Day 12

This is now my second unassisted blog entry, I just lost my first one! Okay, this situation is stretching me in more ways than one! If you know me well, you know I completely rely on Ger and my kids to do most of my techy work for me. I provide them with much humor and something to mock.

Sam wanted to add a few comments. "I want to thank all of you for all your support, prayers, and help. I believe that God is going to help me through all of this. I wanted to thank the Fort George Baptist Youth Group for having a fundraiser just for me! That sure made me feel special."

"Many of you have been asking me how I like having my braces off. Well I got to eat popcorn today with lots of extra butter, and I get to chew gum again. They came off pretty easy, but I'll have to get them on again and go through the first few weeks of having sore teeth! They had to come off so they won't give me sores." Thanks again for all you are doing...Sam

One of the side effects of Sam's anti-cancer drug called prendisone (a steroid), is that his brain is constantly thinking of food and wanting to eat. I was told this ahead of time, but really couldn't believe that Sam would still want to eat even though he is feeling so nauseous and vomiting. Now Sam enjoys food, but has never been fixated on it. Well now every conversation revolves around food: what he's thinking about eating, what he has eaten, and what you are eating. He places his food order with Grandma who is delighted to make whatever he fancies. He has his next 6 meals planned is always wondering what kind of snack he might have. This food obsession has given us some good laughs together and with those we visit with. Two nights ago Sam dreamt that Nolan Hanson as working at McDonald's and Sam could get free fries every time he went in. A few nights prior he dreamt of Strawberry Fraps from Starbucks. The down side is that his brain tells him to eat, but his stomach has shrunken so much that he gets full quite quickly. He gets a sore tummy from eating too much. I'll have to remind him to say no to his brain, so his tummy won't hurt!

After our traumatic day yesterday, today went rather smoothly. After speaking with the doctor and LaDonna yesterday, we have a new plan and meds to manage his nausea. Today he kept all his food inside his body! He spent his day moving from his bed, to the couch in the living room, to the recliner in the family room. He is not interested in leaving the condo to sit outside and he has no strength to go for a walk. His spirits were good today. We enjoy having devotions together and reading from a book he especially likes: Chicken Soup for Mother and Son.

To our family members and friends who have and are experiencing this similar cancer journey, we now have a better understanding of what you must have gone through. We empathize with your struggles and celebrate you better days and milestones.

We love reading your comments and do let Sam know what you've been eating!

- Deb