From a Canadian Friend

From: Marielle Regnier
To: Gisela Barron

Dear Gisela, 

You have chemo to stop the cancer from spreading and to shrink the tumor.  Chemo prevents cell from growing and multiplying and spreading to other parts of the body. Most people do not have reaction to chemo, as you are given prior to treatment some drug to prevent nausea and allergic reactions, you will feel tired in a few days, this is normal, then your body will pick up again. They will take a blood test in 3 weeks before your next chemo to make sure your white blood count is high enough. Keep positive and in your mind see this chemo killing your cancer, you will make it Gisela, it is a long road, it is a temporary thing, it is a small price to pay for all the good it can accomplish. I will be starting a support group for cancer patients, at the Jewish Hospital, I was asked to do this for our French patients, I hope I will be good, so if you need anything or have questions I will be happy to answer you and get the right advice. 
 
You can call me anytime should you worry about something. Keep well and a big hug.

Marielle 

From a friend in Illinois

From: Gloria Paquette

She looks very brave. It is a positive attitude to be smiling when facing chemo for the first time. I will pray for her strength, faith, and endurance through Christ; for the the mercy of God in tempering all adversity, and for her solace in the comforting of the Holy Spirit.

24 hours later

Amazing!
24 hours ago, almost to the minute, Gisela finished a FIVE (5) hour  Chemotherapy"Infusion". Here she is out with Nicole, Oliver's wife, and our two granddaughters Lydia, in the foreground and Molly.
God IS good. Thank you Jesus.

Chemo 1

Gisela did well! The 5 hour "Infusion" was exactly that. A " cocktail" of the two (2) CHEMO drugs mentioned earlier in the blog and other medications for nausea et al. She's home and resting now. Let us hope and pray that the next 24 hours will be AOK

UT / SW "Wrap-up"

Gisela and I met with Dr. "Leah" Tan this afternoon at UT / SW. Dr. Tan "assisted" Dr. Kernstine when he operated last week. She shared with us the pathology report. It had mixed  results / blessings?

As we heard after the procedure the cancer HAS penetrated the diaphragm----that's the BAD news!
On a brighter note the analysis of the "Organ Wash" (Periodontal, I think!) showed NO mesothelioma cells. The LORD be praised.

Dr. Tan stressed to Gisela that SHE MUST BE STRONG!. Should eat well, exercise and be mentally READY. She repeated ,what had been said before, that her number ONE "Cheering Squad" must be HER herself. She told me "Continue your support role and NAG if required!".

Gisela "witnessed"to Dr. Tan about her FAITH in the Lord Jesus. " I am healed  (by his stripes)" she said. " His Holy spirit is --working-- to heal me" she added.

 We are NOT sure if Dr. Tan is a Christian or not but her reply "We are only here to help mere mortals NOT God". Made us believe she is.

They "hugged".

So Friday we start "chemo". Next posting will be from Plano Oncology Infusion Centre".

P.S     I made Dr. Tan laugh when I told her that the Infusion Centre was like "IHOP" with the   booths  serving "stuff" not pancakes or bacon and eggs!

Bad handwriting?

Doctors handwriting is some times ineligible!
The "Cocktail" for next Friday, for those that would like the CORRECT details ,is ALIMTA or Pemetrexed and PLATINOL or CISPLATIN

NEW " Game Plan"

Chemotherapy starts NEXT Friday. Gisela will go to Plano, Oncology for her FIRST "chemo cocktail"
Dr. Kernstine and Dr. Stokoe have "agreed" on a "blend" of "Altima" and "CIS Platin".
The Centre is NOT (in my opinion) very user Friendly. Each booth is not unlike IHOP!
Love
A Doting Husband

From: Karen Palmer
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2014

Hello Michael and Gisela,

Bless your hearts and God bless Gisela and your whole family.  I am so sad about the news of no surgery or radiation, but we will hold fast to the HOPE that the chemotherapy will be the treatment which will really help.  I know it will be challenging,, but Gisela is a very tough trooper, and her will to win is very strong.  I am asking God to send his angels and his Holy Spirit to minister to Gisela and to all of your family.  I love you, Barrons.  I wish I could take away the fears and pain.

Ultimately, LOVE is the most powerful force in God's universe.  Fear will be overwhelmed by LOVE.  Gisela will be so blessed by the concrete knowledge of how many people truly love her--especially her family members.  She has been so blessed to have a husband who has loved her so faithfully and incredibly putting her on the highest pedestal and supplying not just her needs, but also her wishes!  Her two sons know that she is the best mom, the best cook, and that she  and their dad brought them up right to be the fine husbands and fathers they are today. Two fine daughters in law are the daughters you both have always wished for.  And about those beautiful little grandchildren--they will be such a fountain of love and joy and strength for Gisela now and in the future. Thank you, Barrons for lifting my spirit when I was sinking in my own messed up life.  You really helped me a lot.  I'll never forget the beautiful Sunday night dinners including Omi #1, wonderful barbecue, going to restaurants, and traveling to Montreal.  You always treated me like a valued family member, and you helped repair me when I was so broken. You all held me in higher regard than I was able to see myself.  Thank you a thousand times!  Now, I have experienced the lowest of times, and I am hoping (now that I am doing well on my own) to be able to offer strength and positive encouragement. I look forward to an opportunity to visit when the time is right.  God bless you all!  Love, Karen 

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  … Hold fast

to what is good." --1 THESSALONIANS 1:16-17

" CHEMO"

This Friday @ 8: 45 am CST we will move into the chemotherapy phase of "My Big Fight". Gisela's Oncologist , an "Ex-Brit" like myself, is currently in England on ( a well earned!) vacation. Not only did he talk to Dr. Kernstine at 1 am in the morning but followed that up by talking to his Assistant Susan a few hours later. She will outline the " Game Plan" to Gisela and me at the end of this week.
God is GREAT! Thank-you Lord ,today we will be happy.

The "Morning After"

In a way I was dreading going to the hospital! However any fears I had were allayed---Thank you Jesus! Gisela was "UPBEAT", looked good and was eating--Thank you Jesus!

Sad,Sad news!

It  took Dr. Kernstine only two (2) small incursions into Gisela's "Belly" --medical term I am told---and 15 or 20 minutes of exploratory camera study to confirm that the cancer had penetrated the diaphragm. This precludes ANY SURGERY! Sad,sad day.
He told me that radiation is NOT possible and that we should start chemotherapy immediately.
He added that my (OUR!!) role must be to keep Gisela focused and as Up beat as possible.

Dinner with my dear friend

I so enjoyed Gisela joining me and my family for dinner last Saturday evening.  Especially since she ate like I've never seen her eat in the last several weeks. She had steak, green beans, asparagus, jello salad with fruit, some angel food cake and a beer to top it off.  So proud of her.

Great time visiting and watching the Belmont Stakes, even though our pick didn't win.  Still a great horse story with California Chrome.

My prayers for the results this Tuesday and the last procedure to decide the go forward recovery process.

My love to you Gisela.

Janece

ONE more test!

The meeting with Dr. Kernstine DID take place as planned about 2 hours ago. He was very professional and explained that ALL the previous tests had shown that the mesothelioma was in SEVERAL areas around the right lung. The esophagus and trachea tests BOTH confirmed that cancer was present in at least ONE lymph node in or around the sternum.
He told us that there were two choices. Namely:-

A) Take a FINAL test or

B) Start a 15 -  20 week combination of Chemo Therapy and Radiation.

Gisela said "OK ONE more test, then what?" The Dr. explained that under a General Anesthetic he would "explore" to see if the cancer had penetrated her diaphragm and "infected" other "organs" / "areas". The analysis would  of the "results" would take 5-6 days. If it HAD penetrated then FURTHER surgery would NOT be an option.

Thinking "positively" he said that IF the cancer had ONLY reached the diaphragm but NOT gone further he would schedule a MAJOR operation to "clean-out" ALL the infected areas within a week to 10 days. He stressed that this surgery would take between 6 and 7 hours and would be VERY PAINFUL"!

My bride did NOT hesitate--------------" GO FOR IT!---------------------- "Please" she added.
So the FINAL test could be THIS Friday or NEXT Tuesday.