What A Week It's Been. Dad Update 9/2/2016

Let me first start by sharing that Dad's MRI did not show any tumor growth or any changes from our last MRI. The cancer is NOT back!

To say we are all a bit shocked, would be an understatement- as I was preparing for appointments with another doctor and had started researching clinical trials offered by this particular doctor in Austin. 

Many have asked us how we knew something wasn't right with Dad, so I thought I would share how in just four short days we thought our world was falling apart- how four "short" days have felt so much longer and left each of us physically and emotionally exhausted. 

On Monday, Dad fell. This fall wasn't exactly abnormal by any means, as with the two brain surgeries and radiation treatment, he has some right side weakness- but he was able to get himself back up and was able to tell Mom about it later. Monday wasn't a great day, but it wasn't terrible. But then there was Tuesday...

Tuesday Mom tried to get Dad up, but he was just so incredibly tired and so incredibly weak. With Dad off of the chemotherapy, this was unusual and Mom gave me a call. I came home and stayed with Dad all afternoon while Mom finished up some meetings at work, just to make sure he didn't fall again or have any other issues. He honestly seemed okay Tuesday afternoon. But Tuesday night was a different story. 

My sister made dinner and went over to Mom & Dad's house, where Dad had some extreme right side weakness, and was constantly dropping his fork at dinner. We all started getting a bit more concerned, as it seemed as though everything was getting worse.

And then Wednesday morning I received a call from my other sister that something was clearly wrong with Dad- between the right side weakness getting worse, his speech basically unable to be understood and him being even more confused- I made a call to the Cancer Clinic to figure out what we should do. 

My mind flashed back to almost three years ago when I made a similar call, except that time barely able to be understood as I sobbed on the phone. This time, I was way too calm for my own liking- but I like to think my faith has grown TREMENDOUSLY these last three years- and before making that call, I gave it all up to God. I talked to the nurses and Dr. Fleener and we decided to move up the MRI- we all had the same concern, that the tumor was back. 

Wednesday was difficult, as Dad was so incredibly weak, his speech was nothing that I could understand, and he was doing things that were not logical at all. I found myself having to stop Dad from doing things that he would never do, and try to explain to someone, who couldn't reason at all, why he shouldn't be doing something. There were so many times I wanted to just break down and cry, as I felt like I was seeing my Dad slowly slip away. 

I left Wednesday evening and my mind was racing in a million different directions. I knew something wasn't right, and I refused to not be prepared for the tumor to have returned. Thursday was spent getting things in order at Mom & Dad's, as I wasn't sure what appointments and treatment would be in our future, but I wanted everything to be ready for us to be busy focusing on Dad. 

By Wednesday night, Dad was acting normal again- no right side weakness, speech completely back to normal, and his confusion almost gone. I didn't know what to think, as when he was initially diagnosed he had a seizure on a Saturday, but we didn't find out until later the next week it was from a tumor, and he didn't have another seizure between the initial seizure and the surgery- so was this a similar situation? Would Dad be bad one minute and completely normal the next because of a new tumor? 

Thursday seemed a bit like a blur, as we waited patiently (ok, I wasn't exactly patient) for the results to come in from the MRI. With the yard work all complete, house cleaned, laundry done, and grocery store trip made- we sat and waited as Dad went to his MRI appointment. Time seems to go by so incredibly slow when you're waiting for results. But the results came back and all was clear- no cancer, no changes. 

I can't explain why there is no tumor growth, but turning to my devotional almost seemed TOO perfect for today:
"...When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only natural occurrences and 'coincidences'..."

We aren't sure what exactly was going on with Dad these last few days, although we are concerned it could have been a few mini-strokes he experienced- and sadly when you're up against something like Glioblastoma, a mini-stroke(s) is a relief. Dad's IV treatment can cause strokes, so we will discuss today IF this treatment will stop due to everything Dad has been experiencing. 

I can't thank each of you enough for the countless thoughts and prayers being sent our way, we witnessed the power of prayer this week and we are so thankful for another miracle in Dad's cancer fight.