GREAT NEWS!

A little over a month ago, my dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.  That diagnosis has kind of sent our whole family on a roller coaster of emotions.  His health has been worsening for over a year and I think we all knew that whatever was wrong with him was serious.  This diagnosis proved that.

However, after a CAT scan a few weeks ago, the doctors told him that it appeared that the cancer had not spread and would be treatable with radiation.  He needed to have a PET scan performed in order to verify that it had not spread.  Due to high blood sugar issues, which he now has under control, the PET scan couldn’t be performed until this past Tuesday.  And happily, the scan showed that the cancer really was contained and that he should continue forward with the radiation treatments that he began almost two weeks ago. 

This is such a relief to all of us.  He still has a long road of treatments and recovery ahead of him, but the outlook is so much more positive now than when we first learned the diagnosis.  Of course, the scans don’t guarantee that the treatment will be successful, but knowing that it is contained to just the one area does raise the odds of survival TREMENDOUSLY. 

It is hard living away from my parents, knowing that he has to go in for treatments everyday during the work week and not being there to help.  Gladly my brothers, especially Cliff, have stepped up to help my mom get Daddy to where he needs to be.  Jason, the son that Daddy wishes he could call his own, has been a wonderful taxi driver also.  Others have helped too, which we are so grateful for.  It is one of those times when saying ‘thank-you’ to those that have helped and will help just seems to not be enough.

But even though, when we go to visit, my dad spends much of his time resting, that doesn’t stop him from finding ways to play with the kids.  He loves his grandchildren so much.  I think he was born to be a Granddaddy.  This past weekend when we went, all the kids lined up their feet so that he could tickle them.  They had the best time doing that!


And when Layton was tired and about to fall asleep, he knew just the right person to go snuggle up with.