tedious tuesday

Wendy has a long Tuesday ahead of her. She starts physical therapy bright and early. She is nervous and scared to experience intense pain during physical therapy. Please pray for her strength and endurance to work hard without too much discomfort. She has an appointment with her gastrointestinal doctor at 1:30 pm for a colon check-up and possible follow-up testing. Wendy's body continues to work hard to fight infections. An overall prayer for physical health and healing would be greatly appreciated.

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

back to back doctor visits

Wendy has been to the doctor twice this week. Her first appointment was for a pain checkup and to get a referral to start physical therapy. She was prescribed a second pain and anti-inflammatory patch for her upper right back. She ended up having to go back the following day because she felt like she was coming down with a bad cold. She is thankful she listened to her body because her doctor put her on antibiotics for an ear and sinus infection and a severe red throat.

Please pray…

• She is healed from this infection quickly.

• Her family does not catch this infection.
  

• Wendy's immune system is strengthened.

team wendy tees

Good news! If you ordered a "Team Wendy" t-shirt they are now available for pick up. Please see Mrs. Gunstream in room 16 at River Bluff. Another HUGE thank you to Hard Driven for designing and producing these t-shirts and for generously giving back to their community.

okay

Wendy has been "okay" the past few days. She's suffered with nausea in the morning but has not been vomiting. She has a very small appetite, but is thankful that she is able to eat something, as little as that may be. She's been experiencing increased back and incision pain the more she's up and around. Wendy has to choose a physical therapist to help her work on her leg, torso and right arm. She is prayerful that she will be led to pick the ideal physical therapist. Her right leg still has a lot of numbness, nerve pain and discomfort. She's hoping to be able to drive in the next month but has a long way to go. She would appreciate your specific prayers for nausea, back and incision pain and for selecting a physical therapist.

exhausted, sore and so very tired

The day following a long trip in the car and a full day at UC Davis Medical Center proved to take it out of Wendy yet again. Yesterday was physically the worst day for Wendy since her surgery. Wendy is in remission, yes but is still recovering from a most horrific surgery and her body still has so far to go. Please continue to hold Wendy up in prayer. She needs your prayers now more than ever. Even though the severity of her situation, a devastating cancer diagnosis, an extensive surgery, and removal of her right lung is behind her prayer for nausea, vomiting, chronic pain, her colon and left lung, infection and peace and protection for their little family is still greatly needed. Sweet Wendy could really use some extra prayer today.

wendy is in remission

It is official, Wendy is in remission!

Wendy had an emotional, yet overall positive meeting with Dr. Lara her new oncologist. Wendy was especially anxious to meet with him because of the prospects of chemotherapy, radiation, and or both. At this point both Dr. Lara and Dr. Calhoun are not recommending chemotherapy or radiation! Dr. Lara did say there is a good chance that the thymoma cancer could come back. As scary as it was for Wendy to hear those words she is choosing to believe that it won't. She is choosing to live differently. To live a preventive life and to say, "whose report will I believe? I will believe the report of the Lord."

Because her specific type of Thymoma, subtype B1 is such a slow growing cancer if it does come back it won't happen over night. Because it is a slow growing cancer it would most likely respond well to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Dr. Calhoun believes that Wendy's continued nausea is due to her unhappy colon and gut. With time and TLC her body will regain a sense of normalcy. Please continue to pray that happens sooner than later. The daily nausea and frequent vomiting is definitely slowing down and adversely affecting her continued overall recovery. Dr. Calhoun also recommended she start physical therapy as soon as possible. At this point her leg function has plateaued. Both incision sites looked good. Her CT scan went well. The nurse that inserted the IV was respectful and skilled. He listened to Wendy's concerns and successfully completed the procedure for her without too much pain. Wendy will return to UC Davis in three months for another CT scan and check up. If everything looks good at that time she will return in another three months and only a chest x-ray will be required.

Wendy is in remission.
Wendy is in remission.
Wendy is in remission.

Wendy Ruth Manzo is a cancer fighter and survivor.
Thank you Heavenly Father.

a day at davis

Wendy needs your attentive and special prayers while she and Micah are at UC Davis today. She has three appointments and is feeling scared and overwhelmed. Pray she isn't nauseous, especially in the morning. She is hoping for good insight from Dr. Calhoun on the nausea and vomiting. She will be meeting Dr. Lara, her new oncologist. She hopes he will be happy with her scans and will not have to recommend chemotherapy. Please pray she has a painless IV and that the CT scan is quick and easy. Pray especially for Wendy during the following times today...

9:20 appointment with new oncologist, Dr. Lara
10:45 CT scan
1:30 appointment with Dr. Calhoun

They will wrap up a long day with a long drive home. Pray she is comfortable during the drive and they arrive home safely. Be in touch for updates and pray continuously today.

Words from a beautiful song that continue to bring Wendy comfort...
"When my world is shaking heaven stands.
When my heart is breaking I never leave Your hands." - JJ Heller

christmas and progress

Wendy has been adjusting to the lowered pain patch pretty well but is definitely feeling more back and incision pain. She's had to increase her oral pain medication slightly because of this. She has not thrown up in three days and she thanks the Lord for that! She will be heading back to UC Davis next week for a few appointments. She has to meet with her surgeon again, as she hasn't seen him for almost two months. She has to see an oncologist who specializes in thymoma cancer to make a plan for the next few months. She also has to get a CT scan to make sure all is "still clear." She is apprehensive about the long car ride and a very long day. Please pray for Wendy's nausea to continue to lessen every day, her back and incision pain to lessen as well, and in advance for the long day she'll have at Davis next week. Wendy has yet another stye in her eye. Pray for healing. Pray she doesn't get anymore styes!

Wendy, Micah, Skyler, and Jadon want to say THANK YOU once again for all who took part in making their Christmas amazing. They also want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the meals that are being delivered. It is such a blessing for them and they are truly grateful.

moving right along

Wendy met with her local general practitioner today. Nothing was accomplished but the conversation was promising and Wendy has a lot of "next steps" to take. Her doctor is going to prescribe a lower dose Fentanyl patch. The high dose might be what is making her nauseous. Her doctor also felt it was time to start weaning her off such a strong dose of pain medicine. She has been on the Fentanyl patch for pain management for over two months. She is extremely scared about the prospect of being in a lot of pain if the dose is too low. Please pray the dose is strong enough to ward off pain and at the same time lessened enough to eliminate nausea.

She is going to make an appointment with her gastroenterologist. She has a list of questions to ask him and she might need to have an endoscopy done. She is anxious about ANY procedure. Just talking about the test put her on the verge of tears during today's appointment.

They are waiting for biopsy results to know more about the severity of Wendy's C. difficile. It might actually not be the cause of her nausea. She doesn't have any other major C. difficile symptoms so her doctor thinks it might be on the verge of being gone on its own. The biopsy results will be more specific than the blood test results she received last week.

She is making an appointment with her local oncologist to have some much needed dialogue, post surgery. She will also need to start getting scans done every three months to make sure the cancer is completely gone and is staying away.

Her wound is not infected. It has opened a bit so pray that it closes on its own and doesn't get infected. Scar tissue underneath the wound is causing it to tighten and open. Pray for that wound. Oh that awful wound...be gone!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

a new year and health requested

Happy New Year from the Manzo Family! They pray that 2010 is filled with
health and joy for all they know and love.

Wendy transitioned home in time for Christmas. It has been a big adjustment. She's had some good days but overall she still doesn't have much energy. The boys long to climb on her, play, and engage with her non-stop. Unfortunately Wendy just doesn't have the energy to fully devote herself to them yet. It has been hard for Wendy to not pick up at home where she left off. She is definitely still in major recovery mode.

Wendy has been showing signs of complications recently. She saw her local doctor and had some tests done. Blood tests show she has Clostridium Difficile again. Wendy first had C. difficile while in the hospital. C. difficile is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile bacterium that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. It is the most common infection acquired by patients while they are in the hospital. She is on antibiotics to treat the C. difficile but is having an extremely hard time swallowing and keeping them down. She continues to have little to no appetite, vomits often, and is continuing to lose weight. She is hoping to get an appointment with her local doctor tomorrow. In addition to antibiotics, she needs to know what she needs to do to get better. Wendy is definitely not well right now. Pray her doctor can give her some good advice and help her get healthy as soon as possible. Wendy's state of "not-well" is exhausting.

Wendy was discharged from her home health nurse because she no longer required wound care after the Wound V.A.C. was removed. Unfortunately in the last couple of days her wound has started to show signs of possible complications and isn't looking as good as it was when she was released from her nurse's care.

Micah could use your prayers for strength, patience, and endurance as he is Wendy's full time nurse, cares for the boys, and runs the household. Pray for Skyler and Jadon that they understand that there mommy is healing and still can't give her full self to them. The Manzo family is still in a valley. Pray for them.

He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases. Matthew 8:17