Thank you

Friends,

We would like to thank you all for your prayers and support of our family through this time. Words cannot express how much your comments, food, prayers, cards, emails, flowers, and more have meant to us.

Love,

The Giles Family

Home in Heaven

It is with a sad yet joyful heart that I tell you that Gary has gone home to heaven where he belongs. The last few weeks we knew that the cancer had spread past a point that we were able to fight. We were able to make him comfortable and be by his side as he breathed his last this side of heaven.


Please join us for our celebration of Gary's life at his memorial service, held Tuesday, April 20th at 4:00 pm at Hope Community Church in Andover, Kansas. A barbecue, "Gary Style", will be held at our home in Elbing immediately following the service.

Each and every one of you has been an important person in Gary's life. As he told us this week, there is nothing more important than our relationship with God and our relationships with each other. We want thank you all for your prayers and support - you have all been wonderful to our family during this time.

If you would like to send comments for the family, feel free to post them here or send to garywgiles@me.com.

Love,

The Giles Family

Hope Community Church
1831 E. 21st St.
Andover, KS 67002

Giles Home
413 N. Johnson
Elbing, KS 67041

Memories

These are pictures taken this last weekend when Gary was feeling a bit better. We have had so many good memories- we would love to hear yours. Please feel free to write them out or send pictures and we will share them with Gary.

You can post comments here to share or email to me at timandleah@gmail.com

Thanks,

Leah

Update

This is Leah doing an update for my dad.

The CAT Scan and further test show that the cancer has spread to Gary's stomach. Due to the rapid spread, continuing chemo is not a good option. We are keeping him home with hospice and we are trying to make him as comfortable as possible in these last few weeks. Please pray that Gary would be in as little pain as possible and that our family would have the strength for the care we need to give him.

We appreciate your prayers,

Leah

March - UGGG!

I suppose this will be depressing. Just like March has been. Yes, we closed on our house in Wellington and moved to Elbing. But the remodel is not done and we have had various stages of camping out. We still don't have a counter or sink and Sandy is doing dishes in the bathtub. There is a little good news - the major construction is done and the floor is in.

I haven't felt well and am still under the weather this weekend. And now all Kansas teams are out of the NCAA tournement. Bummer. I'm not one to watch much baseball.

We are still trying to find everything that got moved. The garage is well used for storage and staging. We have mowed twice and are enjoying the new deck with all the family. Next week we should have better weather and I am really looking forward to that.

Monday I go in for a CAT scan so after another week I should know how the cancer is behaving. In the meantime I have got to get the lower half under control because that can really get a guy in trouble - and fast.

So we still need your prayers for health and housing - Gary

Dr. update Monday March 1

Its been 8 months now and the Dr. agreed I am "beat up". So he slid the chemo out one week (great - I have had about all I can take right now). Also he agreed to lower the dose when we restart. Out of concern for all the joint pain we will do a bone scan this week.

He says I continue to have residual effects from the oxal (the bad stuff) we stopped in Dec. And as some of those effects wear off we are seeing new side effects manifested with just the 5FU chemo. Apparently the oxal was so potent it masked some of the 5FU side effects. We hope that by delaying a week we will see just the side effects from the 5FU next time - meaning the residual effects should pass.

Regardless, I welcome a week off especially with all the construction that is going on in Elbing.

All for now,

Gary

What happened to feisty?

Wow. I just found out you can't beat the chemo. I went in feeling good - and 2 weeks later as I get ready for another round I still am struggling. I was determined to beat the side effects this last time. Guess what? The chemo won.

Of course I worked harder this last 2 weeks. The remodeling and addition are worse than building a new house. We are making good progress but there are always the little things that slow you down.

I went in to Newton to check out my new digs for getting the chemo. Its a change and I'll have to get used to it. But they don't have internet so I'll not be able to blog while I am there. I'll have to complain about that - there must be patient rights or something to guarantee wireless in this new century.

Speaking of wireless do you realize there are still areas of this country that not only do not have internet service, cable TV and cell phone coverage? The local internet service provider in Elbing just got bought out by a bigger company and in a month or so our service should be approximately twice as fast. Hooray!

I see the Dr. Monday and have chemo Monday afternoon. Its a new schedule at Newton - Monday chemo and Wed pump off. But I am going to see if the Dr. can lighten the dose or something - I am growing weary of the side effects.

See you next time,

Gary

7 1/2 months and I feel FIESTY!

I can't believe it. I am sitting in the Wellkington hospital waiting for my chemo musing about my health. I almost bounced in this morning - after working hard yesterday. We were in Elbing and had numerous trips up and down the stairs, loaded the pickup a couple of times, even helped my son load a grill in the back of the truck. On top of that I met with 2 contractors and made a couple of trips to Newton (isn't it great to have both breakfast and lunch out!).

I have been watching my energy this last week and it is best yet this last week. The stamina is getting better (what is the difference between stamina and endurance?). I am using muscles that have been dormant - pulling nails out of trim yesterday was a measure of physical work I haven't seen for quite a while. Now if I could just get rid of the numbness in my hands and feet....

I am determined to power my way through the chemo this week. We'll see who wins -the poison or me....

We had lots of visits from friends last week - what a treasure to reconnect! And naturally the conversation turns to food - great places to eat out and enjoy fellowship.

We'll - all for now. This is my last treatment in Wellington. Next time I'll be up in Newton. We should be moving in the next month. Thankfully we are making good progress on the remodel and addition at the Elbing place. By the way - the fescue is greening up and we will be mowing before long!

Great news from the Dr.

You all remember we started the cancer count around 460 in July when I was in real bad shape. Then it dropped off to 35 or so around December and in January it dropped to 8.1.  Now that its February the count is down to 7.6.  That is great news. The Dr. wants to see a downward trend or level.

So for now we will maintain the every 2 week chemo treatments. As the Dr. says I have a "lot" going on with my particular cancer and there is no reason to not keep up the treatments.

I am only on 2 chemicals now - the standard 5FU chemo and a new chemical called "Avaston" that starves the blood vesssels that feed the cancer cells. The good news is I am responding well to the treatments and there is no need to change the protocol. But if and when we do have to switch the Dr. mentioned that there is a "new" protocol now so we'll just keep our heads up with hope for a good future!

The neuropathy is better and the Dr. says the farther away (longer) I am off the Oxal (got off in December) the better the foot drop and eventually the hands will get better. I can't wait - with renewed energy and a better foot I can motivate faster - almost like old times.

Of course the 3 days of chemo still take there toll with side effects - the old "flu" like symptoms for 5 days or so.

But all in all things are much better and I look forward to continued improvement. I know Sandy appreciates this as well since I can start helping her a little. I am really spoiled now because she is such a good nurse. Did I mention I actually put on 5 lbs? And the cancer is count is down at the same time? That's great!

Wow! Feeling better is a reality!

I can't believe it. This week has been the best ever. I am 2 months past the last "Oxal" chemo treatment and my body is starting to recover. The energy level is up and fatigue down. And - get this - my foot is starting to work a little better. Cool magoo! I am not ready to jog yet but I can walk at a more spirited pace. And I think I am detecting the ability to raise my toes just a little - that may not seem like a big deal to you but to me that is just awesome!

Now if I can just get the "frozen" fingers to work better....I am impatient. But do you know what all this really means? I am getting better, there is renewed hope for the future, and quality of life is improving. WOW!

We see the doctor this coming Monday so I'll be glad to update him on how good he is doing....

Stay tuned....

How many chapters are in your life book?

I am sitting in the chemo ward getting my bi-weekly chemo infusion. This morning as I was laying in bed contemplating the twists and turns of my life  I began to see the past in terms of chapters. Can you remember some of your grade school antics? I can. What about high school? Sure. How many different jobs have you had? I remember clearly my first job in a bicycle shop and how I worked to earn money for my first 5-speed. I was to impatient to save money for a 10-speed. The chapters tend to blur during the 4 decades of work, raising a family and the routines of life - until all of a sudden a new chapter took an unexpected turn in the book. A twist of fate? Judgement for past sins? Consequences that I could have avoided? How does one sort it all out?

But the key is writing the remaining chapters. As the day comes closer for closing on our house and moving from Wellington back to Elbing I ask myself how do I want this chapter written? Of course, I can only impact some of the direction of the book -after all - what's an adventure without surprises?

So as I contemplate what the priorities are certain things remain as constants. You can probably figure it out before you even read it -its all about relationships. With God, wife, children, grandchildren, friends and ascquaintances. What a wonderful time to enjoy people!

What does your list look like? How do you want your book to be written?

Stay tuned - Lord willing and the creek don't rise I'll be back with another update.

Gary