Mike's Obituary

Elwood Vern "Mike" Metzler, 58, of 1837 Gabler Rd., Chambersburg, PA, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 31, 2008, at his home.

Born Sunday, December 18, 1949, in Altoona, PA, he was the son of the late Paul F. Metzler and the late Irene A. Clapper Stone.

He attended the Scotland School for Veterans' Children, and was employed with Gabler Trucking, Inc. in Chambersburg, PA for 30 1/2 years. He was a member of the First Church of God in Chambersburg and associate member of the V.F.W.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years Judy Arlene Metzler, a daughter, Michelle L. Williams & husband Dean of State Line, PA; one son, Michael L. Metzler of Jacksonville, FL; two sisters, Ethel Jean Harmon of Chambersburg, PA and Pauline Kriner of Chambersburg, PA; two grandchildren, Kayla Brooke Williams of State Line, PA and Austin Jon Williams of State Line, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held for the family on Thursday, September 4, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Chambersburg, PA with the Rev. Charles P. Frank officiating.

There will be no viewing or visitation.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Elwood V. Metzler to:

Patriot Federal Credit Union
Attn: Mail Teller
P.O. Box 778
Chambersburg, PA 17201

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home, 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD. Online condolences may be expressed at http://douglasfiery.com/obitDetail.aspx?id=177.

Mike's Final Days Are Here...

Wow - I can't believe it has been almost three months since I updated this blog. I apologize to those of you out there who have been using this as a means to keep up with Mike's cancer journey.

Mike has been unable to beat his cancer, but it hasn't taken him easily. Mike is now in a coma and while he doesn't talk or anything, the nurse says that he can hear us. Judy has been extremely strong and she has been surrounded by her family and friends over this past week.

Mike was still walking and talking until earlier this past week. I believe it was sometime Wednesday that he went into what the nurse is calling "a coma" and she had said then that he probably wouldn't make it through the night. He didn't have a blood pressure or anything. But then the next day he had his blood pressure back and he is still hanging on.

Mike & Judy's daughter, Michelle, has been staying with Judy and other family members are there on and off throughout the days and evenings.

It is a really sad time right now but Mike wouldn't want us to be sad for him. He is just that type of person.

O Praise Him Video & Lyrics

We sing this song quite often in church and I really like it...



Turn your ear
To Heaven and hear
The noise inside
The sound of angels
The sound of angel¡¯s songs
And all this for a King
We could join and sing
"All to Christ the King!"

How constant
How divine
This song of ours will rise
Oh, how constant
How divine
This love of ours will rise
Will rise...

CHORUS:
O praise Him!
O praise Him!
He is Holy!
He is Holy, yeah!

Turn your gaze
To Heaven and raise
A joyous noise
Oh, the sound of salvation come
The sound of rescued ones
And all this for a king
Angles join to sing
"All for Christ the King!"

CHORUS [2x]

Oh la la la la la...

O pra-ise Him!
O pra-ise Him!
He is Ho-ly!
He is Ho-ly!

How infininte and sweet
This love so rescuing
Oh how infinitely sweet
This great love that has redeemed
As one, we sing...

"Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
He is Ho-ly!
He is Ho-ly!" [2x]

O pra-ise Him!
O pra-ise Him!
He is Ho-ly!
He is Ho-ly!

Oh, La la la la la la...

"Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
He is Ho-ly!
He is Ho-ly!"

O pra-ise Him!
O pra-ise Him!
He is Ho-ly!
He is Ho-ly!

Oh la la la la la la...

Check Out These Neat Pictures!

I received an email today from my stepdaughter with all of these really cool pictures. At the end is the Lord's Prayer...

Off To Florida Soon!

Mike and Judy are planning on traveling to Florida to see Mikie in a couple of weeks. They are taking Kayla and Austin, the grandkids, along to visit. Hopefully a change of scenery will do Mike some good.

Mike's pain has gotten worse and his pain pills and pain patch have been increased. Judy said at night she can hear him moaning from the pain.

He won't know until sometime in July if the cancer is better, worse or in remission. We are praying for better and remission. Mike doesn't look like himself any longer. He is extremely thin.

We just continue to ask for prayers and lots of love for Mike.

Sunday Activities and Pain Increases

Yesterday was a busy day for the family. Our daughter was baptized and then after lunch we helped Mike & Judy get their yard sale items down to my mother-in-law's house. Next weekend is the annual yard sale in my MIL's neighborhood. It was a beautiful Sunday and it was a great day to spend time together.

Mike is ornery as ever and was in a good mood yesterday. His pain is getting worse and he has had to increase his pain pills from two a day to four a day. He is also wearing a morphine patch. He has been having severe pain in his ribs and back and Judy thought maybe he cracked a rib carrying two 50-lb. bags of sand up to the swimming pool. He had tests done and they found that he didn't crack anything.

Mike said his iron levels have went back up some. He seemed to eat pretty good at lunch yesterday, too.

Testify to Love

All the colors of the rainbow
All of voices of the wind
Every dream that reaches out
That reaches out to find where love begins
Every word of every story
Every star in every sky
Every corner of creation lives to testify

For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love
I'll be a witness in the silences when words are not enough
With every breath I take I will give thanks to God above
For as long as I shall live
I will testify to love

From the mountains to the valleys
From the rivers to the sea
Every hand that reaches out
Every hand that reaches out to offer peace
Every simple act of mercy
Every step to kingdom come
All the Hope in every heart will speak what love has done

Chorus
Chorus

Two Cups of Coffee

I received this below from Judy via email and thought it was really neat. I wanted to share it here...

Subject: 2 CUPS OF COFFEE
A MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much too handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front
of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the
students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then
asked the students again if the jar was full they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into t he jar. Of
course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar
was full. The students responded with a unanimous yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space
between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the
important things- your God, family, your children, your health, your
friends, and your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost
and only they remained your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and
your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room
for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small
stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with
your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to
dinner.
Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the
disposal."

Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set
your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee
represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no
matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups
of coffee with a friend."

Judy's Email on Mike

Here is the latest update on how Mike is doing. Judy sent this email out earlier this week:

Hi everyone. Sorry I didn't get this out sooner but we have been really busy and I just forgot to send this out. Mike saw the Dr. on Fri. the 11th of April. He gained another 2 lbs. He is anemic so he will be getting a shot every Fri. until his count comes back up.

He sees the Dr. again on 5/23/08. He has blood work done on 5/01/08 and again on 5/22/08 if his count isn't up on 5/01/08. This is part of the reason he is so tired. So maybe after his blood count goes up he may not get as tired.

The Dr. told us that Mike won't be able to go back to work until he has the PT scan which won't be until sometime in July. He was hoping this Dr. (chemo) would tell him he could go back to driving & to work. The radiation Dr. is the first Dr. that told him he couldn't work or drive. He has 8 weeks of chemo & than he will have blood work done to see if his tumor count came back down.He is keeping busy helping get ready for yard sales. Plus he has mowed the yard & is getting the pool ready for the summer. Now that it is getting a little warmer outside he finds things to do out there. But he does find time to take nap during the day. He has been going to Justin's (our nephew) volleyball games and soon he will be going to other family members softball & baseball games. This will help to occupy some of his time. He likes sports. Plus having our grandchildren here sure helps us alot too. I guess I have covered everything for now. Thanks for all your prayers.

Love always,

Judy

Mike's Our Hero!

Anyone living daily with cancer is a hero and Mike is no exception! Of course, to all of us he is a hero for many more reasons. His kindness, unselfishness, giving and carefree attitude and spirit is amazing to us all!

The Family Together Again!

Saturday my husband and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary with over 50 of our friends and family in attendance. We renewed our wedding vows, danced, ate and had a great time.

Mike, Judy and Austin surprised us by showing up and it was great having them there. They had previously had plans but they fell through at the last minute so they were able to join us.

I kind of knew though that they would be there - that's just how she and Mike are. I had this feeling that somehow they would show up and they did!

It has been a while since I had seen Mike so yesterday was the first time I saw him without any hair at all. When I asked him how he was doing he said he was hanging in there and was going to the doctor this week. He had to walk outside a couple of times during the party because of his dry heaves.

My brother-in-law, Bobby, and sister-in-law, Chris had us all laughing hard with their dance moves. They are very entertaining. They like to shake their booty! We had a fun day and it was great having everyone together again!

The video above is the Keeper of the Stars that Bill and I have always said was our song. We forgot to play it yesterday, though so here it is now!

Mike Went to Doctor's Today

Mike had his doctor's appointment and he was rather disappointed when he left. The doctor told him that he can not return to work for at least another 2 - 3 months. He has to have another pet scan but they can't do the scan for another 2 - 3 months due to all of the radiation in his body. He's still not allowed to drive either.

The good news is that Mike gained a pound and he is feeling pretty good.

Keep saying prayers for Mike, as not being able to work is really hard for him.

Donations For Mike

Mike has been unable to work for quite a while now and it is still unknown whether he will be able to go back anytime soon. He is the income provider for him and Judy, so with only short-term disability coming in, I'm sure it's starting to get financially tight. If you would like to make a donation, just click on the Donate button below and you will be taken to a secure Paypal site where you can do just that!

We thank everyone who has made contributions for Mike. The support has been greatly appreciated.

Inspiration For Today...

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Every one needs to be heard
You are loved

Cold

Judy said Mike is having trouble staying warm. He's been trying to keep busy around the house to help pass the time. They have been working on cleaning out their basement and doing some other needed chores so at least he has something to do. She said they work a while then rest a while.

Mike hopes he can go back to work soon once he's able to drive. It's hard for Mike to not work. That's all he's ever done is work constantly. His body needs the time off though.

Comments on Moderation

I have had to put comments on moderation because people have been posting spammy links and stuff on here and I don't want anyone clicking on anything that could lead to a virus.

Mike Has FInished Radiation

Mike has now finished his radiation treatments. He has lost a total of 12 more pounds, though so they are hoping to have some weight back on him by the time he goes back to see the doctor on March 31st.

Judy says that he is feeling better and he is able to use his right hand now but he still doesn't have a lot of strength in it. He still cannot work, but even though that is hard for Mike not do work, it is probably for the best. He needs a lot of time to gain some strength and taking a break will be good for his body.

The doctor says that he cannot go back to work until he is able to drive again. He is hoping that by the end of the month when he sees the doctor he will be allowed to drive.

Leap of Faith

I talked to Mike this morning for a minute. He sounded pretty good over the phone. As always, he never lets on how he really feels.

Mike had tests done today on his brain and neck to see if the radiation has shrunk or gotten rid of the cancer. He will find out the results from those on Monday.

Yesterday and today were good days for Mike but earlier this week he was having a rough time of it. He has been sleeping a lot, which is not surprising considering what all he is going through.

Judy said with him being off of work it has been difficult for Mike because he has a lot more time now to think. They are hoping after they talk to the doctor on Monday that he will be allowed to go back to work and just do some really light duty stuff. His employers have been wonderful to him and they will take care of him. He needs something to do though - that's just the type of person Mike is.

Mike's Hand

Earlier this week Mike found out what was going on with his right hand. The doctor says the problems he is having is most likely coming from a lymph node in his neck that is cancerous.

It's not a new cancer area, though. A while back when they found out the cancer was in his spine there were three lymph nodes that were cancerous with one of them being in his neck.

On Wednesday, Mike started radiation treatments on his brain as well as his neck. He will have a total of 10 treatments on his neck that may cause him to temporarily lose his voice and he will probably get a sore throat.

Right now Judy is trying to keep Mike eating so that he doesn't lose anymore weight.

Mike's New Treatments

Mike started radiation treatments for the cancer in his brain and he will go five days a week for the next three weeks. He is not able to drive or work during this time.

They are giving him radiation on the entire brain to prevent any further spreading of the cancer cells.

The doctor isn't sure what is causing Mike to lose the use of his right hand. They will be donig another MRI to find out what's going on there.

As I receive updates, I will keep you posted.

Please keep the prayers coming!

Cancer Is In Mike's Brain

Mike had a doctor's appointment yesterday and he found out that the cancer has spread to his brain. The MRI showed a very small spot that has been affected.

Judy said she was scared to death yesterday when Mike came home for lunch. She said one minute he was eating soup and the next minute, his head was on the table and he was sound asleep. She made him go to bed and told him he was not going back to work. I guess he slept most of the day then and the doctor said that if she was not able to wake up Mike, or if he woke up and was not making sense or was confused, he would have to go to the ER.

Mike is now on medication to try and reduce the swelling on his brain. If they are able to get the swelling reduced, he will have radiation. She said today he is doing better than what he was yesterday except he was up with diarrhea a lot last night.

Bill stopped to talk to Mike on Thursday night and Mike said that he can no longer drive the big trucks at work because he doesn't have the strength.

Mike needs everyones prayers now more than ever so please continue to pray and pass it on.

Evolution of Dance - Funny Video!

The comedian in this video has gotten over 74 million views with this You Tube video. Watch and you will see why!

Mike's Doctor's Appointment Today

Mike had his doctor's appointment today. Here is the latest news from Judy:



We just got back from the Drs. Mike's tumor count went up again. It is now at 201.6. The blood counts are low. He is in a lot of pain so the Dr. put him on a patch for pain. He starts that today. The Dr. wants to try another Chemo called Xeloda. This is in tablet form. He will take it for two weeks and off for one week & then back on it for two weeks & off for one week.

We don't know how long he will be on this drug. We are waiting to hear from the Ins. Co. to see if they will cover this drug. The Cancer Center is dealing with our Ins. so we don't know when he will be able to start taking the drug. The Cancer Center will get back to us as soon as they hear from the Ins. Co. The drug will be sent to our home. It will be nice for Mike that he won't have to sit for hours with an IV in is hand.

He was having back side effects from the last Chemo drug. His hand looked like a burn. The Dr. told us today that it will go through stages. His hand was real red and than it got a white crusty look as if you put a paste of baking soda on his hand. Then his hand started peeling. It doesn't look as bad now just like dry skin.

Please keep him in your prayers. Also pray that the Ins. will cover some of the cost of the drug.

The Joys Of Being Bald...In Honor Of Mike's New Shiny Head

Judy said last night that Mike's hair is gone so in honor of the new bald Mike, I have a video I want you to see...






Mike, don't worry about being hairless. There are plenty of famous people who are bald...



Dr. Phil McGraw...

Yul Brenner...

Britney Spears...(although I wouldn't recommend aspiring to be like her!)

Mr. Clean...

Bald Quotes...

"Experience is a comb which nature gives to men when they are bald."

"Better a bald head than no head at all."

"I don't consider myself bald - I'm just taller than my hair."

“Hey, believe me. Baldness will catch on. When the aliens come, who do you think they’re gonna relate to?”

Fix It

I have a "fix it" attitude. When something is wrong with someone I care about, I have this instant urge to jump into action and to try and fix the situation. I guess this is common among us control freaks! It's like that with Mike. I just want to fix him and make him better. But the only thing I can do is pray. With cancer, there is no way for me or anyone else on earth to fix it.

I'm sure Judy, Mikie, Michelle and the rest of the family are feeling the same way. We just continue to pray and hope that the Lord's will is to get Mike through this battle.

Mike's Blood Test Results

Mike had his doctor's appointment yesterday and his news was not good. His "tumor count" went from 72 back up to 192. Before that, his count was 298. His other blood work counts are low but that is due to the chemo. On February 7th he will have more blood tests run. If his counts for his regular blood work do not improve, he will not be able to have his chemotherapy treatments until they go back up.

If his tumor count goes up again, the doctors are going to try a different type of chemo. Judy says that Mike is getting weaker, but he continues to go to work each day. It would probably benefit him greatly to cut his hours back. He needs to build up some strength and reserve what little energy he has to get well. The doctor says it is okay for him to continue working, though.

Please keep Mike in your prayers.

Infection

Mike is doing pretty good. Right now he has an infection in his left hand and wrist area and he is on antibiotics.

This Friday, Mike will have blood work done to check his tumor count and kidneys. If all is well with that, he will then have chemotherapy.

Please pray that Mike gets good news from his blood work!

Facts About Cancer of the Esophagus

Mike's cancer has been a shock to everyone. I thought I would share some facts about esophagus cancer that you may not know.

The wall of the esophagus has several layers. Cancer of the esophagus starts from the inner layer and grows outward.

Long-term reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus sets up a special problem. It can change the cells in the lower end of the esophagus. They become more like the cells that line the stomach. These changed cells produce a condition called Barrett esophagus. The altered cells can change into cancer, so they should be closely watched by a doctor.

There are two main types of esophagus cancer: Squamous cell and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell cancer grows form the top layer of the lining of the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma starts near the opening to the stomach. This type of cancer cannot start unless squamous cells have been changed by acid reflux.

In 2007, the American Cancer Society estimated there would be approximately 15,560 new cases of esophagus cancer. This cancer is 3 to 4 times more common among men than among women and 50% more common among African Americans than among whites.

The cause of esophagus cancer is unknown but there are risk factors that make this type of cancer more likely. The person's age (typically in people over 40), sex (men are 3x more likely than woman to get type of cancer), history of heartburn, tobacco and alcohol use, obesity and very hot liquids are all risk factors. Diets that don’t include enough fruits or vegetables and certain minerals and vitamins can raise the risk of this cancer.

The Cancer Society says that at this time there is no sure way to prevent esophagus cancer. Some lifestyle changes that can decrease your risks include avoiding alcohol and tobacco, eating fruits and vegetables (raw), and maintaining a healthy weight. Some studies have found that the risk can be lowered in people who take aspirin or other drugs such as ibuprofen that reduce inflammation.

Source: American Cancer Society

I Apologize For The Lapse In Posting

Sorry I haven't posted for a week. A week is exactly how long I have been having severe CFS symptoms. My headaches are so bad I can't hardly stand to keep my eyes open, so once I am able to function properly again, I will back to my regular posting.

I talked to Judy for a few minutes last week and Mike is feeling better than what he was. The chemotherapy treatments are really hard on him and I believe he has three sessions left in this cycle.

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that we have entered a new year! Where did 2007 go? Each year continues to go faster. With each new year comes hope, motivation and expectations of a brighter, happier and healthier year. It is common for many people to make new year's resolutions but usually by March the motivation has worn off and old habits set back in. It doesn't have to be this way, though!

For a little something different on here I thought I would post the top 10 new year's resolutions people make from an article on About.com:

Spend more time with family and friends. A poll showed that over 50% of Americans yearly vow to spend more time with family and friends and to appreciate them more.

Fitness changes. A common resolution most people make is to exercise more, eat less and to eat healthier.

Lose weight. Probably the most popular resolution of all. Over 65% of Americans are considered overweight, so no wonder why this is the most popular!

Quit smoking. This is a very smart resolution and a healthy one if you are able to kick the smoking habit! There are many resources available to help people quit and your lungs and heart will thank you! Your family will also thank you for no longer smelling like an ashtray.

Enjoy life more. How easy that is to say, but not as easy to do! Americans are so stressed out, it isn't any wonder heart attacks and heart disease are on the rise. Find a hobby you enjoy to de-stress, take on less responsibility at work and enjoy your family more when you come home.

Quit drinking. For the social drinker, this may be an easy resolution to keep. For someone who has a drinking problem, they need further support and help from local groups, such as AA. There are still too many drunk drivers on the road killing innocent people.

Get out of debt. If you are spending more than you are making, or if your credit cards are maxed out, then you definitely need this resolution! Learn how to budget your money and always ask yourself before spending if the item is a "need" or a "want". It you don't need it, don't buy it.

Learn something new. This is something I do. I like to learn and try new things so each year I attempt something I have never done before. It doesn't have to be anything big but it can be fulfilling to accomplish it!

Volunteer. There are many organizations, charities and hospitals who are always looking for volunteers. Volunteer a few hours a week to make a difference in someones life.

Improve organizational skills. My husband needs to make this a resolution! I can't stand walking downstairs into "his" room - it is a disaster area but I'm not allowed to touch it! I love to organize and if your house or a room is out of control, break the task down into small sections. Trying to tackle the whole room or house at once can be overwhelming and you will end up not accomplishing anything. Make a list for each room and follow the list, checking off each task as it is completed.