The harder the battle.. the greater the victory

We started round 3 of chemo on Monday. We knew going into it this was going to be a tough go at it, most likely the worst so far. We were very blessed to have had such a great last week! Jarod felt wonderful ALL week he worked on his outdoor kitchen and put in 2 drawers. We have my mom in town Thursday followed by a wonderful weekend with Friends on Friday and Mother's Day weekend in Newnan Saturday and Sunday.

Jarod got to spend some quality time with Cleo on Saturday and Marcy, and her sister Pam and I went shopping. Cleo fried turkey bites - which were from the last turkey Jarod killed for dinner and we went to bed decently early having a great night of sleep! Sunday Jarod grilled stuffed pork chops on Marcy and Cleo's new grill and they were fabulous! We came home around 4 to get ready for our long week.

Both of us were nervous about this week because the last long week had been rough. Monday he did OK and Tuesday he was even a bit wired from the steroids but then Wednesday it really started to head down hill. Marcy and Pam were with him and our nurse Kimberly who we all love is on vacation so another nurse was trying to get Jarod's port accessed, they were having a TON of trouble and finally stuck him in his wrist vein which blew out and then they used the other wrist to get a vein. Jarod was very upset because having chemo administered through your vein directly as opposed to the port in his chest is much harder, it hurts and burns and is awkward to be hooked up to through your wrist for 6+ hours. He was pleading with Dr. Filip if there was anything they could do and he went to get another nurse who tried the port one more time and finally they got it.

They day went on each hour he was getting more and more drained, Marcy and Pam took him home where he got into to bed for nap. After a bit a sleep he was up and the vomiting started right before I got home from work. We got it under control and he ate a small amount of food for dinner, and headed straight back to the bed. He was nauseous all night and we were up taking medication and trying to keep it at bay until about 4:00 am, finally at 4:30 we feel asleep and 7:30 I got up to get us ready for chemo.

Today hasn't been much better for him. Both of us are exhausted and we had trouble getting out the door this morning, but they were able to access the port much better today only took a few tries. He is sleeping and has been off and on since we arrived at 9:30 which is great. Although this is the worst he has felt he isn't vomiting all that much considering and he is able to sleep some which helps.

We got the levels back yesterday and the HCG is still normal and the AFP is down to 6.1, Dr. Filip will consult with doctor in Indiana next week to confirm we only need 3 rounds we are praying it is only 3 and this is his last long week. One of my friends had colon cancer at 26 and just celebrated 5 years cancer free, she called and left me a message reminding me the sicker he gets the better it works and when you are able to put it behind you, it feels like you conquered the world!

It's working, we are blessed to have the markers that remind us that this fight and these drugs are going to be worth it because once we get through the treatment he will be in remission and we we WILL be OK.

Thanks for all cards, thoughts, prayers, visits, gifts and calls we couldn't be more overwhelmed with all of the support.