Lucas's Journey with Sensory Processing Disorder

Sarcoma Cancer, Large Cell Unidentifiable Lung Cancer, or Melanoma Lung Cancer

2012-01-06T18:14:00.000-05:00

I haven't been on in a while and this is actually the first chance I've had in a LONG time to even think about getting on the computer to give anyone an update on how things have progressed with my husband, Chuck.

So much has happened since the last post and we've been put through so many different hoops and rings with what my husband has and what they think can be done. He's had so many surgeries, hospital stays, moves, and scares since we last talked.

He was at Virtua Hospital in Marlton for a while and was finally moved over to the University of Pennsylvania. He had some amazing Pulmonary Doctors from Garden State Pulmonary in Marlton who really went out of their way to help fight the insurance companies to get the care that Chuck needed. He was fortunate to have Dr. Steinberg, Dr. Salm and Dr. Eric Sztejman who had the, "You Know What's", to go against all of those who originally said that nothing could be done for him and removed the tumor that was supposed to be inoperable !!! They will never be forgotten and will never know how grateful I am to them for giving my children's Daddy a chance!!

They originally believed that Chuck had a Sarcoma lung cancer which started in his lung which is EXTREMELY rare and then moved to his lymph nodes and back. They had specialists from all over trying to get together a treatment plan and decided to biopsy the cancer that they found in his back. They then believed it could have been Large Cell Unidentifiable lung cancer.

While they were determining what it was, he had his first round of Chemo that could be used for either cancer, which was two very rarely used chemo's together called Ifosfamide and Paclitaxel.

The biopsy from his back came back soon after which was positive for a melanoma cancer which changed everything. Although the two chemos work for both cancers they want him to see their group of Melanoma specialists to start a new game plan.

They believe that he had a skin cancer at one point that came out and went into his blood which finally made a home in his lungs, lymph nodes, and back.

They let us know that although its a better cancer to have in regards to treatment options the prognosis is not much different than having the sarcoma cancer.

Taken at Univ of Penn before Chemo

Officially, as of now, my husband has stage 4 Melanoma Cancer that has metastasized into his lungs, lymph nodes, and back.

The most frustrating part of all of this is the waiting that we've had to do for anything to happen at all!! No one could seem to figure out what was going on with him and give a definitive answer about the type of cancer he has. They are still doing biopsy's on the cancer which is why I say "As of NOW"!!! I didn't want to come on and say too much because every time we were told something it would change. They removed the tumor in his lung back in November and by 30 days later he was rushed back to the hospital for bleeding and they found that the tumor in his lung had doubled in size, blocking off his airway and the blood was from the necrotic (dead) tissue in his lung was ripping off and coming out of his throat! I can't even imagine how horrible this all is to him!

I also believe that something in this world should be done for families that need to see their loved ones that are in a city hospital. Just to visit Chuck across the bridge was $5.00 in tolls, and parking ranged from $9.00-$25.00 per visit! If I went to see him right after work with the kids, I would get the kids something to eat while we were there too which was a struggle that I don't think any family in this situation should ever have to consider when making a decision about going to be with their family when they are sick!!!!

As soon as he went to the University of Penn they were able to insert a stent which would move the tumor the other way so that it didn't block off his airway until they can start a treatment to try and shrink it.

We almost felt grateful that he has a rare cancer because more doctors and specialists wanted to be involved to catch a glimpse of it first hand. We feel fortunate to have the specialists at the University of Penn involved. They are great doctors who REALLY seem to care about Chuck.

Chuck told the doctors that he was really upset and that this could be the last Christmas he had with the kids and wanted it to be special so they decided to give both kids, and me, the "BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER"!!! DADDY was home for Christmas!!! We really saw the true meaning of Christmas this year! It wasn't about presents it was about family and cherishing every second we had together!

Daddy with Charlie & Lucas a month before we found out he was sick

I've been through some pretty hard times in my life but NONE compare to what I feel when I look into my kids eyes and image them without their daddy!

Everyday when I look at Lucas, talking more and more, having conversations with me and crying to go see his daddy when he's in the hospital, assures me that miracles DO happen!! Lucas had the same prayers from all of you and I believe that is what helped him get to where he is today.

I humbly ask for you to continue those prayers so that we can see a miracle happen with my husband as well. Thank each and every one of you who sent messages and well wishes for a Happy Holiday with Chuck and know that we've been hoping for the same thing for all of you.

We are all overwhelmed at the responses from all around the world. Every faith and religion has been praying and wishing Chuck and our family the best and can't tell you just how much it means to us.

THANK YOU!!!

OUR FAMILY NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS!!

2011-11-07T23:26:00.000-05:00

As you all know its been a little while since I've had a second to get on here and post anything. I can't promise when I'm going to get back actually. I didn't want to post anything until we were sure of what we were dealing with and to inform our families.

A few weeks ago my husband was very, very sick and was taken to the hospital. They found he had pneumonia and a large tumor that completely blocked off his right lung. They told us they were pretty sure it was cancer and believed at first that it was inoperable.

We pleaded with his first doctor to find someone to help and after three surgeries last week, they were able to remove the tumor and confirmed that it is Sarcoma Lung Cancer.

He is going for his pet scan tomorrow and we are pleading for prayers that it hasn't spread. If it hasn't they will remove his lung sometime this week and start chemotherapy and radiation. If it has spread we're not sure what we are going to do and how to move forward.

We have a army of prayers going up for him right now and need as many more as we can get. I can barely look at my children without crying. They are just too small to even think of the unthinkable, so I can't! I have to believe he will be alright.

I am sending out an apology to anyone that I haven't posted for or finished reviews for. I will get to them just as soon as things settle down. My husband needs me right now and I am just about keeping it all together with working and taking care of the kids alone.

Lucas has been my biggest struggle. As with any special needs kids any changes throw them off and he has surely been more than a handful to care for while being with my husband during this absolutely horrible nightmare that we've been living for the last few weeks.

Please, please, please keep my kids in your prayers too! They are going to need strength to get their daddy through this fight of a lifetime he's about to begin!

Thank you all for being so understanding and I will try my best to get back on but he will probably be back in the hospital sometime this week to begin treatment.

#Blogmania Giveaways featuring @splendipityinc , @mykidzies , @designersN $196 in prizes

2011-10-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

BLOGMANIA is here!!!!

What is Blogmania?

We have 80+ blogs across the web that have linked up together with some amazing sponsors for a massive giveaway event!

Sponsors from all over have joined together with these blogs to share their companies and products with our viewers!

I am so excited about some of the AMAZING giveaways that are being offered! Thousands of dollars combined are up for grabs!

After you enter our giveaways be sure to visit all of the links on the Blogmania list, listed below, to enter all of the other amazing giveaways!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm even more excited to share OUR sponsors with you!!!!! We have some pretty FABULOUS prize up for our Mommies today!!!

Our first prize is from Splendipity

(Recent winner of the 2011 Top Choice of the Year Award in the Carrier Category!)

3 Winners will be chosen to win a Splendipity Accessory Pack

(ARV $26 each)

This sponsor is simply amazing!!! She literally just got back from having surgery and wrote to make sure to have a giveaway for our viewers in this event!! I have never had a sponsor go to lengths that great to keep her word on sponsoring a giveaway! They have a forever customer in me, that's for sure!!

Splendipity has offered to give (3) Three winners a s;lendipity accessory pack

These products are all organic and safe for your baby. They understand how much our babies mean to us and has given us a product that we can feel safe snuggling our babies in!

This is just one of those companies that makes you feel good about buying from!

When you shop with Splendipity you get & support:

• 100% certified organic cotton
• eco-friendly dyes-no chemical pesticides
• durable and long lasting clothing and accessories
• sustainability and health of farmers
• a socially responsible company
• women and children in shelters needing clothing
• bringing a new SMILE to children

Follow Splendipity

Website www.splendipityinc.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/splendipity

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/splendipityinc

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Second prize from Kidzies

(Featured, April 2011, on Nickelodeon's Parents Connect!)

3 Winners will be chosen to win a Kidzies Huggerz

(ARV $6 each)

Kidzies offers adorable Koozies, Klings, Kanvas, Artwork, and Wipe Covers!

Huggerz ^TM - Sweatless Technology^TM - offers a chic way to keep your kid's drink safer from the elements. Easily identify cup, minimize furniture rings and make it fun.

You have to stop by to see the adorable designs that they have!

Follow Kidzies

Website www.mykidzies.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kidzies

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kidzies

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Third prize from Designers Nursery

1 winner will be chosen to win a $100 Gift Certificate from

Designers Nursery!!!

(ARV $100 each)

OMG! I wish I found Designers Nursery when I had Lucas! There isn't one item in this store that I would not buy, everything is so beautiful!!! I could live in this store!!

You can find everything from burp cloths to furniture here! You will have a hard time pulling yourself away from this site once you get there!

They also have some great promotional offers right now for the lucky winner of this giveaway!

Receive a free gift when you purchase a Blooming Babies Bedding Set.
10% off your purchase of $250., 15% off your purchase of $500.

Follow Designers Nursery

Web: http://www.designersnursery.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Designers-Nursery/135652309860636

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/designersN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to take a minute to thank our amazing sponsors, Splendipity, Kidzies, and Designers Nursery for taking part in Blogmania and sponsoring these amazing prizes for our viewers!

Now it's time to visit these awesome blogs participating in Blogmania and enter all of the amazing sponsored giveaways on their sites!