Tim’s Story

Site created on June 28, 2020

Well this is a site no one ever expects to need but we're so grateful for it! We created this site as a way for us (with Katie doing most of the writing - let's be honest) to update friends and family about Tim's health. In March, during his first colonoscopy doctors discovered a large mass. Needless to say we were shocked. Fortunately we were able to get in to see the team at Johns Hopkins Colorectal Center and Tim got excellent surgical care in early April. It was extensive surgery and because of Covid-19 Tim wasn't able to have any visitors for his 5 day stay! But the JHU team was phenomenal and Tim recovered well. His surgeon was very hopeful that surgery was all he would need. 

Unfortunately, last month the final pathology report came back as stage III with spread to one nearby lymph node. It wasn't the news we were expecting to say the least. But in some ways, the fact that there was minimal spread (CT scans and pathology reports confirmed no other spread) meant that by undergoing chemotherapy we could be given a MUCH stronger reassurance that, in his surgeon's words, "this will be cured." 

Those of you who know Tim well know that he is a fairly private person, and we were hopeful that the chemo would be manageable so that he could navigate it fairly quietly. However if you've been down this road, you know chemo is hard. Really hard. We set up this site so we could share information with all of you whom we know and love. Katie has tried to reach out and share news, and respond to texts, emails and phone calls on her own, but it's just too big a job and life is moving too fast. We realized it's time to open up and share here.  Thank you for following our news and most importantly, for being people with whom we can share our hearts. 

Newest Update

ONE!!

Journal entry by Katie Adams —

It's been a very long nine months but now we're celebrating the number ONE for a lot of reasons.

Before Tim's last round of chemo his oncologist was a little concerned about some of the neuropathy Tim was experiencing. He decided to take Tim off one of the two types of chemo he was getting every other week. What a great, unexpected surprise! The oncologist said he couldn't believe how well Tim had tolerated getting both types of chemo each round and that he had gotten all of the benefit he needed at that point; stopping it to prevent any possible longer-lasting neuropathy was more important at this point. So he's down to just ONE type of chemo and it definitely made the fatigue and nausea better this last round.

And most importantly.....in just ONE day Tim will have his LAST round of chemo!!!! For those of you counting it's been 12 rounds and he has persevered like a champ. After switching off the oral chemo that was making him so sick in June/July he's tolerated the infusion chemo well, but these last few rounds we've both been ready for this long process to be over. 

None of us have been able to be with Tim during his hospital stay for surgery, post-surgery follow-up or any of his infusion or doctor's appointments. We won't be able to be with him tomorrow for his last infusion or a bell ringing but I would LOVE to be able to surprise him with something even better. I'd love to put together a video of clips from his friends and family congratulating him for the incredibly hard work he's done over the past 9 months to beat this thing. Not once has he felt sorry for himself or complained - he has laughed and been kind and patient in a way that has amazed and humbled me. Because of COVID he's been isolated a lot more than most people so this would be a way of reminding him how many people have been thinking of and praying for him....and are celebrating him now! Tim's not on Facebook so he won't see this - let's keep it a secret and text me your video to 757-753-5352. 

And tomorrow at ONE o'clock think of Tim getting that very LAST round of chemo! 

Grateful for you,

Katie

 

 

 

Read More of the journal titled "ONE!!"
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