Labor Day weekend loomed ahead of us. Nothing to do, nowhere to go. Doug's sisters and their families rallied to the rescue. As well as an aunt and uncle and cousins. They packed up the kids and husbands and BBQ smokers (yum!) and headed north for Orange Park. We feasted and chatted and made doughnut videos for Nicole. (This will soon become a Gravel Road blog.) Doug's friend and family from preschool spent an evening with us. Yes, some people still have contact with preschool friends. In fact, Doug was in his wedding twenty-two years ago. (Happy Anniversary Matt and Sandy!) It was memorable. Doug had slashed open his finger while sharpening the lawn mower blade two days before the wedding. It made great pictures with Doug's middle finger tightly bandaged straight up! Robby and his girlfriend hung out with us old parents on Monday. We even scored with Robby cooking us dinner that night.
Then the second week at Mayo began.
We were anxiously awaiting the results of his bronchoscopy from last week to determine if he was a surgery candidate. The surgeon relayed the disappointing news he was not to have surgery. The cancer was in one of his lymph nodes above the lung.
It was off the see the radiology oncologist. She also had news that left us with a heavy heart. The current MRI showed two new masses in Doug's brain. That meant the cyber-knife radiation was off the table at the moment. We needed to address the whole brain. (And with Doug's large cranium I imagine that would be some dose of zapping!) "Can you start the radiation treatment this afternoon?" the doctor asked.
"Oh Yeah! We could have started it yesterday if you had asked."
It was an early start at Mayo that morning. We left the house at 5:00 a.m. After some testing and doctor visits we had a few hours to kill before the treatment started. It seemed a waste of time to drive the 25 miles back to his mom's house. So we did what all parents must do...use the key to your son's apartment.
Robby was at school. We had the entire apartment to ourselves. Including his nasty black cats. Yes, nasty. I gave them treats. Which they ate. Then the ungrateful things hissed at me! I fixed them by stretching out on the bed and snoring for a while. They were too scared to sleep with me. Ha! Then to my utter disappointment, they decided to like Grandpa Doug and played with him.
Doug has two radiation treatments down. Eight more to go. He got a hair cut today. Less hair to fall out and clog the drain. He has not experienced any side effects from the radiation. We do not anticipate him doing so. He's strong and healthy and a bit stubborn. Just in case, the doctor has put him on a type of Alzheimer medication. That should keep his cognitive skills in place.
As with all things, when it rains it pours. Both of my parents have taken a fall in the past two days. Luckily nothing was broken. Hospice brings the x-ray machine to their house. They don't have to venture out to the cold sterile hospital.
The ray of sunshine for the week is my mother-in-law. She is treating me with kindness. When the garbage disposal needs running she calls for me. Those of you who own a garbage disposal do not understand this exhilarating concept. Since a garbage disposal is AWOL from our house it is a constant thrill to grind up food and have it rush down the drain.
Week two is past us. We are anxious to return home. Our souls have been lightened by the outpouring of support, notes, phone calls, and prayers from our friends around the country.
Once again we find ourselves waiting. Waiting for radiation to be finished and a chemo plan put in place. As always one day at a time...
Pr. 17.17-Friends always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share trouble? GNB
Angie and Doug, we are praying, praying, praying!
ReplyDeleteThinking of both of you. We know you are strong and have a strong faith.
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