So Pam had cancer. She thought she beat it and it came back. Negative/negative. Our lives were changed. We as a family went from
dull & boring to
sick & dull & boring. Cancer has had a huge impact on pretty much every facet of our lives, so many negatives, yet there are positives.
This recurrence was horrible to discover. With it came some serious and justified fears. Ask any cancer patient and they will vouch for how difficult this disease and its treatments can be. Pam didn't look forward to more surgeries and treatments not just for herself, but for all of us.
Pam hit the halfway point of the radiation this week and during her exam with her radiation oncologist (this afternoon), he said she is fit to press on. This summer was really Pam's concern.
Chemotherapy during the spring was easier than the first time and was nicely hidden during school hours when it didn't directly affect Josh and Erin. But during the summer, Pam knew it was going to be tough to keep the kids lives normal while devoting several hours each day to going to the hospital for the radiation. What happened was an unexpected positive.
While Pam has trekked to Peoria each day, our kids have been taken in by frien
ds. A play date of sorts nearly every day of the summer. Our kids are very comfy and secure at home and actually some days it is tough for them, Erin especially, to go somewhere. But each day she returns having had a great few hours of connecting with old friends and new. Our fears of this being the summer of misery,
unfun in every way for our kids, have been dashed.
Pam isn't up for making every baseball game Josh plays in (
his schedule was greatly expanded over last years 20 games to about 3 times that), but she has been able to enjoy many thanks to some cooler weather. Erin has gotten to the pool enough times so far to not miss it (thanks in large part to the Bergens and their
cement pond).
We have a lot of people who have been so helpful each week. The Bergen,
Endres, Waller and
Crose families have locked in days to keep the kids.
The Boomers and L's fill in the gaps often, as well as many others, like the Benson and Jackson families. (If I didn't mention you by name, just wait, it's probably because I am planning to mention you in a later post along with an
embarrassing photo.) You don't know how much concern you have removed from our minds as Pam disappears to the hospital each day.
Thanks for bringing out the positives we didn't think existed.
"And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:16
You can kind of see that the left side of her back is darker, kind of red. The burn from the radiation has been significant, some on the back, more on her chest and a ton under her arm. At this point though, the four field burn has ended so those areas will get to heal. The only area still being radiated are her scars on the front. So let the healing begin.
