Thank You & Update from Latest Scan

First of all, thank you so much for everyone that came out to the benefit for Mom.  It was truly amazing to see so many people that attended. I was more than overwhelmed and it's not even me :)!  Mom & Tim were speechless after so many of you came to give your time, talents, money, and overall encouragement. It's amazing this community what it can do when people are in need! Finally, words can't explain the gratitude we all feel after such a successful event. A more in-depth thank you will be coming from Sharon & Tim in the next few days!

This past Monday, Mom receive the results from her latest scan. Unfortunately, the cancer has began to outsmart the current treatment.  Some of the tumors grew and some of them did decrease in size. This means that her treatment is keeping some of the cancer in check, but these results are a strong indication that it is time to change her treatment plan again.  This change will be almost completely new to her.  Although this is not what we had prayed for, the doctors ensure us that a more drastic change in the treatment will work (and hopefully for much longer than this last slight adjustment in her chemo-mixture).

For the next 2 treatments, Mom will continue w/ the current regimen and will make the change to the new treatment following Tara's wedding. Unfortunately, the major side effect from this new drug causes acne-like symptoms or a red rash that can occur on your face, neck, or shoulders.  Keeping Mom's quality of life as pleasant as possible so important for her spirits and will to keep fighting.

Please keep her in your prayers!

Arby's & Dairy Queen Benefit Nights

First of all, a huge thank you to all of Mom's friends that have organized these upcoming events to help Mom and Tim.  The funds raised will help defray some of the medical costs from the past and what is yet to come. Here are a few opportunities to eat out a few nights at Arby's & Dairy Queen!

Super Sueper Benefit at the Platte Center Auditorium is planned for MARCH 26th!

A free will donation dinner will be served from 4 pm – 8 pm along with various auctions during the evening with the Grand Auction beginning at 7:30 pm.  A bake sale will also be offered during the benefit.  Items included in the various auctions are:  NE Volleyball and Football tickets, Creighton Baseball Tickets, Golf Weekends, Golf Balls, Shotgun, Pork with Processing, Quilts, Area Rugs, Nebraska Rug, Garage Door Opener, Vinyl Bench, Autographed NE Footballs, Diamond Gloss Paint Protection Package, Airplane Ride, Antique Toy Tractors, Husker Jackets, Caps and Gloves, Wheel Alignment, Gas Cards, Luggage, Tools, Wine Basket, Faberge' Jeweled Goose Egg, Lighted John Deere Picture, Lighted Anheuser Busch Collection Series Sign, Paintings, Garmin, Car Washes, along with many other items and gift certificates.  Music provided by “Maverick” following the grand auction.

Lastest Update!

We have good news again!  Mom's latest scan showed that the tumors have decreased in size.  It was a relief to hear that her new treatment has worked even better than the doctors predicted.

The side effects of this treatment is a little more grueling however.  In December and January she was really bloated and was retaining water (probably from the steroid they give her to help with some of off other side effects), but that seems to have subsided at least for now.  For that month +, he left her feeling really uncomfortable and then she didn't have an appetite and then when she did eat, it made her feel awful.  It's better now so it helps her.  Also, her hair has really started to thin which was a little bit of bummer. She got a wig and it looks awesome!  Even though, we all know this is just appearance and at least doesn't cause pain/discomfort, but can really just make the out-word appearance remind you even more of this disease. And, we all know Mom and her hair :)

The good news has kept Mom's spirits up and overall, she's pushing right through as it seems to us looking in from the outside.  Most of the time, we don't even know how bad she's really feeling as she hardly mentions anything.  I'm sure if you ask Tim, he may have a better insight, but if you ask Sharon.  She'll say, she's "fine".

There's plenty to keep Mom (and Tim) busy these next few months.  Tara's wedding is fast approaching.  Mom and Tim are helping out during the week after work watching Micah (which they LOVE!) It's great to hear Mom talk about taking care of Micah. She just says, "he's such a good baby, who wouldn't want to watch this little guy!" 

Update from surgery & December scan

Sorry for the delay in providing an update.  It was a long week and I just didn't know how/what to say. 

In mid-October, Mom had surgery for radio-frequency ablation. They removed most of the growing tumor on her liver, but were not able to remove it all due to the location being so close to her colon (they didn't want to damage her colon).  Early last week, she was back in for another scan to see the status of the tumors on her liver.

In the past months, we have been hoping & praying that the one tumor that had begun to grow was just an odd case and not an indication of the cancer starting to out smart the treatment plan. Unfortunately that was not the case and more of the tumors have grown.  A few spots on top portion of her liver and the rest of the tumor they attempted to remove also grew.  They also are seeing an indication of the cancer in 6 of the liver's lymphoids. On Monday (12/6), Mom's treatment plan was changed.  The chemotherapy treatment will add another drug into the current 5-FU that she has been getting for the past 21 months.  This new treatment brings a more aggressive course of action which also comes with more side effects.

Mom had a tough week overall, physically & emotionally.  Please keep her & Tim in your prayers as she adjusts to the new treatment.  We pray this slight change in her treatment gets the tumors back under control and the side effects of this new drug are minimal.

Some more ... My mom is awesome!

I just had this feeling of a robot posting the specifics on Mom's blog on next steps and immediately realized how awesome my Mom is.  She is step-by-step so focused on beating this disease, I wonder how she stays so strong. She must be scared, I am.  She just pushes right through ... not once complaining of the colonoscopy she had yesterday (wow, that is fun right). Keeps going, planning the next weekend ... lives each day and doesn't stop, ever.  I was talking to her yesterday (she was resting, I know ... shocking) and she just says I need to get up and do something or make something, she laughs slightly. But, she's serious.  I think I'd take every opportunity to just watch a movie on the couch.  But not my MOM, she doesn't stop.  No matter what.  Keep those prayers coming! Read below for the details!

Surgery is scheduled. Need all of your prayers!

Mom had the colonoscopy yesterday to check the proximity of the tumor on her liver to her colon and everything turned out fine.  They are able to move ahead with the procedure - Radio Frequency Ablation which is good news (see below post for more details on the procedure).  The surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, the 5th at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha.  She will be in the hospital overnight for pain management. The doctors say she should be on her feet within a few days following the surgery.  Please keep Mom in your prayers for a successful surgery & quick recovery AND success with this procedure.  For those of you who know Sharon, she has plans over the weekend she doesn't want to miss! 

How can you help? Buy a $2 bracelet!

HOPE ... DREAM ... BELIEVE ...

In an effort to raise awareness of the many types of cancer and the many people it affects, friends of Sharon Sueper and Darcy Loseke are selling bracelets as a fundraiser and all proceeds will go to the Sueper and Loseke families to help subsidize the costs of treatment, travle, and the many other expense they may incur. 

Special thank you to Shellie Ramaekers and Janice Zach for putting this effort together.

If you'd like to order one or more bracelets, they are $2/each, please let me (Tania) know or you can contact Shellie or Janice!  Send an email to ttgerman@gmail.com.