You Mean, Besides the Cancer?

The anticipated announcement from our oncologist, in spite of being delivered with such encouragement, was bittersweet. My wife’s previous pre-chemo scans were finally compared to her post-chemo scans, and the news was…nothing.

Before starting chemo, the cancer was spreading. That was THE compelling reason to start chemo. The newest scan shows the spread stopped. In the cancer game, a draw is sometimes a win, and for us, it felt like a very hard-earned win.

The bitter sides to this victory parade were the weeks of weight loss, nausea, pain, insomnia, lack of appetite, hair loss, dehydration, and depression. Additionally, the results of the current scan motivated our oncologist to announce that she plans for Carole to complete six complete ‘cycles’. I will save you the math by telling you that six ‘cycles’ will take up the balance of 2012 if there are no serious complications.

Please consider what she (we) endured in 2010 and 2011. Add to that what we have endured in 2012 (so far) and now add an additional six months, and while the outcome is hopeful, there are no guarantees.

Truly, we have no choice, and while we are still highly motivated, we are also fragile and fatigued from a battle that has lasted almost two years, and has at least six more months to go.

Friends and family, we need to rely on you more in the coming months than we did in the previous years. We know there is a “support fatigue” among our helpers, but we need your sufficient grace and endless strength to an extent that makes us both personally uncomfortable and supremely grateful.

Carole’s Mom (affectionately known as “Carol the First”) will be arriving next week and staying for a month. After she leaves, we will be in need of help if Carole is to make all her appointments, and I am to keep my job(s).

We know that you’ll be there if we call, just like the last time.

We thank you, again,

Bob and Carole

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