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Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy.  Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion.  Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come.  Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.  - Bahai Prayer for healing.

Remember- some dates will have information that is no longer valid or may contain information which was erroneous and is later corrected. For example- we thought we'd have CyberKnife surgery at the same time we started chemo. That will not happen. .... Hugh

Bobbi with Dr. Rhoton

Dr. Rhoton is our favorite super hero!

Lewis, Bobbi and Becky

Mathew, Bobbi and Eddie

Jill, Donna and Bobbi

Life is good- we got Starbucks!

Wednesday morning the angel awakens

A snowy Asheville Morning

Some of sixteen of our loved ones who waited

Sam and Bobbi before she went to pre op.

FEBRUARY NEWS and EVENTS

February 29, 2008- 10:00am- HOME! We slept late, then got up and had coffee in front of the fire. I made omelets and we ate them in on our new rocking chairs. Then we started our daily drug regiment- steroids, oxycodone, pepcid and insuli (steroids make her blood sugar very high). Now we're building a log of the drugs we're taking to track everything we do for her treatment. Our daughter Kim cam over at 10:30 to help and to wash Bobbi's hair (no small trick with 8" of staples on the back of her skull). I told Bobbi she's my centerfold- she's got the staples to prove it.

February 28, 2008- 9:05pm- WE ARE HOME!!! I got my angel home, and we look forward to the first night's sleep (for me) in two weeks. We'd been sitting in her hospital room ready to go since 3pm, but these things take time I suppose. Anyway, the staff of Mission, especially the nurses on Bobbi's floor, were all the nicest, most professional and apparently competent bunch and we're grateful to them all. We've gotten through the warm up round with their help- now it's on to the main event.
Next we'll begin chemo and have a cyber knife procedure at the same time around where her tumor was. After that surgery, more chemo and more radiation. We're in it for the long haul. We don't have any choice, but what we do have is the most loving friends and family in the world. Bobbi and I are well aware of this and eternally grateful. Over the next few days we expect a few visitors and that's wonderful. We ask you to be aware of Bobbi's fatigue level (if any). Also, please delay your visit if you or someone at home is sick. This will be especially critical when chemo starts.

February 28, 2008-11:00am- Dr. Seigert, her surgeon called. The surgery to install the portacath went very well and she (Bobbi) is in recovery and should be back in her room within the hour. If the after-procedure X-ray is clear then we are still cleared to go home late today.
February 28, 2008- 9:00am- Bobbi is scheduled to go down for pre op for her portacath surgery. Here we go again, but if all goes well.....
February 28, 2008- 8:30am- We just had a visit from Dr. Rhoton, the surgeon who removed Bobbi's brain tumor. He's our new super hero- The Tumor Terminator! He told us we can come back for CyberKnife surgery while she's in her first round of chemo- that's good news. We don't have to wait to treat the remaining brain lesions, and one treatment should do it. I have to say I am impressed by the obvious competence of every medical professional we have on "our team"- impressed and humbled.
February 28, 2008- 6:30am- It's another snowy morning here in Asheville.The winter storm warning just expired. We had a good night. Dr. Rhoton's PA John came and talked to us. He offered to let us stay here at the hospital another day... we declined. He gave us the initial pathology report. It held no suprises- no good news either, but at least no new bad news.It also shows Bobbi will need CyberKnife to treat what tumor tissue remains in her brain, so "we" are still stage 4. We're going home today!!! Bobbi will need round the clock care for a while (wooohoo- job security for me!!!!). She'll need to stay on steroids to control swelling in her brain (it's a good brain") for a little while along with some other pharmaceuticals.

February 27, 2008 9:00pm- Lewis and Becky kept Bobbi company while I ran of with Clarke. Becky made us supper and BROWNIES!!!! Bobbi has claimed all of the un-eaten brownies for herself. The chicken stir fry was delicious- better than hospital food, and a nice change. Thank you Becky and Lewis! Before that CDB ranger Eddie Hollifield and his son (and our assistant scout master)Mathew came for a visit. Eddie has visited many times and Mathew is taking care of "our boys" (the scout troop) while we are away.
February 27, 2008- 3:30pm- Another doctor from Bobbi's medical oncology office came to check on Bobbi. She raised the possibility Bobbi may get out of here after her surgery on Thursday. On Thursday a "portacath" will be installed to aide in the delivery of her chemotherapy. Maybe she can go home later that afternoon. We shall see. John, a PA from the neurosurgeon's office came in and checked on her. She passed her exam! She has a good brain! Later we walked around and Bobbi even got to put on her new PJs! Later we had a nice visit from Lloyd Arneach Sr. and Bobbi's mom and sister Jill. We also learned that she IS scheduled to be discharged Thursday PM!!!
February 27, 2008- Two days after surgery. 7:30am- Bobbi had a good night- as good a night as you can have being waken up every two hours to have your vital signs check. We're not complaining, this is important. Everything was what we hoped for except the steroids continue to push her blood-sugar up, so she's taking a little insulin now. Visitors note- NO CANDY!!! LOL We enjoyed looking out the windows at the snow. Brother Sam left at 8pm in the snow storm. We can't thank him enough for staying with us.
Today she feels very rested and pain free (thank you Percoset!). She might even be up for a few visitors, but we'll ask you all to visit in small groups and not stay too long. You know how girls are after brain surgery- very conscious of how their hair looks. The picture to the right is from 7:30am, and as you can see she looks fabulous! You can call the hospital switchboard at 828.213.1050 or call my cell phone at 828.269.6268. If we're not in the middle of something I'll answer it. Bobbi's cell phone is turned off...Hugh

February 26, 2008- The day after surgery. I talked to Bobbi at 8am, and they were preparing to move her out of ICU to a regular room! She said she was eating real food (eggs) and she had a pretty good night. Her head is sore, but she is in great spirits! I'll add updates when I can, but the hospital is blocking web uploads so I have to go somewhere else to do it (like Barnes and Noble right now and HoJos last night). I'll keep you posted!!! I do not yet know which room she will be moved to. Thanks again to all of you for your love and support! We had sixteen people here waiting with us and we love you all very much.

February 25, 2008- We (Bobbi, my brother Sam and myself- see picture at right) arrived at Memorial Mission Hospital at 7:10am. She went and had two more MRIs. Later Bobbi's mother, brother Greg and sisters Jill and Sarah joined us later as we waited for Bobbi to be prepped for surgery.

February 25, 2008- We (Bobbi, my brother Sam and myself- see picture at right) arrived at Memorial Mission Hospital at 7:10am. She went and had two more MRIs. Later Bobbi's mother, brother Greg and sisters Jill and Sarah joined us later as we waited for Bobbi to be prepped for surgery. I really can't say any more for now.

February 24, 2008- Good news, sort of. Bobbi's oncologist reports that her PET Scan is "pretty clean". A slight abnormality is detected in her neck. This could be a small lesion. This is very good news because it was statistically likely that a number of other areas could have has tumors or lesions. I also learn later that Dr. Perkal told Bobbi the "neck thing" is probably arthritis.

February 22, 2008- Bobbi has a PET Scan. It is late in the day and nobody can tell us the results. We are very worried.

February 21, 2008- We meet with Dr. Smathers (radiological oncologist) and Dr. Dr. Rhoton (neurosurgeon). We decide to schedule brain surgery to remove the tumor as soon as possible.

February 19, 2008- Bobbi has a MUGA Scan which shows a very healthy heart. She also has her first MRI. This shows a 3cm tumor in her brain. It is the size of a ping pong ball. Diagnosis: Bobbi has cancer. This also means her diagnosis has gone from stage 3 breast cancer to metastatic breast cancer (stage 4).

February 18, 2008- We meet with her surgeon, Dr. Sims. We agree that a mastectomy offers the best chance of recover due to the "focally diffuse lesion" in her breast.He says he things it is not stage 4, but should be treated aggressively since it has metastasized to her lymph nodes.

February 15, 2008- We meet Dr, Pekal, Bobbi's medical oncologist. Dr. Pekal diagnoses breast cancer of either stage 3 or stage 4 and orders a series of tests (MRI, PET Scan, etc).

February 11, 2008- A biopsy is performed on Bobbi's lymph nodes.

February 8, 2008- A mammogram is performed along with a sonogram.

February 4, 2008- Bobbi goes in to be examined by her primary care physician, Dr. Manthorne. A mammogram is ordered.

January 31, 2008- Her father Gale Livengood passes away at home.

January 27, 2008- a lump under her armpit is detected.

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Page updated Feb 29, 2008. For more information please contact the webmaster