We were standing at the edge of the pier, looking at the water that lapped over the brick wall in front of my parent’s house. The lake water was at a record high and it threatened to creep into the crawlspace if it rose any higher. Every day, Dad was climbing down the rickety crates that formed a makeshift staircase into the crawl space to check on the sump pump. Some of the neighbor’s homes had water in them. He was doing everything he could to keep the water from coming into the house.
“It’s been a shitty summer,” my Dad murmured. He gazed at the flagpole, which was surrounded by water. The brick wall around that area was nowhere to be seen.
Shitty summer.
The flooded lake. The cancer.
Dad was in the middle of his six-week regime of grueling cancer treatment: five days of radiation followed by chemotherapy inserted into his port. The rest of us stood by helpless as we watch the pounds slip away. The tumor that blocked his esophagus made it increasingly harder for him to swallow any food. By Labor Day weekend, he was sleeping all day and all night. He could no longer get any food down and was only taking tiny sips of water.
I fought back the panic all weekend. I was terrified. I didn’t want to entertain the possibility that he might not get better. So I asked him to start thinking about where he wanted to go after he got well. He looked at me with a little bit of surprise–why the hell was I talking about taking a trip when he was so sick and we didn’t even know what the prognosis was? I didn’t care if I was being a Pollyanna about the whole thing. So we talked about Yellowstone and the logistics of getting there and what to see.
By Labor Day, I tried to convince him to call the doctor and request a feeding tube. Being the strong, stubborn WWII vet that he is, he insisted that he didn’t want to bother the doctor on a holiday.
“Promise you’ll call him tomorrow?” I asked before I got in the car to head home.
“Yea, I’ll call him.”
He finally obtained the feeding tube toward the end of the week. Rather than getting better, he continued to decline as the effects of the chemo still barreled on. He still could not eat and that worried me.
“Don’t you think he would be able to eat by now if the chemo and radiation worked?” I speculated with my sister. Naturally, we feared the worse. Sixty seven pounds had melted off my Dad’s frame and he hardly moved from the living room chair.
Dad was scheduled for a PET scan last week to determine if the tumor was still growing or if it had responded to treatment.
We all held our breath.
My mother sent an email.
“Good News!!!” was in the subject line. I just looked at the subject line and started to cry.
“Just got back from the doctor,” Mom wrote. “The cancer cells are dead. He goes back for a checkup in three months. This is such great news!”
So, Dad, where did you say you wanted to travel to again?
Comments
11 responses to “Dad Beats Cancer!”
Wonderful news, Karen! I rejoice with ya, and a big ol’ tip o’ the hat to your dad! Yeehaw!
That’s great news to share with us. I can imagine the joy you are feeling along with your family.
God be with you and your family.
Cheers,
Katrina
Oh my goodness. I had no idea what you’ve been going through! I agree. Shitty summer! But sounds like he’s doing well!!! 🙂 We’ve had a bit of a rough time these past few weeks as Eric’s sister is fighting cancer for the second time. Your story is uplifting as it reminds us to hope. Thanks for that. HUGS!
Blessings to your entire family! Horrible disease, hated by all hearts in Heaven & Earth! Here’s a beautiful photo I found online of Yellowstone for your Dad!
My hubby & I moved to Montana from Colorado right after we were married..(May-1978)…lived in a tent! For wedding gifts we had asked for Gott cooler, cook stove, lantern, etc! CWAZY! We left when winter started in JULY!!! I could really use some china now 32 yrs later! lol Went to Yellowstone every weekend! What amazing & glorious Country in America!
My heart will keep you ALL in prayer! Love in Christ, Judi
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.virtualtourist.com/513813-The_Grand_Canyon_at_Yellowstone-Yellowstone_National_Park.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/4fe9/dc5a0/&h=420&w=560&sz=55&tbnid=DltTR2lzueyMgM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyellow%2Bstone%2Bnational%2Bpark&hl=en&usg=__jlMKNbHk1FIOAX5HDoNnG6lW210=&ei=by7wSt_nO9H6tgf7nLwZ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=7&ct=image&ved=0CB8Q9QEwBg
Fantastic news! How wonderful to hear – that’s so terrific. Best to you, your dad and your family!!
Congratulations to you and your family….Fantastic news…Couldn’t hapen to a better family….Best wishes always…I vote Yellowstone and take my husband with you!!!
Karen, that is GREAT news and I am rejoicing with you!
That is terrific! There is nothing better than to hear than the cancer is gone. Here is to you, your dad, the whole family and YELLOWSTONE!!!
—Sange
Congrats!
Thank you for your site and information was beautiful
[…] On the way up, I thought about my Dad and the ups and downs since his diagnosis of esophageal cancer last summer. Last November, we celebrated with good news: Dad had kicked the cancer on its rear end. […]