Gaining Strength and Picking the Final Four

Mom is feeling a little better each day. She still gets sick every once in a while, but overall, she is improving gradually. She went out shopping this weekend with Jenn and Sarah. It was good for her to get out of the house. We were both sad Louisville lost to North Carolina, but we knew we had to catch North Carolina on a slightly off night for us to win. UNC was definitely not off! They played great, but we hung in there and made a good showing. Making the Elite 8 was good for this team. I will miss David Padgett. He was one of my all-time favorite U of L players. Incredibly, Mom picked the final four perfectly. All four number 1 seeds advanced. I made fun of her for those picks. Shows you what I know. Sometimes the obvious choices pan out, but it makes for a boring tourny. Davidson was the only real spoiler. I still think UNC is the best team. Im already in "wait til next year" mode with Louisville. I dont have anyone to root for now. I hate the favorites. Oh well, one more week til the 2nd best sporting event of the year --The Masters...(roll soft, warm fuzzy music). That will be a tough week---watch a little Masters, hang out at the beach, drink cool fruity drinks, sleep in, and eat at the buffets. How blessed are we? We are all gonna have a blast with Mom in Cancun. Eight more days!

2 Weeks til Cancun - The Countdown Begins

We just got back from Mom's weekly appointment with Dr. Miller. He was very optimistic and encouraging. Again, he focused on her stomach, and was glad to see she has gone from being tapped every week to going 3 weeks between taps. He was confident the cancer has been slowed. There seemed to be little doubt in his mind. The exact extent to which the treatment has been effective wont be revealed until we get the results from the scans, which are scheduled for April 4. Since we leave for Cancun on April 8, Mom has decided not to get the results of the scan until we get back from Cancun. Sarah and I thought that was a good idea too. We are going on a fantastic family vacation. Let's focus on that. We're going to have a full week to focus on sun and fun and leave cancer and scans behind. The scan results will be here when we get back. I think Mom is simply sick of thinking and talking about cancer. It has been the focus of thoughts and conversation for 2 months now. For the week in Cancun, there will be a NO talk of cancer policy! Mom will enjoy that. It will refresh her.

The only bad news was that her hemoglobin and magnesium blood counts were low. The magnesium is no problem, she just has to take some horse pill supplements. For the hemoglobin, she has to go in tomorrow for a blood transfusion. But she feels and looks good. She will be super ready for Cancun two weeks from today.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

My little sister is 25 yrs old today. I dont know anyone who has a more tender heart. Mom might be a close second.
I love you Say Say,
Boogie

P.S. I always remember Sarah was born in 1983, because I was 12 yrs old and engrossed in the March Madness that resulted in N.C. State's improbable upset of Houston, the team that knocked Louisville out of the Final Four and included Hakeem "The Dream" Olajawun and Clyde "The Glide" Drexler. Most sports fans would recognize the famous footage of N.C. State's coach, Jim Valvano, running frantically onto the floor to hug his players following the last second put in to win. Interestingly enough, ten years later, Valvano, like Mom, would find himself courageously battling metastatic cancer. His V foundation has raised more than $70 million for cancer research. Check out this video of his speech at the 1993 Espys. One of the most inspirational speeches ever! He passed away a month after this speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePXlkqkFH6s

Helpless in Hanford

Yep that is how I have been feeling this week. I cannot wait until I leave sunny California and move to TN.....I can honestly I will not shed a tear about this place, well I might miss all the luscious fruit in the summer since we live directly in the San Joaquin valley. Anyhow, May cannot come soon enough. This week though moms treatment went smoothly and she sounds so great, she still had some emotional ups and downs. She called me crying and of course I was freaking out and wanted to jump on the next plane to KY. She told me she was just really weepy and needed to have a good cry. If anyone knows our family (a household full girls) we are a bunch of emotional cry babies and mom always gets the emotional, cry our eyes out, phone calls from me and Sarah. Isn't that what mom's are for???? Well, I got the weepy phone call from mom. Understandably, she is going to be emotional about what has happened in the past 2 months. She said she just needed to call me and have a good cry. I cried too. We were a weepy mess. It was really good to have and I felt needed. I just want to be with her and hug her when she needs her "good cries." I miss my mom. She has ALWAYS been there for me wherever I have been, and has loved me in my darkest times when I didn't make her proud. She has always understood me and listened to me even when I made no sense at all-- that is my mom. She is amazing. It is just hard for me to sit here in CA and listen to her pain and tears. I want to thank everyone for all the cards that have been sent to her. She has appreciated all of them and I know that is one of the things that has triggered her emotions -- She is overwhelmed by the love of all of you. For the people that are in KY -- please stop by. You will not be a bother and I think it will lift her spirits too, just to see new faces. She is eating alot better but losing weight pretty quickly (she went from 162 on thursday and then after being tapped is 147) so if you want to fatten her up you can bring over your favorite dish. And as always, thank you for the prayers -- keep praying.

Love to all -- Shannon

Let the Madness Begin!

Mom has the least creative Final Four picks of all time. She has all 4 number 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four (that's never happened by the way) and NORTH CAROLINA beating UCLA in the finals. What a predictable, boring pick. I'm really disappointed in her, but Im gonna give her a free pass on this. The drugs are obviously affecting her too much. We are all looking forward to the games. Here are the rest of my families picks. Keep in mind, Luke has won the last 3 years in a row!
Boogie: North Carolina, Kansas, Pitt, UConn ---UNC beats Pitt in finals
Luke: North Carolina, Georgetown, Memphis, Duke---MEMPHIS beats UNC in finals
Jake: North Carolina, Georgetown, Pitt, Xavier---UNC beats Xavier in finals
Jaclyn: North Carolina, Georgetown, Pitt, BYU---UNC beats Pitt in finals (someone copied off Dad)
Jenn: Doesnt care! Just prays Louisville doesnt lose early and put Boogie in a foul mood for a week!

Home again!

Mom is home and resting. She is doing well. Just tired and achey. Her new CT and Pet scan is scheduled for April 4. Then on April 7, we all take off for Cancun, Mexico for some fun and relaxation. I think the thought of Cancun will help get Mom through the next couple of weeks. I pray she gets her strength back so she will be able to fully enjoy the vacation. She, Shan, Jenn, and Sarah all plan on sporting matching, teenie, weenie, YELLOW, polka dot bikinis. GO YELLOW TEAM! Ha Ha

Sleep, Sleep, and More Sleep

That describes Mom's 2nd Round of treatment. And that is a very good thing. She has been much more comfortable this time around, and has slept very soundly. All the sleep has made this week go by a lot faster for her. The side effects have been much less as well. Her white blood cell count is low, but not dangerously so. Her kidneys seem to be doing fine. They reduced her dose of Cisplatin ( the specific chemo that is hard on kidneys) by 25% to help, and it has worked.
Probably the very best news is that the swelling in her lower legs and ankles has gone down a bit, and we havent noticed any additional swelling in her abdomen. She hasnt had a tap in a few weeks, and not needing one, is the best sign the treatment is affecting the cancer cells. Dr Miller told me her swelling in the abdomen region would be the number one indicator of how the treatment was working. He explained that the active cancer cells were producing all the excess fluid, and while active, they would continue to rob Mom of nutrients and limit the amount of nourishment her body could absorb. This is his greatest concern. No additional swelling means the cancer cells have slowed down. A shrinking stomach line would indicate the cancer cells are remitting. We want Mom to be able to sport a FLAT BELLY in Cancun come April 8! She will be getting a full body scan sometime in the next month to see how the treatment has specifically altered the tumors. Mom might be able to come home as early as this evening. Pray that her body remains strong. As we learned after Round 1, the week immediately following the treatment is the hardest. Again, thanks for all the cards, calls, visits, comments, emails, etc. It means a lot to all of us to know how many people truly care about how Mom is doing.
God Bless,
Boogie

Quick Update

Mom started the 2nd round of chemo around 5:00 yesterday afternoon. She looked and felt great. Sarah tells me Mom got sick about 5 times over the night. Her temp topped out at 101 , but her blood pressure remained fine. She has been sleeping most of the time today.

It's a go for Round 2

Mom is in Room 831. She got a private room right away this time, which is a blessing for her and anyone who visits. There is so much more room, and with our loud and rambunctious group, we need it.
Mom's spirits are high. Her attitude is great. Her temperature and blood pressure are fine. They are doing blood work right now and will put her quad-port in soon. She should be ready to start up sometime later this afternoon. Pray that her temp stays low and her blood pressure stays high. We also need a consistently good blood count and strong kidneys. Pray that her good cells tolerate the biochemo and the cancer cells die a miserable, tormented, unpleasant, and long overdue death.
Thanks for the prayers.
Love,
Boog

Bye Bye KY

I can't believe it has been two weeks already. Can I tell you how much my heart is breaking to leave my mother???? Round 2 of chemo starts on Wednesday and I just wish I could be here to serve her. The only thing that comforts my heart is that I will see her in one month in Cancun. Then after that we will be moving soon. Today was a beautiful day. We ended the trip with 12 inches of gorgeous snow dumped on Louisville. Sam and I played in the snow for a while and then he continued for another hour with his cousin Jake. I was hoping I would get stuck here but I think that I will be able to leave without problems. Mom, Sarah, and Steph came over and we all played games and just sat around and talk and talk -- always great. Keep praying for mom. I love all the comments, and prayers.

Love to all,
shannon

Fun Pictures!

Top: Boog and Shan rocking it out!

Next: Sarah, Stephanie, and Julie singing a sappy ballad

Next: Jenn, Sarah, Shan, Mom, Stephanie, Julie having fun

Bottom: Barbara Fendley (one of Mom's best friends since childhood) and Mom singing a cheesy song from the 60s

Talk Is Cheap - And Sometimes Blasphemous

What if I told you I know people who could cure my mom’s cancer. And that Ive known about them during this whole ordeal. And while I continue to publicly proclaim that there are many people who can heal her, I sit idly by and continue to watch her suffer. And while others beg and plead for me to tell them who exactly Im talking about, I cant produce a single, specific name who can do what I so boastfully claim. Think about that for a minute. Now, honestly, what would you think of me?
Of course, I don’t claim to know anyone with the miraculous gift of healing. But I have, over the last month or so, been in contact with people who make such a bold claim. They claim that they themselves, or people that they know, have the miraculous gift of healing, bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit. Not only do they claim cancer can be cured with this gift, but the dead rise, and the blind see, as well! God even personally and directly talks to them, giving them revelation and prophecy. I have begged them with all my heart to send just one person with this gift to come heal my mom. I promised I would do whatever it takes to either bring them to her or get her to them. My mom's life depends on getting rid of this cancer. But I trust in God and the Holy Spirit. I know that IF God has given the gift of healing to someone today, they could heal my mom. God will not fail. He cannot fail. The gift, IF real, would not fail!
But now, after a month of talking, pleading, discussing, emailing, etc. with these people who make such incredible claims ---Nothing. No one has stepped up. Despite their claims, they cant find a single soul who can heal my mom. What happened to the bold claims? Where are all these miracle workers? “(cricket noises)” My mom still has cancer. And yet they continue, unabashedly with their claims of miraculous power from God, unwilling to back them up, either biblically, or by healing Mom.
Of course they have their excuses. There are too many to list. The most popular ones are “it doesn’t work all the time” and “you don’t have enough faith”. The first one, like their claims, is utterly blasphemous. Does God’s power work half the time? Does the Holy Spirit fail? Did Jesus ever fail in an attempt to heal someone in the Bible? What an affront to God! How shameful to blame God for their failure!
The second excuse is laughable. Mom is the one who needs healing, not me. My faith is inconsequential in the matter. And ironically, Mom believes them. She is convinced that these gifts of the Spirit are available today. So faith is in no way an obstacle. So what is the stumbling block? How can someone continue to claim that people have the modern day, miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, and that they know plenty of people who have these gifts, and at the same time, not be able to produce one single person who can cure Mom?
Mom’s second cycle has been pushed back to Wednesday. Thursday she’ll start puking every day. She wont want to eat a thing. Her body will get bloated from all the fluid. Her temperature will rocket above 101 and she will get the chills. Her blood pressure will drop to 78/40. Her white blood cells and platelets will dip low. And her kidneys will struggle to function properly. She will be miserable in a hospital bed on the 8th floor of the University of Louisville hospital. Where will the miraculous healers be?
Those of you reading this, who still believe that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are available today, I beg you to reexamine your beliefs, “accurately handling the word of truth.”. It is not a minor issue without consequences. A prophet whose prophesies fail is a false prophet. Here’s what God says about them:

Jeremiah 23:32"Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams," declares the LORD, "and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit," declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 13:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, 'Listen to the word of the LORD! 3'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing……6"They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, 'The LORD declares,' when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7"Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, 'The LORD declares,' but it is not I who have spoken? 8Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you," declares the Lord GOD.

Is there any doubt God is against one who claims to have the gift of prophesy and his prophesies fail? Is there any doubt how God feels about one who claims to have the gift of healing/miracles and they fail?
“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God”

If anyone would like to talk to me personally about this matter, or see all the written correspondence I’ve had with the people alleging such gifts, just let me know. I have pages documenting their boastful claims, inconsistencies, illogical and unbiblical beliefs, and elusiveness to simple, direct questions. I will gladly let anyone review the material. My email is boogiehampton@gmail.com

Pray for Mom!
Boog

My Best Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. Team Yellow(Jenn, Sarah, Boog(forgot his shirt), mom, and I) went down to Brown clinic for another appointment. We waited forever and finally met with 2 of her doctors. Mom's legs and ankles are swollen so much that they have placed her on lasics. Dr. Miller agreed that round 2 of treatment will start on Monday. Pray for mom and that her treatment starts up smoothly. Our appointment was finally over a little after 2pm and we decided to go wig shopping. Mom's hair had been falling out so much she was sick of it and said it was time. One of the nurses at the Brown clinic told us that in the lobby of the building was a place called "The Mint Julip" and they had wigs there and all sorts of hats and head pieces, so we decided to stop in. We met with the sweetest lady named Barbara and she showed us tons of wigs. It was hilarious seeing mom try on some funny ones that just did not look like her. We found one that was so cute and matched her hair perfectly. We also had her try on some scarves and hats-- she looked adorable. It was a precious moment and memory that I will treasure. Who knew a month ago I would be doing this with my mom. Mom is so brave -- she didn't cry, she wasn't upset in the least bit. She just said it is time to get this old nasty cancer hair off of her head -- it wasn't her anymore. She decided once she got home she would cut all her hair off to the bare minimum. She was totally ready for it. It still amazes me how strong she is. Some people would be so upset about losing their hair but she really was so strong. That is how she has always been though through my whole life. The best part about getting the wig and all the hats and scarves was that it was all FREE -- we were overwhelmed and blessed by the Mint Julips generosity. Anyone with cancer can go down there and get a hairpiece and up to 4 hats or scarves absolutely free. Everything is donated either monetarily or handmade. Later that night we met up with my cousins Julie and Stephanie, Christy and Byron, Teddy (childhood friend) and his mom Judy (one of my mom's dear friend) and Barbara (my mom's childhood friend) and her son Dan. We met at a great sushi place called Maido's that had a private room with karaoke machine. It was so hilarious. Sarah and I started out the night with a favorite of mom's, Red Red Wine. By the time the night was over we couldn't get Boogie away from the mic. He was really into it and I think he may try out for the next American Idol. Again, it was one of the greatest birthdays I have had in forever. The only thing missing was my husband -- still in TN. Great food, great time, and even better...the greatest friends and family. I know mom was wiped out, but it was totally worth seeing her laugh and smile and having the best time. We do have pictures and I am still getting on my brother to figure out how to get pics on this thing. Until then, keep praying.

Love to all,
Shannon

Returning From TN

Back in KY. Sarah and I had a great time driving to and from TN. We looked at about 1000 houses with Gavin and really couldn't choose, so I am leaving it up to Gavin and he can surpise me. I thouhgt it would be so easy to choose with so many houses but i think it was actually harder. It was great being with just Sarah and away from all the chaos. I broked down with her and just told her I was so sad that she had to give up her dream of mission work and come back to KY. But I was also crying and telling her that I am so grateful that God has her in this position to serve mom 100%....because I cannot be there for mom hardly at all. My sister is one of the most amazing women I have ever known. God is using her in incredible ways. Halfway home we got the call. Mom's hair had started to fall out. I don't know why this was so surprising to us but it is. The nurses at the hospital said it probably wouldn't but just get really thin. When we got home I was just playing with her hair and it was just falling all in my fingers. It makes me sad.....I know it is only hair, but it is the reality of the treatment and all she is going through. I still want to wake up from this bad dream. Last week, we where all riding in the car to the doctor and mom just started crying. She just said "how did we get to this point? Last month I was fine." I wonder that myself too. It is amazing in a single moment our lives can change. Laundry doesn't really matter to me anymore, trying to be supermom isn't important either because I know I will never be perfect. I just want to bask in my life and TRULY be thankful to God for all that He has blessed me. Do we have to go through something like this to really know how precious life really is??? It is sad but I think it is true and that is a blessing in itself. God has brought our family together like I couldn't imagine. It is good. Keep praying for mom. She looks and feels great. Her legs and feet are really swollen but she is laughing and talking. We need you all to pray also for her to eat. She has no appetite. It is so important that she eats this week and the next. She needs to be as strong as possible. We go on Tuesday to meet with Dr.Miller again to find out when round 2 starts.

Love to all -- Shannon