Entry 21: The Tumor is Gone!

 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!