MY BELOVED UNCLE JOE AND MEMAW:

Thank you all so much for the support that you gave me last year in dealing with the loss of the two most important and influential people in my life.  My uncle being my only consistent male figure throughout my life and my grandmother being more like my mother.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers about my beloved Memaw (Clara Dean Wood).  For those that haven't heard yet, after breaking her leg and spending almost 2 weeks in the hospital and having to have surgery the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, she passed away last Thursday morning, December 3rd .  My heart is very heavy and I am devastated by her passing, but I know she is no longer in pain and is now cancer free in heaven and I am very happy for that. Memaw came to live with me after Uncle Joe passed away and we discovered that she too had cancer and apparently had had it for almost two years.  She was planning to try chemotherapy but God took her home before that started.  I cherish every moment that I ever spent with her.  She was my inspiration.

a few years ago at family reunion      Shafonia and Uncle Joe at Thanksgiving

7-25-09 Uncle Joe lost his courageous battle with cancer last night at 7:30 pm.  My mom and stepdad Larry, Aunt Sue and her husband Ed, a lifelong friend Beth, Uncle Joe's girlfriend Robbie and I were at his bedside comforting him and holding him when he passed.  Although it was extremely painful to witness his last breaths, we are all very much at peace now and comforted to know that his suffering has ended and he has gone on to be with the Lord.  He told me earlier this week that he was not afraid to die and he was ready to go home.  So, he did just that.  Thank you all so much for the love and support you have shown my family over the past year.  It has been a rough one but I wouldn't trade one single moment of the time that I spent with him.  I will miss him terribly but know he is in a better place. 

Uncle Joe did not want money to be spent on flowers or anything of that nature, he wanted the hospice that helped us the last few days to be acknowledged as well as his doctor or something to be given to Memaw to help her with living expenses now that he is gone.  So, we are asking for donations as follows if you would like to do something in his honor:

The office of Dr. Bharany at 180 Medical Park Place, Suite 202, Hot Springs, AR 71901 Attn: Alice in the name of Joe B.Wood

or Arkansas Hospice Foundation at 5600 West 12th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204 in the name of Joe B. Wood (or by phone at (501) 748-3300 or website www.arkansashospice.org)

or to my grandmother Clara Wood c/o Shafonia Sumrall at 2355 Emory Knoll Dr, Fresno, TX 77545 (Memaw is coming to stay with me for a little while)

Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and support.  We have such a wonderful, wonderful Kaboom family.  I am so blessed to have each of you in my life.

7-22-09 - Last night, doctor gave Uncle Joe 2 days to 2 weeks to live.  We are here at St Joseph's Hospital in Hot Springs and will be moved up to the hospice floor as soon as a bed becomes available.  Last night was beyond awful.  He is suffering so much.  He appears to be much worse today than last night already.  Please just pray for a peaceful end.  Thank you all for your love and support at this difficult time.   

7-20-09 - Things are getting rapidly worse by the day.  His pain is almost unbearable at this point and he is having to go to the hospital almost every other day for addtional pain medication.  I outweigh him now.  His poor body is just so broken down.  All of his morphine doses have been doubled now so his mind is not what it normally would be (which is probably a blessing).  I am headed to Arkansas in the morning and not sure where I will be returning.  My mom, aunt and I will all be there to help my grandmother through the end.  She is taking it very hard and we are very worried about her health now as well.  Please pray for his pain and suffering to end.

6-09-09 - I am sad to say that Uncle Joe is repeatedly in and out of the hospital at this point.  This round of chemo has really taken its toll on him.  He is extremely sick and continues to lose 10-12 pounds per week.  Just about every week, he has to receive blood and fluids just to keep him going.  He is also battling a very low blood pressure these days which is his energy. He is back to the oncologist on Thursday.  He is most probably done with chemo (not sure that his body can even sustain another treatment if he wanted to) as it does not appear to be working any longer.  We will know more after tests come back next week.  His pain is horrible and he is really suffering now.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

4-26-09 - Uncle Joe is fighting day by day to keep his strength as much as possible and deal with the pain.  He is on his last try of chemo which started last week and will have two more weeks.  I got to spend the week with him last week and am very thankful for that even though he didn't feel up to doing much.  We at least got to share each other's company.  I will be going back and forth over the next month or so to help as much as I can.  Our visit to the oncologist last week was not good - the doctor confirmed that despite the chemo, all the tumors have grown significantly except for the one in the brain.

3-19-09 - Unfortunately, Uncle Joe's remission was short lived and his cancer is back. He received results from a body scan on Tuesday and there is a spot in his brain now and also in his lymph nodes.  He started a new round of chemo on Tuesday and will go for 3 weeks straight and have another scan.  His pain has come back with a vengeance so we are hopeful that the chemo will at least help that subside some. He felt good enough to go fishing yesterday so that is great.  I am headed to spend some time and do some fishing with him as soon as my last day of work is done April 15th (if not before). 

1-24-09 - THE REPORT FROM THE DOCTOR THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING - UNCLE JOE IS IN REMISSION!!!  We all understand that with this type of cancer, the remission will probably be short lived but we are excited to have the extra time with him nonetheless and to see him feeling better right now. 

12-27-08 - having port put in to continue chemo.  Feeling weak and tired but doing pretty well otherwise.  Tumor in lung is definitely shrinking.

11-19-08 - Still continuing chemo treatments.  Having some immune system issues and chemo related illness but hanging in there.  We are all going to spend Thanksgiving with him and be happy for our time together.

10-15-08 - Had another round of chemo this week.  Did pretty well with it.  Got a good report on the main lung tumor - it has shrunk considerably.  Although we realize that it will probably be short lived according to the doctor, it looks like he has headed toward a state of remission.  With that, he will hopefully have a couple of comfortable, peaceful months to enjoy before the cancer returns full force at an untreatable level.

9-10-08 - Doctors confirmed last week that chemo is not killing the cancer at all.  He will still undergo 5 more rounds of treatment though (his decision) to hopefully help maintain a decent quality of life throughout.  They have now told him that he probably has about 6 months to live and maybe up to 10 if all goes well.

9-02-08 - Still doing reasonably well considering.  Still fighting to regulate blood counts after last round of chemo.  Headed for more chemo this week. 

8-18-08 - Doing fairly well after second round of chemo completed last week.  Still feeling okay except for fatigue and hair is starting to fall out.  Blood counts little low now after chemo but not awful. 

8-12-08 - First day of this chemo treatment went well.  Two more days of chemo and then one day of tests this time.  Still feeling okay except for fatigue and hair is starting to fall out.  Blood counts still reasonable considering.  Will be glad to return home after treatment at end of week. He is in Hot Springs, AR right now.

8-10-08 - Headed back to Hot Springs for next round of chemo starting tomorrow.  Still feeling okay except for fatigue and hair is starting to fall out.  Blood counts remaining reasonably acceptable given the circumstances.  Resting better at home and pain is manageable at this point.

8-04-08 - Released from hospital and will be home until next chemo treatments start on August 11th.  Blood counts remaining reasonably acceptable given the circumstances.  Resting better at home and pain is manageable.  Shafonia will be in Arkansas from August 10th thru August 16th.

7-29-08...Responding well to chemo and has less pain and mental status is a bit better.  May get to go home until next round of chemo.  Although the chemo is not killing as many cancer cells as we had hoped for and will not change the outcome of things, it does appear to be helping some and will make his quality of life better for a bit.  Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement, thoughts and prayers!

7-17-08 Uncle Joe was officially diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. It has metastasized to his bone marrow and spine. Chemo is the best way to try and help his pain and confusion and to try and improve his quality of life so it has already started.  Please note that Shafonia will be in Arkansas until next Wed (7/30) and then back and forth for a while so communication may be a little slower than normal but your call or email will be returned asap. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We have such a wonderful Kaboom family!  Lots of people have asked if they could send something or do anything.  As my uncle has lived with my grandmother for almost 40 years total, he has helped provide for her for a long time and undoubtedly things will be tighter in their household now and especially with the additional medical bills and lodging expenses incurred while he has been in the hospital and when he has to travel back for the chemo since there is not quality health care available in the little town where they live.

Thoughts and prayers are of course plenty, but for those of you that are insistent, feel free to send my Memaw whatever you would like direct to: Clara Wood, 784 Billstown Rd, Delight, AR 71940. Thank you all!