Jimmy is feeling good through radiation. He has had 13 of his 25 treatments. Amazingly, the process takes longer to set up than to actually get the treatment. They take x-rays, put his leg in place by lining up his tattoos to make sure they have the right spot and ZAP! That felt like a Batman phrase...LOL! I know that I have been very serious and often sad about how are lives have been heading this year but for the first time in a while, I am hopeful. Hopeful that the treatment is working and that I will have my husband back and Logan will have his Dad back.
Jimmy does have some soreness in his leg where he gets the radiation but nothing like the pain he used to have before chemo. And, the radiation definitely doesn't make him feel like chemo did. As everyone said it would be, this is so much easier on his body. He has his coloring back, he doesn't look so tired and his hair is starting to come back darker in some spots. The hair on his head has a dark tint to it but it feels so soft...like baby's hair. It is still very short but it is there. The one thing Jimmy really missed was his eyebrows and they too are coming back.
I think the reason I feel hopeful is because the radiation isn't taking such a toll on Jimmy and the fact that his hair is starting to return. It just seems more normal or at least the old normal. I want Jimmy to be whole and healthy. He will most likely have scans in the next few weeks to see how the radiation is doing and whether or not the nodules in his lungs are doing anything. I pray they are still the same, which means they are nothing, and that his tumor has gotten smaller.
Once radiation is finished, there will be about a three week break before surgery. He has spoken with the surgeon and she is confident that it should a routine surgery. Nonetheless, Jimmy is still a little nervous since he has never had surgery at all but that is to be expected. We'll cross that bridge later.
I once again ask for your prayers that Jimmy will continue to be healed by the treatment. Thank you again for letting me share our journey with you...all 31 countries of you.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Radiation Begins and Hair Starts to Come Back...
July 10, 2013
It has been a few weeks since I wrote anything but here's an update. I just needed the break and now that summer has arrived, I've been busy with our son.
Let me start by saying that the fundraiser was a success. We did not have as many people as I had hoped but it was a very nice night and it was really good for Jimmy to get out and socialize. He truly enjoyed seeing family and friends that he had not seen in a while.
Radiation has now begun. It started on Monday, July 8th. Jimmy went in for some final adjustments for the pinpointing of the radiation and a trial run but they ended up doing his first treatment that day. After his 3rd treatment today, he said that his leg is already sore from the radiation. The doctor said that he should expect some soreness and some tiredness as well. He said he is already feeling a little tired. His blood pressure was also very high today...not so good...he said he feels really stressed. He will have 5 straight weeks of radiation for a total of 25 treatments.
We have some good news! Jimmy's hair is starting to return a little bit. He has some peach fuzz on his head and face but he has a little patch of white hair just under his bottom lip. It is weird to see white hair on Jimmy, since he normally has dark hair. It is really soft, like baby hair. He also has a little mustache of clear hair...seriously, it has no pigment whatsoever...its clear. (See the pics below...I even included one of Jimmy and Logan on the 4th of July with one of our fireworks.) It will take some time for the pigment to come back but at least his hair is growing again. Jimmy is so excited about the hair growth that he says that he isn't going to shave and will just let it grow...God help us all...my husband has decided to become a Sasquatch! LOL! Seriously, he just wants to have his eyebrows and eyelashes back. It is a little strange looking but I've gotten used to seeing it. Jimmy also said that he can feel hair growing back in his nose too. Without hair there, his nasal passages get irritated very easily. Finally, something positive.
On another positive note, Jimmy has been feeling really good. Now that chemo is 5 weeks out, he has started to feel more like his old self. He has even been working a little in the last couple of weeks. He still gets tired easily and can't do as much but I am so relieved that he is able to act a little like his old self. It is good for him to be able to do things and feel more "normal". He's even gone bowling, been swimming and has been on a short bike ride a couple of times. Regaining his strength is important, especially before surgery. It will make it so much easier to recuperate.
We are staying positive and continue to pray and hope for the best. Thank you to everyone who has kept our family in their prayers!
Also, we are now at 27 countries that have read my blog...this boggles my mind that people are reading my blog. I do hope it helps someone know that they are not alone in this journey.
It has been a few weeks since I wrote anything but here's an update. I just needed the break and now that summer has arrived, I've been busy with our son.
Let me start by saying that the fundraiser was a success. We did not have as many people as I had hoped but it was a very nice night and it was really good for Jimmy to get out and socialize. He truly enjoyed seeing family and friends that he had not seen in a while.
Radiation has now begun. It started on Monday, July 8th. Jimmy went in for some final adjustments for the pinpointing of the radiation and a trial run but they ended up doing his first treatment that day. After his 3rd treatment today, he said that his leg is already sore from the radiation. The doctor said that he should expect some soreness and some tiredness as well. He said he is already feeling a little tired. His blood pressure was also very high today...not so good...he said he feels really stressed. He will have 5 straight weeks of radiation for a total of 25 treatments.
We have some good news! Jimmy's hair is starting to return a little bit. He has some peach fuzz on his head and face but he has a little patch of white hair just under his bottom lip. It is weird to see white hair on Jimmy, since he normally has dark hair. It is really soft, like baby hair. He also has a little mustache of clear hair...seriously, it has no pigment whatsoever...its clear. (See the pics below...I even included one of Jimmy and Logan on the 4th of July with one of our fireworks.) It will take some time for the pigment to come back but at least his hair is growing again. Jimmy is so excited about the hair growth that he says that he isn't going to shave and will just let it grow...God help us all...my husband has decided to become a Sasquatch! LOL! Seriously, he just wants to have his eyebrows and eyelashes back. It is a little strange looking but I've gotten used to seeing it. Jimmy also said that he can feel hair growing back in his nose too. Without hair there, his nasal passages get irritated very easily. Finally, something positive.
On another positive note, Jimmy has been feeling really good. Now that chemo is 5 weeks out, he has started to feel more like his old self. He has even been working a little in the last couple of weeks. He still gets tired easily and can't do as much but I am so relieved that he is able to act a little like his old self. It is good for him to be able to do things and feel more "normal". He's even gone bowling, been swimming and has been on a short bike ride a couple of times. Regaining his strength is important, especially before surgery. It will make it so much easier to recuperate.
We are staying positive and continue to pray and hope for the best. Thank you to everyone who has kept our family in their prayers!
Also, we are now at 27 countries that have read my blog...this boggles my mind that people are reading my blog. I do hope it helps someone know that they are not alone in this journey.
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| Nice little patch of white hair |
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| There is a little hair on his upper lip too |
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