6-month Follow-Up Results

Mom and Dad have spent the last week visiting Dane and Emily's family in Houston and going through follow-up testing. We're so grateful to find out that his cancer is still in remission! We were a bit worried because Dad has been quite sick this last week. We learned that Dad's illness isn't cancer related, but it is pneumonia! He has medication to treat his pneumonia, and we hope that he's healthy again soon.

WORK AND WORKOUT

Dad went back to work today. We are so grateful. Mom has cared for Dad for the last 6 months, and I'm sure it will be a transition for her, too. Dad is also starting a physical therapy program to regain his health and strength. We hope this new chapter in his cancer rehabilitation goes well. I'm sure that Mom will have an adjustment to make now, too. I can't imagine what it must be like to go from being with and caring for Dad 24/7 to having him gone most of the day! Luckily, Thanksgiving is coming up, so many of us will be together again.

WORD OF THE DAY

REMISSION. Definition: A temporary or permanent decrease or subsidence of manifestations of a disease. Example: Ron Roberts is in complete remission from stage 4 non-hodgkins lymphoma. Joyous party time! He will be monitored every 4 months to make sure the aggressive B-cell cancer is staying away. The indolent cancer in his bones is only manifesting in 5% of his bones, so it's something they will watch over time. Thankful. Thankful. Thankful.

We're all in shock. My parents are leaving MD Anderson with their jaws on the floor. They expected some drama from the oncologist today, but it just didn't happen! The oncologist didn't see any signs of cancer, and he doesn't even want my dad to do maintenance chemotherapy with rituxumab (he feels that there isn't enough evidence to prove its effectiveness and it just weakens the body and predisposes it to infection). In other words: Dad is COMPLETELY finished until further notice. What a relief! We're so grateful for the mercy and health that Dad has been granted. He's excited to go home, do physical therapy, and get back to a normal life. We couldn't ask for a better Thanksgiving gift.

Thanks so much to everyone for your love and support. The letters, phone calls, prayers, gifts, blessings, and food have meant the world to our whole family. I don't think I'll need to update this blog very often anymore. I'll give updates every month, or so, on how Dad's health and strength are doing; but hopefully, there won't be any drama to share!

We'll definitely be sending up prayers of gratitude today. Our love to you all.

MORE PROGRESS

Thanks to Mom's mad cooking skills and endurance, Dad has put on about 12 pounds since he came home from the hospital. Mom has put 3 Ensures a day in front of him and feeds him whatever meals his appetite calls for. She's amazing!

Dad is feeling really good and starting to get around well. Brooklyn came from Thursday through Tuesday and had a great time with them. Mom and Dad loved it, too. Dad was able to go on a few short outings while Brooklyn was here, which really boosts him. As for work, Dad's boss has been very protective of Dad and doesn't want Dad back at the office until we find out from the MD Andersen doctors what's going on. Mom and Dad will be there for tests starting next weekend. We are anxious to know what's going on inside Dad's body.

Mom is "lucky" enough to be due for another colonoscopy to see if all is well with her. She is a pro at this by now, but it doesn't make it any easier. She still gets a little bit of anxiety whenever she is tested and prodded to determine if cancer is lurking. We're optimistic that all will be well. Her colonoscopy is next week.

We're so grateful that Dad is responding to the antibiotics and feeling more normal, and we're so glad that he has Mom to feed him good, nutritious meals. We'll have more to share when they return from Houston. Thanks so much for all of the love and concern!

PROGRESS

Dad is still recovering, although it is and will be a long process requiring a lot of patience. Chris was here until Sunday night, and Mom and Dad ate up every minute they had with him. Chris got them technologically caught up, and they got to spend a lot of quality one-on-one time together.

I'm lucky enough to have bought a plane ticket back in August that allowed me to be here yesterday and today. Dad started going on short walks last week, and I got to join them for one walk down by the bosque to enjoy the fall leaves along the river.

Dad had another follow-up apppointment with the oncologist this morning, and he didn't need any fluids of any kind. Yahoo! They told Dad that he could start going to work soon on a VERY LIMITED basis. Dad was excited to hear that, as he has really missed his work. They still want him to be on guard in public and to never go where there will be a lot of people, especially children. Dad is eating a lot and drinking 3 Ensures a day, trying to get some meat on his bones. I think we would all like to see the weight come back quicker, but the nurse reminded us that it will take months and months to feel "normal" again (we're not sure what that will mean for Dad).

Brooklyn flies in tomorrow and will spend the next 5 days here. It has been awesome for Mom and Dad and us kids to get one-on-one time with each other. There are definitely some blessings that come with trials, for sure!

STILL DOING WELL

Dad continues to recover. He had an appointment yesterday with the oncologist and all is well. Dad is still stable and gaining strength.

Chris has been there since Wednesday, and Mom and Dad are loving it! We're so grateful for this time of peace and healing!

NO NEWS

I love that there isn't any news to report! Dad is loving being home. He is still feeling pretty good and continuing to recover. He's up a lot at night, but he does feel more rested. Hooray for short, simple posts!