"Being grateful in times of distress does NOT mean we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present day challenges. This is not a gratitude of the lips, but of the soul. It heals the heart and expands the mind. Being grateful IN our circumstances is an act of faith in God. Gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life, but trusting that one day we will."
-Dieter F Uchtdorf
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May 19, 2014
MONDAY
We had a big scare today. Dad had his usual lab, CT scans, and his visit with the doctor before chemotherapy. At first, the PA and the oncologist saw the scans and said that the two target tumors that they're measuring, looked the same but they also told us that we had to wait for a formal report from the radiologist before they approved the continuation of chemotherapy. I naturally worried because they usually just send us to infusion and they still let Dick proceed with the chemotherapy and give us the formal report a day or two later. It was way after 5 pm and we were still waiting for the results. Finally his oncologist came in and said that the clinical trial (chemo) had to be stopped because they found a new growth that looked suspicious. My stomach fell to the floor and I don't know what's Dad's stomach did, but I did notice how pale he was as he turned to look at me. I don't remember much of what the doctor said except for, "Let's not continue the chemo... Why don't you go home and we'll schedule you for a colonoscopy and see what it shows. We can also schedule a biopsy and see if it's the same cancer." She then went to visit with the oncology surgeon that performed Dick's last surgery. When she came back she said that he wasn't very worried. She advised us to have a CT scan in 3 weeks instead of 6. Then if the new growth increased, they would biopsy it. I was thinking I wanted the growth biopsied right then and there because I don't want the chance of a new tumor growing but she reassured us that the oncology surgeon wasn't too worried. As we were leaving the room, the gentleman that's in charge of the clinical trial noticed we were both feeling a bit melancholy and said, "I do have some good news! The two target tumors we've been keeping track of shrunk another 12%!" Dick was really happy and asked him if it was possible to have them shrinking and have a new one show up. He told us that it was possible unfortunately. Dick has so much faith that all will be well and that it isn't a tumor. Hopefully it's scar tissue because it is in the same area where they disconnected the bowel during surgery and where they reconnected it again. These next three weeks are going to feel like an eternity! Dick didn't get chemo today because by the time we got out of the doctor's office, the pharmacy was closed and they couldn't mix his chemotherapy. He will start Cycle 21 tomorrow instead.
We ran into one of Dick's high school friend's, DeAnn Johnson. She's been living in Vegas and teaches there. She has also been fighting breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. After the school year, she moved back to Logan where she's from. She's decided she wants to have her treatments at the Huntsman. The doctors at Huntsman told her that the chemo they were using on her in Vegas was 20 years old and it shouldn't have been used for her type of breast cancer. They started her on a different kind of chemo now. She told us her cancer has spread too, but like my husband, she has so much faith and takes it one day at a time.
TUESDAY
We met up with DeAnn again before chemo. While Dick had his infusion, she sat by him and they had a good visit.
We had dinner with my sweet friend, Leanna, and Brianna's best friend, Amanda Lopez.
When Dad read his fortune, this is what he said,
"CT's are unreliable. No worries."
He is such a joy!
WEDNESDAY
I've been feeling terribly sick. My blood pressure has been out of control these past few days. I called my Dr. in Burley and they've added a new B/P medication.
I hate that feeling of a VERY tight turtle neck around my neck!
After I took the new medication, I felt so much better.
Dick, Leanna, and I met DeAnn Johnson and her friend at a Mexican restaurant. On our way out the door we took this picture.
I love it!
THURSDAY
Normally on Thursdays, Dick would be getting his immunotherapy and we'd be headed out of town but instead he had chemo because we are a day behind.
After his infusion, we went to the pharmacy and picked up his immunotherapy shot. It has to be given 24 hours after his last infusion so we thought we'd take it to Burley and I could give it to him. A $9000.00 shot in our car from Utah to Idaho is
P-R-E-T-T-Y scary!
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This is the final report from the radiologist. I kind of wish I hadn't read it and just went along with the oncology surgeon's thoughts.
Lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, sarcoma... they're all not good.
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We hurried home and made it just in time for Deacon's end of the year program. He had 2 solo's. One of his songs was my very favorite song. You are My Sunshine. (Also, one of my mother's favorite songs.) His singing was so loud and clear!
He did an awesome job!
We all went to a pizza buffet to celebrate and when we came home this is what happened. They love to wrestle!
I think they missed each other.
Congratulations Deacon.
You did a fabulous job! I was so proud of you when you sang.
4 years old.
