East Coast Fam-i-ly.

A lot has happened in the past few weeks, and to be honest, it all kind of feels like a blur. Angus, Calvin, and I have been in PA now for two weeks with my mom and dad. We've extended our trip a few times due to multiple changes in plans regarding my dad's treatment. Initially, he was to go in for surgery to remove the tumor on his kidney. Then, last Friday, his doctor took a look at the newest set of scans and decided that he didn't think he'd be able to remove the tumor without having to take my dad's entire kidney. Since he's already without one kidney from surgery in 2009, this surgery would leave him on dialysis and waiting years for a transplant (due to the "cancer-free" rule with transplant patients). Instead, the doctor recommended a procedure called an embolization in which the surgeon's goal is to cut off the blood supply to the tumor. That combined with medication is supposed to stop the growth of the tumor and perhaps even shrink it back making surgery a possibility in the future. Luckily, all other scans and biopsies are coming back negative for any cancer cells, so as of now, surgery is still an option down the line even if it means my dad having to lose his kidney. At this point, the doctor wants to take a "curative" approach even if that means being aggressive with my dad's treatment.

It's a pretty indescribable feeling seeing your parent go through something this life-altering. My heart just has so much love for my parents, and I want to make it all better. It's quite a helpless feeling, but I do know that being here is doing a lot of good. I asked my dad to please have hope, and he said, "That little boy in the pajamas is my hope." Cue heart melting. It's funny how Calvin and his little giggles are doing so much to help this situation, yet he has no idea. All I know is that his Poppy is his superhero, and he lights up if he just enters the room.

Needless to say, this has all be quite emotional and really tough on my entire family. We're definitely trying to stay positive because we know there's a lot of hope to be had in this particular situation. I just think it's tough to gear up for the road ahead knowing that it will mean many procedures and a lot of hospital visits. People keep telling us to live each day at a time (or each moment at a time if a day is too much) which I think is good advice but pretty difficult to follow. The mind naturally wanders off into all of the "what ifs" and different scenarios that could play out. Overall, though, we do have to take it one step at a time and just come together to support my dad through this. I have a good feeling that it will all work out in the end...it just might be kinda crazy getting there.