Whats up  O'hana.  It has been a while since Lana or I have updated the info.  At least four weeks, and what a four weeks it has been.  Between treatments, naps, appointments, naps, and things popping up before and after naps, it has been a little wild.  

We have called it "the void". There was so much happening with the changes in our health. We were caught  up in learning how to live in the new life we have been given and learning how to care for each other in this state.  Now that we are on a better side of it we are realizing a lot of time passed by but it felt like a blip.

Moving on, Lana and I will now be giving updates in the same post. We will share that post on both of our accounts. So if you read Lana's post and then read mine thinking, "I just read this", you will be correct.  

As for Lana,  quick recap.  In November, Lana had a routine mammogram that showed an area of suspicion for a mass.  Testing was done and doctors diagnosed her with triple negative breast cancer (very aggressive type). The doctors wanted to start treatment right away.  After all of the tests and prep was completed, and on Dec 18th Lana began her first phase of chemo.  This first phase was treatments every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. 

 We started writing this post on Monday while Lana was receiving chemo at the Our Lady of the Lake Infusion Center in Woman's Hospital (yes it is confusing, don't ask).  She is in the second phase of chemo which are 12 weekly treatments. The treatments are going well.    The first week she receives three chemotherapy drugs  (triple), and the following two weeks she receive one chemo drug (single).  To clarify, she receives one chemo weekly and every third week is a triple.  Today is the second triple.  This phase has her more tired and achy than the first, but she is learning to listen to her body and to maximize her time with cycles of rest and go.  The day of and the day after treatment she is on a steroid burn and things are getting done around the house, she gets a lot of reading done, and get my chores done.  

Following today, she has 8 more weeks of weekly chemo.   Next step will be surgery about 4-6 weeks after chemo is completed, then after she has healed from surgery, she will have radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

Now, for those of you who know Lana you know she is an energizer bunny.  When things need to get done, they get done.  When we are getting ready to do something, the planning should be complete and alternatives prepared for.  This is honestly a blessing to our relationship because she balances me in so many ways.   

Lana has said the best part about her cancer journey is she is learning to rest and to slow down some to enjoy the moments you are in.  Her power verse for this season  is Psalm 18:1, "I love you Lord, my strength."  When she is at her most frustrated or miserable moments you will find her singing a worship song or silently praying to God.  What is so amazing about this is she is going to God.  Even in frustration and pain she going to God.  He hears and knows her heart.  It is an amazing testimony to be able to claim she is child of God who is receiving treatment for breast cancer, and not a cancer patient who is calling to God.  

As for me, I will give a quick recap.  January of last year (2023) I was shown to have a "complete clinical response" (remission) from Stage 3 Colorectal cancer after an 8 month period of radiation, oral chemo, and IV chemo.  A year later, this past January, at a routine 3 month checkup, there was suspicion the cancer could be back.  Tests verified the suspicion, and in the beginning of March I had a surgery that removed effected parts of my rectum and colon, and gave me a temporary ileostomy (a detour-opening on the side of my abdomen that I poop out of and is collected in an attached bag).  This is so my body can heal after the surgery.  Once everything is healed and cleared, they will reconnect my intestines and I will be back in business... well number 2 business.

Here is where my story starts.  after being home for a day after surgery, I had to be readmitted to the hospital for dehydration and came home for good after a 5 day stay.   Home health has been helping learn how to care for my ostomy (I have nicknamed it Homie, cause he is my stomie).  Adjustments have been going well.  However, during my first post-op visit, the surgeon let us know that the biopsies of the tissue that was removed during surgery showed a Stage 3 cancerous mass that was not in the same location as the original tumor.  The following weeks were filled with more lab work and an appointment with the oncologist.  The concern is will l have to have start chemo again.  The answer is  pending on lab results.  If they are elevated, we will have to strongly consider chemo and find out where he cancer is.  If the results are low (which is what Lana and I are claiming) we will just continue the 3 month checkups.

Going through chemo at the same time is not something we want.  Heck, her in chemo while I have been recovering from surgery is interesting enough.  Pray for Lana to maintain her sanity as we share many weeks together bonding, just the two of us, at home with the dog

Before my surgery we were gifted with the resources to build our Victory Garden, and we have been spending time working on by planting seedlings and flowers.  Because rows in the ground would have been too much for us to keep, we have built planter boxes and are using grow bags.  Lana will have her sunflower bed and cut flower bed. We are also growing vegetables.  Our reason for growing this garden is not just for us, but for blessing others.  

God has been pouring so many blessings upon us through you.  The prayers, the visits, the meals that are covering our needs, the gifts from co workers who are so much more than friends to us, the kind words from a church family who truly are out family, the anonymous blessings, the visits, the assistance with chores, the ones cutting our yard and making sure the house and garden are cared for, and it goes on and on and on.  Quite honestly, Lana and I have found ourselves in tears and on our knees thanking God for everything.  We re beyond blessed!!!

Earlier, when I was telling you about Lana and Psalm 18:1, we talked about that verse being an empowerment and foundation.  The reason we can lean and stand on "the Lord is my strength" is stated in  Psalm 18:2.  "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in who I take refuge, my shield and the horn (strength) of my salvation, my stronghold."  To say this path has been easy would be a lie, but to say we have been protected and carried by God's might and Christ's compassion through others is a foundational truth.  Simple faith is sometimes the hardest thing to maintain, but God has shown us over and over that the simple faith is the strongest power there is.  Look into it, talk about it, ask questions.  Hey, we are gonna be available for a good bit of time now.  

Thank you for everything. We will keep in touch more often.  Blessings to you our O'hana.