Brian’s Story

Site created on August 16, 2023

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Approximately three weeks ago, I was diagnosed with AML. The kind of news that simply levels you… after telling my family, I started sharing the information with key friends to share with others…. I am not a particularly private person…as anybody reading knows! Lol but the idea of telling everyone individually was mind blowing! 

Through my years I’ve been given this information by others about their lives, and I never know what to say, or do. We can pray… pray that the people that do know what to DO will do their best. It is our hope to beat this disease and add years to my life, but I understand it will be a great challenge. 

We are very confident in my caring team at the University of Kansas Medical Hospital. I have been blessed with a bone marrow donor… an individual, who, for no other reason than a desire to help another person, has given me a chance and on Monday, I began the process of nullifying my current bone marrow. It will be day -8. We will count down every day with with a chemo treatment until the 29th when I will receive my new bone marrow.

As anybody who has walked this journey or has had a love one on it know, it is a dark path with many obstacles, but my team will do everything they can to mitigate the unfortunate challenges of Chemo… on one bright note, I won’t be worrying about losing my hair! Lol 

I’m not a very big fan of country music, but there’s a song by Tim McGraw that encompasses the experience of many who are dealt with cancer I’m sure you’ve heard it…and has a special meaning to me now.

One of my favorites…like many others, I will take the road less traveled….


“The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jen Adams

Day + 209

I never would’ve thought when this cancer journey began, that less than a year we would enter hospice care. 

Reality, it is becoming overwhelming for my wife alone to simply take care of me. There are moments, and I have seized them to do the radio show, but buy and large most of my days are filled with extreme fatigue and weakness. Now I’m having reaction to a new medication they’re giving me and I have been vomiting quite a bit over the last week. I share this information because so many of you hear me on the radio and thought there’s no way this guy is exiting this earth. He sounds normal. Well, on Friday while I did not say, I’m done, and there is not a finality to the possibility of me doing one more or two shows it’s becoming such an overwhelming challenge. 

I want to say thank you to all of you for your continued prayers, your thoughts, your well wishes. And I may be greedy, I asked that you continue those for my wife and daughter. My moments on this earth are now being evaluated in days. But let me just say once more, what a great life I’ve had! I’ve been blessed with so many gifts, the most amazing wife and partner, I could’ve ever had in this world and honor… And true pleasure of being a dad.

We went to the bone marrow clinic this morning to probably get my final round of platelets.  My entire team at the University of Kansas health system has been not only amazing, but compassionate and if you have a loved one or family member that is looking at a journey like ours I highly recommend them.

I hope to post another one or two more times before I’m called home. But please keep in your heart those who are just finding out about a journey in cancer or terminal disease. So many people whose outcome will be better than mine there’s always hope. I’ve never given up, I’ve simply accepted God‘s will. 

I am strongly reminded of the sacrifice that was made for me to be able to have such acceptance. 

We love you all,

 Brian, Jen & Brianna

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