Thanks to Everyone!!

Well today I have not had to go get any radiation to my head for almost 21 days. Whew! It is amazing to me that the last three weeks have very slowly allowed some of my regular human functions to return, as some of the important things had been on vacation since December 19th. I wanted to first say thank you to everyone who was helping me over these last months. Your attitude, your help and especially your prayers have been a beacon in the midst of a very foggy and unknown future. It is really amazing how this event has changed the thinking of life. I went for a brief walk this morning and it was unbelievable to me as I was looking all around. To see my life as the thing that God has still allowed to exist is pretty incredible. Being aware that I am the individual who is involved with events so that I can be the person to give and help create memories for others is wild. The job, your daily lives and the pressure from all the time filled events are somehow able to make us all forget this little thing. That little thing is God has wanted us to enjoy every moment we are still here, and be able to share our lives with our family and be thankful that we are here another day. While all those other things that fill up our daily lives are important I just wanted to remind everyone to push back the things that take up time and make room for the real priorities in our lives.

Treatment Finished! Healing Started!

Well Eric has been finished with his treatment for about a week. All is well and his system is getting back to normal, with the exception of some missing hair. We still are not sure about the white cells, which of course makes life interesting when everyone keeps getting sick. First I was down for about 4 days and we thought we were out of the woods until yesterday when Hunter decided to sit on the couch all day. Well anyone who knows Hunter knows this is just not right! Well sure enough today he has a fever between 101-103 and he now has to be quarantined. We have him set up with the walkie- talkies and needless to say I am getting my exercise. As I mentioned earlier I am not sure if Eric has the immune system needed to fight off another illness. Well only time will tell.

Other than regular life stuff, which I am sure everyone is going though there is really no exciting news. Well maybe some are excited to see that Spring Training has started and that means baseball is just around the corner. In our house America's past time is almost as important as eating and sleeping.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts over the next few months as we wait for the next MRI and get back to the chemo. I know that we are stronger because of your prayers and God's strength.

Love,
Hallie

4 More Days!

Well the radiation and chemo has taken it's toll on Eric and we are counting down the days till it's done. The radiation was kicked up a notch or two last Thursday and this has just zapped all the energy out of Eric and the chemo has played havoc on his intestinal system. Hopefully after Friday his body can start to get back to normal. Eric has had such a wonderful attitude during this whole ordeal with his positive thoughts, sense of humor and faith in God it has made it easier for everyone to deal with the situation. For me the hardest time is when Eric is not feeling well, his attitude has been the strength that everyone has needed especially me. When he is not feeling well it reminds me of the situation and the fight that he is fighting. It is the hardest time to be strong. I continue to look to God for his strength and hope that I can be strong enough for the both of us at least for a while.

We are all excited for this Friday which will be Eric's last radiation appt. I know some needed R&R is just around the corner. Eric will have about 30 days to recover from the chemo before he has to take it again. He is most excited to get the metallic taste out of his mouth so that he can have a beer and I am sure he will be having more than one. After the 30 days he will take the chemo for 5 days and be off for 23 days. The chemo will be a higher dose so I am sure he will not be feeling well. This will last for a while and the doctor will decide what happens next based on the MRI's. Most everyone wants to know when he will get another MRI. Well they won't take another one until around the 1st of April. He has to heal from the radiation before they take a picture this way they don't get a bad reading and we have to worry for a month until the next MRI. I hope that this gives everyone a general idea of what is happening and what the future has in store.

I also what to thank all of the drivers who have given of their time to help Eric get to his appt's. It has made it possible for me to go to work and Eric has had a chance to socialize with his fellow fire fighters. So THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Hallie