Tonight I talked to Aaron and it about broke my heart. I could hear
in his voice that it was painful to talk, that he didn't have much
energy at all, and that he was just not comfortable. But he sure is
trying to make the best of a not-fun situation. Can you believe this
sweet viking of ours is still going to the gym every day?! I am so proud
of him. He says he can't do much there as he's pretty "weak" (I never
thought physically "weak" would be used in the same sentence as
"Aaron"), but that he really enjoys it. He goes and does some light
cardio or a ten minute session of pilates with a trainer, and then walks
the length of the pool back and forth.
Yesterday
Aaron had his sixth chemo treatment-- this coming Monday will be the
last! I told him I couldn't believe how on Monday he'll be the guy he
sat next to on his first day-- he had the same exact kind of cancer as
Aaron, and he was having his last treatment while Aaron was having his
first. Aaron then told me that he and his family went out bowling with
that man and his family this past Saturday! How neat:) Another example
of how Aaron is able to make friends easily:) That man is now in his
fifth weak of recovery and he said it's not been too easy. There have
been complications, and he still goes into the hospital a few times a
week for IV fluids since it his still difficult for him to swallow with
the burns in his throat. So Aaron is mentally preparing himself for that
hurdle...just because his treatments will soon be over doesn't mean he
will be physically comfortable. But he says he's just surviving one day
at a time. And he's got this.
Aaron has eight more
radiation treatments. The tumor is gone!!! YAY!!! He can't feel it
anymore. For perspective, Aaron told me that sometimes even when people
are finishing their treatments they still have the tumor. Aaron is not
done yet and it's gone-- yeah! When he told me that tonight I said "well
then can't they just stop radiating your throat?" He gently laughed and
said "no, but Beth and I asked the same thing." Darn. I hate that he's
enduring so much pain...we all do:( And it just gets worse every day as
they are reburning the burns they made the day before...every single
day. :/ So it's as difficult as ever for Aaron to eat/ swallow/ talk/
breathe...gets more difficult every day. But he and Beth are working
hard to get him the calories he needs. Yesterday when he went to the
doctor she didn't even bring up the feeding tube. So far, so good. So
far, it's not needed.
Aaron and Beth's sweet friend
Carol arrived today! She will be with them for a couple weeks. Carol
provided them with a place to stay up in Knoxville, TN when they started
the trek up to Michigan. She is a wonderful friend and we are all so
grateful for her goodness to Aaron and his family.
The
snow is really starting to melt up there in Michigan and the boys were
having fun running around and playing in the yard today!
Bowling last Saturday was a big hit!
