Re-Scan

Tomorrow is a big day for BigDFaust. This will be the first scan since Derek's treatment began to determine how well the tumor is responding to the chemotherapy. Since January 12th, Derek has undergone four full rounds of Folfirinox. In that time, he has learned to navigate side effects, new eating habits, and patterns of fatigue. Through each round of treatment, Derek's ability to handle the aggressive chemotherapy steadily improved. With more energy, appetite and stamina, Derek completed his fourth round of chemo this week with the positivity he will need leading into his scan tomorrow.

On Tuesday, we will spend the morning in Milwaukee at the Wisconsin Medical College, to meet with Dr. E who will tell us whether or not he would be willing to attempt Derek's surgery. Later that day, we will travel south to the University of Chicago to see Dr. K to follow up on Derek's progress. These meetings will give us new information that will dictate our next steps.

Leading up to this point, Derek has followed the plan and learned to adapt to his new routine. He goes to chemo appointments, hydration appointments, and acupuncture appointments. He anticipates which days he will feel well enough to participate in typical daily activities. He has learned which foods are appetizing and easy to digest and the ones he must avoid. He manages his own side effects from the chemotherapy with various medication combinations. He has truly lived an entirely new life in these past two months, and he has not complained once. His strength is inspirational.

People ask me all the time how we do it, referring to how Derek and I continue working, parenting, and living with his cancer diagnosis. I usually tell them that we have no choice. But the more I think about it, that is not entirely true. While the situation is outside of our control, the way we handle the situation is completely up to us. We choose to keep moving forward and enjoy the little moments along the way. This mindset has led to a peaceful and optimistic outlook on what lies ahead.

Thanks for checking in. Stay tuned for an update next week when we report back on next steps for BigD!