Takin' It Easy

I can't believe 10 days have gone by since my last post! Life is good! Vince & Mikemo have been out and about filming (skating footage) and doing whatever it is they do. LOL! Vince can't skate yet, but at least he is getting out and still able to be involved in the skate world. Vince had a fever a few nights ago and a slight headache, so me being a cautious mom, had him go to have some blood work taken yesterday and we got the results today and his counts look GREAT! Ok..now I have peace of mind! Boy, how I love great blood work results!

He and Mikemo went to Magic Mountain today and I'm sure he will be tired when they get home, but it makes Jim and I so happy that he is doing something fun AND with Mikemo, which makes us even happier!

Mikemo is going to skate in the X Games this year! July 30-August 2 and of course our family will be there! It will also be televised! It should be very exciting, so I hope you check it out!

There is another HUGE skate event that is coming up before the X Games and it's called the Maloof Money Cup and Mikemo will be skating in that as well! Click on the highlighted

areas to check out the websites. This event is July 10, 11, & 12th. We are so excited to see Mikemo skate in both of these amazing competitions!

Maybe we will see you there! If you see us, make sure to say "hi"!

Thank you for all prayers, cards and emails about my surgery. It's been 1 month, and I feel great! My friend Stacey said that I won't know how good I would feel until I actually look back and see how bad I felt! She is so right! Thank you, Stacey!

My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
of Yours only.
O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

Psalm 71:15-17

Home At Last!

Grandma Charlotte came to the hospital yesterday to visit Vince. Jim got there shortly after she did, and the nurse came in an unhooked his I.V's and we were FREE to go and enjoy the fresh Santa Monica air! We walked a few blocks to a local Chinese food place and had a yummy rice and teriyaki chicken lunch and then walked to our favorite place to sit, just across the street from the hospital and had a nice chat for about 1 hr. and then we walked grandma to her car and then headed back upstairs to our suite...uh, I mean room:)

Mikemo and Veronica came to see Vince, too! It's always such a joy to hear Vince laugh when Mikemo comes to visit. They are the best of friends and with Mikemo being gone so much lately, and Vince being in the hospital so often, it really feels great to see them together. Of course, Veronica doesn't say much, but she is a darn good listener! LOL!

After everyone left, one of Vince's chemos started up at 11:00 pm and the other was to start at 1:00 a.m. BUT, his PH level was not where it was supposed to be, so his 2nd chemo didn't start until 4:00 a.m! He was NOT happy about that because that meant that it made it a later release time! He is always pushing them to speed things up, and who can blame him! Of course, neither one of us got any sleep because them pumps get air in them and ALL week long they would wake us up every 1/2 hr. beeping constantly! You have to call the nurse and then it takes them 20 mins. to get in the room to fix it SO needless to say, we are not very well rested.

The thing that we find frustrating is hearing different opinions from different nurses and doctors from every shift about the length of chemo time, or different medications he can have, or release times, blah, blah, blah. They change shifts every 12 hrs. starting at 7 a.m./7 p.m. so you get about 10 different doctors and nurses in that 24 hr. time period.

We are just now starting to figure things out, like how long the chemos run, where to go for the midnight Cranberry Juice and ice machine, where the linens are, the best bathroom to use in the hallway, how to order food that is not on the menu, and things like that. It's like Healthcare 101~LOL!

It makes me realize each time that you cannot let your guard down, you have to ask lots of questions and be aware of what they are doing to you and if it doesn't seem right to you, (you know that "red flag" kind of thing), don't let them do it until you are comfortable with the answers.

Every treatment on the last day, Vince always feels too full and then he throws up...poor guy, his body had it's limits and that's it. After he throws up he always feels so much better. We had about 3 hrs. to go and he was getting very agitated, fell asleep and then right around 11:40 the nurse came in, flushed his port and off we went! Of course we had to stop at McDonald's down the street from the hospital. Jim, Vince and I all got cheeseburgers to celebrate this VICTORY! It has become a ritual for Vince to crave McDonald's as we are leaving, which is a GREAT sign that he feels so much better just getting out of that place!

Doctor's appointment on Monday for the Nulasta shot to increase his white blood cells and then a follow up appointment on Friday for blood work, so until next week, prayers are always needed! I hope this post finds all those dads out there having a very HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! God bless!

Thank you to Chris O, Grandma Char and Cousin Jeanette for coming to visit during our long week:)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Chemo #6--Day 4

Vince has been doing so great! For him the hardest part is the boredom, plus feeling full from all the liquids. Thank goodness he is able to get unhooked from the "ball and chain" for those 2 hrs. per day because I really think it makes such a difference in his mental attitude. We walk about 8 blocks total per day, which is actually so nice because the hospital is close to the beach and the weather is super nice! Today we went to a computer store and Vince got to buy an external hard drive for his computer, which of course he was super happy to get.

Bernadette was here a few nights ago and spent the night with us so she and Vince got to spend some time together. Jim has come out every day. Veronica came to visit, too. Chris (Vince's friend) came to visit us, he lives pretty close to the hospital so it's really convenient for him to just pop on over.

Jim kept Vince and I entertained today with some pretty funny antics, which I can't really describe, but I would love to get a video of his silliness!

Please pray for these next 36 hrs. to go fast! We will get out of here on Sat. before noon and we can't wait!

Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 6:4

Chemo Delays All Day!

We got to the hospital right on schedule at 10 a.m. We had to sit and wait for 2 hours before they could get us into a room! There are way too many cancer patients in hospitals these days for sure! Every time we come we hear the "over-crowed" story.

It's now 9:50 pm and we've been in the room for over 9 1/2 hrs. and chemo still hasn't been given. Part of the reason is that Vince's PH level has to be at 8.0 before they will give it to him, so they give him Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) via I.V. to boost it so they can start, which it's been 8.0 for at least an hour and a half, but all day they have been lagging...they are a bit overwhelmed due to the over-crowding. We don't mind waiting though, as long as he feels good.

As I'm writing this they just came in to hook him up! YAY! Finally!

Jim picked Mikemo up from LAX around 5 pm and brought him back here to the hospital to see Vince and I before taking him home. He has been gone 2 weeks. Welcome home MIKEMO! Here is a photo of him with his silly new phone! He broke his iPhone on his tour and wants to get the new iPhone which doesn't come out until Friday, so he got the cheap phone, which is so not his style, but I think it's funny! LOL!

I have a comfy bed and I am resting, so no worries! Brought all my comfy pillows and blankets!

I will update again soon!

Thanks for continuing to pray for us!

Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, about of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord" (NIV).

Chemo #6 Starts Tomorrow, June 15th-20th---Please Pray!

Vince will be having chemo #6 starting tomorrow at UCLA in Santa Monica Orthopedic Hospital for 5 days. Bernadette and I will be spending the every day and night with him. Jim will be there every day with us and a visit or two from Mikemo, Veronica & a few other family members. It does seem quite amazing that 8 mths has come and gone since Vince was diagnosed and that he still has 8 mths. to go. I sure hope it goes fast and that he has the least amount of side effects possible. I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed US with His mercy and grace to get to this point thus far, and I'm sure He will sustain US throughout this journey.

Vince has kept himself quite busy and sometimes we don't even see him that much because he is having lunch with friends, working on his computer, riding his bike and watching the Laker's in The Finals, which of course they just won a few hours ago! Yay Lakers! Jim and I are so happy when he goes places because it shows us that he feels really good and that he is not letting this horrible disease get the best of him.

Mikemo comes home tomorrow! I can't wait to see his "WWF look-a-like belt" that he won in the Red Bull contest for winning 2nd place!

Thanks for praying for Vince! He will always be my hero and inspiration!

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.

3 John 1:2-3

How To Save A Life

Resting and Recovering

Thank you for your prayers for my surgery! Everything went extremely well and I haven't had to take anything other than Ibuprofen for swelling, so again, God hears your prayers! I'm sure by the end of Vince's upcoming chemo on June 15th-20th that I will be feeling 100% better!

For those of you who are like me and like medical info, here is a video on one of the three procedures that I had. Click here.

I'm sure there are a few women out there who will be needing the same type of surgery, so I'm here if you have any questions. You can email me at rondacapaldi@msn.com. I won't go into detail, only because there are guys reading this and they will get grossed out! I even have pictures of the procedure and believe me it's a scary thing..LOL!

Thank you so much to Grandma Charlotte (Jim's mom) for coming over for a few days to cook and clean for us! She is amazing! Thank you to all my wonderful ladies in my Bible study for the most beautiful flowers! I feel so loved!

Please continue to lift Vince up in prayer for a smooth chemo and that he will not feel sick. Last time he did great! So, let's pray for the same!

Please pray for our friend George. He was the arm in the "Scar Wars" with the tattoo of his son on his arm. He didn't get the news he was hoping for from his pathology report on the results of his necrosis (deadness of his tumor, if you will). If you could just say extra prayers on his behalf, I know that is will feel God's amazing grace and love and I also know that his wife, Tina would REALLY appreciate it so much! His Carepage is listed on the right side of this blog under Ewing's Patients..just click on George's name if you would like to read about his journey.

For now I will leave you with a video of THE MOST AMAZING young man I have ever seen! He had Ewing's Sarcoma and has been cancer free for 2 1/2 yrs! He is such and inspiration to us and just plain fearless! Click here. You can also click on Kobey Pritchard under the Ewing's Patients to read about his journey as well.

Congratulations to Mikemo! He is in New York and took 2nd place today in a contest sponsored by Red Bull! Here is the website.

“It is not prayer, it is not faith, it is not our doings, it is not our feelings upon which we must rest, but upon Christ and ON CHRIST ALONE.”
C. H. Spurgeon

For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:5

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; Romans 5:3

"Scar Wars"

I thought it would be inspiring to see what our loved ones have gone through. They are truly "hero's" in my book! They have endured extreme pain and suffering and they are all getting through this horrible disease we call "Cancer". Please continue to pray for them as they journey through life with the title of "Cancer Survivors" stamped on them.

I have always told Jim that his scar represents "life" to me and the fact that he is alive to tell his story is a testimony that people do survive this horrible disease! He has been cancer free for 9 1/2 yrs! Thank you, Jesus!

Vince, 21 yrs old, Ewing's Sarcoma, April 2009

Jim (Vince's Dad), 46 yrs. old, Kidney Cancer, Jan. 2000 (he was 36 yrs old at the time)

George, 42 yrs. old, Ewing's Sarcoma, May 2008

Erica, 21 yrs. old, Ewing's Sarcoma, 2 surgeries, Jan. 2005 /Dec. 2008

Tyler, 16 yrs. old, Ewing's Sarcoma, March 2009

Thank you to Tina (George's wife), Maria (Tyler's mom), Jane (Todd's mom & not pictured), Carol (Erica's mom). We are all going through the same thing with our loved ones and I am so grateful and blessed to have them in my life! They are such a wonderful support system!

Prayer Requests

A few weeks ago I posted that I had some upcoming trials that weren't "Vince related". I will be having surgery tomorrow (June 2nd) @ 7:30 a.m. I am having a Hysterectomy, which includes removal of one ovary and a bladder repair. Please pray that I will be able to have the least invasive surgery possible. Pray that I will recover quickly so that I can spend the 5 days with Vince in the hospital for chemo #6, two weeks from today, June 15th! I was also diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor on my spine, around my neck and shoulder area. I will be following up on that in about a month to see if that will need to be removed as well. Just a few more things to add to our list of trials. God is in the midst, so I will not fear!

Also, I have two brothers and one of them just had a similar surgery to Vince's from a motorcycle accident and my other brother was going to have neck surgery tomorrow and cancelled it. Please pray for them, because I know they are in a lot of pain. Thanks!

Vince is feeling really good, but does have some muscle pain in the shoulder, but he thinks it is from sitting at his computer and resting his arm on the desk, which pushes his shoulder up too high. Hopefully, it will go away soon! He had blood work today to check his counts and they are on the way up! Yay! He is looking forward to the next 2 weeks of freedom!

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16