Woo hoo!
I talked to my dad today. His surgery went well and although he's sore and uncomfortable, he's in good spirits. The doctor is 99.9999% convinced the cancer was completely contained in the prostate and is certain the pathology report is going to confirm it.
Here in "real life" I had several people express sympathy for me when I said my dad had cancer, but then, when I said it was prostate cancer, would say, "Oh, well, that's an easy one. It's curable. It's nothing." Let me tell you right now, that is the wrong thing to say. It might sound encouraging, but it's not. I used to think that of melanoma, but in this last week, I've heard of two people who've passed away from it. I will never "pass off" melanoma again. I will never "pass off" any form of cancer.
Cancer is cancer, folks. The word scares the crap out of ya. Our family has been through cancer before, but it's not been in my immediate immediate family before. Dad's seen his brother die a painful death from it. Today he told me he had been scared that he wasn't going to ever see Kylie again. I let her talk a blue streak to him. He said it did his spirit good to hear her.
Oh, poo. I'm misting up and just rambling here. I guess I just want to thank all of you for not poo-pooing this and sending good thoughts and prayers our way as our family dealt with this and grandma's passing. To tell the truth, I think our family is now feeling like a huuuuge burden has been lifted. It's been a long journey with Grandma and Grandpa and as mom says, they are safe in the arms of Jesus now and Dad's in the clear. We can take a deep breath and move on.
Dad says there's no word on when the memorial will be. He says it's up to him and me. I said to just tell me when to come and I will. Hopefully they'll give me some notice, though. =D Right now I can get tickets for me and Kylie for under $1000. That's half what I usually pay. O.O
And, for the obligatory Kylie story: We've determined that she is, in fact, my daughter. I turned on PBS's showing of Anne of Green Gables while she brushed her teeth and when she came down and saw it, we couldn't pull her from it. She followed right along, learning names and the story and asking questions. She was devastated when we made her go to bed, promising to buy the DVD at some point. I showed her my porcelain Anne doll and she wanted to know when it was going to be hers (great... only 4 and already plotting her inheritance). I think a return trip to PEI is a definite must. I will return; oh, yes, I will return. =D
Here in "real life" I had several people express sympathy for me when I said my dad had cancer, but then, when I said it was prostate cancer, would say, "Oh, well, that's an easy one. It's curable. It's nothing." Let me tell you right now, that is the wrong thing to say. It might sound encouraging, but it's not. I used to think that of melanoma, but in this last week, I've heard of two people who've passed away from it. I will never "pass off" melanoma again. I will never "pass off" any form of cancer.
Cancer is cancer, folks. The word scares the crap out of ya. Our family has been through cancer before, but it's not been in my immediate immediate family before. Dad's seen his brother die a painful death from it. Today he told me he had been scared that he wasn't going to ever see Kylie again. I let her talk a blue streak to him. He said it did his spirit good to hear her.
Oh, poo. I'm misting up and just rambling here. I guess I just want to thank all of you for not poo-pooing this and sending good thoughts and prayers our way as our family dealt with this and grandma's passing. To tell the truth, I think our family is now feeling like a huuuuge burden has been lifted. It's been a long journey with Grandma and Grandpa and as mom says, they are safe in the arms of Jesus now and Dad's in the clear. We can take a deep breath and move on.
Dad says there's no word on when the memorial will be. He says it's up to him and me. I said to just tell me when to come and I will. Hopefully they'll give me some notice, though. =D Right now I can get tickets for me and Kylie for under $1000. That's half what I usually pay. O.O
And, for the obligatory Kylie story: We've determined that she is, in fact, my daughter. I turned on PBS's showing of Anne of Green Gables while she brushed her teeth and when she came down and saw it, we couldn't pull her from it. She followed right along, learning names and the story and asking questions. She was devastated when we made her go to bed, promising to buy the DVD at some point. I showed her my porcelain Anne doll and she wanted to know when it was going to be hers (great... only 4 and already plotting her inheritance). I think a return trip to PEI is a definite must. I will return; oh, yes, I will return. =D