Half-time?

Wednesday, September 15th was another day of chemo. The last? We don't know. At this time there aren't any more rounds scheduled. We took a "last chemo" picture just in case. Bobby wore his BSU hat for the occasion.

He has an appointment with the Radiation Oncologist on September 30th. So, we're back to waiting to see what comes next.

Dr. Eisenberg stopped by for a quick check in. Bobby's right arm has become somewhat locked because of the blood clots or whatever is going on there. He isn't able to straighten it completely. Dr. Eisenberg was a bit surprised by that new development and has referred him to a hand surgeon. He has an appointment Tuesday.

Later that day we went for a hike in the foothills above the apartment complex that we're staying in. Great views. Came across a gentleman living in a tent. He said he's been living there for 4 or 5 years. He looked like he'd just stepped out the front door of any home in America. Had on his slippers, said he was getting ready to watch a game. Offered to make us a drink. It seems he was living there by choice but we didn't ask. He asked us to carry out a bag of trash for him and to come visit again soon. It was an interesting hike.


Friday we headed to Tennessee Beach for a hike. The waves were amazing. There is a long stretch of beach, then a rock formation that juts out, then beach. So, to get around that rock formation we had to time it just right. No problem. We made it to the other side without incident except that running in wet sand is kinda like running in place...not a lot of forward motion. We found a rock to sit on and watched the waves until it started getting dark. Racing the waves to go back around the rock formation ended up being a little wetter for David and me. Bobby and Caroline made it just fine but David and I got caught and had to hold on to the rock as the water came waist high. It was a little scary (maybe only to me) as the waves went back out and pulled on us but we survived and made it to the other side with everything we came with and a little more with the sand and rocks and water in our clothes and shoes.

Sunday was Friend Day at Valley Baptist Church. It was also our last Sunday there. Bobby and Caroline joined us and seemed to enjoy the service. The pastor was very kind and stopped to meet Bobby and let him know that he had been praying for him. We'll miss Valley Baptist. It was our church home while away from home.

Monday we headed out for a hike in China Camp State Park. We ended up hiking around 7 1/2 miles by the time we made it back to the car. It was great weather and we saw a variety of wildlife including wild turkeys, tiny little lizards, a deer, and a bushy tailed gray squirrel. Our time in California is quickly coming to an end. We will be moving home in the next few days. It's hard to leave Bobby. None of us are sure what happens next, so we wait. We'll continue to pray for wisdom and guidance and God's grace and mercy. The time that we've been able to be here with Bobby has been an amazing blessing. What happens next will be a blessing as well. We know God is in control and in Him we put our trust.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths". Proverbs 3:5-6

Monday, September 6, Labor day. I did labor for a few hours and then went home to prepare for (making game food,) BSU's opening game against Virginia Tech. Bobby came over and watched the very exciting game with us. BSU won!!

Wednesday the 8th was a scheduled chemo day and a meeting with Dr. Eisenberg. We expected to hear that this would be the last day of chemo and thought the next step was to focus on radiation therapy. As it turned out, the lab work from the previous day was incomplete so Bobby couldn't have chemo that day , he would have it on Thursday, and Dr. Eisenberg said Bobby would need one more infusion after that. He said that he and the radiation oncologist had talked and that he would probably start radiation in October, after he's had a little time to recover from the chemo. Any other questions we had regarding duration, side effects, etc. would have to wait. He did have to go to the hospital to get the lab work done that was missing and Dr. Eisenberg ordered an ultrasound on his right arm as he's been having some issues with what the doctor suspected were blood clots. The ultrasound confirmed a blood clot and advised him to use hot compresses and take advil.

David went to Bobby's chemo session on Thursday. I joined them as soon as I got off work then the three of us went to lunch at one of the local organic places, Cafe Gratitude. It's one of the restaurants that Bobby feels is "safe" for him. Meaning it's all organic, no meat or dairy products, no processed sugar.......and other things I'm probably leaving out. The food is good and satisfying. The restaurant has an interesting atmosphere (haven't seen a similar one in Kuna :)). Their focus is on being grateful. All the dishes have names like "I am Festive", I am Creative", I am Grateful", "I am ___________", you get the idea. Can't argue with the sentiment of being grateful. We've learned a lot (Bobby already knew much of this) about the role of nutrition in cancer prevention and treatment. And we've all learned about being grateful.

We had planned on a long hike on Friday but Bobby didn't feel as well as expected so he came over and we just hung out at the apartment. His arm was still bothering him and by the next afternoon the clot was larger and seemed to have moved up on his arm so on the advice of Dr. Eisenberg, he went to the emergency room for another scan. Six hours later (very busy place on a Saturday night), they had given him a shot and finally sent him home. Sunday morning Dr. Eisenberg called him into the office to follow up on the lab results. He said it was a good thing he had gone to the emergency room and he would need to give himself shots twice a day for the next 10 days. Along with everything else we are learning, we are learning about the multitude of issues that cancer patients face while going through treatment...it's not just nausea and hair loss. We pray for strength for Bobby and for others going through treatment.

"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul." Psalm 138:3

Birthday

After Bobby's clean scan last Monday, it was time to schedule the next round of chemo. He isn't thrilled about the additional treatments. We wish it was over for him as well. He had a full day on Wednesday, September 1st, both Cisplatin and Gemzar. He will be getting a couple of booster shots during the week to help keep his white blood count high enough. David spent the day with him. I was able to get there for the last couple of hours. He is scheduled for another infusion this Wednesday, September 8th and we expect to hear what's next at that time.

September 2nd was Bobby's 39th birthday. He had to go to the cancer center for a booster shot. The front desk ladies sang happy birthday to him and all the oncology nurses and other patients sang happy birthday to him. I don't think he normally likes being the center of attention, but I think he enjoyed that. It seems impossible that it's been 39 years since we celebrated his arrival. He's gone from a tiny boy of 17 1/2 inches tall to a 6 foot tall boy (a boy only in his mama's eyes). We are so thankful that we were here to celebrate with him. David had a late breakfast with him and we all went to dinner together that evening. Bobby paid the bill because he said he wanted to treat us for helping him get to this birthday. He looked so handsome and healthy. He was experiencing some of the expected symptoms of "day after" chemo but he covers well and I think he had a good day.


We had planned to spend Friday the 3rd at the beach, Point Reyes, Bobby's favorite place in this area, but the "day after the day after" chemo symptons had him feeling kinda crummy most of the day. We did make it to Point Reyes late in the afternoon. Point Reyes Peninsula is a piece of the Salinian Block transported northward by the San Andreas Fault. It has a lighthouse (unconfirmed by us because of the fog) that was first lit in 1870. We wanted to walk the 300 steps down to the lighthouse and back up again but we got there too late. It was cold and windy but a walk along the beach was nice and protected by walls of rock.

As we wait to hear what the next step will be, we are comforted by knowing that many are continuing to pray for Bobby and us. We attended Valley Baptist Church yesterday morning. The pastor stopped to ask about Bobby (someone always asks how he's doing) and was so thrilled to hear that he was doing well that just before he started his message, he invited David to the platform to give an update to the entire congregation. If you know David you know that's not something he would want to do. But we know that all things are possible with God. David did go to the platform and beautifully articulated our thanks for their prayers and the good report from Bobby's recent scan. He didn't appear nervous at all (I was nervous enough for both of us) and made his way off the platform and back to his seat without incident (except for thoroughly soaking his shirt with perspiration). Now that's a God thing.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31