Chef Daddy New Tread and up-date from Mike

Hondo
Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Good News

Mike is doing very well, he has been out to see his doctor today and the doctor was very impressed with how he is doing. Doc told him he is a very lucky man as most people could not have pulled out of what he went through.

Mike is starting to try and eat from his mouth, little at a time, very soft liquid type food, and he is able to hold it in. He is still very weak at times but it can only be expected, please continue to pray for Mike and his children.

Thank you all
«1

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    Step by Step
    Great to hear Mike's moving in the right direction. I know his son has finished his chemo, right? Any word on how he's feeling? Much better with Dad home, I'm sure.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Pam M said:

    Step by Step
    Great to hear Mike's moving in the right direction. I know his son has finished his chemo, right? Any word on how he's feeling? Much better with Dad home, I'm sure.

    must have called him while
    must have called him while he was out. this time i did not even get voice mail

    thanks for update. i keep missing him. :-(
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    Such good news !
    Hondo, this is great news and has truly made my day. I am amazed Mike has managed through this and I'm sure having you Hondo, and the rest of gang here keeping his spirits alive, have contributed to his remarkable turn around. Pls pass on our best when you next speak to him.
    Scambuster
  • fishingirl
    fishingirl Member Posts: 188

    Such good news !
    Hondo, this is great news and has truly made my day. I am amazed Mike has managed through this and I'm sure having you Hondo, and the rest of gang here keeping his spirits alive, have contributed to his remarkable turn around. Pls pass on our best when you next speak to him.
    Scambuster

    That is very good news!!
    That is very good news!! News I love to hear!!! I'm sure he will get better each day:)

    Cindy
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!! Just
    FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!! Just another testamony to the power of prayer!! Mike, we can't wait until you're stong enuf to post yourself. Until then we will be waiting. God bless you, Mike, and your children.
    you friend,
    debbie
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    So happy
    I am so happy to hear he is doing better. He is an amazing person and I am so glad to have gotten to know such an amazing person.
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450
    Pumakitty said:

    So happy
    I am so happy to hear he is doing better. He is an amazing person and I am so glad to have gotten to know such an amazing person.

    He deserves a break
    After all he's been through, it's great to hear some good news for a change.
    He'll remain in my prayers.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    More Good News 6-3-2010
    Hi Everyone

    Mike seen his ENT yesterday, they scoped his throat and did not see any signs of the cancer; he will be set up to do a PET in about three weeks. The reason for doing the PET so soon is to see if there are sign anywhere else in his body of cancer and remove it before it becomes a problem as they feel he will not be able to handle anymore radiation or chemo.

    Doctors are amazed at his recovery and how well he is doing for someone they sent home to die. He is starting to eat a little more each day but is also starting to have a lot of dryness in the mouth when trying to swallow which is normal for any of us who had radiation.

    Thanks again for your prayers for Mike
  • Clearblue
    Clearblue Member Posts: 186
    Hondo said:

    More Good News 6-3-2010
    Hi Everyone

    Mike seen his ENT yesterday, they scoped his throat and did not see any signs of the cancer; he will be set up to do a PET in about three weeks. The reason for doing the PET so soon is to see if there are sign anywhere else in his body of cancer and remove it before it becomes a problem as they feel he will not be able to handle anymore radiation or chemo.

    Doctors are amazed at his recovery and how well he is doing for someone they sent home to die. He is starting to eat a little more each day but is also starting to have a lot of dryness in the mouth when trying to swallow which is normal for any of us who had radiation.

    Thanks again for your prayers for Mike

    Forward Mike- We're with you
    This is drama of the heart.
    Go forward Mike - We're here for you, friend.
    Hondo How are you doing?
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Hondo said:

    More Good News 6-3-2010
    Hi Everyone

    Mike seen his ENT yesterday, they scoped his throat and did not see any signs of the cancer; he will be set up to do a PET in about three weeks. The reason for doing the PET so soon is to see if there are sign anywhere else in his body of cancer and remove it before it becomes a problem as they feel he will not be able to handle anymore radiation or chemo.

    Doctors are amazed at his recovery and how well he is doing for someone they sent home to die. He is starting to eat a little more each day but is also starting to have a lot of dryness in the mouth when trying to swallow which is normal for any of us who had radiation.

    Thanks again for your prayers for Mike

    Power of Prayer & Faith, Family, & Friends
    Nuff said.....
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Hondo said:

    More Good News 6-3-2010
    Hi Everyone

    Mike seen his ENT yesterday, they scoped his throat and did not see any signs of the cancer; he will be set up to do a PET in about three weeks. The reason for doing the PET so soon is to see if there are sign anywhere else in his body of cancer and remove it before it becomes a problem as they feel he will not be able to handle anymore radiation or chemo.

    Doctors are amazed at his recovery and how well he is doing for someone they sent home to die. He is starting to eat a little more each day but is also starting to have a lot of dryness in the mouth when trying to swallow which is normal for any of us who had radiation.

    Thanks again for your prayers for Mike

    hondo, thank you for the
    hondo, thank you for the update. I'm so thankful to God for Mike's improvement. I pray God will continue to make Mike better. I will continue to keep him and his children in my prayers.
    Take care and God Bless everyone,
    debbie
  • Chefdaddy
    Chefdaddy Member Posts: 170

    hondo, thank you for the
    hondo, thank you for the update. I'm so thankful to God for Mike's improvement. I pray God will continue to make Mike better. I will continue to keep him and his children in my prayers.
    Take care and God Bless everyone,
    debbie

    Good news time!
    Hi everyone,

    I finally have some good news.

    I've gained two pounds and the plumbing is starting to work a little bit on it's own. I am starting to be able to swallow some things, this morning I had a bowl of cream of wheat that was pretty wet with milk, but it went down well. I am still on the feeding pump. They delivered an electric hospital bed yesterday so that I can now safely pump feed through the night. I am getting stronger, the blood pressure has left the high 40's and back up to the 70's and 80's, so passing out has stopped.

    I've been able to work myself back into the kitchen again for short stints, the kids are very happy, not only for my physical turn-around, but for some of dad's home cooking again.


    I had bought a leg of lamb to celebrate my son's final chemo date, before my health went south.
    I finally got to prepare it as if it were a holiday meal for them the other night and they were delighted. I had to sit down several times but I got through it. I'm getting a little stronger each day as long as I can get enough calories in me. It's very difficult using the Scandi-Shakes as they are extremely rich and nauseating. The vanilla flavor is so strong that even when fresh berries and flavored espresso syrups are added it doesn't remove the sickening vanilla flavor.

    I would appreciate any ideas or recipes for any high calorie, high protein foods or soups that I can blend and drink.

    I missed you all very much while stuck in the hospital, I thank you all for your phone calls. Unfortunately, they had me so drugged up that I don't remember all the details of our conversations, but what mattered most to me was that I knew I was not alone in that place.

    Thank you all so very much for your endless prayers for me as well as for my children.


    Your friend

    Mike
  • micktissue
    micktissue Member Posts: 430
    Chefdaddy said:

    Good news time!
    Hi everyone,

    I finally have some good news.

    I've gained two pounds and the plumbing is starting to work a little bit on it's own. I am starting to be able to swallow some things, this morning I had a bowl of cream of wheat that was pretty wet with milk, but it went down well. I am still on the feeding pump. They delivered an electric hospital bed yesterday so that I can now safely pump feed through the night. I am getting stronger, the blood pressure has left the high 40's and back up to the 70's and 80's, so passing out has stopped.

    I've been able to work myself back into the kitchen again for short stints, the kids are very happy, not only for my physical turn-around, but for some of dad's home cooking again.


    I had bought a leg of lamb to celebrate my son's final chemo date, before my health went south.
    I finally got to prepare it as if it were a holiday meal for them the other night and they were delighted. I had to sit down several times but I got through it. I'm getting a little stronger each day as long as I can get enough calories in me. It's very difficult using the Scandi-Shakes as they are extremely rich and nauseating. The vanilla flavor is so strong that even when fresh berries and flavored espresso syrups are added it doesn't remove the sickening vanilla flavor.

    I would appreciate any ideas or recipes for any high calorie, high protein foods or soups that I can blend and drink.

    I missed you all very much while stuck in the hospital, I thank you all for your phone calls. Unfortunately, they had me so drugged up that I don't remember all the details of our conversations, but what mattered most to me was that I knew I was not alone in that place.

    Thank you all so very much for your endless prayers for me as well as for my children.


    Your friend

    Mike

    Right on Mike
    Great to see your words rather than other people writing how you were doing. I am so glad for you and your kids you've made the turn around.

    All The Very best,

    Mick
  • Chefdaddy
    Chefdaddy Member Posts: 170

    Right on Mike
    Great to see your words rather than other people writing how you were doing. I am so glad for you and your kids you've made the turn around.

    All The Very best,

    Mick

    Thank you Mick,
    How are you

    Thank you Mick,

    How are you doing? I lost touch with so many of you once I went downhill. How did you do through the radiation? Did you ever get a PEG put in?

    Thank you for you kind words my friend.

    Mike
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    Chefdaddy said:

    Thank you Mick,
    How are you

    Thank you Mick,

    How are you doing? I lost touch with so many of you once I went downhill. How did you do through the radiation? Did you ever get a PEG put in?

    Thank you for you kind words my friend.

    Mike

    Great to hear from you Mike !
    We are all very relieved you have come through this Mike. I know there is still a way to go but with your fighting spirit, you will get through this. We are all praying for you man.

    On the food front, at your stage I started having Congee. If you have a good Chinese restaurant around, they may be able to do take away ?? I found the preserved egg and pork was the best.

    Avocadoes are great source of calories if you get them into a shake with a blender. They also help your body metabolize other foods. The ones with the purplish black skin are the best. They are very good nutrition and fibre - so good all around.

    I also had Starbuck thick shakes earlier on as I could tolerate them. Even though I don't advocate the high sugar stuff now, at this stage, you need whatever you can get into you and once you are in better shape, you can pick and choose.

    All the best to you Mike, again great to hear from you and I hope you continue to improve and get you life back.

    Best Wishes
    Scambuster
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    Chefdaddy said:

    Good news time!
    Hi everyone,

    I finally have some good news.

    I've gained two pounds and the plumbing is starting to work a little bit on it's own. I am starting to be able to swallow some things, this morning I had a bowl of cream of wheat that was pretty wet with milk, but it went down well. I am still on the feeding pump. They delivered an electric hospital bed yesterday so that I can now safely pump feed through the night. I am getting stronger, the blood pressure has left the high 40's and back up to the 70's and 80's, so passing out has stopped.

    I've been able to work myself back into the kitchen again for short stints, the kids are very happy, not only for my physical turn-around, but for some of dad's home cooking again.


    I had bought a leg of lamb to celebrate my son's final chemo date, before my health went south.
    I finally got to prepare it as if it were a holiday meal for them the other night and they were delighted. I had to sit down several times but I got through it. I'm getting a little stronger each day as long as I can get enough calories in me. It's very difficult using the Scandi-Shakes as they are extremely rich and nauseating. The vanilla flavor is so strong that even when fresh berries and flavored espresso syrups are added it doesn't remove the sickening vanilla flavor.

    I would appreciate any ideas or recipes for any high calorie, high protein foods or soups that I can blend and drink.

    I missed you all very much while stuck in the hospital, I thank you all for your phone calls. Unfortunately, they had me so drugged up that I don't remember all the details of our conversations, but what mattered most to me was that I knew I was not alone in that place.

    Thank you all so very much for your endless prayers for me as well as for my children.


    Your friend

    Mike

    Welcome back Mike ;-)
    As Mick said - it is so nice to be reading your posts instead of hearing from others on how you are doing. We all really appreciate everyone who spoke to you for updating us but I feel better reading your posts as they let me know that you are getting stronger and can now get back on your computer.

    I'm sure the kids are more excited about having daddy home and doing better than they are your home cooked meals. I'm sure the leg of lamb was delicious!!

    Please take good care of yourself and don't over do it.

    So happy to start hearing good news from you again.

    God bless, Glenna
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Chefdaddy said:

    Good news time!
    Hi everyone,

    I finally have some good news.

    I've gained two pounds and the plumbing is starting to work a little bit on it's own. I am starting to be able to swallow some things, this morning I had a bowl of cream of wheat that was pretty wet with milk, but it went down well. I am still on the feeding pump. They delivered an electric hospital bed yesterday so that I can now safely pump feed through the night. I am getting stronger, the blood pressure has left the high 40's and back up to the 70's and 80's, so passing out has stopped.

    I've been able to work myself back into the kitchen again for short stints, the kids are very happy, not only for my physical turn-around, but for some of dad's home cooking again.


    I had bought a leg of lamb to celebrate my son's final chemo date, before my health went south.
    I finally got to prepare it as if it were a holiday meal for them the other night and they were delighted. I had to sit down several times but I got through it. I'm getting a little stronger each day as long as I can get enough calories in me. It's very difficult using the Scandi-Shakes as they are extremely rich and nauseating. The vanilla flavor is so strong that even when fresh berries and flavored espresso syrups are added it doesn't remove the sickening vanilla flavor.

    I would appreciate any ideas or recipes for any high calorie, high protein foods or soups that I can blend and drink.

    I missed you all very much while stuck in the hospital, I thank you all for your phone calls. Unfortunately, they had me so drugged up that I don't remember all the details of our conversations, but what mattered most to me was that I knew I was not alone in that place.

    Thank you all so very much for your endless prayers for me as well as for my children.


    Your friend

    Mike

    Mike Turned Around
    Great News Mike, buddy......

    So glad to hear you are doing well and starting to get back on the road again.

    God Bless,
    John
  • micktissue
    micktissue Member Posts: 430
    Chefdaddy said:

    Thank you Mick,
    How are you

    Thank you Mick,

    How are you doing? I lost touch with so many of you once I went downhill. How did you do through the radiation? Did you ever get a PEG put in?

    Thank you for you kind words my friend.

    Mike

    Mike
    Hi Mike.

    I got the PEG the last week of treatment when I couldn't swallow anymore and still have it 9+ weeks post-treatment. I've had complications due to thrush and blocked salivary ducts that have made recovery a bit slower than usual, but on the whole feeling pretty good.

    Swallowing is difficult. I tried watermelon last week. The juice went down pretty good, but the bits just would not go down. My ENT says there's a lot of thick, rubbery mucus and little in the way of lubrication, but added that the swelling is less. He doesn't want to see me for 6 weeks! I guess he's not worried.

    In the meantime I have a PET/CT scan scheduled for the last week of June. Kinda nervous about that. Oh, in the meantime I finished my MA (counseling) which was awesome.

    I would have been on here more, crying about my recovery had you not been going through the roughest time I've ever heard anyone going through. Your strength has been a real inspiration to me and a lot of others here. I'm sorry you had to go through that but hope you realize how much your journey has meant to people here.

    Best,

    Mick
  • Clearblue
    Clearblue Member Posts: 186
    Skiffin16 said:

    Mike Turned Around
    Great News Mike, buddy......

    So glad to hear you are doing well and starting to get back on the road again.

    God Bless,
    John

    MIKES BACK in TOWN
    Like i said before, u dont know me and it doesnt matter.
    Youre a warrior sir.
    C.Blue
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    Chefdaddy said:

    Good news time!
    Hi everyone,

    I finally have some good news.

    I've gained two pounds and the plumbing is starting to work a little bit on it's own. I am starting to be able to swallow some things, this morning I had a bowl of cream of wheat that was pretty wet with milk, but it went down well. I am still on the feeding pump. They delivered an electric hospital bed yesterday so that I can now safely pump feed through the night. I am getting stronger, the blood pressure has left the high 40's and back up to the 70's and 80's, so passing out has stopped.

    I've been able to work myself back into the kitchen again for short stints, the kids are very happy, not only for my physical turn-around, but for some of dad's home cooking again.


    I had bought a leg of lamb to celebrate my son's final chemo date, before my health went south.
    I finally got to prepare it as if it were a holiday meal for them the other night and they were delighted. I had to sit down several times but I got through it. I'm getting a little stronger each day as long as I can get enough calories in me. It's very difficult using the Scandi-Shakes as they are extremely rich and nauseating. The vanilla flavor is so strong that even when fresh berries and flavored espresso syrups are added it doesn't remove the sickening vanilla flavor.

    I would appreciate any ideas or recipes for any high calorie, high protein foods or soups that I can blend and drink.

    I missed you all very much while stuck in the hospital, I thank you all for your phone calls. Unfortunately, they had me so drugged up that I don't remember all the details of our conversations, but what mattered most to me was that I knew I was not alone in that place.

    Thank you all so very much for your endless prayers for me as well as for my children.


    Your friend

    Mike

    Happy to hear from you
    Hi,

    It makes my day to read something from you. I am so glad that you are feeling better. You are amazing. I want you to know I enjoyed talking to you on the phone that night.

    Love,
    Pumakitty