Week 2

It's Friday evening, and we've made it through the second week of treatments.  The schedule has been radiation 12-12:15 Monday through Friday, and labs and chemo for about three hours on Tuesday, and a visit with the radiation oncologist on Thursdays.  Last weekend and this week has been a bit tough as Dad hasn't been able to eat/drink much or keep much down (not an unexpected result of chemo and especially radiation) and so this Tuesday had an extra hour to give him a liter of fluids through the IV.  Dad had his port placed on Wednesday this week and there was some concern because his heart rate plunged at one point.  They assume it's a combination of the anesthetic they gave and the fact that he is dehydrated, so he got another liter and a half of IV fluids on Wednesday.   He had another two liters of fluids again today (Friday) after radiation, with an order to allow him to get more on Sunday if needed.  These fluids are helping him to get hydrated, and we notice a difference after he's had them, but unfortunately he's not getting a whole lot of nutrition from it.  Because of that Dad's scheduled to have a feeding tube placed next week.  Mom and Dad will meet with the surgeon on Monday to discuss options and verify the procedure as it's a bit different from the typical since they don't want to go through the stomach since they will be doing surgery there to "pull up" the stomach when they remove the esophagus later this summer. 

So nothing is too far from what the doctors and nurses expect, and we're all learning how this all works.  Please continue to pray for Dad, especially for strength and the ability to keep some fluid and nutrition down.  He's tired, as you might expect, but still keeping on with many things.  He replaced the garbage disposal earlier this week, he and I walked a mile and a half this morning before radiation, and he's continuing to try to teach me how to use my side mirrors to back into the garage (a losing battle I'm afraid, but we'll continue to fight the good fight at least until one of those side mirrors ends up on the garage floor.)

Mom asks that I thank the many of you that have sent such encouraging notes and comments.  They mean so much to all of us.  She asked that I let you know that some day she will respond to you directly to let you know just how much.  She's practicing as I type this and I'm hearing a beautiful version of "Day by day" while Dad is working on his sermon for Sunday, or e-bay transactions, not quite sure which.

We're looking forward to the weekend, a day of rest and preparation tomorrow, with church on Sunday.  I'm hoping to get a few hours of work time in tomorrow as Monday will likely be a full day in Everett.

First Day

Today was Dad's first day of chemo and first day of radiation. Both seemed to go OK and Dad was able to drive himself back to Stanwood.  He'll go back again tomorrow for another dose of radiation, but it's only supposed to be a 10-15 min procedure.  Radiation will be every weekday for 28 days.  Chemo is a total of 6 rounds, one day a week.   Dad will have some tests (PET scan and pulmonary function test) and meet with the surgeon again in early August to see where he's at after the treatments and will schedule surgery accordingly.

I booked my ticket today for Washington for next Tuesday (June 19) and am planning on spending the next couple of months out there to help with driving and whatever else needs doing.  The ticket I got for a week away was a better deal than anything else for the next 4 weeks.  I met tonight with a good friend from college, Bobbi Jo and her husband Willi who just moved to town this weekend but can't close on the house they bought until August 1, and so it is almost scary the timing and how it will work out ideally for all of us for them to have a place, and me to have someone house sit for the next month and a half.  I think we worked it out for them to "move in" Sunday afternoon, and then I'll fly out early Tuesday morning.
 
Things are moving quickly here but so many things falling into place that I know God has arranged events long before we even knew the word adenocarcinoma.  It is truly great to see His hand at work, and such a reminder that he is in control in all situations.  I'll post more when I get out to Washington or when I  know more.  Is there anything in particular you're wondering about or would like me to address here?  If so, leave a comment and let me/us know.

June

Things are progressing quickly in Washington. Dad met with Radiation Oncology yesterday in Everett and did the preparatory work to start radiation next Monday (June 11) and chemo on Tuesday (June 12) both in Everett. They meet with the thoracic surgeon at the University of Washington in Seattle tomorrow and will probably know more about dates for surgery then. The rest of this week includes a liver scan and larynx scope to both rule out spread of the cancer and do some imaging prior to radiation.

Dad’s still feeling pretty good overall, although as much trouble with eating as always, and still not always sure what’s going to work for food from one day to the next. Oncology told him yesterday that it’s likely he’ll feel OK going through stuff next week, and that if he’s feeling OK in the morning when he comes in, he’ll likely feel the same as he leaves, potentially enough to drive.

I (Sara) am hoping to be cleared to work from “home” which will allow me to be out in WA this summer and still put my hours in. I am so grateful that I have this new job that started in January that really does allow me to do what I do from anywhere, and even really anytime. Not quite sure yet how it will all play out, but starting to look at tickets for the end of June.