Video Memory

Dropbox link or try video below

Fund Research for SNUC on Behalf of Pamela Joy Peacock

Link to Funding Site
You Caring

please contact me, Jordan Friedman, if you have questions or suggestions on SNUC research
jafriedman@gmail.com

Celebration Of Life - Friday 3/24 @ 2pm

There was a beautiful positive singularity of Pam's life this morning, March 21st, at 2:30am as she passed on from this dimension of the universe. She was very peaceful at the end which was comforting to see. So much support and love has been shown on this blog and I know she was able to soak up all that energy.

Please join us in celebrating Pam's life. Her favorite color is purple and we would welcome you to dress with this color in your own Peacock style. If you plan to attend (or not) then please comment down below so that we may plan accordingly.

Oakmont Memorial Park

2099 Reliez Valley Road

Lafayette, CA 94549

Buffet reception will immediately follow at

Embassy Suites 

1345 Treat Blvd, 

Walnut Creek, CA 94597

valet parking only. we will cover parking for everyone. 

 

Sunday 3/19 Update

We had high hopes that this weekend was going to involve some much needed rest, recovery and positive progression. Friday afternoon you were able to sit in the gurney chair for a couple hours, do some physical therapy with Jordan, and communicate a little non-verbally. But this weekend has been rough seeing you in so much pain. We are all trying to understand where and what the pain is associated with and how to treat it but we're not having much luck at the moment. We're also working with your Oncologist to think about new, more modern treatment options instead, or in addition to the chemo and radiation. I am looking forward to tomorrow when the Doctors, pain management team, and physical therapist get to work and most importantly, when you start to feel better. In the meantime, hang in there and one day at a time. We love you!

Thursday 3/16 - Sitting Up!

First time sitting upright in more than 2 weeks. We did some leg exercises and rocked out to some music. You have no idea how amazing this is to see 😊.

 

Monday 3/13 - Jack's Report

Today for the first time in 12 days you have responded to me with those pretty blue eyes, although you can not talk you are able to answer yes or no questions with a very slight movement of your head. It is the best thing I have experience in recent days. You looked very happy to be able to see us standing over you waiting for our turn to talk to you even though you cannot say a word. You have always said plenty with those eyes. In this case it is ok with me. You have come a long way since this all started 6 weeks ago and although you have a long way to go, your vitals are all in the Normal range, temperature is normal, you no longer need the drip to keep you totally sedated, there is no infection at this point, your body is handling the radiation treatments as normal and tomorrow you will receive the second Chemo treatment after the radiation treatment. One day at a time, I am so proud of you, you are one tough lady!

Love you Blondie!

Sunday 3/12 Blue Eyes

Hi Mom,

You opened your eyes today! The Drs lowered your sedative and we finally got to see your pretty blue eyes. You stared straight at me and I wished I could read your mind. I asked you to squeeze my hand if you could hear me but you're recovering from the high dosages of versed and other pain meds so you weren't yet able to do anything on-command. It will take some time of rest and recovery. You wriggled your feet a little bit and Jack took that as a sign to give you a foot massage. Actually you've been receiving quite a lot of foot massages - I see you're really using this to your advantage :) We're all rooting for you to keep fighting so keep up the good work. 

Riley colored a picture for you and we put it up in your room. Since you aren't allowed to have flowers or balloons yet, we think this will bring some cheer and good luck your way. Oh and Joshua said "Grandma" today so I think that is more good luck!

Love Randi

Saturday 3/11 Twiglight

Twilight Saturday was the theme for today. The ICU doctor and staff wanted to check in on you. To do that they had to turn off some of the meds for a brief period. The nurses referred to it as a Sedation Vacation. And I thought I've heard it all... You did well on your vacation from dreamland. Your temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate are all steady and strong. 

Dr Sirott, the new Oncologist, came by today and met with me and Jack. He's very sharp and my favorite of the bunch so far. He's going to be by every day to check on you and make sure that the tumor is shrinking. I can definitely see the first signs of it fading, which is a small reprieve. But still, everything seems so surreal and we're all feeling a little trapped in the twighlight zone. 

Keep staying strong. One day at a time. 

Love,

Jordan 

Friday 3/10/17

Today marked just over a week since you were checked into John Muir Hospital.  It's been tough for everyone to process, especially you I'm sure.  The good news is that you are resting and not in any pain.  The doctors are taking excellent care of you.

Today was especially busy as you had the trifecta of operations.  First you needed peg tube inserted into your stomach to provide a better way for us to get you some nutrition.  Then the ICU doctor then had to drain about a pint of fluid from your lung (which is also being sent to the lab for tests) that has built up over the past few days.  And finally, you needed your 4th day of radiation treatment.

Between all the doctor visits and operations, you also had a couple special visitors.  A master reiki teacher, Tamara Shulim, came by for some holistic healing.  She gave your family some pointers on how to help you heal when she's not there.  Then Rabbi Berkowitz stopped by for the 2nd time.  He's really nice and Jack is starting to really enjoy his company.  I should post another article titled "Hi Jack You Made a Friend", lol.  But then I'd have to write another post titled "How Ethan Happens To Already Knows Rabbi Berkowitz From a Canada Trip Over a Decade Ago", hahaha.  You'd like to hear that one for sure.

At the end of the week, you've proven yet again to be one tough mom.  Everyone is thinking of you and sending their best.  Everyone wants to do something, anything, to make you feel better.  We all want you better now.  But for now it's one day at a time until you are better.

Love you.
Jordan

Friday Morning 3/10 Update

Not really any change. Mom is still sedated and going in for her 4th round of radiation this afternoon. She also has a reiki treatment at 10:30 today. I told her how many people are thinking about her and sending her positive energy her way! She is going to be so blown away and proud. Thank you all for the support. It means so much to mom, Jack, Jordan, me and the rest of our family!

About Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

What is Nasophyrangeal Carcinoma?

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare type of head and neck cancer. It starts in the upper part of your throat, behind the nose. This area is called the nasopharynx.

The nasopharynx is precariously placed at the base of your skull, above the roof of your mouth. Your nostrils open into the nasopharynx. When you breathe, air flows through your nose into your throat and nasopharynx, and eventually into your lungs.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is also called nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Causes of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Scientists are not sure what exactly causes nasopharyngeal cancer. However, the cancer has been strongly linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Although EBV infection is common, not everyone who has EBV will get nasopharyngeal cancer. In the U.S., most people who have had an EBV infection never have long-term problems. That's because the body's immune system destroys the virus.

But sometimes, genetic material (DNA) from the virus mixes with the DNA in the cells of the nasopharynx. The change in DNA causes cells to grow and divide abnormally, causing cancer. This is rare.

The risk for NPC goes up if you eat a diet rich in salt-cured fish and meat. Tobacco and alcohol also increase the risk. Some scientists believe that chemicals in these things further damage the DNA in cells.

Who Gets Nasopharyngeal Cancer?

Fewer than one in every 100,000 people in North America gets this type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

The cancer is most common in southeast China. It is also much more common in:

• Other parts of Asia
• North Africa
• Inuit populations of Alaska and Canada
• Chinese and Hmong immigrant groups in the U.S.

In the U.S., nasopharyngeal cancer has also been seen in African-Americans, Hispanics, and white people.

You are more likely to get this type of cancer if you:

• Are male
• Under age 55
• Eat a diet rich in salt-cured fish and meats
• Have a family history of nasopharyngeal cancer
• Have certain genes linked to cancer development
• Have come in contact with EBV

Some, but not all, studies have found a higher risk of nasopharyngeal cancer in people who:

• Smoke
• Drink a lot of alcohol
• Work around wood dust or a chemical called formaldehyde

How could this happen in a month?

• Thursday Feb 9: First Symptoms - don't think much of it. Mom went into her PCP for soreness on her neck and a sore throat. The Dr said it was a pulled muscle and prescribed a muscle relaxant.
• Saturday Feb 18: We went out to sushi for dinner. She told me that she had a lump on her neck and that her Dr prescribed muscle relaxants, which made her tired but didn’t take away the pain or growing of the lump.
• Sunday Feb 19: The lump is worse today according to mom. Since the following Monday is Presidents Day, she mentions that her PCP will not be in but she will go to urgent care if it’s not better.
• Monday, Feb 20: First trip to ER. An ENT specialist came to the ER from UCSF and collected a sample of the mass to send for testing. A CT scan was also ordered as well as antibiotics. Mom thinks its an infection in her lymph nodes.
• Wednesday, Feb 22: Mom says she is in a lot of pain and can’t get in to see the ENT until the following week. She called her PCP and obtained an RX for more pain medicine.
• Thursday, Feb 23: The ER Dr called to follow-up and told her to come back to ER if she is feeling really bad. Mom was really impressed that the ER Dr followed-up!
• Saturday, Feb 25: Second trip to ER. Different antibiotics prescribed as well as pain medicine.
• Monday Feb 27: The biopsy from the initial ER visit came back as malignant. However, they didn’t know what type of cancer it is.
• Wednesday, March 1: Third trip to ER. Mom was admitted to the hospital.
• Thursday, March 2: They performed another CT scan and she was transferred to the ICU to be monitored more closely. The Dr put her under for another biopsy of the throat and they weren't able to take out the breathing tubes after surgery.
• Friday, March 3: Diagnosis comes back as Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 
• Saturday, March 4: They took out the breathing tube and had her on a ventilator mask. However, mom was in a lot of pain and asked for more sedation and the breathing tubes to be inserted again.
• Sunday, March 5: Mom is heavily sedated and intubated. They performed a bone scan to see if it spread to her bones.
• Monday, March 6: She is still heavily sedated and intubated. They perform the mapping in order to start the radiation and chemo treatment the next day.
• Tuesday, March 7: Still heavily sedated and intubated. Mom receives her first radiation and chemo treatment.
• Wednesday, March 8: Second radiation therapy happens. They also took a liquid biopsy to understand more about the cancer (thanks you Ethan). Mom is still heavily sedated and intubated. Drs confirmed it has spread to the bones. 

We are hoping that they will be able to wake her up from the sedation today or tomorrow (3/9 or 3/10). I am praying that I will be able to have another conversation with her and hopefully many more after that. No one deserves to go through something like this and anyone who knows my mom understands that she is the least deserving. 

The Upsidown

Time stands still

Life's work on hold

I drop everything to grasp it all

Shock and confusion

It doesn't add up

Such is this very strange illusion 

Questions are mounting

It happened so fast

Sick of all those machines sounding 

Hope is now

The energy positive

Guiding you through the upsidown 

Hi Mom - You Made A Friend

Hi mom,

While you were finishing chemo treatment today, I was outside talking with Ethan. An elderly Chinese lady walked up to us and asked if we could help her with a computer problem to sign a document. She told us that she was battling the courts from being evicted from her home and she had to sign this online document but didn't know how. Lucky for her, she was asking the right people to help. So while Ethan accessed the situation to make sure it was safe, I glanced his way to make sure, then told her I'd be more than happy to help. 

I walked with her across the street to the building she lived in which was in bad shape and looked to be in a constant state of disrepair. She navigated to her apartment and opened the door. It was cramped, messy, and had a "unique" order. I sat down at the computer and she showed me the email. I printed the PDF for her and she signed her name.  I then used my phone to take a picture of it and then had to turn that picture back into a PDF file. I then sent that signed PDF to her email from my phone. 

She was very great full for the help. She told me a little more about her situation and her desire to learn more English at the school nearby for immigrants. The whole time I was thinking of you because I knew you would have been telling me that it wasn't just luck she bumped into me but that things happen for a reason. 

Before I left, I asked her to do one thing for me in return. Her eyes quickly focused with shock and curiosity. I told her about your cancer and asked that she keep you in her thoughts. 

A few minutes ago I received this email:

Hi Jordan,

After you left, I have been praying to God as long as I am available.  I Pray:  The name of the Jesus crisis, I pray for Jordan's mother she is very sick now.  Please, help her overcome this crisis.  Amen!

Regard

Joyce Dong