As I suspected, it means Hello and Welcome.
We'll start with a brief trip roundup and then jump into the weeds.
Tavarua was special, not just because we made it but the aura of the island, people, history, culture, authenticity, all make it an indescribable experience. When you add those variables, along with the effort it took to get Melia there, and mix it with extraordinary friends, the experience will be etched into the fabric of our being forever.
This isn't a travel blog and it would be too long a story to detail all the goods, so we'll get to the health update.
Skipping chemo was the correct call. Melia felt relatively well the first week. She sailed a catamaran, swam, snorkeled, took several boat rides, enjoyed the company of friends and was able to absorb most of the gifts on offer.
We were 7 days into the routine when a fish borne sickness caught several off guard, including Melia. For all, it was a couple hour inconvenience, some Benadryl and toilet nearby. For Melia, the next few days were laden with abdominal pain, bloating, and fatigue. After a really uncomfortable flight home and an inability to recover, we attributed the cause to the food poisoning.
Late Sunday night after unrelenting stomach pains she rang the bell and we spent the night in the ER. Following a litany of tests, doctor determined the cause wasn't from food poisoning, but rather the cancer had spread into her stomach. A condition called Ascites was the predominant culprit. A result of growing tumors in the stomach causing bloating, distention, and severe pain.
Turns out, the chemo treatments for the previous 8 weeks hadn't been working.
The liver tumor had grown and the cancer had metastasized into the abdominal wall and one lymph node.
The ensuing week was filled with doctors appointments, unknowns, and trips down emotional rabbit holes.
After more questions than answers and the collective sentiments from several Doctors, Melia is now on a different course of care. The first being a different chemo regiment, which is a 48 hr take home drip system. Melia started this new chemo Wed April 24. The effects were immediate and include all the physical symptoms that typically accompany chemo.
About 4 weeks ago we were made aware of a recent FDA approved procedure called a Histotripsy. It's a liver tumor focused procedure, the idea being a highly focused series of sound waves which are projected into the body of the tumor, breaking it up. Only 5 of these machines are in clinic in the US, one of which is at the Leonard Cancer Institute in Mission Viejo, where Melia takes treatment.
It's new and we're not well schooled on how it works, but if you're offered a ride on a rocket ship, you don't ask which seat, you just get on.
So, Friday morning, which will most likely be "today" by the time you read this, we'll be at the clinic at 0800 having the chemo tubes removed and 1000 will be heading for the Histotripsy machine.
We are in the belly of the beast right now and in the interest of time, energy and spirit conservation, I will keep this one short.
Thank you all so much for the persistent love, prayers, energy and food.
Lots of prayers are welcomed!
Vinaka, Vinaka, Vinaka (that means thank you in Fijian, times 3 😊)
Melia, Joel, Taylor and Hayes
