9/11

September 11 has a different meaning for me this year.  First off I want to thank the service men and women for the fine job they all do.  I Think of our friends in the military who are being deployed and who are stationed in our homeland.  God bless as you serve our country.

Besides the history of 9/11 eleven years ago, this day has a special meaning for me.  4 Months ago today I was diagnosed with colon cancer.  That is a day I will never forget.  That day my world was turned upside down. Since then the past 4 months have been challenging at times.  For the most part I have to say this journey has not been as terrible as I had expected it might be.  I know there are people going through their own cancer journey who have felt much worse than I going through treatments.

May God Bless those (who like me) are going through their own journey with cancer.

--Kent

We Are Blest.

This week there were many things put back into routine. As school has begun so have the routines of early Bed times, lunches made the night before, clothes laid out and the thought of what each will have for breakfast.  Even my texting fingers are back into the swing of things as my mom likes a warning that we are on our way to my sisters where she watches the kids in the mornings as they get ready for me to pick them up as school is all of our destination.

 One other thing was, outdoor playing and relaxed mornings with a bowl of cereal for Lydia and a cup of "Joe" for me, was replaced with books and pencils for Lydia and making up the preschool classrooms ready for our 101 preschoolers this year for myself. 

Another Routine put back into our schedule is that we attended Gilda's Club again. This has proved to be a good support to Kent and Lydia and myself follow along as we are not left out of the support groups.  Lydia attends a group of about 8 or 9 kids in which they discuss many topics.  Some of them are related to Cancer and others are not.  Lydia has made many friends that she now knows by name and hugs as she leaves.  Kent often comes out of support group with a smile and talking with someone that he came out of support group with.  I, myself is finding that I may be put into my group not as someone that is gaining but an encourager,  This past week I learned that the 3 of us are Blest just as my title says.  It is often that I become discouraged and think," how and why me,." and I think about  those that are in our Gilda's family and we are simply Blest.

We often say a prayer, for all those who include a prayer for us.  We often say, "how would we manage without those around us who help clean, grab a grocery or mow our lawn.  For the ones who take Lydia so that we can go to a chemo treatment or Dr. Visit.   Those who spend a moment to send a text of encouragement or send a kind gift that we so don't deserve.   WE CAN'T SAY THANKS ENOUGH!  We love and thank God for each of you.  We appreciate each of you. As I sign off for now please know you mean the world to us and couldn't face this mountain climb without YOU!  Much Love  

--Leah  

Up up up.

Every morning I have a routine as I wake up and get ready for my day.  One of those steps is to step on the scale.  Over the past 5 treatment weeks that number has read 145 ish.  Not today.  That number read 150 instead.  I know normally people aren't usually excited about weight gain but after losing 15 lbs I am elated about the 5 pound gain. I hope to put on a few more before surgery

I told many people in the last week it would be good to live like a normal Human for a few weeks.  I plan to continue to do that as much as possible but occasionally I will have something a Cancer patient has on their schedule.  Tomorrow is my Pre Operation appointment.  Normally my Primary Care Physician would perform this but his schedule is full until after surgery is schedule so I get the PA to do what is needed.  Just wait the BP will be high again due to the white coat and yet another new person I'm seeing.  She will likely criticize me for the high BP even though it is normally not. 

One other thing not normal occurred tonight.  During dinner we were presented with bread.  It looked so good the I ignored my gluten free diet for just a minute and caved in to the temptation of 1 small slice of bread.  It is the first bit of gluten I have had in 4 + months.  Of course I was careful not to have enough to do anything serious.    After no real bread for 4 months it didn't even taste like I thought it would.  Oh well back to my gluten free diet. 

--Kent

Snow Lepards, Cheetas, Giraffes and Great Friends oh My!

Today we went to the zoo for Lydia.  Since our church will be at John Ball zoo in a couple weeks we decided not to go there but instead made the short drive to the Battle Creek area to go to Binder Park zoo.  When arriving and entering after paying our fee we went to the Africa exhibit to feed the Giraffes since that closed earlier than the rest of the zoo.  On our way to that exhibit we ran into friends of ours from church and their extended family.  It was great to see them there several times today.  It was sort of funny to bump into them in Battle Creek at the zoo when we both live just a few miles apart.

We went on to feed the Giraffe's.  What beautiful animals.  I could stand there almost all day.  Had I not been pulled away by my family I might still be standing there.  I have plenty of pictures to show for it.  I even saw a Giraffe run today which I believe I have never seen.

We got caught in the rain a little while while watching monkeys jump around but didn't get overly soaked.  Thanks to Leah we managed to find solid cover for a while.  A few drips during the day but nothing to damping.

 After the Rain we went to see the Snow Leopard and the cheetah.  Both amazing cats.  Cheetas being the fastest animal on earth can run 70 MPH.  Next time you are driving down the highway think about that and watch out if there is a large cat keeping up with you :-).

When we got by the snow leopard it was in the back of it's cage rubbing it's head against a tree and yawning.  We expected to see it take a nap.  It proceeded to get up and  and stretch and then come and take a drink out of the small pool right in front of the window.  He turned to look at us a few times during and after his drink.  Lydia at one point  asked what he ate and I told her they ate 8 Year old blonde girls.  She didn't like that idea to much but I didn't get in to much trouble from that. 

We made the trip home and now it is time for bed  before another busy and eventful day tomorrow.

--Kent

It is time!!

I had an MRI of my Liver this past Monday.  Since then we met with my Liver surgeon.  He told us we are ready for surgery.  The newest thing he had to say was they only saw 2 - 3 spots in the left half of the liver.  This is amazing due to the fact there were originally 5 -6 spots in the left half.  He said some have likely completely melted. 

So for now we stop Chemo and prepare for surgery.   That is scheduled for September 27th.  During this surgery they will remove my right half of liver and possibly cut out the few spots which are on the surface of the left half of my liver.  Until then I have roughly 4 weeks to live semi normally.  Chemo will likely start 2 - 3 weeks after surgery depending on what my Oncologist decides.

Today was a rough day for me.  I started out with a lot of pain in my colon.  I tried doing my business and couldn't.  All the pain and pressure caused vomiting bile.  Not a fun thing for Lydia as she very much dislikes anyone Throwing up.  After three times of that the stomach calmed a bit but the pain in the colon stayed around for a while.  Later in the morning I was able to get rid of what was pressing on my tumor.  I never before imagined that much pain would come from a natural bodily process.  What resulted was a work at home day.

Tonight we went to Gilda's Club of GR to meet with the support groups.  It was good to see all the people I saw roughly a month ago.  I will miss talking with those people while I'm in the hospital and in recovery.  We will probably try going to a activity night once besides a group meeting night.  

Once again Thank you  for all your prayers and support.  Please keep them coming.

--Kent

Pain in the .......

The title of this post may make you think of the neck.  Not so for me.  My pain is where my cancer started.  While trying not to be to gross Colon Cancer patients like me become very aware of the digestive system.  Let me put it this way  I am very eagerly anticipating my Colon surgery.  Unfortunately the doctors are putting my Liver ahead of the Colon.  Maybe they just have a hankering for Liver and Onions.  

Seriously though tomorrow we meet again with the Liver surgeon after an MRI.  We are anticipating a Date for surgery.   If he doesn't see what he likes in the MRI he will tell my Oncologist to schedule more chemo.  Personally at this point I want to move into and through the next phase of treatment.  I will be as willing as able to resume chemo after surgery.  We are told that we have 2 weeks after surgery to begin chemo again.  Not exactly the recovery period I wanted.  I can certainly attest to the fact that the Doctors are sticking to one thing they all told me.  They are being AGGRESSIVE with this treatment plan.  Most treatments I had I should have been sent home instead.    Sounds like I should just get used to and expect aggressive.  Will be par for the course as far as I understand it.

Thanks for all your prayers and concerns.  They mean a lot to me and the rest of my family.

--Kent

Final Days.

Last night we visited the fair again with Lydia and her cousins along with the rest of the family.  The rides were running which Lydia was excited about.  The boys on the other hand had a difficult time looking at anything other than the large plumes of black smoke pouring out of whatever the vehicles were in the grandstands!  I have to say it looked pretty enticing.  Unfortunately I didn't feel so hot after being there a while.  Leah and I headed home and waited for our princess to arrive home from having all her fun.

We spent the time shortly before bed preparing for today.  Today is what we really hope is my last Chemo treatment before surgery.  I am currently in the reclining chair waiting to receive my meds.  So for the time I need to sit and wait while tied to the Med pole I will try to eat some lunch and then during my three hour med I will be watching  The Two Towers.  For those of you who don't know what that is you can read all about it at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167261/.  For those of you who do recognize the title you know that 3 hours is the perfect amount of time for this movie.  I cant believe my dear wife is putting up with me watching this today even though she doesn't care for the movie. 

I have to say Thank you to some people.  Two of the best chemo nurses in the business.  They were nice enough  to oblige us to take a picture with me.  They have been administering the "cocktails" as some call them, that are fighting the cancer cells in my body.  For that I have to thank you.  It is not fun but I know it is working so I am making the best of a bad situation.

The other group I have to thank is my work.  Tonight at the family work picnic our director asked the staff and families to lay hands on me and pray for upcoming surgery.  None of them knows how much that means to me.  A very caring and understanding group almost very much like a family.  Thank you to all for your care.

--Kent