"Everything Looks Good"!!

Dear Reader,

Can you imagine how THRILLED my heart is to hear these words from the mouth of DJ's oncologist upon his most recent CT scan?  On October 16, DJ's chest and abdomen and pelvis were scanned, and the report from our own Dr. Spillane was that "Everything looks good"!!  Hooray!!  As far as we can tell, there is no cancer in DJ's body!  

 

And on November 13, we received a positive 6-month-post-operative appointment with DJ's surgeon Dr. Theodore at the UCSF Medical Center.  DJ is healing up well, and he is learning how to function with one lung.  And on November 14, an appointment with a GI oncologist at the UCSF Medical Center, what I consider to be a sort of a "third opinion" (since we consulted with a GI oncologist at Stanford Medical Center in 2012), was also very positive.  Dr. Ko agrees with our own oncologist Dr. Spillane that no chemotherapy or maintenance drugs should be prescribed to DJ at this time - hooray!  Dr. Ko discussed the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet for the prevention of cancer - are you taking note, dear reader?  Please don't wait until you suffer from the chronic diseases that we Westerners are prone toward!  Please eat healthy, whole, unprocessed, plant-based foods; please drink lots and lots of pure water; and please exercise your body moderately and frequently and regularly!  Dr. Ko suggested that DJ supplement vitamin D and baby aspirin in attempt to prevent colorectal cancer from returning to his body; and since DJ's main trouble with cancer has been that it has continued to metastasize often and frequently, Dr. Ko strongly recommends that DJ be vigilant to detect immediately if the cancer does return, with frequent CT scans and regular colonoscopies.  All in all, I am exuberant!  DJ is more cautious and reserved, I think, perhaps because he desires that a whoooooole lot of time passes without the metastasis or return of the cancer.  Nevertheless, I am super-duper thankful and grateful and hopeful and cheerful!  And THANKFUL!!

In other news, here are some photos of the children:

 Alexandra and Brooke painted Brooke's room purple

 

Brooke is fostering a mostly-blind, energetic, 10 1/2 year-old Pug-mix dog named Bradley

 

 Caedmon is a crazy kid!

We love our rugrats!

Thank you for loving us!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."

 

Five Months Post-Op!!

Dear Everyone Who Loves Us - and there are so many of you!

Thank you for loving us!  The transition from summer vacation to the new school year, and the happenings of the Bigelow family during this season, have kept me distracted from posting to this site.  And some of you that live far away and wonder about DJ's health are waiting so patiently for news!  "No news is good news" is certainly true in this case.  :-)

Here is a photo of the Bigelow kidlets (and their mother) on their first day of the 2013-2014 school year on August 27, 2013.  Alexandra Bigelow is a sophomore at Paso Robles High School, Brookelow is a 7th grader at Flamson Middle School, and Caedmon is a 3rd grader at Georgia Brown Elementary School.  "Growin' like weeds", they are! 

 

We celebrated Caedmon's 9th birthday with a trip to Legoland; he was oh-so happy to include his buddy Dylan.  Here is a photo of Caedmon's head about to be smashed by a Lego-construction ogre.

 

DJ Bigelow has promised his daughter who loves musicals a trip to New York to see a show on Broadway, if the Seattle Seahawks win the SuperBowl this year (and if Alex can name four players and their positions).  

She has become a fan of the Seahawks!!

As far as DJ's health and well-being these five months since his surgery to remove a lung and cancer in the lung, he is doing so super-duper well!  I'm so grateful for the regeneration of the body's cells, for recovery and the healing process and for God's abundant, lavish grace upon us!  DJ is continuing to improve and to gain health.  He is learning to breathe and to live with one lung, and I am happy to report that for the past 3 weeks he has ridden a bicycle 10 miles, 14 miles, and 20 miles respectively - in attempt to strengthen his one remaining lung.  He is working a super-light-duty status at work, keeping busy with projects and contributions that don't include running or lifting or carrying heavy weight - because although he is healing from the surgery, the healing process is a fairly long one.  He is also coaching volleyball at Paso Robles High School, which I think is the best form of physical therapy for him! 

A CT scan in July 2013 revealed no tumors or indication of cancer's regrowth, for which I am so thankful and glad!  As well, a visit to our oncologist at that time resulted in no chemotherapy prescribed to DJ for the present - which also brings such exuberance and joy and gratefulness to me!!  So it's "Life as usual" for the Bigelows this season - hooray!  

Next up: a 6-month-post-operative appointment next month with Dr. Theodore, the surgeon at the UCSF who removed DJ's lung in May; and perhaps another CT scan to monitor DJ's insides; and a 3rd-opinion type of visit with an oncologist at the UCSF, since we'll be there already; and a follow-up visit with our local oncologist here in SLO county.

In the meantime, we are blessed beyond measure, sustained by the grace of God, and I pray that we are being used to show forth the glory and the beauty of Jesus Christ!  Aaaaaaaa-men!  Thank you for loving us!

"The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love" (Psalm 147:11).

Twelve Weeks Post-Op

Dear Reader,

Hello!  Thank you for loving us!  Are you wondering about the health and well-being of DJ since he underwent surgery on May 8?  Are you wondering why it has taken me this long to post to this site? Are you wondering what I ate for dinner?  :-)

Here are some answers for you:  The super-good news is that DJ's body continues to improve from the invasiveness of the surgical procedure.  The first four weeks after DJ's lung was removed, he was in a fair amount of pain and discomfort; but in the 8 weeks since then, his pain has continued to diminish and his health is improving.  After our lovely vacation in Hawaii, DJ returned to his work in a modified, "light duty" status.  DJ is also spending time several days per week coaching volleyball and preparing for the upcoming season of Paso Robles High School girls' volleyball.  He is able to move and speak and think and interact and to make a contribution; he is not able to perform with full motion on the right side of his body, or to lift more than 15-or-so pounds.  Neither is he able to run or to perform activities that require a lot of pulmonary function (I do believe and hope that, with time, DJ's lung capacity will improve and strengthen so that he will be able to run.)   Although I think it's fantastic that he hasn't needed pain medications for almost 2 months, it is also true that having one's muscles cut into and the chest cavity disturbed enough that one's lung can be removed takes a good amount of time to recover from.  Every once in awhile, I see DJ wince or groan with what seems to be shooting or sharp or random pain that courses through his chest.  I suppose that those muscles may take some more months to be completely restored to pre-surgery health.  He has experienced a post-surgical cough, also, which I think is diminishing.  My guess is that DJ is 85 per cent recovered from the pneumonectomy at this point in time.  I am grateful for every day of healing and health and restoration and grace that is given to him and to us!!

We love to spend time at Lake Nacimiento with the Benyos.
This is what DJ looks like riding in the boat (July 21, 2013).
(I would be happy to post a photo of the scar left from his surgical incision, which is on his back;
but perhaps neither you nor he desire for that to occur.)

Regarding cancer and its habitation in DJ's body, Dr. Theodore (the surgeon who removed DJ's lung and the cancer that lived there) gave us the pathology report when we visited with him on May 24.  My understanding is that 4 lymph nodes that lived outside of DJ's lung showed no sign of cancer; and that one lymph node inside of DJ's lung (which is now donated to scientific research) did have some cancer in it.  Dr. Theordore suggested that DJ's local and primary oncologist will possibly prescribe chemotherapy, since that one little lymph node did house malignancy.  DJ does not want to take chemotherapy.  He does not believe that chemotherapy is successful at removing cancer from his body (besides the fact that chemotherapy is yucky).  He is scheduled to meet with Dr. Spillane this coming Wednesday, and I am interested in what will transpire.  Additionally, a new member of DJ's medical team will be added, a lung specialist who I suppose will aid DJ in learning to live and function as a one-lunger.  :-)

In the meantime, I am happy for the remaining days of summer vacation - I love the sunshine, I love the leisurely pace (more or less) of the summer time, I am enjoying the moments.  This answers the second question that I posed in the opening paragraph.  Here are some family photos:

Brooke Bigelow waved to her fans after the last game of her All-Star softball season.
Her team qualified to play in a State Games tournament, in which they won second place.

DJ helped to coach Brooke's team; here they are along with the pitcher and Brooke's friend Sara (July 14, 2013).

Caedmon Van Bigelow was super happy to spend a week at Hume Lake with his super-good buddy Dylan;
Dylan's brother Dayton is a patient big brother and good friend (July 25, 2013).

Alexandra and HollyB took a trip to Washington to visit with Grammy Catherine and other family members.
Here is Alex with cousins Analee and Raelee (July 27, 2013).

Here I am, Holly Lisa McDonald Bigelow, flanked by my father Scott and my brother Drew McDonald.
My mommy is holding Drew's son Raelee (July 28, 2013).

Kevin and Grammy and Alex (and HollyB, the photographer) enjoyed time together,
including a meal at Guiseppe's on the Bellingham waterfront.
If you know Alex, you know how she loves her some pasta!! (July 30, 2013)

I realize that this blog and these words that I use to communicate to your are primarily from my own viewpoint and way of seeing and understanding the world.  I try as much as possible to give to you an accurate answer to the question, "How is DJ?".  But these are my words. So in preparation for this post,  I asked DJ to tell me how he feels, that I may correctly portray him here to you.  This was his answer: "I feel like a strawberry ice cream cone on a hot day that someone wants to lick."  What on earth does that mean?  I have no idea.  Except that it means that DJ is a funny, crazy, weird dude.  What do you think?  :-)

The end, for now.  Thank you for loving us!  We love you back!  ;-)

"Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Summer Vacation

Dear Reader,

It happens several times a year, that the busyness and the fun times of our family carry me away, and much time passes between updates.  And there you are, checking this blog, wondering what's up with the Bigelows, patiently awaiting news from us.  Thank you for loving us!  :-)

I am humbly happy to report that our family was SPOILED with a lovely Polynesian vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii in late June and early July.  DJ's parents blessed us this year with 14 days in Paradise.

Dan and Penny and DJ Bigelow

I seem to have caught DJ with a happy expression on his face as he interacted with his mother.

I was amazed at how blue and how clear and how warm and how lovely the waters of Hawaii are.  Our children liked it!!

Stunning sunsets we saw - the glory of God revealed in creation is wonderful to behold - especially in Hawaii!!

Caedmon had a fantastic time.  I love his posture of abandonment and joy in this photo.

Alexandra, Brooke Caedmon, and HollyB overlooking a cliff on the north shore of Hawaii.

Our trip to Hawaii, planned 15 months ago, came at the end of DJ's recovery from recent surgery. 

Brookelow showcasing a beach.

If you'll pardon the poor lighting on the part of the photographer - here are DJ, Caedmon, and Dan Bigelow

Alexandra posed in Brooke-fashion for the camera

Brooke loved the flowers

My sister LaRae and her husband Scott and their son Greyson joined us for part of the adventure.

In this case, it seems particularly true:  A picture's worth a thousand words.  :-)  What beauty the Hawaiin islands possess!  How fortunate we are to have experienced it. 

Help - Thanks - Wow!

Greetings, Reader!

A member of our book club recently chose for us to read "Help, Thanks, Wow" by Anne Lamott, and I love that book!  I adopt these simple, one-word prayers into my conversation with Jesus quite often.

Help!!  I surrender, Lord - I can't do it without You.  Please help!

Thanks.  :-)  O, God, You are so GOOD.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Wow!  I am in awe, God of the universe, at Your beauty and Your power and Your majesty and Your glory and Your grace and Your love and Your goodness and Your infinity and Your mystery.

To me, "Help, Thanks, Wow" is about surrender, gratitude and worship  (which are also themes of "Jesus Calling", in my estimation; do you read that?).  Surrender.  Gratitude.  Worship.

Your cries for "Help" to our God have been so appreciated; thank you for asking the LORD for healing on behalf of DJ - your prayers are being answered!  So "Thanks!" is my grateful offering to the Lord for how graceful and good He is being to DJ and to our family, and "Thanks!" is my reply to you for how you have carried us and supported us and loved us and encouraged us.  And what other response than to worship Him is appropriate - "Wow"? Wow, wow, wow.

I am so happy to tell you that since last weekend, DJ has taken a definite upswing in his energy levels and movement and return to health.  DJ still deals with pain at his incision site and at various other places that have certainly been affected by the surgery, but he courageously faces his lot and is improving steadily. He sometimes feels weary, usually by the afternoon, but he is increasingly able to move and speak and breathe and function as the days pass and as he heals.

"Move it or lose it".  DJ calls me the Slave Driver, since I eagerly suggest that he walk daily, or move somehow, the equivalent of at least one mile.  Many days, he and I have walked 2 miles, filling up our 3 lungs with oxygen.

At DJ's May 24th post-operative visit with Dr. Theodore at the UCSF Medical Center, a chest x-ray showed that his remaining lung was clear and healthy, and that the cavity which formerly held the other lung was halfway filled up with fluid (which is what is normal and to be expected - that it will be filled up all the way with fluid from the body).  DJ's incision site is healing marvelously with no infection, as well.  Yahoo!  Thanks, LORD!!

Additionally, the pathology report indicates that 4 lymph nodes sampled by Dr. Theodore were clean and clear of disease; yahoo!!  One lymph node that was in the lung (which is now donated to scientific research and no longer resides in DJ's body) did show itself to be diseased with some cancer.  As far as I can tell, the big question is: did that lymph node spread the cancer to other cells before its departure from DJ's body?  And the next question is: will chemotherapy be prescribed?  The LORD knows the answer to both questions, and our local oncologist will, I suppose, answer the latter.  In the meantime, healing and recovering from surgery is the focus.

Also in the meantime, this coming Wednesday June the fifth will mark 4 weeks since DJ's pneumonectomy, and every day he continues to heal and progress.  Wow!!  Thank you so very much for your prayers and for your love and for your part in the grace of God being administered to us.  May the LORD bless you indeed!!

In other news, the three Bigelow children finished their 2012-2013 school year this past Friday; and they are as happy as can be for summer vacation to have arrived!

Alexandra began her summer by adding Lennie the Bunny Rabbit to her life.  

Brooke Bigelow transitioned smoothly from recreational ball into an All-Star season of softball.

Caedmon thinks the best part of summer vacation is staying up late.  

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

The end, for now.  :-)

Frisco, HollyB,and Lennie.

Two Weeks Post-Op

Hello, Reader -

Thank you for loving us!

Here I am to report to you that DJ's recovery continues, although it is slow and at times uncomfortable.  He experienced something of a setback as the week began, due to secondary symptoms from the pain medicine prescribed to him, which caused his digestive system to malfunction.  He was extremely unhappy for a few days and discontinued the prescription drug, using only Tylenol to manage pain.  He became increasingly non-verbal and withdrawn.  Thankfully, digestive balance was more or less restored by Wednesday; we hadn't been walking for several days, but yesterday he and I walked 2 miles, and today we walked about one mile. 

The good news, as far as I can tell, is that his surgical site is healing nicely; and although he experiences occasionl shortness of breath, there hasn't been any crisis or need to rush to the ER for oxygen.  I guess that his one lung is expanding and learning to do double duty.  Slowly but surely, it seems to me that DJ is healing and recovering.  Thank you for praying for him, and for us!  

I would love to add some photos of DJ's person to this update, but in his feeling so yucky this week, he was in absolutely no mood to be the subject of my snapshooting - I didn't even ask.  Instead, here are some images of the children and their school-is-almost-over, end-of-the-year projects:

Alexandra and her friends from kindergarten through 9th grade,
at Paso Robles High School Open House

Brooke Bigelow and her "Career Board" project

Caedmon Van Bigelow showcasing his rainforest artwork

It seems that the second grade can make students and their teachers go crazy!!

Next up:  post-operative appointment with Dr. Theodore the surgeon at the UCSF tomorrow, Friday, May 24.  I will be interested to know what he has to say, especially regarding pathology and what DJ's future diagnoses and treatment may be.  But first, let's get healed from surgery!

"Heal us, LORD, and we will be healed; save us and we will be saved - for You are the One we praise."

Aaaaaa-men!

One Day at a Time

Thank you for loving us so thoroughly and for supporting us so wonderfully and for praying for us so faithfully!

One of the lovely things about hospital life (for me, at least - DJ wasn't too happy for the opportunity to be hospitalized) was the leisurely pace at which time passed.  I had lots of "free" time (more or less) for taking photos and posting to this blog (in addition to sitting by DJ's bedside and taking laps around the 10th floor and being available to help him).  Since having returned home Monday and being reunited with the children, and since the nursing staff remained at the hospital, my time to sit and type is slightly more limited.  But here I am, to give you an update!

DJ was oh-so happy to be released from the UCSF Hospital late Monday morning.  We proceeded from there to San Jose, and spent some time relaxing in the home of his Aunt Patty's (which, by the way, is where Mildred Crabtree has been residing since mid-April).  We returned to our home in Paso Robles by 9:00 p.m. on Monday.  The first night was difficult for DJ, because, for as eager as he was to depart the hospital premises, they do have some pretty fancy-dancy beds there that electronically position one's post-surgical, down-to-one-lung body into almost any place one could dream of.  In addition, the pain medications that are administered in the hospital really do help with pain.  Nevertheless, DJ is very happy to be home, and we have settled since then into a pain management regimen that is bringing him as much relief as possible within the scope of what is good and right and available to him.  

Each day is a little different in DJ's experience; sometime he speaks of shooting pain, as if a knife is being thrust into his side; other times he describes the pain as a constant ache.  I can't imagine the various levels of muscle and tissue and skin and bone that were disrupted in order to remove a lung from his body, and thereby the process of recovery.  DJ told me, "I never knew before now how many muscles are used in the right side of the body (the side of his surgery) when using the left hand."   I am just so grateful that when our bodies are cut or bruised or broken, they don't remain in that state for the rest of time; I'm grateful for God's design, and for the process of healing, and for the regeneration of cells.  "I praise You, God, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful - I know that full well!"  (Psalm 139).

Besides pain management, there have been times in this post-operative recovery time in which DJ has been slightly winded or it has been difficult for him to draw a breath.  That seems to be lessening, as far as I can tell.  Right this very minute, why don't you sit up as tall as you can and take a very long, deep breath; expand your lungs (aren't you glad you have two? :-) all the way.  That is very good and healthy for your overall health and well-being.  Take deep breaths!  And sing this song to Jesus: "This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe, Your Holy Presence living in me.  And I am desperate for You; and I am lost without You.  This is the air I breathe...."

Some sweet little people from Ms. Ashby's class sent DJ handwritten and decorated cards while he was in the hospital, and here are 2 of the especially cute-and-funny ones.  The first one says, "I never met you but I still love you and I kinda think your a rainbow."

The next one says, "Dear Daniel Junior, I hope your your surjury (I don't know how to spell that) went ok for you and I hope you find a job that you could do after your lung comes of(f) (Don't mean to hurt your fellings.)"  Ha-ha-ha!  These notes brought a chuckle!  :-)

DJ has rested quietly for most of the days this week, sometimes he naps if the pain is especially difficult (but he has been awake mostly).  He also continues to take an outdoor walk once or twice a day.  One evening he went out at my insistence, but the colder night air was very uncomfortable for him and caused him to feel jittery and short of breath.  So we walk during the daylight, now.  It's a day-by-day process here at home, and I keep fairly busy at caring for the family; but God's grace is abundant and beautiful, and day by day I am sure DJ is healing and recovering.  We are also blessed by the lawn-mowing fairy and the pulling-garbage-cans-up-and-back-to-and-from-the-curb fairy, and an abundance of meals prepared by loving hands, and many, many visitors.  "You're so popular!", I say to him (and sometimes I kindly kick out the steady stream of visitors in order that the patient can rest and recuperate; thank you to those of you who've come for a visit and have been gently removed).  Here is a photo of DJ ambulating with Walter Miller Newlon when he came to visit.

One day at a time!  Thank you, thank you, thank you - I can't say it enough - THANK YOU, for your prayers and your love and your expressions of encouragement and support. God's love and grace are given to us through you.  Thank you! 

Back At the Ranch

One of the groovy things about being here at the UCSF with DJ for surgery and recovery but away from home is that my sister LaRae and DJ's cousin Shannon are staying in our home and caring for our children; and they are doing such a fantastic job, and God's grace is so abundant, that Alex and Brooke and Caedmon are getting along just swimmingly!  The kids seem to be at peace and comforted and encouraged, perhaps just a little bit spoiled.  When I spoke briefly with Caedmon yesterday, he replied to me, "I don't miss you, Mom, but I love you.  Good-bye".  That is cute and funny, but my heart is so at rest to know that they are at ease in our absence.  Thank you, Auntie Rae and Auntie Shannon!!

LaRae sent this photo to me the first day we were gone and described the children as "Angelic".

Brooke and DJ's team, the Ninja Turtles, are playing this weekend in their end-of-season tournament.
Here is Brooke running to first base at yesterday's game.
We are fortunate to have fantastic assistant coaches to fill in for Coach DJ.

LaRae and Alex as they cheered Brooke's team to victory

Caedmon's class performed a play at school on Friday, "El Gran Capaquero".
He is the monkey in the middle - grey-ish shirt.

Everyone loves Sweet Pea!  Shannon's pooch came to visit, as well.

Caedmon is happy to snuggle with Sweet Pea!!

Thank you for loving and praying for our children, as well as for DJ and me.  We love and appreciate you!

Three Days Post-Op

Happy Saturday, Ya'll!   This morning as we walked some laps around Floor 10: Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Unit of the UCSF Hospital at Parnassus Heights, I asked DJ if he would be the subject of some video or still photography.  He glared at me.  

"But a picture's worth a thousand words, Honey!", I replied.  "Your fans want you to send them some love!".

"Use your thousand words", he said to me.  Boo.  He is uncooperative with my journalistic efforts; but he gets a free pass - he's down to only one lung, and is in pain.  So I asked the nurses later on to snap a photo of me instead.

And I have tried to be as creative as possible in my photo-journalistic efforts, finding things to photograph that are not DJ.

I am happy to report that DJ continues to improve, slowly but surely.  His day consisted of a visit from his parents (woops - I neglected to snap a photo); a visit from the Saturday-doctor (who suggests that he may be able to be discharged by perhaps Monday); his first shower since before surgery (sorry - no photos); coffee and a donut (which he hasn't been able to enjoy prior to surgery since his digestive system only began to awaken and function properly late last night), pictured here:

 Also, a visit from his cousin Tammy:

He continues to perform his breathing exercises, in order to inflate the lung and to clear out the gunk and to gain and maintain proper respiratory function:

DJ's day also included almost 2 miles of walking - that's 24 laps around this floor, where 12 laps equals one mile.  Walking is key to post-surgical recovery; and I suggest that you don't wait until you have surgery - get walking now!  "Move it or lose it".

Well, lookee here, DJ decided just this hour to pose and smile for my camera as we finished up his 2 miles of walking for today!  Take care to notice the "Take Steps to Wellness" advertisement behind him, which is how I know that 12 laps of this floor equals one mile.

All in all, it is fantastic that DJ is on the road to recovery.  His pain is managed well, because his surgical site hurts without lots of medication; and the drugs cause him to nod off into frequent naps, especially this evening as the day is drawing to a close.  It's cute and funny - but so much better than when he feels uncomfortable and pained.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  For loving and for praying and for caring and for encouraging us!