Doing much better!

NikiMo
NikiMo Member Posts: 342
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi guys,

One more update on Jeff. He came home from the hospital last Thursday with oral antibiotics. In true Jeff form he took it easy for about 10 minutes before he started puttering around the house. It was an indication to me that he was feeling better. We went out for a "yay, you're done chemo!!" dinner on Saturday, he chose sushi and we had a blast. I think he is completely comfortable with chemo ending, his attitude has been outstanding. In fact he is pretty much back to my normal Jeff, making me smile and laugh constantly. I have my buddy back, I missed him! His eating has improved greatly, he gained a pound and he has been making sure he gets his 64oz of liquids a day. As a bonus for him the top stitch on his feeding tube popped on Sunday. He called me into the room to help him tape it into place. He got a big smile on his face and said "well I geuss this bad boy is coming out!" He hates the feeding tube and since he is eating better now and chemo is over he was able to convince the oncologist to have it pulled. He goes to the hospital tomorrow to have it removed, he is psyched! Last good news is that he is having an outpatient procedure on Thursday to correct his paralyzed vocal chord. They think they should be able to at least temporarily help the chord close, this would help with his voice and prevent him from choking on liquids.

Overall things are looking up for us. I am so happy to see him smile and laugh. We are going to his sister's for Christmas, can't wait for the holidays now!

Niki

Comments

  • JReed
    JReed Member Posts: 428
    #2
    Merry Christmas Niki & Jeff
    I loved your post tonight Niki! I can hear the happiness in your post - that is wonderful news. Rejoice!

    We are new to this site, but to read your post sure put a smile on my face. I don't know you and Jeff but I am truly happy that things are looking up for you guys.

    May you both have a blessed Christmas season!

    Judy & Don
  • AngieD
    AngieD Member Posts: 493
    #3
    JReed said:

    Merry Christmas Niki & Jeff
    I loved your post tonight Niki! I can hear the happiness in your post - that is wonderful news. Rejoice!

    We are new to this site, but to read your post sure put a smile on my face. I don't know you and Jeff but I am truly happy that things are looking up for you guys.

    May you both have a blessed Christmas season!

    Judy & Don

    What a great Christmas
    What a great Christmas gift--having your Jeff back!!! So happy for you both!
    Angie
  • Cora11
    Cora11 Member Posts: 173
    #4
    AngieD said:

    What a great Christmas
    What a great Christmas gift--having your Jeff back!!! So happy for you both!
    Angie

    Joy
    How delightful to hear such good news Nikki. Jeff really is resilient to say the least. You two are such a strong couple. Now, no more challenges for a while, ok ? Here's to more sushi and laughter!
    Cora
  • annalan
    annalan Member Posts: 138
    #5
    A beautiful early Christmas
    A beautiful early Christmas present for you Niki to see Jeff enjoying life again. May it continue. Always love the good news.

    Ann (2)
    wife of Alan T3N1M0
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    #6
    Niki,
    So glad to hear your
    Niki,
    So glad to hear your good news! Jeff is such a fighter, much like my husband. It's great to hear that you guys are able to get out and enjoy life again. Wishing you all the joy the holiday season has to bring, and much happiness in the new year!
    Cheryl
    Wife of Rickie, dx stage IV EC, Oct 2010
    Mets to bones and brain
  • MissusB
    MissusB Member Posts: 111
    #7
    cher76 said:

    Niki,
    So glad to hear your
    Niki,
    So glad to hear your good news! Jeff is such a fighter, much like my husband. It's great to hear that you guys are able to get out and enjoy life again. Wishing you all the joy the holiday season has to bring, and much happiness in the new year!
    Cheryl
    Wife of Rickie, dx stage IV EC, Oct 2010
    Mets to bones and brain

    Cora said it so well!
    JOY! Exactly what we are feeling for you and with you! Have a wonderful holiday, Niki and Jeff. ((hugs)) Kim
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #8
    MissusB said:

    Cora said it so well!
    JOY! Exactly what we are feeling for you and with you! Have a wonderful holiday, Niki and Jeff. ((hugs)) Kim

    Have a great Christmas!!
    Dear Nikki and Jeff,
    Have a wonderful Christmas. It is so good to see this happy update and glad to hear Jeff is up and about and feeling good. I know what it is like to be sick of that feeding tube and he will be so happy without it. Also hope the correction of his vocal cord goes well. The choking and coughing when it is damaged is no fun at all. Enjoy the holiday season, you both certainly deserve it. take care,
    Donna70
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    #9
    Happy Holidays!!
    I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday too! My holiday wish is that each of you can celebrate the holiday surrounded by family and friends, and that we all can find joy and peace during this time.

    Niki
  • TerryV
    TerryV Member Posts: 887
    #10
    a Wonderful Update!
    Niki,

    This is great news! So glad to hear that Jeff is feeling good about the end of chemo and getting a bit of his old self back. Isn't it wonderful to have your husband back? I know I sure "missed" Nick. Really glad he's getting back to his old self!

    Your holiday plans sound wonderful! Family is so very important and the holidays seem to be just the right time to remind us of that.

    Love & Hugs to you both! I can't imagine what Santa could possibly bring you this year. It seems you have your best present back home with you!

    Terry
  • nickgunboat
    nickgunboat Member Posts: 35
    #11
    Yayy for Jeff
    Just wanted to add that I also suffered from a paralyzed vocal chord following my esophagectomey in 2009. I was speaking in a breathy whisper for a year and a half. And then, without warning, little by little, my voice started to come back. Words would pop out at full volume. Then sentences. Before ya know it, I'm back to singing lead vocals to "Hey Bartender" with my band! It'll happen, weather you get some assistance from modern medicine or not, it will happen! Fear not Jeff and keep powering through! This was me before the voice came back. Sound familiar?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLALaXHVKOY

    Kirk
  • NikiMo
    NikiMo Member Posts: 342
    #12
    nickgunboat said:

    Yayy for Jeff
    Just wanted to add that I also suffered from a paralyzed vocal chord following my esophagectomey in 2009. I was speaking in a breathy whisper for a year and a half. And then, without warning, little by little, my voice started to come back. Words would pop out at full volume. Then sentences. Before ya know it, I'm back to singing lead vocals to "Hey Bartender" with my band! It'll happen, weather you get some assistance from modern medicine or not, it will happen! Fear not Jeff and keep powering through! This was me before the voice came back. Sound familiar?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLALaXHVKOY

    Kirk

    Yay for Kirk!!
    2 years, thats fantastic! I showed Jeff your video, sounds very familiar. I would say that Jeff's voice is a little stronger (not that this is the creepy stalker voice competition...) he can talk above a whisper, but if he gets excited or raises the volume of his voice he sounds like mickey mouse. Imagine how frustrating that would be, trying to yell and sounding like a cartoon character...well at least he isn't the kind to raise his voice very often. We can relate to the voice coming back in words and sentences. Today we went in for the procedure and all day his voice was coming in and out. Just as we got to the hospital it sounded back to normal...chalk that one up 'it figures'!

    Also liked the video for it's content, Jeff could relate to a lot of what you were saying about your journey with cancer. He is also a creative person, artist (illustration)/guitar. He didn't do much creative work while in treatment, but I see him getting back to it now.

    I hope you keep posting to give others hope for the future.

    Niki
  • nickgunboat
    nickgunboat Member Posts: 35
    #13
    NikiMo said:

    Yay for Kirk!!
    2 years, thats fantastic! I showed Jeff your video, sounds very familiar. I would say that Jeff's voice is a little stronger (not that this is the creepy stalker voice competition...) he can talk above a whisper, but if he gets excited or raises the volume of his voice he sounds like mickey mouse. Imagine how frustrating that would be, trying to yell and sounding like a cartoon character...well at least he isn't the kind to raise his voice very often. We can relate to the voice coming back in words and sentences. Today we went in for the procedure and all day his voice was coming in and out. Just as we got to the hospital it sounded back to normal...chalk that one up 'it figures'!

    Also liked the video for it's content, Jeff could relate to a lot of what you were saying about your journey with cancer. He is also a creative person, artist (illustration)/guitar. He didn't do much creative work while in treatment, but I see him getting back to it now.

    I hope you keep posting to give others hope for the future.

    Niki

    Thanks Niki
    Glad you guys enjoyed the video. Tell Jeff, as a creative person I struggled for a while to find my new normal. I wasn't writing as much as I like, or recording either. In fact I'm still not doing it as much as I'd like. But I am doing it some and it feels wonderful to reclaim life. Bit by bit. Don't let your lack of motivation or energy get to you,(if that's even an issue, I suppose I'm making some assumptions here, sorry) it will happen in it's own time. Creative people create, it's what we do, cancer can't stop that. Maybe slow it down for a little while but that's it. Best of luck to you both and Happy Holidays!

    Kirk

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