Beach Trip and Doctor Visit

Dad and Mom joined our family at the beach for a few days. When we got here, Dad was full of energy and ready to go. He ate out twice and enjoyed two fish meals. We were so proud. By the second day here, his energy went downhill from there. He was sooooo tired and just couldn't get any energy. His face and lips however were improving by the minute. He actually wanted to stop taking all pain medication and went to plain old Tylenol. He really spent his three days here resting and napping. They left on Tuesday and on the way home, Papa mentioned he felt like he was dehydrated so they called the doctor and drove straight in to town to the office and got IV fluids. He immediately felt better. I talked to Dr. Hardacre and he reminded me that as we were noticing all the improvements in Dad's physical looks that his body was having to work really hard to do all that healing. He said it was like his body was running a mini marathon twice a day. Therefore, the tiredness and all the napping was to be expected. Putting it in perspective like that really helps. I just know how much if frustrates Papa to not have the energy that he is used to. My family prayed together really hard for Papa and his recovery. He had an appointment with Dr. Hardacre this morning and the first words out of his mouth were complete AMAZEMENT at his physical looks. He said that he couldn't believe how good he looked (that is the same thing we heard from all the doctors/nurses at the surgery) and that he didn't need to come back for 4 weeks! He said his healing looked about two weeks ahead of time! Praise God! HE is sooo good to us. Dr. Hardacre really stressed to us all the importance of Dad starting to eat more. As his body is healing it really needs a lot more than he is putting in. Realize that it isn't because Dad doesn't want to eat, it is just that the food still has such weird tastes and makes it so hard. He knows now that in order to replace all that has been destroyed and rebuild his energy he MUST try to eat...especially liquid (water) and proteins. We are on it...the Smith family mission to feed Papa! So join with us in prayer that Papa be able to eat more and more each day and that he continues to heal. Ultimately, that his PET/CT scan will come back "all clear" and we begin the next stage of rebuilding his teeth. God has been so good and so have you...all of our prayer warriors. We are so thankful.

All Done!

Well, last Friday was the last radiation treatment. Praise God. He has really been through it. We have been told that the next two weeks won't feel much like he is "finished" because everything he did the last week is still in his body and coming to a peak this week. So please continue to pray for his comfort. The left side (the side of the original tumor) has healed remarkably! Therefore, we have complete faith that the right side will do the same. It seems so much worse because of the combination of the two treatments...radiation with the chemo. So, for now we are healing and waiting. He goes back to Dr. Hardacre in another week just to check on the healing and then again two weeks after that. Hopefully then he will be healed up enough for a PET/CT scan. That is what we are waiting and praying for! He will see the chemo doctor for a follow up in 6 weeks. By then, hopefully we will have been to Dr. Holmes or at least have an appointment scheduled to see what our next step will be. It has been a LONG 4 1/2 months and we still have a LONG way to go, but we are getting there.

Stephen, Patrick, Callie and I are going to the beach next week and Mom and Dad are coming with us for the first part of the week! Yeah! We are looking forward to it. I know Dad will be happy to be anywhere as long as there are NO TREATMENTS!

Please pray for his continued healing and for the upcoming scan!

Today's Visit With Dr. Hardacre

Dad, Mom and I met with Dr. Hardacre this morning after his radiation treatment. We are on go for the last two days of treatments and then he's DONE!!!!!! He will spend the next 4 weeks healing and then report back to see Dr. Hardacre and talk about when he will get his PET/CT scan. It should be around that time. Thank you for all your prayers. The treatments he receives the next two days will peak about a week from now, so continue to pray for his tolerance and his pain as it is really tough. I think just the excitement of knowing that Friday is the last one gives him enough pep to get on in there and get it done. (Hee hee...that is me talking...I am not the one with the burnt face and lips right?) Bless his heart! Keep lifting him up. ~Michelle

Hanging In There!

Ugh. Today was a rough day. I would have thought that getting to skip one of the radiation treatments on Friday would have made a difference in the way his face/lips felt, but he wasn't that lucky. Even after a 3 day break, he was and IS pretty miserable. In fact, I think he wanted to run away this morning and not go to the treatment. Who could blame him? As usual, he was our STRONG Papa and went through with the first of the last 5 treatments. He also had his regularly scheduled chemo appointment this morning. As some of you may know, all of the Decatur General chemotherapy patients were being transferred to the Cancer Institute today which made for a hectic, busy day at the center. Dad did not get out until after 1:00! He hadn't eaten and didn't feel well so he spent the remainder of the day resting and trying to recuperate. He is simply "hanging in there"!! Praise God that it is almost over. Friday should be the last radiation treatment and hopefully today was IT at the chemo center. There is a possibility that he might have one more treatment Monday after the last radiation, but I am not sure. As I have said a million times before, Dad has been such and inspiration and testimony for us all. His faith and positive attitude have carried us all through. Thank you GOD! We pray that he handles the last few days of treatment without getting any worse. We cannot wait to hear those words..."It is all gone and your done!" To God be the glory!