So here's the latest and greatest for Jake's cancer therapy: We are getting the second to last chemo today. In three weeks we will get the last chemo...May 3rd! At the end of May/first part of June, we will have an MRI done to check the progress of tumor shrinkage. He will also have his port removed. As soon as the wound heals, I will lift the ban of swimming pools for Jake.
After that, we will only have to come in for a check up every three months, then every 6 months, then once a year for the next five years. If all goes well, they will say he is in remission or cancer free after 5 years of good scans/MRI's. Best case senario, Jake starts feeling back to his regular self by the end of summer. We will continue detoxing him until we are sure all of the chemo is out of his body.
We are so happy to be to this point. It has been a long, long road for us! Jake has to deal with all the physical aspects of the chemo, and I deal with all the worries, scheduling, education, care, emotions, heart break, sorrow, bills and transportation for chemo. Seriously, this would be much easier for me if I had the cancer! But that's not the way God works...not that He gave Jake this cancer, but He is helping us through this and we are stronger for it.
Jake has never been depressed about his challenges, but he does get tired of it all. His body has a harder time recovering from chemo treatments and it is frustrating that he can't do the things he is used to doing, like walking up stairs, jumping on the tramp or being able to go out and do things with his friends.
We will get through this!
HOPE/FAITH: It does a body good/!
This is Jake's Story...
Jake is a 20-year-old twin who has been diagnosed with stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare form of cancer. Going through a vigorous daily radiation treatment and weekly Chemo treatments make him extremely tired, weak and sometimes nauseous.
Jake is otherwise a normal teenage kid. He likes playing computer games, paintball, swimming and golfing. He loves hanging out with his four brothers, 4 wheeling, camping, and ruining his mom's laundry baskets while making home videos. He hopes to someday become a computer programmer.
This blog was started to keep his family and friends updated on his status.
Addendum: Jake became cured of cancer, free of pain and everything this world brings on September 29, 2010. He continues his journey in Heaven. He is doing awesome! Hope you're doing the same!
His family thanks you for your generosity in donations, love and service. God has shown us many tender mercies!
Thanks for being one of them!
Jake is otherwise a normal teenage kid. He likes playing computer games, paintball, swimming and golfing. He loves hanging out with his four brothers, 4 wheeling, camping, and ruining his mom's laundry baskets while making home videos. He hopes to someday become a computer programmer.
This blog was started to keep his family and friends updated on his status.
Addendum: Jake became cured of cancer, free of pain and everything this world brings on September 29, 2010. He continues his journey in Heaven. He is doing awesome! Hope you're doing the same!
His family thanks you for your generosity in donations, love and service. God has shown us many tender mercies!
Thanks for being one of them!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Here we go!
Platelets were good today so we are going for long chemo tomorrow! It's to awesome to be so close to the end! Only one more chemo after this! Thanks for the prayers!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Chemo: Week 36
After blood and platelets last week, counts are looking a lot better! Last short chemo today. Long chemo next week, then if we can keep his counts up...Last chemo...May 3rd!
Maybe this is not the end of our cancer journey, but it will be the end of treatment...for now! I hope no one thinks less of me for not bonding with the other cancer parents. I just found it so heart breaking to listen to their stories. Maybe it's a little easier when your not going through it with your own child.
This experience has opened up a Pandora's Box of emotions and feelings I never dreamed I would experience. It has changed me. All of the parents I have met agree that we have learned much more about cancer and medical terms than we ever imagined would be necessary.
I've learned that to make it through hard stuff, you can never dwell on it. It's necessary to acknowledge it, but dwelling on it is very depressing. That's why is hard to keep repeating how Jake's doing, over and over again. It is a constant reminder that he is ill. I know people just want to show they care, and that's the part that I appreciate. I think I just have to tell them he's fine and let them look on the blog to see how he's really doing.
We often make ourselves more depressed because we think life is suppose to be easy and good all the time. Well, life is hard and often it's not fun or easy! But, if you trying your best, and living your life in partnership with God, even though it's sometimes hard, it can always be good!
Like I tell my boys...You don't have to like it, you just have to do it!
Maybe this is not the end of our cancer journey, but it will be the end of treatment...for now! I hope no one thinks less of me for not bonding with the other cancer parents. I just found it so heart breaking to listen to their stories. Maybe it's a little easier when your not going through it with your own child.
This experience has opened up a Pandora's Box of emotions and feelings I never dreamed I would experience. It has changed me. All of the parents I have met agree that we have learned much more about cancer and medical terms than we ever imagined would be necessary.
I've learned that to make it through hard stuff, you can never dwell on it. It's necessary to acknowledge it, but dwelling on it is very depressing. That's why is hard to keep repeating how Jake's doing, over and over again. It is a constant reminder that he is ill. I know people just want to show they care, and that's the part that I appreciate. I think I just have to tell them he's fine and let them look on the blog to see how he's really doing.
We often make ourselves more depressed because we think life is suppose to be easy and good all the time. Well, life is hard and often it's not fun or easy! But, if you trying your best, and living your life in partnership with God, even though it's sometimes hard, it can always be good!
Like I tell my boys...You don't have to like it, you just have to do it!
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