Two weeks had passed since the last time I updated. Trips to Va., doctor's appointments, work and a trip to the ER had filled up our daily schedule. We had a visit to the ER last Tuesday for severe, uncontrollable pain that went on for more than 12 hours. Dave finally got relief when given Dilaudid through IV. It seems like he's having more pain when chemo treatment was stopped so we had a discussion with one of the Oncologists who dropped by at the ER that it might be better to resume treatment. We have an appointment with them on the 29th. I don't feel like going back to the hospital any sooner since we were there last Monday to see a GI doctor. We see too many doctors that Dave confused them from one dept. to another. Colonoscopy is out of the picture for now but they had to give him more stuff for constipation because he has been on heavy dose of narcotics lately.

Mike, Dave's big brother, got here Tuesday afternoon while were at the ER to take him to Va. the next day. Driving for several hours is like punishment to me but not with Dave and Mike. When they got to their Mom's house, they decided to go fishing, walking for about 2 miles, on a hill to reach the pond before driving to Martinsville where Mike lives. Dave started having pain again that he couldn't even reach in his wallet to get his breakthrough meds. He must had been on severe pain because he let Cherryl gave him his meds, changed for a more comfortable pair of socks to relieve his swollen legs and bring him water to drink. (Thanks Cherryl for being there for Dave. I very much appreciate it!)

Anyway, Cherryl called me at noon today asking if I heard anything from the guys-- Mike, Dave and John-- who should be in Hopewell, Va. as we speak, catfishing in James River. She is quite worried that she hasn't heard anything from them, trying to call their cell phones. The "Poor Woman" doesn't understand that our husbands forget that they left worried wives at home as soon as that boat touches the water! And the stories we will hear on who caught the biggest catfish, how that monster cat broke a line! Hope Dave will be able to fish on through the night as they planned. The weather is not cooperating either. It looks like it's going to rain.

Ruth and I will be driving to Hopewell tomorrow morning to pick Dave up, instead of driving down to his mom's house. That will save him hours of car ride.

Ruth and I took Danica shopping for her prom dress last night. She decided to attend on last minute and no DATE! We found something cheaper and nicer than the one she bought at Nordstrom that she sent a picture to Angie and Delta. A cute guy took her out to a sushi bar at downtown Annapolis yesterday but he is leaving on a cruise trip a day before her prom. Don't tell her Dad, the cute guy is 20 yrs. old, he is going to freak out! The Hill Billy boy that took her out walking downtown and on a nature walk is history. He must had freaked out with all the interviewing I had done. "Couldn't understand a Filipino woman's English!" He said that he doesn't need to go to college to learn how to weld and spray paint a car. I told him that it's nice to have college degree, it's something to fall back on to. He said, "Then, I'll just join the Navy".

Danica attended a class for a manageral job for Pizza Hut a few weeks ago. She is moving along. Her graduation will be on the 9th of June and she will be attending our local community college in the fall. She wants to be a high school History teacher. Can't imagine her teaching history!

Melissa is hard to get along with these days. She wants to do like what her sister does. She said that she is not going to follow the rules that we have for Danica. Well, we are in deep trouble with Melissa as Danica told me last night.

Have to go. Naptime is almost over. Please continue to hold us in your thoughts and prayers.

Edith

APRIL 24TH CT SCAN RESULTS

We didn't get much good news on our visit to Dave's oncologist yesterday as far as to my own understanding.

FINDINGS: Again, numerous nodules are seen throughout both lungs. Scattered peritoneal seeding appears relatively stable compared to the prior exam. A small fluid collection adjacent to the colon just above the bladder which may be a sequela of diverticulitis. A few scattered diverticula are present.

Diverticula - is a pouchlike herniation throught the muscular wall of a tubular organ which maybe present in the stomach, the small intestine, or, most commonly, the colon.

Diverticulitis - inflamation of one or more diverticula. The penetration of fecal matter through the thin-walled diverticula causes inflammation and
abcess formation in the tissues sorrounding the colon. With repeated inflamation the lumen of the colon narrows and may become obstructed. During periods of inflammation the patient experiences crampy pain, particularly over the sigmoid colon. Barium enemas and proctoscopy are used to rule out carcinoma of the colon, which exhibits some of the symptoms.


IMPRESSION: Widely metastatic disease is evident which is not significantly changed compared to the prior study.

"Widely" was never used before of any of his CT scans. It might be that it was interpreted by a different radiologist this time.

He's been having some of the symptoms of diverticulitis for the last few weeks. I just looked up this word tonight from my good ol' trusted medical dictionary and went upstairs to show it to him. Well, he jumped into conclusion that he has now cancer in his colon. Bad move on my part. I should have just kept it to myself and talk about it with his oncologist next Tuesday.

He is still in constant pain esp.on his right shoulder, around his back and his abdomen. He's been taking 50mg. of oxycontin 2x a day and a combo of morphine sulphate and dilaudid for breakthrough pain. He started using lasix for fluid retention last Monday but hasn't showed any relief just yet. His spirits are down for so many reasons; one is that he has been getting a lot of calls for power washing but he has been giving unreasonable estimates so they will not call him back. The houses are way too big and he knows that he is not able to do it.

The cherry tree that we planted last spring is coming back to life! All the little branches are full of tiny leaves. Dave had said when we planted the tree that he will live to eat the fruits.

His oncologist decided not to give him any chemo treatment for the next few months. His body needs to recover from all the treatments that he had since Oct. 31, 2005. When he goes back, he has the option to stay at the Naval Hospital or participate in a clinical trial. We have talked about clinical trials but it's not an option for him. He doesn't like to be in one which I very much agree with him. We were given a schedule of one of the trials at NIH last year and it's pretty extensive; biopsies, overnight hospital stays, and blood drawing worse than Dracula!

Well, I can't wait for my summer off. My last day of work will be on the 8th of June. I can spend all my time with Dave and the girls... more with Dave since Danica works a lot and Melissa doesn't even want to go out with us most of the time.

Jocelyn, my friend from Ca. sent Dave an Afghan which he likes using it. He said it warms him better than the blanket he used to cover himself while watching tv. Thanks You!

Hi Dave Morris, I washed Dave's new cell phone and your phone # was in it. I know, I'm not good in returning calls but I can program your # in my home phone next time that you call. Dave's old boss and his chief had called a few times, left messages but I haven't call them back. There numbers are washed out too!

It's almost midnight, Dave is already asleep but he is about to wake up for his midnight smoke break so I better go. Please continue with your prayers and good thoughts sent our way. It's not a good week for the Hoskins this week. Dave's brother, Mike has been at the hospital several days now for GI bleed. He was given 10 pts. of blood last Sunday and the doctors had just found where the bleeding was coming from today. Ryan, Barbie's 4 year old baby had surgery Tuesday (tonsils and adenoids). Please include them in your thoughts and prayers especially my mother-in-law. It must be so hard to have both of your sons sick at the same time.

I'm still hanging in there, my mind is just fried! Dave said that I am in so much denial.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, bit its leaf will be green..." Jeremiah 17:7

God Bless,

Edith