Side Effects - Yuck!

Half Way Through Chemotherapy and Radiation!

Well, this past week was the half-way point through the chemotherapy and radiation.  My schedule is 5 days per week (Mon-Fri) for both Chemo and Radiation - Then on Saturday and Sunday - Chemotherapy only.  It seemed I was going to get through this phase with only minimal side effects (no nausea - and only some expected fatigue) then all of the sudden last week, the hair started to fall out in clumps (only the dark hair - gray hair remained!).  Fortunately, we had some hats to cover the hairless parts around the front of the head near the scar from the surgery.  Our son, Russ gave me a cool "Quiksilver" hat, --- Jessica and John gave me a U hat (seems our BYU oriented missionaries are aghast!), --- a NYC hat next to my bed, --- a French looking hat (Terri thinks it looks just fine for Church), --- and a brand new "Life is Good" hat to celebrate our half-way point (and hair loss) ---- but ultimately, my sisters (Joy and Jan - identical twins and both hair dressers) have taken the responsibility to keep the hair trimmed properly to smooth the effects.  Russ thinks I just need to shave it --- but I am a bit timid about that drastic change.  

The other side effect has been some expected fatigue.  About an hour after each double treatment (Monday - Friday) I feel fatigued and need about an hour nap before I can get going again.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are somewhat functional --- but Thursday and Friday afternoons are quite fatiguing -- Saturday and Sundays are time to regroup for the whole process to start again the next week.  And further, each week becomes a bit more fatiguing than the previous week.  Frankly, the cure seems more difficult than the actual disease.

Fortunately, I found the black easy chair is still my favorite spot for R&R both before and after the diagnosis.  All in all --- life is wonderful and we are quite optimistic.

Chemo and Radiology

Well the next phase has actually started - we are starting to get to know Chemo and Radiology this week.  This is the picture of Intermountain Medical Center and the Huntsman Cancer Treatment section is in the foreground.  Inside, the building is a well designed facility with modern equipment and very well trained staff to treat this disease.  Side effects so far - tired afternoon - wired nighttime - got to get that straightened around.  

Love to all,

Jeff and Terri (The Two-Morrows)  

PS:  Terri's Birthday was great - but she is so busy watching after me that she did not get enough time for a real Birthday R&R.

Surgery Recovery

April 14, 2009:  Well it's back to work --- at least for the time from home!!!! While I am still sporting a bit of a black eye and the hair is in pretty bad shape, at least I can wear a hat and sunglasses and get away with not attracting too much unwanted attention.  We just met with both the Neuro-Chemotherapist and the Radiologist last evening to establish our Chemo/Radiology plan -  Chemotherapy will be every day with radiology 5 days a week for the next six weeks (starting this Thursday) then off for a couple of weeks while they evaluate the progress through another MRI.  Wow - you would not believe the financial commitment expected to complete this phase of treatment!  I am very grateful for the excellent medical care and medical insurance here in SLC.  We can hardly believe how attentive the physicians have been and how the new Intermountain Medical Center seems so completely ready to attack this thing "head-on".  Hopefully the real estate market will turn around sometime soon --- but - for now it doesn't matter --- "they" won't even let me drive due to potential liability issues - kind of silly if you ask me.  In the meantime, I will pick up my twice per week teaching schedule (Selling: The Profession - Marketing 1480) at SLCC again on Thursday early morning.  We just sent our daughter and her two kids back home to Washington DC today and our son's family returned on Sunday so hopefully we can get our home quiet for some recovery time.  We have not even been able to enjoy having Terri's family stop in --- just too much going on and they have been so respectful of letting us take a bit of time to retreat.  Your messages are very gratefully received and as one reminded us we will "figure it out".  Keep us in your prayers --- we will do everything we can to stay on the mend.  Keep posted for future developments.  Oh - just a quick note to let you know that Terri's birthday is on April 16!!!! 

We love you all. 

The Two-Morrows 

Not An April Fools Joke! (Start Here)

April 2009 brought us a new surprise --- we just learned that I was diagnosed with a Level 4 Glioblastoma (malignant brain tumor).  After some minor symptoms (numbness in the right leg, headaches and such), we were quickly admitted to surgery to remove the baseball sized tumor, stayed in the ICU, moved to regular recovery, and now the "Two-Morrows" are back home recuperating.  Unfortunately, with so many siblings, spouses, family, friends, missionaries and such it is difficult to make the home the needed place for recuperation.  As my strength begins to return, it will be necessary to move into the next extended phase of the recovery - Chemo and Radiation!  That should start the middle of April and will require our home to remain a clean and quiet place to completely recover.  Although we would love to have all well wishers stop by for a visit, it is just too difficult to host so many of you from our home.  Please feel free to leave a message here so we can enjoy your message at a convenient time.

This week, Russ and Jessica and their little families (2 kids each) came from the DC area to spend some time with Grandpa and Grandma before the Chemo-Radiation time begins.  They were just a joy to have around but with a usually quiet home, this activity was about as much as we were prepared to receive.  We enjoyed having an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 11. 

We were told that the next phase will probably require lots of recovery time and necessitate some privacy to keep from being worn out.   It is sometimes also difficult to know when others are unintentionally bringing infectious contaminants into the home while I am recovering.   This phase starts this week - even as early as Monday or Tuesday.  So we thought this would be a good place to keep you all posted on the recovery of this phase of our lives. 

We need your faith and prayers!

Love, Jeff and Terri