Well Monday was doctor day. Kelli was a real trooper and held down the fort here at childcare. Those kiddos are a hand full and it’s a testament to Kelli’s good nature that she tackled the bunch of them. We are ever so grateful that she did. Kelli and all of our kids have been fabulous. We are so blessed to have our kids.
Mondays for the Cancer related doctors in Lacrosse are busy days. In the morning the group meets and discusses all the new cancer cases from the previous week then in the afternoon the patients come in and meet the team to learn about their case. UGH. Who would ever like Mondays if that was your job??
We crossed the bridge, crossing the Mississippi River going from Minnesota to Wisconsin and started our newest journey together, our fight against this cancer.
We were a little early and sitting and waiting was a little nerve racking. Of course we want good news and were optimistic but there’s always that one little nagging fear.
So in the afternoon Hubby first met with a team of four health care professionals. After that, there were two more appointments. It was a lot of information to take in….a lot.
This is what we found out….Hubby has Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. It’s stage 3A.
We did a lot of talking and information was presented. We asked LOTS of questions. It came down to needing more tests. Hubby was sent on to have an MRI done, more blood work done and has a breathing test scheduled for Thursday. The MRI is done to check for Brain Cancer. Lung cancer typically moves to the brain. If he would have movement, then plans would be to stop, treat the brain cancer and then come back to the lungs.
For now we are making a tentative plan is that all is well and he’d likely have surgery next week. They would remove the two sections of his lungs that are invaded by the tumor. He would likely then go on and have “clean up chemo”. That is all dependent on the test results.
So now THURSDAY is the day for us to find something out. We meet with the surgeon and he lets us know the results and the next plan. UGH…more waiting. It’s okay though as it gives us something to digest and work through what we have learned so far. Several times someone would ask him how he felt and his response was, “I feel like I just found out I have lung cancer”. He didn’t know what else to say…and I don’t really either.
After the appointments and before the MRI we stopped at Menards. If Hubby ends up with chemo, we want him to have a fine toilet to take care of his nausea…no honestly, we have been working on the bathroom basement and a new toilet is the next step. Hopefully he’ll install that this weekend in case he doesn’t have surgery as installing a new toilet won’t be happening for quite awhile after surgery.
We are on a whirlwind of emotions. There are MANY thoughts circling in our head. One of our favorite things of the day was a note sent by one of the childcare moms. She wrote: “We were walking through Walmart and my childcare kid says “I know! Let’s make Roger a cake, it’s him’s birthday! (It really isn’t his birthday) ” 
She adores him! Cake for Roger it is! 
” Attached was a picture of my childcare kiddo sitting by the oven watching the cake she made for Roger bake. Her face had chocolate on it! She’s the sweetest.
We can’t say enough for all the messages of support that we’ve gotten. Hubby has read through all of the comments you’ve left and was very touched by them. I promise another update to come after we’ve found out more information on Thursday. My hopes are that things are a go for surgery for next week. That’s Hubby’s hopes too.
P.S. Hubby’s read name is Roger for those of you don’t know. I call him Kramer. Funny thing is, he calls me Kramer too. I figured if you all were praying for him, you should at least know his real name. XO
I have two sisters who had lung cancer. They both had surgery removing one lobe. They didn’t have any further treatment. They both were in their 60’s at the time of the surgery, they both lived many years and died of something else. The most important thing is a good attitude, be positive and don’t waste time worrying. Live your best life. And he may not throw up with chemo. I finished 6 months of chemo in July and I NEVER threw up. Continue to do the things you love to the best of his ability. Let go and let God take care of your worries.
I know what you mean by so much information!! I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in December, and it was information overload!! Just take it 1 day at a time. As Lola says … stay positive!! Everyone keeps talling me that they’ve never seen someone with such a positive attitude. My reaction is … hey, I have cancer … now let’s fix it!!
This is the one club you never want to join. Prayers for everyone is all I can say. One foot in front of the other.
I felt God telling me that I needed to be more prayerful so I made it a pre new year’s resolution. I will just say that it has blessed me to be in prayer more often and it was encouraging to hear from you that Roger also appreciates the comments and prayers of the blog. I read another blog where the writer is a self proclaimed unbeliever. I could never comment because just saying, “hugs and thoughts” would not have been enough. When hard times hit her family it was heartbreaking to read. Thank you again for being such an encouragement.
I lost my husband to cancer 12 years ago. I pray that the surgery on Thursday is a go and the following chemo will eradicate any of these bad cells. The journey you are about to embark on is a long, bumpy one but with God at your side everything will be okay. Your family will continue to be in my prayers as this is hard for everyone involved. God bless you all.
Thank you for taking the time and energy to keep us up-to-date about Roger. I am sure that you have much on your mind and in your heart right now and keeping us informed might be difficult. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you, Roger and your family.
Oh God, what does one say to you and Roger ? I can’t find the words ! I can pray though, and I will ! God’s speed to all the Kramer’s. Your family is strong and your love will get you through this fight !
Hugs and prayers….
Roger, it is! God already knew your name, BTW! It’s so cute how you call each other Kramer! Pet names are good for marriages! ❤️You two are good for each other, too! I’ll be praying like the rest! Oh, and I hope you got the high toilet! Kings need thrones!
Will definatelypray for good mojo during this tough time for you all!
I have both you Kramers in my thoughts. You two are wonderful people for so many. From your volunteer fire dept, the neighbors, your kids and bloggers.
You and Roger are in my thoughts and prayers. He will beat this!! With all the people out there praying for you only good can come of it.
Jo prayers coming for you and Roger. My the Lord bless and keep you strong on this journey .
May God send healing light to Roger and to all of you. I wish you all Peace throughout the process.
Prayers for your family, Roger at the top of the list. I know that feeling…..of not knowing what to say when people ask how you feel. It feels like you took a step knowing the ground is under you, but it wasn’t and you’re in free fall. Numb, depressed, hopeful, grateful, terrified, blessed, prayerful….so many emotions but the strongest is the pain of imagining not being there to take care of our loved ones…….in my experience.
Sending prayers for Roger and your whole family. God has this. I am just finishing up treatment for breast cancer so I know what it is like to be on this journal but stay positive and we will keep praying for you.
I have nothing memorable to say. So I will just say that I am praying for both Roger and you Jo.
Keeping him on the top of my prayer list. There is so much knowledge about treating cancer nowadays. They know so much more! Hugs!
Thoughts and prayers to you from the East Coast.
You are amazing, strong, and resilient and I have no doubt you will tackle this head on and be back to business in no time.
Thank you for the update, Jo. I can only imagine how hard it is to keep writing the word “cancer”. And have it refer to your beloved. Sending you prayers for strength and healing.
Thanks for the update! We all anxiously await the news as we continue to keep Roger and all your family in our prayers. Prayer works!
This is a path that you did not expect to walk. I am praying that God will give you strength and courage for this journey. My husband, Stan was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus the day before Thanksgiving. We are on this path with you. Know that you are not alone and that Stan and Shirley are lifting you both up in prayer. Chin up!! You can get through this!! Shirley
Those first few appointments give you so much information, glad you are there to help process it all. I get the feeling that a trip to Menards is the best way to spend a few minutes of time, doing the simpler things after that day with doctors. Enjoy the cake Roger, there was love in every step. You are being lifted up with prayer from all of us to both of you and your family.
There are some better medicines out there for nausea and vomiting than there used to be. I take oral chemotherapy (stage 4 breast cancer) and have only been sick once. Make sure to tell the doctor of any bad side effects from the treatments. Chances are they have a way to ease the symptoms. Best of luck to your husband and hugs to you. I think it is harder to be the well one than the sick one.
I am praying that you can give all your worries to God so that you and Roger can kick cancers butt!
Thanks for the update. Walking the Steps with you….the waiting and wondering and the devistation of the cancer diagnosis all rolled into one. We too have been there and my heart aches for you both! Once you have the plan and can move forward things go a little better. May your journey end well! Thoughts and prayers are with you all!
I can’t comprehend what that first intro to cancer day is like. My oldest brother was diagnosed in November last year and I’m so thankful brother #4 was able to attend the session with him. He started chemo in December and hasn’t been sick at all but gets a bit tired. I hope and pray that he and Roger both see a good outcome from this. Hugs to you all!
I’m sorry you and Roger are going through this. Hugs.
Prayers from Missouri for you both and your family.
Thanks for sharing your posts. Sending prayers for Roger and family.
Thank you for sharing what you and your husband are going through. Prayers coming your way for you and your family.
I am glad to finally know your hubby’s name is Roger!You have always called him hubby! It is knowledge overload and it is throughout the process. That is the sweetest story about your childcare girl and the cake!
Bless you Jo and Roger!
Your family is in my prayers, and I am praying for an excellent outcome. I am almost finished with my cancer journey. Nine months ago it seemed like a pretty big hill to climb. I’ve been through all the appointments, talks, planning, surgery, chemo and radiation. My last chemo infusion will be Thursday. A friend told me once you are through it, it will just become a blip on the radar. Things feel so much brighter at this end of the journey. So stay positive, follow doctor’s orders, ask lots of questions to help you make decisions and you will be through it, too.
Hugs and positive thoughts!
Praying for you and Roger, Jo! So glad you have suc a great support system in place.
I’m sending prayers to both Roger and Jo. May God be with you every step. You soon will be blessed with 2 new grandchildren and look forward to holding those precious miracles. You are a blessing to so many.
More prayers from Cape Cod. You’really both in our thoughts.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I will be praying for Roger and your family as you go through this together. I pray the Lord is everything you need him to be. I also hope our prayers encourage you.
Prayers for all of you! As a “backstage” health care worker, I thank you for sharing your story of the very real people at the front. Sending positive prayers to all the Kramers.
Hi Jo,
There is a med they gave my husband that stopped the nausea in its tracks while he was going through chemo, I’ll find out the name of it and let you know. It dissolves under your tongue.
Prayer is a Powerful thing – and there are lots coming your way for your whole family.
Wishing Roger and you the best as you start this journey.
We are in the throes of more tests for hubby, also, for a couple different issues. Waiting is so hard! It sounds like your medical team is pretty efficient and on top of things there and that helps. You and Roger (and the rest of the family) are in our thoughts and prayers as we go through our own journey. I’m so glad you have family close and they can help. That’s a blessing. Hugs!
thank you for sharing Roger’s cancer. You both are not alone in this terrible journey. Your friends are here for you and prayers are sending each day. Jo you must feel so helpless but Roger knows your love and being there for him is helping him deal every day. God bless your both.
Jo, I am so sorry you are having to travel this journey. Before Christmas we were told that my daughter had only 10 to 12 months because of the type of cancer she had. It hurts o bad when you can see someone you love so deeply hurt and struggle with the pain. Your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I am still numb but I know that the Lord is there beside you and Roger and your beautiful family. Love to you from Utah.
Sending warm thoughts and hoping for the best outcome for Roger’s cancer! Thanks for keeping us informed, I think of you and your family often and enjoy your blog very much.
Love ,hugs and prayers for you and Roger. Think Positive! You can beat this ,Roger! You have support from Millions of quilters that are praying and sending positive vibes!
You, Roger, and your family will be in my prayers, Jo. Keep a positive attitude. Your faith will help you through this most difficult time in your life.
I’ve read your blog so long that you feel like family! So many prayers for Roger, you and all your family!
And many ((hugs)) for keeping us updated when I’m sure it’s hard.
So many unknowns… except God knows you through and through and exactly what you need. And He will be with you every moment and every step. Prayers for grace and peace for each day.
Continued prayers for Roger, You and family. You are in good hands. Hugs
Prayer sent for you both, entire family and the team that will be taking care of Roger.
Thoughts, prayers and hugs to you ALL.
Prayers for you all! There are so many new cancer treatments out there I’m sure your doctor will come up with a good plan!
I had already figured out hubby’s name was Roger by your email address. Sending lots of prayers and positive thoughts your way!
Prayers for both Kramer’s ♥️
It sounds like you are in excellent hands with Roger’s team. Uncertainty is hard to deal with especially in the initial days of diagnosis. I found it helpful to keep a notebook to write down questions for the next visit and somewhere to keep copies of scans, handouts, etc. I saw myself as my son’s advocate when he was going through various procedures, chemo, etc. His job will be to deal with all the medical stuff thrown at him and it will be a huge help to have someone else deal with everything else. I love how your family rallies around each other. I see all of us readers here as being your extended family. Know that we are rallying around you too. Continued prayers for Roger and your family.
I hope that Roger has his surgery on Thursday and is on his way to recovery. I am a cancer survivor and I know what a shock it is to get that news. I am still here 28 years later. I remember both of you in my prayers. Treatment has improved so much over the years. A good attitude is a large part of the recovery. I know he just doesn’t have time to be sick, neither did I.
Continuing to send all my best thoughts and prayers your way. It seems like each time I know someone with cancer i learn of a new leap forward in care and treatment. Still, one of the best things for a good outcome is a positive outlook and to be surrounded by loved ones rooting for you. I think you Kramers have that part covered, just know that this might be a season where more people seem to be blessing you than all the things you might think you’ve done for them. Let it be so, it’s how God made the world, for us to both give and receive the love and care of others. (PS Yeah, I’m not good at letting others do things for me either.)
My prayers will continue for Roger, you Jo, and your family. Rooting for good news Thursday!!
Our prayers are with you and Roger. Went through this many years ago and the Dr suggested I get several steno pads and mechanical pencils. Take notes when you’re with the Dr and write down any questions you may have after seeing him. Leave plenty of space for the answers they give you. I even put the date and the Drs name. Sounds a little picky, but boy was it super helpful later. You can’t possibly remember all this info that you aren’t familiar with. Why mechanical pencils? Because if you break the lead, you don’t need a pencil sharpener!! No dried up pens either. We are also praying for the Drs, that Our Lord gives them the knowledge and experience to aggressively treat Roger to obliterate the cancer. Hugs and blessings to you and Roger.
Nub husband and I worked with a woman who smoked and had a cough drag on she did have lung cancer and was treated for that she also had brain radiation treat or prevent cancer
She did fine returned to work and had very short term memory loss she would put something down and not know where It was she would loan something and not remember but see somebody with it and say what are you doing with my thing
She was about to see the humor and told us lots of short term memory loss stories
We stopped working as far as I know she is healthy and doing fine
I will add Roger Kramer (and the entire Kramer family) to my prayer list.
I’m able to read your posts again as we were vacationing and wifi was sporadic at best! I’m sorry to hear about your husbands diagnosis and will add him to my prayers. My very good quilting friend has just been diagnosed with colon cancer so she has started the journey. We don’t want to face these challenges in life but I believe faith and positivity will carry you through. Take care of each other!
My thoughts and prayers are with you and Roger.
Sending positive thoughts and prayers for both of you❣️❣️
I really got a chuckle out of your going toilet shopping between doctor’s appointments. Hope you got the taller one. As you get older you will appreciate it more & more. Love the one we put in last summer.
Keeping my fingers crossed that Roger’s cancer has stayed in his lungs and he can soon have surgery and get on with treatment & recovery. I often think the worst part is going through all the tests & scans & waiting to find out just what is what.
Jo, are they checking for any spread to his mediastinal
Lymph nodes? My dad was scheduled to have his left lower love removed and found he had mediastinal lymph nodes involved. That changed the whole treatment plan too.
I pray that all Roger needs is the lower lobe surgery. Keeping you both in my prayers.
Retired cancer nurse,
Karen Hough- Lymph nodes have been checked. There is one that is exactly where the mass is. That one is bad. The other were thankfully all good. They didn’t seem particularly worried about it.
I am praying for Roger and your family. So glad that your kids are close by to help out and give support.
I am so sorry that you have to go this road….You have had such a hard week….I am praying that with the surgery, Roger will be fine…..May God be with your whole family….The love you all have for each other is such an inspiration…May that help carry you through the days ahead…..Hugs……
With all the prayers that have been sent to God this week I’m sure He knows Mr. Kramer aka Jo’s husband aka Roger or the Kramer kiddos Dad. You each have been wrapped in love, hugs and Prayers this and they won’t stop until all is well. Please know in many ways the Kramer family is part of many families. We all love you and will continue to wrap you in love and prayers. One day at a time!
Hoping & praying for you all
Prayers for Kramer and Kramer and everyone – kids, grands, and daycare families. This is a tough journey but easier with so many walking with you. We love all the Kramers and will keep praying for everyone! Love you!
Continuing with prayers for Roger, you and your family.
Holding your hubby, you and the rest of your lovely family up in prayer.
Every thought a prayer, Jo, for all of you!
Since there is nothing better I can do for your family than pray, that is what I’ll be doing. Especially thinking of Karl, knowing he would rather be in Iowa at this time.
You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Funny I was just thinking that the other day that I mostly just New him as hubby. Roger you have so many people praying for you and such a lovely positive family that I know that all we go well for you. I have heard so many excellent out comes on lung cancer that I pray that yours will be right up there as going well.
Hugs Sandra from Canada
Just wanted to say how sorry I am you are going through this health scare now. My husband had brain (benign) surgery 3 months ago. He is doing great. Modern medicine is truly amazing!! Please know that you are in my prayers , you will do great with your supportive family, good Doctors and prayer.
Praying for the whole family
Please take comfort in knowing so many people are praying for both of you and your family.
You and your family are in my prayers! You have truly inspired me in many ways, via your handling of your life and quilting. Thank you for your amazing gifts and may God be with you and bless you.