Saturday, June 28, 2014

What to do when: You have terminal cancer

You make a plan.

Ours is to go home. We have loved our time in Indiana and we will sorely miss the friends we have made here, but our priorities have shifted. We need to be at home, with our families, treasuring the time we have left - however long it is.

So, in the middle of cancer treatments, goodbye lunches, and normal life, we are packing up our house so it can be rented out, and getting ready to drive across the country. With a two-year-old and a four-year-old.
On second thought, maybe this isn't such a good idea...

Friday, June 27, 2014

Update

On Friday, June 13th (our 6th anniversary (Go, us!), and my little sister's 21st birthday (Go, Laura!)), I called my oncologist to see if he had the results from two MRI's I had gone in for earlier in the week. He hemmed and hawed and asked if I could come in on Monday to get the results, "Oh, and bring Adam."

That bodes well, right?

The weekend was spent doing mental "worse-case-scenario" exercises, all while trying to distract ourselves from those ever-darkening thoughts. We went bowling, had pizza, played at the park, and attended church.

Monday morning we showed up for our scheduled execution, or at least that's what it felt like. The news was, as expected, not good. The last year of radiation, chemo, surgery, more chemo, more radiation, and boatloads of various medications seems to have missed a couple of key areas: my spinal cord, and my brain.

As we left the doctor's office, the clouds opened in a heavy downpour, as if the world itself wept alongside us. My oncologist doesn't expect me to last even six more months. It could be as few as two or three.

We are so grateful for the people who have rallied around us during this difficult time. Our wonderful ward has lifted and strengthened us. Our families have sent prayers, love, and financial support, as well as offers to come help. We have basically canceled all future plans and as soon as possible we'll be heading back to Utah to spend time with family. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped us with meals, packing, childcare, emotional support, prayers, and thoughtful notes. We don't know what we would've done without you.