2013-June 21 Back from Seattle Again

We are back from our 17th trip to Seattle  Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center.  It was a good trip, fairly good weather except over Snoqualmie Pass and down the other side for quite a ways; it was pouring rain going both directions with a lot of vehicle spray almost obscuring the road at times and very heavy traffic  for most of the distance on Hwy. 90 between Ellensburg and Seattle.

Leland continues to do well, his blood work is all very good and his PSA remained at 4.7.  I was hoping for continued lowering, but at least it is  still stable, which indicates the cancer remains under control. It is almost surreal going into the clinic now, because he seems so normal in so many respects.  When we remember how sick he was when we went on our first visit, and compare it with how well he is doing right now, it is definitely cause for rejoicing.

Each visit now he gets his blood drawn the day before, and his port flushed, which has to be done once monthly for as long as he has it.  They weigh him, take his temp and blood pressure, then we see the Medical Oncologist, Dr. Chen.  Afterward we see the Naturopathic Oncologist, Dr. Sweet.  The two of them go over his blood test results, examine him, ask a lot of questions and answer ours. The clinic staff including the doctors have become more than just staff, they have also become our friends. They all consider Leland a "poster child" for integrative medicine. And we consider it a huge blessing.

Last weekend we celebrated Father's Day at Ft Stevens near Astoria with Chaunda, Cherilyn, Todd and Phoenix. We had a wonderful time visiting, playing with the baby, riding bikes and doing a little sight seeing.  We also had the pleasure of Larry and Coni at our evening meal and campfire both Saturday and Sunday nights.  On Sunday Larry brought his inmaculately restored 1948 Silver Streak Pontiac out, and gave us all rides. What a pleasure

 it was for us to go riding in a beautiful car that garners so much attention!
Thanks, Coni and Larry, you made a special weekend even more so with your car, the yummy pizza, the extra firewood but most of all your good company.

 We are grateful for each good day, and there have been lots of them over the last few months.  I am especially grateful personally not only for Leland's good quality of life and the enjoyment we can share together with our family, but also for God's relentless love.  He never let up on me even when I did not speak to Him for months except to tell Him I was angry with Him. He was still there, waiting patiently for me to return to Him, after all, where else could I go?  So thank you to all of you who faithfully pray for us.  It is working- and thank you too Darlene, for all the help you have been to me, and to the  Philip Yancey books you recommended which have helped so much.

PS, I am not sure how the pictures and the text got intertwined, but at least they are all there : )

2013 June 8

Cherilyn and Phoenix came for 3 days last weekend-we had a great time.  Phoenix discovered his fists belong to him; that he can direct  them to his mouth-most of the time.: )  His newly found skill of cooing and smiling is really cute!   We really enjoyed having them here-it seemed really quiet when they left for home. 

We had a day and a half to work outside getting things planted and weeded, then it was off to Portland for a couple of days to help Cherilyn and Todd with Phoenix and meals after Cherilyn had a minor surgical procedure done related to the birth. She is feeling much better, and again we really enjoyed our time with all of them. 

We came home yesterday, unpacked and worked outdoors some more.  Leland mowed the lawn and I planted little plants in outdoor containers then Leland made sure all the drip irrigation is working so everything is well watered automatically. 

We went to church today, and this afternoon took our bikes and a simple supper down to Maryhill Park.  What a lovely afternoon it was, blue sky, beautiful green grass and trees, the river, the bare hills rising all around. Leland has been biking out to the mailboxes, but this was my first ride of the season. It will take a bit to get broken in to a bike seat again!

I cannot help but reflect on June a year ago and compare Leland's health then with what it is today.  Last summer was a nightmare of illness.  We were consumed with cancer and the treatments which took an immense amount of time and made him really sick.  The worst of it was it did not work at all.  We are both so grateful to have found treatment which has improved his quality of life by so much, and are really looking forward to a good summer. 

We will be at the beach with the family next weekend, so I will not post again here until after our next visit to the cancer center which will be the 20th of the  month.