As most of your know, Brian was diagnosed with throat cancer in January of 2011. This blog was created to keep all of our friends and family updated on Brian's progress. Brian will be undergoing chemo and radiation treatments at the University of Michigan for 7 weeks.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The weekend is here!
The weekend is finally here and I am so glad! There have been a few people asking for our address of where we will be staying in Ann Arbor. The name of the place is Candlewood Suites, and the address is 701 Waymarket Way, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. If you are in the area, stop by and see us. I'm sure we will have a little time on our hands :o). Mondays will be the only days that wouldn't be good as we will be spending the whole day at the hospital, and of course Fridays we come home. So, if you are in the area give us a jingle (269) 203-5584. We start March 10.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
We're gonna kick cancer like a soccer ball . . .
I know I already posted about today, but a dear friend just reminded me of a saying . . . There is a little buddy of mine who was the most inspiring, sassy, funny, crazy little 8 year old that I have ever met. Caleb passed away a little over a year ago from brain cancer. Caleb inspired me every single day. He never complained no matter how badly he felt, and he made me laugh each and every day. I think of him often, and still have a picture of his sweet little face hanging up in my cubicle at work. His famous saying was "I'm gonna kick cancer like a soccer ball." So Caleb, my dear sweet angel, this is for you . . . . BRIAN IS GONNA KICK THIS CANCER LIKE A SOCCER BALL!" Miss you little buddy . . . . love from your office lady.
March Madness, here we come!!
Today was really a pretty good day considering. Our first stop was at the radiation oncology clinic where Brian had his "simulation" appointment where they made his radiation mask and they marked his "tattoo". He only got one on his chest and it's only a line with a piece of tape. I know he was hoping he could have my name tattooed on his chest (NOT). He thinks he's more manly now. :o) Then down to the PET scan, where I sat for two LONG hours waiting for him, but it went fast for him which is what was important. Then we were off to the chemotherapy doctor, which I thought went better than I expected. Brian will only receive a small dose of chemo on Mondays. The chemo is mostly done to help the radiation do its job better. The best news I heard was that he probably won't lose his hair. Not that it mattered to him, but it's just nice that he won't look like a cancer patient as much. They stressed heavily on the "eat nutritious meals and exercise, even if you don't feel like it." I am more confident now then ever that Brian will sail through all of this, as he doesn't let anything get him down, and knowing him, he won't let any grass grow under his feet. This will be a great chance for me to maybe drop a few pounds and get healthier.
Our start date for all this is March 10, two weeks from tomorrow. The schedule is chemo on Mondays, and radiation Monday through Friday. He will have treatments for 7 weeks. So we will be living in Ann Arbor Monday through Friday and then coming home on weekends. We have a whole two weeks off now from doctor's appointments, so that will be nice. Maybe for two more weeks we can have a little normalcy. We are ready. Brian is ready to fight this and WIN!! Stay tuned . . . .
Our start date for all this is March 10, two weeks from tomorrow. The schedule is chemo on Mondays, and radiation Monday through Friday. He will have treatments for 7 weeks. So we will be living in Ann Arbor Monday through Friday and then coming home on weekends. We have a whole two weeks off now from doctor's appointments, so that will be nice. Maybe for two more weeks we can have a little normalcy. We are ready. Brian is ready to fight this and WIN!! Stay tuned . . . .
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Long day tomorrow!
Tomorrow is a big day for Brian. We meet with the chemo doctor for the first time, then meet with the radiation doctor again to have a "simulation" appointment. He then goes for a Pet Scan after that. I'm a little nervous about that - afraid they will find more cancer. The hardest thing about all this is to try and stay positive when you're scared to death. All the "what ifs" run through your mind constantly. I try and keep as busy as possible, but reality unfortunately kicks me in the butt every once in a while.
Brian has been remarkably strong through all this. He's my rock and always has been. He had a slight melt down the other night when our electric went out, it was pouring down sleet/rain and the generator was in the shed, he finally got it out only to find it wouldn't start. We finally got it started and the plug shorted out . . . but we finally got it all to work about midnight that night. Still don't have power, but we have heat. I'm worried about him, he's slowing down a little bit, but he never complains about anything. He's tickled about his new "toy" that his sister Lori bought him - an IPOD. He's been laying on the couch listening to that, so I know he enjoys that - THANKS LORI!!
Thanks again to all my friends and family for all your support! We couldn't do this without all of you! I have had so many offers of making food for the kids while we're gone! They will be eating better than us :o)
Love,
Dalene
Brian has been remarkably strong through all this. He's my rock and always has been. He had a slight melt down the other night when our electric went out, it was pouring down sleet/rain and the generator was in the shed, he finally got it out only to find it wouldn't start. We finally got it started and the plug shorted out . . . but we finally got it all to work about midnight that night. Still don't have power, but we have heat. I'm worried about him, he's slowing down a little bit, but he never complains about anything. He's tickled about his new "toy" that his sister Lori bought him - an IPOD. He's been laying on the couch listening to that, so I know he enjoys that - THANKS LORI!!
Thanks again to all my friends and family for all your support! We couldn't do this without all of you! I have had so many offers of making food for the kids while we're gone! They will be eating better than us :o)
Love,
Dalene
Monday, February 21, 2011
Through sleet, through rain, through snow . . .
Well we made it all the way to Ann Arbor this morning, if you can believe that!! We left the house at 6:00 a.m. and made it there in 3 hours, which it normally takes two, but we made it, white knuckling it all the way to and from!
Brian had his two teeth pulled without any problem whatsoever. He came out of the dentist's office looking like a chipmunk and smiling. I have a funny story - we stopped by one of the motels to take a look at it, and I went in and left Brian out in the car. While I was in the hotel, Brian decided he wanted to take his gauze out of his mouth. He pulled and pulled and pulled and it wouldn't come out. He finally decided to look in the mirror and realized that he was pulling on his lip instead of the gauze . . . . :o)
Brian had his two teeth pulled without any problem whatsoever. He came out of the dentist's office looking like a chipmunk and smiling. I have a funny story - we stopped by one of the motels to take a look at it, and I went in and left Brian out in the car. While I was in the hotel, Brian decided he wanted to take his gauze out of his mouth. He pulled and pulled and pulled and it wouldn't come out. He finally decided to look in the mirror and realized that he was pulling on his lip instead of the gauze . . . . :o)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
We're in for the Long Haul
Hi everyone,
This is our first post for our blog. We decided to set this up so all of our wonderful friends and family can keep track of Brian's progress as he takes this long journey through his chemo and radiation. As most of you know, Brian was diagnosed with Oral Pharnyx Cancer in February of 2011. Brian and I will be moving to Ann Arbor starting in a few weeks and will stay there Monday through Friday and coming home on weekends while Jessica, Tyler and Riley will be staying back at home holding down the fort.
Brian will be going back to Ann Arbor on Monday. He will be going to the dentist to have his wisdom teeth removed. This is necessary as the radiation will totally change his teeth, mouth and gums. Any teeth that might become a problem in the future have to be removed now, as his teeth, gums and mouth will not have the ability to heal after the radiation treatments are done.
Brian and I will also travel to Ann Arbor again on Wednesday where we will be meeting with the chemo doctor, the radiation doctor and he will also have a Pet Scan to make sure there is no cancer in his lungs or anywhere else. We should have a pretty good idea then when his treatments will begin.
Brian has a great attitude about all this, and has every intention of a full recovery. We believe that God has his hand in all this, and that His grace and mercy is ever-present in our lives, as we have seen so many times with our sweet little Baby G.
We are looking forward to keeping you posted and look forward to your posts as we take this journey together.
This is our first post for our blog. We decided to set this up so all of our wonderful friends and family can keep track of Brian's progress as he takes this long journey through his chemo and radiation. As most of you know, Brian was diagnosed with Oral Pharnyx Cancer in February of 2011. Brian and I will be moving to Ann Arbor starting in a few weeks and will stay there Monday through Friday and coming home on weekends while Jessica, Tyler and Riley will be staying back at home holding down the fort.
Brian will be going back to Ann Arbor on Monday. He will be going to the dentist to have his wisdom teeth removed. This is necessary as the radiation will totally change his teeth, mouth and gums. Any teeth that might become a problem in the future have to be removed now, as his teeth, gums and mouth will not have the ability to heal after the radiation treatments are done.
Brian and I will also travel to Ann Arbor again on Wednesday where we will be meeting with the chemo doctor, the radiation doctor and he will also have a Pet Scan to make sure there is no cancer in his lungs or anywhere else. We should have a pretty good idea then when his treatments will begin.
Brian has a great attitude about all this, and has every intention of a full recovery. We believe that God has his hand in all this, and that His grace and mercy is ever-present in our lives, as we have seen so many times with our sweet little Baby G.
We are looking forward to keeping you posted and look forward to your posts as we take this journey together.
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