The year in review?
Maybe a little, but only to get you caught up....
My last few entries showed some improvement in things around here, but we took a horrible turn somewhere around September. We got verification that my Dad's cancer moved to his bones. The docs found 4 separate tumors, Dad continued to be hospitalized for fluid on his lung, he was having increasing pain and it appeared the chemo wasn't helping at all. By November, all the family was sure this would be our last Christmas with my Dad. My daughter was in complete denial even seeing my dad with a walker and weighing just over 120 pounds.
I've spent nearly every weekend at my parent's house and several weekdays rushing over when getting word Dad was again in the hospital. My friend Lar wanted to make sure she got to see my Dad too, so she has made a couple additional trips with me and the kid. It has been breaking my heart thinking that we'd eventually have to put my dad in assisted living soon.
His last rounds of chemo ended in mid October and the oncologist was working with the tumor board to discuss continued treatment. Chemo was still the preferred treatment, but it was obvious the last cocktail wasn't working. He did well on his original chemo 7 years ago, so they decided to look into one of the drugs they used back then. That treatment was brutal on him, but it eradicated the cancer. The decision was made to use the same drug, but deliver each treatment over 3 weeks instead of 5 days. After the first 3 week treatment, blood work came back.... NORMAL! WTF? We're all in disbelief. Even the oncologist can't explain it. Plus, my Dad is feeling better than he has in months. We don't want to get our hopes up, but it's looking positive so far.
We needed this good news just before the holiday since my friend Lar and her hubby lost their 2nd kitty to the same rare squamous cell carcinoma they lost their first kitty to just 6 months earlier. Then they went through their 2nd round of IVF and didn't even conceive this time.
At least personally things have been slowly getting better. The kid is doing well in school and I got a fantabulous end of the year review at work. I took my Mom in for cataract surgery on Tuesday and she's so thrilled she finally got it done. We had it scheduled for a month ago, but her blood pressure spiked (more than likely due to all the stress with Dad) and had to be delayed until her doc could get the bp under control. She is so excited to be able to see again.
And, now it is the holiday break. My last day of work was yesterday, I'm done with Christmas shopping and I am looking forward to just relaxing.
Oh... and thanks to everybody who sent me cards this year. I know I've been dreadfully absent. It made me feel so good to know you all are still thinking about me. Love you guys! *glomps*
My last few entries showed some improvement in things around here, but we took a horrible turn somewhere around September. We got verification that my Dad's cancer moved to his bones. The docs found 4 separate tumors, Dad continued to be hospitalized for fluid on his lung, he was having increasing pain and it appeared the chemo wasn't helping at all. By November, all the family was sure this would be our last Christmas with my Dad. My daughter was in complete denial even seeing my dad with a walker and weighing just over 120 pounds.
I've spent nearly every weekend at my parent's house and several weekdays rushing over when getting word Dad was again in the hospital. My friend Lar wanted to make sure she got to see my Dad too, so she has made a couple additional trips with me and the kid. It has been breaking my heart thinking that we'd eventually have to put my dad in assisted living soon.
His last rounds of chemo ended in mid October and the oncologist was working with the tumor board to discuss continued treatment. Chemo was still the preferred treatment, but it was obvious the last cocktail wasn't working. He did well on his original chemo 7 years ago, so they decided to look into one of the drugs they used back then. That treatment was brutal on him, but it eradicated the cancer. The decision was made to use the same drug, but deliver each treatment over 3 weeks instead of 5 days. After the first 3 week treatment, blood work came back.... NORMAL! WTF? We're all in disbelief. Even the oncologist can't explain it. Plus, my Dad is feeling better than he has in months. We don't want to get our hopes up, but it's looking positive so far.
We needed this good news just before the holiday since my friend Lar and her hubby lost their 2nd kitty to the same rare squamous cell carcinoma they lost their first kitty to just 6 months earlier. Then they went through their 2nd round of IVF and didn't even conceive this time.
At least personally things have been slowly getting better. The kid is doing well in school and I got a fantabulous end of the year review at work. I took my Mom in for cataract surgery on Tuesday and she's so thrilled she finally got it done. We had it scheduled for a month ago, but her blood pressure spiked (more than likely due to all the stress with Dad) and had to be delayed until her doc could get the bp under control. She is so excited to be able to see again.
And, now it is the holiday break. My last day of work was yesterday, I'm done with Christmas shopping and I am looking forward to just relaxing.
Oh... and thanks to everybody who sent me cards this year. I know I've been dreadfully absent. It made me feel so good to know you all are still thinking about me. Love you guys! *glomps*