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