Quick Dad Update:
Dad had an MRI yesterday and today we received the wonderful news of no changes, no indication of tumor growth- everything is stable! This is even compared to the MRI done over a year ago- everything appears stable and that is such amazing news!
Dad is thrilled to be off all treatments- his blood pressure is back to normal and he's been feeling better each day.
Thank you all for the continued thoughts and prayers, as Dad continues fighting to BTHO Brain Cancer!
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
In Honor Of Our Favorite Caregiver- Happy Birthday Mutz!
It takes a pretty special soul to be a caregiver for a loved one. Someone who takes the bad days in strides, and celebrates the good days as small victories. Someone who never cries while Dad is around, but instead shows great strength in moments when we all want to fall apart.
Who is this special soul? My favorite caregiver- my Mom, and everyone's favorite Mutz.
From day one she has told every doctor we've met that Dad is going to beat the odds- and he has. She has never crumbled or given up. She has never said she can't, but instead she continues to prove that she always can.
She had learned to do the yard work and work the pool equipment, pay the bills and manage Dad's appointments- she literally does it all.
There are moments when I'm not sure how she does it. Moments where anyone else would have given up and quit, but instead she continues with great strength, a big smile, and strong faith leading the way.
This weekend we celebrated 60 years for Mutz. 60 years where she's celebrated great moments of joy, but also profound sorrow. She's learned in these 60 years how to be a great wife, mother, sister and friend. She's also learned in these 60 years how to be a great caregiver.
She is probably going to read this post and call to tell me that she doesn't deserve this much credit, that she hasn't been all those things I wrote above (and more). And then I'll just laugh and tell her that if anything my words didn't accurately share the strength, faith, and love that she continues to provide to those around, especially to Dad.
(Look Mutz, I saved you a phone call right there!)
I wrote in her card for her birthday a quote that I think is so very accurate of her strength and determination:
"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together while everything seems to be falling apart, that is real strength."
And real strength is just one amazing quality she holds.
Who is this special soul? My favorite caregiver- my Mom, and everyone's favorite Mutz.
From day one she has told every doctor we've met that Dad is going to beat the odds- and he has. She has never crumbled or given up. She has never said she can't, but instead she continues to prove that she always can.
She had learned to do the yard work and work the pool equipment, pay the bills and manage Dad's appointments- she literally does it all.
There are moments when I'm not sure how she does it. Moments where anyone else would have given up and quit, but instead she continues with great strength, a big smile, and strong faith leading the way.
This weekend we celebrated 60 years for Mutz. 60 years where she's celebrated great moments of joy, but also profound sorrow. She's learned in these 60 years how to be a great wife, mother, sister and friend. She's also learned in these 60 years how to be a great caregiver.
She is probably going to read this post and call to tell me that she doesn't deserve this much credit, that she hasn't been all those things I wrote above (and more). And then I'll just laugh and tell her that if anything my words didn't accurately share the strength, faith, and love that she continues to provide to those around, especially to Dad.
(Look Mutz, I saved you a phone call right there!)
I wrote in her card for her birthday a quote that I think is so very accurate of her strength and determination:
"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing to do. But to hold it together while everything seems to be falling apart, that is real strength."
And real strength is just one amazing quality she holds.
Wishing Mutz a very happy 60th birthday and prayers for many more birthday celebrations!
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
3 Year Cancer-Versary. Dad Update 10/5/2016
October 5 will always hold a pretty important place in our hearts. On October 5, 2013 our entire world was turned upside down. And although we didn't know what exactly caused Dad's seizure that day- we consider this date Dad's "cancer-versary".
Three years.
Three years ago we were told the statistics associated with Dad's cancer- statistics that were not freely given to us, but statistics that were asked by Dad to our Neurosurgeon- 14.6 months. Approximately 20% of people diagnosed with Gliblastoma will survive three years.
Our hearts stopped.
I look back now and remember the fear that consumed me when I heard that my Dad would have just ONE year left in his lifetime.
How foolish of me to think that I had the right to limit God to statistics.
How foolish of me to think that His hand was not in the midst of our darkest days.
How foolish of me to not believe in miracles.
Because that is exactly what Dad is- a miracle. As Dad reaches his 3 year mark battling this beast, he is now considered a "long term survivor". My heart aches to read that line- it's something I fight for every day, to provide better treatment options and funding for brain cancer research. A "long term" survivor at three years is just not long enough.
And I could go back to that day and relive all the pain, anxiety and pure fear that was placed in my heart- but instead, I want to focus on the joy, faith, and HOPE we've experienced these last three years.
It's been three years of some good MRIs, and some not so great ones. It's been three years filled with great days, and really bad days. It's been three years filled with lots of laughter, and a lot of tears. I think it's safe to say we've been on a bit of a roller coaster these last three years.
We don't know what the next three years will have in store for us, much less the next three days. We are all too aware that our world can be turned upside down at any moment, but I think if anything God has used these last three years to prepare us for the possible difficult days ahead.
We've learned to appreciate the good, and find a way to be positive throughout the bad. We've learned that it's okay to cry and be fearful, but to trust in a much greater power. And we've learned that we have the strongest parents in the world. I'm not sure how we would have survived without the strength and determination of Dad, and the love, hope and faith of Mom.
I was recently telling a friend that during the first few months of Dad's diagnosis I was so incredibly angry. I spent so much time, and had so many conversations with God that were filled with anger and hate. And now, now I'm starting to realize what this journey is really about, and as much as cancer sucks, I feel pretty honored that God thought our family was strong enough to handle it all.
I just hope that we've made him proud throughout this journey.
We can't thank our friends and family enough for loving and supporting us throughout it all. We would have crumbled a long time ago if it wouldn't have been for the countless prayers, the endless meals, and the constant texts just to check in.
We've become a stronger family because of this- we have learned that the little things are the BIG things, we've learned that our faith is much BIGGER than this cancer, and we've learned that throughout it all, we really are blessed.
Dad has stopped taking all treatments- no more chemotherapy or Avastin treatment. He is feeling so much better and we are so thankful that this was an option we were given, that Dad is doing well enough to take a break from the medicine that was making him so incredibly sick.
Thank you all for the continued love and support, and thank you all for helping us BTHO Brain Cancer!
Three years.
Three years ago we were told the statistics associated with Dad's cancer- statistics that were not freely given to us, but statistics that were asked by Dad to our Neurosurgeon- 14.6 months. Approximately 20% of people diagnosed with Gliblastoma will survive three years.
Our hearts stopped.
I look back now and remember the fear that consumed me when I heard that my Dad would have just ONE year left in his lifetime.
How foolish of me to think that I had the right to limit God to statistics.
How foolish of me to think that His hand was not in the midst of our darkest days.
How foolish of me to not believe in miracles.
Because that is exactly what Dad is- a miracle. As Dad reaches his 3 year mark battling this beast, he is now considered a "long term survivor". My heart aches to read that line- it's something I fight for every day, to provide better treatment options and funding for brain cancer research. A "long term" survivor at three years is just not long enough.
And I could go back to that day and relive all the pain, anxiety and pure fear that was placed in my heart- but instead, I want to focus on the joy, faith, and HOPE we've experienced these last three years.
It's been three years of some good MRIs, and some not so great ones. It's been three years filled with great days, and really bad days. It's been three years filled with lots of laughter, and a lot of tears. I think it's safe to say we've been on a bit of a roller coaster these last three years.
We don't know what the next three years will have in store for us, much less the next three days. We are all too aware that our world can be turned upside down at any moment, but I think if anything God has used these last three years to prepare us for the possible difficult days ahead.
We've learned to appreciate the good, and find a way to be positive throughout the bad. We've learned that it's okay to cry and be fearful, but to trust in a much greater power. And we've learned that we have the strongest parents in the world. I'm not sure how we would have survived without the strength and determination of Dad, and the love, hope and faith of Mom.
I was recently telling a friend that during the first few months of Dad's diagnosis I was so incredibly angry. I spent so much time, and had so many conversations with God that were filled with anger and hate. And now, now I'm starting to realize what this journey is really about, and as much as cancer sucks, I feel pretty honored that God thought our family was strong enough to handle it all.
I just hope that we've made him proud throughout this journey.
We can't thank our friends and family enough for loving and supporting us throughout it all. We would have crumbled a long time ago if it wouldn't have been for the countless prayers, the endless meals, and the constant texts just to check in.
We've become a stronger family because of this- we have learned that the little things are the BIG things, we've learned that our faith is much BIGGER than this cancer, and we've learned that throughout it all, we really are blessed.
Dad has stopped taking all treatments- no more chemotherapy or Avastin treatment. He is feeling so much better and we are so thankful that this was an option we were given, that Dad is doing well enough to take a break from the medicine that was making him so incredibly sick.
Thank you all for the continued love and support, and thank you all for helping us BTHO Brain Cancer!
Here's to celebrating Dad being a cancer SURVIVOR for three years!
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