Hi, thank you for visiting me here at Caring Bridge.  Here's a general summary of what's happened:  

Since early September through Nov 1 I spent in Intensive Care at Shands Hospital in Gainseville.  I was well into a clinical trial of chemotherapy to treat my recurring stage 4 rare form of tongue cancer.  The chemo started eating away the area that was radiated back n 2010 when I was first treat for the tongue cancer.  It eventually ate all the way to my carotid artery and it eventually ruptured and started a life-threatening bleed, and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance.  This happened again a month later just after being discharged while my brother Thadd was taking me home.  I was taken back to hospital immediately and was put on life support.  

I remained in ICU for several weeks.  (I have been in a specialty hospital for since mid October with full medical staff care).  I have since had multiple surgeries, a tracheotomy procedure, feeding tubes, etc.  

Today, I'm writing this from a specialty hospital with full medical staff in Gainseville which is just across the street from the ICU.  They are caring for me while all the surgeries are healing.  I have been progressing in strength, though I have lost 30 pounds during this process.  

My cancer treatment has been put on hold for now while I go through this process.  Hopefully when I'm ready to receive treatment again we will find one that won't cause me additional problems.    

I am so so grateful to all of my family and friends who have been supporting me and praying for me throughout this time.  I would love to hear from you.  Please take a moment a write a note in the messages here on Caring Bridge and I will write back.   

With so much love and appreciation,

Lucas