Christopher, Denise and Ethan would like to thank everyone for their generosity, support and prayers over these last few days. They are truly touched by the outreach by people they don't even know who are willing to help them at this time in their lives. While Denise and Ethan are spending quality time with Christopher, I will be updating their blog to let everyone know how things are going. Your prayers and support are definitely being felt, and heard.
Again thank you all for your support to the Seibert Family.
With sincere gratitude,
Amber Abney
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
What Makes You Stronger
One of my favorite phrases is "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger". It's powerful in the respect that who wants to go through something that could possibly kill us or hurt us enough to say, it could be worse.
However in life, God throws us a curve ball and it's up to us to see the blessing in it and help our faith get a little stronger. When going through college I thought the hardest thing in my life was trying to find a job and plan a wedding. Little did I know looking back seven years later - that was a cake walk.
Two months before our wedding, we lost my grandfather. It was so quick and sudden. He passed away on a Monday and Christopher and I had been there that weekend before. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see him. I'll admit, I was furious with God. Why two months before our wedding, why. Could this not wait till afterwards. I had always dreamed of having my grandfather at my wedding sharing in the joy of the day.
It wasn't till 4 years later when I understood. The phone rang at 6am one morning; it was my father. All I really remember of that phone call was, "Sweetheart, the 17th street levee broke - you know where that is?" I responded half asleep, "Yes.... Gran's house is gone isn't it." I don't remember much else of the conversation other than hanging up the phone and crying my self back to sleep. Work seemed trivial that day compared to what my family was going through. But as time went on I saw God's plan.
That October, Christopher and I became pregnant. It was so clear. By losing my grandfather when my grandmother did - it showed her she could live on her own and re-teach herself the things that my Grandfather used to do. She needed to learn this, so she could do it again when Katrina took her house away from her. Katrina also had her move to Houston, closer to us and closer to her great grandchild. Ethan was the first great grandchild she was able to be there for his birth. And I think that meant allot to her. God's plan was coming clear.
A year and half later, Christopher was told he had cancer and I often find my self trying to figure out God's plan for this one. But at this point, I'll leave it in his hands. I know that everything happens for a reason and I may never figure it out - but that is God's plan.
This past Saturday, Hurricane Ike came through Houston. And while he spared my parents and grandmother's home - he took the home of some of my aunts and uncles in Bridge City. We have heard that there are dead fish and snakes everywhere. Almost sounds like something out of a movie. However, we are a strong family that has always risen above the challenges that are put in front of us. And my aunts and uncles will bounce back from this in time. Yet again, God has a plan. And what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
However in life, God throws us a curve ball and it's up to us to see the blessing in it and help our faith get a little stronger. When going through college I thought the hardest thing in my life was trying to find a job and plan a wedding. Little did I know looking back seven years later - that was a cake walk.
Two months before our wedding, we lost my grandfather. It was so quick and sudden. He passed away on a Monday and Christopher and I had been there that weekend before. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see him. I'll admit, I was furious with God. Why two months before our wedding, why. Could this not wait till afterwards. I had always dreamed of having my grandfather at my wedding sharing in the joy of the day.
It wasn't till 4 years later when I understood. The phone rang at 6am one morning; it was my father. All I really remember of that phone call was, "Sweetheart, the 17th street levee broke - you know where that is?" I responded half asleep, "Yes.... Gran's house is gone isn't it." I don't remember much else of the conversation other than hanging up the phone and crying my self back to sleep. Work seemed trivial that day compared to what my family was going through. But as time went on I saw God's plan.
That October, Christopher and I became pregnant. It was so clear. By losing my grandfather when my grandmother did - it showed her she could live on her own and re-teach herself the things that my Grandfather used to do. She needed to learn this, so she could do it again when Katrina took her house away from her. Katrina also had her move to Houston, closer to us and closer to her great grandchild. Ethan was the first great grandchild she was able to be there for his birth. And I think that meant allot to her. God's plan was coming clear.
A year and half later, Christopher was told he had cancer and I often find my self trying to figure out God's plan for this one. But at this point, I'll leave it in his hands. I know that everything happens for a reason and I may never figure it out - but that is God's plan.
This past Saturday, Hurricane Ike came through Houston. And while he spared my parents and grandmother's home - he took the home of some of my aunts and uncles in Bridge City. We have heard that there are dead fish and snakes everywhere. Almost sounds like something out of a movie. However, we are a strong family that has always risen above the challenges that are put in front of us. And my aunts and uncles will bounce back from this in time. Yet again, God has a plan. And what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Who Said Not To Talk to Strangers
One day, I was out at Target getting diapers and I saw a woman with a scarf around her head and her face was a little sunken in. I knew right off the bat, this woman has cancer and is going through some type of treatment.
I watched other woman walk past her, teenagers snickering, looking at her as if she had the plague. I didn't know what stage her cancer was nor did I care. She had cancer and I wanted to make sure she got a smile out of me. With Ethan in tow in the front of our basket, I wheeled up to her and said "Hi, good afternoon."
She smiled and greeted us back. I think without saying a word, we both knew what the other was thinking and it warmed my heart from the inside out. Ethan gave her a "bump" which I had to explain to her, but she laughed, smiled and bumped him back.
While I can never imagine what someone with cancer goes through; I do know what it does to them physically, but if I can make one person smile - that's all that matters to me. Cancer doesn't have to be a scare thing for anyone as long as there is someone there who is willing to smile and let us know that we are not alone.
I watched other woman walk past her, teenagers snickering, looking at her as if she had the plague. I didn't know what stage her cancer was nor did I care. She had cancer and I wanted to make sure she got a smile out of me. With Ethan in tow in the front of our basket, I wheeled up to her and said "Hi, good afternoon."
She smiled and greeted us back. I think without saying a word, we both knew what the other was thinking and it warmed my heart from the inside out. Ethan gave her a "bump" which I had to explain to her, but she laughed, smiled and bumped him back.
While I can never imagine what someone with cancer goes through; I do know what it does to them physically, but if I can make one person smile - that's all that matters to me. Cancer doesn't have to be a scare thing for anyone as long as there is someone there who is willing to smile and let us know that we are not alone.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Genetic Testing
Yesterday, Christopher left his doctor's appointment with them scratching their heads. Christopher's numbers have gone up yet again, which makes no sense to them what so ever. In the three months that had pasted between CT Scans his numbers jumped 600 points and they prepared us for growth. However, that was no the news we got (more head scratching) - we got it's stable and not growing. Then yesterday more news of numbers going up, but no growth....
So they took some blood and sending it out to California for genetic testing. They are trying to see if Christopher has this certain mutated gene that happens in about 30% of people who have cancer. Which means that he has a 70% chance of not having this mutated thingy. The doctors are hoping this will shed some light on the reason his numbers are going up, but that there is no growth.
My personal thoughts are that this herbal stuff he is on is causing his numbers to go up. From everything that I have read, the CEA numbers measure cancer bi-product in the blood (doesn't mean if it's alive or dead bi-product, just what's floating around). So could it be that the herbal stuff is working an breaking up the cancer and while it leaves a wake in it's path his numbers go up.
So again Christopher has doctor's scratching parts of their bodies and wondering - "what the..." We will find out about the gene in about a week, so I will keep you all posted.
So they took some blood and sending it out to California for genetic testing. They are trying to see if Christopher has this certain mutated gene that happens in about 30% of people who have cancer. Which means that he has a 70% chance of not having this mutated thingy. The doctors are hoping this will shed some light on the reason his numbers are going up, but that there is no growth.
My personal thoughts are that this herbal stuff he is on is causing his numbers to go up. From everything that I have read, the CEA numbers measure cancer bi-product in the blood (doesn't mean if it's alive or dead bi-product, just what's floating around). So could it be that the herbal stuff is working an breaking up the cancer and while it leaves a wake in it's path his numbers go up.
So again Christopher has doctor's scratching parts of their bodies and wondering - "what the..." We will find out about the gene in about a week, so I will keep you all posted.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
CT Scan and Chemo Update
Last night Christopher and I sat down and prayed a little longer and a little harder - this morning we would find out the results of Christopher's CT scan. It was about three months since his last CT scan and we were both a little nervous. The previous CT Scans had come back with "shrinkage and growth, but with an even amount of shrinkage to growth". In addition, over the past month we have watched his CEA numbers go up a little. Which normally would mean that the cancer is growing and finding a way around the chemo drugs.
However, Christopher has been a new herbal routine for the past two months-ish and everything I had read on this stuff was that his numbers would jump up when this stuff starts to kick in. So we prayed last night that this would be the reason for the jump in the numbers.
Today when Christopher went in for chemo the doctor sat down with him and said - "Well, it's stable. There is no growth what so ever, but there is no shrinkage either. And I have no reason for why your numbers went up." When Christopher called to tell me the news, I had to exclaim "Thank you Lord for you great goodness and mercy." This truly is a miracle in my eyes, but I know it's not over either. The cancer could figure out a way around the treatments; just the thought of word "stable" and "no growth" is a blessing in it's own right.
Christopher's doctor plans on taking his CEA numbers in two weeks to see were they are at. If the numbers remain the same Christopher will stay on the current chemo drugs he's on. If his numbers do happen to go up, he will switch Christopher to a new chemo drug.
Christopher and I are both elated with the new news of "stable" even if that news changes in month or so - the idea of no growth is wonderful!
However, Christopher has been a new herbal routine for the past two months-ish and everything I had read on this stuff was that his numbers would jump up when this stuff starts to kick in. So we prayed last night that this would be the reason for the jump in the numbers.
Today when Christopher went in for chemo the doctor sat down with him and said - "Well, it's stable. There is no growth what so ever, but there is no shrinkage either. And I have no reason for why your numbers went up." When Christopher called to tell me the news, I had to exclaim "Thank you Lord for you great goodness and mercy." This truly is a miracle in my eyes, but I know it's not over either. The cancer could figure out a way around the treatments; just the thought of word "stable" and "no growth" is a blessing in it's own right.
Christopher's doctor plans on taking his CEA numbers in two weeks to see were they are at. If the numbers remain the same Christopher will stay on the current chemo drugs he's on. If his numbers do happen to go up, he will switch Christopher to a new chemo drug.
Christopher and I are both elated with the new news of "stable" even if that news changes in month or so - the idea of no growth is wonderful!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Really?!....
I've rolled this around in my head and thought I would share a very strange and awkward moment I had a few weeks ago. But before we begin a little back ground info.
In the office building I work in there is a little deli run by a very outspoken little Asian woman. When I was pregnant she would tell me daily that I was so big I MUST be having a boy, and then the next day I would go down there - I was so big I MUST be having a girl. And later my office mates told me that one day they were down there and there was another prego woman getting some lunch and she looked at this woman asked her when she was due, what she was having and then told her that there was another woman who worked in the building and "she big, real big, she have twins and just don't know it." The boys knew - she was talking about me; she had the twin part wrong, oh and the girl part too. Nice lady, but there is a bit of a language barrier or cultural barrier - I just haven't figured out which.
So lets speed up to a few weeks ago, I ran down to the deli to get a coke. Most of the time I grab a can and put my money on the counter and tell them to have a good day because the deli is always packed with people waiting for a sandwich or something to be made. This day was different, there was no one in the deli. I get my coke, pull the exact change out of my pocket, look up and start to say, "have a great..."
"Oh hyi, you baby, he getting big right?" she yells across the counter to me. The first thought that runs into my head, is that I have a deadline that I'm trying to meet and she wants small talk - really could we do this another time.
So I reply, "yes, he's growing like a weed," then smile and head for the door. However, I only make it one step when she asks another question.
"So when you have another baby?"
One eye brow raises. Really, she didn't just ask me that. Seriously. I'm sure I looked like a deer in headlights right before they are run over by the mac truck on route 66. While I tried to roll around the right way to answer this question - which by the way - there is no right way, she throws another question at me.
"You want 'nother baby right?"
Good grief lady, now I was thinking of ways I could just run for the door. Would it be rude, to just walk out - she's going to see me again when I come down for another Coke in a day or two. So I quickly said, "oh yes, more children would be nice." My next thoughts were to smile and get the heck out of dodge. This line of questioning was just awkward and odd for anyone.
I got two steps forward when she asks, "oh, you husbund, he no want more kids?" It was at that point that I took a deep breath and threw the card I hold on to for special situations that need a quick out.
"My husband has cancer. I'm not sure if we will have more children." Then there was silence. I thought, I got her, I can go on my merry way and as I took another step...
"Tisk, tisk, tisk, oh that too bad. Too bad. Where is cancer in his body?"
Really lady, really, you have got to be kidding me! All I could think of was, she was going to hold me here with my Coke dipping water on me until I explain my life, Christopher's treatments, Ethan's views on the matter and how it might have all happened.
So I turned to her and thought of all the nice ways to put things, all the mean ways to put things and all the places I would like put things. But then I thought, she was just trying to be nice and sociable - in a very word vomit sorta way. I took a deep breath and explained in one large exhale.
"A little over a year ago, cancer was found in my husbands colon and liver, he's going through chemo, right now and we are dealing with it one day at a time, he feels great and is doing great considering that every two weeks he gets toxic drugs pumped into his body and asked to endure it with a smile, is there anything else you would like to know before I head back to work?" I grined after I said it - it's not what I wanted to say, but it's what came out of my mouth.
She looked at me for only a split second before, "oh ok, good, at least he doing good and want more babies." It was at that point that I was guessing that was the end of our conversation and I exited the deli.
Now you might ask - have I gone back to the deli since then. Oh yes, several times and she asks each time, "you husbund ok, still get drugs pumped into him?" I know she cares, but really!
Moral of the story: Don't ask total strangers personal questions.
In the office building I work in there is a little deli run by a very outspoken little Asian woman. When I was pregnant she would tell me daily that I was so big I MUST be having a boy, and then the next day I would go down there - I was so big I MUST be having a girl. And later my office mates told me that one day they were down there and there was another prego woman getting some lunch and she looked at this woman asked her when she was due, what she was having and then told her that there was another woman who worked in the building and "she big, real big, she have twins and just don't know it." The boys knew - she was talking about me; she had the twin part wrong, oh and the girl part too. Nice lady, but there is a bit of a language barrier or cultural barrier - I just haven't figured out which.
So lets speed up to a few weeks ago, I ran down to the deli to get a coke. Most of the time I grab a can and put my money on the counter and tell them to have a good day because the deli is always packed with people waiting for a sandwich or something to be made. This day was different, there was no one in the deli. I get my coke, pull the exact change out of my pocket, look up and start to say, "have a great..."
"Oh hyi, you baby, he getting big right?" she yells across the counter to me. The first thought that runs into my head, is that I have a deadline that I'm trying to meet and she wants small talk - really could we do this another time.
So I reply, "yes, he's growing like a weed," then smile and head for the door. However, I only make it one step when she asks another question.
"So when you have another baby?"
One eye brow raises. Really, she didn't just ask me that. Seriously. I'm sure I looked like a deer in headlights right before they are run over by the mac truck on route 66. While I tried to roll around the right way to answer this question - which by the way - there is no right way, she throws another question at me.
"You want 'nother baby right?"
Good grief lady, now I was thinking of ways I could just run for the door. Would it be rude, to just walk out - she's going to see me again when I come down for another Coke in a day or two. So I quickly said, "oh yes, more children would be nice." My next thoughts were to smile and get the heck out of dodge. This line of questioning was just awkward and odd for anyone.
I got two steps forward when she asks, "oh, you husbund, he no want more kids?" It was at that point that I took a deep breath and threw the card I hold on to for special situations that need a quick out.
"My husband has cancer. I'm not sure if we will have more children." Then there was silence. I thought, I got her, I can go on my merry way and as I took another step...
"Tisk, tisk, tisk, oh that too bad. Too bad. Where is cancer in his body?"
Really lady, really, you have got to be kidding me! All I could think of was, she was going to hold me here with my Coke dipping water on me until I explain my life, Christopher's treatments, Ethan's views on the matter and how it might have all happened.
So I turned to her and thought of all the nice ways to put things, all the mean ways to put things and all the places I would like put things. But then I thought, she was just trying to be nice and sociable - in a very word vomit sorta way. I took a deep breath and explained in one large exhale.
"A little over a year ago, cancer was found in my husbands colon and liver, he's going through chemo, right now and we are dealing with it one day at a time, he feels great and is doing great considering that every two weeks he gets toxic drugs pumped into his body and asked to endure it with a smile, is there anything else you would like to know before I head back to work?" I grined after I said it - it's not what I wanted to say, but it's what came out of my mouth.
She looked at me for only a split second before, "oh ok, good, at least he doing good and want more babies." It was at that point that I was guessing that was the end of our conversation and I exited the deli.
Now you might ask - have I gone back to the deli since then. Oh yes, several times and she asks each time, "you husbund ok, still get drugs pumped into him?" I know she cares, but really!
Moral of the story: Don't ask total strangers personal questions.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Conversations with Ethan
I have to say one of the best times I have is when Ethan and I get to converse, which for the most part is a one sided conversation. However, there are days like yesterday that make me smile when Ethan shows off his conversing skills. :}
Let me set the stage. We pull into the driveway, I turn off the car, look in the back seat and ask Ethan, "Ready to get out?" I was greeted with a smile and, "Si!" (Don't ask where the Spanish comes into play? Christopher and I both have no clue.)
We go into the house where Ethan stops right in front of the dryer, opens it up and pulls out his swim trunks. Now you might ask how he knew his trunks were in the drier - I don't have an answer but I can tell you one eye brow lifted when I saw this. I looked at him and said, "those are your shorts, what are you going to do with them?"
And grin came over his face, which if you must know is the exact same look Christopher gets when he's up to no good. Ethan then ran into the living room, took his shoes off and tried to pull his shorts off. However, he has not mastered taking his bottoms off (the diaper keeps them on!) So while I stood there looking at my son rolling on the floor trying to take his shorts off and listening to him yell "Auff, auff, auff, mama, auff."
As I knelt down, I was presented with two feet (code for, take my pants off, "peasss."). After replacing Ethan's shorts with his swim trunks, he grabbed his motorcycle and headed for the front door. All the while I'm still standing in one place, I look at him and say, "hey, Ethan, where do you think....."
Before I had a chance to finish my sentence, I heard "ou, peas". So I thought, let's see where he wants to go. As I walked to the front door, Ethan pointed vigorously at the front door, "um, go, um go! ou, peas." (I opened the door) "Pha phu" (that's Ethan's way of saying thank you).
And off he went, the little Muppet wanted to go the water park! He went right down the walkway turned the corner and headed for the park near our house. "Yeah!" and clapping is what I heard when he saw the water going on and off at the park.
Amazing how he knew that he had to put his swim trunks on to go the water park and that he knew right where the water park was! Our little man is growing up. And with that grin, big dark eyes and devilish smile - Christopher and I are headed for a world of trouble!
Let me set the stage. We pull into the driveway, I turn off the car, look in the back seat and ask Ethan, "Ready to get out?" I was greeted with a smile and, "Si!" (Don't ask where the Spanish comes into play? Christopher and I both have no clue.)
We go into the house where Ethan stops right in front of the dryer, opens it up and pulls out his swim trunks. Now you might ask how he knew his trunks were in the drier - I don't have an answer but I can tell you one eye brow lifted when I saw this. I looked at him and said, "those are your shorts, what are you going to do with them?"
And grin came over his face, which if you must know is the exact same look Christopher gets when he's up to no good. Ethan then ran into the living room, took his shoes off and tried to pull his shorts off. However, he has not mastered taking his bottoms off (the diaper keeps them on!) So while I stood there looking at my son rolling on the floor trying to take his shorts off and listening to him yell "Auff, auff, auff, mama, auff."
As I knelt down, I was presented with two feet (code for, take my pants off, "peasss."). After replacing Ethan's shorts with his swim trunks, he grabbed his motorcycle and headed for the front door. All the while I'm still standing in one place, I look at him and say, "hey, Ethan, where do you think....."
Before I had a chance to finish my sentence, I heard "ou, peas". So I thought, let's see where he wants to go. As I walked to the front door, Ethan pointed vigorously at the front door, "um, go, um go! ou, peas." (I opened the door) "Pha phu" (that's Ethan's way of saying thank you).
And off he went, the little Muppet wanted to go the water park! He went right down the walkway turned the corner and headed for the park near our house. "Yeah!" and clapping is what I heard when he saw the water going on and off at the park.
Amazing how he knew that he had to put his swim trunks on to go the water park and that he knew right where the water park was! Our little man is growing up. And with that grin, big dark eyes and devilish smile - Christopher and I are headed for a world of trouble!
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