After more than a week in Door County, my parents returned for a chemotherapy treatment and appointment with Dr. Ritch. My dad has never had more than two chemotherapy treatments consecutively. For the third treatment he goes in and gets blood drawn, but his blood levels are not high enough for Dr. Ritch to approve a treatment.
Based on that history, Dr. Ritch has decided to change the treatment schedule. The new schedule will be two weeks of treatment followed by two weeks without treatment. (Now my dad doesn't have to show up at the cancer center and have the blood draw on the third week.)
Also, Dr. Ritch is planning to do another CT scan in August. He doesn't feel it is necessary to do another scan any sooner. My dad has to premedicate before every scan because he is allergic to the dye used in the scan. The medication, the dye, or some other part of doing the scan gives my dad a headache for a day afterwards. So, the fewer scans the better in my opinion.
To all dads I wish you a happy Father's Day! Daughters remember to hug your dads this Father's Day. I know I won't miss the chance to hug my dad this Father's Day.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
No news is good news
I didn't get around to publishing that last post in a timely manner. I apologize for that. It sat as a draft for almost a month!
No news is been good news though. My dad continues to do fine. He gets tired often and frustrated easily. But, considering what he is facing (leaving my mom, possible pain, ultimately death), I can understand. He is still able to work on projects at both houses. Mostly, he works on the house in Door County and supervises contractors they hire at home. My mom is continuing to work on both houses. To my knowledge his physical symptoms have remained unchanged from before the diagnosis.
My parents spend more than half of their time in Door County. They come home for chemotherapy. Sometimes they stay for a few days, but often they are back to Door County the same day or the next day.
My dad has planted some tomato plants, cantaloupe plants, and daffodil bulbs at the land. He also put in some tomato plants at home. I took him the garden center and bought the plants for him for Father's Day. He also picked out some petunias to plant in Door County.
Mark, the kids, and I made the trip to Door County for Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekends. My brother Michael joined us for Mother's Day weekend and made a wonderful breakfast on Sunday morning. Michael didn't join us for Memorial Day, but there were many other family members and friends that stayed on the land or stopped by to visit. My dad told me he is happy to see the visitors come up the driveway, but also is just as happy to see everyone go back down the driveway!
No news is been good news though. My dad continues to do fine. He gets tired often and frustrated easily. But, considering what he is facing (leaving my mom, possible pain, ultimately death), I can understand. He is still able to work on projects at both houses. Mostly, he works on the house in Door County and supervises contractors they hire at home. My mom is continuing to work on both houses. To my knowledge his physical symptoms have remained unchanged from before the diagnosis.
My parents spend more than half of their time in Door County. They come home for chemotherapy. Sometimes they stay for a few days, but often they are back to Door County the same day or the next day.
My dad has planted some tomato plants, cantaloupe plants, and daffodil bulbs at the land. He also put in some tomato plants at home. I took him the garden center and bought the plants for him for Father's Day. He also picked out some petunias to plant in Door County.
Mark, the kids, and I made the trip to Door County for Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekends. My brother Michael joined us for Mother's Day weekend and made a wonderful breakfast on Sunday morning. Michael didn't join us for Memorial Day, but there were many other family members and friends that stayed on the land or stopped by to visit. My dad told me he is happy to see the visitors come up the driveway, but also is just as happy to see everyone go back down the driveway!
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