Hello everyone! It seems like a long time since our last update. We are now in the gorgeous mountains of Highlands, North Carolina. Highlands is located just above the town of Cashiers about two hours outside of Atlanta, Georgia. As I write this message the weather outside is close to the 50's and DRY! During the day it never exceeds 75 degrees. It feels incredible up here. (Too bad we have to come home on Wednesday.)
The kids, Leah and her parents and I are having a wonderful time. We have hiked up Whiteside Mountain, had a picnic lunch up on Sunset Rock and gone trout fishing with Grand Daddy. (M.K. and Ross have each caught 2 fish! We will post the pictures once we get back home.) I am actually sleeping in for the first time in a while. I still wake up early but I am able to go back to sleep up here. (Must be the lack of responsibility and chores that I have at home.)
My last radiation treatment was on Thursday morning at 7:30am. We promptly hit the road and arrived in Buckhead around 4:00pm later that day. We stayed at the InterContinental Hotel and had a wonderful dinner at the french restaurant located in the lobby. The next morning we slept in and had breakfast at the Concierge's Lounge before proceeding on to North Carolina. The trip from Buckhead to Highlands only took about 2 hours and we got to have lunch with our children and Leah's parents at the Wildcat Cliffs Country Club.
As I said before, our time up here has been amazing. I truly feel as though I am able to rest and heal. When I get back my M.R.I. is scheduled for Thursday morning at 6:30am at Celebration Health. They tell me I should be able to get the results back by the end of that day. I am going to ask for my own set of films just to see if I can see anything. If there are "hot spots" in my brain they will show up as white spots on the x-rays. Hopefully I will not see any of those. I am also going to be sending this second set of films to a Dr. Friedman up at Duke University. This is the gentleman who is associated with the Tug McGraw foundation. He is considered the top brain tumor Oncologist in all the world.
I have been signed up for the Gamma Knife procedure in case the M.R.I. shows something. Apparently most patients in my situation have to undergo this secondary procedure to erase as much doubt as possible concerning the eradication of the tumor. The Gamma Knife is very precise pinpoint radiation that targets the cells on a microscopic level. It is supposed to be VERY intense from what I hear. I will be fitted for a new mask that will be tighter than the first one. (I was sent home with my first mask after my last treatment. Graduation gift?) The thought of being refitted for a new mask is a little frightening. Remember the scene in Alien when the man is attacked by the egg laying parasite? That is the mental picture in my head concerning the fitting of the mask.
Y'all are probably wondering how I am feeling. I am surprised at the level of energy I have been able to maintain. All of the personal testimony I heard from those who have been here before, (even the same doctors and the same protocol) say that the last 2 weeks are very rough. I was even told to expect side effects from the radiation for up to 6 weeks after the treatments end! (Radiation side effects include but are not limited to loss of smell, loss of taste , loss of hair, fatigue, headaches, etc...The radiation basically fries everything.) Although I have experienced some mild appetite loss, (I have lost a total of 10 pounds since I came out of the hospital) and taken a few naps, the only real problem I've had are the headaches. The headaches are nowhere near as intense as they were before, though. The only fear I have concerning the headaches is that the tumor is back. I am told that what I am feeling is my brain swelling from the radiation. It is sometimes hard to ignore the fact that my head is still hurting like it is, though. These headaches I suffer toward the end of the day are in the exact same location as before. Besides the headaches, though, I am feeling really good. My appetite is still a bit off and I do suffer the occasional fatigue, but for someone in my situation I think I'm doing great! The refreshing mountain air and the time with my family has been wonderful.
Leah and I are still praying for total healing. We are very hopeful going into this M.R.I. and feel confidant that the results will be good. We miss all of you very much and look forward to seeing you again. As far as the backyard play gym, all I have left is the porch roof. Thank you so much to Jimmy for helping as much as he did during the last day. Thanks to Eric as well for helping complete the set during the week. Everyone has been so wonderful to us during this time and we appreciate all everyone has done. Thank you!
With love and blessings,
Dan and Leah
The kids, Leah and her parents and I are having a wonderful time. We have hiked up Whiteside Mountain, had a picnic lunch up on Sunset Rock and gone trout fishing with Grand Daddy. (M.K. and Ross have each caught 2 fish! We will post the pictures once we get back home.) I am actually sleeping in for the first time in a while. I still wake up early but I am able to go back to sleep up here. (Must be the lack of responsibility and chores that I have at home.)
My last radiation treatment was on Thursday morning at 7:30am. We promptly hit the road and arrived in Buckhead around 4:00pm later that day. We stayed at the InterContinental Hotel and had a wonderful dinner at the french restaurant located in the lobby. The next morning we slept in and had breakfast at the Concierge's Lounge before proceeding on to North Carolina. The trip from Buckhead to Highlands only took about 2 hours and we got to have lunch with our children and Leah's parents at the Wildcat Cliffs Country Club.
As I said before, our time up here has been amazing. I truly feel as though I am able to rest and heal. When I get back my M.R.I. is scheduled for Thursday morning at 6:30am at Celebration Health. They tell me I should be able to get the results back by the end of that day. I am going to ask for my own set of films just to see if I can see anything. If there are "hot spots" in my brain they will show up as white spots on the x-rays. Hopefully I will not see any of those. I am also going to be sending this second set of films to a Dr. Friedman up at Duke University. This is the gentleman who is associated with the Tug McGraw foundation. He is considered the top brain tumor Oncologist in all the world.
I have been signed up for the Gamma Knife procedure in case the M.R.I. shows something. Apparently most patients in my situation have to undergo this secondary procedure to erase as much doubt as possible concerning the eradication of the tumor. The Gamma Knife is very precise pinpoint radiation that targets the cells on a microscopic level. It is supposed to be VERY intense from what I hear. I will be fitted for a new mask that will be tighter than the first one. (I was sent home with my first mask after my last treatment. Graduation gift?) The thought of being refitted for a new mask is a little frightening. Remember the scene in Alien when the man is attacked by the egg laying parasite? That is the mental picture in my head concerning the fitting of the mask.
Y'all are probably wondering how I am feeling. I am surprised at the level of energy I have been able to maintain. All of the personal testimony I heard from those who have been here before, (even the same doctors and the same protocol) say that the last 2 weeks are very rough. I was even told to expect side effects from the radiation for up to 6 weeks after the treatments end! (Radiation side effects include but are not limited to loss of smell, loss of taste , loss of hair, fatigue, headaches, etc...The radiation basically fries everything.) Although I have experienced some mild appetite loss, (I have lost a total of 10 pounds since I came out of the hospital) and taken a few naps, the only real problem I've had are the headaches. The headaches are nowhere near as intense as they were before, though. The only fear I have concerning the headaches is that the tumor is back. I am told that what I am feeling is my brain swelling from the radiation. It is sometimes hard to ignore the fact that my head is still hurting like it is, though. These headaches I suffer toward the end of the day are in the exact same location as before. Besides the headaches, though, I am feeling really good. My appetite is still a bit off and I do suffer the occasional fatigue, but for someone in my situation I think I'm doing great! The refreshing mountain air and the time with my family has been wonderful.
Leah and I are still praying for total healing. We are very hopeful going into this M.R.I. and feel confidant that the results will be good. We miss all of you very much and look forward to seeing you again. As far as the backyard play gym, all I have left is the porch roof. Thank you so much to Jimmy for helping as much as he did during the last day. Thanks to Eric as well for helping complete the set during the week. Everyone has been so wonderful to us during this time and we appreciate all everyone has done. Thank you!
With love and blessings,
Dan and Leah
3 comments:
Danny,
Enjoy your time in NC. Wish I was there also. I look forward to talking to you upon your return. Miss ya man! Take care. Hope to see you at I-95 soon.
Dr. Mark
dr. mark,
good to hear from you as i have been thinking of you recently. i can't wait for our trip up in november. i will call you when i get back. take care!
dan and leah
Dan and Leah,
We are soo thrilled that you had such a wonderful time in N.C.with the kids and your parents. It is soo beautiful up there in Gods country...one of our favorite places.
Please know that you are in our prayers daily and that we are thinking of you and praying for healing results tomorrow!
May God bless and keep you!
Love, Katrina, Angelo and Gabriella
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