Chemo Week. Dad Update 11/3/2015

Chemo week has started for Dad, and the look on his face when he's reminded that he will be taking those pills for 5 consecutive nights absolutely breaks my heart. I wish there was a way I could take away his pain, the side effects, and the discouragement of chemo week. But unfortunately, I can't take away his treatment option- as it's been working so well these last 2 years to stop any tumor growth- but what I can do is to try to make him smile. I can try to help him look forward to each day, even if that day involves more chemotherapy. So, we've started a new tradition (you know us Aggies love tradition!) for Dad's chemo week....

Each day of the week, Dad gets a letter with some sort of "treat". These treats range from $5 movie gift cards, to having the house cleaned, or even a trip to HEB to pick up groceries for the week. Just something that makes life a little bit easier for both him and Mom, and something that I know Dad will appreciate. 

Here's an example of a little note Dad might get from me:

"You’re almost done with this month’s test,
Chemo week has us all very stressed.

But once again, you’ve handled it all with pure grace,
And dinner’s on me, you just name the place!"

The laugh and smile I get from that little note, and a little gift, makes me feel like I'm able to help Dad during these weeks. 

I wish I could say that chemo week got easier on Dad, but really the side effects become more cumulative as the treatments continue- meaning, the side effects continue to get more difficult to manage. But we try our best, and we constantly are trying different suggestions from Dr. Fleener. Anything to make these weeks just a little less miserable!

I'm so proud of Dad. I'm so proud of his determination and fight. As much as he hates these weeks, we remind him of the WHY in it all. And a big WHY of Dad's fight, is his little grandson, which Mom told me she tells Dad each night he takes chemo, especially when he makes that face of pure hate towards those pills, that he's taking those pills for Luke. 

We celebrated Luke's first Halloween this year, and of course, he had to go Trick-or-Treating to Mutz and Grandpa's house. That little boy has this entire family wrapped around his little finger. 

So what's up ahead of us? We choose to continue to LIVE throughout Dad's terminal diagnosis. We choose to take each day and become better and closer because of it all. Just last night as I stopped by Mom and Dad's to check on them, I watched as my oldest sister, Genna, picked up Luke from their house, and my other sister, Meghan, stopped by to say hi. I joke that their house is now a revolving door- and I don't think my parents would want it any other way. We are all in this together. We are all taking it one step at a time. We are all in this to WIN the battle. 

Dad still continues on his chemotherapy, and (even after 2 years!) is still consistently doing his speech therapy. Talk about a PROUD moment to come home and see him concentrating so hard on his therapy:

It's every day. And it's amazing to see the things he continues to excel in- math skills (which is awesome because he was the one who always helped us with our math homework growing up)! And the areas in which he struggles, but continues to improve each day. His brain is constantly healing, it is constantly working to repair the damage from the surgery, brain bleed, radiation and chemotherapy. 

We have a new normal. Chemotherapy, blood work, MRI's, and Oncology appointments have become our new normal. I ran into one of Dad's Oncology nurses at another doctor's office for my own appointment and when she realized who I was, mainly who my Dad was, she immediately gave me a hug and kept telling me how much she adored my Dad. And what a wonderful patient he has been. 

I will never fully understand the WHY in Dad's diagnosis, what I have started to understand is the WHY in our journey. Dad's purpose here in this physical world is so much greater than I could have imagined and is greater than I will ever understand. His story, his faith, and his attitude are touching so many throughout this journey, and most of all, I'm so incredibly proud to be his daughter. 

Continuing to pray the treatment is working to prevent any tumor growth, continuing to pray Dad has a good week while on chemotherapy, all while we continue to fight to BTHO Brain Cancer!