Today, we got to go to church for the first time in a while. Dad has been so sick and we have always worshiped together as a family. So since dad had not been able to go, we have spent that time together at home worshiping God. Our pastor invited us to come today as today’s focus was on God’s healing and miracles. At the end of the service, those who wanted to came up to the front and members of the church prayed for healing and anointing oil was placed on my dad’s head.
As tears flowed from my eyes, people’s hands on our shoulders, as friends prayed for a healing of my dad’s body, I was touched with such love and friendship. From day one, my family has given God this problem. From day one, we have declared God is Charge. Today, I felt God’s love all around me. I want to thank Pastor Jeff who I admire, our wonderful friend and youth director Scot and all the people who held our hands this morning. It was one of the most humble and peaceful experiences I have had.
We saw the clinic trial dr for dad. They are going to do a molecular test to see the actual genetic mutation to see what trial will be best. 2-3 weeks for results and start of treatment. Also MDA (MD Anderson) has to get approval from insurance company for trial. If all is approved, all trials will involve a lot of medical test – blood work, tissue testing, cscans, PET scans etc. Five days a week for treatment at MDA (8 hrs each day) for first 2-3 weeks and then 3 times a week for 6 weeks (3 hrs each time).
Then he will have a chemo through a pump for 96 hrs each week.They also told us up front that we have to know going into this knowing this may or may not work. They could not promise anything but will be looking at dad’s case and do the best trial that is available. Putting it in God’s hands.
On a side note, we wore our support shirts and all day, people told dad they knew he had lots of support and love. Also, dad’s favorite song came on just as we pulled out of the drive way today. I told him – it was God saying we are on the right track!
Today was a long emotional day. At moments today, I just wanted to reach into dad’s body and yank that stupid cancer out and destroy it and tell it that it has been kicked off the island. It is really hard to describe the feelings that a person goes through when you see someone you admire and love have to go through this fight. We have a very very long road ahead of us and it is going to be rough. My faith is the thing that gives me strength in all of this. It is what keeps the strength that I need to be able to be there for my dad and the whole family. It is what drives me to know we have to lift our doubts and fears to God and know He is in charge
“Doubt is a virus that attacks our self-esteem, productivity and confidence. Faith that you and your life are perfectly unfolding is the strongest vaccine.”
—
Sean Stephenson
I just got off the phone with Mom… it wasn’t good news. All the results came in… portions of the cancer is getting smaller. Though, other portions of the cancer is getting bigger. Therefore, Dad is no longer a candidate for regular chemo.
- Surgery is off the table because it’s too wide spread
- Radiation is off the table because he has maxed out his limit.
- Regular chemo is off the table because it’s not 100% doing the job
What does that leave us… clinical trial chemo. To say the least, we aren’t happy about being put on the clinical trial but it’s our only option left. Dad will have to go MD Anderson – Downtown to receive the clinical trial chemo. At the current time, it’s unknown when he will start the trial or what kind as we have to meet with the clinical trial doctor and see what our best option is.
I will definitely give you more updates as soon as I know something.
So, I just realized several major things have happened to dad that no one has posted here on the blog.
- Dad visiting MD Anderson hospitable:
- Dad went to MD Anderson ER due to having hard time breathing on May 27, 2014.
- After doing a variety of test, MD Anderson admitted him into the hospital due to fluids on the lungs, mainly his left lung.
- I must say, Dad’s room was like a VIP room… it was huge and very fancy and he was all by himself.
- On May 28th, MD Anderson drained his left lung and also put a drainage tube in his left lung so he can be drained from home.
- On May 29th, Dad was discharge Thursday afternoon from the hospital.
- On a side note, he was suppose to get more chemo on May 29th, but due to him being in the hospital, they actually post pone the treatment to the following week.
- Dad went to MD Anderson ER due to having hard time breathing on May 27, 2014.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday, we drain fluild from his left lung at home.
- We will continue to do this producer until he stops dripping less than 150 ML per drain for a solid week. Once he does that, then we can call the doctor and see if the tube can come out.
- Dad’s new nickname is “Drano“.
- From June 1st – 4th, Dad accomplish something that he hasn’t done in awhile.
- For the first time in months and months, dad went to work every day and did not have to come home early! He was worn out but he did it!
- Remember, he works a 4/10 shift Sunday – Wednesday nights.
- On June 5th, Dad received his drip chemo from MD Anderson – Clear Lake . In addition, he took 5 chemo pill per day for a 7 days straight.
- On a side note, Dad is schedule to get another dose of chemo on June 19th and repeat the same process.
Jennifer posted this on her Facebook wall and I thought I would share this with everyone since the other day was Father’s Day.
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To all the father’s out there… may you remember how much the gift of time is means more than any toy that you can give a child. My best memories is not the toys but the time spent with my parents. A Husband is About to Go on 1 of the Most Important Dates of His Life, But it’s Not With His Wife.
It is hard to believe my daddy started a fight against cancer 1 year and 8 months ago. I see him fighting every day to beat it and though some days, he feels like crap, he has shown me the strength of what it means to be a fighter and a Cunningham. I wish we could treat his cancer like mine (if u look at me, u would not know I am a cancer survivor too). However, daddy’s fight reminds me how determination/strength runs through my blood and I am proud of my dad’s continue fight. Happy Father’s Day daddy!
Got results on dad’s cancer yesterday. The GREAT news: the cancer has NOT gotten bigger and has NOT spread. THANK GOD. The BAD news: the cancer tumors are still there. The GOOD news is that the tumors have gotten SMALLER. THANK GOD. So we are heading towards the right direction. 2 more months of chemo and recheck.
There are 2 things of CONCERN:
- Dad keeps losing weight. He has lost about 60 pounds in 5 months (13 pounds since March).
- The really big concern is that dad has a lot of fluid in the left lung – so much that they could not even see the tissue on the cscan due to the fluid. Now we will be going to a lung dr to see why this is happening and to get the fluid drain. As you know, he just was in the hospital a few weeks ago for the same thing.
Thank you so much for praying. I know God hears our prayers and is healing my dad. We have good and bad days but it is a journey that I know God is never left us alone.
Long story short, the CT scan from Sunday basically fell through the cracks. Furthermore the radiologist hasn’t read the CTs. So, the test results are unknown. 😐
We are suppose to call the doctor over the next couple days to find out the results.
At 7:40am CST this morning, Dad is schedule to get his last CT scan before he and mom gets the test results at 11:30am. This round, Dad has had 4 treatments of chemo. Remember, dad is maxed out on his radiation, so chemo is the only option.
When dad was in the ER several weeks ago, they told us that the cancer has not grown, but it hasn’t shrinking either. The chemo is just maintaining it. Furthermore, dad is already schedule for additional chemo on May 29th and we haven’t even seen the doctor yet.
I will let you know more as soon as I know something…
Some of yall know this, but most don’t… the Cunningham family have been doing some major, I mean MAJOR spring cleaning.
But first, let me explain something. Dad is a miniature hoarder. He likes to keep things for “future projects”. He has been saving things in the shed and barn for years. I found things that I had no CLUE was back there. Over the last 10 or so years, both buildings have been falling apart to the point of structure instability. For the last several years, we have always stated that we wanted to tear down both the shed and barn, but never did. Well, I said enough is enough and I push mom to see how much it would cost for a big dumpster so we can clean the shed and barn out out. She found a company in Pearland and so Jennifer and I rented the dumpster.
On April 26th, ten people from United Airlines that Dad works with and myself cleaned up the front and back yard and torn down the shed. These men that dad works with, they were doing this with pure respect and actually wanted to help. THEY WERE NOT, I REPEAT, THEY WERE NOT ASKING FOR ANY TYPE OF COMPENSATION. This guy’s respects Dad so much that they are willing to do about anything and everything for Dad and if that meant cleaning of the yard up, then that’s what it takes. Anyways, the yard got cleaned up along the shed got torn down and put in the dumpster.
On April 28th, we had the dumpster people pick up the load, dump it, and bring the dumpster back to the house. I then started cleaning the barn. It was in worst shape than the shed as far the physical structure and more creatures. Due the nature me working a full time job, it was a little bit slower cleaning process since it was just me instead of a crew of 10 people plus me. Mom helped me when she can, but she mainly supervise and make sure I didn’t get hurt or get bitten by a creature.
On May 3rd, two United Airlines people came out to the house and help me do some more cleaning in the barn. One of them brought a tracker with a front end loader, so it was easier to move things for the heaver stuff.
I continued to clean the barn. On May 7th, seven United Airlines people and myself torn down the barn and clean the rubble up. Currently, I have to clean some piles that I raked up and put tree limbs in the dumpster. I should have all of this done by May 11th.
To summarize, the front and back yard got cleaned up, the shed and barn was torn down along cleaning most of the junk that was inside them in the dumpster. Without the folks at United Airlines, I probably would not have been able to finish what needed to be finished in the allotted time frame.
The Cunningham family greatly appreciates every United Airlines guy that came out and help me clean the property up.
Yesterday was a GREAT day for dad. He went to the Astros game with my brother and was able to keep food down him and enjoyed the game. Today, NOT SO GOOD day. He threw up some blood but was able to keep his food down once we got him different type of food. This is the second time he has threw up blood over the last few days. Mom is going to contact the dr about it. It could be a good thing – the ulcer on the tumor could be breaking but it could also be a bad thing if it is coming from the lungs.
Please keep us up in your prayers.
Some of yall may or may not know, Dad went into the MD Anderson ER Wednesday night (April 23th). Thursday morning, they admitted him. This afternoon, he was released from the hospital. Long story short, he had fluids on both lungs.. his left lung was much worst. Once they drained the liter of fluids from his left lung, he was able to breath better. They are treating him with some meds to reduced the fluids from his right lung.
When Dad was in the hospital, they did do an CT scan. The cancer hasn’t grown, but at the same time, it hasn’t shrinking either. Dad is maxed out on radiation and surgery is out of the question due to it being too wide spread. So, chemo is the only option.
Also, we have delayed the proceedings in dad getting the balloon stint in his esophagus. When Dad’s one MD Anderson doctor schedule this procedure, she forgot to mention the high risk involved in the procedure. We found out by another doctor that if the balloon collapses, Dad will be on a feeding tube for the rest of his life. He will not be able to eat through the mouth ever again.
To say the least, the whole family was upset, especially mom. She didn’t take the news very well. We have a consultation with the GI doctors on May 14th to discuss about this procedure. We are hoping to move the consultation up, but no guarantees.
In addition, dad has a ulcer which is near the cancer. One of the general MD Anderson doctors says that if the balloon stint collapses, it will most likely be right where the ulcer is… that is another reason why we delayed the proceedings.
Update: As some of you know, dad did not have chemo last week because the dr wants to order a stint (a type of balloon) in the esophagus so dad can eat better. he has thrown up several times each day. He has also had lots of problems breathing and has had panic attacks where he can barely breath. the dr wanted an xray done on his chest as she thinks he has bronchitis. We have been trying to get the orders in since Thurs and somehow it got “lost.” Finally, today it should be ordered within the next 24 hrs. However, tonight, dad wants to go to the ER as he is not able to breathe much. So they are heading to MD Anderson’s ER. Will keep u posted. please keep us in ur prayers.
I think my dad and my entire family could use a boast of encouragement. If you would like to send an thought our way, feel free to comment here or on dad’s web site www.dac24.com If you want to drop us a note or card in the mail, let me know and I can send you our address
Helpless feeling when you see your dad throw up some of his dinner. Fighting back tears in front of him. Trying to say an encouraging word when you see how upset he is after he throws up. Seeing him weak and not being able to do anything but pray and try to help him. Praying that the chemo is working and that daddy will be feeling better soon. He goes for his next round chemo starting Thursday. Daily, I ask for God to continue to give us strength, encourage and healing.
Hey everyone! My dad and family needs some major encouragement. If you let cancer invade your spirit, it can do more damage than a bullet. Visit www.dac24.com to give uplifting comments, quotes, inspirational stories, support and love to all of us. Go to the comment section and share your wisdom and love. We are strong but having support from all of you gives us the zest to fight when our bodies are tired. Feel free to spread the word of dad’s fight for life.
Dad has lost about 50-55 pounds since January. I hate this cancer. Today, after eating a bowl of cereal, he got so nausea and threw up. He has rested almost all day. God give us strength to battle this evilness that has invaded dad’s body – destroy it and cast it in exile for all forever.
Today, I found out that my daddy’s hair is starting to fall out. He will be shaving it soon. As we talked about it, we all got quiet and tears came down our face. however, this is a sign that the chemo is working. One day at a time and I know God has a big plan and His grace is mightier than any of our fear