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

 

Triumphant Return to the Courts

A few months ago, right before Dad's surgery, we played racquetball with him one last time.  (We aren't professional but we sure have fun playing!).  I had to hold my tears back that day as I assumed that it would likely be the last time I played with him or at least last time for a very long time.  A week and a half ago, Dad was back on the court!!  Still gaining strength, agility and willingness to move from one spot, but nevertheless back on the court.

Pardon the pictures... I took these on my cell phone and it kept focusing on the glass wall instead of the players (who are from left to right... Evan, Dad, Pat and Mom).

It must be said that cancer is a pretty scary thing.  The thing that we don't always realize is the broad spectrum of outcomes that come from it.  I now know that all of the forums, internet research and websites are mostly filled with people who are or have a family member who are recently diagnosed or they are having complications and reach out for help online.  So, what ends up happening is that these newly diagnosed patients and their families are terrified because they are reading about everything that could possibly go wrong!!  I fell into the terrified category, that is for sure.  I should have known better.

Mostly I should have known better because I didn't look in the right place for the answers and comfort I was looking for.  I should have also known better because I am pretty sure almost everyone around me was in tune enough to realize that things would work out as they should even though I wasn't so sure.  I'm kind of dumb like that though... I am the type that has to do things the hard way to learn my lesson.  I have lived a life where the evidence that there is a God and He watches over me and all of us.  He knows us, is patient with us, heals us and teaches us.  A life like ours wouldn't make sense if He didn't exist.  All that being said, sometimes we (meaning me) need to reach beyond ourselves for answers and comfort.  It's there, waiting for us to ask.

---I don't usually get that personal on here, but it needed to be said.

Dad is doing so awesome.  Miraculous.  He eats like crazy (just smaller more frequent meals).  His biggest adjustment has just been realizing what is too much.  He says that he doesn't imagine it feels any different than if he were to have gastric bypass or something.

My parents went out and bought one of those posture-pedic (sp?) beds that both sides move up and down like a hospital bed.  Dad was told that he would always need to sleep elevated.  Dad told me a couple weeks ago that the bed is now laying almost flat when he sleeps.  So, I guess the bed will be most useful to incline while watching television I guess.  Dad has some gnarly scars-- I think I have expressed how cool I think those are already.

Next week Dad officially goes back to work.  It's time.  Last week when I took some girls from our church to camp he came up to visit with goody bags... Dad doesn't usually make goody bags and that is how I know for certain that he needs to go back to work. 

Life doesn't stop when life changing things happen in our lives.  I don't understand why as it is really frustrating to keep going on while you are in the thick of it all.  But I'm grateful life goes on and that we are now going to begin to return to a life of normalcy. 

Dad gets a scan done in August I think.  This type of cancer has a higher than average chance of coming back, but we are all feeling at peace and confident in what lies ahead.-- You know, for now. :)

In other news, my brother, Evan, joined the Navy.  Evan thought it was great when the people down at the recruitment center kissed up to Dad.  I think Dad enjoyed it too.  Nice to be respected, Dad doesn't get much respect from us kids :).

No News really is GOOD news

I haven't posted in a bit, sorry about that, but no news really is good news in this case.  Dad is doing awesome!!!  Can I just take a minute to say how amazing that is!? I'm talking miracles.  Due to my slightly controlling and obsessive personality I have done my fair share of research on the subject of esophageal cancer and heard all the statistics and the complications and all the "what ifs" and have sufficiently freaked myself out on a number of occasions.  To this I say to myself, "I should have listened to my dad".  It's true, I don't say that sort of thing all the time because frankly, I try not to listen to him, but he was right about all of this.  From the very beginning he treated this all like an inconvenience and a bump in the road and thus far, that's exactly what it's been.  Maybe the miracle was that Dad was right.

Recovery wise, the man is a champ.  He goes on outings each day, runs errands, etc.  He is eating... and I am not just talking a bite here and there, he has been wolfing food down!!  He does need to eat smaller meals (probably the size the rest of us SHOULD eat regularly) and he feels pretty dang full if he over eats, but he wants and needs to eat more often.  So, about every two hours he is on the hunt in the kitchen for something to dig into.  Since his whole digestive system has had a bit of a shock (taking out a portion of it could do that), he is still adjusting to its new...'schedule', but I think that would be typical with any major surgery... just adjusting to the differences in your body.  Dad is still getting fed through the feeding tube at night but plans on asking them if he can be finished with it at his next appointment because he is getting plenty of nutrition.  

Dad has also been hitting the gym with us on some mornings.  Sadly, he isn't in racquetball condition yet but he walks the treadmills.  It's good to see that he is being so proactive in his recovery.  It still makes me laugh how the nurses kept telling me that Dad must be in really good shape or when they asked me if he was an athlete.  SUUURRRRRE he is. Yesterday he wore some running pants that I had not seen him in since New Years.  Something mysterious happened... Dad lost his butt.  Someone must have stolen it... it may have been me.

His incisions look good-- I made sure to check them out myself last night during our dominoes marathon.  They hacked him up good but all the scabbing (ew) and stuff is all but off so I think the scars will be minimal eventually.  I still think they look awesome and wish I could get some scars but not have any surgeries or be hurt or in any pain to receive them.  Cosmetic scars?  Yeah, I doubt that will ever turn into a 'thing' people want.

Last week my uncle and aunt came to visit... I will post more about that next time (have to get some pictures from my mom) and I will also post about my parents new addition--- a new addition equipped with two remotes.  I know, I've got your mind reeling. 

Quick Update

Things are going great.  Dad went in on Tuesday for some testing to see if everything has been healing as it is supposed to.  So far so good.  He is having some pain in the incision in his back (he has one on his upper back and one across his stomach) but that is usually what is bothering him and what usually is prompting the pain meds.  The doctors biopsied all the esophagus and lymph nodes they took out during surgery.  They could see no cancer though one lymph node did have active cells which would categorize him as N1 (not a cancer stage... they won't probably ever claim "cancer free" but he is as close as they could hope anyone to be at this point).  The doctors didn't seem too worried about his as they took out all lymph nodes that they thought would possibly be infected so we're hopeful that this was the only one.

This particular cancer has a really high chance of either recurrence in the same area or somewhere else in the body.  Clear scans for 2 years is the biggest hurdle, 5 years is amazing and longer than that is the goal!  While this cancer does have a high chance of recurrence, judging how amazing Dad has done thus far, there is a high chance he will be in the percentage that never has it come back.  The doctors were incredibly impressed with Dad and his results so that certainly says a lot.

Right now Dad is enjoying a diet of liquids, soups and ding dongs.  I am not sure why ding dongs, but we all have our own cravings right?  So far so good.  He will still be being fed through the feeding tube but hopes to have that tapered off within the next 2-6 weeks.  The amount of time and amount of food he will be fed through it will decrease as he is able to eat more.  The good news is that he actually gained a little wait post surgery which is WONDERFUL... but I think he is still looking scrawny.... we'll get him bulked back up in no time!

Dad has been getting out each day.  He is supposed to do a lot of walking and he is also getting a little restless at home so the outings are helpful.  My mom says he is like a newborn, awake for a couple hours, sleeps for four hours, awake for a couple hours, sleeps for fours hours.

This weekend company comes into town (my dad's brother and his wife), my parents get their new bed delivered and our neighborhood pool opens!  Ok, that last one is the highlight of our little home's weekend but doesn't have anything to do with dad.  I doubt he will be going in the pool for quite awhile.  

Sorry for the lack of pictures... I'll get on that.

Home Now and Recovering Still

The picture below is of Dad right before leaving the hospital... Glorious day!  He is wearing his boring brown slippers... he could have had the green mop ones.  Whatever, my floors are sparkling now that I have been wearing them instead of him.

Dad is home now.  He had a rough night the first night as he was trying to get used to managing his pain without the epidural and hospital drugs.  He was also trying to figure out the j-tube pump that kept beeping (this is the feeding tube-- he has to be being fed for 16 hours each day).  The bags in the picture below are the bags that the brown liquid food is poured into.  The food goes directly into his intestine because his esophagus and stomach are still healing from the surgery and they need to make sure it seals without leaks.  That means he still hasn't eaten or had anything to drink since last Wednesday.  He will go in this next week for the appointment where he will drink barium and they'll be able to test his insides for leaks.

Here is Dad resting... and Toby.  Toby needs more sleep than Dad does.  Yesterday I was able to spend the day with Dad... well, sleeping while he slept.  I came over because I was in the midst of trying to pass some kidney stones-not fun.  Dad and I bumped hospital bracelets and Mom acted as Florence Nightengale tending to her sickly patients.  I think Dad is already restless of sitting inside all the time.  He was planning on going to a funeral today and perhaps to the store with my mom.  He has to take walks several times a day anyway, so I guess this is probably no different.  Don't worry, he has several of us breathing down his neck to make sure he is getting adequate rest.  Healing continues...