Wrapping Up Radiation

Well, tomorrow (6/9) will be David’s last day of whole brain radiation, and can I just share with you how much your prayers have meant to us during the last couple weeks?? God answered those prayers by giving us a mostly side effect-free experience. PRAISE THE LORD. David was a little more tired, but not completely exhausted. He is having some dry mouth problems, which effects his ability to eat easily and every once and awhile he has some very small memory issues, but I think I just notice those because I’m hyper in-tuned to him. That’s about all the side effects he’s had, so overall, we consider ourselves very blessed!! I am so incredibly relieved to get this radiation round completed!!
The last couple of weeks have been very full of planning and seeing what else we can do for David. The planning part has been so very tiring on so many levels. We’ve done the difficult “getting affairs in order” kind of planning and also more fun planning of trying to cram a lifetime of memories into the next couple months. Obviously one type of planning has a lot more fun expectations to it, but both are exhausting. We want to enjoy every moment as much as possible, but there’s still life happening that we have to deal with as well.
Our doctor consulted with the doctor in Houston and they determined that it still might be beneficial for David to go out there, just to see if there’s anything she can offer him. So we are going to be heading out there soon for a few days and hopefully get some more promising treatment options for David.
You all never cease to amaze us. Your support continues to bless us immensely. We’ve been able to plan and do more things the last couple weeks that I never thought would be possible to get taken care of. We’ve had haircuts, family pictures, a baptism, house cleaning, planning for a family trip soon, meals…. The list goes on and on. We feel your love in a very real sense and we feel so undeserving of it all, yet you continue to support us. We never feel alone while walking this difficult path and we are grateful for that!
I wish I could explain to you what this weird state is that we are living in. David got this horrible prognosis, yet everyday he wakes up, and continues to live his life. We are doing all this planning and preparing for the worst, however he’s not deteriorating. It really tends to mess with your mind a little. It would be so easy to fall into the mindset that everything is fine and to live life like normal… but we don’t dare! We don’t know when things can take a turn for the worst so we continue to treasure each day like the gift it is. This experience has given me a whole new appreciation for everyone else who has walked this terminal illness path (as if I didn’t already respect them)! It’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but it is really unique and I don’t think you can fully understand the toll it takes on a person, physically, mentally, emotionally, unless you walk it. But that’s what makes me appreciative of all of your encouragement and support even more. Many of you don’t know what this is like, yet your hearts pour out to us and you are there, uplifting us and doing anything you can to be the hands and feet of God to us. I will never have the right words to express our thanks to you. I just pray that each and every one of you know that you have touched us and we couldn’t be more thankful for you!

Prayer requests:
-For complete healing of David’s body
-For more promising treatment options in Houston
-For our children and everything they are having to walk through, right alongside us
-Thankfulness for an “easy” round of radiation
-For a joy-filled home, despite the circumstances
-For rest, when we feel so overwhelmed by everything

I will try to update again soon, after we go to Houston. Thank you for your prayers!