Funk Wedding

Rehearsal with four flower girls!!  



Uncle Jon Cummins walking Leslie down the aisle



My husband, Pat, and Leslie



My brother, Larry, and I



Hoovie, my daughter, Samantha, and Kinnick Funk (the ring bearer)



The warming of the rings.
Immediate family members held Leslie and Rhett's rings and said a small prayer before passing them on.
Then, Rhett's mom and I handed them to Pastor Jerry Bush. 



The marriage nuptials.....




Six Bridesmaids



Lil Braeda....She lost one shoe as she started down the aisle
so she had one shoe on and one shoe off. Didn't bother her a bit!



Not their first kiss and I am sure it won't be their last!! ;-)



Mr. & Mrs. Rhett Funk



Kate Corcoran and Anthony



Leslie, a very tired Kinnick at the dance, and MOI!



Samantha Cummins and McKenna Grace Funk



Some of my favorite friends...Jill Weiler, me, Debbie Weiler, and Sharon Jones



Trying to light the fire at the end of the night....everyone was winding down!
I was pretending to be a queen....lol!!



Jennifer Cummins-Zuber and Bart Zuber
(and baby is hiding in Jenn's belly for a while longer til he is big and strong)



Jennifer, me, and Samantha



Dancing with my favorite man, Pat

May 18th was a beautiful day for  my daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Rhett Funk. Pastor Jerry at Mt Gilead Church did a wonderful job with the ceremony. The Holiday was so accommodating with every detail or concern we had with the set up/reception. The food was beyond delicious that they served. The DJ was GREAT (from St. Louis) and the Photo Booth is always a hit with my family (We get ALOT crazy inside of them ;-}.  The girls got ready at Laurel201, a guesthouse in town. My sister, Sarah, lived there with her then husband, John, and son, Anthony, when I was in high school. If you need a place for guests, I'd rent it again in a heartbeat....or maybe just rent it for Pat and I on our anniversary. It is cozy, beautifully decorated with three bedrooms. On Saturday, the makeup artist airbrushed our makeup and the hairdressers fancied up our hair right there where a few of the girls stayed the night before. Leslie just teased my hair up a bit and Fancy was ready to party!! Rhett & Leslie stayed at Laurel 201 on Saturday night alone.
I have had three of the five girls in the Cummins/Corcoran house get married, and each one is the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.......it helps when they are already beautiful in my eyes. Each dress fits the brides personality to a tee. That's what makes them over the top beautiful.  The rehearsal dinner was upstairs at The Gypsy and we had great waitresses who were on the spot with serving people beverages/water. Susie Trupiano catered the event and it was SO daggone good. AND very reasonable. We just finished up the lasagna tonight. She also had baked mostaccioli and fetticcini alfredo served with garlic breadsticks and salad.
The only other vendor I want to mention is Ivy's Cottage. I truly believe in shopping locally for as much as a person can when your town is small and local businesses struggle to keep afloat. Ivy's is one of my favorite local flower and gift shops. We might have paid a little more but dang was it beautiful. I didn't have to drive out of town or take a day off of work to worry about it, we just gave Sam the reins and he hit a home run on the flowers!!   Emily Combs did the photography and I have only seen one picture of Leslie and McKenna but if they are all that good, we are gonna have a hard time choosing. This blog is suppose to be about me BUT my family is all about us as a whole so I just wanted to share the above with you.
I am feeling wonderful. My bloodwork is good. Dr. Dy in Effingham is amazed and delighted that I am still doing so well on the Irinotecan. It is still working well, as far as keeping me stable with no bad side effects.
Sometimes I pinch myself and tell myself mentally I shouldn't feel this good. I remember the day at Mayo Clinic when there was a dark cloud over my head. I never would have believed I would get up this morning and ride my bike 10.5 miles with a good wind for most of it. God is good to me. After my brain bleed, I never doubted I would get back to a normal life, but when I first came home, I couldn't get off the couch without assistance or get off the toilet by myself. Little by little, I pushed a little harder, and was back at work in three months. God is good to me all the time. I never have doubted this and I believe that is one of the reasons I am in as good of health that I am today. I am thankful daily for my family, friends, and cholangiocarcinoma friends that I am slowly meeting in person. When Lauren Kunklier gets better from her struggle after her surgeries, I am driving...hitch hiking, somehow.... going to meet her and Lisa Salem Craine (who is also a CC fighter that lives about 30 miles from Lauren). Then on to Memphis to meet Becky Couture who just started treatment not so long ago for this ugly cancer.
A HUGE shout out to our own Relay For Life that was the same day as Leslie's wedding. Our team came in third for money raised. Not too shabby for not even being there that day. They do a wonderful job and I so wanted to go out and run around the track in my mother's dress........ They called it the streak......yibba dow yibba dow........ Does anyone remember that song? I just giggled thinking about me doing that and that song being played as I ran "the lap".  I'd have waved my queen wave and everything!!!  Sometimes I dream the craziest stuff up in my head and I laugh so hard I pee my pants......and there is no one else laughing with me!!  I think the chemo is eating my brain cells!!
As I sit here this evening at dusk, I look at the Oklahoma tornado that has taken lives in seconds. Not only do I ask God to be beside these families, but it makes me realize for a sick person, I am so lucky to be here today. Every day that a person is on this earth is a blessing....or maybe I should say....a gift from God. Life in itself is a miracle....then to add a family or spouse. Everyday life.....it is all such a huge gift from God. When I hear people complain about "the little stuff in life", I just wanna shake them. I guess I just want you all to be thankful for your life. If you have God and  good health......everything else will fall into place if you let it........Yes, there will be bumps on the journey of life, but it makes you stronger and will draw you closer to God for strength.    Whether you die from cancer, a heart attack, from a disastrous tornado.....life comes and life goes. It's the "in between" that counts. The dash~
Like I said, I feel great and no complaints at this time. Pastor Jerry Bush said....If I didn't know that you had cancer, I wouldn't know you did. You look completely healthy. I'll take that!!  :-))

God be with you!!

Hugs and butterfly kisses~~
Patty

Time with Mckenna

Just a really cute picture of McKenna taken on our bridge across the creek. She is drawing with chalk.  Such a joy in our life on Suntone Beach!!

Time is a ticking.....

Time....life is all about time.
Tomorrow is my brother Larry and sister Lisa (twins) 50th Birthday. HUGS to both of you and I had lunch with them along with my mom, sister Sarah, and Larry's wife ~Sheila after my chemo treatment today. Then a little shopping to finish off the day!

Three weeks (May 18), will be my daughter Leslie's wedding to Rhett Funk.

Life is all about time...in many ways. Time you spend with your family, friends,  time you work at doing your best at your job, and most importantly, time spent with God.

I want to share a precious moment I will cherish that happened Saturday as Pat and I spent the day watching Leslie's kids in Lawrenceville. It was about 8:00 p.m. and McKenna had her bath, and was wanting to watch a movie with me on her bed. As I sat on the edge and she jumped all over the bed, she came up behind me ever so gently, wrapped her arms around my neck and said in the most innocent voice "I love you, JaJa!" About 3 tears ran down my cheek. She asked: "Do I need to take you to the Dr?" and I said no, it's ok. She again insisted SHE could take me to the dr, I told her I was just so happy she loved me!......  Out of the mouth of babes, right?

Back to my chemo today. My bloodwork is all good and alk. phosphatase was at 176....down from MD Anderson bloodwork. I am scheduled for chemo the Monday before Leslie's wedding. It will be ok.

I have approximately two months before retirement (I am not old enough to retire...so I guess I am resigning....or does it really matter?) I will still have a hard time turning over my keys....shutting the back door for the last time, for the 110 appreciative people who walk through the door and not looking forward to the one hundred eleventh person who is rude and you just wanna poop on their head!!!  You don't get rich money wise working for a CAA (Community Action Agency) but you do get wise and appreciate the job. People who work at ERBA....usually stay there for years and years because we are treated as a great big family. When one aches, we all pull together. MY employer/family has been so good to me and believe me, alot will say I am not the easist bird to work with....feathers do fly at times.  But you know where you stand with me.  I am sure a few will not miss that trait in me. Enough said. There have been less than about 8 times in almost 18 years that I didn't want to go to work....otherwise, I was ready every day due to the enjoyment of helping people get a hand up...not a hand out.

I have a prayer request for a shining beam of light...her name is ASA and she is 1 1/2 years old with a tumor on her adrenal gland. It is cancerous more than likely and will have surgery in two weeks. Pray HARD she will overcome this bump in her life at such a young age. Her surgery will be in St. Louis.  The mother and father are friends with Leslie and Rhett. Bless her little body, Lord.

I feel good, I feel like I am living a high quality of life that I am oh, so thankful to our God. He is good All the time and my Faith overflows that he is right beside me at all times.

 Blessings and HUGS to you all!!


Patty

What lies ahead for me?

As Amy reported on the last blog post, my report from Houston couldn't have been any better UNLESS they would have said it was shrinking or dying.......BUT it is still stable, not growing, and my CA 19-9 dropped from 56.11 to 26.56 (in just three months time). That means it is within normal range of a person without cancer.....how crazy is that?  I asked the Physician Assistant what happened if I came back in 3 months and it was zero? Would it be dead? Would it THEN start to shrink? She said I would still have the mass inside my liver but it would be non-active.The cancer would put less antigens in my blood....but the mass would still be cancerous. BUT STILL CANCEROUS. The PA thought Dr. Javle might change his plan of action at that point. But right now since this Irinotican is working so good, they will keep me on it.
My spleen is slightly enlarged and has been for some time. My platelets have been dropping after chemo. The spleen sequesters some of the platelets and that keeps the platelet count from coming back as quickly. If it keeps being a problem, they could embolize the spleen (if the platelets stayed below 50,000 for a long period of time). Not a big deal and you can live without a spleen. My kidney function is normal, and the liver is showing a very slight damage to the liver....probably from all the chemo. He is not concerned with it but says to stay away from Tylenol as much as possible, stay away from fried foods, exercise atleast 1/2 mile a day to build lean body mass, stay away from alcohol (which I do anyway). White count is 6.7 which is within normal limits of a healthy person. My alkaline phosphatase is high at 203...not so good since the normal range is 38 to 126.

So, I believe the next visit to Md Anderson will be when they will want me and encourage me to go to St. Louis to start on a clinical trial. Dr. Javle talked very highly of the trials for my two mutations. I kinda feel like I'd be a lab rat but if it is what I have to do to stay healthy and at a high function as far as living, I will do it.

July1, I have decided to retire from my job of almost 18 years at Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc. I just want to enjoy life before I would/if I would start to go downhill. I don't believe in BUCKET LISTS....they seem like "end of life...hurry up and do it" kind of lists. I just believe in quality time with family, friends, and to be able to take a week off to go wherever Pat and I want to go. Heck, we might get brave and take mom to Niagara Falls this fall....don't pack your bag yet mom. My sister Sarah is off on Fridays and we can go rummage in antique stores or go flower hunting if we please. Or if "The Beach Girls" want to go to a fire in the country to see if the firemen need any help, we can...and already did that! :-)    If we wanna go 110 on a country road...we can. I want to donate some time back to the community, maybe be a Big Sister....volunteer at a food bank, plant flowers for the city.....I just want to enjoy what time I have left...or if God has a longer plan here on earth for me....say another 20-30 years.....boy the list I could make. My list is more about living...not about dying. I have faith that God has a plan for me and it's not going to end anytime soon.

People say I inspire them....pooh! People who beat this disease are the inspiration that keeps me hoping for a cure. Lauren Kunklier is inspiration for us CC patients. She has had one surgery and awaiting a second to take "the bad part" of her liver out so she would hopefully be cancer free. The more people who beat our type of cancer, the better odds for funding clinical trials and a cure. And if I have to be a lab rat to help find a cure, so be it.

When I was little, I was taught to STOP...LOOK....LISTEN....and now 40+ years later, I STILL STOP, LOOK, LISTEN AND THANK GOD for all the wonders in this world. I live in a woods and I can just STOP and LOOK out our extra large windows, open the patio doors, and LISTEN in amazement at the spring that has sprung, the birds so happy to have warmer weather, people just seem happier to be able to get out and enjoy the day that God has made for us. So.....get out there and enjoy the day...forget about the little gripes in life....you really don't know when your expiration date is going to be stamped on your own foot!

Hugs and more hugs to you all!!

God Bless~~
Patty

News from Houston

Mom asked that I update everyone on her news from MD Anderson today.

Everything is stable. Her cancer marker dropped 25 points, which means that the cancer is a lot less active. All other organs are in good shape and there is no sign of the cancer spreading elsewhere in her body. Her labs were good and her chest x-ray was clear. GOD IS GOOD!! They are boarding as I type this and heading home.

There have been a LOT of ups and downs over the past two years since mom has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, but I thank the Lord each day, not for the downs(as they come from the devil), but I thank him for the ups and for being with us through the downs, as they have all made us stronger and closer to each other and God. I love seeing how mom has inspired so many people and been able to meet new friends, all because of something so horrible. She is the true meaning of 'joy'.

Written/Posted By: Amy

This morning is "the waiting time"

I left for St. Louis (Pat and I) on Tuesday night after the election closed and spent the night there before flying to Texas on Wednesday. I arrived at MD Anderson a couple hours early to meet Judy Collins who is also a CC patient. We surprised her while she was there getting chemo in the Mays building (if you've never been to MD Anderson....there are several large high rise buildings that are all intertwined/a part of MD Anderson). We visited for about an hour and a half and had a wonderful time with her, her sister, and her daughter Larissa. When Judy was diagnosed, Larissa was on the computer finding out all she could about the disease and came upon my name and this blog. I believe she was guided to this blog and I hope I can help them/answer questions/share ideas that other people have no idea about.

Then, I had blood work at 12:30 and a break until about 1:50 (which gave Pat time to eat some lunch). Then to the CAT scan area in the Main building (different building). We were there till about 4. I had the biggest honking needle I have ever seen so far put into me for the contrast. I thank the good Lord they gave me someone who hit the vein on the first try. WHEW!! Seriously......it was a thick needle!
So...after getting to our hotel, we had complimentary chips, nacho cheese, chili, beer, raspberry tea...soda's..all free so we ate that and skipped leaving for supper. It was beautiful when we landed in Houston but when we came out after the CAT scan, it was drizzly and miserable with the temp dropping atleast 20 degrees!! I didn't bring a coat....I thought Tx would be warm!!  What the heck!!
It is now Thursday morning (I slept like a baby last night) and we went for the free breakfast and am just...waiting....waiting...waiting for the visit with Dr. Javle. He will discuss the results and if we need to change the plans up a little depending on the status of the tumor and if it has spread. It is just a waiting game. My feet have been swelling in the last 3 days and I am a little (OK....ALOT worried) concerned a bit about that. I know I have walked more...weather is warmer...but something tells me it is a little more than that. It is all in God's hands today. I have always said that and I truly believe he has kept me so healthy for a reason.....
 
I would like everyone who reads this particular blog to pray for a young lady named Lauren Kunklier. She lives in Ohio and just had some liver surgery done. She is having some problems and needs the extra prayers RIGHT NOW! I fully believe she will beat CC but it's going to be a fight for her and prayers from Illinois can NEVER be a bad thing!! 

 I am usually very quiet and don't visit a lot with other patients. Yesterday was different. I talked to several. One from England....one from Florida who's son just got back from Iraq and she gets to see him for the first time this weekend.  ALL walks of life...all types of cancer...everyone with a different story.

I see Dr. Javle at 10:30 so pray for me and ask God to grant me good health for a little longer or to cure my cancer with the right drug, clinical trial, or a miracle from God. There isn't a magical answer with my cancer. NO easy cancer cure....not even close to one...only God can save me from this disease. I thank him atleast 2 X a day for my health and giving me more time....each extra month, each extra day, each extra minute on this earth. I truly believe I couldn't be here today without God there each step of the way.

It's about time to go wait for the shuttle to MD Anderson....I will probably not post until I get back home as you have to pay for internet at the airport and I refuse to do that!! 

(Our plane ride was not fun due to the storms that came your way....I pray for a smooth flight on the way home later today).

HUGS, HUGS, and more HUGS!!

Patty

Feeling Better Already...

I have not had a cortizone shot in my shoulder for seven months. It was hurting so bad, I couldn't sleep at night. So late this afternoon, I went to Vincennes to Dr. Chartier, a great pain specialist who injected my shoulder again. I should see relief with 3-5 days but I think he has already made it feel better. Dr. Chartier is such a kind, gentle man who just really tries to minimize the pain he causes his patients....he is very good at his job!! I have not had to take anything for the pain since he gave me the injection. I felt so good afterwards, Pat and I went to catch a movie. It was SO nice to spend some quality time with Pat and he was happy for the free refills on the popcorn!
I have been fighting the start of a cold again but I give myself a Neupogen shot tomorrow to help build my white cells so with it and the Alka Seltzer cough and cold meds I am taking, I hope to kick it fast this time. I feel pretty normal.
All of our cards are sold so I apologize if you didn't get a set. I have three sets to deliver and those people know who they are. Now....I am going to paint just to paint and enjoy NOT having a deadline like the Easter/Spring cards.

I am gearing up for the Houston trip the 10th and 11th....then Easter at Jenn's with the little ones hunting eggs. I just can't wait for them to see ALL those eggs I have to fill IF I can keep out of the candy!!
Leslie and Rhett are counting down the days to their wedding on May 18th. With four flower girls and little Kinnick as the ring bearer.... how could it not be the cutest thing ever!! We are getting all of the flowers locally from Sam Benson at Ivy's Cottage....supporting our local merchants!!! And does he do a great job or what?!  We are giving him pretty much free range in what flowers he picks but they are all going to be yellow on black linen tablecloths.

As we were driving to Vincennes today and I had the jitters as I thought the last injection was a killer, I told myself to suck it up....after all, I have cancer....isn't that worse than one lil old shot? I closed my eyes, prayed to God, and when I opened my eyes, it all seemed ok. And IT WAS!!  Like a walk in the park. So as I close this blog tonight, all I can add is God is Good ALL THE TIME! He is there....all the time. And I thank him ALL the time as I would be lost without the feeling of knowing He is right beside me. It's the best feeling in the world and I am so glad this 48-year old cancer patient is filled to the brim with Faith is filled!

May you ALL have a Blessed Easter and a Happy Spring!!

HUGS!!
Patty