day 26

Mike has had a good day today, He ate a very good breakfast,lunch and dinner.It is just so odd how some days are good and some are not so good we do chemo in 3 more days that will be an all day thing, I hope he stays strong and continues to fight as hard as ever. We went to get a christmas tree today me & mema was going to get a small tree for the counter, Mike was not having that we ended up with a 6 foot tree. We will try to get it up in the next couple of days. Keep us in your prayers. We love and miss everyone.

day 25

Mike is not feeling to good he has no energy and is just very weak.We took Jessie,Debbie and Tyrone to the airport today and we cried.We had a great time spending time with or family for Thanksgiving.Corey will be coming out in a couple of weeks and we are excited about that. Debbie, Kay, Jennifer and Margie are coming out also. So that helps his spirit alot.I think Mike's blood count is down, I tried to call his Dr. today but they were not there I think he needs some more IV drugs to give him strength. We miss everyone, keep us un your prayers.We love all of you.

day 24

Today Mike has not been feeling to good @ all.The nurse came his blood pressure is better than last week but his stomach tube is not looking to good. He is not eating like he should and the dr. wants him up to 4 cans of the nutritional milk put in his tube but he can hardly tolarate 2 cans a day. We have enjoyed our family being here but they will leave tommorow and it will be a sad day they fly out tommorow.We were going to watch the christmas parade downtown and he got sick so we came home for him to rest. We Love and miss everyone keep us in your prayers.

day 23

Today Mike was not feeling to good we went to eat Thanksgiving dinner @ Lubby's it was a buffet and he hardly ate anything.Then we took Shane his nephew to the airport to go back to GA.Then we went to Riverwalk and walked around and he started getting tired so we came home.His stomach tube looks like it is getting infected so I will call the dr. tommorow to check to see what we have to do. Keep the prayers coming we love and miss everyone.

day 22

Mike felt pretty good today. Went to Alamo walked around got some good exercise.He started getting tired which they said the chemo and radation would do that.We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving we miss and love everyone.

day 21

Today has been a pretty good day he has started new meds for his mouth he has an infection and the radation is burning his mouth really bad. The meds may interfere with his other meds and efect his breathing so cross your fingers and pray it has no side effects on him. We are up to 2 cans of his protein drinks a day we have to feed thru his stomach tube the drs. goal is 6 cans a day. We go to chemo next week so keep us in your prayers. We miss and love everyone.

day 20

Mike had a pretty good day he has started getting nauseated some but I give him meds for that and it seems to help. We went to Bass pro shop and walked some today. Then walked some @ the mall and pretty much tired us all out not just Mike. We got some cards in the mail from people from our church and they are all so sweet.Went to dr. and Mike has lost 3 more pounds.
Keep the prayers coming we miss and love everyone.

day 19

Today was agod day. We have tried to start him on the feeding tube he is not to happy about that.We went to River walk and the Alamo today,our family made it in late last nightthey drove16 hours straight to get here and they made it safe.Mike got sick late this afternoon and is feeling kinda tired. He still has a bad infection in his mouth I will ask the dr. tommorow about it. We miss and love all of you. Keep us in your prayers please.

day 18

Mike is feeling a little tired today.The nurse came out and showed me how to startmfeeding him thru his stomach tube. He still is not happy about it but it will help with his weight.Our daughter Jessie and ,Mike's sister Debbie and her husband Tyrone and nephew Shane are on their way out they are driving our car so we can turn in the rent a car.Then they will fly home next Sat. So we are very excited to see them.His spirit is really up the past few days so that is awesome.Keep the prayers coiming we miss everyone and Love yall to.

day 17

Today has been agood day so far. Mike is kinda ill somtimes or should I say short tempered.His nurse will come out tommorow and show me how to start feeding him thru the feeding tube so maybe he will not keep losing weight. i am going to post an e-mail our niece Jennifer Ward has sent out to family and friends.Keep all os us in your prayers and we do chemo againg on Dec. 3rd & Dec, 24 and radation is every day but Sat. and Sunday. here is the e-mail Jennifer sent out.


Dear Friends and Family of Michael Hicks, For those of you that do not know who I am, I am Jennifer Ward, the niece(Debbie's daughter) of Mike Hicks. I believe everyone is aware of the unfortunate diagnosis that Uncle Mike was given several weeks ago. If so, you are also aware of the long and hard journey that he has begun to fight it. He, my aunt Missy and my Meemaw took off a little over two weeks ago to Texas to begin treatments. He has left behind many loved ones that are on his team fighting with him as well. A lot of you have read his blog and have kept updated on how his trip has been going. A great deal of people have seemed very concerned leaving emotional and sincere thoughts and prayers. I cannot express how touching it is to read all the messages and how thankful I am that he has so many people here at home cheering him on. All the messages have not only been good for him, but also for my Aunt Missy and Meemaw as well. It is good for them to hear words of encouragement from home. As the blog has read, Uncle Mike has already experienced some really tough days and we know there will be many more ahead, but, at the same time we believe that it is all your prayers that have helped him through it so far. Please keep the prayers coming. He is going to beat this battle and we are all going to help! The road to recovery is not going to be easy, but as we all know, Uncle Mike is a fighter....a tough ole' fella that is going to be hard to beat! I am not only emailing to say thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, but also to let everyone know about a donation account that I have set up in his name. As you all know, they are going to be in Texas for at least 2 months. That means 2 months they will be out of work. I believe it is times like these that family and friends need to get together and help each other. My husband and I began planning a fundraiser, but being they are in Texas and all friends and family are scattered everywhere else, we thought this would be easier to do. The account is at Bank of America. The account number is 334020112959. If you want to donate anything, you can make the deposit yourself at any Bank of America. You may also send it to me at 2486 Warwick Highway Ashburn, Georgia 31714 and I will make the deposit for you. If you want your amount and name listed, you may email (jenward567@yahoo.com)or mail it or leave it on the blog (www.hicksfamilynews.blogspot.com). I will be sending all messages I get by email to Aunt Missy. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers! Sincerely, Jennifer WardP.S. Please send this to anyone in your mailbox that you think would be interested in helping them out.

day 16

Today was so much better Mike acts like a different person today.We went to see chemo dr. said blood count looked good also said to keep eye on his weight may have to start using feeding tube soon.Mike is no happy about that but I think Mema and me can over rule on that one.We rode for a couple hours today went got new meds filled,man all the meds he is taking is starting to run together. Keep praying for us and we miss all of you.

day 15

Mike was sick all night last night trhowing up all night long.We called the chemo dr. they told us to bring him in and they started IV fluids @ 8am this morning he got them for about 3 hours,and some nausea meds IV also. After that he want to go get his head shaved so we did.Then he actually want KFC so he ate alittle bit and keep it down. He will not take the amafostine shot before radation any more they think that on top of his chemo made him so deathly sick. He has lost from 204 to 191 since last Wend. (he atrted out @ 228) So we may have to start using the stomach tube sooner than we thought.He lokks better tonight so all your prayers are surley helping keep them coming. We love and miss all of you.

day 14

Another bad day,Mike's blood pressure is still very very low.Dr gave new meds for infection in his mouth today.He is very sick has been in bed all day today has been very nauesated and can not keep anything down.I called chemo dr. wants us to bring him in tommorow after radation to give him IV fluids and meds thru his veins to keep him from dehydrating. Mike's spirits are really down, I have been with him 21 years and never ever seen him like this. Please, pray for him to be strong thru the tough roads ahead of us. We love and miss everyone

day 13

Today has been Mike's worse day yet.We went to radation they started to give him the shot to help save his saliva glands(Each shot cost$561.00 and they plan on giving it every day with radation) they checked his blood pressure it was 90/60 the nurse had to ask the dr. about giving it to him because one of the side effects is it lowers your blood pressure,they went a head and gave it to him took is blood pressure 15 mints. later and it was 84/56. We had to stay until they got his blood pressure up alittle when we left it was 96/58.Mike has been on high blood pressure meds for about 2 years now. Anyway he came to the apartment and went to bed and has been there all day.This is so scary he was feeling good yesterday then today he has been so sick.I want to thank all of you for your prayers and comments this is really helping us alot. Please as always keep him in your prayers we love and miss everyone.

day 12

Mike had a good day today. he is still complaining about things not tasting or smelling right. He ate a pretty good breakfast this morning. We went to walk some @ Walmart and he got tired pretty quick. We are trying to get him to eat as much as possible,the more he eats the dr. say the better he will be.We start radation again tommorow he will go every day this week. We are so ready to come home we miss and love everyone. Keep us in your prayers.

day 11

Today we went to the forbidden caverns and walked about an hour and 10 mints.They were very awesome and it tired us out but we made the whole tour.We went to craker barrel and he ate half of his meatloaf,greens and mashed potatoes. He did really good today we got back to the aparment around 3pm and he has layed around most the afternoon. He acts like he feels alot better today.I hope this continues, the dr. said the chemo would last in his system for 21 days and he would have good ones and bad ones. We are praying for him to keep strong and healthy so they can continue treatments. Keep us in your prayers we miss and love all of you!!!!

day 10

Mike went to stomach dr. today still waiting on biopsy on esophagus.Went to radation, he said things are starting to taste funny his taste and smell is starting to change, which the dr. said it would.He acts like he is feeling better today he has eaten alot better.We went to walmart and walked around for about an hour or so.The dr. told him to try to stay active so we are trying to walk him some every day. Keep the posting and prayers coming. Miss and love all of you.

day 9

Mike went to radation today. The chemo kicked in today he is not feeling good, not eating or drinking hardly anything.He is really nasuated and tired.We went out to the mall to walk some and he walked a little but he started getting sick,if he has not eaten anything by in the morning we will have to take him back to chemo dr. to get IV fluids so he will not dehydrate.I hope and pray he gets to feeling better it is not like him to be like this.EVERYONE PLEASE KEEP PRAYER GOING FOR HIM!!!! We miss everyone and love all of you.

day 8

Today has been a rough day Mike had his first radation and then had to go to chemo for 6 hours straight. They told him he will loose his hair in a week or so and will keep a check on his blood count to make sure his white blood cells and red blood cells are where they need to be.Just being curious I guess he ask them today @ chemo without treatmeant how long would he have lived and they told him 6 months so we are really blessed that we caught it when we did. He has been really ill and hurting but that is to be expected.We love and miss everyone just keep praying love yall......

day 7

We went this morning @ 6am to get Mike's stomach tube(peg) put in they had to go down his throat and into his esphougas to make sure they got the tube in the right place, while doing that they found some lesions in the esphougas and did biopsy's on this to see if it is cancer.He is hurting really bad he ate a good lunch but not very hungry tonite.Well we start radation & chemo tommorow keep him in your prayers.We miss and love everyone please keep the posting coming in it really makes his day when I read this to him everyday.

day 6

We went to chemo dr. today to do blood work went to get meds. for his nausea for chemo 6 pills cost $630.00 but with our ins. we only paid $35.oo he has to have these 6 pills every time they do chemo.Mike has been eating better the last couple days and now weighs 204 has lost from 228. We are trying to make him eat as much as possible to keep him strong.He has not been sick today and actually worked on the phone alittle tonite.If you would like tocall us the apt. # is 210-314-8173. We love and miss everyone.

day 5

Things are still about the same we went to take Debbie and Margie to airport today that was really sad I wish they could have been here longer we love and miss them. Mike ate a really good breakfast and supper today so that was a good thing. We misss and love all of our friends and family and hope this 8 weeks will fly by and Mike will be cured and we can come home. Please keep us in your prayers everyday!
We miss and love all of you.......

day 4

Mike got his new teeth today and we went to the Alamo he had a pretty good day just really tired alot and still having alot of pain and nausea.His sister Debbie's birthday was today and he got up really early and went and bought her a cake and dozen Roses. That was so sweet. Mike has lost 18 pounds so we are trying to make him eat as much as possible.We have been in the apartment for several days and are getting things unpacked and settling in. This city is so big and hard toget use to traffic is horrible we are very bleesed his dr.s are about 3 miles from us. We miss and love everyone Keep us in your prayers.

day 3

Things getting alittle crazy here so many dr. appoiments they are running together.Went to dentist today for new teeth that Mike lost in toliet when he got sick then flushed them by accident. He is in alot of pain and has good days and bad ones also. He will go for stomach tube on Tuesday then the ball will start rolling. will be here @ least 8 weeks is what dr. is saying. Please keep us in your prayers.

day 2

Went to chemo dr. today will start chemo and radation Tuesday, dr.said 60% sucess rate.He also said will possibly lose some hearing also will lose his hair. He will have low blood count so will be very easliy to get sick from anything, his immune system will drop really low and will be very tired alot. We had a hard day today we pray for a better one tommorow. We miss and love everyone keep us in your prayers.

day one

Hey everyone made it to Texas saw the radiation doctor today will see chemo doctor tommorow. Mike is doing ok having some pain in his throat and mouth Dr. gave new medications so maybe his pain will become more tolerable. The Dr. seems to think there is an 80% cure rate so that is awesome. Will hopefully start radiation on Monday or Tuesday. Keep us in your prayers. We miss everyone.

WELCOME!

Thank you for visiting our blog! We have created HicksFamilyNews as a way to stay in touch with our family and friends and keep each of you informed of the events and progress during Mikes cancer treatment. In advance, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your thoughts and prayers.


Mike, Missy, Corey and Jessie