Free and Clear!

This week was Dad's check up which he will have every six months.  This includes PET scans and an endoscopy and some other things that will determine whether or not cancer has returned to his esophagus or other areas in his body.  

The tests came back, and wouldn't you know, Dad passed with flying colors.  There is no sign of cancer or sign of abnormalities (you know, besides the normal).  This is extremely exciting as his particular type of cancer is quite the beast and likes to rear its ugly head!  This is a milestone.  It seems like 2 years is a biggie and then the 5 year mark they will actually all him cancer free officially.  So, for now, it is just unofficial, but he remains cancer free!!!!  YEE HAW!

Small ordeal and new scans being performed this week!

I thought I would go ahead and do a follow up of my dad's post... I read posts from an EC site where people ask questions and give inspiration and hope to EC survivors and families of those affected by EC.  Reading these posts was both informative and beneficial but also terrifying!!  Most people send messages because they are experiencing complications or looking for new hope in a difficult situation, so as you can imagine, I find my dad's recovery to be nothing but miraculous.  Normally I don't like to boast about Dad because his head is already so inflated that it can hardly fit through the door, but I gotta say he really has handled this cancer thing like a rock star.  Dad is a 'matter of fact' kind of a guy and when a hurdle is in his way, he doesn't focus on how hard that hurdle is but only what the quickest and most efficient way to get over that hurdle is.  It's a perspective I need to gain, that's for sure!!

On my birthday last week, Dad was having a little chest pain-- he said it was hurting to take deep breaths.  Being the caring and loving daughter I am, I told him "Suck it up dad, it's my birthday! You just don't want me to whoop you in dominoes!"  -- Yeah, I know, I'm nice.  So, he sat and played dominoes and drank a smoothie and I didn't think much of it.  Then mom called Sunday morning to say he was in the ER because it really started hurting in the middle of the night.

What they found was that a wall of Dad's heart was looking a little swollen and there was some fluid built up.  It was quickly remedied by taking a pill which lessened the swelling and the fluid dissipated.  

Fluid build up is extremely common after surgeries as organs are reacting to the body being opened up and foreign objects being handled inside the body.  Dad will find out more specifics when he goes into the doctor this week, but it looks like something fairly common and a quick fix and he is back to himself again.

This week is a big week.  Dad goes in for all his testing that he will do every six months (I think) and will let us all know whether the cancer really has stayed away or not.  It's a scary thing as esophageal cancer does have a high recurrence rate.  However, one benefit to Dad's little ER overnighter was that they did a CT scan while he was there and that looked clear.  So, we aren't expecting anything but good news.  I will post more after the results come back next week.

Back to the grind-stone

I am making one of my rare guest appearances on my blog. It has been 3 months since my surgery. I have been back to work since the two month point, I must have stayed out just the right time because Maureen did not push me out the door (yet) and I was able to easily put in full days since the first day back. Two indicators that I was probably ready to get back at it. I think getting back to “normal routine” is a requisite for complete recovery. Since this last post (July 8^th), I have continued to wreak havoc on the Racquet ball courts and have been dropped from the invite list to play. Houston ’s weather is just too hot and humid to attempt any golf, but I am ready for the next cold front when the temperature drops below 90. I am planning on a 5K run by Thanksgiving – a family event.

 

A couple of weeks back my sixth grandchild was born. His name is Griffin and he is a handsome lad. Ironically he was born six months and a day from the day I was diagnosed with cancer and told I had as little as six months left, if I did nothing about it. Whew, am I glad I did something about it and boy am I glad that I had supremely skilled doctors and a heavy dose of fervent prayers from family, friends and friends of friends. Between the two, I’ll see Griffin grow up. Thank you all for that gift. Please don’t stop!!

Bill