First Radiation Session

This morning the first session was completed with great success! My Dad was able to hold perfectly still throughout the whole process - they expect the procedure to take about 1 hour under normal circumstances, but because he didn't move at all, it only took 45 min.s - that Marine training still pays off! He coughed all weekend long, so he really was worried, but thanks to your prayers, the coughing stayed away for the morning. My Dad wanted to share pictures of the radiation process - you can enlarge the pictures by just clicking on them.
Hopefully my parents are ready for all of us to descend on them in the next few days. We should have lots of fun and laughter and look forward to all being together! My mom or dad will probably update the blog in the next few days --Tami

Summer cold

My Dad has a cold with a cough....since he isn't supposed to move during the radiation process, he is a bit concerned about having to cough during it on Monday. He is on an antibiotic, so we hope that the congestion will resolve and not be an issue, and that the radiation can proceed as planned for Monday. Seems like somewhat of a minor thing in the whole scheme of cancer, but since many of you have asked to know about specific concerns, I think this qualifies. Please include this in your ongoing prayers for my Dad -- Thanks, Tami

Finally--it's time for treatment

We got the call Tuesday afternoon from the Radiosurgery Center asking us to come in today for a dry run. They also had the treatment dates. So, this morning we arrived at the center at our appointed time and they whisked Jack off for about 45 minutes. They are very prompt with their appointment schedule, and it appeared they had several dry runs to do today. Cheri, one of the radiation technicians, took pictures of Jack in the mask and body mold. I'll get them posted for you to see soon. He can't move during the procedures at all so he was pleased that he didn't sneeze, cough, or have a runny nose! He will receive a total of 5 treatments, beginning next Monday, June 30, and for each subsequent Monday through July 28. The kidney surgery is scheduled for August 14. It appears everything is falling into place, just like it's supposed to--but we were anxious about the length of time we've waited for this all to begin. God provided the answers that He promises us, when we rely on Him. The remainder of the summer will be taken up with Jack's treatments and surgery, but we didn't have anything else to do!

Next week, we're having a Jack Daniel Family reunion here in Williamsburg. Jon lives here, but the others will be coming in on Wednesday from Florida, Canada and Northern Virginia. On July 4, our golf club has an annual Firecracker tournament, so Jack, Jacquie, Lou & their son Matt will be playing. They make an awesome looking foursome. Then on Saturday, we'll be celebrating birthday's--Lauren's is 7/2, Jack's is 7/9, Sandi's husband Dale's is 7/19, and Tami's is 8/7. And, Sandi's daughter Carsyn will be celebrating her 1/2 birthday--her actual birthday is January 4, so we'll give her 1/2 of a cupcake! We have a special, loving family, and we love one another so very much.

Thanks again for your continuing prayers--Jack and I sense them, and they comfort us. We'll post again after the first radiation treatment. We love all of you, and may God's Blessings be upon each of you.

Love, Karen

The wait for treatment goes on. . . .

We continue to wait for Jack's radiation schedule, as the treatment plan isn't completed. The planning is to measure, based on the CT scan & MRI of 2 weeks ago, precisely the target where the radiation beams will land. Sounds like a lunar module landing on Mars! Jack refers to this as geometry--you math students will understand. I'm not a patient person while waiting for the treatment to begin, & my kids will tell you I'm a "just settle it" woman! Jack is much more patient than I.

He had a Stress-Echocardiography test on Monday which he passed with flying colors. In fact, he is quoted as having said: "If I didn't have cancer I'd be disgustingly healthy!" This test was to define if there are any heart problems, and there are none. Jack's opthamologist, Dr. Campbell is married to the Dr. Campbell that did the test! Williamsburg is quaint in that somebody is usually related to someone else, or the "locals" know everything about everybody! That afternoon we met once again with one of the oncologists & this was just another "get acquainted" meeting. We did learn that there will possibly be some medications that may be necessary post surgery, depending on what the pathology report says. On Thursday he saw the eye Dr. Campbell who will be following him throughout the radiation. A special test was scheduled for the next morning which was bothersome for Jack. It was one of those tests where you have to follow a white ball on a screen, so his eyes were moving constantly & he found that to be uncomfortable. Aside from all the above info, he is feeling well--does have his headaches, but they're easily fixed. And he continues on the Prednisone which helps to reduce the swelling at the left temple area. He has been working, and playing golf--so life goes on as we know it.

There are many Bible verses I have held on to during this time, but one in particular is special.
Romans 15:13, which I just call the Hope verse: "May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
And we do have that Hope as we look to the treatments and surgery. A huge thank you goes out to each of you for your faithfulness in praying, and your frequent cards. We are especially grateful for the prayer shawls that we have been given. When Im feeling a bit weepy, I receive much comfort with my shawl around me. Jack has carried his with him as he attends the Links Fellowship Prayer study on Tuesday mornings. God is our magnificent Comforter. Please continue to pray with us for the doctors who are working towards the goal of shrinking the skull tumor; and for the urology team who will be performing the kidney removal later this summer.

Canadian trip

This post is from Karen today! Jack and I are just now wrapping up a trip to Ottawa for Megan's graduation and the closing ceremonies at Amanda's school. Tami will be adding some photos. What a super weekend it has been. There were 40 girls in Megan's class, all dressed in white, and beautiful. Graduation was Friday evening & Sat. night was a wonderful dinner at a downtown Ottawa hotel. We are leaving for the airport in a few minutes, but I just wanted to let everyone know Jack is feeling well, and eager to begin his radiation. We're expecting his "run through" for the procedures to be the end of this week, with the "real stuff" beginning the week following. We have been so overwhelmed with your prayers, your love, and good wishes that are extended to us. We are feeling God's hand on everything that is occurring, and our faith is holding strong during these times of waiting. Thank you so much for your prayers and we ask that you pray that the radiation works as it should, and that as the time for the kidney surgery approaches that it will not be a complicated procedure. We feel absolute confidence in the surgeons and oncologists, and know this journey is being directed by God. I'll post again when we know when treatments will begin.

Update

Thanks to everyone for checking in to see how things are progressing. We are in somewhat of a lull right now as all the fine tuning for the radiation process is underway. We anticipate that there will be an actual run through at the end of next week and then the radiation will finally begin. In the meantime, my dad had a bone scan done today and while the official report hasn't been received, the preliminary report shows no cancer in his bones. Needless to say, we are very glad to hear that! He continues to have swelling around his eye and intermittent headaches, and is anxious for the radiation process to get underway to shrink the tumor so that it's not pressing on his eye anymore. In the meantime he is on Prednisone to help relieve some of the symptoms. The Prednisone causes his blood sugar to rise, so he has to keep that in check.
Now on to the fun stuff --- my parents are off to Canada to see Megan graduate!! We are proud of Megan's accomplishment and so glad that they can share in the celebration. As with all their grandchildren, my parent's have played a special role in Megan's life and their influence is evident. There were times a long the way when I was "counseling" Megan and I could hear myself conveying to her the same words of wisdom that my Dad "bestowed" on me. Funny how that happens....she has turned into a great young adult, so forgive a proud mom for a moment while I take the opportunity to say ---- YAY Megan!! your family loves you :)
As always, thanks for all the love, prayers and support for my dad (and mom too!).

The Road to Radiation

My Dad thought it might be interesting to show a picture of the machine that will be used to perform the radiosurgery to the base skull tumor (click on the picture to enlarge it). The Doctors in the forefront are two of his actual Doctors, who, believe it or not are avid golfers as well - sound like a bonding moment?? Too bad they met in the hospital instead of on the golf course! Along with having impressive golf scores, they are also friendly and jovial like my dad. They are at ease with their incredibly technical and precise instruments and imbue confidence that they are going to pull him through this.
Today my dad had the appointment to fit him for the molds that will keep him motionless during the radiation process. Wearing the molds, he had a full body CT scan, and tomorrow he will have a MRI. I misstated the process in my last post as I thought it took 10 days to make the molds, but actually they were made today. The 10 day time frame is to utilize the CT scan and the MRI for determining radiation physics, geometry and quality assurance in order to ensure the treatments are as precise as possible. I hope I got it right this time, but regardless, the bottom line is that the radiation treatment should begin in approximately two weeks.
The Doctors gave the okay for travel to Canada, so we will be honored to have my parents here for Megan's graduation on the 13th (hopefully graduating on Friday the 13th won't be an omen to Megan and her friends!). In addition to this upcoming trip, my parents have had two recent special visitors. They got to spend Sunday with Granddaughter Lauren, who was in town for a friend's wedding, and then on Monday they were visited by Jack's cousin Mary Jo from TX, who was in Virginia visitng her daughter in nearby Charlottesville. They were happy to get to spend time with family and have also been keeping busy with the normal day to day routine as they wait for radiation to start. The many acts of kindness and encouragement they are receiving continue to be a blessing to them -thanks for surrounding them with love and keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.