270...
So 9 months ago Shannon and I sat in a hospital room on the 6th floor at Regions Hospital at about this time of day early to mid morning is when you meet with all the docs. South 6 at Regions is the ICU and also has the Oncology inpatient rooms. If you are in that part of the hospital, you are really sick. At around this time of the morning we were getting the news that she indeed did have cancer and it was a Stage IV Adenocarcinoma. We both had no idea what that actually meant but when you hear cancer and then Stage IV it like double bad news. We found out about diagnosis, prognosis(which changed, changed and then changed again) and treatment. Whatever our lives were before 2/23/2016 was our old lives and we will never be same.
These past 9 months, 270 days, 388800 minutes or 23,328,000 seconds have actually felt like 5 years.
There have been victories, pain, heartache, hard days, harder days and loss. We lost some dear friends to cancer during these past 9 months and that has been really hard. For me personally it has tempered the victories that we have had. It has shown that you are only a Doctor appointment or CT Scan away from having your world shaken and crushed again. I am encouraged by where we are and where things are trending but there is no real feeling of comfort, not yet.
It is no secret that Shannon has completed all of her treatment which consisted of 4 rounds of chemotherapy, 6 weeks of chemo/radiation, surgery, then 4 more rounds of chemotherapy. This was supposed to take 6 months but due to all of the complications, side effects and other issues it wound up taking just short of 9 months to complete. When Shannon started it seemed like we would never get the finish line because it kept getting moved back and now that we are at the end of this leg of the journey it's hard to believe that this part of the journey is over.
If you have ever dealt with cancer personally or with a close loved one you know that it is never really over, you do treatment and then wait and see. We are now at wait and see but that is for another post.
Today, the day before Thanksgiving I am thankful for the Doctors and Nurses at Regions and Mayo for the world class care that they have given my favorite gal. Especially, Shannon's Oncologist Dr Dan Anderson at Regions and Dr Richard Devine her surgeon at Mayo. But most of all I am thankful for one more morning with Shannon.
The pic with our feet is from a trip to England and us hanging out together in different hemispheres. Shannon was in the Western Hemisphere and I was in the Eastern Hemisphere. What a great day with a great gal!
Comments (13)
Aw, Bill. And Shannon. We love you guys. We are so thankful for all our time with you and for your friendship as well. Congrats on making it through this difficult journey so far. I truly hope that you never have to deal with cancer again. We can't wait to see you both in January. Looking forward to more good times to come. =)
So very much to be thankful for! Enjoy every moment, every morning, every sun rise. ❤️
It seems like way longer than 9 months...thoughts and prayers have been with you all along the way and will continue to be. You are both such amazing, kind, and lovely people! It has been my honor and pleasure to even be slightly acquainted with the two of you. You continue to inspire me with your courage and perseverance and love for each other! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving you two. You bring sunshine to this otherwise overcast day!
Shannon and Bill, you have demonstrated so much grace throughout this ordeal. I am thankful for your honest, heartfelt posts, reminding us all to appreciate each day. For showing us how to be realistic and optimistic. For letting us share your ups and downs with you. Sending much love!!!
You know that's an issue for us cancer survivors, while you're going through the treatment you are actively "doing something" to fight off this beast. Then afterwards there is this emptiness where before your everything had been so very wrapped up in just surviving that little else mattered. One thing that I have learned is that you simply can not let the what if's take over. You'll never go back to normal, but it can be a new normal, one in which you've found the world to be a much better place than you ever realized and the people in it ones that have made it look just a bit more kind and beautiful than you ever realized before. I am so happy for you and all your family that you are able to celebrate this Thanksgiving feeling better and knowing that you fought hard and won!
Dear Shannon and Bill, Continue to keep both of you in our prayers. Diane, Mark, Will and Claire
Thank you Bill for your excellent update and synopsis of the hell you two went through together. All I can say is that the love and devotion you have for each other is rare and unique. You both prove that love conquers all. You are the greatest couple. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And keep on loving each other, no matter what. Hope to see you both soon on the dance floor. You have been missed by all. Mimi & Chazz
Thanks for the update. Best wishes to you all and happy Thanksgiving!
I can't think of anything more thoughtful or apt than all of the comments your dear friends have already made. So, I'll echo that and just add that John and I are often thinking of you both and willing Shannon to get well enough for us to meet you again in some kind of dance scenario maybe? Here's to a bright future. xx
You are both so courageous. Your love for each other has carried you through this difficult journey and will be your strength and fulfillment as you move forward together. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the updates. Happy Thanksgiving to both of you. My prayers are always with you.
Here's to a wonderful holiday season of recovery and healing our body, mind, and spirits until the time come that it consumes you less and less. God bless, Shaun