So, what's been going on, well the one thing that I never ever thought would happen to anyone in my family... CANCER!!! I absolutely hate that word and every time I think of it, it makes me want to puke. I have never really known anyone who has had cancer, maybe one person, but no one really close and I don't really know how to feel and I think that's one of the reason's I'm so scared and yet I don't even know how to react to it. I sit here with me laptop on my lap and I have so much going on in my mind yet I can't find the words to describe what I'm feeling. So I'm just going to get to the point....
My dad, my amazing dad, has lung cancer. He went to the doctor because he was having pain in his back, he thought he might have gotten pneumonia or something so he went in and the doctor said he had fluid built up in his lung and that he saw a suspicious spot in his lung, so they scheduled a time to drain the fluid and hoping the "spot" would find its way out along with the fluid, well it didn't. Dad had to go back for a CAT scan and the results came back as the spot on his lung was cancer. And that its inoperable because the cancer is not contained to just the lung it's in the lymph nodes as well, meaning they can't operate.
With those few words, my world just came crashing down, thinking "what's going to happen to my dad?", "is he going to be sick?" There are just so many questions and that I just don't know what's going to happen and I think that's the most scariest part of this whole thing. I keep thinking it's a dream, a nightmare actually, and that I'm going to wake up and everything is going to be fine, but it's not, its real and it's something I'm going to have to live with and fight for everyday. My dad is so strong and he has SO many people praying for him and we are truly blessed to be a part of that family. My brother and his family are coming home for Thanksgiving to spend time with dad and for his kids to visit with Grandpoo, he can't wait to see them. My cousin, Sara, Dad's Goddaughter, has set up a special prayer service for dad at Sinsinawa Mound for next Saturday and all his sister's and their families will be there as well. They do a prayer chain and it's suppose to send special prayers or healing powers to dad to help him heal or something like that, I really need to look into this more. OK a quick Google search is all I needed. WOW, this is amazing, check it out here. So next Saturday will be a prayer service day for the Hendricks family, we sure hope it works!
Dad had his first chemo appointment this past Thursday, he goes again in 3 weeks, they will do another scan after the second treatment to make sure it's working, we pray to God it's working, then we'll go from there. But he said it wasn't too bad. Friday when I called him, I thought for sure he'd be home, but he was out taste testing at Sam's Club with mom. I was shocked! But so happy to hear he was out and about. Saturday night they went to the Moose then to the casino but at the casino he said his legs were starting to bother him, which is a side effect of the chemo, so they went home and he took some pain pills and went to bed. Sunday morning he didn't go to church because he still wasn't feeling the best so he rested. When mom got home they went down to the Shot Tower to visit an old friend then to Knickers for the Race Pool Party. (They sure still get around, don't they?) LOL anyway we invited them up for supper tonight along with Chris and Kristi but since dad wasn't feeling good, dad was going to stay home, we just decided to load everything up and go up to mom and dad's. They were so happy to see us! We had everything ready in it's pot and/or pan so it was nothing, super easy. Tom cooked the T-bones on the Weber and everything else was simple. It was a great night and dad was very happy to see us. He looked great as usual.
That's the funny thing, no one would ever know it by looking at him. And that's one of the hardest things for me because he doesn't look sick and God help me he never does. I'm really having a hard time writing this because every time I think of him I start to cry and I keep telling myself, it's going to be OK. I'm in such denial that I can't even begin to think about the future. I can't think of life without him. He has been my rock for so long, we have so many memories and we are going to make many more. So for now this is where I'm leaving it...
And just a quick picture of Cooper and Dad this past Saturday! We stopped up to say hi and got a quick picture.
Rachael,
ReplyDeleteSteph told me about your dad. I'm so sorry! I can't imagine what you and your family are going through. Please know that I'm thinking about you all and sending lots of prayers your way!!
-Jennifer