Never a Dull Moment

Betty will be seeing the Oncologist the Monday after Christmas, Dec 27th at the Brown Treatment Center in Louisville. I assume this will be an initial visit with discussion about a treatment plan devised by the Surgeon and the Oncologist. You may remember that the Surgeon, Dr. Robert Martin, hopes to shrink the cancer surrounding Betty's main artery to her liver. He hopes this will allow him to remove that problem and allow him to complete the Whipple procedure he tried on November 27th.

Raymond saw the Vascular Surgeon today. He has planned a scan at Jewish Hospital after the first of the year. If the scan shows more than 70% blockage he will consider surgery. Raymond would be awake during the procedure and would spend one night in the hospital. An incision would be made to clean the affected artery in his neck. Due to Raymond's age of 83 he is not a candidate for stints. Calcium build up is a problem in older individuals so stints are not appropriate. If the blockage is less than 70% the Surgeon will not do surgery at this time.

Raymond and Sharon went grocery shopping after the doctor's appointment and Betty is destined to savor the chicken vegetable soup she has been longing for. They bought everything on her list.

Betty picked us a small quilting project recently. She hasn't tackled the Mariner's Compass that needs to be assembled. The project is at that crucial point where all of the points converge. One must have a steady hand. To any non quilters out there, the Mariner's Compass pattern is not one for the faint of heart.

I've heard that the Boley Christmas this year will be a Pajama Party with breakfast foods. I must go shopping for flannel pajamas. I've also heard that love will be the gift of the season. One only needs those we love to make Christmas complete and that is a lesson we are painfully learning this Christmas Season.

Thank you for your prayers,
Christmas blessings,
The Boley Family