Dad went to his oncology doctor at MD Anderson – Clear Lake. She released Dad to go back to work on June 2, 2013. It is going to take couple years to rebuild his sick leave, but he is looking forward going back to work.

In addition, MD Anderson already has Dad’s next PET Scan scheduled, which will be August 19, 2013 06:30 AM.

“Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.”

― Henry Ford

Hello to all of our friends and family,

As you all know Dennis went for his PET Scan today.  When we first got there unfortunately they told us there was about a 2 hour delay, I guess the PET Scan in the Mays clinic brook down so they were sending all of those people to the Main MDA.  But believe me when we say it didn’t matter how much of a delay we would have to wait for as long as we could get it and the Dr. could tell us the results.

Well here is the results that we were waiting for and all of you also.   The Dr. came in and said that the Endoscope that Dennis had last week was great no tumor was found in either place in the esophagus or by the stomach, but we didn’t know about the biopsies well they came back totally normal no cancer was found.  YEA!!!!!!!

Then he said that Dennis’s PET Scan today showed NO I said NO I got to say it one more time NO Cancer has been found in Dennis.  YEA!!!!!!!!!!!

He has some inflammation still there but the Dr. said that is normal from the Chemo and Radiation.

Treatment in the future:  The Dr. said Dennis does not have to have any surgeries, no more radiation and no chemo.  We had asked the Dr. if he would have to have chemo for X amount of time afterwards because we know some people that had cancer and when they got to the point that they had no cancer they still had chemo for X amount of time.  The Dr. said that not with the type of cancer that Dennis had.  Yea I said HAD!! So he doesn’t have to do anything, except get a little stronger and keep kickin butt.

We ask if this means Dennis is Cancer free and the Dr. said that they don’t say a patient is cancer free for 5 years of being cancer free then you can claim that title.  Now he is in remission with NO cancer showing.

He has to do a PET Scan in 3 months and then again every 3 months as long as he stays cancer Free then as time goes on he will go to 6 months and then yearly on getting the PET Scan.

Even though we all heard it but Dennis still is having a hard time feeling that he can say I am Cancer FREE!  I can understand his feeling knowing what he has been through it just hasn’t hit him yet.

When we got out to the car in the parking garage I opened the sun roof to our car and Dennis and I shouted as loud as we could Thank you Lord!!!  I do believe in miracles and I feel with all of the prayers that God heard about Dennis and God knowing his life still needed to be here on Earth, God healed Dennis and answered everyone of your prayers and the Cunningham families prayers.

So now you ask what about the Blog well don’t quit looking at it we will still update it, let you know how he is doing and look at the new pictures coming up on what Dennis looks like with a full head of hair again lol.

Dennis wanted one thing after he went to the Dr. today and that is he wanted to go to Chedders which for the people who don’t have a Chedders it is a restaurant.  Dennis wanted his Baby Back Ribs and so guess where Dennis went and what he got.  Your right!  Here comes the ribs!!

The Cunningham family wants to thank each of you for all the support and prayers that each of you have shown us.

Keep looking at the Blog for updates.  God Bless each of you.

Great news. Test results showed no cancer cells! Biopsy from other day shows no cancer. Dad got some inflammation in lungs but that is normal due to radiation. Dr said that will go away after a while. No Chen or radiation. PET scan in three months. Praise God to the highest!

We are in the waiting room and are hoping to be called soon. Thanks for all the prayers. Hopeful soon, we will be called in and get great results. Keep you posted

Dennis is schedule to get his results from the doctor about the PET Scan and GI Endoscopy on May 20, 2013 at 2:30pm.

Below is how many days before Dennis get his results:
[ujicountdown id=”Results from Doctor” expire=”2013/05/20 14:30″]

Dennis is schedule to get a positron emission tomography (PET) scan on May 20, 2013 at 11:00AM.  For those unfamiliar of what a PET scan is, it is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), which reveal the structure of and blood flow to and from organs, a PET scan shows how organs and tissues are working.

Below is how many days before that scan:
[ujicountdown id=”PET Scan” expire=”2013/05/20 11:00″]

Monday is the big day. been praying for this day since oct. please continue to lift up my dad as he goes to get his medical test done to find out what the next step is in fighting this cancer. Adam and i both took off the day so we can be with mom and dad as we get the results. I know God has taken dad’s body and healed it. I have faith and know God is taking care of things. will update u as we get results. don’t forget to check out www.dac24.com for updates as well

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

― Booker T. Washington

Well we have 5 more days before the big test.  Yes the PET Scan is finally almost here.  This test will tell us how much cancer is still in Dennis.  Of course we are hoping none but if we can’t have that we will take very little.  Dennis is getting stronger every day now.  We go for walks to build up his strength.  He is eating pretty good, of course I still fix him his 3 meals a day.   If I didn’t do that he would probably only eat one meal.  This has been a long haul and we might still have a way to go but we are up for the fight if that is the case.  At least I will be if we have to.  As all of you caretakers know I am really tired.  If my health was great than it probably wouldn’t hit me so hard.  But I am determine with my last breath to stand by Dennis and help him through this no matter what.

So everyone out there we need your prayers, your strength and your friendship.  So I am counting on you to keep saying those prayers.   We will post again after the PET Scan to let you know what is going on.

If your having a rough day, remember this video and it will bring a smile back to your face.

“It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.”

― Dalai Lama

Dad went to the hanger tonight to say hi to his crew at work. Overall, I am glad he did. I truly believe Dad needed it as it was that additional push for him to get feeling better. Dad is hoping to be cleared to go back to work within the next couple weeks. If you recall, he has been on sick leave since early March 2013… thank goodness he was able to build his sick time over the years.

May 20th will mark the big day. Dad will get a PETScan and hear the results all on the same day at MD Anderson – Downtown. He is very optimistic of the PETScan results since he heard the fantastic results of his GI Endoscopy on May 7, 2013.

On May 23rd, Dad will go to see his oncology doctor at MD Anderson – Clear Lake and is hoping to be cleared to go back to work.  Pray the doctor will clear him.  Dad really wants to go back to work.

I am in awe of God’s grace. Though I see it over and over, I am always in awe of the power of God. When we started this journey in Oct…. of fighting the cancer that took control of part of my dad’s body, I declared God was in control. Anytime a doubt or a struggle came into my mind, I kicked it out and declared God’s grace and His healing. This week has been a true blessing. Dad getting his feeding tube out and getting really good results on one of his test (see earlier post from today by my mom). I declare God is in control and on May 20th, I know God will be there with us as the dr shares the news from the PETS scan. I know God is destroying the cancer.

I just want to thank the guys at work and Gary  for calling him and keeping in contact with him.  Gary calls on a regular bases and Dennis enjoys talking to him.  Gary use to work with Dennis when it was Continental but now it is United Airlines.  Dennis really misses all of you and he is hoping to be able to see all of you real soon.

Well everyone I just wanted to let you all know that the Cunningham family has had some prayers answered this week.  First after several months with Dennis having a feeding tube hanging from his belly he finally got to have his feeding tube removed.   Yes, he is eating regular food.  I still have to get on him on eating because he doesn’t want to eat or drink much but he is eating and that is the million dollar answer.  He was having so many problems with the feeding tube.  But since he has been on regular food now for about 3 1/2 weeks they said it could come out.  Wow was Dennis ready for that,  he said he has his belly back.  Now we just have to wait for the hole to heal that the tube was in and it won’t even be noticeable.

The second prayer answered is today he went and had his GI Endoscope done at MD Anderson.  Well GREAT news  the doctor says in his report the following:

•  The esophagus remarkable for the streaks of shallow ulceration in the mid esophagus.  The mass previously seen at 30-35 cm was no longer visible; this area had finely mildly nodular mucosa; biopsies were done.  The distal portion of the esophagus was unremarkable.  The stomach appeared to be normal.  The pylorus appeared to be normal, symmetrical, and patent.  The duodenum appeared to be normal.

So everyone, one down and one to go.  The big test is coming up on the 20th of May.  He will have a PET scan that will show if or where the cancer still is.  Of course we have to see what the biopsies show, hopefully they will be back by the 20th.  The doctor said that Dennis responded to the radiation very well!!!!  YEA!!!!!!!

So everyone thank you for those prayers they are working.  We still need those prayers coming in so keep on praying!

Dad got his feeding tube out.  I can tell you without a shout of a doubt that Dad is super excited that the feeding tube is no longer in him.  The whole propose of the feeding tube was to give him nurturance he needed while he was under going proton radiation. Its been 4.5 weeks since his last treatment and he now is able to eat solid foods again… mainly soft foods.

Furthermore, before Dad got his feeding tube out, he went to see his anesthetist for tomorrow’s GI Endoscopy procedure. For those unfamiliar of what a GI Endoscopy is, it is an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure where it allows the doctor to look at the interior lining of the esophagus, the stomach, and the first part of your small intestine (duodenum) through a thin, flexible viewing instrument called an endoscope. The tip of the endoscope is inserted through the mouth and then gently moved down through the throat into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (upper gastrointestinal tract).

The anesthetist told Dad and Mom that the procedure will take about 1.5 – 3 hours to complete. Dad is schedule to have the procedure done at 9:00am tomorrow morning at MD Anderson Downtown.  We will find out the results on May 20, 2013.

GI Endoscopy Countdown:
[ujicountdown id=”GI Endoscopy” expire=”2013/05/08 09:00″]