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Good news...finally!

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Last week we got some wonderful news....the chemo did it's job and shrank Brads tumor so now there is only a small area left. The doctor wasn't sure if what was left was just dead cells or active cancer cells. He said the area was so small and so close to his heart that another biopsy was out of the question. He said he was going to consult with a lymphoma specialist about the area to see if they suggested any more chemo and send us to the radiation doctor to see if he needed radiation. We seen Dr. Newman today, the radiation oncologist. She was amazing!! She expalined everything in great detail. She said because Brads mass was so large that he has a greater risk of it coming back so he will have to have radiation. Since what's left is so close to his heart she doesn't feel comfortable doing the radiation at the Albemarle facility..she said if he was 65 she wouldn't hesitate but since he's only 35 the risk down the road of heart and lung disease from the radiat...
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Life's little ups and downs!

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Last Thursday Brad took his last chemo treatment, and what a relief that was! We thought "it's gonna be down here from here". Well of course we were wrong... Brad's left arm began to swell. It got worse over the weekend, and into the beginning of this week and looked odd...discolored. Sometimes very very pale, sometimes with a purplish tint. Made him an appointment for yesterday. The doctor was concerned so we were sent to the hospital for an ultrasound...they wouldn't let us leave after it was done, that was the first sign something wasn't right. Then the girl came out and told us we needed to go back to the cancer center... Oh my was my exact thought. At the cancer center the NP came out and told us that the ultrasound showed a DVT (blood clot) in his upper left arm. She said it could possibly be caused by his porta cath which is on that side. Soooooo what now?? She told us the doctor said to stop the chemo pills, they are high risk for bleeding and since h...
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Blessed With The Best!

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Well it's been a whirlwind of the past few weeks... Life just isn't fair sometimes, but we have to be strong and know that it's all in Gods plans. Many of you know my little brother went to heaven a couple weeks ago. It was hard, especially since I didn't know him like I would've liked to. But I know that I will see him again!! Brad has had a good couple of weeks since last chemo. We're actually here right now for his 5th treatment. He was dreading this one more than any other because he has been feeling pretty decent and wasn't looking forward to being sick again. We had a repeat CT scan yesterday. Got the results today. The mass has shrank some, but not a whole lot. But any shrinkage is better than none. Doctor is hopeful it will completely disappear and he doesn't have to do radiation. Dr. Induru said the mass is so close to his heart that he's afraid radiation would damage his heart. He said we would cross that bridge when we get there, and weig...
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Only Two Rounds Left

It's been a while since my last post. Been busy with working, homeschooling my 7 year old and our newborn (who is 3 months old now)!! Life has been so busy, I've barely had time to even think straight. Since the last post Brad has had two more chemo treatments and a CT scan. The CT scan showed that the mass in Brads chest has shrank over 50% since chemo was started!!! Such wonderful news to hear after all the bad we've had to hear since July 10th! So the chemo is doing it's job, along with making him very sick and hairless. He's getting better with the no facial hair situation tho. We're just taking it day by day, and praying for complete healing!! And with all the awesome support we have we are staying very positive. Only two more treatments to go. Six treatments doesn't sound like alot...until you have to live thru them... He will have to take a chemo pill after his treatments to keep the cancer from coming back, just got approval from the drug company to...
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Our busy little week!

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   The past week was good. Brad has felt pretty good and was able to be out and about more. We can defiantly tell chemo has begun to help. Just after one "cycle", as they call it. He can breathe better and his swallowing is so much better, along with several other symptoms that are improving. I have felt that I have my husband back, haven't felt that way in a while.    Monday we met with Dr. Induru (oncologist). He told us with this type if cancer the mass may never fully disappear. He said after chemo and radiation there may still be a small portion of it left, and our goal will be to keep it from growing again. Our hope is for it to go away all together, with no signs of it at all left in his body. I guess all we can do is pray!! Labs were drawn and they were really good, which means no extra IV fluids this go round.    Wednesday the new porta cath was put in by Dr. Arru (the surgeon), he is another awesome doctor!! The insertion went well. Dr. Arru sut...
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No hair, don't care?? Or do we??

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This week has been a rough one in some ways and in some ways it's been amazing!! Monday Brad had to have his porta cath removed. It just wasn't agreeing with his body. So we will have to go back thru the ordeal of getting another one put in next week, and pray faithfully that it works this time!! Tuesday I had to take our precious baby Jase to the doctor and we got some upsetting news that we didn't wanna hear. He's fine, just has some issues that will require close monitoring and some physical therapy. Otherwise he's a happy some of the time 😊, healthy, big boy!! Brad has felt the best this week than he has felt in a long time, tho still not 100%. Today his hair has begun to fall out...he didn't think that was going to bother him, but honestly I think it is just a little! But we will get thru this, and we will come out the winner. This cancer will not break us!! I cannot put in to words how thankful we are for our family and friends. They have shown us over a...
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The good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between!!

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Let me first say I am no writer, and I may ramble, use ridiculous punctuation and occasionally misspell words so bear with me. I'm new to this. It's crazy how your life can change so quickly. I mean I went from a new mom again after 7 years to a cancer patients wife....3 weeks ago I was just a new mom and my husband Brad was just a new dad!! Oh how life has went from fairly calm to a big ol' storm. In the past 3 weeks I can't recall a night I've fell asleep without crying, begging God to let this just be a nightmare. Let me back up a bit. On June 8th my husband and I welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Jase Hunter. He was a whopping 9lbs 2oz. We were so happy!! I can't say Brad and I have always been "so happy", we've had our moments. But one thing was for sure I love him and he loves me and that has gotten us thru alot over the years. Brad began with constant complaints around 2 years ago I just assumed it was the usual "man cold". Lately...
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