42 Never Looked So Good

Good Afternoon!

Chad finished his first cycle of his 3rd round of chemo this week. He will have 2 more infusions before he has another set of scans done. He was very tired but his nausea seemed to be under better control during this treatment. We think that we are seeing a slight improvement in nausea and eating since he started the new medication but it's still a little soon to be able to tell for sure if it's the medication or if he's just been on an upswing. It can be hard to judge because he cycles up and down so frequently and without any real pattern. I am very thankful that Chad's weight held steady through both infusions this cycle. He didn't gain any weight but he didn't lose any weight either which is a huge victory since he has lost weight every week since mid-July. Chad is experiencing the same side effects that he always has, they just seem to get louder with each treatment. His neuropathy has increased and he is experiencing numbness for the first time. It is something that we knew could happen but it had not appeared until now. It is happening in his feet and we are monitoring it closely as we don't want him to experience permanent nerve damage. Overall, he's doing as well as can be expected and continues to amaze us everyday. 

Birthdays are special and have always meant a lot in our home but as you might imagine they take on an entirely different meaning when you are faced with a diagnosis like Chad has. Chad celebrated his 42nd birthday last weekend and he was so fortunate to have a loving group of family and friends that went above and beyond to make it the most special of days for him. He told me numerous times throughout the weekend how much fun he was having and his good-time-vibe was infectious. We had a jam-packed weekend of fun that included Chad not only meeting his all-time favorite Browns player Bernie Kosar, but also another childhood favorite player, Eric Metcalf. He didn't just get to meet them but sat at the bar and shared a drink and conversation with them as if they were old friends. It was totally random, he was in the right place at the right time and I am beyond happy that he was able to have such an amazing, memorable experience. The outcome of the game was not what we had hoped for but we still have hope that they will give us plenty to cheer for and that Chad will be there for all of it. We believe in you Cleveland! 

Thank you everyone for all that you do, all that you are and all that you mean to us. Please continue to keep Chad in your prayers, sending those good vibes and spouting that awesome ju-ju into the universe. We love you all and appreciate you all. Have a great day and Go Browns!