DeVeny Family

Here are some of the words shared at the celebration of Mike’s life the other night.  Pastor Wayne is sending his words, also, and they will be posted soon.

From Tim Ardinger, Mike’s best “buddy” since culinary school days:

TOP 10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MIKE DEVENY:

10.  Pepsi, not Coke

9.  If they can’t take a joke, nuts to them

9.  “Hey Buddy” is a greeting for any friend or soon to be friend

7.  The time to think about the next meal is before finishing the current meal

6.  Do your work, then you can play

5.  If food isn’t involved, then it’s not an event 

4.  Circle, never cross out an item on a list

3.  You gotta have a system

2.  If you are having children, have lots of ‘em

1.  When you give to your wife, your family, your church, friends, students, and community, you get back so much more than you can ever imagine.

I know I speak for Mike when I say to each of you…….”Thank You”

From Jim Cramer, Mike’s boss at Adam’s County Tech Prep:

As I gaze over this gathering, I can’t help but recall a question that Sasha asked Dee at the fundraiser we held in November at the Gettysburg Fire Hall.  The question was, “Does Papa know all of these people?”

I met Chef DeVeny the first time in May of 2005.  It was at that meeting that I realized just how dedicated and caring a teacher Mike truly was.  I also met Dee the same day and the comment I made after those meetings was how much they each loved their jobs and working with their students.

I had the privilege of working with Mike for just two years, a much shorter time than many of your relationships have been.  But in those two years I discovered the creativity and innovation he brought to his classroom.

Chef Michael O. DeVeny, CEC, CCE.  For those who don’t know, CEC stands for certified executive chef, CCE stands for certifed culinary educator.  One of the local principals once referred to Mike as a “no-nonsense, old-fashioned, in-your-face teacher”.  He was that and more.  Anyone who entered into discussions with Mike on preparation or serving of food became a student. 

Mike worked to prepare students the way he prepared food.  Start with a proven plan or “recipe”.  Apply the right tools and ingredients in theory and demonstration.  Allow the knowledge to marinate over time.  Saute the skills to perfection.  Add a little pinch of individual instruction for flavor.  Permit the student to simmer those skills in practical applications.

There was never an instance when Mike hesitated to help in any event or activity suggested for his students.  Mike reminded me regularly that he was “the most gung-ho son-of-a-gun” I have on my staff.  Along with his regular teaching duties, he worked for more than a year preparing extensive and in-depth documentation on his program.  This was presented to the American Culinary Foundation and following a two day inspection of our facility in the fall of 2006, the Adams County Culinary program was awarded Secondary Accreditation status in the American Culinary Foundation.  This opened additional doors of opportunity for our students.

In the day to day operations of the Adams County programs I am often the one who gets the phone calls from anxious parents voicing concern on one topic or another.  I couldn’t help but anticipate the possibility of a call like that when Mike related a situation from one of his class sessions.  Students were preparing chickens and chicken parts.  One student was having some discomfort handling and cutting up a chicken.  In what must have been a moment of mild frustration, Chef had the student hold his arms straight out and placed a whole chicken over each hand….”chicken mittens”!  The student was instructed to “become one with the chicken” and once comfortable with that they could proceed.  Just one of Mike’s many instructional innovations!

 In the fall of 2006 Adams County Tech Prep began a SkillsUSA chapter with Mike serving as advisor.  SkillsUSA is a career and tech student organization that Mike, along with the rest of the staff, felt was crucial to a successful program.  Throughout the ‘06-’07 school year we worked to get our chapter established with the goal of sending some students to regional competitions in the ‘07-’08 school year.

This year Mike’s SkillsUSA dream was realized.  On January 21st, Casey Balch, one of this year’s seniors who began her culinary studies under Mike’s instruction, participated in regional competition against students from 8 surrounding counties.  I was with Casey last Monday and when she exited the kitchen with a smile on her face, I knew she’d done well.  I was able to call Dee last Monday and relay the message to Mike that Casey brought home the 1st place gold medal from that culinary competition.

(Casey and other culinary students are asked to stand.)  Right here is a sampling of the talent that Chef DeVeny has left with us.  There’s a little Chef DeVeny in each of you.

I think that we can all be assured that Chef DeVeny will be in the kitchen making sure the food is “just right” when we meet him again.

From Lee DeRemer, extended family member:

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a man named John related the good news of Jesus Christ.  Of our Saviour and our Way to eternal life, John reported that Jesus said, “I am the door; if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and shall find pasture……I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

As Mike DeVeny accepted God’s invitation to enjoy an eternal relationship with Him, he did indeed live an abundant life.  Mike lived abundantly.  Mike loved abundantly.  And Mike gave abundantly.

When I say Mike lived abundantly, I mean that Mike lived life with gusto.  Some of us know of his wide travels in the Navy.  Others know of his experience a symphonic percussionist.  Manyof us know personally of Mike’s internationally recognized expertise in the culinary arts.

Let’s say it straight:  Mike loved food.  He took pleasure in studying, preparing, presenting, and yes, eating food.  For Mike, these things were both art and science.  And isn’t that why so many of us enjoyed his classes and his meals?  Mike could take equal pleasure in serving a mundane platter of meats and cheeses or a multi-course Oriental or European meal.  This was Mike’s calling, and as he made his living as an executive chef, he did so abundantly–and he honored God.

Mike loved abundantly.  Look around you…..could there be any doubt?

Paul wrote, “Husbands love you wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her….”   Dee, Mike and I had wonderful, deep conversations over the years about his love for you and how he marveled at the way God made you two for each other.  Certainly not identical, but much better–as completions of one another, filling in the gaps and becoming whole, as one.  In marriage Mike taught me and, I suspect, many others.

Bob and Betty, he loved you both despite the distance and it is by God’s timing that you could be here this week.  Thank you.

Denny and Linden, Mike really had two sets of parents, didn’t he? He loved you, he looked up to you, and he knew you loved him right back, through your shared lives, your help with the children, and your being the jack-of-all-trades, keeping the house in working order, even when it meant little things like converting a whole garage to a bedroom.

Zhenya, Vika, Merry, Viktoria, Sasha, Lada, and Matty, your Papa loved you more than words can say.  He bragged about your achievements.  He marveled at how God created each of you with a unique spirit, personality, gifts, and sense of humor.  Have any children ever been hugged more?  Or had more laughs with their Papa?

So many extended family, colleagues, and friends can attest of Mike’s unfailing love toward us.  We’ll miss his ever-present smile, his wit, and the way he loved to tell a story.

Mike gave abundantly.  Luke tells us that Jesus instructed, “Give and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together and running over.  For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

I think Mike learned that well.  Oh, how Mike gave…..to his marriage, to his family, to his students, and especially to his children.  And think of the love God gave back to him through the years, and especially during the last year, through the people who touched his life.

Let me run through the list again.  Zhenya, Vika, Merry, Viktoria, Sasha, Lada, Matty, I think you have a good idea of how fully your Papa gave of himself to provide you a loving family, a safe home, and your own abundant life.  The Bible says a good father should give his children a hint of what God is like.  I think my friend and your Papa was that good father.  In his abundant love for you, Mike gave you boundaries to keep you safe, instruction to prepare you for life, and inspiration and hope of what you can become in your own lives.  Your Papa gave you a legacy of that hope, and it will be your own calling to complete your education, follow your dream, and honor God as your Papa prepared you to do.  Tonight we grieve, and we hurt, because we miss him, don’t we?  And we know these things about Papa’s giving are true, but still we hurt.  Let me promise you something:  another of your Papa’s gifts to you is that he did such an amazing job as your daddy, that a year from now, you’ll see even more clearly just how much he gave of himself for you.

We can’t know all of God’s ways.  But we can keep our faith.  We can trust God’s perfect motives and His perfect timing.  And in God’s perfect wisdom, He chose now to bring Mike home.  We’ll miss Mike, and we’ll grieve.  But I’m really sure we will never forget what Mike meant to us.

Because this man lived the abundant life.

Filed under: Updates on February 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

For those of you who do not receive our local paper, here is what was published in Mike’s honor:

 

Michael O. DeVeny, 52, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 25, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer.  Mike was born May 2, 1955, in York, a son of Robert and Betty (Forbes) DeVeny.  He was the loving husband of Deirdre E. (Groft) DeVeny, with whom he recently celebrated their 16^th wedding anniversary. 

Mike was a 1973 graduate of Dover High School.  Beginning with his service in the United States Navy food service operations, Mike spent his life mastering the culinary arts.  After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in

Hyde Park, New York, Mike completed an intense Swiss Foreign Study Program in

Lausanne, Switzerland.  Over the next few years, Mike earned the titles of Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator through the American Culinary Federation in

St. Augustine, Florida.  Mike was named Faculty Member of the Year in 1996 by the Baltimore International College and was subsequently selected to represent Baltimore and implement their first annual culinary exchange program with the Kawasaki Chefs Association and the city of Kawasaki, Japan as part of the International Japanese Exchange Program.

After serving his country in the U.S. Navy, Mike was an intern at the Country Club of York; Executive Chef at Two Chefs, Inc, the Yorktowne Hotel, and Wynn’s Homestead Restaurant in the York area; Chef de Cuisine of the Village Café in Boca Raton, FL; Chef Consultant to Charlie and Johnny’s in York; and an independent restaurant consultant for Grandview Country Club and Ettline Foods, among others, in the York area.

Mike served as Chef Instructor at Baltimore International College; Coordinator of Culinary Arts and Adjunct Instructor for Yorktowne Business Institute; Coordinator of Culinary Arts for Adams County Tech Prep Consortium, from which he recently retired due to illness; and Chef Instructor for Harrisburg Area Community College Gettysburg Campus.  Mike was an instructor in continuing education for the American Culinary Federation, for Elderhostel, and for Northeastern School District.

Mike gave generously to his community.  He used his internationally recognized culinary expertise as a member of the York County Vo-Tech Food Service Advisory Board.  As a member of the Susquehanna Valley Chefs Association, Mike was an Education and Certification Director and a fund raiser for the Chef and a Child Foundation.  Mike was a Catering Chef at special international events, such as the World Cup Soccer competition and the Preakness races. 

Mike was a pillar in the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Mount Wolf, where he used his extensive music education as a member of the praise team, participated in the men’s ministry and Bible study group, and was the church’s resident chef for its many events.

 

Despite his many successes, nothing brought Mike greater joy than his role as husband and father.  He leaves his cherished memory and lasting legacy with his loving and steadfast wife, Dee, and his seven wonderful children—Zhenya, Vika, Merry, Viktoria, Sasha, Lada, and Matvei.  Mike is also survived by his loving and helpful in-laws—Denny and Linden Groft, his parents Robert and Betty DeVeny, his aunt Ruth Anna Pearson, his brother Rick DeVeny, and a multitude of extended family, colleagues, and friends.

 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, January 30, at Otterbein UM Church in

Mount

Wolf.  Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., and the service will begin at 7:00 p.m., followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the DeVeny Family Benefit Fund, 14 Haverford Circle, Manchester, PA 17345.

Filed under: Updates on January 28th, 2008 | 5 Comments »

First, let me say that Dee, Zhenya, Vika, Merry, Viktoria, Sasha, Lada, and Matvei are so thankful for your prayers and support as they mourn the loss of their beloved husband and papa.  Mike has left wonderful memories and a huge legacy for them to cherish.  There will be a Celebration of Life Service this coming week where you will have the opportunity to join them in celebrating Mike’s well-lived life.  The service is set for Wednesday, January 30th, at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Mount Wolf, PA.  Visitation with the family begins at 6:00 pm and the service follows at 7:00 pm.  After the service there is a reception at the church, catered by the Susquehanna Valley Chefs Association in honor of Mike, who was one of their own.

Contributions in Mike’s memory may be made to the “DeVeny Family Benefit Fund” and mailed to 14 Haverford Circle, Manchester, PA 17345.  Gerri Caldwell faithfully oversees those funds and 100% of the donations are used for the care and well-being of Dee and the children.

Filed under: Updates on January 26th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Today at 4:15pm, Mike DeVeny went home to be with The Lord. Dee and their children and other family members were at his side.

Dee is very thankful for the support and prayers of everyone. We ask that you keep Dee and the kids in your prayers as they deal with the loss of their Papa.

Information for the Celebration of Life Service will be posted soon.

Filed under: Updates on January 25th, 2008 | 7 Comments »

01/23/08

Mike will be coming home from the hospital this Friday, January 25th.  He will begin hospice care at home at that point.  The hospice team is kind, caring, and very well prepared to help Dee, the kids, and Denny and Linden as they continue to care for their beloved husband, papa, son-in-law, and friend.   

01/22/08

It’s been a little while since I shared DeVeny news.  What I have is not so good today.  Mike is in the hospital after being taken to the ER by Dee, Vika, and Zhenya yesterday morning.  He was having problems with his anti-coagulant levels in his blood (even though his coumidin was stopped last Wednesday) and was bleeding from spots on his face (mouth and around his eyes) and from his urethra.  He was already on antibiotics for a UTI diagnosed last week.  The ER ordered an x-ray and it showed what they believe to be pneumonia so they have kicked up his antibiotics to cover the UTI and the pneumonia.  They are also giving him IV meds to help with the coagulation of his blood.  For now he is stable, but not doing very well.  He has the twitching that has been with him since last June, and he has intermittent confusion from all of the drugs and the progression of the disease.  He definitely has moments and times of lucidity.  In those times he manages to say or do something to bring a smile to Dee’s face, even in the midst of such pain and difficulty.  Over the weekend he had not known who Dee was at one point in time so the next morning she woke him and asked him if he knew who she was.  He replied that he did not.  She demanded that he at least open his eyes and give it a good try.  He opened his eyes, stared at her for a few seconds and she asked him again if he knew who she was.  He replied, “You are Deirdre E. DeVeny and I am your wife.”  She grinned and told him that was close enough for her!  At least he knew that they were married even if he was turned around as to his role in that marriage.

Dee was able to speak with Dr. Ekaha, Mike’s oncologist, at length last night.  He is a wonderful man whom Dee and Mike both feel has been a blessing to them during these past 9 months.  He is going to run tests on Mike during this hospital stay to see how far the cancer has advanced and to give Dee direction for Mike’s care when this hospital stay is over.

Dee has been having some health problems of her own this past weekend.  She has an abcessed tooth which was lanced yesterday.  She will undergo a root canal today which should bring a final measure of relief to her mouth.

Please keep the entire family in your prayers.  They truly appreciate the outpouring of love and concern that you have shown them this past year!

01/02/08

COOKBOOKS ARE BACK!!  The DeVeny Family cookbooks are so popular that they are going into their 3rd printing.  Details will be on the cookbook link of the website.  Contact Gerri to place your order.  She is taking orders  now through March.

01/02/08

 Happy New Year from Mike and Dee and the gang!  The DeVenys had a very nice, family-oriented Christmas vacation.  The kids received presents galore, and Mama and Papa each were treated well, too.  The entire family was busy with lunches out (thanks, Aunt Ruth!), large family gatherings, and visits with family and friends.  Mike, Dee, their 7 kids, plus cousin Kelsey spent a weekend in Lancaster at the Howard Johnson with the indoor water park.  They attended the American Music Theater Christmas Show, too.  Mike held up fairly well through all of the festivities.  He tires easily and prefers his own bed, but truly his “home” is wherever Dee is.  He seeks her out in a crowd, finds her hand to hold on to whether at the dinner table or at a party.  Dee is Mike’s personal nurse and caregiver during her non-working hours.  Denny and Linden fill in during the time that Dee is in Gettysburg teaching her nursing students.

Today Mike has a treatment that always knocks him down for a few days or so.  It makes him very sick and totally takes his appetite away.  Not that he has an appetite right now.  Please pray that he will be able to keep some nutritional shakes down in order to maintain his strength and abilities. 

Dee and Mike are so appreciative of your prayers and support.  They are taking one day at a time and trusting the Lord as each day infolds.  Their wedding anniversary is this month.  They ae looking forward to celebrating another milestone together.

Filed under: Updates on January 2nd, 2008 | 4 Comments »

12/17/07

Much has been happening at the DeVeny house!  Sasha celebrated his 13th birthday this past week.  He had a party yesterday complete with a pinata and cake!  Dee bundled Mike up in all of his warmest gear and wheeled him outside so that he could see the kids swinging at the pinata.  Candy went everywhere and was quickly scooped up by Sasha and the gang.  Penny and Greg brought a Christmas tree by the weekend before last and the kids decorated it.  Dee has off school today (courtesy of the wild ice and wind storm that came through this past weekend causing Gettysburg to cancel classes) and is off to finish her Christmas shopping.  She said that she didn’t even feel a bit bad to see her kids go out the door to school while she stood there in her pajamas!   Mike is holding his own these days.  He is on many meds and the timing of the doses keeps Dee busy either trying to get food into him or having him wait to eat until the meds have been in his system long enough.  He is suffering from sores and skin breakdowns all over his body as a result of the oral chemo.  Please pray for him as he deals with the effects of the medicines.   Please pray for Dee, too, that she would be able to get good rest and sleep as she takes care of Mike and works full-time.  Add Uncle Denny and Aunt Linden in there, too, as they are such a huge help in the maintaining of the household and the commute to Gettysburg and back.  We are so glad that Mike is able to be home and part of the Christmas celebrations and festivities.  Praise the Lord for that!

11/29/07

Well, Mike has been out of rehab for a week, but did spend Monday night through Wednesday in the hospital as a precautionary measure due to his blood test results.  One of the many (somewhere near 27) meds that he is taking is coumidin (sp?) and it caused his blood to be too thin.  He is home again and his meds have been readjusted again.  Dee is running on very little sleep this week.  Please pray that she gets some good rest over the next few nights.  The entire family is heading to Gettysburg on Friday night for a benefit put on by Mike’s past students and the chefs’ association.  Each of 7 students is paired up with a chef and they are responsible for creating wonderful fare for the guests to eat.  It should prove to be a very tasty evening! 

11/21/07

MIKE IS HOME!!!  Dee was able to convince the rehab folks that they could complete a “week’s worth” of paper work in one day so that Mike could come home this evening.  He is tired, but so pleased to be home and eager to sleep in his own bed.  He is the turkey carver for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day feast at the DeRemer barnyard, a role that he delights in.  We pray that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  We have much to be thankful for now that Mike is home. 

11/20/07

Mike’s home visit went well today!  The house inspection went well from a safety and mobility standpoint.  The new ramps are perfect.  He was able to enjoy dinner in his own house, with his family, for the first time in almost 2 months.  Praise the Lord!!  He is getting a day pass to come home for Thanksgiving as he awaits the paperwork getting finished so that he can check out of rehab and move back home. 

11/15/07

Mike is continuing to get stronger and Dee is working on a plan to get him home very soon!  She is working with the rehab place to find out what needs to be done on the rehab end and at home to make the DeVeny homestead user friendly for Mike.  Uncle Denny and Scott Caldwell and some others will be doing some “Home Improvements” this weekend to build ramps to make the front door and the master bedroom wheel chair accessible for Mike.  This has been a long road for all of them and they are eager to have the husband/papa back home!

11/12/07

Mike is getting stronger as the days go by.  He has had a few things come up in the last week that the doctors are attendng to.  He had a transfusion the other day because his red blood count was low.  He also has been taking some meds to help break up some blood clots that were forming in his legs.  These things all appear to be under control and are not a set back to his rehab.  He is walking longer distances and is wheeling himself all around in his wheel chair.  He still needs to gain more strength to be able to stand up by himself and to get himself in and out of the wheel chair and bed.  Please pray that this strength will come soon.  Dee and Mike are so ready for him to be home, as are the kids and Denny & Linden! 

Last week Mike was using his culinary skills to help with an occupational therapy class.  The object of the class was to cut and chop vegetables……he was in his element!  He has been giving hints to the kitchen staff in regard to chopping onions and stopping the eye irritation it can cause.  His appetite is strong these days and his pain levels are lower than they were.  All in all, he is doing well and continuing to work hard toward his goal of going home to his family. 

10/28/07

Mike is fully into rehab!  Yesterday he walked for over 20 steps and worked out with weights to help regain his muscle strength.  He was happy when he realized that today was Sunday because there is no physical therapy on Sundays.   :)   Dee and the kids brought lunch to him today amidst lots of company.  Mike really enjoys the company.  He sleeps well after interacting so much all day long.  Tomorrow it is back to physical therapy with an eye on going home.  It is wonderful to see him feeling better and getting back on his feet.

10/23/07

Mike is moving tomorrow!  He will be at Manor Care Health Services in Dallastown, PA.  The street address is 100 West Queen St. and the zip is 17313.  The doctors will assess him and make a plan for getting him back into shape and on his way home.  Praise the Lord! 

10/22/07

Mike is awaiting a bed at a skilled nursing facility (Dee calls this place a “sniff”).  He is more than ready to go, but there were no available beds today.  Please pray for a bed to open up so that he can be transferred to the SNF.  You will probably all hear his shouts of joy (no matter how far away you live) as he is discharged from the hospital!

10/20/07

Dr. Buenaventura removed Mike’s chest tubes yesterday afternoon!  I believe that is the last hurdle that Mike had to get past in order to get the ball rolling for rehab.  Mike thinks that the social worker & doctors will start moving on that once the weekend is over.  He is so ready to get out of the hospital!  He is grateful for all of your prayers, cards, and visits. 

Dee and the gang are having their fishing adventure with Uncle Denny and Sar.  Aunt Linden has 2 days of taking care of 2 cats and 1 dog, but no people!  I wonder if she knows what to do with her free time???   

We will keep you posted on Mike’s comings and goings as the week unfolds.

10/18/07

Praise the Lord, good news!  The surgeon came into Mike’s room today and said that there is almost no drainage from his chest tubes which means that the surgery was successful.  They plan to pull the chest tubes tomorrow.  Mike is having a bit of the “chemo brain” type conversations these days.  He talks of things that aren’t really happening or about a person who is not a part of the conversation of the moment.  He seems to realize this from time to time and has asked his doctors if there is anything that can be done to help him keep track of the days and what is real and what is not.  Dee thought it was very funny that he had me in a circular, silly conversation today instead of her!  He was up out of bed today for 4 hours, sitting in the chair and visiting with his Aunt Ruth, Aunt Linden, and Penny.  He was quite ready to get back into bed after that amount of time.   

Dee and the kids are leaving tomorrow for their fishing adventure with Uncle Denny and Sar.   Please pray for safe travel for them and for a wonderful time away.

 Mike says hello to all and thanks for praying for him! 

10/17/07

Mike seems to be tolerating the post-surgery pain better.  He is sleeping a lot, probably due to the pain meds.  He is bothered by tremors in his hands and feet.   The shaking doesn’t seem to hurt, but it bugs Mike that he can’t control the tremors.  Dee went to see him tonight and will bathe and shave him.  He was looking a bit scruffy earlier today!  Please continue to pray that the surgery will prove to be successful and for a good recovery for Mike.   

10/15/07

Dee says that Mike is out of surgery and back in his old room (#4208).  She said that he is in a LOT of pain and sleep is his only relief from the pain right now.  Please pray that his pain levels will decrease quickly and that the surgery will prove to be a success.  I am not sure how long it will be before the doctors can determine whether the surgery did what they desired.  Pray for rest for Dee and Linden, also, as they are going strong this week without the assistance of Uncle Denny.  (He is on a 10 day fishing excursion with Sar.)  This weekend Dee plans to take the kids (plus  Hailey-Bear) to join the fishermen.  They plan to fish and also visit Assateague Island.  They are all looking forward to the fishing trip and to Papa being well enough to come home.

10/13/07

**Mike’s surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday, October 15th.  Please keep him in prayer for a safe and successful procedure.  Thanks! 

10/11/07

Just  a note to let you all know that Mike is still in the York Hospital.  He still has fluid draining from his chest tube but the doctors have a plan for stopping the fluid from building up around his lungs.  The tumor in his lung(s) is producing this fluid.  The fluid is building up between his lung(s) and a layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs.  Normally there is no space between these, but the fluid is able to seep in there and build up.  (Dee drew a diagram of this tonight to help explain it.  I wish you all had the benefit of seeing it.)  So, sometime real soon the doctors are going to perform a “minor” surgery to rough up those two layers so that they will adhere to each other in a bonding of scar tissue and thus stop the seepage of fluid and allow for the removal of the chest tube.  (This is my translation of what Dee and Mike have said about the surgery.)  That seems to be the last hurdle for Mike to get past to get released from the hospital into rehab to gain back his strength and go home.  Please pray for a safe and successful surgery and a speedy healing process for Mike.

 Mike’s appetite is back!  Aunt Linden took a “Five Guys” burger and fries to him for lunch and he requested dumplings and sushi for dinner.  He is on record declaring the hospital food to be crappy!  Dee ordered Japanese take out for him and delivered it tonight when she went for her evening visit.  She continues to visit him, along with bathing and shaving him, almost every evening.  She has been taking a couple of the kids each evening to give them all a chance to see their Papa throughout the week.

Dee and Mike send their thanks to all of you for your continued prayers, help with homework, meals delivered, laundry washed, and the many other gestures of love and support given to them.

10/08/07

Here is a quick update on Mike.  He is looking and feeling better today.  The doctor told him today that the infection caused by his old port is cleared up.  Since his move to a regular room, Mike is in a new-fangled bed that turns him (automatically) every 2 hours into the next position from left to right and sometimes onto his back to help prevent bed sores and pressure points.  We told him today that it almost looks like a chicken on  a spit!   Since the last posting Mike has had a drainage tube placed in his chest on the left side to allow for the fluid (pleural effusion for you medical types) around his lungs to be drained.  This fluid was first noticed way back in April and is part of the original cancer diagnosis/issue.  

At this point Mike is awaiting a transfer to a rehab place to get him strong enough to come home.  Home is still the goal and he was quoted today as saying, “Let’s get this show on the road!”  Sounds like the Mike we all know and love!

Marcie for Dee/Mike

10/04/07

Greetings, again, in the name of Mike and Dee!  Mike has been steadily improving this week and is now out of the ICU and in a regular room.  He had an MRI yesterday (in the wee hours of the morning)…..his infected port was replaced today….chemo didn’t happen this week…..he was up on his feet twice today (with support, of course, and feeling pretty weak but determined to get up) and is doing exercises with the rehab folks to strengthen his muscles.  Mike has a the goal of going home out in front of him and he is doing his part to get there.  Things are pretty much the same on the home front.  Dee spends every waking hour either at work, doing homework with kids and trying to get a bite to eat, and going to/from the hospital.  She shaves and bathes Mike each evening.  Just her presence is a soothing balm to him.  He is “better” when she is around!  Linden and Denny are busy with chauffer duties, kid care, and the hundreds of other things that need to be done to keep the household running.

 Please pray that Mike will be well enough to come home soon.  Please pray for stamina for Dee, Denny, and Linden.   Thanks for your continued care and support for all of the DeVenys!

Marcie for Dee/Mike

09/30/07
Greetings in the name of Dee and Mike. This is Dee’s cousin, Marcie, giving you all an update on Dee and Mike’s behalf. Mike was admitted to the York Hospital late Thursday evening with a fever of 104 degrees. Dee and Aunt Linden spent all of Thursday night in the ER, going home in time for Dee to change clothes and go to work all day and Linden to go about kid duty. Uncle Denny chauffered Dee to and from work for the safety of all drivers on the road that day. Mike was having less and less mobility last week along with some confusion and not eating or drinking very much. Dee used all of her powers of persuasion (and plain old bossiness) to get Mike to down a milkshake here and there and tried to keep him hydrated. Dee noticed that Mike was running a fever Thursday evening and his trip to the hospital was recommended by the oncologist on-call that evening. At this point (Sunday) the doctors have said that there were a combination of things going on in Mike’s body. The port in his chest has become infected, compounded by a case of pneumonia. He is currently in the ICU getting very good care with a high probability that they will remove the infected port and use another method of administering chemo, etc. He is more alert today and has had quite a few visitors. The doctors will decide as the week goes on as to whether his chemo occurs this week on schedule and what path they want to take next.

We will do our best to keep you all updated as to what is going on and how best to pray for Dee, Mike, Linden, Denny, and those precious DeVeny kids. Their household has been so busy with work, school, errands, and visiting Mike, not to mention a serious lack of sleep for Dee, Linden, and sometimes Denny, that the phone is not always answered. Please know that if the answering machine is on it is not to ignore anyone, just to allow them to see to the needs of the moment.

Also, to those of you who have given of your time to help with laundry and cleaning during the week–a hearty thanks! Your labors are truly needed and appreciated. The continued meal ministry is a blessing, too!

Mike sends his love for all of you. Dee says hello and thanks for the conitnued prayers!

09/11/07
Hello Friends. Gerri Caldwell has requested that I put a quick note in about the cookbook. Along the side, to the right, is a section marked pages. Click on the Pages section titled “Cookbook” if you would like a cookbook and did not get one in the first printing. Gerri will be taking orders for a reprinting. Cookbooks can be ordered from Gerri up until September 30th. Gerri will place a reorder on October 1st. The order will arrive by the third week in November.

Here is the scoop on this reorder business. This summer, when Gerri was planning an initial order, she stopped by the house to talk about it. She was originally going to place an order for 300 books. It seemed extravagant but we thought that we should be safe rather than sorry. THEN Gerri was getting information from people that indicated that maybe we should increase the initial order. Well, let me tell you that we hemmed and hawed about it. Four hundred cookbooks really seemed exorbitant. What if we had 300 of them left in the attic???? What to do! What to do!

In the end, four hundred were ordered. We received 454 due to over print. The cookbooks sold out in 10 days. Gerri still had requests coming in. Gerri had an idea. For any of you who wanted a cookbook and didn’t get one, you can place an order through Gerri. She will tally orders and schedule a reprint. Remember the cut-off for the reorder is 09/30/07.

A quick update on Mike. Mikey-Boy has had some wild old days recently. He has had some difficulty staying on his feet and has had a few falls. In the most recent fall, he tore the ligments across the top of his left foot. With his gait altered, he became dependent on his walker to get around. The pressure on his arms caused him tremendous shoulder and upper arm pain. He was admitted on Friday 09/07/07 and discharged on Monday 09//10/07. During this admission, they checked him out, got his pain under control, gave him a blood transfusion and some IV antibiotics for the cellulitis that had developed in his swollen foot. He returned home on Monday all spit and polished. He is also receiving physical therapy to get him up and running (well, walking) again.

Mike has been playing tricks on me. The other night in bed, I got up around three in the morning to use the facilities. As I got out of bed, Mike rolled toward me and said, “My mom made some fudge for you and put it out in the kitchen.” I LOVE Betty’s peanut butter fudge. I was thrilled. I used the bathroom and washed my hands and went into the kitchen. I searched that damn kitchen high and low for the fudge. I looked in every hiding place that I have used in the past to hide fudge from everyone else. I couldn’t find it. After a 10 minute search, I went in and leaned over my husband and with some desperation whispered, “Where is that fudge?” He rolled over and looked at me and said, “What fudge?” He had been dreaming about fudge. I was now dreaming about divorce due to mental cruelty. His mother made me fudge the next day to save our marriage.

Love Dee

08/20/07
Greetings from Mike…

Things have been hectic this summer. My chemotherapy schedule keeps me busy….between the blood work appointments, MRIs and other tests, the chemo days themselves, various supportive medications. I am usually down and out for about 10 days following each chemo session. Those days it is really hard to even get out of bed. My body slowly makes its way to feeling good again. I try to keep a positive attitude and do the best that I can…but I have had some severe depression and my doctor started me on an antidepressant. The antidepressant has helped some…at least I can now move my arms and legs without crying.

You should see the list of medications that I am on every single day (most twice a day….21 different medications. It is ridiculous. I can’t even figure out my medicine anymore; Dee does it for me.

We had a wonderful vacation this summer…we went to the Liki Tiki Resort in Orlando for a week. It has a water park right in the resort. Some days, we didn’t see the kids (we had 8 kids…our seven plus our niece Kelsey) except for meals. Not only did the resort have a water park, but it also had 2 other pools, hot tubs, basketball courts, tennis courts, bumper boats, paddle boats, bicycles, a miniature golf course, an arcade, and planned resort activities like karaoke, water-balloon tosses, body painting, etc. Our friends, Geri and Scott Caldwell drove to Orlando with Dee. Dee flew me down and she and Scott picked me up at the Orlando Airport. (Dee/Geri/Scott drove the kids down.) We also rented a motorized scooter so I could get around the resort. It felt pretty good to be mobile without someone pushing me around in a wheelchair. (I can walk and use a cane but only for a very short distance before I am wiped out.) While we were down there, we went to a dinner theater called “Pirate Adventure.” Dee was able to push me in right in my wheelchair and we had a great time. At the end of the week, Dee and Scott took me to the airport and I flew me home and then everyone else drove home the next day. They drove 20 hours straight through.

The kids aren’t starting back to school until September 6th this year because of district construction. Dee starts back tomorrow (August 21st). Don’t ask me if Dee is happy about this.

We recently had some good news about my brain cancer. The August 3rd MRI shows that my brain tumor has shrunk a little and there are no new tumors. My radiation doctor told me that at this time, my brain tumor can be the least of my worries. Although they cannot get rid of it, they think that they have that under control at least. You know, I know how serious all of the other cancer is, but this brain tumor scared me the most because I didn’t want to lose who I am. Now, hopefully, I don’t have to worry about laying in bed like a vegetable…if I could pick a vegetable, I would pick a vegetable medley. You know how I like a variety.

We have had a very blessed summer. God has blessed us with this time together and we are grateful for every day that he gives us together as a family. We don’t know what time that we have remaining. I have learned a lot through this…I have finally learned how to stop sweating some of the small stuff and how to not do anything if I am tired. I have learned how to better enjoy my kids and my wife. This time is a gift from God.

I love you.
Mike

Continued with Dee’s Addendum:
Mike wanted to have a complete letter this time. We usually collaborate, but I sat down and typed his letter in its entirety…I figured that I could have my say when I wanted. Like right now….

We have had a couple other blessings this summer. We have new steps into the pool so that Mike can enjoy the pool too. He is making good use out of them. We also bought him a netted raft that he can float around in…he looks like an old man floating around in the pool with a big old kakhi camp hat over his bald head. I just like to watch him enjoy himself. My dad and I installed the steps…he didn’t talk to me for two days because I jammed his stupid thumb. The next time that you see him, tell him that he is a big baby.

Our vacation was wonderful. I did find Mike a little insulting a one point. He spent his days motoring around around the resort. He was usually going FAST. At one point, he turned around and said, “Do I need to slow down for you?” I need to be forgiven for this, but my first thought was that I ought to knock Mike and his scooter over into the grass. I was concerned at one point when I almost lost my husband before my very eyes. He was so busy going fast on his scooter (as Geri and I trailed behind him) that he over-shot the handicap ramp and swooped back out into a parking lot in a semi-circle to compensate and was almost hit by a car. Thankfully the woman in the car was on the look out for fools on scooters.

The kids are going really well. We have had some wonderful times this summer. We have spent many evening having family game nights playing pictionary, Rummikubs and cards. Mike really has learned to enjoy the small pieces of life more.

Just last night, Lada said something that made me cry. Sasha had requested a family sleepover. (A family sleepover is when everyone brings their blankets and pillows to our room and makes pallets on the floor to sleep as a family. We talk and read. We do this more in the summer because of work schedules, but it is a year-round event, too.) Lada indicated that she thought that was going to sleep in her room rather than participate. Sasha was disturbed by this and fussed about her not being here with the family. She listened to him and decided to go and get her bedding for her place on the floor. I had been sitting on my bed just listening to them. Before she left my room, she looked up at me and smiled and said, “I just love this family.” We just love her.

Remember that in the midst of everything, God has blessed us. While the pieces of this are scary, we aren’t alone.

Thank you for continuing to think about us, pray for us and share your love with us.

Dee

07/15/07
Good morning. Tomorrow our youngest, Matvei, will celebrate his 11th birthday. He is anxious and anticipating many, many things. Isn’t 11 just grand? Today, he say a picture of Harry Potter in the newspaper. He held it up to me and said, “Mama I look like him, don’t I?” I reassured him that he is much more handsome. It is the truth and has nothing to do with the fact that I am biased in Matty’s favor.

Mike just began his first round of the “new” chemo this week. It really wiped him out. He has pretty much slept since Thursday with some waking time in between. He has become very depressed in the last week. We know why and we understand why, but fear that he will sink too low for us to touch. He is very scared. So am I . So we talked to the doctor at his chemo appointment and they have started him on an antidepressant to help us. These days his tears are near the surface and he feels like the least little thing will tip the scale. He doesn’t want to leave the house. He is amazing though, because as we were talking about possible strategies to help him, he commented that, even though he felt so bad emotionally, he was really grateful to be painfree. Celebrate the pieces.

We always try to remember to always celebrate the pieces, even when the larger picture is too big to be envisioned.

We are so thankful for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Last evening, the Derrs (Mark and Lynn), the Coates (Mark and Sherry) and the Krupas (Dave and Vicki) had a picnic get-together at the park in Mt. Wolf. The kids played and the adults got to spend some time together. Not only did we enjoy the company, but they served a wonderful meal.

Tomorrow, Mike will be having lunch with the principals of the four districts that we received students from. They are coming to the house and bringing lunch with them to share some time with Mike. Mike is looking forward to it. I figure that I should at least make a path through the living room for them to walk through (I am glad that housekeeping skills can’t be included on your work evaluations!).

We are looking forward to our upcoming vacation. The kids and I are driving to Florida with Gerri and Scott Caldwell. We are sending Mike down on a plane. At the suggestion (and due to the investigative skills and planning) of my friend Kathy, we are renting Mike a scooter to get around down there so he can participate in kid activities with ease as he feels able. We are looking forward to spending a week in the heat and sweating. When we were married, we made a top-ten list of things we wanted to do in our marriage. This was #2-be hot and sweaty continuously for at least a week with a bunch of kids vying to make their activity wishes known to us. Our #1 on the top-ten list relatively simple compared to that #2-live in a 3rd world country under the tyranny of a petty, vicious dictator. Hey, everyone has to have dreams. (In all seriousness, my personal #1 was to be thin, have long hair AND long fingernails….however, we were married now and had to list COMMON goals. C’est la vie.)

The other night Lada, in her round about way, wanted some information. As she was trying to get soap out of my eyes (she was assisting in washing my hair) she asked me what made me afraid. I thought about telling her that I was afraid of going blind, but I thought there was something here that we needed to talk about. So, I told her truthfully that this thing with Papa scares me and, although I know that God is watching, I am still scared. She looked up at me and said, “I am not so scared about that now. I think Papa is going to get better. Look, he is getting better right now. I’m scared of the dark.” I struggled with my answer. I think that she sees that his pain is under better control and that he is moving a little better and interprets it as a sign that he is getting better. How do you emotionally prepare your 12-year-old for the reality?

I think that the only thing for us to do is to continue to be available, always keep the door open for conversation, and handle each question as it presents itself. Their questions are usually hidden within other conversations. Often you have to pick them out. Sometimes, like Lada’s question, they are more straightforward. Could you maybe say a prayer for each of our kids (Zhenya, Vika, Merry, Viktoria, Sasha, Lada and Matty)?

Thank you. God bless you. God’s love shines out of each of you and warms those around you.

07/03/07
Greetings from the DeVeny encampment. Do we sound like some extremist hot bed?

Truthfully, Mike and I have been wondering about something. We wonder if people imagine that our every day existence is over-shadowed by what our family is currently going through. Sure we have our cry times, but we would like you all to know that our lives continue to have wonderful moments, funny moments, calm moments, happy moments. There are even moments that we forget what is happening. We have a committment to enjoy our family. As long as we aren’t shopping or in the bathroom together, we can still enjoy each other. This can be scary, but it doesn’t define us.

This week we pulled out all the sheets. Some people pull out all the stops, however the DeVeny’s pull out the sheets. We celebrated Tent Making 101 in our back yard this week….the old fashioned way. We hauled out all of the (clean) sheets, clothes pins, three of grandpa’s tarps and a couple of odd bricks into the back yard. Mommy did tent making instruction using all of the above items AND the washlines. We made a great tent. On Saturday night, coated with bug spray, the DeVeny kids slept out in their tent. The next day, they rebuilt it to include room dividers and pulled in some furniture (why??) and they had a homemade castle.

Last week, Mike and I got to spend some time together as Debbie Walker, Erica Wolfgang and Leah Johnson piled the seven DeVeny kids in the car with Morgan and Robby and spent the day at Lake Tobias. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Our children enjoyed it immensely. Mike and I enjoyed the quiet of the morning and afternoon.

Mike will be completing radiation therapy this week and starting the new chemotherapy protocol next week. We saw his oncologist last week in preparation. Mike has had some incredibly rough days of back pain. Somedays any movement was an effort. Mike’s pain medication needed to be increased again…this current dose has given him some wonderful relief. As we speak, he has had four wonderful days in a row. We pray for each one and celebrate its arrival. (It is hard to explain, but the kids and I have much better days too when we know that Mike isn’t struggling through the days.)

We love you all.

Love,
Mike and Dee

PS…Jeff, you made us howl. Thanks

06/14/07
Hi everyone. It has again been awhile since we updated. We had some computer problems on top of everything else that has been going on. Sorry.

Since we last spoke, we have a gorgeous new fence. The kids are enjoying the summer and playing in the yard. Mike and I are enjoying sitting out in our yard. The rotten little Yorkie dog loves all of the extra running space. She can’t decide where she is going to investigate next.

So many people put time, effort and love into building this fence. We don’t even know where to begin to say thank you. It is from the very bottom of our hearts.

Mike says that it is nice to have me out of school to spend time with him. I am not so sure why…we have logged at least a thousand arguments since the last day of school. Mike’s mom says that I am not allowed to fight with Mike anymore since he has cancer. Why would she want to take the joy out of our marriage like that? Mike hasn’t lost any of his spunk and he is still as annoying as ever….since I am writing this, he is not afforded the chance for a rebuttal…did you notice that? Well, he can, but only what I say that he can say. Are you seeing a definite slant here?

Mike and I don’t think that this made the papers, however, we went shopping together the other day. As I was pushing him in the wheelchair, he had the nerve to complain. Although we love to see you all, we are glad that you weren’t there. The wheelchair had a basket on it. We were in Lowes. Need I say more, or do you want all the ugly details? We had to put a 50-pound bag of sand in the basket. Mike complained…..it might fall on his knees. I hated to tell him that we weren’t through. Next I had to place two other large boxes on top of the 50-pound bag of sand. Now he was complaining that, not only might this fall on his legs and crush them, now he couldn’t see. I was forced to remind him that he can’t see even when there are not two large boxes obscuring his vision. Honestly, I wish someone would move in with us and remind us daily never to shop together.

We have enjoyed visting with friends and family. Our days have certainly mellowed out since the end of the school year. We have spent some leisurely days putting puzzles together at the dining room table….Mike picks out all of the pieces with the same theme and the end pieces while the three younger girls busily put the puzzle together. Usually at least two of the girls are sitting in the middle of the table so they can have their best puzzle reach….don’t anyone tell my niece, Kelsey as she can never understand why we let our kids on our dining room table. This is how we have spent many a summer day in the past and have always enjoyed it tremendously.

Mike always gets up early in the morning to begin his medication regimen. Viktoria is usually Mike’s morning buddy. They breakfast together, talk and put together puzzles. He enjoys her lively chatter and well-thought out questions. They discuss everything from global warming, cultural diversity, heat conduction in ovens (which stemmed from an explanation about the convection heat in our toaster oven), politics, animal care, endangered species and any recaps of her latest animal planet shows. Mike says that sometimes he is hard pressed to come up with an answer for her.

Geri is wrapping up the cookbook. From what she has said, she has had a tremendous response and recipes are still coming in. Geri didn’t want to make all the decisions alone on the layout and display. She had great ideas but didn’t want to make final decisions alone. Mike and I sat down with her, but it was really minimal on our part since she had put a lot of time and thought into it already and we agreed with what she thought. Thank you, Geri. Also, thank you everyone for taking the time to pull your recipes together to send.

Well, we had some news this week that was disheartening. It took us a day to get our feet under us again. Mike had tests done last week as follow up for his progress with his chemotherapy. When we got to the doctor’s office, the doctor told us that despite the chemotherapy Mike’s tumors in his lungs, liver and vertebrae were still growing. He did not believe that this particular chemotherapy regimen was working for Mike. Mike’s chemo was cancelled for that day.

We do have a new plan in place though…..Mike is going to receive radiation therapy to the tumors in his spinal vertebrae to relieve some of the intense pain that he has been feeling for the last two+ weeks (it was taking him three hours to get moving in the morning because of the pain). He will be starting a new chemotherapy regimen in the end of June. They cannot do the chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the same time. While he is receiving radiation therapy he will be preparing for his next chemotherapy by taking folic acid daily for two weeks (the folic acid is part of the next chemotherapy protocol). We are hoping and praying that this next regimen works.

You know, we have been continually blessed and impressed and grateful for the caring and support of Mike’s oncologist and radiation oncologist. We have been blessed by their caring and genuine desire to find the therapy that will work the best for Mike. They are always willing to answer any questions and listen to our concerns and suggestions for Mike’s care. They never reject any of our questions and answer each one thoughtfully with reasons why something will or will not work. We are always humbled by the intense effort put forth to pull all of Mike’s therapy pieces together in the quickest possible time period across multiple specialty areas. They are amazing. Thank you Dr. Ekaha and Dr. Pramanik.

As I briefly mentioned before, Mike was having an incredible amount of pain. He is always of the opinion that if he ignores it, it will just go away. It is hard for the kids and I to see him in such pain and know that he cannot move to even do basic things for himself. Although I wanted Mike to call the doctor, Mike is Mike and he wouldn’t do it. We talked to the doctor at his visit on Wednesday and the doctor stated that his increased pain is directly related to the tumor growth in his back. Mike then agreed to an increase in his long-acting pain medicine. Since Mike’s pain medicine has been increased, he is like the old Mike.

Thank you everyone for your love and support. You are in our prayers daily.

Dee and Mike

05/17/07
Hello. It has been awhile since I updated. Mike has me busy every night filling out paperwork. He is a little frustrated over the amount that has to be done…he is unable to do it alone and now he is working on Dee’s time table. This is his own personal nightmare…Dee in charge of scheduling Mike’s life. To all of you who know us intimately, you know that this could mean the end of our marriage .

Geez…Mike is such a literal man. When the oncologist told us that it was time to get our affairs in order, we cried for an entire weekend and then Mike started making lists. I have always hated his lists. He is a list man. I am NOT a list woman. He wants to spare me the heartache of going through some of these things later. I understand this, however, I am struggling with this as he cleans out corners of our life. While he has such a sense of accomplishment over something crossed off his to-do list, I find that I am not quite ready to see the empty corners. We have always been like this…in the same chapter, not exactly on the same page.

Mike has had a couple of really good days in a row. His back hurts a lot and he has trouble getting around, but he hasn’t felt nauseated, nor has he been fatigued greater than usual. We celebrate these days. He feels good enough in the evenings to have some wonderful family time. Although with these beautiful evenings that God is sharing with us, the kids are more interested in getting some outside time rather than spending it in the house with the old mom and dad. That is ok, though, as we enjoy sitting in the house listening to them yell and scream and play kickball outside.

I want you all to picture this because we were spending time in our favorite place again-the bathroom. Last week, Mike had a 24 hour urine sample to keep. We had a little disposable styrofoam cooler in the bathroom which was filled with ice. Inside was a large collection container for his 24 hours worth of urine. As I was using the bathroom, Mike came rushing (as much as Mike rushes these days) into the bathroom. I was doing the little sideways dance in the bathroom to make room for him as he was busy digging his bottle out of the ice. He looked up at me and gave me a little smile and commented, “You know, I feel like I’m at a keg party and I’m the keg on tap.” So roll out the barrel….

Mike is scheduled for chemotherapy again on Monday 05/21/07. As you are saying your prayers, if you’d mention that we were grateful for getting through the last round more smoothly than expected and would appreciate the same this time around, that would be lovely.

Thank you for your continued support. We cry and smile at the same time as we read your notes of support. We thank the Lord for everyone who cares about us. Thank you.

05/08/07
Mike got through his first week of chemo with lots of fatigue, not too much nausea and sense of “Hallujah”. He’s through the starting gates. Mike wants you to know that his pain is under control…he had developed some bone pain in his back from the metastasis over the last week, but an increase in his pain medicine has taken care of it.

Last Wednesday, Mike turned 52. He had so many wonderful birthday wishes from all of you. He was teary as I read them to him. He wants you all to know that he has felt embraced by the Lord and each of you as we make our way along this path.

He’s been having a great week (Monday +Tuesday) and even felt good enough to cook dinner tonight for the first time in quite a while. He took a road trip to Gettysburg today to run something up to work (actuallly, he was chauffered by my mother). He says that he and his chauffer enjoyed the sun beating through the windshield on them and the wind in his chauffer’s hair. He claims that this bald thing that he has going on has made him aerodynamic!

He has been so looking forward to this week because he had absolutely nothing scheduled until Thursday and Friday. He uses his days wisely…he gets lots of rest during the day and spends the time awake in the evening with the kids and me. He has also been spending time listening to music and listening to scripture. (At Christmas, he used Christmas money to buy a CD of the New Testament…and has been able to enjoy it as he rests.) He does NOT watch any daytime television…he had enough of that on his very first sick day back in March.

Although he can now see a little light with his left eye (although no vision), his vision in his right eye is now frequently blurred. He wants to use my little Yorkie as a seeing eye dog…neither she nor I are thrilled about this prospect. We are also having a little difficulty as we all forget about his “blind side” and each and every one of us has gotten plowed into or knocked over. Today, he and my mother collided three times and he took out three customers with his shopping cart in Walmart. So far, no law suits.

Just to share a couple of kid comments:

Viktoria’s response to seeing Mike wearing an eye patch…”Oh, I guess that you’re going to want a hook with that?”

Sasha’s surgical question, “Mama, if they have to open up Papa’s brain, can they put smart pills in there?” He actually asked this as he was considering the procedure for himself.

Finally Vika’s sisterly comment to Matvei the other night after he jumped out of a hiding place and scared her. He was afraid that there was a possibility that he was going to be killed and she responded, “You might be, but who would care?” She was really irritated with him!!

Thank you for all of you love and support. We are continually reminded of God’s love through all of you. Your generosity and continued prayers have enriched our lives.

Love,
Dee and Mike

04/29/07
Well, Mike’s busy week is over with more busy weeks to come.

On Wednesday, we realized that he hadn’t slept on top of one of our cats and he was indeed losing hair in large clumps. Don’t ask Sasha about this as he was a little grossed out. We are unsure why this happended already…was the radiation therapy or maybe even the Zometa (for bone strengthening) that they infused into him the week before? We don’t know and had only been told to expect it once they started the chemo. So we hauled butt into our small bathroom and shaved his big, old head.

On Thursday he had both the port placed in his chest for future chemotherapy and the rod placed in this left leg for future walking! Believe it or not, he really was up walking on it by Friday with walker. By Saturday he had put the walker in a corner of our bedroom and was walking on his leg unsupported. Our biggest obstacle was getting on and off and toilet. We argued in the middle of our bathroom over how best to get him standing again. I know that none of you can picture us arguing (psyche). We also know that all of you are beginning to think that we spend an extraordinary amount of time in the bathroom together.

Mike had a pleasant surprise this weekend. We were told that he may get “something” back in his left eye after the radiation worked on the brain tumor. On Saturday night, Mike discovered that he was seeing shadows and colors. And NO, we weren’t in the bathroom at the time. We were thrilled to have a piece of good news…not extra-ordinary but every piece that is positive is wonderful.

Mike faces a really rough week this upcoming week. He starts chemo tomorrow. He will be infused with two chemo drugs. They have told him to be prepared to not feel well for the entire week. Help us pray that both his blood counts and liver functions hold up under the strain of the chemo drugs so that he can complete his entire chemo regimen that is currently planned. Believe it or not, we are ready to get this started. Mike’s quote: “Let’s get this show on the road.”

I want you all to know that each evening, I pull up the web site and read all of the new thoughts and prayers and hopes that each of you offer to Mike. Mike always cries because he is amazed and thankful that each of you take the time to write a note to him. He always reminds me at bedtime that it is time to read the site to him. Thank you.

04/25/07
Mike has had a very busy week. He had a “chemo” class. He came home and grumbled because everybody was old, grumpy and depressed. (I fear that we may actually fall in the “old” category.) Mike was not a happy man after his class…he felt that his classmates could have been a little more upbeat. This is Mike…you all know how he is.

Mike also saw the orthopedic surgeon TODAY. They have decided to place the supporting rod inhis tibia TOMORROW. This has to be done soon but his windows of opportunity are so few and far between now with his chemo starting on Monday 04/30/07. Since he was already having his port placed tomorrow and would be out for that, the orthopedic surgeon arranged to place the tibia support while he was in for the port placement. He will be in the hospital overnight. The doctor told him that he should be up walking on it by Friday. Even Mike can’t complain about that sort of turn around!

Mike and I want to thank each and every one of you for your love and support in this time. It is a daily struggle which is made easier when we realize how many people out there care about what is happening to Mike. Truly, thank you.

04/22/07
Mike had his needle guided biopsy on 04/17/07 as planned. They were able to get enough of the tumor for biopsy that the thoracoscopy on 04/23/07 is not necessary. We are thankful for that.

He completed his radiation therapy to his brain on Friday 04/20/07. We met with the oncologist on Friday also. His plans for this week include a chemotherapy class and a brief outpatient surgery 04/26/07 for the placement of a port in his chest to get his chemotherapy through. He will also be keeping his appointment with the orthopedic surgeon this week to talk about rodding his left tibia. Mike will start chemotherapy in about 2 weeks. He will receive a combination of two chemotherapy drugs every three weeks. He will also be receiving a drug for bone strengthening at that time too.

The oncologist warned us that Mike may lose his hair. Mike wasn’t worried about this.

04/16/07
Mike has good days and bad days. He finds new painful spots daily; we have been told that these are directly related to his bone metastasis. His physicians are planning some radiation therapy to these “hot spots” to decrease his pain in these areas. He is currently preparing for a CT guided needle biopsy of his lung mass on 04/17/07. On Monday 04/23/07, he will be admitted for a thoracoscopy, possibly an open thoracotomy. They have also told us that there is a tumor in his left tibia which presents a problem for the bone strength-he runs the risk of a spontaneous fracture. His physician just discussed the probable need for placing a rod in the bone to strengthen it. We will wait for the results of the biopsies so his oncologist can determine the type of chemotherapy that should be used.

Filed under: Updates on April 15th, 2007 | 201 Comments »