The Big Comeback

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.”    – Rocky Balboa

Well, that quote about sums up Dads situation and outlook. He has been hit HARD, repeatedly. Today is the 28th consecutive day in the hospital. That puts him at an even 70 days in the hospital since July. Dad went from packing for a week on the beach with the family and some deep sea fishing with his boys, to a stage four colon cancer diagnosis literally overnight. He had surgery for a bowel obstruction due to cancer growth. He has dropped from 150+ pounds to under 100. He has had several bouts of debilitating pneumonia. He has had to rely on feeding tubes and IV nutrition based on eating restrictions from doctors and chemo. He had two thirds of his right lung removed because modern medicine couldn’t beat the fungal infection. That fungal infection is now in his blood. He has dealt with too many chemotherapy sides to list. I say again – he has been hit hard, repeatedly. 

Yet he keeps moving forward.  That is how winning is done.

You can see below, the scale shows his weight as of today: 126.9 pounds. Amazing. What’s even better in my eyes is that he got up and walked down the hall to stand on the scale. Based on how he looked earlier this week, the events of today seemed impossible.

This has been an emotional roller coaster for us all, but today is definitely the high note of the week. Dad is still a long way from that fishing trip, but he is working hard towards it.  There have been some somber posts and group text messages lately and it is important we all reset and recognize the hope that stands before us. We are still waiting on discharge time frames, but I will update as soon as we know. Still rocking the feeding tube,  but working with the speech therapist on swallowing so he can go back to eating. Much more alert and is doing exercises in his chair to get stronger. Blood work looks good, so he is heading in the right direction. No more fevers! Basically, a complete turn around!

Thank you all for the prayers, thoughts, and help. 

Trying to keep these short and to the point – I have a few emotional outpouring posts that will likely remain as drafts 😉 

With Hope and Love,

Richard