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Chemo Weekend / MRI Tests Scheduled

Friday: Brace continues to feel so weak that he can barely keep his eyes open. His nausea is at bay with the heavy duty anti-nausea drugs. but I think they wipe him out. One more day of chemo tomorrow and then radiation starts on Monday. Sunday will be a day of rest from chemo and radiation.

Saturday: Last day of round 3 day 3 of chemo. I think they put in steroids the last day because he has a little more energy. We went on a walk with Kjarstin, James and Savannah. We walked Chimney Rock Circle and even one more street. Kjarstin decided to wear Dad's Iron Maiden size 14 van high tops and then after one street decided that was painful idea. Then he collapsed in bed and thank goodness he didn't wake up for pain meds during the night.

Sunday: Lately I really struggle wanting to get out of bed, but eventually I do it. :) I exercised, showered, got Brace fed and got his meds ready and got to church ten minutes late. James sat in between Kjarstin at church and took care of us both. I love having James in the family. Savannah took care of Dad which allowed me to go to church, Sunday school and even ward choir. It is so nice to be at church and feel the Spirit and the love of friends. Thank you to Logan Johnson, Jim Murri, Brenden Dahl, Scott Hodson and Steve Tanner for taking care of Brace today.

Madison Lake Brown came with dinner in hand to hang with her Uncle Brace. (as Brace would say, her "favorite uncle") Savannah, Brace & Madison were able to reminisce about Grandma Lake and memories of being cousins together.

Too much visiting for Brace today so he was so worn out tonight. I hope he feels a little bit better in the morning. Radiation starts again tomorrow. Usually Monday is the worse day after Thursday, Friday, Saturday chemo. We'll see....

How Will We Know if It's Working?
This is the most common question, we hear. It is a tricky question and we have been told they would wait a long time to do test because everything would light up. If you didn't hear our Oncologist just switched to Hoag so our 4th round of chemo should be there. The UCI Oncologist ordered two MRI's this coming Tuesday. With Dr. Carroll's advise we are doing the MRI's at Mission so they can easily compare the first and second scans. The brain surgeon is at Mission and he wanted to compare the brain tumor in the first results with the new scan. We hope also to be able to see if the tumor is shrinking. Obviously that is the goal. Brace has a recurring nightmare that we do all this and it doesn't respond, but in the waking hours we are confident that the tumor is responding to the treatment. (I was worried about telling everyone but I've told you everything along the way so why stop now) Again, remember, he is smelling now. Dr. Carroll thinks that is great news.

Progress
1. He easily swallows pills. :)
2. He is drinking more soda water to protect his teeth since. Dr. Lowe, the Dental Oncologist, told him he didn't have to spit it out. Now he drinks the soda rinse and sucks it out with the suction regulator wand. (yankauer is the medical term - LouAnn Lake says we should name a dog that name)
3. He is able to tolerate brushing his tongue twice a day.
4. He drank a little chocolate milk yesterday and today.
5. Someone made a homemade poppyseed cake and he was able to eat about 4 bites of that today.
6. He had a lot more energy today.





The good things in life...
  1. Corte Haggard who spent all day with Brace while he slept at chemo.
  2. God loves us and gives us a little umph when we are feeling weak.
  3. When we originally got the tests done the radiologist said that his olfactory nerve was blocked due to the cancer. We told Dr. Carroll that he could smell and he thought that meant good things for the cancer shrinking.
  4. CPap came today thanks to Don Lake's help in getting it ordered. He is sleeping with it right now.
  5. Radiation server went down so no radiation today or yesterday. Radiation is especially hard on chemo days. Unfortunately that does mean radiation ends January 3rd instead of Dec 31st.
  6. Wendy Vassilaros who was my buddy while I went to Home Depot and filled up my car with gas.
  7. Great people like Mike Silverberg, Sandy Schreiber, Corey Procuniar, Ed Mauss and Lynette and George Saadeh who are willing to drive to help Brace remember that we are not alone and people are standing by us side by side.
  8. Gale Winkler, Staci Overstreet and Cheri Haggard willing and ready to help. Thank you so much. I'm sorry it didn't work out.
  9. Savannah is home for the weekend.
  10. Great doctors that care about us.
  11. Laura from Marantec that reached out to say that we are in our her family's prayers.
  12. Loa Swenson who shared a file of her mother singing, Bless This House, in 1946. Awesome!
  13. Megan Sheldon sharing a song that she is singing in church this Sunday. I can't believe it has been that long since I've taught you.
  14. People like you who read these posts and send your love.
  15. Brace can swallow pills and talk. He had two sips of a milk shake today.

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