Latest on Jim and Linda

linda1120
linda1120 Member Posts: 389
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi Friends,

I haven't been online much since returning home from Portland, Oregon where Jim had his MIE on January 5th. We are home and settled in and he is progressing well. We have adapted our lives to the j-tube and he is maintaining his weight. He is still weak & building his strength.

I want to thank all of you here for your prayers, guidance, and encouragement over the last few months. I feel like I have made friends that truly understand what we have been going through. There were so many times I felt so alone and I would check the site and seeing the responses to my posts and our needs for prayer. It helped me get through this roller coaster ride from Hell.

I hope that our experiences will be helpful to others in the future. Again, thank you all for being there. If we hadn't had this discussion board and the advice from it's members I am not sure Jim would have made it. You all encouraged us to seek a second opinion from a high volume cancer center, and as difficult as it was to be away from home, we did it. We are so grateful that Jim's life was spared and truly thank God everyday.

Linda & Jim

Comments

  • Callaloo
    Callaloo Member Posts: 135
    Been thinking of you
    Dear Linda and Jim,
    Let me add my voice to those who have sent prayers and good wishes to you. I've been following your journey and have been encouraged by the high level of treatment you received at OHSU. I live in Eugene, 2 hours away from Portland, and while I chose to stay home for my treatment, (I did not have surgery-stage 4- or I would also have gone to OHSU if I'd had the chance), I know that when this beast shows its head again, I will feel confident I will be able to get the help I need without going too far from home. OHSU is the closest major medical center from where I live. Your sharing your experience has helped and comforted me greatly. So thank YOU! I wish Jim a speedy recovery.

    Lu in Oregon
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    Hi, So glad Jim is doing
    Hi, So glad Jim is doing well. I wasn't on this site when I went through chemo and surgery ,But I would have loved the support and prayers that are so much a part of it.It is a lonely roller coaster ride and there's not a lot of info on this type of cancer.
    I did well with my treatment, but there were some things I've learned on here I would have questioned my drs. about.
    My prayers are still going up for you and Jim. Keep us posted on how he's doing,
    Sandra
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    Linda and Jim!
    Hello and thank you for your recent update! So happy to hear that you are both home and doing well. You are most welcome, and thank you for your many prayers also. We are here for each other. You pat my back, I pat yours. Now give yourself and Jim a great big hug from me! Praise the Lord for all he does always!
    Tina in Va
  • sal314
    sal314 Member Posts: 599 Member
    So Happy
    that things are going well for Jim:) I'm sure it's not an easy recovery, but it seems as though you've come through the hardest part of it with fying colors! Keep doing what you're doing! :)

    I'll continue to pray for you both!!

    Blessings,
    Sally
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    Great News!!!
    Linda,

    Great to hear that you are back home again and that things are moving forward for Jim. I am sure now that he is back home and able to sleep in his own bed and see his friends and family things will move forward even faster.

    Jim has been though the eye of the needle and has made it!! That is wonderful.

    Be sure to get someone to stay with Jim for a while and give Linda a well deserved break enjoying something you love to do.


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!
  • mrsbotch
    mrsbotch Member Posts: 349
    paul61 said:

    Great News!!!
    Linda,

    Great to hear that you are back home again and that things are moving forward for Jim. I am sure now that he is back home and able to sleep in his own bed and see his friends and family things will move forward even faster.

    Jim has been though the eye of the needle and has made it!! That is wonderful.

    Be sure to get someone to stay with Jim for a while and give Linda a well deserved break enjoying something you love to do.


    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
    12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
    2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    6/21/2010 CT Scan NED

    Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

    Wonderful news
    I am so happy for you and Jim. he had had quite a ride and I am so happy that you are home and he is healing.

    Gods graces on you

    Barb
  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    There's no place like home!
    I'm so happy you are home and Jim is doing so well....keep it up...

    jan
  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    There's no place like home!
    I'm so happy you are home and Jim is doing so well....keep it up...

    jan
  • K_ann1015
    K_ann1015 Member Posts: 500
    Linda & Jim,
    so glad to hear

    Linda & Jim,
    so glad to hear surgery was a success and recovery is going smoothly. It's no picnic though...Prayers from us will continue... My dad was in the same spot last year at this time. The things that really seemed to help him move through the difficult times were visits from friends & family. Also, he strived to walk a certain amount every day, unfortunately when it was really cold (he was still sensitive to the cold), he would drive my mom crazy by walking back & forth through the house on a "route" he mapped out so that he could get that 15 minute walk in. I think he needed to have some control over his recovery so the walking was what he could do & push himself. He is doing well and is disease free at this time. He is getting more & more energy and is actually back on the Volunteer Fire Dept driving the trucks or directing traffic. We are blessed.

    Hang in there---you are not alone.
    Kim