This blog brought to you by the number 5…..

It’s hard to believe that we are five months in on this journey.  At times it seems so very much longer than that and other times it feels like it was only yesterday that we received the news of dad’s diagnosis.  I’m by no means into the study of numbers but it struck me funny that in the 5^th month of treatment we learned that our next step will be to undergo radiation 5 days a week for 5 weeks.    Could that be coincidence or could the number 5 be relevant in some way?

From the very beginning my prayer was for peace.  Peace to know that God was with us on this journey and that we would make it through.   P..E..A..C..E.   Hmm that’s 5 letters.

On this journey we have clung to our faith knowing that all things are possible with God.             F..A..I..T..H …. Another 5 letter word….

We have had to place our trust in God and his will.   T..R..U..S..T..   Yep..1, 2,3,4,5  five letters!

We are so thankful for his grace and mercy that he supplies to us in abundance…  M..E..R..C..Y..  and  G..R..A..C..E..    Are you seeing a pattern here?

These are much more than just 5 letter words to me…these words are significant in how we have coped and dealt with dad’s illness these last few months. Scriptures that I learned as a young girl have taking on new meaning and I have found myself seeking out scripture more during this time that speaks to our situation.  Scriptures from the Bible…which also just happens to be a five letter word.  So maybe there is something to the number 5??

What is relevant to us now is that we have successfully completed the first leg of our journey and we are so thankful for good results.  We are encouraged that dad will be taking the next step and going through with radiation.  We know this takes courage and we are so thankful that he is strong and willing to face whatever comes his way. 

I would like to think that as a family we can endure whatever comes our way and if there is a reason or purpose to this journey that we not only face it but we embrace it!  If it is to become closer, stronger in our faith, opponents in the fight against cancer then so be it.  I don’t want to look back at these past months as just a dark moment in time but a time that we came together for the good and positive in life.

So now we are off to battle radiation…it seems appropriate to note that when David went to battle Goliath he chose FIVE smooth stones to meet the giant enemy of Israel. 

(The number 5 again…just saying!)

Let us run the race that is before us and never give up.  Hebrews 12:1

Elvis (aka James) has left the building!

It's official!  Dad has left the building...also known as Harris Methodist Hospital for what is hopefully the last inpatient stay of his cancer treatment. In the last five months he has had a total of 8 hospital admissions.  He has undergone 3 CT scans, 6 MRI's, 1 brain & bone marrow biopsy, received chest port and omayya placement AND spent a total of 51 days in the hospital....including a few of the major holidays: New Years Eve & Day, Valentine's Day and Easter. 

This means he has had approximately 153 hospital meals, most of which were not anything to write home about.  (With the exception of one BBQ chicken meal that was not only delicious but was also 'hot' on arrival...a miracle considering it arrived two hours late!  And oh yeah, I can vouch for delicious since I had to taste test it..lol)   He endured 43 nights of broken sleep as nurses and techs made their way in and out of the room to take vitals and administer meds.  And I won't even attempt to number the trips to the bathroom while tethered to that cumbersome IV pole.

Needless to say, we are all very glad to say good-bye to this stage of treatment.  In hindsight, perhaps we should have documented  this last stay as his 'farewell tour'.  We will miss some of his nurses and caretakers and I daresay they will miss him.  He was told by one of the nurses upon discharge today that just because he wasn't coming back for treatment didn't mean he couldn't come back to visit.  I bet that was one of the nurses we liked!  :)

We now move forward to radiation. Just the word alone sounds a little scary and conjures up unpleasant thoughts.  The internet provides plenty of information on radiation...too much in fact!  It's interesting how much we are exposed to radiaion in our every day lives.  Anyway, perusing the internet for more information is pointless.  We will wait until our appointment with the Radiation oncologist to obtain the information we need specific to dad's case. 
One of dad's nurses gave rave reviews about the new oncologist which makes us feel pretty good already. 

In the meantime we enjoy the time at home.  

Warm and sunny days sitting on the patio....
Riding the John Deere mower over the yard...
Sleeping in a normal bed..that makes no noises and doesn't move....
Enjoying home cooked meals (at the right temperature)...
Computer access that is not tied to hospital's wi-fi... (lol)
Keeping an eye out on the neighborhood....
Taking in a grandson's baseball game...
Back to routine living...

Sometimes in routine living we take things, especially the small things, for granted.  I hope the time on this journey will continue to serve as a reminder to us to never take anything OR anyone for granted.  My goal is to enjoy every day for the gift that it is and remember not to sweat the small things but to give thanks for all things!

So let me close by saying I want to give thanks to all the friends and family who have shown their support to our family during this time.  Your support may have come in the form of visit, a card, a phone call, or even prayers.  For all things we are thankful! 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  ~Romans 12:12


Love,
Julie

Detour! (But not a dead end!)

So anyone who knows my family know that we are pretty experienced in long road trips!   Summer vacations and holidays to Arkansas, camping trips to Oklahoma, seeing family in Kansas,  and trips for weddings, funerals and reunions…you name it….we drive it!   As seasoned travelers we know how to prepare for trips.  We have packing down to a science…even if we do try to squeeze the kitchen sink in!  Loading the car and hitting the road is easy breezy…luggage, pillows, blankies, cd’s and snacks are all accounted for.   We travel the same routes and hit the same rest areas, gas stations and fast food joints.  Preparing for the trip is an important part of the journey but just as important is how we deal with the speed traps, road construction and detours.

We started on this journey with dad 5 months ago (to the date tomorrow).  This was not a trip we expected or even wanted to take….certainly not prepared for!  How do you prepare for a cancer diagnosis anyway?  You can’t…you don’t.  So just like those last minute or unexpected trips we have made in the past, we dropped everything to put our focus on this ‘trip’ and began preparing the best we knew how.  We gathered information, listened to the doctors and made sure to pack our faith!  This trip has not been without pot holes, speed bumps and as we are now experiencing a slight detour.

The doctor has confirmed today that he is 100% sure that the infection is shingles.  Great, poor dad cannot catch a break!  This means that chemotherapy will be delayed…again!  Once to procure the methotrexate and now to treat the shingles.  With a weakened immune system it is just not practical, or safe even, to move forward with the chemotherapy right now.  Thankfully he is in the hospital where the IV treatment can be administered and the situation can be monitored, but that doesn’t make him feel much better.     It doesn’t make me feel much better for that matter!  I want him to finish chemo, I want to be finished with radiation and I want the cancer to be gone!  I want dad to have a life not dreading trips to the hospital, not worried about labs, and certainly not worried about cancer.   I would prefer he worry about what he is going to wear to his oldest grandson’s graduation, what kind of girlfriend his middle grandson has and if his youngest grandson is ever going to get a haircut!  So as we continue on this trip we will try to embrace the smooth spots in the road and do our best to deal with the unexpected.

Speaking of unexpected… I never expected to write a blog…and certainly not for the reasons this one started.  I started this blog for personal reasons, one of which was the opportunity to share updates on dad's cancer treatment with friends and family.  Technology can be a gift that way!  Now that I have been introduced to the blogging world, I must admit to

being something of a blog 'stalker'.... in a good way of course!   One of my favorite blogs includes a separate place for Prayer Requests.   As I read some of the requests I was surprised to find so many stories similar to our own.  Of course we are not the first to face the challenges of cancer but it was somewhat comforting to know that we are not alone in our feelings and experiences.   On this journey there are ups and downs, good days and bad days, times when you prefer to be alonge and other times when someone's presence is welcomed.   There are times when you prefer to be quiet and other days when you can't talk enough.  That being said it makes it a little easier to understand why some people are not sure how to act around those that they know are struggling or going through a difficult time.  One blogger listed numerous things for people to say and/or do in these situations.   I won't replicate her list here but suffice it to say she was urging people to reach out to those in need.  I definitely plan to put her words into action when given the opportunity.  

Below is my personal list of Do's and Don'ts... I'll start with the Don'ts so I can wrap it up on a positive note!  :)

Dont's-  

• Please don't offer medical advice unless you have an MD, DO or other professional medical license following your name.   It may be hard to resist sharing from your own experiences but every situation is different.  Dad's treatment is unique to his illness. We are relying on the doctor(s) assigned to his case to provide us the best possible information regarding the treatment prescribed to him.  We make note of every detail and ask many, many questions.  Information that is not specific to his cancer type, location and treatment protocol can be dangerous and worrisome.  
• Don't wait to hear from us if you would like an update.  We welcome any calls, emails, facebook messaging, etc.
• Don't be discouraged if you haven't heard from us.  We try to keep family and friends updated using various means but between the four of us (James, Pat, Julie & Amy) we can't always keep straight who has talked to who!

Do's:

• Pray....we are very appreciative of all the prayers received...please keep them going.
• Feel free to call or visit!  Dad loves the company!

Pretty simple lists!  Basically put, don't be afraid to reach out...we will reach right back!

Our family is open to your prayers, support, and words of encouragement!

We are moving forward with positive attitude, encouraging thoughts and prayer!

Please excuse me now as I must EXIT...(Pun intended!)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  ~  Isaiah 41:10