Round One to Eddie

On Friday, Eddie finished his first full round of Chemotherapy. We met with the oncologist and we’re told that he is pleased with Eddie’s overall health and response to treatment. He has been cleared to resume any activities he feels up to as long as he is careful of the port in his chest (where they input his chemo).

Big thank you to everyone who has reached out via text, messenger, social media, GoFundMe, or any other means of communication! The littlest things make this journey that much easier.

Swelling visible in Eddie's left hand

It hasn’t all been fun and games however. Eddies been experiencing muscle pain and swelling that is being monitored by the doctors. We’re thinking it is a result of the chemotherapy- water retention or something similar- but will be getting an ultrasound tomorrow just to make sure.

Today, I shaved Eddies’s head. His beard had started coming out in chunks and he was ready to get rid of his hair before it fell out completely.  I am liking his new look but he’s not completely convinced yet.  He did have a little fun shaving his beard the other day. I’ll be interested to see how it all comes back after he is done with treatment.

We have this week off from any medical treatments- just that ultrasound. Eddie will start his next round the day before his 30th birthday. We would’ve been in Denver to celebrate but will be having a different kind of celebration at home. Denver can wait for healthier time.

Beyond Blessed

WOW. The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming to both Eddie and I. This whole journey so far has been a rollercoaster of emotions. At least once a day one of us is in tears, either from frustration, exhaustion, anxiety or some other reason we can't identify. Also at least once a day (most likely 5 or 6 times), we are reminded of how truly blessed we are.

A comment on our blog or Facebook pages.
A phone call or text message "just checking in."
A greeting card.
A meal when we're both too tired to cook.
A friend spending the weekend to dog-sit our fur-baby.
A handful of neighbors who have committed to clearing our driveway.
A care package from across the country.
A Friday pick-me-up in the form of an iced coffee or Dr. Pepper.
A GoFundMe page set up by a childhood friend.
And a million other little things.

We truly have the BEST support network in the world. Never will we be able to thank everyone enough for their support. I know that it is because of you all that Eddie and I can remain strong and steadfast in our faith that everything will be OK. And it didn't just start when we first shared the news of Eddie's diagnosis. Your support has been present in our lives throughout many seasons. We know this current season of life requires us to be humble and rest on the support network we have woven together like a big comfy hammock. In time, we will be able to step down and become part of that hammock for someone else. But for now, we rest in your capable and loving hands, knowing that it is only a short time in our lives, excited for the future we have ahead of us.

Reunited and it feels SO GOOD 🐶

Today we left the hospital! According to Eddie, it was the longest 5 days of his life. I said it felt like coming home from a really crappy vacation. The good - no, GREAT- news, is that Eddie's appetite seems to have returned, at least for now. The past two days in the hospital, nothing has been very appealing other than very bland food with no odor/scents. That is the first sign of any side-effects we have noticed.

So, after a quick (or not so quick) stop at Panda Express, we came home. Eddie was over the moon to see his baby, Baloo. We like to play hide and seek with him, so I came in like I normally do, and took Baloo to do his business. In the meantime, Eddie and Lori brought in our luggage and Eddie took his place in a hiding spot. The dog is usually really excited when he comes inside, so he was really jumpy to start running around the house. I announced that "Daddy is home" and told Baloo to go find him. Off he went.

I tell you, there's no friendship like a boy and his dog.

I'm not sure who was happier to see the other. It did my heart good to see them reunited.

We are now home. Due to Eddie's biopsy, he wasn't able to take a regular shower the week leading up to this latest hospital stay. As soon as he finished eating a full meal (yay small victory!), he took his first real, normal shower in 11 days. We are now resting comfortably at home. I'll be going back to work tomorrow and Eddie will get to rest at home without being poked and prodded (and spoiled by the nurses).

His next dose of Chemo will be a one hour infusion on Friday. Then we get a whole week off. We've been told that side effect symptoms will kick in about the 10-14 day mark, so we're bracing for that. For now, we are grateful for a good day, our own beds, and only 16 days of Chemo left.


P.S. I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has reached out so far. We are overwhelmed by your love and support. Also - mega thanks to both Eddie's and my parents. We wouldn't be holding it together without their hands on help. Driving, getting food, shopping, cleaning. You're keeping us sane ♥

Welcome to the first round...

I'm beginning this blog in order to keep family and friends updated on the status of Eddie's diagnosis and treatment. So many people have contacted both Eddie and I in the past few weeks, and while we appreciate the gesture (and hope you keep checking in), I know it is much easier to dispense information in this format.

Eddie's cancer journey began on December 20th, when he decided to seek medical care for shortness of breath he had been feeling for about the previous month. Not having a primary care physician here yet, he went to Urgent care, who sent him to the ER. When I found out he was on the way to the hospital, I was able to leave school early to join him. After a chest X-Ray, we were told they found a 13 cm mass in his chest. Through tears and fears, Eddie was taken for a CT scan and we met with our oncologist, Dr. Braik. He asked us several questions and answered all the questions we had. The initial belief based on how his tumor looked was that Eddie had Hodgkins-Lymphoma. He admitted Eddie to expedite the initial biopsy process, and we went home the following day.

 

After a week of waiting, during which we celebrated Christmas with both our families, we met again with Dr. Braik to hear the news. Surprisingly, the biopsy yielded no cancer cells, because the majority of the tumor was smelling of the lymph nodes. So, in the meantime, we scheduled a second, more in-depth biopsy. During the procedure, the surgeon, Dr. Khabbaz, inserted a port-a-cath so that chemotherapy could begin as soon as a diagnosis was confirmed. This second biopsy took place on January 4th. The recovery was more painful because they had to cut through his muscle, and we had a difficult week of little sleep, anxiety, and lots of pain. As the following week progressed, Eddie was able to get up and about with the help of Lori (his mom 💕)

On Thursday, the 10th, Eddie blew his nose and experienced excruciating pain in his back, so much so that he couldn't move. He contacted Dr. Braik who instructed him to come back to the ER, where he would meet us with the diagnosis. Our appointment wasn't until the 11th, but his diagnosis had been confirmed with the Mayo Clinic: Testicular Cancer.

WHAT???!! The tumor is in his chest, how could that be? Eddie's cancer is known as Seminoma, a tumor outside the Testicles. Another name for it is Extra Gonadal Germ Cell Tumor. Brief Biology lesson ahead! When we are developing in the womb, all our organs originate from the mid-line, near where our heart is now. As we develop, our organs move to their final locations. A few cells that would have become part of the testicles remained up in Eddie's heart/chest region. As Dr. Braik put it, those cells went rogue. It’s very uncommon and he hasn’t seen a case of this cancer in ten years.

So, even though our original belief was Hodgkins, we now had a diagnosis with an even better prognosis for recovery (better than 95%!). In order to curb the complications of Eddie's tumor, he was admitted again (stay #3, if you're counting) to begin chemotherapy the following day.

I am finishing this first blog post on day 4 of his first round of Chemo. We have been made aware of the side effects, the possible risks, and what to expect when we go home (Tomorrow!) Eddie has experienced a few side effects already, and if you're curious about them, feel free to ask him. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and immense and we greatly appreciate it and welcome it in the months to come. I'll be updating as I can remember, and may enlist Lori and Eddie to post some entries too.


In the meantime, continue to send us your prayers, hug your loved ones a little tighter and enjoy the moments you are given.

If you're interested in an Eddie's Fight shirt, please fill out this form. Shirts will be ready February 1st.