It is GREAT to be home!!!

I must apologize again for taking so long in getting a post.  We get so excited to come back and when we get back we are so excited to spend time as a family - that the blog does not get the update it deserves.  I know that many people check the blog and I really appreciate it.  I will do better at keeping it update - I will try at least.

The radioactive treatment was everything they had hoped it would be.  I glowed in the dark for a few days, slept six feet apart from Angela at night, avoided children and pregnant women - for about a week.  There was no leaking and no noticeable side effect - at least I have not noticed any.

We got the OK to fly and came home on Wednesday the 22nd.  We were not able to sit together on the plane but we suffered through it gracefully.  We got home and hugged and kissed the kids and were do glad to be with the family.  Annie was especially glad to see us, bless her heart.  The boys were even glad to see us even though they new life would have to return to normal.

Well, the plan for now is this:  I have 4 weeks off until the study is complete.  I have to do blood work and scans each week but no treatment.  Right after Thanksgiving I get to do 4 weeks of radiation to the abdomen.  There will be some nausea and diarrhea but only starting half way through the treatment.  I will get a week or two off then get radiation to the rest of the tumor sites (chest, neck, armpit, diaphragm).  Following that will be some maintenance chemotherapy to top the whole thing off.  I know you are jealous - but I will not trade it to anyone for anything,

We are so thankful for all that you do for us.  Our family would be in shambles without all the help, love, and support that you have given us.  Please keep praying for us and loving us - we need it and will do our best to reciprocate it.  We LOVE you!!

-Doug-

Hospital picture

Radioactive

I am sitting here in the hospital with warning signs on the door telling people I am radioactive - am I in some kind of movie or something?

It is amazing to think of all the ways they have of treating cancer.  As usual the staff here have been wonderful and caring. This is truly a great medical facility.

So, they gave me the treatment dose yesterday at 4:25 pm. It consisted of radioactive iodine attached to a protein (something harmless) that will in theory be attracted to the cancer cells. I will be on special precautions for a week.

They said that the big thing with radiation exposure is time and distance. The further away you are, the more time you can spend with the radioactive item or person. Each day my radiation levels will decrease as the iodine breaks down but mainly because it will be absorbed in my bowel and excreted in my waste. Needless to say, they are not having me save my urine to make sure I am getting enough liquid.

The good news is that if all goes well they said I could come home a week earlier than we had planned. We are hoping I can come home with Angela.

Thank you for all your prayers, love, and support. Your love and faith in our behalf have allowed us to get these treatments. Heavenly Father lives and loves each of us. He is in the details of our lives. He has been so merciful to us this year as we have pursued treatment. We hope to lift the burden of others while we are here. There are so many people that would embrace the gospel of it were only shown to them.

Thank you again for all your love and support.

Heading Into The Weekend

First of all,  I want to thank everyone for all the help, love and support that you have given our family.  We had to pull this trip together at the last minute and everyone stepped up and gave all that was needed to make this trip possible.  Thank you so much!!

I had my surgery on Friday and have recovered well.  The bowels got working just in time for me to leave the hospital and since then I have been prepping my abdominal cavity for the experimental treatment.  We do this by pushing in a certain amount of saline solution, let it sit for a while, then drain it out.  We started with 50 ml, then 250 ml, then 500 ml, and now 1 L.  The experimental medication dosage is going to be 2 L.    

This weekend, we will keep doing the filling and draining, then on Monday I will get a test dose.  They will then have me do scans on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.   If the scans are good, I will get the treatment dose on Thursday.  

Overall, things are going well.  The doctors are pleased with how things are progressing.  

My sister has been with me and has done a wonderful job in taking care of me.  I am so thankful to her and her husband for the time she has spent with me in NYC.  Angela will be coming this weekend to trade off my sister.  

We had a neat experience at dinner tonight.  We met a fellow Latter Day Saint.  She was here with her son who was getting treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital.  He came to a point where things did not look hopeful.  They came to New York for a different type of treatment.  Things are looking better and there is hope.  We talked about how the best thing about the gospel is peace.  No matter how discouraging things look, we can still have the peace that comes from trusting in Heavenly Father.  This is His plan that we are following.  We move forward, listening to the Spirit as we make decision and trust that whatever happened is His will,  

I struggled with this a little for this trip,  I kept wondering about the first attempt being cancelled and what it meant.  I was unsure of myself to make the decision again.  I had to realize that I did not know why things had happened the way they did, but that I needed to move forward.  For the same reasons as before, I chose to proceed with the experimental treatment.  The confirmation has come as things have fallen into place in amazing and miraculous ways.  

I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves us.  He is there waiting to comfort and guide us through life's trials and experiences.  Thanks again for all of your love and support.

Wonderful Conference Weekend

I never imagined that I would be watching general conference from a hospital bed.  It is a wondrous thing that we can watch it anywhere there is an internet connection.

The surgery went well. The doctor did not find anything unusual or concerning. There wasn't even very much scar tissue from the last surgery. The doctor was very pleased about how it went. It is nice to have a small incision that is glued together instead of a large incision stapled together.

I am able to eat clear liquids. We are waiting for my bowels to wake up. The hospital staff says I am doing really well. They are filling my abdomen with saline solution to get it ready for the experimental treatment. This is all new for many of the staff.

I was very grateful for the general conference messages. They filled me with hope and reminded me that I need to stay focused on the gospel during this time. I need to make sure I don't get consumed with myself and my own problems. I need to make sure I am still looking around me for people I can help and invite to come unto Christ.

Surgery Day

Well, we made it to NYC safely. I did drop a credit card on the way and thankfully someone turned it in to the ticket desk. However, I did drop my drivers license somewhere. I am praying for another miracle that it will be found and returned.

My sister Lisa is with me and will be taking care of me during surgery recovery. We flew in on Tuesday and have had a few days to show her around and do a bunch of walking before the surgery. I have been so blessed with such a wonderful family. Angela will be coming out on the 11th to trade off. I miss her.

They say I will be in the hospital 5 - 7 days. Hopefully I will heal quickly and be out sooner.

I am so thankful for all the love and support that we fill.  We are so blessed. Thank you all so much!