We haven't updated everyone in quite some time.  We had been holding off until I had my six-month scan.  This entry has some valleys and peaks in it, and it's quite long.  So hang in there with me.

🥇SCAN RESULTS

I had my 6-month scan on October 30.  My scans continue to show shrinkage of the tumor on my left kidney, which is fantastic.   The status of my spinal tumor is unknown since the CT can't visualize that area due to the rods & screws there.  The known fact is that my back doesn't hurt like it did last year, and I'm as functional as I can be.  Additionally, there wasn't cancer found anywhere else.  It means that the current treatment (Cabometx) is still working.  So,  I'll continue taking my medication and driving on as long as I can.   I meet with Dr. Truong, my oncologist on the 14th, but I don't anticipate there will be any changes to my medications.

🛀BREAKING BACK/BAD

At the start of the summer, I was in the shower and reached for an item, and all of a sudden I felt a few pops in my back.  At the time I thought it was my spine stretching out, and I wasn't in any additional pain, so I continued my business.  The next day I woke up, I could tell something was wrong with my back.  Erin and I went into triage mode.  We started with ice, and then rice packs, and began trying to manage the pain.  I made it through the day.  The next day was Sunday.  We got up, I was still in pain, and I toughed it out till about mid-day.  At this point, I asked for assistance getting to a vehicle, and I drove myself to the VA ED.  I explained to them what I was experiencing and what had occurred a few days earlier.  A CT scan was ordered, and the results were that I broke one of the titanium rods in my back.  I cannot begin to tell you the amount of fear that ripped through me, so many questions.  Questions that we would have to wait a few weeks to get some proper answers to.  

We scheduled an appointment with Dr. Grundmeyer (spinal surgeon).  Following the ED visit, my back calmed down and adjusted to its current state.  To our surprise, breaking a titanium rod in your back is a fairly common occurrence.  We found out that they break due to fatigue.  For example, if you took a metal coat hanger, stretched it out, and began bending it back and forth, it would eventually break.  Dr. G. stated that I essentially did that.  The options we were presented were the following: 1 1) Go on living with a broken rod, or 2) do surgery and replace the rod.  However, we have to take a few things into account.  For any planned surgery I have to stop my cancer treatment, for the five weeks leading up to the surgery, and I cannot start the treatment again until I'm healed from the surgery.  We were advised that, as long as I wasn't in pain, and that I could still function, I should push surgery off.  So that's what we did.  I function with a broken titanium rod in my back.  I can feel it when I lay down.  It feels like a soda can be crinkled up.  Other than that I, still roll around.

✏️CRUSHING GOALS

As the school year started for the children, it also started for me.  I am currently enrolled at WSU Tech, pursuing the completion of an Architectural Design AAS degree.  I had previously been enrolled at WSU Tech to pursue an Engineering Design AAS.  However, the pandemic hit in 2020, and I was offered a full-time position.  At that point, it seemed more logical to get to work.  Once this fall semester is completed, I'll have just three classes to complete in the spring, and the Lord willing, I'll graduate.  

😞SAD NEWS

My stepdad, Jimmy has been a figure in my life for about as long as I can remember.  He married my mom when I was six.  I have and will always describe him as a modern-day John Wayne.  He's just a rugged kinda fella.  Over the last few years, his health had been in a pretty solid state of decay.  We were able to make a trip to Cleveland over the summer to see my mom and Jimmy.  At the time Jimmy had looked like he had experienced a stroke. However, his scans showed that he had not.  His ailments were at the time from an unknown source.  We found out a few weeks back, that he was diagnosed with ALS.  To date, ALS does not have a cure.  Please send your prayers their way, as they navigate this time of hardship.

⏩MOVING ON

Going forward, our posts will typically come in during scans.  So about every six months.  We will essentially operate on the "no news is good news!"  Thank you for still checking in with us as you see us out and about, we have and will continue to appreciate all of you!

I'll close on this positive announcement.  We are slated to break ground on our new house the week of Nov 13th.  Once construction is complete, we will become residents of Valley Center, KS.  "Go Hornets!"

“Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭27‬