So Good to be Home!

Yes, we are home and so happy to be here! Thanks so much for all the prayers and well-wishes that helped to get us here. It was a long, long day for Alex yesterday and he's pretty sore today, but it was all well worth it! Making it home with such a wonderful outcome from the trip and seeing our beautiful girls again made yesterday quite possibly the happiest day of my life. I simply have no words to describe how this feels. We are humbled, grateful, and just so excited to work on this fresh new chapter of our story.

We're Coming Home!!!

Today could not have gone better. Alex's tests this morning showed he is healing wonderfully. While he still has a lot of recovering to do, it's safe at this point to fly home and resume the rest of his follow-up care back in San Diego. The doctor here in Boston will still remain the doctor in charge so future visits may be required, but probably not until next year. Alex is still quite sore and stiff so just praying the flight goes smoothly tomorrow. We leave for the airport at 4 am! :/
We truly cannot wait to get back to our girls!

Day 23

Twenty-three days away from our girls is a place I never thought we'd be. But hopefully, the day after tomorrow we will be on a plane back to San Diego and back to our beautifully brave little ones. Their strength has far surpassed anything I could have ever expected. While they've had a handful of tearful moments, more than that they've consistently offered their genuine well-wishes for their dad and patience knowing that as long as he is getting better, we're all going to be okay. We transferred our home number to a cell phone shortly before we left and left that phone with them so they could feel that they were always just a phone call away. I wish I could print out the pictures and texts that have come across that phone. What a memory they would make!

Tomorrow morning Alex has his final tests and appointments to see if we can go home. He really seems to be healing well and being on the optimistic side, we have already booked our plane ticket for Thursday. I have my fingers crossed, toes crossed, prayers said, and will keep my eye out for every heads up penny I may pass in the next day! While we are so grateful to this hospital, the doctors & nurses here, the town in general, & the nearby family for their visits, we are so ready to get back home & get back to just being mom and dad again.

It's all under control...???

I just had to share this one. The above photo is our backyard. The top of the umbrella you see sits on our back patio. My dad (who is amazing & came out from Florida to take care of the house and kids while we are gone) sent me a text message yesterday of this photo with a caption that said, "It's all under control." Maybe it's just me, but something out the California Department of Forestry airplane dumping the red fire retardant on my next door neighbor's property doesn't look much like my idea of everything being under control! This photo was followed by a photo of a helicopter dropping water too! Turns out, the fire was extinguished with no property damage and quite a few caring neighbors and friends came by the house to help if needed. Brings new meaning to the old saying A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words.

Answered Prayers

Two months and 2 days ago Alex and I sat in a solemn doctor's office and were the people the staff clearly felt bad for. The nurses said things to each other like, "You know, right?" And no matter how Alex tried to be the eternal optimist and lighten the heavy news of his rare cancer, no one else in the office shared his positive perspective. In the days that immediately followed, we began to hear very intimidating words like inoperable and lung transplant. Before we knew it we were making plans to come to Boston and give this surgery a shot.

So, here we are 2 months and 2 days later, receiving more news. Today, the doctor called to let us know that the pathology reports came back. They got it all. The margins were clear. The cancer had not spread and he is completely cancer-free. I feel such a mix of wanting to go door-to-door in this hotel and tell every single person our news or maybe just sit in our room and cry. I am so overwhelmed. I know this is not the news everyone receives and am so terribly humbled by that knowledge.

Just a few days ago, we sat on the other side of the curtain in Alex's divided hospital room as his roommate received the good news that the pathology reports from his surgery were back and his cancer was gone. As this incredibly kind grown man broke down, you couldn't help but be filled with joy for him and his family. You also couldn't help but to pray a little bit extra hard that we would have that same type of moment. Today our moment came. I completely understand that not everyone who may read this believes in God or the power of prayer. I respect that reality. I also respect the undeniable truth that we have been blessed in far too many ways for it to be brushed over as coincidence. As worrisome a time as this has been, there too has been a peace that only God could provide. It's like the background music in a movie is playing and you're watching your life from the outside in. We have experienced a level of kindness and love from friends and strangers alike that has truly changed us forever.

Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Today is day 17 here in Boston and the light at the end of the tunnel is really beginning to shine. Alex is improving in every possible way. After trying an alarming assortment of pain medications wouldn't you know what ends up providing the most relief is actually the old tried & true Ibuprofen. He is now able to be awake, alert, and somewhat comfortable all at the same time! Yesterday I managed to navigate the city of Boston on foot and locate a Medical Supply store. There, I purchased our new favorite item-- the sleep wedge. This 10 inch piece of foam allowed Alex (& in turn myself as well) to sleep for 3 hours in a row, not once, but twice last night! Today, Alex has taken what I would consider a pretty big leap forward. He ate a normal breakfast, took a real shower, and even walked to the outside of the building. He is supposed to walk a few times a day to reduce the likelihood of developing pneumonia. His goal later is to walk to the fire station across the street. Keep you posted on that one... for now, things are definitely looking up.

Day 15- Our Best Day Yet

Today is definitely our best day yet. Alex will be discharged to the hotel late this afternoon. Since our hotel is right here on the hospital campus and he is now tube-free it's thought that he will be able to get better rest in his own environment. We couldn't agree more! Not quite home, but a step up from the hospital for sure. No noisy alarms or vital sign checks right when you dose off! The hotel was kind enough to switch us to a handicap room. His spirits already seem better just knowing this phase is almost behind him. 1 week ago today he was a cancer patient facing major surgery with no other realistic options or control of his own life. While we are still awaiting the pathology report on the lymph nodes that were removed, for today, he can begin to feel like he is back in charge of his life. Truly our best day yet.