December 16, 2019

We are so grateful to God for the last two years of time, love and adventure with Dave.  His horrific disease of Glioblastoma IV is a fast-growing type of cancer of the central nervous system that forms from supportive tissue in the brain. There is no cure! 

Early this summer, a second tumor was detected in another area of his brain and we learned he was eligible for the Gamma Knife procedure at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.  Once again a very professional and dedicated team worked on Dave to eradicate this new tumor. They did it!

Then to continue to build his immune system and reinforce the integrative care he received last summer, we made another trip to Alpharetta, GA to The Center for Advanced Medicine. When we left a month later, Dave was feeling better than ever and had reconnected with the professional and caring doctors and nurses we fell in love with last year.

Unfortunately, in the early fall, a third tumor was detected in the empty tumor bed of his first tumor. That left only one medical option, a new chemo medicine that would more than likely bring on side effects worse than any he had experienced to date plus Avastin infusions. Dave rejected this option.

On November 12, 2019 Dave opted to enter the Dare County Home Health and Hospice Program on the Outer Banks, our Island Home.  He is now in his own surroundings with 24-hour availability of nurses and our long time physician who is now an Integrative Oncologist and also a Christian sister who is leading this Hospice Team.  And his family, long time friends, church members and neighbors have surrounded him and he has enjoyed their fellowship.  

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our entire family (plus some extended family from our Navy days 30 years ago) and as Dave said, “it was the best ever”! 

The goal now is to make him as comfortable as possible.

Are there more challenges ahead? Yes!  

Are we sad to watch the daily changes of less and less mobility and strength, an increase of headaches, loss of peripheral vision, more confusion and less of him? Yes, we are!

Dave, however, remains steadfast in his belief that God is the ultimate Cure Giver.

When his last breath on earth is taken away day or night (and only God knows when that will be), we will have great heartache from the loss of a very special man on earth but we are assured by Jesus that his new home in Heaven will be even better and he’ll be totally cured.

May God Bless each and every one of you in this Season of Advent.  Our nativity is front and center in our home. And we still believe in miracles.

Psalm 91: 1-2, 14-16

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “ I will rescue him, I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me and I will answer him.  I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Love, Peace and Joy, Team Hilton

PS: It is never too late to accept Jesus as your Savior!