Update 5/23/23: Treatment Day 1

1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  

And so it begins...Today was day 1 on Wayne's treatment. We had to pick up Wayne's chemo from the specialty pharmacy and then meet with his NP to receive all the instructions for treatment over the next three weeks. Wayne will be taking chemo for 21 days. He will take an anti-nausea medicine about an hour before bed. Then at bedtime, he will take his chemo pill. 

I had to wait extra time at the pharmacy, which ended up being a blessing. They had ordered six weeks of chemo, but we only needed three. I would have paid for medicine we don’t need! It was worth the time to save $200! Depending on where you are at Northwestern, you may or may not have to wear a mask, which fails to show my smile. I decided to take this picture for Abigail to show her that I’m wearing her gift to me. 

Wayne will have radiation for 15 days (treatment happens M-F). We will have to get weekly blood draws so they can check his levels from treatment. We will also meet weekly with the radiologist to discuss how Wayne is doing with treatment.

The view of the lake from the waiting room. It was a beautiful day in Chicago.

As we walked into the radiation room, I watched in amazement at Wayne's bravery. I watched the radiation team strap Wayne into his mask on the table. The mask literally holds him in place and he can't move at all. I do not think that I could endure that process! Wayne is my hero. He took everything in stride and was so courageous. We know from our experience, from last time, that everything starts to catch up during the next few days and the side effects intensify. 

I have to be honest, the last 24 hours have been very difficult. It’s feeling harder and harder to stay optimistic. Yesterday, Wayne was really struggling to communicate. He told me that he feels like the tumor is growing. He is experiencing more difficulty in talking, hearing, processing, and weakness in his right leg. He told me that tonight his brain feels off from radiation, so the effects are already showing. It is in these raw moments that my heart drops and I struggle to stay hopeful. There are many days that I just feel complete weariness. 

Below is a short video that explains the complexity of brain cancer that we are dealing with. The first four minutes are so are what explain brain cancer. The rest is him discussing a technique he has used on patients, which is not always available to everyone. 

Please keep praying for us. Pray that we don't grow weary and that we continue to just take a day at a time. All of you are standing in the gap for us!