Stage is Set

Monday afternoon: Met with Dr. H. and got a chance to look at my PET scan (kinda cool looking) got to see where exactly where this lymphoma is located in my body. Also got report back from the Biopsy of my bone marrow- NOT in there!!! Back to the Scan... There was only two areas that were lit up and they were both above my diaphragm. So what does that mean you ask- It means that I am only in Stage 2. Normally I go for the highest score possible, but I'm ok with it this time. We are thrilled with the outcome.

Dr. H. went through our treatment plan (don't worry, a second opinion is in the works) but we are very confident that I will be going through Chemo and Radiation. The chemo cocktail recommended is ABVD- and if you really want to get all the long and confusing technical scientific names, we will be happy to share. He said that we wanted to give a little of both, because too much of a bad thing is still a bad thing.

We are all very confident my uninvited cancer is packing its bags. He mentioned that it was not just because I am physically able, but also my mental state is solid.

We had a nice little tour of the infusion room and sat in the massage chairs and met with the nurses. They said bringing in food was encouraged as long as there are some cookies are involved!!

Got a chance to connect with our local chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Live Strong. They sent us a lot of material (we had to reorganize a whole book shelf). It is great that we have resources right here.

So what is the next step- Second opinion, then get a port (a little bionic looking device) put into my chest, then on the road to remission.

Feelings- Ready to go!! Loving the great thoughts and prayers that continue to pour in. Keep them coming.

Prayer requests: Coordination of appointments/ doctors and continued positive attitude.

"All battles are won before they are fought". Sun Tzu


-Nate (MM)

Quote of the week...

Today is the first day in a few weeks that Nate hasn't had some kind of Dr's appointment...TGIF!! So, in celebration, I just wanted to share (as a very proud wife) how amazing my husband is handling things. Not that it's not frustrating and irritating and, let's face it, a bit scary to have cancer, but Nate is definitely a hero in my book for braving this new stormy adventure with one heck of a positive attitude.

This week, our pastor, Mark Seversen, asked Nate what his initial reaction to his current predicament was. Nate sat back, thought for a minute and then said this: "Well, after this thing is over with, I will have another title. I will be a father, husband, brother, son, etc., but I will also be a cancer survivor."

Don't you just love that!?

Bone marrow biopsy success!

Nate just made it through his bone marrow biopsy like a champ...and though still a bit woozy, he is eating loads of food and joking around (shocking, right?)

We should have the results of the biopsy in about a week.

Nate has another day full of fun appointments and waiting rooms tomorrow. He will have a PET scan as well as a cardio echo. Later this week, some pulmonary function tests will be performed as well. The bone marrow biopsy and PET scan will help stage the cancer (if it is progressed past the currently assumed stage 2). The cardio echo and pulmonary function tests are to basically establish a baseline before treatments begin.

Please pray for patience while going from appointment to appointment. It's kinda a drag :-)

We love you all and thank you for comments/emails/texts of your support and encouragement! We can't imagine keeping a positive attitude without your help!

A New Adventure with the Heide's

Can we all agree that life is one amazing adventure after the other? Nate and I truly believe that whatever comes our way, it's an adventure. Some are challenging and some are fun. Some are painful and some are full of joy. But they are all adventures that you can learn a lot from!

Our newest adventure started about a couple months ago when Nate was checking himself out in the mirror at the gym (only a slight exaggeration-he would tell you he was "checking out his form to ensure proper lifting technique"). He noticed that there was swelling right above his collar bone. The bump didn't go away after a few days and thus Nate headed to a Dr. for the first time in almost a decade.

Dr. S, the primary care physician, said that overall, Nate was the perfect male specimen (he may not have used those words exactly, but you get the idea). The only abnormality was the enlarged lymph node on top of his collar bone. After and an X-ray that demanded further investigation via C-T scan, it was found that Nate had several swollen lymph nodes along his collar bone and in his chest.  When we were called back into the office of Dr. S for the test results, he was baffled. In fact, he said “Nate, you are a very confusing patient. On paper you look great…but you have these swollen lymph nodes I can’t figure out.” He explained that Nate’s blood work was normal, he was in great shape and experiencing no symptoms, so what was wrong?

Dr. S., confused and concerned, referred us to an oncologist named Dr. H. We were able to get in to see him the very next day. In the consultation with Dr. H, he was also baffled by Nate’s lack of symptoms and the scan results. He said the best course of action would be to remove one of the enlarged lymph nodes and have it biopsied to see if it was lymphoma as well as do a full blood panel to rule out infectious and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, our next stop was to see a surgeon, named Dr. J.

At our consult four days later with Dr. J, he was optimistic that Nate’s swollen lymph nodes should not be a concern, but that we were doing a biopsy to be on the safe side. We were so relieved at the prospect of this being “nothing.”

On Friday, July 13, after not being able to eat anything since mid-night, Nate was wheeled into a 40 minute surgery at 3:30 p.m. (he was super hungry!). Surgery went super well and we were promised results in a week.

After a weekend of recovery and a sad Monday of missing softball games due to stiches in Nate’s trap area preventing throwing and batting, we went in for a follow-up with Oncologist Dr. H. The Dr. said that the blood work came back clean (Praise God!) but the preliminary pathology reports confirming some type of lymphoma. We were shocked. Like really shocked. Plus, we wouldn’t know which kind of lymphoma for another few days, so the waiting game began again. We had a follow-up scheduled with surgeon Dr. J that Friday (7/20) to check on the incision and hopefully to get full test results. Dr. J came into the room rather surprised to see that the initial findings indicated cancer. During our visit with him, the pathologist called and gave us the diagnosis of Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Though not our first choice (which of course would have been “healthy”), this was not the worst diagnosis that we could have received. This form of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is the most common of the four types and is often completely curable with a bit ‘o treatment  (generally speaking chemo therapy and perhaps some radiation).

Today is Saturday…we got the results yesterday and this next week is going to be a bear. Nate has several tests and procedures to find out what stage his cancer is in. On Monday, he goes in for a bone marrow biopsy (yuck!) and later in the week he will have a cardio echo, pulmonary test of some-kind and a full body PET scan (it’s not just for cats, dogs and goldfish, people!). Currently, we know that Nate is in stage 2 (since there is more than one lymph node affected in two areas of his body). And as such, his treatment will most likely 4-6 months of chemo therapy.

After getting the results of the test next week and meeting with oncologist Dr. H, he will give us a set course of treatment (which we plan on getting second opinions to confirm).

Nate’s super-strong, like a super-hero, but even super-heroes get knocked off balance every once in a while. But for the most part, he’s ready to fight, kick some cancer-butt and complete part of his adventure even stronger than he was before (if you can image…).

Right now, we need prayer for:

·         Patience, flexibility and continued positive attitude through the process

·         Clear test results and communication with the Drs

·         Easy and convenient scheduling of the many, many appointments/tests/procedures coming up this week.

That’s the news. Check back for updates as our adventure continues….