Nov 18

Hello to all. Mark had an awful night last night. I woke around 2:30 am with the sound of his teeth chattering and looked over to see him shaking uncontrollably. He wasn't feverish at that time, but I knew it was coming. He was freezing cold and covered up with every blanket possible and just couldn't quit shivering. About 30 minutes later, he was burning up with fever and had spiked a temp of 102.5. I had 2 antibiotic pills here, so I gave him one of them and some Tylenol to break the fever. He was better around 5:30 and the fever was gone, but he felt like crap and was having a lot of pain. We changed out the pain patch, but he continued to have a lot of pain today. I planned on just staying home from work today and having them cancel my patients, but Mark insisted that he would be okay and that his mom and sister were here with him, so I went to work even though it was hard to leave him like that. I was also quite exhausted from being up last night. I called Dr. Farmer's office about the fever and to let them know I gave him the antibiotic. They called in a Rx for more antibiotics and if he is still running fever by the end of the week, they need to know. He's been having some urinary symptoms so I don't know if that is the source of the infection or not. He hasn't been coughing or having any breathing problems. The shaking chill leads you to believe it is bacterial and not viral.

The tumors in Mark's belly continue to give him pain. I rub his belly in the evening time and there is a very large tumor much larger than a grapefruit in the center of his abdomen. It just has to be miserable for him.

Mark's sister Eugenie is here from Austin and will stay until just before Thanksgiving and Matt (Mark's twin) and Shaun (Mark's older brother) will be here for Thanksgiving. Shaun will be bringing his 3 children and the kids are excited to see their cousins. They are high school and college age.

Thanks to the Slammers families for dinner Tuesday night and last Tuesday night. It was very good and we appreciate all of your love and support. Colton got his basketball team assignment tonight and it looked like a mini Slammers team. He was excited to see Carson and Jackson's names on his team roster.

We continue to pray for healing in Mark's body. We certainly haven't gotten great news lately, but Mark hasn't given up and we haven't given up on him either. It is difficult seeing him suffer and have so much pain. Cancer is such an awful disease and I wish there were a cure for all those out there suffering with this illness. Please remember Mark in your prayers as well as all those out there fighting this disease. Remember Carly Parker and the Parker family as well as Marie Hoffman. God bless!!!!!!