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Latest email update from Vaughn:
"First of all, I want to thank everyone for your continued support, well wishes, and prayers. They mean so much to me and I cherish each email and comment. Please understand that I may not be able to respond to each one, but I read them all and tuck them safely away in that special corner of my heart (and email folder) where I can take them out and read them over and over again. I just got back from Houston and my first chemo treatment. It went fine and I feel fine! I'm a little tired from the whirlwind of the last 2 days and not sleeping well last night (more on that in a minute). But I give that glory to God! He is soooooooooooo BIG!
... The regime is that I get a 2 hour bag of hydration (saline and electrolytes) along with 30 minutes of anti nausea drugs, and then the first chemo drug, Docetaxel (the generic for Taxotere). They do those at the same time. Then I get a 2 hour drug of Cisplatin which is very hard on my kidneys. After that, I have 2 more hours of hydration. Needless to say I had a hole run in the floor between my room and the bathroom. I had a waiter come to my room and brought me a menu for dinner. Mostly sandwiches, salads and some entrees. It was good food though. Anyway, we got out of there about 8:30 and got to the hotel room around 9:00. I didn't sleep very good, but I also would wake up and think "Am I sick? Do I feel bad?" And I'd wait a second to see how I felt. Then "Nope! Not sick, feel fine. Thank you Lord!" and I'd go back to sleep. I'm such a dork sometimes.
Today was another day of appointments. The speech pathologist says that the radiation could (and probably will) cause scaring in my throat, making it difficult to swallow, so I will have to do swallowing exercises every day through out my radiation and for 6 months thereafter. She said the swallowing would increase blood flow to the area and cause the scaring to be minimized. She said I could develop swallowing problems even 5 or 10 years from now so the swallowing exercises will be with me for the rest of my life probably. BUT, I think God can handle that so I will do the exercises like she tells me, but I'm believing that God will make sure I have no scaring. She also said I would have hearing damage from the chemo and the radiation so I have to have a baseline hearing test the next time I go for chemo. Again, I'm trusting God to put his mighty hands over my ears and protect me. He can do that. :-) She was amazed at how well I was doing and feeling, and my upbeat attitude. I told her that was God.
All in all, the trip was fine. I feel fine tonight, just tired. As soon as I send this, I'm headed to bed. Thank you again for your prayers. THEY'RE WORKING!!! God is apparently hearing every single one and answering them!
I am so blessed to have so many people in my life that love and support me that I can't even count them all.
I love you all!
Vaughn
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