Welcome to our CaringBridge site. It has been created to keep friends and family updated about Larry and our family.
Updated, June 2017. Here we are again...The below (first and second time/testicular) will remain as a testament to what Larry has been through, and overcome already.
Now, I will begin with where he is now. Larry has recently been diagnosed with T1TCC Bladder cancer, it doesn't appear to have invaded the muscle yet, but has gone beyond the superficial layer of the bladder. They removed a 5cm cancerous tumor on Aug.14th 2017 and those are the results of the biopsy to date. The next course of treatment has yet to be determined, as we continue to go to appts with various Dr's and practitioners finding the best way to heal. Check the journal updates for more info.
Also, if you feel called to help Larry heal, here is a link for a Go Fund Me that has been set up for him:
https://www.gofundme.com/kick-in-coin-for-larrys-recovery"My Story" is the introduction to our CaringBridge site.
Be sure to read the latest in the journal, view the photo gallery, and please drop us a line in the guestbook - they mean a lot.
Below is a what I wrote in the waiting room while Larry was in surgery to remove a tumor in his testicle, it is the beginning of this story as told by Me, Michelle Rademacher, there is a lot more info in the journals so please read them and thank you for visiting this site, which is here to give info on Larry, our family and the journey of dealing with and hopefully beating cancer!
My story as told by Michelle Rademacher.
"You have cancer", oh those dreaded words none of us EVER want to hear, but too often do. That was Wednesday and today is Friday and Larry is having surgery as I write this. His family is with me in the waiting room chatting to pass the time while we wait.
Larry was first diagnosed with hydrocele which is a fluid build up in the testicle, then sent for a ultrasound, which is where they saw the tumor - it was not hydrocele - it is testicular cancer - non-semenoma, unfortunetely 2 weeks has passed since then, let's hope that does not have a profound effect.
It all started about 8 weeks ago when he began to experience pain in his testicles, he doesn't have insurance (we have since applied for some but don't know yet if we are approved) so we thought maybe it would go away and waited.. pain stayed...waited...then the swelling started and it got bigger and bigger - we tried antibiotics - didn't work - finally we decided we had to have it looked at as it was obviously not going to go away. So, we scheduled an appt at a clinic that does reduced rates - oh what fun that was- but we are so thankful they were there, (it appeared all the people who are here from other countries are glad too!) anyway the doc said Larry needed to be refereed to a urologist and would call him as soon as possible with a time and doc...that was a bit of a fiasco because of the no insurance thing, but we finally got into see someone at the Uof M - which we were thankful of as we had faith in a teaching hospital. That is when the first diagnosis was done and he was sent for an ultrasound.
Over a week later Larry received a call on a Thursday that he needed to come in for blood work and he asked why (as again we knew we didn't have insurance), so the doc called him back and told him it's because we think you have cancer - there it was - bam, we struggled with this I can tell you, but we waited to get complete confirmation from the blood work that was done on Monday and then went to the Dr. on Wednesday to get the results, that's when the first sentence of this came - "you have cancer and we need to operate right away"... I'll tell you for me that was the strangest feeling I have almost ever had- I can only imagine what it felt like for Larry, but the way I looked at it was - OK let's get going on this - I'm ready to put battle gear on and take this frickin thing on! I knew Larry would be reeling and needed someone strong to advocate for him, ask questions, keep track of everything and help him make the best decision for himself so that is what I decided to do - no time to cry ( only when he can't see me) time to get to work! We decided to have the surgery as Larry was in soo much pain (which isn't common -so we're waiting to see what that's about as well) and he wanted the tumor OUT as I am sure most people feel - Uuuh I have an invader - it needs to get the heck out!
So here I sit, waiting for word - hoping it is good. After today we are going to take each decision day by day and see what is best for him and us. We are going to educate ourselves so we can make the best decisions possible and keep a very positive outlook - that is key and we are going to FIGHT this thing! Please keep checking back as I will record our progress to try and help others and to give family and friends a place to come and find out what's going on without feeling like they have to call all the time. Welcome and we thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
**Now, please go to the top of the website and go to journal to read current along with past updates to get the continuing story, thank you**
