Owen Marecic the perfect football player

I know this is a weird post, especially for me, those of you who know me, know my wife watches more sports than I do. I usually only watch when I know someone playing, or am really bored. But enough of that. While waiting for my radiation treatment I picked up a magazine and read about this young man who plays for Stanford. What caught my attention is that the article was more about how he lived his life on the field much the same as he did off the field. Always gave 100%, worked hard at supporting those around him by doing his part. Words can't describe what I have learned from reading this short article but it ended with this quote from Owen, "TODAY GIVE ALL THAT YOU HAVE, FOR WHAT YOU KEEP INSIDE YOU LOSE FOREVER." You can Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174606/1/index.htm
If you have a little time its worth the read.
An update on me, I am doing well, working hard and trying to stay positive. Good friends, loving Family, and supporting Co-workers, make life worth fighting for.
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

3 hrs later, one treatment down

Ok,
I went and had my first round of radiation yesterday. While getting the radiation wasn't felt at all, the prep to get radiation really sucks. Not painful, just uncomfortable. As I have said in the past, I get shrink wrapped into a body form we made a couple of weeks ago, then I get vacuum packed from the belly button down, including my arms (well my wrists and hands.) Then comes the really fun part. Because I am so "strong" (that's how the physicist put it) I don't fit on the table very well (broad shoulders and such). So they have to move the table around to make a complete circle with the machine. Each time they send radiation everyone but me leaves the room. Then they come back in move me around and finish the circle. So time wise its like getting six doses, which put me in that body cast vacuum packed like a little smokie for three, count'em 1,2,3 hours. By the time we finished, I couldn't lift my arms because of my shoulders hurting, and my knees were killing me. But after they released me and let me move my arms for a minute, I was all better, the knees took a little walking around to quit hurting.
Every one was nice, and said "most people would have complained about laying there so long." I was complaining, believe me I was grumbling like crazy, just in my head.

Ok, warning alert for Alan, Skip this paragraph, you don't want to know.
That said I have to tell you a funny thing that happened when I was getting prep'ed. I think I told you that you have to be in your bare nuthins when they put you in the form. So I bought some compression shorts, they are like bicycling shorts. I was joking about how they have the unfortunate job of looking at people in revealing attire. The one nurse said "it's not always bad. You pull of the biker shorts look nicely." The other nurse, told me to take the complement and run, because she doesn't give them out very often.
I think I will try to get pictures of the whole thing next time, maybe not the bike shorts but the body form and such.

Ok Alan, you can read now.
Needless to say, they make a crappy situation fun.

Now for today. I never thought just laying down could make a person so sore. I have been stretching and doing some easy yoga this morning so I can get moving. My shoulders have rebelled against me overnight, everything is just tight. So as the day goes on I hope things start moving better. enough of that I need to get to work.
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

I didn't have a catchy title today, sorry. If you will look to the right, you will see a new addition to the blog. A thermometer. Many thanks to Scott for helping me get this put together. I tried for an hour the other night to get something like this, and it took him a whole five minutes. He is a genius.
I have had many people ask if I had a gauge to let everyone know where we were in the fund raising, so there it is.
Ok, now for an update. For the last couple of days I have been really tired, not sure why, it couldn't be stress or anything like that, so it must be global warming. (those of you in Utah should be laughing right about now.) A heartfelt thanks for those who have, and continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and a big thanks to those who have donated as well. I do my best to keep a good attitude and Peggy is always there to smack me when I let it slip. (just kidding) She is my strength and my support. She helps me, and has patience with me when I have my personal pity parties, for those parties she is a party pooper. That's why I love her sooooo much!
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day,
Love Andy

just checking in

Hi everyone, it's Peggy. I just felt I needed to check in. This week we all went back to school (except Andy). I look at this semester and have to admit that I cringe. I have one more math course and all of my computer classes this semester. I could only get into the combined course for the computers which means I give up my Saturdays for a 3 hour class and 1 hour lab. YUCK!!! Oh well. I have to remind myself I need to look at the bright side. I will be done with math, as long as I pass with at least a C. I couldn't have taken my math classes at a worse time. I have taken a math class through this whole ordeal with the cancer. I don't know what is scarier. Cancer..College math... Do you know which is worse? I am grateful that I have the opportunity to receive an education, I just would like to be done with it. So many crossroads are in my view and I really don't have a clear vision of which way to go. Andy is wonderfully supportive. He say to do what ever will make me happy. Unfortunately, that is not a possibility. I will do what needs to be done and accomplished, happiness will wait. I guess that's not entirely true. I feel happiness when I think of my kids and who they are becoming. Bright, beautiful, and strong. I feel happiness in my husbands warm welcoming arms, and in the smiles of good friends that care. Happiness is around us, we just have to stop and remember what it truly is. I have to mention some wonderful people that help me to remember what and where happiness is. Ron and Joan Startin. Ron has met difficult and frustrating trials in his life and yet his smile and spirit is one of the brightest and most loving I have ever met. Joan is always smiling and laughing, it's nice to have her around to show us how. Andy and I love these two individuals and we feel blessed to have met them and call them our friends. They came up during the Christmas break to visit and I enjoyed every word and moment with them. Thank you Ron and Joan, you are amazing. Well, I guess that is what I wanted to say. I hope you are all able to find and see happiness around you, and I hope you know we love you all. All y'all. (That's a throw out to my sweet brother-in-law, Rene's, southern roots).

First post of the New Year

With welcoming arms and an optimistic attitude we welcome in the new year. Lots of things need to happen this year, one is cancer needs to go in remission, so if you see cancer out there please let it know it is no longer welcomed in my body. As a family we are setting some goals, for family, finances, and personal growth, and yes it includes the ever illusive, lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise more. Those probably won't happen (but don't tell my wife). Peggy, along with the kids is starting school on Monday. So it is official, let the stress levels increase. Due to the uncertainty of my future (we hope for the best, plan for the worst) we decided that Peggy needs to finish her education so if the unimaginable happens, the family will survive. It will take a few years for her to get through her program, so we are being optimistic. I am currently feeling well, and we hope it will last. I will start radiation treatment on the 12th of Jan, and have between 3 and 5 treatments. The way they explained it to me is I will get 6 weeks of radiation in 5 treatments. So wish me luck and no or limited side effects. Well, have a happy new year, and look forward to having another Merry Christmas.
Love, Andy.

Merry Christmas one and all

A very Merry Christmas to everyone. Santa Clause found us, yep, even Caity. And her gave her a sign that says, "when you stop believing in Santa Clause you get underwear" and guess what she got with that. Underwear. It was funny. The kids are enjoying their presents, and we are enjoying the time off. I go in on Tuesday for our Digital CT Scan, and preparatory stuff for the radiation. I am not sure when exactly we will start, but I hope to have more answers on Tuesday after meeting with Dr. Kokeny.
We had our First annual day after Christmas "shoot-em-up" It was a lot of fun, we went skeet shooting as a family, kids and all. Alex (my nephew), and Morgan did really well. We played knock out and the kids beat the adults a couple of times. Everyone had a good time, and I think we will try to do it again next year.
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and kind acts. May the Lord bless you all and keep you and your Families safe coming into and throughout the new year.
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

Hi ya'll, Andy said I was to write the blog to explain what's next for us. So here it goes. Tuesday we met with Dr. Kokeny (radiology oncology) for Friday's scan results. She first told us that there is no other tumors, lesions, or blobs other than the three in Andy's lungs. This is great news. Next she went over her initial concerns with using radiation to treat the little buggers, however, she felt confident with the possible outcome after talking with others and the new scan. There are several concerns that Andy, myself, and the Dr.'s all have. One is that there will be damage to the lungs that is going to effect his overall health and well being for the time he is given. This damage is definite, but the amount and side effects from it are less defined. Originally Dr. Kokeny thought it would be more than we should gamble with. Now after the scan she is more comfortable and sure that the damage from radiation will not be severe. This does not mean that there couldn't be issues or problems along the way, it just means she is confident that this is the next plausible step in the battle with Andy's cancer. So, next week Andy will be doing the prep/planning stage of radiation treatment. They make a body mold of Andy while doing a Digital CT scan. The mold is made so during the treatment stage Andy will be placed in the same exact settings. This is because the laser they use is so precise it will target the tumors exactly each time as long as he is is the same spot and position each treatment. The Digital CT scan it to view how the tumors move within the lungs while Andy is breathing. Dr. Kokeny is able to see exactly where the tumors are with each breath and she can tell exact where damage will occur. This is amazing technology. We then meet with Dr. Grossman. He went over all the options again that we are facing. And decided that radiation is what we should do. I have to say I am thankful for Dr. Grossman, Karen, and Carolyn. They really have given us what many medical personnel forget to do. They have given us a voice. We have a great blessing of amazing Dr.'s and nurses. We love them and are extremely grateful for their talents and gifts of humanity.
I have to mention something that has been on my mind. Most people refer to cancer as a battle. I have to say lately I feel the affect of that battle. Our generals (Dr.'s) have done an absolute miracle in their stratagem to get ahead of and over throw the enemy has been a blessing. Andy's body is the battlefield and there are days that it shows. He lately has been feeling stronger, healthier, and better than any of us have even thought possible. It shows that some battles are invisible and we are unaware of the goings on. I and the kids feel as we are the watchers of this scenario. We watch and wait for news and information then pick up what we can find to hold on to and breathe through what doesn't seem possible to survive.
I need to also make some mention of the surgery (TIL). We are not at this moment doing it. When we talked about this with our beloved Dr.'s they said to still do the fundraisers. We are not doing the surgery this month, that doesn't mean that it is not out of the picture entirely. They advised us to continue with the donations. Andy's medical cost are going to keep rising from here on out and even though surgery may not be immediately in the future, more scans, treatments, and lots of other medical cost are ahead in the near future and long term.
Now I can be a little more goofy with this blog. I am so excited for Christmas!!! I honestly feel like a little kid who can't wait for the morning and see the tree all lit up and sparkly. This year we are trying to enjoy things as a family (hard to do when stress takes up all energy), so we are singing Christmas carols, watching Christmas shows, looking at lights. It has been fun. We downsized (like many of you)this year and made the presents that were bought more heart felt and true to the giver and the receiver. By the way, I have wrapped Andy's present and placed it next to the tree (heeheehee). He can see it and touch it and it is driving him nuts. I love this. I love making the hubby and kids squirm with curiosity. I love Christmas. I love seeing the kids open the presents and hear them say "I can't believe I got this", or Caity saying, "I fooled the old man, I got a present anyway." Yes, Caity who claims to not believe in Santa is always the most excited when she see that the "old man" brought presents for her. I hope this blog finds you having a great holiday season. Thank you for all you do for us. We are so thankful for the generosity and love you show us and everyone around. And I am actually going to end this with Merry Christmas.