Betty Elder Betty Elder's Journey

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting and visit mom's GO FUND ME page for additional ways to help!!!

Betty Elder was "officially" diagnosed with Stage 2 esophageal cancer in December, 2016, after having an endoscopy back in September, 2016., that showed some bad cells.  Her and dad decided to have one done since they had never had one AND their doctor was retiring at the end of the year!!  I mean, really, who does that?? Anyway, after several endoscopies were performed in September, November and finally in December, it was revealed that she had cancer at the junction of the stomach and esophagus and in one of the lymph nodes located near the esophagus.  All of these test were done in San Antonio and at the PERSISTANT ENCOURAGEMENT ( and by that, I mean, insisting!!) of her three children, Kenny, Jeffrey and Debra, we had our first appointment at MD Anderson on December 16, 2016. The  kids wanted mom to have the best care possible and for them to be closer to family during this time.  After more tests and appointments, the diagnosis was confirmed and the journey began. 

Mom will begin her treatments on Monday, January 9, 2016  at the MD Anderson facility in Katy, Texas.  During this time, she and dad will be staying with their son, Kenny, and his family who also live in Katy.  She will be under going radiation everyday Monday - Friday. Chemotherapy Infusions one time per week and she will also be having a "chemo drip" that she will carry with her everyday for 24 hours a day Monday - Friday.  These treatments will last for approximately 6 weeks. 

Although mom and dad will be staying with Kenny and Beth.....Sara Beth, their grand daughter, who is a cancer survivor herself, will be there to help.  Their grandson, Russell and his wife, Dana, also live in the area.  Debra, their daughter, lives in La Grange and their son, Jeffrey, lives in Austin and will be helping with appointments, organizing and support as well.

When mom was diagnosed and we were going to all of the doctors in San Antonio and at MD Anderson, they kept asking what symptoms she had that made her go to the doctor.  Mom would say....I wasn't having any.....I just went to have an endoscopy done because my doctor was retiring!!!  They could not believe that this cancer was caught so early on and she was not having any symptoms. 

My motto for mom's journey is simple......"God walked her TO the doctor, He will walk her THROUGH it!!!!!"

Mom and dad have so many family and friends who are praying and supporting them and we wanted everyone to have an avenue to keep up with their journey.  As most people know, when a person has cancer, although it physically affects the person with cancer, it emotionally affects everyone around them.  Mom and dad will need your prayers, encouragement and love now and in the weeks to come.  Feel free to leave any messages here, call them or text them!!!  They would love to hear from you.