Long overdue update

When Daddy was first diagnosed, I remember searching for any and all information I could find on survivors, and it seemed like most survivor blogs I found stopped after the 2 year mark.   I wanted to keep updating this as long as Daddy was doing well to encourage others out there and provide hope.  But the reality is that when you are better, and cancer isn't in your face every day then you don't think about blogs, and there's not much to tell from week to week - hallelujah!  He's still here, still going strong, just passed the 4 year-post-Whipple mark, and is fast approaching the 5-year-survivor mark, which is truly miraculous considering all the statistics.  We are grateful beyond words.

When I started this blog, and gave it the name, I had no idea that "our fight against cancer" would also include my mom and her own fight against an aggressive and rare form of uterine cancer.  She has coped with her diagnosis differently, and has been much more private about her treatment, so we haven't really posted a lot of information about it.  She was diagnosed last fall and has had surgery, radiation and chemo, finishing the last round in June.  I am elated to report that this past week, she had a scan that was clear and her oncologist used the words "cancer-free." 

Thank you for all the prayers and words of encouragement through these battles.  I truly hate cancer, but am grateful for the soul-forming reminders of God's grace in the midst of suffering.

Celebrating 40 years!

Last month Mom & Dad celebrated 40 years of marriage! That kind of milestone certainly warranted a celebratory party...so that's just what we did! Here's a couple of photos from the evening:

(Look how cute they are!) 

(Unfortunately I forgot to break out the camera earlier in the evening and many people had already left by the time this photo was taken...whoops!) 

We are so, so thankful for all these friends who have loved on our family over the years.

The family (minus Kevin...he couldn't make it back from Denver, having just been home for Thanksgiving a few weeks earlier)

Of course, it wouldn't be a Garrett event if there wasn't food. ;) And this was just one of the tables!

Mom & Dad, we are so grateful for your example of love and commitment to one another...

we love you!

Three years and counting...

I started a post back in May when Daddy passed the 2-year-post-Whipple mark, but I never finished it.  Partly because normal life was happening, and it's hectic (and I cannot put into words how grateful I am to be in the "normal" place these days), and partly because I had a lot of emotions about that milestone and just couldn't quite get the post out.  But I think this Thanksgiving week is an appropriate time for a long overdue update!  October marked three years since his diagnosis and Daddy is doing well -- enjoying normal life, staying social.  He had a scan over the summer that was clear, and continues to enjoy good health with a few lingering side effects of the surgery and treatment (but nothing that slows him down!). 

I've been thinking of how grateful I am for the past 3 years and the gift it has been.  Among the things my dad and our family have been able to experience since his diagnosis:
-- He has been able to meet and get to know 2 new granddaughters, and enjoy the other 2 even more
-- He was able to take a cross-country trip and help my brother move to Colorado -- a sweet time for them to spend together, just the guys
-- He walked in a 5k in September for the Pancreatic Cancer Network -- one of only a handful of survivors who were able to walk.
-- He has been able to meet my brother's most serious (I'll let you all read into that one) girlfriend ever.
-- He and my mom are preparing to celebrate their 40th anniversary in December!

There are a number of other events and milestones that we have celebrated over the past 3 years, but those are the highlights for me.  We are immensely grateful for the medical staff who treated him, and the friends and family who have supported us all emotionally and practically.  We know you are all celebrating with us!  I'm posting a few pictures below from this summer and fall - enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Back Home

I apologize that I did not update yesterday, but Daddy got released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Zoe and I went to visit him yesterday morning. He had had the NG tube removed the night before and had been on liquids with no problems. He got the go-ahead to resume a normal diet, and he shared a popsicle and banana with her, and later ate a normal lunch. Since his digestive system appeared to be working normally, they let him go! He is tired from the ordeal of the past week (and for some reason, he's had difficulty sleeping lately), but is antsy to get up and around more, and seems to be his usual self. Thanks to a dr. friend of my sister's, we got a better explanation of what happened -- apparently it is typical for people with Daddy's history to have a blockage caused by scar tissue or a "kink" in the intestine, and it is also fairly normal for it to work itself out when they get sufficiently hydrated and put on "stomach rest," which appears to be exactly what happened with him. We are grateful that he did not have to undergo surgery, and I think my parents know now how to seek treatment sooner should it happen again. Thanks for the prayers!

Another quick update

Daddy is still in the hospital, but had some more tests today to determine if there is a blockage [still]. Initial results look promising (i.e., it appears that the liquid they put in moved all the way through his digestive system), but when mom left the hospital tonight, the dr. still had not rounded with official results and, hopefully, the order to remove the NG tube. Daddy was getting pretty edgy (and, hey, if you hadn't eaten a thing in a week, wouldn't you?) so we feel sure he advocated for himself well with the nurses and doctors after mom left. IF there is still a blockage or problem, then that would mean surgery, but we are hoping that when the dr. came, they took out the tube and let him start on liquids tonight. I'll know more in the morning!

Quick update

Today, Daddy continues to improve somewhat. The surgeon said that he's not concerned about a blockage and doesn't think he needs surgery - yay! They think he just got so dehydrated that it caused a kink that seems to be working itself out. However, today Daddy is still very nauseous, partly because he has the NG tube down his nose. We have not really gotten any answers about what is causing the nausea, and no one seems to be concerned that he has not had anything of nutrional value in almost a week. They are just telling us that once his stomach settles down, they will reintroduce sustenance. In the meantime, he's allowed to eat popsicles and drink (although it promptly comes back out through the NG tube) -- it does help his throat, which is sore from the tube and from being sick for days. We appreciate your continued prayers. They did say that they will keep him in the hospital for a few days, likely until he can drink and keep fluids down and his body is functioning more normally. He is tired, and tired of being sick, but is getting out of bed at times, and planned to take a few little walks down the hall after we left today.

Prayers, Please

Daddy has been sick since Thursday with what they thought was a stomach bug, but (without going into gory details) others symptoms made it clear that something else was going on, so after a CT scan, they sent him to the ER at one hospital then transported him by ambulance to another (where his surgeons are) for emergency surgery to resolve the blockage in his small intestine. However, when he got to the hospital, he stabilized and they decided to wait and see if it resolves itself (which apparently happens sometimes). I have lots of questions, but my main one was: do they know what is causing the blockage? The answer I got was that the majority of the time it is scar tissue from previous surgeries (which he likely has plenty of). So if anyone is still reading this, we appreciate your prayers. Daddy is being cared for well and is receiving fluids, but has had virtually no nutrition since Thurs. He's not in much pain but is very nauseous still. I will update tomorrow as we know more.