Another update...

I just want to thank everyone out there for the prayers. I have been touched in so many ways by the sweet e-mails, texts, phone calls, and Facebook messages. Prayer is so powerful. I have a sign hanging in my kitchen that says, "God knows your prayers, even when you can't find the words to say them." That has totally been my prayer..."God help me, I don't know what I need help with, but I know I need help."

So this past Saturday, Feb. 4th they hung the first bag of chemotherapy for my dad. It was a 30 minute bag of Cisplatin and then for the past 4 days he has had 24 hour bags of chemo 5 FU. Who knew there were so many types of chemo.

Chemo. I've had dreams about chemo. Chemo and fractions. Haha. My students are learning fractions right now. The other night, I had this dream that I had to pour out pitchers of chemo. They had to be equal, and I couldn't spill any!

Weird.

So tonight my dad is finishing up the last bag of four 24 hour bags. He hasn't had any ill side effects as of yet. His blood counts are still good. The man across the hall from my dad has a completely wiped out blood count. Nurses and guests have to wear masks and gloves when they enter the room. Scary.

Our next battle, besides the cancer, is medicare. My dad will eventually come home, and he's going to need some at home care. The difficulty is getting medicare to pay for it. The money is there, it just the hoops you have to jump through to make it happen. I have been put in contact with several really knowledgeable people, and they are giving me great advice.

Other issues my dad is dealing with is problems with emptying his bladder (probably due to the tumor pressing on it) and keeping his blood sugar under control (diabetes).

That really is all the updates I have about everything for now...I'm looking forward to my life resembling some sort of normalcy soon. :)

Much love,
Katie