Back Home to Virginia

It was such a blessing to have David, Edith and the girls home in Virginia this past weekend. David made the trip down here pretty good. After having days of just sleeping a lot, he managed to stay up during the day pretty good. He stayed busy fishing and playing cards. His legs gave away at one point and he fell in the pond. He is very weak, but I think he had a good time. He will not have any chemo treatments this week, but he will have to go and do some blood work on Wednesday. His chemo will start back up next Monday.

I want to say how much this family is blessed to have a truly amazing sister-in-law as my brothers wife, Edith. When I think of how a husband and wife should love one another and stick by one another through whatever life deals them, I think of these two. Edith is a very remarkable woman. She is devoted to him and finding a cure for him 100%. She makes sure he is well taken care of and that he gets the right medicines at the right time. If he can't sleep during the night, she is right there. She is truly a God sent and we love her. Thanks for all you do, Edith.

Please pray for David while he returns for more Chemo on April 3rd, and April 10th. Pray he won't get sick, that he will have more strength and that he will be able to come back home to Virginia for Easter weekend and attend Church on Easter Sunday. Thanks to everyone for your prayers.
Love
Barbie

CHEMO # 2

March 20, Dave went for his chemo #2. Delta and Dave left for the hospital at 6:00 AM to make his 8:30 appt. The hospital is about 50 miles away from where we live but traffic around the beltway is the worst.

Other than hiccupping like crazy, he is doing better with this chemo regimen. He had upset stomach last night but he woke up fine this morning. I went to check on him while he was still in bed and he said that I smelled like peanut butter! Guess what for breakfast? Peanut butter with mayo and banana sandwich! Good thing I didn't have to make it. My mother-in-law is here this week! I really appreciate her so much for being here. Dave's family takes turns driving up to Maryland to take him to his appointments. Delta and Jay with their little girls drove up here Sunday and left Monday night for that 5 hour trek home. (Some people I know are wondering if my in-laws have jobs). Thank you so much for being here for us. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Edith

Out to Dinner!

Dave had been having abdominal pain for the last few days, so last night we doubled the dose of his pain meds, Dilaudid and Morphine Sulfate. He woke up this morning feeling better, high as kite, and decided that we should go for a ride to Va, about 5 hrs. drive! I just gave him the look of "I'm sorry, I can't", and not "Are you insane"! So he decided to have pizza for breakfast in bed and he wanted to go to Home Depot because he had a craving for chili dog for dinner (there's a dog stand infront of the store).

I painted our new front door while he was sleeping, which is what he has been doing a lot of lately. He couldn't seem to get enough sleep. Around 6 PM, he decided that he wanted to have Korean food. Danica wasn't hungry because her boyfriend was here so I told Melissa to just stay home (as a look out!) Poor Mimi!

We have a Southern Gospel tape in my truck which Dave had before we got married. Melissa decided to play it a few days ago while driving to Walter Reed Hospital and I just let it play every time I get in my truck. Before Dave got sick we used to play it esp. on long drives and sang along until we get so sick of it. Even the girls started singing it!

After he got sick, music wasn't a part of our drives anymore. Tonight, he started singing along and even turned up the volume! So, we were just singing along all the way to Korea House, only to find out that it was closed. He thought of Red Lobster as an option but he really wanted to eat some rice. We decided, Japanese. On the way there, I was following a car, driving slow until I couldn't take it anymore, accelerated and passed it. I looked at Dave and his head was down. Oops, I made him nervous and sick! We got there, the place was packed. Waiting wasn't an option esp. if you would share a table with other diners. Our last resort was a restaurant that serves different kinds of Asian food and closer to our house. We've never been there but for a take out. He had miso soup and finished for him, had beef ribs, rice and kimchee (close enough for Korean food). I had Thai noodle soup, had to swim deep to find the noodles, plenty of red and green peppers which I had to eat because it prevents cancer. I should have ordered Pork Satay! Anyway, Dave had a good dinner which matters most.

Dave has been really tired and sleepy all day today. His stomach was somewhat upset this morning. I made him drink one of those protein drink! He doesn't have much appetite since he started this new chemo regimen. He had mac and cheese for dinner, tried some meatloaf. He has been eating plums like crazy for the last few weeks. He's done with strawberries!

He had to take breakthrough pain meds for some discomfort around his shoulder (cancer pain) before I went to pick up Melissa ( 5:30 PM ) from school. She has a part on "Annie".

While Dave was getting his treatment on Monday, I was with Melissa at Walter Reed Medical Center. Her plastic surgeon said to just watch the break-out on her cheeck. He said that her face is looking really good. I have to take her back in May for the Craniofacial Conferrence which we go once a year for evaluation. The ENT has to set her up for a sleep apnea study. We have to see the Oral Surgeon so that he can work with Melissa's Orthodontist as a team since he is civilian. For our friends who is not familiar with Melissa's medical history, she was born with hemi-facial microsomia ( her left jaw is not complete). Her first surgery was when she was 4 months old to repair a cleft-lip (on the left side, not in the middle as the usual cleft- lips), then when she was 4 years old, on her jaw. She had a plastic surgery in August of '05. She might be getting braces as soon as her Orthodontist and the Oral Surgeon meet as a team. Her next major surgery will be an oral surgery when is 16 years old. Please include her in your thoughts and prayers as she faces a lot of difficult times as a teenager. Danica is trying hard to get A's and B's as her ticket for San Diego to see her friends!

:) edith

Back to the hospital for more chemo.

Hi Everyone,

Dave started the Xeloda on Friday, March 10th and he went in on Monday, March 13th to start with Gemzar and Taxotere for 3 weeks. His sister, Angie took him and they were there about all day, doing the chemo and seeing doctors and waiting. We are not sure what all the side effects are with this medicine, but I think he will be real sick. According to the doctors, they are giving him large doses of this medicine. The doctors said, it will be several days before he starts feeling the side effects. Please pray he will not get sick and this will be the key to him getting better and God will give him Grace to keep on fighting this thing.
Barbie

Dave's starting a new chemo regimen

Just want to say "thanks" to Barbie for starting this blog.

Dave started chemo on October 31, 2005 with Gemzar and Oxaliplatin and he had his first CT scan on Dec. 20th. The disease was stable at that time but he had another CT scan on Jan. 23, and the result was disappointing. The tumor in his liver was stable but there is one tumor on his stomach lining that is growing. His oncologist referred us to the National Institute of Health for a clinical study for Avastin and Sorafenib. Another disappointment! There is no safe tumor to biopsy for him to be eligible for the study.

We went to see the head oncologist at the Naval Hospital on February 27th and he recommended Xeloda/Gemzar/Taxotere. We really wanted the drug Avastin but Dave has a history of GI bleed. One of the serious side effect of this drug is bleeding internally. We don't want another problem on top of everything so we are not pushing it at this time.

Dave will be starting Xeloda on Friday, March 10 for 14 days and off for 7 days. He is going to start with Gemzar and Taxotere on Monday, March 13 every 3 weeks. He has to see his oncologist every Monday for blood test, etc. I know it's confusing! My calendar is full of doctor's appointment. I have to take Melissa to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to see her plastic surgeon on Monday while Dave is at the Naval Hospital for his chemo. Thank God for sisters-in-law! Angie will be driving up here in Maryland with her kids to take Dave to the hospital. I have to see my own doctor on Friday, March 10 for my asthma. I ran out of Advir and the nurse didn't wan't to give me anymore refill. Sad stories didn't work this time! All I got was, "You haven't seen your doctor for almost a year. You have to take care of yourself, too!" By the way Melissa's face is breaking out. She had a plastic surgery in August. Her left cheek was filled with Alloderm. She was born with hemi-facial microsomia.

On the lighter note, Barbie and Robert with their boys drove Mother here last weekend. She stays every other week so that Dave has company while I'm working. John and Mason were here for the weekend also. Dave and John went to shoot pool while I was making frantic calls looking for a place for Robert to park his trailer which is four cars in length! Only to park it on Ruth's parking pad. We could always use a friend!
We had seafood for dinner, Louisiana style- dump the whole pot in the middle of the dining table- for dessert- yellow cake, topped with strawberries, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. After dinner, we played poker in which the Hoskins' family won all of Brandon's money!

On Sunday, Barbie and I decided to have some sister-in-law bonding! We couldn't do it any better than shopping. (We had to walk off that dessert from the night before!)

Anyway, Dave hasn't been feeling good the whole day today. Brandon helped him take the boat for service at the Bass Pro Shop this morning. He did some shopping! He is also anticipating the side effects of the pills and the good fishing weather this weekend.

I want to thank all of our friends who's always there for us. Brandon West who is always available at the click of a button. Ben Abad for always bringing Dave home safe from his appointments, Lale, Boris Palomo, and Chief Michael Howard who is always with Dave at his oncology appointments. Our friends Frank and Ruth Arp. Frank who scared the heck out of me driving Dave to the ER, who made a personal driving record at the Capital Beltway! My clients who are always supporting me, haven't left my care yet for taking so many days off. Countless cards coming in from families, friends and people we've never met. Thank you for all your support and prayers.

But most of all, my sisters-in-law, Barbie and Robert Eanes, Angie and Scott McDaniel, Delta and Jay Mitchell and Tami and Doug Wilson, who are always there to cheer me up and bringing the whole Hoskins gang to Md when needed. Mike and Cherryl (he was given his own room at the end of the hall for snoring so loud) who stayed with Dave at the hospital overnight when he had surgery. Thanks guys. It's your turn to drive up here in Maryland. I can't afford to get anymore speeding ticket driving down to Virginia. It's getting expensive! I quiver at the sight of a cop.

:) edith

Hi Everyone,
My brother, David Hoskins, 39 years old has been diagnosed with Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma on Oct. 5, 2005. It had spread on his stomach lining and in his lungs. He had ERCP on Oct. 7th, had Laparoscopic surgery the following week and started his chemo on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, '05, bi-weekly--Gemzar and Oxaliplatin. He went to work on Oct. 5, (feeling really sick the day before) so he went to the ER. At first, the doctors thought he had hepatitis but after running more tests and CT scan, they told him that he has cholangiocarcinoma, that same day. Life has been changed completely for his family since he came home that night! He is in the navy, stationed at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda,MD. where is being treated. His oncologists are from the National Institute of Health. He had CT scan on Dec. 20th and they said his cancer was stable at that time. Most of David's family are from Chatham, Virginia. I hope to give you more up dated information as soon as I can. Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions. Please pray that God will direct his path in fighting this terrible disease.
With Love
Barbie