Treatment Start

Sorry it's been a couple days, but I'm finally getting a chance to update everyone.

Wednesday afternoon I met with Dr McDonald and it turned out they were not ready to actually start the treatment Wednesday but did do a "dry-run" through all the positioning and such in the treatment room.  Tonight (Thursday) I had my first treatment.  They told me to expect an hour and half but it was more like only 50 minutes.  I'm really pretty comfortable during the treatment, laying on my back on a table in a cradle setup they made for me and so it's not too bad.  I'm one of their more difficult cases from a planning standpoint, and it took them a bit to figure out all the treatment field geometry so that they can get the current tumor fully treated without getting too much radiation in the area where I had radiation last summer.  Dr McDonald is really satisfied with how it turned out, it just took them more work than they thought.

Physically I'm not feeling as good this week as I had been last week.  It's really hard in the mornings to get out of bed and I'm pretty stiff and sore.  I think yesterday got me down a bit again as I was talking with the Dr. and thinking about the future.  When I remember to just focus on the day at hand, my attitude is better.  The kids did really good today and Leann was feeling pretty good too.  We slept in and then I did school with Wesley after breakfast.  He did a really good job today and it's amazing to me how much he has learned since I last did school with him back at the beginning of the school year.

Leann's uncle & cousins stopped by this afternoon for a quick visit on their way to the Louisville farm show, so that was nice.  The next week and half we have visitors coming almost every day, so that will help to pass the time.  We spent time today opening all the cards that have already made it out here.  It is very encouraging to us.  Isaiah 43:2-3  "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, they Saviour:..."

Thanks again for all your loving prayers,
Derek & Leann