The Cunningham family is so blessed! We have not really got to raise money for Relay for Life with all that has been happening! However, last night, we went to bed with no money under our team (Team C). This morning, someone anonymous donated $1000 under our names: 500 for my dad, 300 for me, 100 dollars each for my mom and brother! I am truly amazed of how God works! If you were the one who donated, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You can still donated. Go to www.relayforlife.org Towards the bottom of the page, there is a search area. Type the person’s name. Then click onto their page. Donate! You can donate by credit card, cash or check.

Being a survivor is important in the cancer world. When you face cancer, you have two choices. Fight or give up. Dad is a 6 month survivor!

Though this is dad’s site, I wanted to express to his friends what it means to be a survivor of cancer from my point of view.

March 16, 2007… I was told I had leukemia. For two weeks, I truly felt my life was over. I have CML. I truly went from this happy go lucky woman to a very sad woman. I was never angry at God as I knew He did not give this to me. However, I knew God would bring me through this. Despite that, I was very low – both emotionally, mentally and physically.

One day, my mom came into my room. I was sitting at my desk on the computer. She swirled me around and give me a heart to heart talk.

She told me at the end: You have two choices. Fight or give up. You chose. Fight — hope, strength and looking at the cancer head on and saying with force – Cancer will not win. You LIVE LIFE and Cancer loses. Give up: Curl up in that bed and don’t come out as there is no reason to.

Of course, after the “Mom” talk, I got my fighting gloves on and am a survivor. Dad put on his fighting gloves 6 months ago yesterday. He is very worn out but still fights and looks at cancer and refuses to let cancer win.

Please continue to encourage him, lift him up in prayers and let him know God is with him. Even being a survivor all these years, there are days that I have to be reminded to continue to fight. Dad is in the middle of war and is a survivor.

tonight was relay for life. It is a fundraiser for cancer research. We have gone since I was told I had cancer. We were going to pass on it this year but dad wanted to walk the survivor lap. So we walked for a few laps. Dad is too weak to actually walk so we pushed him in the wheelchair. It was really emotional for all of us. dad started to cry on the first lap – the first half of the lap is survivors only and then the second part, the caretakers joins us. Though we did not stay as long as normal, dad and I went around the lap as survivors – just like I told him we would back in Oct. Dad is still really weak. However, I know you have to put one foot in front of the other and take one moment at a time. God is with us and that gives me comfort. Photos will be up this weekend!

Today is the day for Relay for Life.  We got started in this 6 years ago when  we found out that our daughter had Leukemia.  We thank God every day for her being in remission now for 6 years.  She is doing Great!!

Dennis wanted to go to this years Relay for Life even if it was only for a few laps around the track. He of course was to weak to walk it this year so we had the push wheelchair for him. We usually walk for several hours, but I wasn’t to comfortable on him going out and being around all of those germs with his immune system being so low.  So I made a deal with him.    He would wear a mask  while he was there except when he and Jennifer walked the survivor lap.  Going around the survivor lap was very hard on him.  It was bad enough that we had to walk it with our daughter but now the both of them.  It was a very emotional time for our family.  At one point Dennis just broke down.  Of course as soon as he did there was 6 other eyes crying right along with him.  When you see your family member hurting then you hurt as well.  We walked the track several laps and then we came home, he tires easily and he was ready to go.  This was only the 2nd time Dennis has been out in public in a month and half.

April 11th is our sons birthday he is 27 today so his dad and I want to say

Happy 27th  Birthday Adam we love you!!!!!

Dennis had a to go and pick up some paper work from his oncologist over off of Nasa area.  He doesn’t get out unless it is to the Dr. office.  But this paper work had to get to his job and no later than Thur. so after getting it from the doctor we went to United to turn it in.  Even though when you are sick and you slow down  unfortunately the world around us does not.  He got to see Steve, who works also at United and Dennis has known for a long time.  So they sat and talked for a few minutes.  He wanted to go to the hanger and see some of the guys but his immune system is really low and he really shouldn’t be out to much.   This was his first time back to the hanger since he stopped working in late Feb. Really this was his first time out anywhere since late Feb. except to the Dr’s.    He still is having a hard time keeping anything down.  He has been throwing up since he came home from the hospital and that was on the 30th of March.

Today brought a little scare for my family. As you may know, Dad has been throwing up daily for about a week to two weeks. Sometimes it is more than once. When he went to the dr this past Friday, mom and dad talked to the dr about it. In addition, he has been feeling really full and not wanting to eat much. So we thought his feeding tube had moved back into the small intestine like it did a couple weeks ago. So the dr ordered an x-ray on it and scheduled for this past Monday.

This morning, we got the results. His feeding tube had moved up towards the bottom part of the esophagus which would cause he to throw up. So he could not eat or drink the rest of the morning.

This afternoon, MDA was going to move the tube back where it goes. After using a machine that is like an x-ray, the drs said his tube was in the right place. After inserting contrast through the feeding tube, everything looked good. They did another contrast while dad was in a different laying position. All was good. So he did not have anything done.

The drs are baffled on why dad is throwing up so much. He has been taking his meds as a liquid form. We are going to go back to the pill form and see if it stops.

Say a prayer that he gets feeling better. He does not have much energy and really feels horrible. Thanks all for everything.

The C word. Cancer. You got Cancer. when you hear those words, it echos in your mind over and over. As you begin to tell family and friends, the realization becomes real.

As you become a survivor and live everyday, you noticed the small things and the things that seem more important than family become unimportant.

I am a blessed woman and my family is truly blessed. Through the entire 6 months of my dad battle, friends have poured out their love to me and my family. Words can not even describe how humble this experienced has made me. We have such an out pour from so many people. We have met people through this experience. God’s love has been shown so many way and so many times. A simple hug, prayer, listening ear, gentle words, a kind gesture, time visiting us. Angels in human forms. Words will never be able to be expressed the deep love I have for those who touched my family’s hearts over the last few months.

I wanted to truly say thank you and know that you have made a difference in my heart.

We just had a wonderful meal. Thank you to Kim and Carl for bringing us dinner. My dad ate roast beef! It was the first time he has eaten meat since he stopped eating over a month ago. In fact, the roast beef was so tender we did not even need a knives to cut it! The bake potatoes, carrots and buns were great. What true friends! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Tonight was dad’s last day of radiation. Now it is a waiting game until May to see how much cancer was destroyed. To say the least, tonight has been emotional for my family. I sat waiting for my dad to come out and thought of how I wish there was no cancer. We meet so many people on our journey that makes a difference in our lives even for a short time. A little girl, 8, finished her radiation tonight too. Another young girl has another few days. A young boy finished his treatments last week. In addition, a guy who also has esophagus cancer finished today as well.

Over the last couple months, we have shared our lives together in this experience that no one ever wants to go through, the fear, the sadness, and the unknown. Yet, when you talk to a survivor, all of this has been given to God. Tonight, we celebrated. We celebrated getting through treatment. We celebrated that we put it in God’s hands and HE is healing all these people. More deep thoughts but will write tomorrow.

Just got home from home from Dad’s radiation… to say the least, Dad is not feeling to good. In fact, he looks like he is all doped up, but he isn’t. Probably one of the reasons why he isn’t feeling to well is because he got sick earlier and basically threw up his whole supper.

Anyways, tomorrow (Friday) is going to be a VERY busy afternoon / evening for Dad and the family. Between blood work / doctor appointment at MD Anderson – Clear Lake and going downtown Houston tomorrow evening for Dad’s last day of proton radiation… everyone is going to be tired tomorrow night.

We all are looking forward in Dad ringing the gong tomorrow after his treatment. Just so you know, between mom and I, the event of Dad ringing the gong will be well documented. LOL!!! I will post pictures / video(s) by Saturday afternoon.

Being a teacher of 9th graders, sometimes, you have to take a deep breath and start again. Yes, it is an interesting experience, one that I love. Often, people talk about how teens have changed and even I have noticed how different teenagers are now than 15-20 years ago. However, I have witness something over the months of my dad going through treatment. I have witness how my students ask me almost on a daily basis on how my dad is doing, telling me that we are in their prayers and letting me know it is going to be ok. I have had students give me hugs and give me encouraging words. I have had students tell me about how someone they knew beat cancer. They have talked about their faith and how God is in control and is healing my dad. Even had a student write a letter to my dad telling him how God was healing him. Yes, teenagers can be brats. However, they can also be a kind word and very concern about how others are doing. I am overwhelmed of the massive support friends/family has given to my family. When we started this journey almost 6 months ago, I asked God to heal my dad’s body. I put it in His hands and have every day declared that we are kicking cancer butt. However, the out pour of love, support, kindness, prayers and hope from all who know us truly is a witness of God’s love here on earth.

Hi every one.  Dennis has 3 more times to get his radiation done.  The last couple days he has been not feeling to well.  He sleeps a lot.  He is getting so anxious for Friday to get here.  That is his graduation day.  No more radiation.  YEA!!!!  I will write more later, going to lay down myself just a little tired.  I will close my eyes for 20-30 min.  Talk to you later.

Just got home from the MD Anderson Proton Radiation Center… Dad has 3 more treatments of proton radiation. Before Dad went in for his radiation tonight, we heard the gong sound. For those who don’t know, on your last day of treatment, you can ring a gong for the pride and joy that you graduated from radiation. Plus, you get a completion certificate.

Dad gets to ring the gong on Friday, April 5, 2013 around 10pm. I will make sure to post pictures and video when he rings the gong.

We meet all kinds of people here at the proton radiation center. We have met several families that there love ones also has esophagus cancer, just like Dad. Though, there are also families we have meet that have other types of cancers. There is this one family I want yall to pray for. His name is Korbin, who is an 15yr old from Elk City, Oklahoma. He was diagnosed with an inoperable glioma brain tumor.

Yesterday (Monday, April 1, 2013) was Korbin’s last radiation treatment. The doctor told him this past week, this week and next week will be his hardest for him since he will have all the radiation in him. I ask to pray for Korbin. K4K

Here is a website you can follow: http://www.facebook.com/PrayForKorbin

I may not be rich in money but I am rich with the holy spirit in my soul, with my family close and my friends so dear to me and my pets to love. Any person who has God, family, friends and the love of their pets is far richer than any multi billionaire

Thank all of you for all the love and support you have given to all of us. The Cunningham family is truly rich. Happy Easter.