Peggy Byrne

We  learned of Peggy 's pancreatic cancer on January 8, 2018.  After a night of tears, we decided the next morning that we were going to beat this beast.  Biopsy confirmed the tumor was cancerous, and after her surgeon implanted a port for receiving chemo, Peggy began her chemo journey on February 1, 2018.  She was to receive 6 sessions of her chemo drugs.  A session is once a week for three weeks with one week off, then it starts again.  There's a blood test or marker for cancer.  The normal range is 38 or lower.  Peggy's first reading was 17,800 in January.  The marker was checked once a month during chemo.  The next test the reading was 8,900,  the next reading was 1,780.  The oncologist was very pleased with this number, but he was more excited about the next reading of 178.  However, her reading on May 3,  2018 was 30.  The chemo was working and Peggy was kicking the sh-t out of that tumor.  The next chemo was planned for May 17, but with  reading being within normal limits, the chemo stopped.  She only received 4 sessions, not the projected 6.  She met with the surgeon and scheduled surgery for June 26, 2018.


We cannot say enough good things about her medical team, Richard Hargas, MD, oncologist; Charles Scoggins, MD, oncology surgeon, Claudia Merideth, APRN, oncology nurse practitioner, and the whole team of nurses and care givers at the Norton Cancer Center-St. Matthews.


This past Tuesday Peggy underwent her surgery, Whipple procedure, at Norton-Children Hospital in downtown Louisville.  The surgeon was very pleased with how it went.  He said it went better and smoother than planned.  She will probably be in the hospital for a total of 7 days.  She's recovering nicely.  She sat in a chair 3 times today for an hour each time.  She also walked in the hallway three times today, so she's making progress.


Many of you expressed how could you help.  Evening meals would be greatly appreciated.  mealbaby.com/viewregistry/25246825 is our site where you can schedule an evening to provide a meal.  Thank you for your help and prayers through all of this.  We'll keep you updated through postings on this sight.