Three years ago today, thunder rumbled and lightening flashed.
Three years ago today, Bob had life altering Whipple surgery
to remove a cancerous tumor at the head of his pancreas.
Recovery was slow. There were complications. He was in the
hospital for three weeks. His first post-surgical trek into chemo lasted a
year. There was a second run at chemo followed by radiation.
Which earned Bob nearly an entire year of NED: No Evidence
of Disease.
Bob and his kids finished the deck together pre-chemo
During the glorious NED days we - Bob and his wife, Cindi - traveled. We climbed the St. Louis Arch. Toured the St. Louis Zoo. Visited good friends in South Carolina and family in North Carolina.
Bob and our wonderful (grown) children (mostly) finished a
big, beautiful deck on the back of the big beautiful (mostly done) addition to
the home we’ve lived in since 1994.
We took many, many family pictures on the big beautiful
deck.
Also during this time, Bob buried his brothers Michael and
Jimmy. Cindi’s mom, Peggy died. Bob had previously lost his brother Danny and their
dad, Dan.
NED Joy amid overwhelming heartbreak.
Bob and his brother, Billy
Every three months since 2021, Bob has returned to his
oncologist for testing. CBC, CMP, CEA, CA19-9, CT, PET, MRI, PSA: all the
alphabet tests. And Signatera.
Signatera is a blood test that uses a person’s original
tumor to detect recurrence of their specific cancer as much as 6 months before
other testing senses it. Signatera found the Beast early in Bob’s
post-surgical, post-chemo treatment. It lurked in a tiny lymph node that was hidden
deep in Bob’s surgical bed.
Radiation killed that node and the Beast it harbored.
In January 2024, even as the alphabet tests proclaimed,
“all’s good here!”, Signatera noted the existence of cancer cells again. In
March 2024, Bob was accepted to a trial in which he receives weekly infusions
of a drug designed to destroy cancer cells in targeted attacks.
As he awaits trial results, Bob continues to work – both
in-person and virtually. He watches his diet (an all-encompassing, specialized endeavor
for anyone who’s had Whipple surgery), rests and exercises. He ponders with
appreciation his yesterdays while abundantly enjoying today’s moments.
He savors time with his wife, children and his children’s children. And looks forward, with anticipation, faith and hope, to many more happy tomorrows.
