Halfway There...If I Only Knew Where "There" Is

One week from the day of his surgery, Justin came home on Friday, November 8th.  And wouldn't you know it, as we were standing in the hospital room awaiting the discharge orders Trevor got a text from Pavelec offering Justin tickets to the game that night!  Justin was disappointed to have to decline, but was assured that there would be other tickets available when he was feeling better.  Once we got the orders and prescription, we made our way home sweet home.

As we were driving into La Salle, we were greeted by orange ribbons lining the road - in the trees and on the bridge.  What a wonderful homecoming!  To think that someone went to all that trouble to show their support and let us know they were thinking of us brought a tear to my eye.  A testimony to the wonderful community that we call home. 

Justin seemed to progress so much faster once we were home.  We watched the Jets game on Friday night and Justin was thrilled that they got the win and that Pav got the shutout!  It's just too bad he wasn't able to be there to see it in person.  Saturday was pretty relaxed and Sunday morning Justin said he wanted to go to church.  We went and about half an hour in, Justin said he wanted to go home.  He just wasn't comfortable sitting on such an uncomfortable bench, despite taking a pillow along.  Later in the day, we went to Ryan's hockey game and he lasted two periods before I had to bring him home.  I was so happy that he wanted to get out and about so soon after getting out of the hospital.  He had such pain in his knees whenever he got up to walk in the hospital, that he dreaded getting out of bed. 

Tuesday morning we went to Cancer Care for central line care and then Justin went to school.  He was so looking forward to being with his buddies again.  We had discussed just playing it by ear; only doing what he felt he could handle.  He ended up calling me at about 2:30 to come and pick him up.  He was tired and a little sore but, happy that he had been able to socialize again.  Today he lasted the whole day at school!

Friday, he is scheduled to start chemo again.  It's amazing that his young body can handle so much in such a short span of time.  Just two weeks after major surgery, he will presumably be well enough to undergo chemo.  This will be round seven.  He will be getting a new drug with this phase.  Hopefully, he will tolerate it well and not suffer worse nausea than previous rounds.  He will have a total of 14 rounds of chemo and between 8 and 12, he will have radiation on the tumour site.  The radiation will be Monday to Friday for about five weeks.  And I thought I was running a lot now!

So, with round seven around the corner we are nearing the halfway point in this journey.  It's hard to believe that it has been nearly five months since we boarded this roller coaster.  By next summer, Justin should be done with all of his treatments and radiation.  Do I dare to think that this will one day be over?  Is cancer ever really over?  Doesn't it always live in the back of your mind once it has invaded the life of someone you love?  There are so many unknowns and uncertainties at the end of all this.  A person could go crazy thinking about it.  It could eat you alive.  We just have to enjoy each new day as it comes and have faith that God will take care of the rest.