One Year

I realized a few months ago that I never wrote about my Daddy's home going. I have always thought of it as a home going, because the Bible says that when we embrace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God grants us citizenship in heaven. Our heart's desire shifts from serving ourselves, to loving, glorifying, and serving God.

So, on the evening of September 24, 2015, one year ago, my Daddy took his last breath in the earthly body God had given him. He died at h ome. He died peacefully. He was surrounded by family and friends. I am grateful that God allowed me to be with my Daddy as he passed on to eternity.

I can hardly believe it's been a year. So on this day, I have been thinking of this song. My Daddy loved Southern Gospel, hopefully you'll enjoy this... https://youtu.be/bvRQLF1VQX8

Coming Home

Up until the last few months, I think the most difficult thing I've ever experienced was the loss of my mom. During the last couple years of her life, she was in chronic kidney failure, with my Daddy by her side every moment. My family and I helped, but we were mostly spectators and assistants as my Daddy was fully involved in her daily care. When she went home to be with the Lord, I still had my Daddy here.

Last week, my Daddy began to decline more. On Friday, he had a fall, and then was admitted to the hospital for observation and evaluation. After the doctors consulted on Monday, they let us know that my Daddy was no longer responding to treatment and that we should consider various options. On Tuesday, my brother and I decided on in-home hospice care, because Daddy wanted to be home. So, on Wednesday, Daddy came home. I believe walking through this with him will be a challenge, but I hope to make his last days comforting and full of love. Pray for us all as we continue this journey. 

Postponed

My Daddy's gamma knife surgery for tomorrow was postponed. Thanks for all your continued prayers on his behalf. After a peer review, by the group of doctors that have been treating him for the brain metastases, it was decided to hold off on treatment until after a repeat MRI is done in 6-8 weeks. He will also have a repeat CT scan of his lungs in four weeks. His most recent scan showed mixed response, which means some tumors appear larger and others appear smaller or undetectable. Pray specifically for my Daddy's strength of body and clarity of thought. Also, pray for our family that we will serve and honor him in a way that glorifies Christ. 

Gamma Knife Surgery...Again!

On Thursday of last week, my Daddy, who had been having increasing difficulties with confusion, had to have a brain MRI. On Friday, we were told that the initial reading of the MRI looked fairly good, but with mixed response. Some of the tumors had decreased in size or were not visible on the MRI, but one had increased in size. After his radiation oncologist's team and the neurosurgeon, who performed his gamma knife surgery, reviewed the scans and consulted, they determined that he has four new brain metastases. We were presented with two options...keep fighting, treating the tumors with another gamma knife surgery, or pursue comfort care. Ultimately, the decision was my Daddy's, and he chose to keep fighting. He is having such good results with the bi-weekly treatments of immunotherapy drug on the tumors in his body, we are still hopeful...discouraged, but hopeful.

So, please continue to pray. Next Tuesday, he will have another PET/CT scan to evaluate the size of the tumors throughout his body. Then, on Tuesday, September 8th, he will have his second gamma knife procedure. We are resting completely in the care of our Heavenly Father. 

12 Weeks

When my Daddy first received his diagnosis, we were told that without treatment, he might live twelve weeks. Most patients with advanced stage melanoma, until recently, had very few options for treatment. Now, there are options that have been quickly brought to the forefront because of the success they are having in stopping and even reversing the progression of the disease in the body. With my Daddy, the palpable tumors that we could find have either reduced in size or vanished. It is so encouraging and all I can say is, praise the Lord!

Our other battlefront is the brain. I did not realize, until we started learning more through this journey, that the brain must be treated completely separately from the body. Chemotherapy drugs do not treat the brain because of the blood brain barrier. So, after gamma knife surgery and whole brain radiotherapy, my dad has had what his radiation oncologist called, "a boatload of radiation". We are just beginning to experience the long term side effects, but are hopeful that this most recent treatment will eliminate the 21 visible tumors in his brain.

The amazing news in all of this is at his most recent appointment, his follow-up MRI was scheduled for twelve weeks away....early November!!! Scheduling the appointment made me so hopeful for a positive prognosis. We have gone from only 12 weeks to live to scheduling appointments 12 weeks away. I don't know what God has in store, but I know that all of this is to display His glory. We are thankful for a little more time with my Daddy, here on Earth, but know that His ultimate hope and healing lies in the hands of Our Heavenly Father!

The Confusion About Melanoma

Most people I talk to about my Daddy's cancer assume that melanoma is very treatable. If caught early, it can be. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, despite regular visits to his general practitioner and dermatologist screenings, something got missed. Once melanoma metastasizes (or spreads to other parts of the body), especially to the brain, it can become much more difficult to treat. Melanoma can spread to anywhere in the body and it can spread very quickly, so please be vigilant in checking for lesions. There is an organization in our community that offers free monthly skin cancer screening clinics. Here is a link to the schedule: http://melanomaknowmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015-MKM-Skin-Cancer-Screening-Clinic-Schedule-new-logo.pdf

We are grateful that my Daddy has been able to get treatment that appears to be making progress in shrinking tumors. We will know more in about a month when he will have another PET scan and MRI of the brain. Please pray as we continue to work through ongoing side effects of cancer and its treatments.

Happy 77th Birthday, Daddy!

When we started this journey with cancer at the end of February, we were not sure my Daddy would be here to celebrate this day. God has truly given us a gift of more time together, and today was a simple, but wonderful celebration. Thanks to so many who showered him with cards as part of a Birthday Card Party. We had such an encouraging evening reading through all the sweet birthday wishes and verses from God's Word. My personal favorites were from little ones who drew pictures, wrote messages, or even just signed their name...I love that! God was truly glorified in the way you poured out your love on my Daddy! I can't explain how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness and prayers...it truly keeps us going! Next week, he is free! For one whole week, no treatments! I think it is just the birthday gift he needed.