Feeding Tube/Chemo Port Put In....Now Recovery and Waiting

As I'm sure most of you know by now, dad's surgery to put in the feeding tube and chemo port was on Wednesday of last week. The surgery went well except for some delays. The grandkids were even trying to think up creative "foods" they could put in grandpa's feeding tube like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with pickles, squash, and mustard. But alas, their plan was foiled when mom and dad went in on Thursday to learn how to use the feeding tube and were told that only things that were already liquid could be used.

Dad's recovery is going well despite some initial pain in his shoulders and upper back. True to form, he powered through. He has been using a heating pad for relief and has been trying to move his shoulder around to work out some of the air in his joints. He was able to go with us (mom, dad, Gretchen, Ben, Josh, Ashley, Adam, Payton, and I) last night to see Shrek the Musical. Maybe Shrek's inspiring words, "better out than in I always say," were enough to help dad get the rest of the air out and start feeling more like himself.

He is back at work and meeting with clients. Knowing my dad, that is no big surprise. We are currently waiting for the insurance company to approve his PET scan. They had initially denied the approval because he had just had a CT scan, however, the doctors are fighting it and are sure that it will be approved in the next couple of days.

He has received all of your cards, letters, emails, and books. If he hasn't gotten back to you already, please know that he appreciates them all. He was trying to answer some of your emails on his phone yesterday while recovering.

Adam, the kids, and I came down to Annapolis on Thursday to spend the weekend at home. It has been a wonderful visit and we are so grateful that we were able to travel down. Gretchen, Ben, and their kids live about 20 minutes away so they have been visiting and cheering mom and dad up the past couple weeks. Mom and dad continue to say that they have an amazing network of family and friends and that they are so lucky to have so many people who have shown just how much they care about their family. I know that Gretchen and I feel the same way having so many friends and family reach out to us during this time.

In other news, according to mom, the training for the race begins today! Despite the weather, we are going to attempt to get some exercise in and get ready for the goal of running the 5K in the fall when dad is all better.

"What Cancer Cannot Do"

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.