For anyone who has never dealt with it, cancer treatments SUCK!!  The type of chemo he had (yes, who knew there were different types???), didn't make him that ill...He didnt lose his hair...he threw up some, but not very much...What was the worst for him, were his daily (M-F) radiation treatments...The radiation wore him out...it made him weak...it gave him sores in his mouth...it burned his skin...it killed all hair growth in the areas that were treated (bottom half of his face, and bottom part of the back of his head)...The combo of radiation and chemo, made foods taste like metal...made things even water, taste waxy...At about 25-30 lbs lost, we decided to have a PEG tube feeding tube put in...simple operation that inserts a tube directly into his stomach...he now could 'eat' cans of what I call, feeding tube goop, or goop for short!  We had tried everything else, soups, ice creams, milk shakes, protein shakes, juicing...they didnt work...the feeding tube will be his main source of nutrition...

Oh, I think I forgot to mention...for all of these treatments, Boy or both Boy and Girl, had to live about two hours away from our home...hence, no minime there with us...It was hard to say the least...We have had to ask for more help from people than we ever have in our lives...We have needed help with our daughter, our bills, emotional support, housework, basically everything in our lives...

We had the great pleasure of being able to stay at an American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge while we were away from home...These places are AMAZING to say the least...We did not have to pay to live there...We had our own little apartment type room...We had four HUGE kitchens to keep our food in, and to cook in...We had multiple TV rooms, to relax in...There were activities, games, crafts, meetings...They had free transportation around town, to take Boy to and from the hospital, to go to the pharmacy, grocery store, etc...

And the people we met there, will be life long friends...We have met and fell in love with other cancer patients, and other care givers...We have all had long talks, we have cried, we have lost lives, but most of all, we have gained...We have gained love, and support, and friendships with others who were/are going through the same hell that we are...Those who know me, know that I am not a religious person, spiritual yes, religious no, but I do feel, my Higher Power has blessed me and Boy with this Hope Lodge...

We had restaurants from that town come in and cook suppers...or bring in their own food and cater to us...we had stores and restaurants from that town donate food to the Lodge....God, I loved 'Bread Tuesdays'!!  We would get a HUGE bread and bakery delivery from Hy-Vee (grocery store) and Panera Bread (restaurant)...we had so many bagels, doughnuts, breads, baguettes, etc...it was amazing!!!  We had local volunteers from the college (GO HAWKEYES!) and from local churches who would come in and play games, do crafts, cook, clean...anything you could think of....

Boy finished his treatments the week of Thanksgiving 2011...I got to bring him home the day before Thanksgiving...That was the best gift I could get...

I need a breather....

Boy Loves Girl, Girl Loves Boy...