I’m Alright

I think that sums up this post- mostly positive vibes today. Actually, this might be a better “alright” version:

I’m taking a more zoomed out approach to this post starting with last month. Had a nice quick getaway to Wisconsin with extended family.

It was fun, relaxing and good to take a break from cancer life- if only for a few days.

Our oldest went to sleep away camp for the first time ever. It was enjoyable and she would even go again- but when asked what happened or what events they did all I got was an “I don’t know.” Is this what raising a teen will be like?

This past weekend (not with Theo Von) the neighborhood put on a pretty great block party (thanks Scott!).

There was face painting, School of Rock Libertyville’s band (click on the link for more info) performing for over 3 hours, great food, a ton of neighbors coming out for a great time, some great moonshine, more of said moonshine, and a good bonfire to round out the night (with more moonshine).

It was so good it got me to stay up past midnight- while 20 something me would laugh at that, I average a bed time of about 8:30 most nights now.

Yes in between a family getaway and a block party there were some rough patches but overall I’m alright.

Now to the real reason everyone is here:

I had my fifth infusion last week. Proof of life:

One of the best parts of this was the blood draw and the infusion- the phlebotomist and nurse were amazing. I know this sounds like a weird thing to get excited about but I think anyone who’s had to get poked and prodded repeatedly knows how bad this can go. These two were hall of famers:

To no issue of the nurse’s, my hand still wanted a souvenir:

My hand always bruises a few days later but for a painless IV this was unexpected but oh well. Genetic results came back. Pretty much the same results as the biopsy they did a little over a year ago after surgery. I guess there was one minor new marker? I don’t know the medical terminology and I’m sure the oncologist said it but I get brain fog and forget random things at times. But even though there was a new marker it is nothing actionable so for now treatment remains the same. The next thing is a scan the first week of September. Here we’ll see if there really is growth. If not and there’s even shrinkage I believe treatment will be the same moving forward. If there’s growth it may be time to travel down to M.D. Anderson for consult.

At this moment. . . I’m alright with that.

-Joe