And We Danced in the Rain

Sitting in the Oncologist office last week I noticed above Lorries head a plaque that read "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to DANCE IN THE RAIN". I motioned to her to look over at it and with a big grin she smiled at me. It was at that point I realized that life is full of many storms that darken our days but if we realize that it isn't about the situation we are in but how we adapt to it to make the best from it. I will continue to live those words I read in that office and make each minute I have left here the best I can make it.
What a day it was. The world’s largest horse drawn parade the Parada Del Sol was this morning and the turnout was amazing even though the forecast was that rain was on the way you wouldn't have known it by the excitement in the air. With thousands of people lining the street and horse drawn carriages everywhere and local school bands lining up to the beat of their drums, you could tell it didn't matter to anyone that what the weather man had said was coming.
With the parade starting right on time, the first carriage started it's procession. Kids screaming and bands playing and that so familiar rat-atat-tat off the rims of their drums began to play. As the clouds began to thicken in the northern sky, I began to feel terrible for all the people that have worked so hard to march in this event to have to possibly walk through what I had never seen as long as i have lived in Arizona. Rain on the day of the Parada Del Sol. The wind was kicking up and the temperature was dropping like a rock.

As I looked through my cameras view finder I could see the gang from Scottsdale Health Care and my family and friends coming closer with some very familiar shirts on. The closer they got to us I began to hear the words being repeated "we love Lorrie clap, clap, clapclapclap. The closer they got to us the louder they said it. While I was trying to photograph all of them coming down the road, I had all I could do to control the emotion I felt watching these wonderful people making Lorrie feel so special. Then what I couldn't believe would happen, actually did. As I had raised my camera back to my eye to continue photographing all of them, they all just began to break up in the middle of the Scottsdale Road and run towards her at the edge of the street where she stood with my mom and dad. I looked to my left and two police cars which were apparently trying to move down the road were blocked and prevented from moving because everyone had scattered to her. With smiles on their faces I knew that they understood. There were so many people around her and I was doing the best I could to photograph everyone around her so that if anyone wanted to see proof of an amazing gift of support God has put before us. As the rain began to fall and as they all broke towards Lorrie from the street, I had looked back to that moment when I read on a wall that even though the dark clouds will come in and the rain will fall, all you have to do is dance in the rain. You may never know the impact that each and every one of you have made in our lives to this day, but I can promise you that we will never forget what you all have done as long as we live

She's Home

We got her home today late afternoon and she is happy to be here. It's 8:00 pm and Home Health Care has arrived to show us how to administer this powerful intravenous antibiotic to Lorrie over the next five days. What a great group they are too. Very accommodating and compassionate people. Well tomorrow it's back to juicing and building her immunity up. Although her hair is beginning to come out because of the first round of chemo she still looks beautiful. Going to be concentrating on getting her strength back for now. Lorrie wanted me to say hello and thank you for all your prayers....Scott

She's coming home.....

Lorries condition has improved due to her blood count being restored to normal. Unfortunately due to the low blood count, she contracted what doctors call "A Super Bug" which under normal circumstances her immune system would have been able to ward off but because her count went so low she couldn't fight it. They indicate she might be able to come home today if the she doesn't have a adverse reaction to this new medication for the virus. She is really ready to come after five days in the hospital. All chemo therapy treatment has been halted for now so that she can build her immune system back up. I'll let you all know if our stay at club med will be over just as soon as I get her home. Thank you for all the support.... Scott

Hope For Tomorrow

Lorrie's blood count is getting better. On a scale of 1 to 8 she has moved up to 2. It appears the Neupogen injections are taking effect but the down side is that it makes her skeletal bones hurt. A common side effect of the drug when larger doses are administered. Chemo therapy treatment has been halted for the time being and I am going to call her Oncologist first thing Monday to ask him what his plan is at this point and see again what are options may be if any. Doctors have said that possibly she might be able to come home tomorrow but I'm not holding my breath because I know just how sick she was. This is the battle that all her friends told her she would have to endure to beat this thing. Our sleeves are rolled up.....Scott

Back at Club Med

Lorrie's condition has taken a turn again and landed her back into the hospital. Seems her Biliary line has a blockage and it is causing her an infection and fever possibly because of the chemotherapy she is going through. Last night they were successful in replacing it and she was resting somewhat comfortably when I left. Finding out her white blood count was on a scale of 1 to 8 a score of 1, I spoke with Lorries primary Oncologist regarding her condition and he had told me that he generally administers a dosage of medicine daily to prevent the white blood count from dropping like a rock. His explanation to why he hadn't ordered it was because of Lorrie's decision to receive her treatment at the hospital rather than in his office prevented him from staying in closer contact with her. Not sure why he hadn't foreseen the possibility of it occurring and ordered it from the hospital again makes me reiterate to everyone going through any medical condition, Take Charge of your Health and continue to ask questions about the care your Physician has in play. Subsequently he has ordered the medicine and we hope her levels will increase soon. Now because her count is so dangerously low, the staff has ask everyone that is considering seeing her, not to visit her at this time. The staff and doctors at Scottsdale Health Care are taking great care of her as they always have. If they are able to get her stabilized they said I might be able to get her home Sunday. We appreciate everyones support and prayers so very much.