Dad Update: 3/12/2014

Exactly one week until Dad has another MRI and next Friday we will get the results. One week. The stress and worry I am already feeling is overwhelming, yet we still have one week. One week where my family and I will need prayers (lots of prayers!) prayers for good results, prayers for calming and prayers that Dad feels well.

We have started to notice a pattern with Dad's chemo treatment- it seems like the week of his treatment he is EXTREMELY tired, but does not feel sick at all, but the following week (more like 10 days) are filled with nausea and extreme cold-spells. We are trying to regulate anti-nausea medicine, and trying other types, in hopes we can figure out which ones work best for Dad. It's been a more difficult and challenging week for Dad than we were hoping for, but we have to take the good with the bad and try to smile through it all! We stay positive for Dad. From day #1 we have promised to never cry in front of Dad, and we don't- we stay strong, positive and determined, all for him!

The chemo treatment is all by pill, which has allowed less time on the road for both Mom and Dad, and has allowed us to get back to a somewhat 'normal' life, a 'normal' life without appointments daily, radiation treatment daily, etc, a life that is becoming our new normal. The treatment Dad took while going through radiation was every day (7 days a week), while the chemo he is currently on is only 5 days on- then 23 days off. These 5 days involve a double dose of the chemo he was getting during his initial treatment, which is why the side effects seem to be more intense. This schedule of treatment (5 days on, 23 days off) will continue for about 6 months- thankfully we are 2 months down. Dad is a little discouraged by the length of this treatment, but I remind him how blessed we are that there is chemo for this type of cancer, and how blessed we are that he has not been nearly as sick as many people going through the same type of treatment. Once the 6 months are over, he will continue to take the chemo medication, although it will not be as frequent- which is great news to Dad!

After Dad's next MRI, we will be on more of a schedule for upcoming MRI's- as they will be approximately every 3 months, depending on what the results look like next week. 

This has been such a learning experience for me. A learning experience that I'm not sure I was ready for at age 26, a learning experience that I'm not sure anyone is ever ready for no matter what age. I've learned about billing and insurance, medication and cancer treatment, short term disability and social security disability, and I've learned about patience (or at least I'm really trying!). 

Dad still struggles with some speech and cognitive skills, but all in all, he's come so far! I don't think people really know what to expect when they see or talk with Dad- as he hasn't lost a lot of weight (just some, but I think that's from the lack of beer!), and he still has most of his hair (some has fallen out due to the radiation)- but he's still Lar! He continues on this path of getting stronger and stronger each day, and he's put us on this path which has made each of us stronger each and every day. I'm so proud of him and how far he has come, and I'm so proud of his attitude throughout it all.

Praying for good results next Friday and praying Dad continues to BTHO Cancer!

*There is still time to join our 'BTHO Brain Cancer' team, order a 'Team Lar' t-shirt or make a donation to 'Run For The Rose' supporting Brain Cancer research. Visit our team page http://runfortherose.racepartner.com/Run-for-the-rose/bthobraincancer or send me an email (glenzwhitney@gmail.com) for more information about any of the items above. Thank you all for your continued love and support!*