Wow. once again- I need to say- it has been a really long time since posting anything on here...

A LOT has happened since my last post. I will try to briefly bring this blog up to date.

In December, we needed to enroll George in hospice to try to get some increasing pain under control. He had developed Radiation Recall (if you have never heard of this and you or a loved one is receiving radiation- educate yourself!) and Lymphedema and somehow that all then morphed into a horrendous fibrosis that has hardened to a brick-like mass on his upper left thigh and buttock area. It is PAINFUL. It presses on nerves, and everything he does hurts it. He can't sit, lie, walk, etc. without agonizing pain. And to make us feel even better, every doctor says "I've never seen anything like this before". So, yeah.... good times.

He spent a week in the Hospice Hospital trying to get a handle on his pain. Basically, their solution was to drug him mindless. He may not have felt much pain- but he also thought he saw spaceships and animals coming down off the mountain. Not our idea of pain management for the long haul....

Finally he was referred to a pain clinic and started receiving nerve blocks. Those helped somewhat, but their relief was short-lived, and it was like being on a nightmare of a roller coaster. He would go weeks with extreme pain until the next nerve block could be arranged. It was such a hassle.

So then finally- after jumping through a dozen hoops- having to DISenroll from hospice since it seemed they were the ones not requesting the surgery (most people have good hospice experiences.... I can't say I was loving it....) - he was approved for a pain pump that was being recommended and he badly wanted. He had that surgery 3 weeks ago.

We are now in the process of getting that titrated to the proper dose that will give him some actual relief. We're definitely not there yet. Pain has become the primary focus of our entire life. He deals with it constantly. Every minute of every day without a break. It is EXHAUSTING.

On top of that- we learned about a month ago that George had a terribly broken hip socket. Apparently, he had been walking on it for some time not realizing that was what was causing some issues. It is beyond repair, and because his pelvic bone area is pretty invaded with cancer, surgery to replace the hip is not an option.

So now my poor husband has to walk permanently on crutches.

That was a MAJOR blow, as he had such high hopes for getting the pain under control and having some return to "normalcy". We will never see normal again- whatever THAT is....

And of course, there is still the relentless fight of the cancer itself!

George continues to take Protocel regularly (a cancer-fighting supplement. google it).

He will most likely be resuming some radiation and possibly an oral chemotherapy soon.

Please keep us in prayer as we are in a true valley right now. Every day feels like slogging through quick sand, and the world feels like it is spinning out of control.

I am trying so hard to care for him, keep up with the house, AND somehow run a business. All 3 require more focus than I seem capable of and it is very overwhelming.

I have gone from having a very independent capable husband who could do anything he put his hand to, to a man who struggles to get dressed by himself, in very short order. The adjustment has been difficult- for both of us!!- and we haven't figured out completely how to do this thing.

So again, please pray!

Thank you so much!

I will try to keep more regular with updates....