Our Houston "Adventure"...

This is pretty much the easiest way to keep everyone in the "know" so here is the "scoop"...

Sunday - We arrived in Houston, after the plane ride etc... Dad was wiped out. We checked into the hotel and then had him lay down. My sister and I walked across the street to get Subway and brought food back to the room for us to eat. My Dad was up long enough to eat, then back to sleep again. He was in extreme pain, so we just let him rest. We did our thing... (worked out... wandered around the hotel... walked to the Fiesta Mart across the street) my Dad slept. We woke him up to eat dinner in the room since he was still not doing great.

That night... my Dad moaned most of the night. I couldn't sleep... every time he moaned my heart longed to just fix him!

Monday - This is when the hospital "fun" begins... We meet with the "team" at MD Anderson Medical Center. My Dad has a good team there, his nurse is very patient and explains everything in detail to us. They determined they wanted to put my Dad on this clinical trial that specializes in "BONE CANCER". Before this can all be done, we have to do a MILLION tests to make sure he is strong enough etc. This particular treatment involves aggressive chemo therapy coupled with injectable radiation. MD Anderson is the only hospital currently doing this particular treatment. Since we live in Utah, they determined that they would work with Huntsman Cancer to give his chemo here while working closely with them. Every 8 weeks we will be traveling back to Houston to have test ran and results checked.

After the consultation etc with the "team" off for a chest x-ray, EKG, blood tests etc...

That night still no sleep for me, but my Dad seemed to be in a little less pain. He was sick... but was not in as much pain.

Tuesday - Back to the hospital early morning... full body bone scan and an appointment with a support specialist team. This is a group that specializes in the symptoms Cancer patients experience. We met with several nurses etc there and then a new pain medication regiment was decided on. They altered my Dad's medication to give him a time release- type pain medication to assist in fighting his constant pain. They also gave him something to assist with the pain when he has serious pain in between doses.

When we got back to the hotel that evening. I gave Dad this new medication regiment, he slept better than he has in months. Wish I could have slept... but alas I just listened to him breath...

Wednesday - We had the morning off...so my Dad, my sister and I went to see a movie. The day before Dad insisted on walking the "skybridge" because he didn't realize how far of a walk it was. He was HURTING and could barely walk unassisted.

Off to the hospital for CT scans... My cute Dad has such a great sense of humor. Despite his pain, he was cracking jokes about all the yummy drinks they give you before the test and all the fun procedures they do to prepare you! I was laughing so hard... he is SOOOO BRAVE!!!

My sister and I had a heart to heart in the waiting room... tears were shed.

We were at the hospital until about 10:30 by the time we were at the hotel and in bed it was almost 11:30... LONG DAY FOR DAD... and you could tell it he was loosing his "momentum"

Thursday - We had to be to the hospital by 6:30... "no rest for the wicked"... My Dad was super sick this morning... probably because of all the yummy drinks he had the night before.

We arrived at the hospital and met with the Clinical Trial nurse... signed the consent forms... and met with the doctor to go over his results. They showed us my Dad's bone scan... I think my this was not a good thing for my Dad to see!!! The cancer is in ALL of his bones and has pentrated into some of the marrow (he still has some good marrow)! Dad's cancer is bad, we know that, it's not a surprise. However, when it is "starring you in the face" it is a whole different story. Good News... no organ infiltration (at this point at least on the scans they took) Bad News... cancer has become agressive and is EVERYWHERE in the bones...

We finished up with the doctor and headed to the Chemo area. My Dad was awfully quiet for the ride (he was being pushed by yours truly in a wheel chair)... Chemo began. Dad was still very quiet... I don't like wondering what he is thinking so I just plain ask. "Dad, what are you thinking?" "I don't know if I like what the doctor said... how much time is this going to buy me... is it even worth it" The sound of discouragement in my father's voice was ripping me from the inside out. As I sat there not knowing what to say as my Dad continues "I think I am on the verge of an emotional breakdown... and it will probably happen before this day is over". My Dad isn't a crier. I have probably seen him cry 6 times my entire life... 2 times in the past few weeks.

We finished up chemo and then off to the airport... time to go home.

When the plane touched ground my sense of strength began to crumble. I still held it in, but it was becoming more difficult. Deven picked us up at the airport. We dropped Dad off first and got him all settled in. When my Dad gave my Mom a hug, she whispered she loved him... that is all it took and the tears started to flow. I took a deep breath and looked at my hubby for strength and somehow I held it together. We made a list of his new medications and when to take them. Then our good-bye's and then dropped Wendy off before heading home.

I thought I had it all together... then as I was unpacking I just started to cry. I HATE that my DAD has to go through this... I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO TAKE THIS AWAY...

I hope that this new chemo regiment works for the pain, I can't bare to see him suffer...

Some good news... some bad news... mostly overwhelming. Lack of sleep... emotionally worn out, I sit here in my office this morning and think of my sweet DAD... I LOVE YOU, DAD!