Life Is A Precious And Priceless Gift

On A Cruise 2006

Pretending to be 007 Spies
Well...kinda, sorta...

Many people have seen that picture of us, and thought we were having a ball, being 'full of ourselves!' In all actuality, this was another attempt at a trip to get away and find some normalcy to our grieving lives. Behind those shades are crying eyes...

Yet, in the midst of our grief, we had each other; a rock solid foundation from which to draw strength. The journey back from losing our son has been the hardest path we have ever walked, but we know in our hearts and souls that it was NOT "God's fault," like many people try to convince us, but rather we know, even as painful as it was, that our loss was part of God's Master Plan.

So, we continue to trust in Him, and know that through Eric's death, God allowed lives to be changed or touched that might otherwise not have been touched, which is the only reason we could make sense of that unspeakable tragedy.

I share this story, because once again we are faced with another horrific tragedy, and people saying, 'how could God do this to YOU AGAIN?' Please know that God isn't doing this. God is love, and good, and light. Please know that there is another force at work in this world, who is hateful, and bad, the author of lies, pain and sickness.

The enemy may crush our bodies, but he will NEVER crush our spirits! We know whom we believe in, and in whom we trust. And we know where our souls are destined when we are called home.

I'm no Polyanna though, and am quite real. I am devastated and in so much pain every moment of every day; so much so, that sometimes I can barely breathe; I cry most of the day. Am I unhappy about this? Am I losing the Love of My Life; and is part of me dying, along with him? ABSOLUTELY! Do I ask all the same questions that everyone else asks when facing a tragedy. YES!

How could a couple who is so incredibly in love after 30 years, who count the hours until they're together again (while only away at work), who are excited about their 'date night' (which is every night), who can talk for hours on end about everything in the world, and who are inseparable; how could a couple like that have their lives so quickly, so tragically and so painfully interrupted? How could a couple like that NOT be able to spend their 'golden' years together, taking care of each other, and sharing all those wonderful things that elderly couples share after so many years of marriage?

I don't have the answer, because if I did, I would change this situation in a nano second!

What I DO know, is that life is a precious and priceless gift; and that we are to embrace each day with a child-like heart, loving those around us, with all we have in us. Give your family and friends the BEST you have, don't save that 'sweet attitude' just for strangers whom you're trying to win over. Your spouse, your children, your family and your friends all deserve YOUR absolute BEST!

Please never take one week, one day, or one moment for granted. And remember that each day our lives leave behind, either a beautiful fragrance, or one that's not so beautiful.

In the midst of our tragedies David and I want to stand strong together, and walk with dignity in Christ through yet another valley, praying and knowing that God will receive Glory, and others will be changed or touched in some way, no matter the outcome. I continue to pray that God gives me the strength to carry on His will for my life...

David is getting more and more tired each day. The pain is more consistent, but he takes Oxycodone to help control that (only at night though), as he is still going to work for a few hours a day. I can feel the tumor in his liver, which is quite large, and is why he can't eat much at a time, thus he's still losing weight. His favorite thing is a Root Beer Float! How cute is that? So, of course, I make him one every night.

David never complains, and is still my HERO and The Love Of My Life!

A very big THANK YOU to ALL of our FAMILY and FRIENDS for your kind words, emails, phone calls, visits, love prayers and support. You are truly a blessing to us.

Speaking of blessings, I'd like to thank my employer, Skyline Properties for their incredible support; allowing me to work from home a lot so that I can take care of David, and for their love and concern for us as we cling to each moment together, while working at home still needing an income to survive. There are not many companies with such heart in this day and age.

I'd also like to thank ALL of the Staff and Agents at Skyline who have been sending continuous encouraging words and heartfelt love.

AND... all of our kid's friends from Junior High, High School and College. Your precious messages about all the time that you all spent at our home (growing up), has really touched our hearts.

You have richly blessed our lives - Thank You!

With Much Love,
Linda & David

Today's News...

We met with the oncologist today to discuss the medications at length. Since surgery is not an option, then the next best course of treatment is the chemo therapy.

David will first take a medication called Lovenox, which is a blood thinner to keep the blood clot that's in his portal vein from getting any bigger. He will start giving himself those injections tomorrow morning. Side effects with that drug are the obvious, 'bleeding' if he cuts himself.

The chemo will arrive tomorrow, and he will begin taking that on Saturday. This is in pill form, taken twice a day. This drug, Nexavar, is a 'targeted' chemo, which is used exclusively for the liver and kidneys. It's function is to arrest the cancer, and hopefully keep the tumor from growing, and the cancer from spreading any further. (it's already spread from his liver to his chest and lungs)

Some people don't respond to this drug, but we're hoping and praying that he does. There are several side effects with Nexavar, which are the usual type of side effects with any chemo: nausea, fatigue, etc. This drug has its own unique side effects as well, however, losing hair is not one of them! Phew... that's always a hard one.

Thank God for David's health insurance, because this drug is $6,000. a month, of which we pay a small co-pay in comparison. What a blessing.

This journey reveals something new every day, and keeps us a little off center trying to process everything. Besides the fact that the love of my life now has something ugly and ALIEN inside him, it's also very hard to know that I can't do anything to fix the problem!!! It makes one feel helpless and scared... I look at his big, beautiful body and can't believe that something is at work inside destroying him. My heart is aching.

Thank you all for your continued love and support. Please pray that David will tolerate the drugs, which will prolong his life.

With Love,
Linda

(The picture is in Vancouver, Canada in 2006 - a little getaway to try to get our life back to normal after losing Eric. It didn't work. We remain forever changed...)

Latest News...

Today, being the 4th year since our beloved son, Eric died, was another day of GREAT sorrow in my life.

The oncologist called with the latest news from the results of the last CAT SCAN. David's tumor is inoperable, and has in fact, spread to his chest and lungs. Thus, surgery is not an option, and only drugs to attempt to shrink the tumor, and a blood thinner (injected daily) for the blood clot, plus pain medication to keep him comfortable, are the options.

Today was NOT a 'good news' day, yet we still have HOPE in a MIRACLE. However, the human 'real' side of us understands what this all means, and we are now in the darkest valley of our lives.

David can't eat much at a time, and is losing weight. He is in pain and uncomfortable, but never complains. I have to drag that out of him. His loving, kind, strong attitude is still in check as he tries to hold me up during this time of unbearable shock and pain...

I spoke with the oncologist at length tonight, and asked her some very tough questions. I know that most of you are like me, and would want to know the facts, and what you're dealing with. She told me that with some of the 'trial chemo drugs,' David could have 6-10 months to live. However, if he does not respond well to those drugs, or respond at all, then he has 2-3 months!

The hardest thing in the world to hear...

At this point, I need to talk with David and figure out just exactly what we are going to do, and how we are going to do it. We've never walked this particular path, in this particular valley before, so we don't have the answers.

We continue to trust in God; putting our faith in Him, and knowing that He has a bigger plan than any of us can imagine, and through our tragedies I hope that others continue to see Christ in us.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. Please stay in touch, and come visit, as you are all very important to us.

With Love,
Linda & David

Biopsy Results

The report from David's oncologist was more positive than we were expecting. The bottom line is that his doctor gave him 8-13 months, instead of 3-6 months to live...

Here is the full report: The cancer DID originate in the liver, and likely spread from there, rather than another organ spreading TO the liver. (originating in the liver is better)

David's oncologist has a surgeon reviewing last week's CAT SCAN, with hopes of possibly removing that baseball size tumor! We should hear from the surgeon by Friday. Another CAT SCAN was also ordered of his entire abdomen and chest area, which David will have done this Friday.

IF there is no more cancer in his liver (besides the baseball), then surgery is a possibility. The new CAT SCAN should show that. And yes, there is risk involved with that surgery.

The surgery would mean that half of David's liver would be removed, and there would be a considerable amount of recovery time. The surgery could also allow David FIVE more years! Of course, he would be on a form of chemo, which comes in a new 'pill' form, that should keep the tumor from either reappearing or keep it small. It's a new drug, which we'll find out more about later.

Now, if the tumor is way too large, and if the other 'spots' in his liver are cancerous, then surgery will NOT be an option. At that point, they will put David on that new drug in hope of shrinking the tumor.

David is in pain; we're not exactly sure why, except for that the biopsy was quite invasive in the fact that they took quite a few samples, traumatizing the area, which could explain the pain.

This morning he was in more pain, which had spread across to the other side of his liver, which really worried me. The doctor said that his pain could have been caused by the spread of pain from the biopsy site.

His liver is quite large. To help you understand just HOW large. Usually one can't feel a liver, because it's tucked up under the ribcage. David's liver can be felt clear down to just right above his belly button. (BIG TUMOR)

Well...that is the report for today. Hopefully I will hear from the surgeon tomorrow, and then the results from this new CAT SCAN on Friday.

With David's cancer being so advanced, I feel that we need to move forward quickly, figuring out the best treatment possible, as soon as possible; no time to waste.

We are still praying for MIRACLES! Extending David's life longer than 3-6 months is our first one! Praise God!

Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers. You have all been amazing - and an incredible blessing to us.

With Much Love,
Linda & David

Seek First The Kingdom Of God.

To Us - Always & Forever!

To Us - Always & Forever & A Day!

David & Linda Scarlett

A Never-Ending Love Story

Here we are, celebrating our 28th Anniversary, on our first and only trip to Las Vegas, where we very much enjoyed our stay at the Bellagio. The view of the fountains from our room was beautiful, and seeing the Cirque d' Soleil show, 'O' was amazing!

We were very much looking forward to our 30th Anniversary, and were planning to have a party to celebrate with our family and friends, not only the length of our marriage, but the incredible depth as well.

Every single night is date night in our home; what a blessing and a joy! Yet now, as the diagnosis of David's cancer casts a shadow of death, we continue to cling to our daily tradition, and lift our glasses in our nightly salute, adding the words, 'forever and a day!'

David and I do everything together, because we truly are BEST friends. He is the most loving, kind, unselfish, giving, LISTENING man I've ever known. A true gentleman, who still opens my doors, carries my groceries, and who still brings me flowers! A never-ending love-story! He's the absolute BEST husband a woman could ever dream of having.

David is the wind beneath my wings, and the love of my life!

As you all know, David had his liver biopsy on Friday to determine what type of cancer, which will determine what kind of chemo-therapy to slow it down, and make him comfortable. (The natural freak that I am, will be searching for other options also.) I feel like I'm in a nightmare as I write these words...

We are still in shock and almost paralyzed by this news, but continue to pray for a MIRACLE from the God who created the universe, and who can certainly cure this very scary disease.

Thank you for your continued prayers, and for your amazing outpouring of love. We are humbled and blessed by all of you. I will continue to write in this blog daily for all of you to follow, as it has become almost impossible to respond to each person on a timely basis. Please write to us on this blog, unless you have something personal and private to say, then send it to my regular email where I will get back to you as soon as I can.

With Much Love,
Linda & David

Seek First The Kingdom Of God.
Matthew 6:33