemo again. Please pray it is helpful. Throat scope last week was great! He is feeling good right now: working, exercising, playing w the girls. I feel so blessed.
They just took him back! Feeling groovy!
John is in recovery. went well. did a dilatation. no biopsy needed. praise good. he will need weekly dilation for a while. we should able to go forth w the last bit of chemo soon.
Hi friends, John is scheduled for another balloon dilation of his esophagus tomorrow. The one last week went well as you know and he can pass liquid now(even some ice cream). I ask for prayers tonight for this procedure as well. I read the last set to him before the procedure and it filled him with joy. He is not that into FB but he actually liked this I could tell.
john refused mri or rather would not be still. we will try tomorrow. they brought me stroke literature so it seems where they are leaning. thanks for everything. we are ok. love.
They did mri. no results yet but getting it done it one hurdle crossed.
john did have a mild stroke. no cancer in the brain. excellent prognosis for recovery.
John is doing so well. I am so blessed this father's day for so many reasons. God is so very good. My girls got their vacation to Nederland and my husband is going to be fine. Praise the Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!
John is going to rehab here at st luke's tomorrow. he is walking slowly. his right arm is not moving yet but they still feel hopeful. he is eating small amounts of food. eggs, soup, pancakes! God is good. love Becah
John is in rehab officially. Doing really well. Eating some at every meal. So proud of him and thankful for his progress.
Great day with John and the kids today at St. Luke's He is doing beautifully!
Okay therapist friends out there...I have to find an out patient OT and PT clinic for John. He is home. Any suggestions? We have United healthcare. Thanks for the help!
Happy 4th of July, Happy Birthday to my love John, my beautiful sissy, my wonderful bff's Julie and Jeannette and happy anniversary to me!!!
Having a pedicure with john on our 7th anniversary!
John is settled at St. Luke's and getting IV antibotics. He will like have his procedure on Monday now and come home Tuesday. Thanks for all the nice notes and texts. We appreciate it!!! Thanks to wonderful neighbors for helping out as well. Love Becah
john's procedure for the dilatation is on for today at 3:30 p.m. He is still in hospital and will received IV antibotics for the next couple of days as well. He is doing well. I ask for prayers the the procedure goes well. Love Becah
john's procedure went great. another dilatation in a week. he be eating enchiladas soon. thanks.
John is home again, home again... jigity jig!!! He looks and feels great!!!!
John is doing well. He has another dilatation on Tuesday at 10:30. Thanks for all the prayers and love.
John just went in for the dilatation!!! Prayer time!
PET scan tomorrow at 9:30!! Prayer warriors please rise up!!! Love you all!
no cancer in throat or lymph nodes!!!!!
John's procedure went great!!!!!
John update: He is doing well. Feeling strong. He is still having trouble swallowing. The dilatations last for about 2 weeks and then he is closed again. Tomorrow he will have a soft stent placed in his esophagus. It is a simple procedure, similar to the dilatation. Prayers are really appreciated. Going under always makes me have PTSD!
Hi all. I am asking for an extra prayer for John this morning. The stent is very painful still and lots of nausea. Talk of admitting him but we are praying that does not happen. Dr. has agreed to do a swallow study first today and see if the stent is placed properly. We have no lbs. to lose so pray that it is resolved soon.
Today was a rough one all around! Let's try for better tomorrow....deal?
John is still in pain but today was better overall. If you could keep the prayers coming, they are working.
Okay John bathed the kids tonight and they came out with chocolate from their ice cream sandwiches still on their face. I asked, " did you wash their faces?" "Nah", he says, "I let them bath themselves." So essentially they just got wet.
John is fine. Nodules no biggie! praise God. One more time!
We don't know for sure but the stent appears to be obstructed. we are not sure if they will remove or when. hoping to know something soon. please pray for john. this is painful and it is rough on the spirit.
stent procedure today. out in adjusted. we don't know. please stay on your knees friends.
John will have his procedure around 6 tonight.
John did not have his procedure. The anesthesiologist was not available due to an emergency and he has to have a specific monitored type b/c of the stroke with was caused by a reaction to demerol. It is on for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
He is in the room now. I think they have started.
They took the old stent out and put new one in. He said the placement was much better this time than last so hopefully it will go better. Praise GOD!
John update: His pain is at bay. Still some nausea but overall doing much better.
Hello Friends...time for a John W. Butler, Jr....news flash. Things are a bit better in the land of Butler. Less pain = Less pain meds= Less side effects for said meds. Still some pain but managing pretty good. Mostly working 1/2 days. Eating a little every meal. Routine PET scan results tomorrow not worried but prayers appreciated. Love Bec
November 22, 2010
john ate a buffet
That is all for now (and I think that is more than enough). I'll be back and I pray John will visit too.
Love,
BecPreview
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