Better?

I hope that everyone had a blessed Christmas. Our family was busy with all the family parties, food, and unwrapping of presents. This year we gave a "live" present to Cody. He loves his little rat and Kyle ended up buying one for his room as well. If either the dog or cat would've gotten them, they would have thought it was a grand Christmas as well! Hopefully this will not happen as we welcome Sara and Hannah to our home. They are soft and I have petted them each once, but I don't think they will be crawling on me anytime soon.

On Christmas day I noticed that Tom was talking above a horse whisper. The day after he said that he slept almost through the night. A few nights this week he did not take his cough medicine before bed. I think we are slowly turning the corner to a healthier Tom. On Thursday, December 27 Tom had a follow up appointment with Dr. Buth who said that Tom's skin was healing nicely. Tom will have hair growth again at the base of his neck, but Tom was told that he will probably never have to shave more than he is doing currently, so much for the electric shaver I bought him! Dr. Buth also said that if they do the PET scan too early it will give a false positive due to the radiation. Dr. Buth will contact U of M to see where the scan needs to be done and Tom said he prefers to do it in Grand Rapids. We still do not have a date set for the scan, but Dr. Buth thinks it will be set up for sometime in March or April. Dr. Buth is also referring Tom back to Dr. Campbell, Oncology, for a further consultation and a discussion about chemotherapy. I do not think that Tom will have chemo otherwise it would have been in the post op plans back in August. I am grateful that these Dr.'s are not taking anything for granted and Tom will go to 100 consultations (my opinion of course) until the group of Dr's are satisfied that Tom is cancer free. Tom, on the other hand is littlerly "sick" of Dr's and wants the whole ordeal over yesterday! His energy level has not yet increased and his right shoulder is numb. He gets jolts every once in a while on his right side, especially when touched in that area. I appreciate that so many of you are praying for Tom. Thanks for the wonderful Christmas cards. Your well wishes and generosity has been overwhelming to Tom and myself. Have a safe and happy new year!

Merry Christmas

It's always so busy this time of the year, but I thought it was important to acknowledge this wonderful holiday. We have already had a few parties under our belt these last few weekends and have enjoyed all of them. It's Christmas Eve and Katie will be singing in the choir tonight which brings back some of my family to our hometown. The boys are not so excited to go to church again truthfully since "We were just there yesterday". However, I hope they get the meaning of what Christmas is and who this holiday is for. Unlike the commericals, it's not all about "me".

Tom has not improved much in the last (almost) week. His breathing issues and coughing are persistent. He tires easily and that frustrates him. Tom is really starting to peal. It looks very painful and some of the new skin on his right side looks raw as though it were not ready yet to come off. I can't scratch him long enough or hard enough to make that itchy feeling go away. I worry I will do more damage than good when I sink my claws in. As Tom starts feeling better he will have a hard time waiting to go back to U of M to get his exam at the end of January. I know we are both looking to turn the page to a New Year.

As I look back at 2007 and see the roller coaster ride we've been on I think about so many things. I am grateful that Tom has pulled through and done so well under the circumstances. I look at my family and see how blessed we are and how precious our children are to both of us. I see our extended family and thank God for their support. I think of our friends and don't know how we could ever repay what they've done and realize how much they are an extension of "family". I think about our church and know that many of our "faith family" have upheld us in their prayers daily. I also think about the people we work with and how they have helped us. We have heard from people that we do not often communicate with some we have lost touch with. So even though this year has held many challenges for us physically, mentally, and emotionally I just wanted you to know that I thank God for you.

Wrapping up Christmas

Tomorrow, Thursday, December 20 we are going to try and finish the Christmas shopping. The kids are already looking at the presents we have under the tree, trying to find one with their name on it. School Christmas parties for the kids are Friday and they are ready for the break from their routine. We all are looking forward to the family Christmas parties as well.

I have had many questions about how Tom is doing. There are nights that his breathing is more like a plan old snore; other nights his breathing still sounds labored. He is still waking up with his coughing fits a few times a night. He brings his Michigan blanket to bed with him many nights, much unlike in the years past where I am covered under all the blankets including the ones he kicks off and he always had the fan on. I think he is finally over all the flu symptoms which has been a long recovery road for him. Tom is still on one solid meal a day, which many times consists of cereal or soup. We are not sure what type of scans Tom will have whether it will be the CAT or PET. Also, I am wondering what his blood test will show in accordance with his calcitonin level. Tom thinks he wants to get back to work, but I am not sure his physical and mental capacities are in conjunction with each other. I keep telling him in each phase, "This to will pass" and not to push himself too hard. Thanks again for the support and encouraging words. It still amazes me how many people are reading this blog, friends and families of friends. Thanks for walking this path with us as we could not handle this by ourselves. Your prayers have kept us positive and your encouragement gives us hope.

Another Hurdle Down

The good news is what we hope will be Tom's last radiation treatment was Thursday, December 13. Of course, like everything else, this was not an easy accomplishment. Tom came down with the flu on Wednesday night but a team of wild horses could not keep him away from his last treatment. There were two other patients that had a numerous amount of treatments along with Tom. One patient completed last Friday. The other patient was done on the same day as Tom. As Tom was getting his last dose this patient came out of the changing room with a graduation cap on her head. This brought a bunch of cheers in the waiting room. The other patient surprisingly came in with flowers for her. I think when he presented them to her there was not a dry eye in that room. Tom entered at that time with his certificate of completion and there were hugs all around! It's hard to explain, but there is a special bond when people go through this together. Total strangers become friends.

Now we enter the final phase of healing. Tom goes back to Dr. Buth on Thursday, December 27 for a recheck and a scan. He will meet with the surgeon, Dr. Teknos at the U of M on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. Tom is very anxious to get back to life as usual now. The reality is he has a lot of healing ahead of him yet. His back and face are still burnt with new skin coming through. His neck and face is still very swollen and his voice continues to be a little above a whisper. As we are getting closer to Christmas we are touched with so many generous Christmas cars and wishes. Thanks again for supporting us each step of the way. Prayer warriors: Pray that the scans come back with good news and that Tom heals quickly.

End of Week

Another week of radiation done. Tom has had a rough week. He eats one solid meal a day (which is a struggle) and the other two are a liquid diet. His weight is going into the downward motion again. He is now talking in a glorified whisper. His coughing has increased due to his saliva becoming more like a thick mucus. On Monday Dr. Buth put him on a new prescription to relax him and help him sleep because the tightening in his throat has given him "panic attacks" during the night and he is having difficulty sleeping. At the pharmacy they know me be sight now, and I am starting to feel like a drug distributor. We have put the Radiation calendar on the frig and I remind him each day how many treatments that we have to go. I'm not sure how he keeps such a good attitude about all this. In all honesty if the tables were turned, I'm not sure how I would handle all that he has gone through. This week Tom had mentioned that he does not want to do this anymore. Though I try to be his cheerleader, I know that I would not make such good patient. Throughout Tom's treatments we have met so many other cancer patients that have a dimmer survival rate of success and their stories touch my heart. It makes me think once again how fortunate we are. I am realizing that I have taken a lot for granted in my life. I know God did not allow cancer in our lives just to show me I should be grateful, but I am learning to be more so through this experience than I ever could have in life's daily path.

A New Week

I can't believe how much better Tom feels now that he is off the shots. He has a great attitude about the rest of this treatments. I am relieved that they are moving the radiation off his salivary glands and that the threat of not having saliva is not an issue. Tom still has a long stretch to go though. Tom had his blood test results and they continue to adjust his Thyroid medication. He is up many nights struggling with sore throat, coughing, and breathing issues. In the mornings he does not have a voice at all. It's becoming more noticeable where Tom is getting his radiation treatments. His neck and face appears as though he has a bad sunburn. He is losing hair on the back side of his head and he does not have to worry about shaving for a while. I'm glad that they are not anticipating this to be permanent. The kids are geared up for Christmas. We have Kyle's band concert this week, he plays a trumpet and is 2nd chair. The boys have started their Christmas shopping and Katie will buy her gifts through Santa's Secret Shop at school. As our Christmas season begins, things are swinging into the hectic side once again. I hope to sit back and remember "The Reason for the Season" every once in a while.

Scratchy Itchy

Tom met with the Dr. Buth today and looking at the photos they took of him last week, Dr. has determined that Tom is having a reaction to the injections that he is receiving. This was one of the concerns with using this drug, it doesn't like to play nice. They feel if Tom would continue getting this shot, he would eventually end up in ICU. So, no more shots. They have put Tom on a steroid regiment to try an head off the reaction he is currently having. Tom is glad that they have stopped the shots. The nurses even noted that his mood is upbeat since he has been off of the shots. As far as the radiation treatment, Tom is doing well. His sore throat continues and at times he is barely able to speak. He is loosing hair on the back side of the head where he is receiving radiation. The guys are giving him a hard time about it. They say it looks like he got a really bad haircut. Tom says they are jealous because they are follicle impaired! Tom only has 5 more treatments and then they will change the angle of the radiation beam to finish out the remaining month of treatments. This will take it away from his salivary glands so we are not as worried about them being damaged. Tom had more blood taken today. We are hopeful this will show a lower level of Calcitoin, meaning no more cancer. For my prayer warriors: Thank God that he is doing so well so far into the treatments, that the Dr.'s have come to a conclusion for his shots, and that he has better movement in his upper body. Thanks for encouraging me while I share my thoughts during this hard time. Mary, you had a great idea when you suggested I start this blog!

Holiday Preparation

I am not sure how many of you were out on Black Friday, but we were home and sleeping this year. There were a few possible deals that we thought about going out for, but for the first time in about 12 years, we decided not the fight the crowds (we'll probably still fight them before the Christmas season is done). However, as has been our tradition for 18 years, the Christmas tree is up and the house is being decorated as well. I think this has lifted both our spirits.

Tom had another eventful week with his treatments. Monday he talked with Dr. Buth and it was decided that he needed another prescription because he was definitely having an allergic reaction to the shots at the site of injection. I stopped at the pharmacy to pick up his prescription and was told that the insurance company was rejecting this prescription and they sent me on my way with a rejection slip. Tom brought it to Radiation Oncology and the fight between Dr/Insurance began. On Wednesday he did not get his shots because of his reaction. We then bought the prescription out of pocket because even with the two institutions talking, the prescription issue was not resolved. On Friday, the shots were not given again due to the sites being red, raised, and itchy. Also on Friday Radiation was running about 40 minutes behind due to a power outage, so we were still there for a good share of time.

So here is another bump in the treatment process. I should not be surprised as this has been the case all throughout Tom's progress. Tom states that he feels better and is not feeling as sick in the evening, and I think he's glad that he does not have to get the shots for that fact. I however keep stressing that he will want to get these shots if at all possible so that he can swallow years from now. Please continue to pray that we can get over this hump and that whatever is best for Tom will be the outcome. Pray that Tom will be able to keep up his energy, positive attitude, and accept whatever treatment is given to him. Thanks again for your words of encouragement and generosity. As I am preparing for the Holiday season I am so thankful for all of your support and am grateful that you are in our lives. Life is hard, but God is great.

Thankful

The staff at the hospital believe Tom may have caught a bug last week and told him that it can really effect a person in Tom's state of well being. Tom continues to have his sore throat and our frig is now stacked with many different flavors of liquids on the days he decides to make that his meal. His weight fluctuates daily, and he is hoping for it to be on the down side of the scale! His treatment is sometimes less than two hours, and he has to remain patient when it exceeds even the two hour expectation. We have truly learned what a small world we live in. At the hospital we have run into many people from "our neck of the woods", somebody we know, or in conversation with a stranger a connection of someone we both know. I think the conversations in the Radiation Oncology waiting room really is a neat experience in itself. While I was waiting for Tom to finish his treatments I thought of the things I am thankful for...My husband, my children, my family and their support, friends and acquaintances that have been so helpful and generous, and above all God's peace in this hard time. I know life isn't always what we wish or think it should be, but who would I be if I did get everything in life I expected? Would I even like that person or enjoy the good things in life if I never knew of the rough roads? I know what I'm thankful for and who to thank. Happy Thanksgiving!

Mid-week

I Valerie, promise not to get up at 3:00 am and write in the blog anymore. It's hard when thoughts go around in your head for hours at night. Somehow when I read the blog the next day, it sounded pretty depressing. His mom and sister came rushing to his aide with malts. He is afraid that he will be as big as Santa come Christmas time, but he says it sure feels good on the throat. It is Wednesday night and Tom is feeling better, not worse. Today was his shots in the stomach and he said that the nurse did an excellent job and that it was one of his better shots. This must be a first! Tom's attitude has been awesome during this whole ordeal. I think it helps that he sees some of the same people during his treatments. It's almost like they have their own support system, which must also help. The kids are doing well, although they are a little bummed that we are not making the annual trip down to Ohio for the Michigan/Ohio State party at our friends. This is the only time of the year that we make it down there and the kids were looking forward to it. Thanks for all the uplifting notes, they are helping both of us.

Week 3

When the doctors are right, they are right. Tom is having a hard time trying to do what he wants. His strength and will power are not agreeing with his will. Sunday Tom tried to make it to church, but in the end decided to stay home. Monday was the start of week 3 treatments and Tom had a rough night. Tom was having a difficult time chewing his food small enough to swallow it. Later that evening he was chilled, achy, and feeling down right cruddy. He was seriously talking about starting the liquid diet. So we are onto another path in Tom's treatment process, ready or not. It's hard to helplessly watch your loved one get weaker and sicker each day, knowing that things will get worse before they will get better and that he will not turn that corner in a day, week, or even month from now. The kids are quickly learning that dad is still not feeling all that well. Kyle is quick to give him lots of hugs! Please continue to pray for Tom's health, strength, positive attitude, and that these treatments will kill all carcinoma cells.

Treatments

Tom has a new job! Not really, I just keep telling him that this is his job for right now. It is going to Spectrum and having his radiation treatment . This has become about a two hour process. He is feeling down because the shots make him feel like he has the flu, minus the nausea (because of the prescription). He talked with Dr. Buth on Monday about his symptoms after the radiation and how in the evenings, everything seems to tighten up. These symptoms mostly likely will continue until the treatments are complete. I understand that by week three he may be on a liquid diet. He received a nutrien diet booklet from the Radiation Oncology dietitian and she will be talking with him about his condition every Thursday. I am glad that he has so many people monitoring him. Tom and I are so grateful that we have so many people supporting us. I don't know how we would be doing this without others lending a helping hand. Some days things just seem "tense" around the house and I'm sure the kids can feel it. Thank you all for your generous ways as they help us to focus on the necessary things. Please continue to pray for Tom's strength, health, and energy.

Trick or Treat

A belated Happy Halloween to everyone. I was going to write for the last two nights, but life is still hectic here around the Andrews household. It's amazing to me that since Tom has returned from the hospital, I've had to hit the ground running. In fact, with Tom being out of commission, I find myself running like I did when he worked 2nd shift. I realize how much I take things for granted.

Tom had his first true radiation treatment on Halloween. He was given the choice for the shots and he decided he truly wanted to swallow easily with saliva for the rest of his life. So, this means that he was at the Dr's office to get his two shots (each day) 30 minutes before his treatment began. His first shots were given one in each arm. Today he will get two shots in the stomach (brings back the days at U of M, not pleasant memories), and then the next day one in each leg. Then the shots start back in his arms again. It also means that he needs to take another prescription to fight the nausea that these shots create. Tom is radiated from both the front and the back.

This is a difficult step for Tom to take and he is not looking forward to the next 6-7 weeks. I have asked Tom how many total treatments he will receive because the Dr. was undecided between 30 to 35. Tom still is not sure how many he will need in total. At this point Tom needs to be at the hospital at 12:00 and treatments start at 1:00. This schedule may change as they have a child case coming soon that they will need to work around. I know that this is a necessary step in Tom's treatment but it must be hard when you feel your body is going backward. For my prayer warriors: continue to pray for Tom's energy levels, positive attitude, and healing of his sore throat. I have been reading Job thanks to a sermon by our pastor and what has been sticking with me these days is the first chapter where everything was taken from him. In verse 21 Job says, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Amen

Falling into place

Tom met with the Radiation Oncologist Tuesday, October 23. They did a Sim's (simulation). They made a mask for his face and gave him three tattoos. They went over how the procedure was going to work everyday. Tom will go back Tuesday for a practice run and the treatment will start Wednesday, October 31st. Happy Halloween! He will go Monday through Friday at 1:00 pm.

Tom is still struggling with a sore throat. I was hoping this would improve before it became sore again. His energy level and movement range is getting better, but not as fast as he would like. He is doing things around the house while he can, before he starts feeling tired again. The kids are enjoying having him home at night. Thanks to Tom's cousin, we now have 3 computers to "game" on and the boys are having a blast! Tom is having a hard time keeping up with them, as the boys have more experience with the computerized games and faster reflexes. Cody's football is done for the year and Kyle has one more game. I have to say, as I do every year, that by the time the last game is played I'm ready for it to be done. Once again, thank you for all the cards, e-mails, meals, and help that we are getting right now. I know that many people are saying that we continue to be in their prayers; maybe that's why we are handling each step/each day so well. A special thank you to friends Tim and Linda for the beautiful Michigan blanket that Linda made for Tom. This must have been the hardest blanket that she ever made (MSU alumnus).

Radiation Oncology

We are so happy that we can see Dr.s in the West side! I forget how beautiful Grand Rapids truly is. This morning as we were driving US131 and the sun was coming up, the buildings seem to have their own character. It was nice for me, as I was not the one weaving in and out of the early morning rush hour traffic.

Dr. Buth received all the paperwork from U of M and had a clear idea of Tom's surgery and recovery needs. He stated that the issue after the surgery is that there still could be microscopic disease still on both side of the neck and his upper medium Steinem. To get this will require 30 to 35 treatments of radiation. Dr. Buth's concern was that radiation would attack his Salivary glands - permanently diminish his saliva during treatments. He is considering giving Tom an injection of Nythenal before each treatment could begin. This would have to be done 1/2 hour prior to radiation and carries the risk of causing high blood pressure and nausea. So, a simple 20 minute treatment regiment has more than likely become complicated. Such has been the whole progress with Tom's treatments!

Before radiation can begin, Tom will have to go through a "simulation" which is set for next Tuesday, October 23. They will create a plastic mold and will run a computerized treatment. Tom will need another CAT scan which will be simulated with the pre-op PET scan to make sure all effected areas are covered. Tom may have beams from the front and back which will also need to be determined. Then it's onto a "DRY RUN" before actually starting. Once the treatments are started Tom will have the risk of becoming tired and have a sore throat. Dr. Buth said that the skin will feel sun burnt and the same feeling with his esophagus, in which your skins get the tightening feeling when burned.

Thanks to so many people who have been so generous. The meals that we received were awesome! It really helped as we were concentrating on Tom's recovery, as I was the "taxi cab" for all the kids, and as we have the continual paperwork shuffle for each new step that takes more and more time to fill out and double check. The kids even learned to like new things that they would not have even tried if I had put it on the table. Please continue to pray for Tom's recovery and that his steps with all his Dr.'s have a clear, smooth path. Help Tom and myself as life has been different around the house. We seem to notice the small things we had taken for granted.

Post-Op

Tom was glad to go back to Ann Arbor. He was very concerned about the swelling in his neck and face. He has not been sleeping very well the past two nights. Dr. Teknos talked to us in great detail again about the surgery itself. They removed the sutures and were very pleased about the way the incision was healing. They explained that the swelling could be persistent for up to 4 more weeks. Dr. also talked to us about the signs of depression which are normal with patients who've had major surgeries.

We also went over the Pathology report with Dr. Teknos. There were no major surprises other than the amount of cancer they found. The tumor they removed was 5 cm. On the right side on his neck cancer was found in 50 lymph nodes, the medullary carcinoma was outside of the lymph nodes, and had aggressive features. Because of this, Dr. Teknos has decided to be a little more aggressive in the Radiology treatment. He plans on covering a larger area than previously discussed. The treatments will be done in Grand Rapids lasting 6 to 7 weeks. Tom will have a total of 35 radiation treatments. Calcitonin and thyroid levels will be monitored during and after radiation to make sure the treatments are effective.

Tom's consultation is scheduled for Wednesday, October 17 @ 8:00 am with Dr. Buth. The treatments will most likely begin within 2-3 weeks after the consultation. With 5 treatments a week, I am glad that we can have them performed close to our home. Thanks again for the cards and encouraging words that you have shared with us. We could not have made it through this time without your support. Please continue to pray for Tom's healing & pain.

Home!

It has been another crazy day at the Andrews household. I called Tom about 12:30 to see if the Dr.'s had been in to see him during their afternoon rounds. No show was the reply. I checked again at 1:30 and was told to "Come and get me. I'm ready to come home." It was like sweet music to my ears. We finally hit home turf about 8:00 pm. Kyle was the first to see his dad, and did that kid smile big! The kids and Grandma had welcome home signs and posters everywhere. Parents walked in the doors and carefully hugged him.

We will not get a chance to miss the U of M Hospital as we have to head back Thursday am. Tom will have his stitches removed. Kids have a running joke on the total count of stitches he has in his neck. We will also cover post op surgery items and the oncology report. Tonight the chiefs of all the departments at the U of M Hospital will get together for their bi-weekly meeting. Once again Tom's case has been chosen as the case that they will study this month.

Stopped in at the pharmacy on the way home. Tom will continue taking all his different drugs and pain killers. After just a few hours of being out of the hospital and being home I can tell that Tom is beginning to struggle. Just one more small step to take. Tom just smiles and says, "Tonight I get to sleep with my nurse."

Monday

I just wanted to let everyone know that Tom had 3 more drains taken out Monday morning. The Dr.'s are going to look at the last drain this afternoon. They like the output of this last drain, but want to monitor this last one a little longer. If the level remains the same, they will be pulling it. I might be able to pick him up yet today! He slept better last night and didn't require as much pain medicine. I was able to let Kyle and Katie know that he might be coming home. They both had the biggest smiles and said, "I can't wait to see Dad." I'm thinking, me too!

Progress

Saturday evening was a great day in Ann Arbor, Michigan won and I was able to spend a great deal of time with Tom. I slept great in the recliner chair, but Tom did not sleep so well. His pain is worse at night. Breathing and swallowing are both a chore. Sunday was better. He talked with Dr. Old mid morning who took out one drain and was pleased with the other three. These drains may be coming out Monday am!? He also had the Respiratory Therapist stop in to have Tom start Breathing Treatments. The first hour of trying to do these treatments really wore him out. He must do 10 treatments each hour he is awake. When I got home, Tom called to say he had been moved to a private room. His new room number is 4411. His new phone number is 734.936.4411.

Please continue to pray that Tom's pain decreases each day. Pray that he is patient during his stay. Thanks to all who were able to come and see Tom. It is such a long drive and he really appreciated those who were able to make it.

Hospital Stay

Tom is resting comfortably tonight. I drove home today, but have talked to him a few times. His pain is under control and his appetite has increased. Dr. Teknos wanted him up and moving even more today so he took quite a few trips around the block (he even passed a lady in the hall, he was really cruising!) I kept telling him to take it easy and he said that he had to keep moving, he wasn't going to just sit around once he got home. I told him in that case..the house needed vacuuming, dusting and mopping. I don't think he appreciated my sense of humor. He had a couple of visitors today and I think it really lifted his spirits.

The Physical Therapist also talked with him today. She gave him a sheet with his exercises and told him to try and do them twice a day. It is important in his recovery so that the scar tissues do not swell up and cause him to have limited movement in his neck. Dr. Teknos came by after I had left U of M and told Tom that he probably would not be coming home until mid week, Tom's goal was Sunday. The drains are still filling more than he had expected, which could extend his stay. I'm not sure who talked with Tom, but early in the day Tom was told that maybe one or two drains could be removed tomorrow.

I'm sorry if I confused anyone; Tom's nerves were not cut nor damaged. His nerves are stressed from the surgery. When I blogged at the hospital, some of their computers were not working and people were constantly waiting to get on. I really didn't even check what I wrote, especially when I hurriedly sat down to update. Another question people have asked is whether they went into Tom's sternum. They did go into the chest cavity, below his clavicle bone, but they did not have to open his chest. I hope that I did not give the wrong impression. He was cut almost from ear to ear only for his surgery. We call it his smiley face, but I was thinking on my drive home that it's a symbol of his loyalty of this University. Where did they engrave the M? Well, I've made this posting long enough. Thanks again and again for all they kind words and generosity. God bless.

Correction

Just wanted to give a quick correction. Tom's room number is 4415-2. His phone number is 734.936.4416. Sorry if there was confusion, but the wrong number was posted on the board in Tom's room and the phone number was not posted elsewhere.

Tom is doing well. He has been up twice to walk around the block and ate most of his dinner :)

The Day After

Wednesday was a long day here at the U of M. Tom was in surgery from 7:45 am to 6:15 pm. Cathy and I were able to see him a little after 8:00. Then between 9 and 10 he was assigned to the room he will stay in until his leave. We stayed with him until 11:30 when he was finally sleeping for longer periods of time we called it a night. His room number is 4415-2 and his room phone number is 734-936-6416. This morning when I saw him, his swelling was still down and as of now, he does not have a trache. They are monitoring his blood levels today as he lost a lot of blood during surgery yesterday.



This morning we saw both of the surgeons Dr. Teknos and Dr. Old. They said that they had to cut the Coratic artery, but were able to save most of the nerves. They also had to do an extensive amount of scrapping around his swallowing passage muscles. They said that he had a huge amount of tumor and that his thyroid was quite enlarged, especially on the right side. They said it was a stressful surgery yesterday. They confirmed that he would have physical therapy. Also that his radiation will start in about 4 weeks.



Tom is in good spirits and not complaining about much other than a little naseau and of course the sore throat. He has a window view from his room. It is a nice view and he loves the fact that he can see Aeromed coming and going. You can see the landing pad. Thanks again for the notes, I have been sharing them with Tom. The prayers have also been greatly appreciated and I know that we are not done yet. God is good and has been with all of us during this difficult time.

Post Surgery

I was able to get online before my assigned time. Cathy and I just finished talking with the Dr. Tom is doing fine and will be in recovery for 2 hours before we can see him. They have removed much of the muscles on both side of his neck. His tumor was a large size and the paralymph nodes were well into his chest. The surgery was tricky, but they feel they have successfully gotten the tumorous area. Dr. Teknos was able to save the nerves on both sides of his neck and his vocal cords. Dr. also feels that he cleaned all the lymph nodes successfully. However, the tumor was pressed on the vocal cords which may cause breathing issues and Tom will be monitored closely. I was also told that he may have massive swelling in his face. The swelling may not show for a couple of days and Dr. wanted me prepared for this. In all, this was a tough surgery and I am antsy to see Tom.

Going forward, Dr. Teknos feels that Tom will have Radiation in his future. It will be concentrated not only on the neck, but the upper chest as well. I'm not sure where or when that will be, but we will worry about that in the future. Thank you all who woke up early to pray and continued throughout the day. Please continue to pray for Tom to get better as we are now in a new phase of this disease.

Surgery

As of 7:30 am, Tom is now in the hands of the surgeons. He did not sleep well last night, but he should have no problems today. He has a slew of people that are taking good care of him. I have signed up for 7:30 pm to get back onto the computer to let you know how he is doing. It's nice to be able to have the computer right in the Family Surgery waiting room.

Tuesday was a 2 1/2 hour consultation with all his pre-op question/answer and signing another bunch of papers. During the surgery, we are told that they will start with the left side of his neck with what they call a "Selective Dissection". The right side of the neck will have a "Modified Radical Neck Dissection"... Which means that they will examine and take what they need to in his neck. The right side will be more extensive. He will have a Paralymphnode Dissection - also called the Calcium Glands- they will try to save at least one if they can, and of course the Total Thyroidectomy. Once he is out of surgery he will be in recovery for 2 hours before getting his room. He will have 3 to 5 drains which will need to come out before he his sent home. The other factor they will consider before sending him home is that he has stable calcium levels. At this point his Calcitonin level is through the roof. It should be a zero and at pre-op is 11,000. This will be taken again after surgery and will be the key to monitoring him for several month/years to see if they have gotten all of the cancer.

Tom seemed to be pretty up-beat or was that the "Tough guy" act for me? Either way we were both trying to joke before he was wheeled away. Thanks for all your prayers as I feel somewhat calm this morning. Please pray that Dr. Teknos and Dr. Old have a successful day!

Out the Door

This will be my last entry before Tom's surgery. We are heading out to Ann Arbor. Tom has his Dr. appointment @ 2:00. From there we will be checking into the Med Inn hotel on campus at the U of M. We will be joining Tom's cousin later Tuesday night for dinner. Wednesday, it's up early. Check in is at 6:00 am. Tom's surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am. They are planning on a eight hour surgery. He should be out by 3:30 or 4:00 pm. We finally received the approval for surgery. Nothing like waiting for the last minute. Tom's sister will be keeping me company during the surgery on Wednesday. I will try to find a computer Wednesday night to update you on the surgery, room number, phone number, etc.

Reality

The time has come to get ready to go. It is time for both of us to pack, and make sure we have things in order. It's almost like I'm stalling so that it will still seem far away. I know how I feel and that I want in some ways to say "Not yet". I can't begin to imagine what is going on inside of Tom. I think the reality of it all is now longer at bay for either of us.

I know that I've mentioned this to many of you, but I want to "officially" state how I will communicate during Tom's surgery. I will be making many phone calls to immediate family. If I can use a computer at the hospital I will try to update this blog anytime I get news. This may be a very helpful tool to inform many, and it may be good for me to focus my energy this way. If I can't get onto a computer at the hospital, I will get onto a computer asap and will update whenever it's possible.

I thought it was really cool that after practice on Friday, the boys from Cody's football team gave Tom a ball with all of their signatures. I could tell this really touched him and will make sure that it is in his hospital room at all times. So many people have touched both of our hearts that it is hard to express. My prayer is that we both stay calm and focused during our trip to Ann Arbor. I pray that the surgeons have success in getting all the cancer, and that Tom has a quick recovery. I want to share another verse that I wrote down a few months ago: "O Lord, I know it is not within the power of man to map his life and plan his course - so you correct me, Lord; but please be gentle. Don't do it in your anger, for I would die." Jeremiah 10:23-24

Counting down the days

Well, believe it or not, we are getting somewhere! Dr. Teknos has approved the paperwork and it has been turned into Tom's Human Resources Dept! That is crucial in order to get approved for short term disability (when I've called it STD, it got lost in translation!) I did call our insurance once again to see if the surgery had been approved and as of 4:00pm Friday, it still had not. I called the nurse at U of M to make sure the paperwork had been submitted and we are able to have the surgery on the 3rd. I left her a message and hopefully Monday we will get some answers. Tom received a call from Dr. Divic's office stating that U of M is requesting more tests. Wednesday he goes to their lab for more blood draws and a EKG work up. I told him that he'd better get used to tests, as this will be the way of life for a while.

Kyle and Cody both lost their games last week. However, Kyle made a great play and it was cool to hear "Tackle made by Andrews" over the speaker! Katie starts cheer leading next week and is looking forward to being in Level 3, apparently that is big stuff! As I am writting this Tom and Kyle are out deer hunting, this is a special 2 day youth hunt. Tom's friend has invited them to hunt on 80 acres in Wayland Township. I have e-mailed all the kids teachers letting them know what's going to be happening in less than two weeks. They seem very supportive.

Tom is sleeping more, but it is not helping his energy level. I think that the reality of the surgery is sinking in. It's my turn to be strong as reality hits him. I am just trying to focus on what needs to be done before we leave. I don't know how many times we can say thanks for all the cards, letter, and generosity we are receiving. We will never be able to express how much this has meant to us.

Another Week

Another week closer to Tom's surgery date. We are still waiting for papers to be signed by Dr. Teknos, waiting to see if Tom will be part of the genetic study from Dr. Campbell, and waiting for approval for the surgery by our insurance. I believe that we are both getting tired of waiting.

Both boys have missed some school this week due to the flu. I hope it does not spread to another member of this family, especially Tom! The boys also won their football games, each team won with 2 points above their opponents. It was enough to make me sit at the edge of my seat. I'm not sure if Tom prefers being the defensive coach for Cody, or having the fun of watching Kyle. He is sure enjoying both.

It is so nice to hear from people and know that we are so cared about. I was thinking today that we are actually prayed for all over the country. From Aunts and Uncles in Alaska to Arizona and between. OK Canucks, I guess it's 2 countries! I am so glad that this has been a tool for people to share. It's been hard to tell each person about Tom's condition, I forget what I've told to whom, and I'm glad to know that the word is getting around. Thanks for sharing thoughts and this website.

Please remember to pray specifically for Tom's energy level and constant sore throat, along with the digestive problems that brought him to the Dr. in the first place. Thanks friends and family, if nothing new happens, I'll try to post again next week.

Better-Worse

The first week of school is done. The boys seem to be adjusted to their new schools. Even though they will not admit to liking school, they come home with smiles on their faces. Maybe that will change when the homework starts. Katie is full of smiles and bounces when she comes home. Tom and I are just plugging along, making phone calls, filling out insurance forms, and trying to stay focused on our daily tasks.

Kyle has been cleared for physical activity. He was very happy to hear that....He's like his dad, he lives for football! Tom has been fighting a sore throat, maybe allergies or else part of his cancer. His energy level has been low this past week: football, not sleeping, or his condition could be the cause of this.

Tom was telling me that his coworkers at Spectrum Health Sleep Disorders Center are donating some of their PTO (Vacation time) to us to help supplement his loss of income while he is on disability. He is very lucky to work with such a generous and caring group of people.
Thank you

Please pray that Tom is able to stay active and upbeat as we get closer to his surgery date.

Waiting

It has been a week since the U of M consultation. Tom is keeping himself busy by picking up extra shifts at work, working on the ambulance, and coaching Cody's football team (5 days a week) until the surgery. He thinks it's good to stay busy. I think it just makes him tired and grouchy! Right now our time has been spent talking with our insurance company about the pre-approval process and trying to sort out plans with work and kids. Both of our employers Spectrum Health & Behler-Young have been incredibly supportive during this time.

Van Andel update, they have still not approved the Million dollar study for Tom's cancer. We have to check one more time before he goes in October to see if they really want to look at Tom's genes.

Otherwise, it's life a normal (in our house). Both boys are in football. Kyle came home last night with a knee injury. We took him to the Dr. today for x-rays. It turns out that he has Osgood-Schlatter Disease which is a painful enlargement of the bump of the shin bone just below the knee. This is normal in children ages 10-15 and is caused by a hit to the knee or overuse of the knee in sporting activities . (Basically the boy is getting so tall his ligament can't keep up with his bones). He will spend the next two days with his leg elevated and iced to reduce swelling. He will be out of football for a week with a brace on his knee. Hopefully he will be able to play the first game.

Our Trip to U of M

We were up and on our way by 6:00 am; thanks to everyone who took the kids last night. Wow! You think it's hard to find a parking space at Butterworth, try driving around the University of Michigan Health Complex. We met with Dr. Teknos, Chief of Head and Neck Oncology Division, and his staff. We were very impressed with him and his staff. Tom felt very comfortable putting his life in this Dr's hands. We now have a better idea of what the surgery will entail along with the follow up and treatments.

We will head over to Ann Arbor on Tuesday, October 2. Tom has a pre-op meeting with the surgeons and the Anesthesia staff. Tom will have his surgery on Wednesday, October 3. Because this will be an extensive surgery (6-8 hours) he will have to be at the hospital around 6 am. During surgery they plan to remove the tumor, thyroid, lymph nodes on both right and left sides of his neck, and Right Calcium glands.

There are possible risks and complications. It is possible that the cancer is around the vocal cords. If this is the case they will have to remove the vocal cords. Life over limbs. Damage to the vocal cords, this will result in Tom speaking with a hoarse voice, which could be corrected with another surgery later. Another possibility with damage to the vocal cords is that he would have to have a trachea. There are a lot of nerves in the neck area that are going to be stressed out. Even with out damaging the nerves, there will be numbness in the face, neck, and shoulders which will require some type of therapy. Of course, there is always a risk of complications with a surgery that last this long.

Post op. Tom will remain in the hospital for 4-7 days. Recovery at home about 2 to 3 weeks. We are going to get real familiar with Ann Arbor as we will be making numerous trips back for follow up visits. Radiation treatments can be done here in GR. He will have daily treatments lasting 4 to 6 weeks. Even with the surgery and radiation there is no way to know if all cancer has been removed. Tom will need to be monitored to make sure no other tumors appear. As we step into this new way of life, we are learning to enjoy each moment we have.

Again, thank you for all the cards, letters, and e-mails that continue to pour in. The love and support that we are receiving is overwhelming. A special thanks to the anonymous person up north who sent us the letter in regards to our kids back to school needs; your kindness and generosity was truly appreciated.

Guinea Pig

Well, happy Monday and here we go again. We went to the Oncologist today who bombarded us with information and options. He confirmed once again that Tom has Medullary Thyroid Cancer, which he confirmed is a rare cancer. He also said that chemo will not destroy the cancer. So far nothing new until...He would like Tom to have a Genetic study at the Van Andel Institute. This would have to be done through a grant that would have to be approved before we could begin, and right now it's in the paper shuffle pile. This study would be approximately 1,000,000.00 study that our insurance would deny, and since we are a few pennies shy, would be a Federal Grant. If this is approved Tom would need to have a needle biopsy before the surgery would take place, or they would test the tumor after it is removed (which Dr. did not like as well since the surgery is on the East side of the state). I believe Tom will have some radiation, but we did not concentrate on this during the consultation. As we walked out of the office I had to tell Tom, "I always knew you were rare" :)

Thanks again for all the cards, letters, e-mails during our trying time in life. We appreciate all the prayer warriors that are faithfully talking to the Great Physician of life. We are now focusing on the next consultation on the 23rd and what this will entail. As we get more information and know dates I will get up the nerve (more likely give up control) as to some of our family life. Again we appreciate all who have volunteered themsleves.

We're back to reality

We've survived vacation 2007! The cottages were cozy and the kids loved the sandy beach area. We were able to tube, ski, and the guys even tried knee boarding. It was good to see our friends again and relax with the children. Upon our return, we had a message from Dr. Hart's office. We are scheduled to meet with the surgeons at U of M on Thursday, August 23 @ 9:30 am. Now it's back to the everyday as Tom will be working tonight and then up tomorrow for the meeting with the oncologist at 12:15. I'm glad to see we are making progress as I noticed Tom rubbing his neck all week. Please keep these meetings in your prayers as these doctors are the core to Tom's future.

Go Blue

Today we met with Dr. Hart,the ENT surgeon, and now have an understanding of Tom's cancer and plan of attack. The CAT scan was really cool to see and he showed us where the cancer is located and how big the tumor is. The best treatment for this type of cancer is surgery. This type of cancer is intermediate aggressive and somewhat rare. The surgeons here in West Michigan have not had a lot of experience with this type of procedure. Dr. Hart feels that it is in Tom's best interest to have this surgery performed at the University of Michigan Hospital, by some of the best surgeons in the country. Dr. Hart explained that the cancer has spread to below the collar bone and sternum requiring a more extensive surgery (estimated 6 hours) and feels that the Thoracic surgeons at the UofM are better suited for this type of surgery. The surgery will include removal of the thyroid and all parathyroid lymph nodes. A few possible complications are irreparable damage to the vocal cords and possible nerve damage. Tom will more than likely be in Ann Arbor for 3 to 5 days and another 2-3 weeks of recovery at home. In the next couple of weeks we will head to Ann Arbor for a consultation and the surgery will more than likely follow a couple of weeks later, depending on their schedules. So we now have a thorough understanding of the cancer and how to get rid of it we will go on our vacation and relax!

Round & Round

Thanks to a little coaxing from my friends at work, I decided to leave work early to be with Tom for his surgery consultation. We went to the office where our appointment was scheduled by Tom's primary Dr. only to find the office dark & the door locked. Luckily the surgeon's office was in the same building as his primary. So, off we went to find out what was the mix-up. Tom's primary Dr. schedule him to be at one building and the surgeon had him scheduled at another building (we are back to being just a number). We will try again tomorrow at 4:30 to all be at the same place at the same time. At least Tom was able to get his blood work done while he was there. When the lab retrieved his paperwork, they had two of the same test requested; one from his primary and one from the oncologist. Does anybody talk with each other anymore? I hope that means they do not double bill us!

In the meantime I will expand about what I found of Tom's cancer. He has medullary thyroid cancer. There are 3 types of thyroid cancers (never knew that before) and the medullary is the more serious of the three. However, it still has a better success rate than if we were looking at the other endocrine cancers. That's all I know until we can finally meet with the surgeon. We are truly looking forward to being away from Dr's, schedulers, and hospitals. Seven days of nothing but sun, waves and little drinks with umbrella's in them. Thanks again for all the cards and e-mails it keeps our spirits up - and Tom likes opening these better than the medical bills :)

Each Day

It's been a busy Monday and the week will just keep getting crazier as we work, pack, clean, etc. Along with the daily hustle and bustle of life, we are also moving forward on the Cancer progress. Tom has an appointment on Wednesday, August 1 to consult with the ENT. Then it's to the lab for some blood work. I am so impressed with his primary Dr. who has been at the forefront to keep his progress moving. This weekend I was thinking, that I should become his patient because I have never known of a Dr. like him. We have never had a Dr. call our home and talk with us personally, make sure we understand the diagnosis, and make sure we are doing ok.

Tom will be attending this consultation alone on Wednesday, but I will have 100 questions about what his plan is. I have already met one of the surgeons at this office when Kyle had his tonsils out and was comfortable with his style. This is a big relief to feel confident in the one that is caring for my loved one. Once the PET scan results come back, and we consult with the oncologist on the 13th, I hope that we finally have more answers than questions.


Thanks to so many of you that have said you're a phone call away to help with anything. I'm not great at asking for help, but I'll work on not keeping the whole load on my shoulders. It's comforting to know that we have so many willing hands and hearts to share with life's tasks. I picked up a new book this weekend (I'm supposed to be saving it for vacation) that had in the acknowledgments the verse "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest four your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30

The roller coaster is picking up speed

We just got the results back from Tom's second CAT scan and we now have a new diagnosis. His Primary Dr. called and reported that they did not find a cancer in the lower part of Tom's body. The mass in his neck since his last CAT scan has increased in size. Tom is now being diagnosed with Thyroid cancer (stage 2 or stage 3). What's next?

He is still going to go through with the PET scan(Tom thinks they do not have anything better to spend $6,000 on). On Monday he will be referred to yet another doctor, and ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) who will most likely remove his thyroid. On the 13th he will still meet with the oncologist to go through with the plan of attack going forward.

We know that we are far from being out of the woods, but this is a much better diagnosis than we were expecting. From what I've read; the farther the tumor has spread, the less the success rate of recovery. So this is good news :) Actually, I will keep surfing the web with a more specific topic. Hopefully it just keeps getting better as we continue the roller coaster ride called life.

Step by Step

We can finally say that we are going forward! Tom had his CAT scan today. Though the medicine makes him feel worn down, he feels up about getting this step complete. The PET scan has been approved and he is set to go in on Friday, August 3 at 8:30 am. This gives us both the feeling that we are moving in the right direction. Then it will be vacation time for both our family and Tom's oncologist. When we all get back we are meeting on Monday, August 13 to go over all the results. It feels good to do something more than wonder what & when (we always knew the where). So now it's back to the everyday worries for a time:
Will the kids get along
What will I pack for all of us for vacation
When will I have time to shop for 3 kids for school stuff

I also wanted to thank you for sharing your comments and thoughts with us during this time. It really is great to get advice, hear what others have experienced, and just know that we are not alone. I believe that each prayer is helping to keep us calm and focused. Tonight I read to the kids Matthew 6 which says "So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time." I will concentrate on taking it step by step each day!

Valerie's on a Mission

My husband is feed up with this system! Tom was being too nice so it was time for me to step in and get some answers. This afternoon we still had not heard from the Dr.'s office and Tom is at the end of his patience. I called the insurance to see what the hold up was, and they had no information to give us since the approval has to come from a third party insurance for the PET scan. I then called the Dr.'s office and talked with the scheduling person. She stated that the CAT scan was approved and it was the PET scan that was holding us up, as she was trying to schedule them together....blah, blah, blah. During our consultation the Dr. had said that he wanted Tom to get the CAT scan right away, knowing the PET scan was out a couple of weeks and apparently that information did not get passed to his staff. Everything that we've read about this cancer states that early detection and treatment is crucial for survival and we have already lost almost two weeks: it's very hard to just be a number in the system.

His CAT scan is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 25. This should at least tell us where the cancer is so that we can get some information before going on vacation. Hopefully the PET scan can still be done before we leave so that we can get results when we return. I will try to take a deep breath before we "hurry up and wait" for the next step!

Awaiting Approval

Tom called the Doctor's office this morning to find out the status of the scans. We have not been approved by the insurance company as of yet, but they hope to have it yet today. The reason it's taking is so long is because the insurance company needed more details about the PET scan. However, we will wait to be approved since we found out how expensive it is and would not want to pay "out of pocket". Let's just say that once this has been billed we have definitely exceeded the maximum $$$ for the year. Tom explained to the Dr. office that we were going on vacation from August 4 to the 11th. They are going to try to get him in for the scans on the 3rd and will have the results for him on the 13th when we return.

Will this make for a relaxing vacation? I hope that for a few days we can be "worry free"and only worry about if we're getting sunburned or who is the next to ride the tube or water ski. It may do us good just to get away and have some family time, with the added bonus of good friends. The kids are looking forward to this trip all summer, and I hope that Tom and I can catch their "carefree" attitude.

I know so many of you are praying for our family and I wanted you to know how much that means to us. There is power in prayer!

Questions? Answers

It's hard to sit back and do nothing while we wait for the next step, approval from the Insurance to have the CAT and PET scans scheduled. People are asking us some of the same questions we have been asking ourselves. While we have time to wait, I've been doing a little research on cancers and such. I have linked a new website which may help others understand what "type" of cancer Tom has. This may answer some questions that Tom and I are not able to.

A questions I have been asked a lot is: What is a PET scan?
Here is what I've found:
A PET is a Positron Emission Tomography. It is a diagnostic examination that involves the acquisition of physiologic images based on the detection of radiation from the emission of positrons. Positrons are tiny particles emitted from a radioactive substance administered to the patient. The procedure will work with the patient being administered a radioactive substance which will localize to the appropriate area of the body and can be detected by the PET scanner. Different colors or degrees of brightness on a PET image represent different level of tissue or organ function. Cancerous tissue will accumulate more of the substance and appear brighter than normal tissue on the PET images.

The other research I've been doing is with a word the Oncologist used that I was not able to write down during our meeting. I've since read it in another cancer site and tried to get the definition, which is this:

Metastatic Caner is a cancer that has spread from its primary site to other parts of the body. If cells break away from a cancerous tumor they can travel to other areas of the body. They settle and form a "colony" tumor. The spread of a tumor to a new part of the body is called Metastasis. About 1/3 of patients with cancer have metastases that are detected at the time of their first cancer diagnosis.

Tom and I have decided that if we do not hear from the Oncologist office by early Friday, he will call to get the status of the scan approvals. We are both anxious to get the test taken, so more importantly, we can get the answers back. It seems that each time I talk with someone they have another "Good Question" that I do not have the ability to answer. There are many more questions that have yet to be answered, but they will have to wait for now. We will just have to work on the issues that we can control and let go those things we can not. I pray that God will help us to know which ones to let go.

Hurry up and Wait

After talking with the Oncologist, and getting the feeling there was a need for urgency, we are now on a waiting pattern. Friday came and went with no call from Radiology setting up the CAT scan. Finally Monday afternoon, Tom could wait no longer and called Oncology to find out the status. They explained to Tom that they would first need approval from the health insurance, this will take 2-3 days. Then they were coordinating one trip so that the CAT and PET scans could be done at the same time. The earliest scheduled time is the week of July 23. Who knows what it will be once the approval has been completed. Tom is getting anxious to get on with the tests and I have come up with about 20 more questions that will be somewhat answered after these results are in.

In the meantime, thank you so much for your words of encouragement and hope. We appreciate all the prayers that have been said for us. It's comforting to know that we are not alone in this fight. It is hard not to get anxious during this time when there is not much to go on but our limited knowledge of Tom's diagnosis and plenty of time to think and think. It's not by surprise that when I opened my purse today I found a little card that I kept from last years' bible study. It was a verse I had memorized from Philippians 4:6-7 and says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Diagnosis

We received news on July 12 that Tom has been positively diagnosed with a "Neuro-endocrine" tumor. What does this mean? The tumor found in his neck is not the place of origin, his cancer started somewhere else. Where? That is what they have to find out through the CAT scan (this will tell them where the cancer originated). The CAT scan is set up to look at the Thyroid, Stomach, bowels, and Liver. The PET scan (this will tell them the cancer acitivty). This will tell them how aggressive the cancer is. We are greatful the Tom's dr. requested a second opion with the Oncology specialist. Once we have the test results we will know better the plan of attack. At the Cancer center we were asked if we had more questions. Shock was our only reply. Once on the road, and things sank in, questions started popping in my head (though many of these will not be answered during a consultation). We are going to learn much more than we never wanted to know about cancer during this process, I am sure. I have set this Blog up so that we can give many people Tom's progress at everyone's convienence. I will try to update as we go so that people can know what going on (and what to pray for) as we progress. Thanks for all your support!