Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

There really is always something to be thankful for, even in the midst of suffering.  I am more thankful this year than I have ever been, and not just on this Thanksgiving holiday - but every moment of every day.

My family has been through a lot.  As much pain and fear that we have had to face, I am thankful that we have made it this far. I have grown closer to my family, and I have learned a great deal about myself. I have learned that I am much stronger than I thought I was.  I have learned the true meaning of faith. I am learning to accept the unknown, which has introduced me to a mental freedom that I have never experienced before.

I am writing this post mainly to thank each and every one of you who have been there for my Dad, my sister and I throughout this past year. I am so thankful for all the love and support that we have been given.  No amount of words can express the gratitude I feel in my heart at this moment.

Love,
Mary Beth


“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.” 
― Seneca

Scan Results

Spoke with Dad's doctor today, and he said that Dad has had an excellent response to treatment. His tumor is 1/4 the size of what it was. They want him to do 6 more treatments and then surgery. Don't want Dad to have to endure more treatment, but I think this is good news. Thanks, as always, for the continued love and support.

Our Visit with the Surgeon

Well, we drove up to Atlanta only to hear that the doctor needed more time to compare the scan before chemo with the recent scan (we had the disk with us, and they had to call for the written report yesterday because it had not been sent over). My Dad's regular oncologist has retired and we have not met with the new one yet, so the surgeon wants us to meet with him and also come back to see him in two weeks.

He did mention that just from the written report from the scan, it looks like there is not much difference in the tumor but no new spots as far as he could tell. He said he needed to compare the old results with the new side by side to be sure of any change.

They may want him to do more treatments in the waiting time for surgery, which is 6 - 8 weeks. (One of his chemo medications is similar to a blood thinner, so that is the reason for waiting).  I was hoping he wouldn't have to do any more, but I'm glad that they are staying on top of this. I know how sneaky cancer is and how much can change in 6 to 8 weeks. At least he handles the chemo pretty well and it would hopefully keep the cancer in check until the surgery is done.

So, just more waiting.  We should know more in two weeks about what happens next.  Thanks for the prayers and well wishes everyone, please keep them coming.

Love,
Mary Beth