Final Session-First Cycle

Friday, the 19th, was my final session of the first of the 6 cycles I am supposed to undergo with chemo treatment. The week's challenge was mainly trying to overcome nausea. Our main goal while in between cycles is for me to gain weight and get my strength back.

I am very grateful to those who care who continously pray not only for me but for my wife as well.

Chemo Treatment

After prayerful considerations, we finally decided to go through chemo treatment. My wife drove me to the doctor's office for my first session. There was no obvious side effect of the treatment until the following morning where I felt a little nauseated. However, I was able to go work that morning and went to my second chemo session by myself. So far, everything is going fine with my treatment.

Dr. Beulah Penumudi, my Family Doctor

Dr. Beulah Penumudi of Southwest Medical Associates is the family's primary care provider. It was her who insisted that I go to the hospital for blood transfusion after the lab work report she received indicated my blood count was dangerously low.

My Surgeon, Dr. P K Bhatnagar

I went to see him at his office for a follow-up today at 9:00 am and he gladly posed for me for this blog. He advised me to eat some milkshakes which I did on the way home. Wow! That I can easily do with gusto!

Perry Goes Home

After a week of staying in Las Vegas with us, Pierre left around 4:30pm yesterday, August 19, 2008, to Los Angeles. He intentionally delayed his departure to help Bro. Jeff Thompson remove and replace the 50-gallon water heater tank in our garage. Oh boy, it was really heavy! And the weather outside? Not too bad...only higher 90's. I guess both men were acclimated with that temperature because neither one complained.

Water Heater Replacement

Again, to the rescue!! Our beloved first councilor in the bishopric, Jeff Thompson, proudly gave a thumbs up sign after finishing the installation of our water heater which broke down early Sunday morning. His two sons, Dillon and Kaydin, mowed our lawn, front and back with the supervision of their Dad. We sure appreciate their help and the assistance of other members of the ward as well who called wanting to know how they can be of help to us. We keep receiving meals everyday (and they're very good). Thank you all for your love and support. My son, Pierre, was really impressed with the ward's ongoing care and support. Thanks to you all!!

Oncology Visit

This Tuesday morning, August 19, 2008, I went to see the Oncologist at 9:15am together with Perry and Mom and was immediately seen by Dr. Kaushal. He gave the good news that I beat the odds. If ever I need some chemotheraphy it would be light. (?)
On the way home, the three of us decided we would do without the chemo and just rely on good nutritional habits of eating vegetables, fruits, fish and avoid food that are animal-based.

The Big Day after Post-Op

Finally home on August 14, Perry and Mom decided we needed some furniture arrangement in the living room. This was where the 3 humongous bookcases were before Perry removed them and almost emptied the whole place to give more space to the living room.




Perry put all 3 electronic components at the top of the TV to make way for a cleaner walkway. It actually gave more space to the living room

The Day After...

I could not believe that I survived the operations. The surgeon did a good job. I did not know how long I was in the recovery room after the surgery. The next 6 days were spent in ICU where all kinds of tests were done to monitor my BP, heart rate/pulse etc. It was very hard to move and get comfortable with all the attachments to my body. It seemed to me that it was more trying to be laid there helpless than being cut.

Thru the love and prayers of everyone rallying behind me, I felt I was able to overcome all these challenges.



My wife, Norma, has been there with me all the time giving me the encouragement and support to keep me going. Church members gave me visits continually. My brothers from California and Hawaii, with their wives, came over to visit. My sister, Olivia, flew in from San Jose, CA. I am very thankful for my wife for her loving care and for the support my brothers and sisters-in-law and sister gave me.

The Day Before...

I was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and stomach on July 21, 2008 which the doctor indicated was the cause of my blood loss. After that determination, I was given some blood transfusion and some other necessary preparations for the operation. I was released on July 24.


On August 2, 2008 I was admitted back to the hospital for the scheduled operation on Monday, August 4.


Cherry with her 3 kids, Brooklyn, Angie and Livvy came down from Utah to visit me at the hospital. Charmaine, meanwhile, was in Houston for some medical checkups with her twins.
Thru the power of technology, people from the Philippines and other far away places offered me their best wishes and prayers to help me go through it all. Members of our ward (Mountain Crest Ward) have also offered a lot of prayers on my behalf and a lot of them came and supported me in many different ways. I know that the power of prayer and fasting helped me to be able to get through this surgery and the recovery period that followed.





Here, Livvy and Angie tried my hospital bed to see if it's comfortable enough for me..