Eddie Cripps

Welcome to our Caring Bridge. We are using this keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your prayers, support and words of hope and encouragement. Along with informative events, it is our goal to bring awareness and inspiration. When looking at the numbers concerning Colorectal Cancer, they are scary. Regular screening is paramount in success. Also, the guidance of Jesus Christ is with us every day and more prevalent that ever as we have witnessed divine intervention in so many ways . Travel this  journey with us while be build strength, passion, and faith. Thank you for visiting. Eddie is a strong, healthy, fun loving, caring, and witty 40 year old man. Eddie thought he was doing everything right to maintain his health.  He had his yearly Health Risk Assessement visits with the county that had always came back with the words "COMPLIANT ".  He lives a active and healthy lifestyle. However, it came as a complete shock and disbelief when we learned he has stage four Colorectal cancer. It is possible that he has had this for about 8 years. Eddie struggled to determine what to do next and to maintain a positive mindset. We have shed many tears over the past few weeks of learning this horrible disease, but we remain positive, say LOTS of prayers, attend church (from home),  and do things to take our minds off of it with the help from family and friends. Our Sensei says, "play outside!" On March 6th, 2020 Eddie went in for a colonoscopy and endoscope. His primary symptoms were heartburn with a little stomach discomfort and very mild blood in stool. Initially we  thought the blood was from a hemorrhoid or possibly an ulcer. After his procedure on March 6th the doctor told us he had a tumor in his Sigmoid Colon that could be cancerous. A biopsy of the polyp  confirmed it was colon cancer, Adnocarcinoma. The following Monday he went in for a CT Scan. The results were the cancer metastasized to his liver. This was confirmed with a liver biopsy. He has had a PET scan as well and no other cancer appears present. Thank the lord!  We will now tackle this beast head on! We met with his oncologist to discuss treatment options. Eddie was initially going to start the standard treatment as there was nothing else available. We expressed interest in clinical trials and immunotherapy, but as a result of the COVID-19, all had recently closed locally. It was also explained Sarah Cannon in Nashville would not have anything available for about a month. We did not want to wait that long for treatment and it was uncertain if we would be approved for the trial so we elected to go with the standard for the time.  That afternoon after we got home from our visit, Eddie was getting ready to leave for work. His doctor called. His doctor explained Sarah Cannon would accept him in Nashville. Further, the doctor has seen positive results with the medication associated with the trial and felt it would be a good opportunity and they could start within a week rather than waiting as it was initially stated.  With positive guidance from his doctor, along with faith from God, we told him to make it happen. It is funny how things happen with the door opening and the light shining through. We were amazed. God's plan IS  lining up! As a public servant for over half his life, the opportunity for clinical trial fits him entirely. Let alone help himself, but the opportunity to help someone in the future serves a much greater purpose. This is what he practices daily. Eddie has never been a BIG fruit and vegetable kind of guy. Not that we eat bad, but I (Angie) felt it was necessary to fully change the family diet. If you did't know already, I love to cook. After some healthy research concerning cancer related cooking we have primarily eliminated red meat and sugar. We have stepped up all lean protein such as chicken, fish, and turkey.  I chop veggies and fruits daily. All of these are organic if available. Even Logan is eating them! As far as baking cakes, cookies, pies (my favorite (Angie), I have stopped doing that. I think I am having baking withdrawals. From the literature, it appears sugar feeds cancer. Who knows if this is true. It is funny how the cravings are gone and we are beginning to taste things naturally. We will stick to the lifestyle change eating more fruits and veggies and praying for his body, as well as our bodies, to become healthier and stronger than ever. Family and friends that want to cook or provide meals, I would so LOVE that however, with this COVID - 19 it is very difficult at this time and we must decline.I sure hope this goes away soon! Logan and I are having withdrawals of eating out and preparing 3-5 meals a day gets a little overwhelming at times. We have not eaten take out just because you never know who is preparing your food in that kitchen. I order groceries online (BEST THING EVER)  from the store. Store employees (talk about unsung heros) bring the groceries out to us and place in the bed of Eddies truck..When we get home I wipe every item down with gloves and lysol wipes outside before putting them in the kitchen. All fruit and veggies are soaked in vinegar water. If you have any other tips please let me know. We have avoided unnecessary places and are making every effort to maximize our social distancing. When at the hospitals and doctor offices, travel is limited and we double-up on protection.  We are taking every precaution we can.  His treatment plan consists of Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and a hopeful surgery or surgeries. It is our hope Chemo will shrink the colon tumor and liver lesions with an end goal of surgery  He will have scans every 2 to 3 months to see how the treatment is working. The trial period could last up to two years depending how his body accepts it. Obviously, we are summoning prayer warriors!  Our relationship with God has always been there. Without saying, this has made us closer to Him in faith, our family and our friends. I have always said God has plans in place for our future. Anything could change, so always have a plan B, C, D in place for yourself. This for sure plan was not our plan for now, but we recognize the plan God has impressed upon us and will channel our faith to take the journey. Remain vigilant, pray strong, dream big, and live for the moment.