Happy Memorial Day weekend!  

We appreciate your prayers as we went into the scans last week which were completed on Friday.  The primary colorectal tumor did shrink, they said there was a moderate response to treatment.  The liver Mets increased substantially in size, but no new ones popped up.  They knew there was a chance that the liver metastases would grow while Dennis was off the systemic chemo.  The chemo pill that Dennis took orally worked in concert with the radiation to deliver a powerful punch to the primary tumor.  But it did little for the liver lesions.  The liver surgeon did not want the tumors to disappear for the sake of being able to find them during a potential surgery.  We ask for prayers that while off chemo and awaiting surgery, there is no spread of cancerous cells in Dennis’ body.  

The surgeon was surprised to encounter Dennis in so much pain.  She avoided doing an in-office exam and opted to do an internal exam under general anesthesia this coming Thursday.  🙏

The plan is for the surgeries to take place during a single operation for the primary rectal tumor to be removed with surrounding tissue and lymph nodes and for the liver resection to occur.  The date for surgery should be nailed down very soon to occur in mid-June.  The surgeon said to expect 5 days-ish in the hospital and 2-3 months of overall recovery at home.  The oncologist proposed another round of chemo before surgery but both surgeons said no, surgery first.  

Thank you for hanging in there with us with your prayers and support.  One incredible thing that happened is that Blessed Carlo Acutis was declared officially on his way to sainthood.  (Article linked below) This occurred on Thursday, the day in between Dennis’ scans.  Our son Michael asked Dennis when he heard that a second miracle had been approved, “So are you going to go to someone else now?”  Dennis replied, “nope, he’s just more powerful now.”  Thursday evening, a message went out that Malvern retreat house was hosting a holy hour and opportunity to venerate Bl. Carlo’s relic.  Dennis was able to attend, though in pain, with four of our kids.  A very special experience for all of them.   Video attached.

Today we went to the pool and it was great to be out in the sun and see the kids have a blast with their friends.  Dennis ducked out after spending some time there- still navigating this post-radiation pain!  I had some time with John Paul (7) playing basketball and watching him do the monkey bars.  He asked me,

“Mom, when is dad going to retire from chemo?”.  

In his innocence, I knew exactly what he meant.  Retirement gives the sensation of relief, the end of labor and toil.  And chemo, maybe that means cancer and radiation and all of the effects of all of it in my seven-year-old’s mind.  I told him, “Someday. Some day soon it’ll be over”.  We are all looking forward to this being over and going back to our normal lives.  By God’s grace and your prayers, we have stayed the course.  We are almost there.  Please pray for fortitude to keep pressing on, for peace for our family, and for total miraculous healing for Dennis.  Your prayers are working and carrying us through!