doug@eforsyth.com Andrea: December 2007

Andrea

Monday, December 24, 2007

Well, the prayers have paid off, Mom gets to come home for Christmas. I am going to pick her up at 9:00p.m tonight, and she gets to stay through Christmas Day. We are so excited to have her here with us out of the hospital. Thank you all for your prayer, I know that they helped. I hope you will all have a great Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Alisha

posted by dforce @ 6:24 AM   0 Comments

Friday, December 21, 2007

GREAT NEWS!!!!

I just got off of the phone with Mom. Yesterday she had a PET Scan and there was NO sign of the Lymphoma. Wahoo!!!! She got the info from her P.A. and so she hasn't yet visited with her Doctors. Yesterday they said that if she was Cancer free they might harvest Stem Cells before the last course of Chemo. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and fasting. I know it's made a difference.


Way to go Mom we love you!


-DOUG

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posted by dforce @ 11:00 AM   1 Comments

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Update 12-17-07

I talked to Mom last night and she sounded great! She talked to the hospitals head shrinker and he said that if he'd been stuck in the hospital for 6 weeks and coming up on the anniversary of the death of a spouse that he'd be depressed too. He subscribed Ritalin, apparently Ritalin works as a stimulant on adults without ADD. She agrees that it's working very well and from my perspective has certainly improved her mood. She was also just sitting down (ha) to her first meal in 3 weeks and was very excited. They are starting her on food and will take off whatever calories she eats from her feeding tube the next day. She will be keeping her feeding tube for the time being. Thank you all for the prayers and visits they are really paying off. We all hope that she will be well enough to go home for Christmas, that would be a true gift.

Merry Christmas!

-DOUG

posted by dforce @ 6:16 AM   2 Comments

Monday, December 17, 2007

Merry Christmas Mom!

   All seven of us went up to see Mom ( Nana) yeterday.  It was standing room only--not only because there are so many of us, but because there were so many other people wanting to visit with her!  We took up our Christmas presents for her--some new reading material---some music to help bring the Christmas spirit--and some footies that are abnormally soft!!!  The kids had all written letters to her, and she read them while we were there!  I couldn't help but notice that when she read Alex's letter she became very emotional, and when Alex gave her a hug he became pretty emotional as well, especially for a 15 year old boy!  When we left I asked Alex just what exactly he had written in his letter.  He smiled and said "I just told Nana I wanted her to be here for all the things I am  looking forward to in my life--When I go on a mission, when I get married in the temple, you know, mom, stuff like that!" 
  I just wanted to take a minute and add a "ditto" to Alex's thoughts!  Yes, mom, we all want  you here for all the things we are looking forward to in our lives, and even the things that may come our way that we are not looking forward to!  It has been a tough enough two years going through life's milestones without Dad--So, mom, I hope you know how much you are needed and loved.  Family is all about relationships--the good and the bad--and I find it amazing how, when we let ourselves, it is so easy to let go of all the bad and only remember the good!  I guess that is all part of the miracle of the atonement! 
 So merry Christmas, mom!!  I know it probably won't be one of your merrier ones--so lets make sure you are around for many Christmases to come--we still have a lot of good memories to make!  I love you, Jame

posted by dforce @ 4:51 PM   0 Comments

Friday, December 14, 2007

Merry Christmas from Siberia

Dear Andrea,

            We just wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and express our love for you and your family.  May the Lord Bless you as you continue to go through these treatments.  We are cheering for you on the other side of the world. You are in our prayers.  May you have the best Holiday Season possible.  Merry Christmas!  

With Love, Elder & Sister Butler in Omsk, RU

posted by dforce @ 5:12 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I'm so glad to know how to reach you!!

"Uncle Merrill" passed this info to Meg who in turn passed it to me.  I have so wanted to be able to send my love and affirmation of prayers said on your behalf.  I know God will bless you and is with you every minute.  I have placed you on our prayer list at church and of course you are in my personal prayers at all times.  What wonderful support you have from so many people!  Please let me help if there is anything at all that needs to be done,  I will make it happen!
I will monitor this site regularly and keep track of your progress.   And I' m not kidding when I say I think you look beautiful!    Love - Jo

posted by dforce @ 9:39 AM   0 Comments

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Merry Christmas

Andrea, Doug, Darren , Daniel, Alisha, and Dustin
 
    I want you all to know that your in my personal prayers daily and nightly is because prayers do work when there is a wonderful family who needs them .  Another thing I want you to know is that  I love you all so much.   Have a very  Merry Merry Christmas !   I hope you got my Christmas message  and it should be in your Christmas mail .   God is there for all of you and he's very good in what he does to make sure everyone is being good children here on this earth .   MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALL    With All My Love,  Amy Lin Monson 
 

posted by dforce @ 11:36 AM   0 Comments

Monday, December 10, 2007

Aunt Andrea,

 

I just wanted to let you know that each morning when I get to work I have pulled up your blog site to find out what the latest is.  I think about you every day. My mom and I went for a Sunday drive yesterday and talked about a lot of different things…memories, family and both you and Adam were a topic of that conversation.  I want you to know that I love you very much and am pulling for you.  Alisha you are doing a great job with this blog site.  It is so nice to have easy access to details. We will talk and hopefully see you soon.

 

Love you,

 

Cathy

 

Cathy Forsyth

Account Representative

Nephrology Department

801-812-5413

 

posted by dforce @ 2:12 PM   0 Comments

Sunday, December 9, 2007

From Uncle Ron and Aunt Kay

Just wanted to let you know that we're reading this blog daily and thinking
of you constantly. We work in the Columbus Temple every Tuesday night and
make sure your name is on the prayer roll continuously.

Andi, we love you and look forward to seeing you at your home again when
this experience is behind you.

BTW, we agree with you. You DO have wonderful children.

Love...Ron and Kay

posted by dforce @ 5:51 AM   0 Comments

Saturday, December 8, 2007

From Me

Today is Saturday, December 8th. For the third day in a row I have been sitting outside my bathroom door because they have been giving me Lasix, a drug to pee. I've been retaining water and yesterday I lost five pounds. Remember that's water! I hope we do as well today and maybe I won't have to sit here Sunday.
I'm strickly on a feeding tube now - not very attractive, but than neither is anything else about chemo. I have tolerated it very well. I get some ice chips during the day. I know that sounds awful, but it hasn't been all that bad. I don't miss the food, especially here. Every once in awhile I'll see an ad on tv that looks good and I just say, "One of these days I'll have one if those." I don't even miss the chocolate. This chemo has messed me up, but not for long!
I popped in to see nephew, Adam last night and we made a date to go walking tonight. He is right next door in the Stem Cell area. He'll go through all of the stem cell stuff before me so I'll have someone to talk to about it.
Thank to everyone for your prayer and good thoughts. That's the thing that keeps me going.
And haven't I got the best children? YESSS! They are all just helping me along this experience. I am continually blessed with great support.
Love, Mom, Nana/Andrea

posted by dforce @ 3:28 PM   0 Comments

Thursday, December 6, 2007

December 6, 2007

I spoke with Mom last night (after playing cell phone tag). She was feeling a little blue but then Aunt Gwen came to visit and cheered her right up. Thank you to all who go and take the time to visit with her. She had some School Board friends visit this week and I know that it meant a lot to her. If you can't make it up there you could give her a buzz on her cell. Her number is 801-400-8562. If she doesn't answer just leave her a message.

Her third treatment is still going extremely (knock on wood) well. She is sounding stronger each time I talk to her.

Just a reminder on how to post to this blog. If you have anything to report just send an email to douglasforsyth.andrea@blogger.com and it will automatically get posted.

I have been thinking a lot about "why" why does this have to happen to my Mother? Hasn't she already had enough trials? What keeps coming back to me is a quote that I think I heard in conference; I don't even remember who said it. "The rain falls on the Just and Un-just alike" In Sunday School this week we were talking about trials and someone said something that rang true to me. He said that we agreed to come to this life and everything that comes with that including genetics and pre-disposition to illness ect. Heavenly Father isn't up there causing trials, they are just a part of life. It's is up to us on how to learn from them to get stronger from them. My favorite scripture on the subject is found in D&C 122 given to Joseph when inprisioned in Liberty Jail.

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Verse 8 is what kicks me in the butt, and gives me a reality check.

Thank you all for all of your prayers. I know that they are doing the good that they are intended.

-DOUG

posted by dforce @ 8:30 AM   0 Comments

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

December 4th,2007

Mom looked great today. They started the third cycle on monday, and she is handling it really well. Dr. Asch said that she is also handling the feeding tube better than most people. "Her numbers are perfect", whatever numbers Dr. Asch was talking about I am glad there perfect. It's good to see her so allusive and cheerful. We haven't seen that mom for weeks.

Some members of the school board were there when I got there. What a bunch of great friends mom has made though her service. I know she misses her service on the school board. I know that there effort to see her today really lifted her spirits (especially Colleen for setting it up). Thank you all.
Alisha

posted by dforce @ 3:14 PM   0 Comments

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Update as of Dec 1st.

I had a chat with Dr. Peterson yesterday. They have determined that the Pancreas was damaged when Mom had her spleen taken out, so every time she eats the pancrease releases enzymes that are causing irritation in the body and drain site. This is the reason they think for the continual fevers and pain. So they have inserted the feeding tube down further into the intestines to bypass the stomach hoping that this will keep the pancrease from working, and start healing. Mom won't be able to eat or drink anything for weeks.

They have decided to start round 3 of 4 chemo's on Monday. It's six day and then on day twelve they give her one day's worth. So if all goes well she should be at my house for Christmas.

She was really struggling yesterday, it was a hard day.
Thank goodness for prayers and temple prayer rolls.
Love,
Alisha

posted by dforce @ 6:17 PM   0 Comments