|
Dear friends and family,
Welcome to all on our email health updates list. While we have a regular newsletter for our South African ministry, that only mentions health concerns in very little detail. We did not expect to be on this kind of journey, but here we are. We are glad to have an inner circle of loving support people. Some of you are family, others are friends. And then there are still others are cancer survivors. You are like mentors to L-As, reminding us that this is possible and that this will be won.
If you’re only on this list, and would like to also learn about our life with South African township kids, please let us know and we will add you to that list also.
If you missed the previous newsletters, here’s the email archive:
|
|
|
Our last newsletter ended with chemo 3, continued dizziness issues, although the nerve pain in L-A’s right thigh has stopped! Nausea is a constant, which increased even more after the fourth chemo. L-A has seen two more oncologists, Dr. Koetze, who encouraged her healthy food and supplements lifestyle but didn’t examine her. Dr. Laura Serfontein, did examine her as well as fixed her medications. She found that there was a misunderstanding – and we thought that the Targinact oxynorm was to replace the regular oxynorm. It was instead to supplement it! L-A had been taking less medication than prescribed! Thankfully Laura fixed this up. Tony will pick up these new meds soon, which is great, because L-A has nearly exhausted the Ondansetron anti-nausea meds already. Thankfully our pharmacist friend Carica is quick to help us.
Managing teaching while fighting cancer: Our Worcester Primary kids are amazing with L-A. They love seeing the different hats and especially Molly, the wig. We included a montage of many of L-A’s hats (mostly made by hatsbylori and others by Ottawa friend Michelle Iseman). Each week, there is an ooh and aah over a hat, and sometimes they swarm L-A to give her hugs and kisses. Although this week it was more difficult for L-A due to the date proximity of the last chemo. L-A felt awful but managed to persevere because it is nearing the end of term and we need to finish the grade one art project. L-A can’t deputize Tony for painting, but he is an excellent assistant. This time, the only children who approached L-A closely were ones well-known, with their art. They fortunately did not have colds so L-A dodged a bullet on that one!
In MasterPeace Academy there are more discipline issues, even with such a small class size. Principal Mella reprimanded the learners and reminded them that not only were they rude, but since L-A is so sick and still comes in to love and teach them, they especially need to behave. This caused them to change their tune for about 20 minutes. But L-A managed.
L-A continues contact with the teen girls during homework sessions and drawing (when L-A is up to it). We plan to go to Somerset West again with Bella and Jamelia for Hillsong Church and the beach. L-A loves watching the waves and it’s supposed to be overcast, so sun won’t be as much of an issue. The next chemo blend, Taxol, does have an issue with sunlight. When we go to Namibia, L-A will have to sit under an umbrella, except when taking pictures.
The process of the Ottawa surgeon: We followed up with the doctor on scheduling upcoming appointments. Dennis Pitt answered himself concerning L-A’s fear of waiting ages for a potential mastectomy or any other treatment. He would likely start the process of L-A’s involvement in the oncology ward, for radiation, any further chemotherapy or surgery. Maybe all three treatments if necessary. He said that wait times for cancer surgery are not an issue and that he would prefer to see me in person for an examination, rather than a phone consultation. We had asked about whether we needed a referral from our regular Canadian GP, and he said it wasn’t necessary, but that all reports would be sent to his office. We are relieved about that, although wonder if a phone call to our doctor’s nurse would suffice to share the news of the cancer (as a courtesy).
We were asked to forward all reports from the oncologist when they are available. L-A next sees Dr. Hanlie du Toit (her actual oncologist) on December 2nd, so she will ask. The other good news is that secretary Judy let L-A know that her first appointment is on April 22nd (later than expected), although they may call if they have a cancellation between the 14th and the 22nd). We’ll work with that.
Losing Hair: L-A hasn’t lost any more hair, but her eyebrows and eyelashes are getting sparse. Tony bought her a light brown eyebrow pencil, which works well. Now we may need false eyelashes but we will see how that goes. Meanwhile the hats and wig are valued.
Port surgery site healing: L-A had surgery in late August to install a port for administering chemo. There are still scars, which may last for some time, and the port disc area remains a bit sore. The port does work, although at the beginning of chemo 4, the nurses had a struggle to get it properly set up. It was worth the while, since if chemo hits outside your veins, it’s very dangerous.
Sea air at the beach: L-A got to experience more sea air and waves at Strand beach on November 2nd, with two of the teens we disciple. We return November 17th, and just in case, L-A will bring an umbrella.
Blood Work pre chemo 4: We also thought that the blood work may be problematic for the recent chemo, since L-A caught a bad cold from Tony (who in turn probably got it from one of the learners at MasterPeace Academy). We doubled up on some of the supplements, with additional rest and found this helped! The blood work was not an issue – it wasn’t even low normal, as it was with chemo 3! Perhaps the addition of the neulastin shot also boosted L-A’s white blood cells in just the right way.
Consequences of the FALL – October 15th and beyond: L-A fell on October 15th and still gets dizzy with balance issues. We are considering a walker if this continues for getting around the house, and in the schools. Canes may not be enough. We will see how L-A responds to the new Taxol chemo blend after December 2nd. (School is finished at MPA then, although we’re pretty sure our last class at Worcester Primary School is November 27th). We will see if we still need to rent or borrow a walker (L-A has been promised one if needed when we are back in Canada).
Feet swelling and other neuropathy/edema issues: L-A’s feet began to swell so much that she could not walk for three days. She was advised by friends to use her ice packs on her feet, which worked beautifully! We will bring the ice packs with us on our Namibia trip and place them in the freezer – for use in a cooler and later on our stops.
|
|
|
Chemo 4 went well: It was the very last of a cycle of four treatments – involving A/C blend. The A is Adiamycin, which is nicknamed Red Devil. The C is short for another chemo that is milder. After this set of four, L-A is to see Dr. du Toit again, and then go for 12 cycles of another kind of Taxol, which will end near the end of February. It takes about a month for chemo to leave your system, so it’s good that we fly in early April. Our Ottawa close friend Lynn was L-A’s chemo buddy this time, which was a different experience for Lynn. Lynn is a retired nurse.
Examination by second full oncologist: L-A had amazing apt with Laura. She told me we had the oxynorm and Targinact all wrong. She is to take a Targinact morning/night AS WELL as Oxynorm every four hours. L-A wasn’t taking enough meds! She fixed this with a new script.
Laura also was amazed during the exam. She checked all the lymph nodes above the clavicle, which were mostly normal. Then she looked at the others. The left underarm one was greatly improved. But the tumour… has shrunk by 60%!!! Yay God!!! Laura kept saying over and over that this was nothing like Hanlie’s notes. This was something to celebrate.
|
|
|
This is the sketch L-A did in the chemo room. Sketching there may open up all kinds of images to come and keep L-A comfortable and occupied while receiving treatment
|
|
Then during chemo, L-A brought out her drawing pad – didn’t even look at email or online. She drew another pink sister patient in a big sloppy doek head covering and Sister (nurse) Marianna ministering to her as an angel – giving her a new heart. It caused quite a stir among the other patients near me, my nurse, Marianna, and the pharmacist Michelle.
L-A also shared with Estelle (financial lady) when she paid for the oncology apt and facility fee and she said that the Cancer Care centre could even sell the colouring books – we need not be limited to Worcester’s Christian bookstore. Since L-A is now drawing in the chemo room now, this would be very good to do…
Meanwhile, L-A continues to do computer work, bookkeeping, art-related work and sees the children and teens when she can. If possible the inmates may also continue in L-A’s ministry time, depending on the walk to get to them.
We are thankful for:
-That the “red devil” chemo is over, and we trust that Taxol will be kinder (although some other cancer warriors report bone and muscle pain, and peripheral neuropathy). Each patient is different.
-A 60% shrinkage of the tumour and 80% of the inflammation in the lymph nodes!!!
-Blood work where L-A’s white and red blood cells, as well as platelets are off the charts good. No issue of anemia, although she takes iron and B-12 faithfully.
-The added pleasure and opportunity of drawing in the chemo room
-An alternative way to get to weekly chemo treatments (a free DisChem bus, where L-A would wait for the other patients so we would leave and return together)
-Two places to stay upon our arrival in Ottawa.
-A pre-Christmas road trip to Namibia (sunshine may be an issue, but L-A will use an umbrella, hats and sunscreen). We can recharge with no access to wifi for about five days.
-Wonderful doctors, nurses and supportive people here in SA. This includes the girls, Janey, and others at our church. There are also supportive people all over the world through our Iris, Harvest Family Network, Alpha, Cursillo, St. Paul’s, Kingdom Culture, BHCC, Eternal Hope, and other connections all over. And our own families too!
-For all those who have contributed to the medical campaign through our Canadian bank account (email transfers to tonycopple@gmail.com), South African bank account (EFT transfers for South Africans), and Tony’s Paypal account. (We still are just over $2,000 Cdn short at the moment, but trust this will soon change) The Visa bill isn’t due yet.
-For local family in Toronto, caring for my poor, confused parents. While they are worried about me, we am concerned for their welfare. It’s possible Mom’s recovery from her bowel surgery has been set back by L-A’s diagnosis.
-That we have not had to cash in our retirement investments, or gone over our line of credit limit (it was very close once)!
-We will have a one-week stop-over in the UK to visit with Tony’s sisters (while flying to Canada). We’re waiting on the details from our travel agent, and will see if we can freight-forward two steamer trunks and three suitcases to Ottawa and bring four with us. L-A has not seen her sisters-in-law since 2014, and Tony 2015 for their mum’s funeral.
Incurred Costs (to date as of November 14, 2019)
We won’t bore you with all the details, other than the amount, but we can say that the surgeon HAS charged for his expenses (biopsies and the port surgery).
We raised $13,093. We have spent $15,361.23.
We still have twelve more Taxol chemo sessions, 12 more blood draws, 12 oncologist sessions, lots of prescriptions and supplements. L-A also saw the dentist for two fillings, but that cost was minimal next to chemo!
I hope this answers any questions you may have, although it doesn’t go into detail of navigating through pain, side-effects, and interrupted rest.
Thanks for your perseverance in reading this email!
Thank you for your prayers, love, encouragement and for some of you, financial support to our crowd-funding. We are working on batting down the incurred costs and what’s to come (re-patriation is another story, but first things first). We can see the pieces begin to fit together loosely and see God’s hand in it. We are thankful.
Love, Laurie-Ann and Tony Copple
http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca/medicalcampaign
|
|
|
|
