My Dad

We haven't exactly been public with this information and I am finding out that not everyone knows about this, including family members, so I am going to write about it now. My dear dad is not feeling on the up and up these days. What was thought to be a kidney infection turned out to be bladder cancer. In October he had the tumor removed and biopsy showed cancer in the muscle. Therefore, he has to have his bladder and prostate removed. Right now, he is undergoing chemotherapy. He has treatment for two weeks on each Monday, then off a week. He will repeat this schedule three times. He went in for his first round of chemo and felt pretty good until Wednesday. By Friday he felt better. When he went in the next Monday for the second round of chemo his white blood cell count was too low so they sent him home. Two weeks later he was able to have his next round and again felt pretty good until Thursday. He went back on Monday and his white blood cell count was dangerously low so once again he couldn't have chemo. Now, he can't go to the grocery store, movies,...etc...and can't be around sick people. The crazy thing is he will still go to work!!! My mom made him wear a mask, though! He's so stubborn!!

We are having Thanksgiving at my mom's this year and unfortunately all three boys started to get colds over the past week. I took them in to their doctor yesterday and he listened to my situation and begging and put the boys on antibiotics! I love that man! So, hopefully some of their symptoms will have disappeared by Thanksgiving so my dad won't have to wear a mask!

For those of you who know my dad, he doesn't really let on that anything is wrong. He doesn't talk much about his diagnosis and appears to be handling it very well. My dad is a very strong man but I can tell you that he is worried. He is a worrier (like me) and has ups and downs. He is pretty annoyed by this whole process. My mom seems to be holding up very well. She is also a very strong person and seems very optimistic. However, in spite of her strong appearance I know that she too is worried and is strong for my dad. We have been told that bladder cancer is very treatable and people survive a long time after diagnosis. While that is promising, it is still the dreaded "C" word which instills fear in all who are affected by it, especially the person diagnosed. My dad's surgery isn't until January and we won't know the extent of the disease. When they remove the bladder and prostate they will check the lymph nodes as well to see if there is progression to the lymph system.

Cancer sucks! I don't know what else to say. I have an optimistic view but I also have my worries. I am not ready to lose my dad any time soon. From the time we are little kids we view our parents as invincible and think that they will always be around. Then, something happens and reality sets in. He is only 58 years old and has so much more life to live! I can't imagine my life without him so he has to be okay and just come through this. This is a really hard time for him. He has to be strong when he feels totally weak. He has to be hopeful and proactive when he feels helpless and scared. But, I know my dad and he has a strong will. My mom is a big source of his strength and so with her help, and of course the help of our Heavenly Father, he will fight this and beat it. We pray for him daily and hope that you too will think of him in your prayers as well!