FOLLOWING UNCLE JOE'S PROGRESS:

Update on Shafonia's Uncle Joe as of 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 metatasized 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!