Sunday, June 26, 2011

A REALLY, REALLY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!


Normally, the phrase "increases your chance of long-term survival" is not one you get excited to hear. I mean who really wants to discuss "chances" of survival? However, these words were music to my ears this week as they came from my doctor.  Why the increase?  Well, I am happy to say that my post radiation MRI and CT scan showed that my tumor is all but gone! Yep, that's right…we have good news coming to you from the Bond family! Feels like a long time, I know. And I am sure that I would not have gotten such "excellent" results (more doctor’s words) if it was not for all of the amazing support (mental and physical) love, prayers and  positive energy that so, so many people have been sending to my family. You all have bolstered my spirits through my journey so far. I am now half way through my treatment plan and feel like I can see that light at the end of tunnel (and no, it's not a train!). So thank you all! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Next we just have to get Elisa on the same good news wagon.

Since her release from the hospital after her seizures, Elisa has been battling the effects of the new medications.  She has been suffering from both physical and emotional side effects, which is why she still hasn’t been posting on the blog.  I will let her share as she sees fit at a later date.  I can tell you that she has been having difficulty with her blood counts (both red and white) and may be having a transfusion this coming week if they have not come up enough or have dropped further.  One of the big problems with the low counts, other than being winded from something as simple as scratching your head and being very vulnerable to infection, is that it messes with the chemotherapy. They can't keep her on a regular treatment schedule. The week before Father’s Day they had to skip it all together.   Then Elisa had to give herself injections into her belly for three days with a medication to stimulate her white blood count. Yep, she is pretty badass.  I would have fainted doing it. There was a little silver lining though. Since she didn't have chemo she actually okay over the weekend and so did I. So we spent the weekend at her fathers house where there is a backyard that we could play with Sadie in and a pool near by that we could swim in.  We did have to lather on the 100 SPF sunblock because we’re photosensitive from the chemo but it’s a small price to pay.  

We had one of the best couple of days that we have had in a long, long time.  Sadie went in the pool every day and took to it like a fish. She was not afraid of swimming at all, and at night was still chanting "kicking, kicking" as she lay on her back and wildly waved her feet in the air. We had wonderful tea parties in the backyard with her toy tea set that I gave her that weekend.  I have been holding onto it for about a year. It was really amazing to watch her spend hours setting up the teacups and pouring imaginary tea for everyone. She even made sure we had sugar and cream! It is one of her favorite things to play with now, even at 6 AM! She loved being chased around the yard and taking walks with Grandpa who made us yummy big dinners each night.  Sadie starting calling him “Grandpa Pasta.”
 
It was really great to get away and we all felt very refreshed from it.  It didn't hurt that Sadie even slept 11 hours one night! It is these times with my girls that make going through treatment seem like just a minor irritation if it means I will get more of them. I am only sorry there was not more of the family there to see and have all the fun. We hope we get to spend some more weekends like this with the rest of you guys really soon. We love and miss you all!


Unfortunately, Elisa’s counts were still low this week so they decided to give her a partial dose of her chemotherapy.  She has been really drained and then Sadie got an ear infection with fever and a terrible cough.  I have also been fighting a cold but am not complaining because I am still flying high from my good news!  I hope you enjoy two of my favorite pictures from our Father's Day weekend.



32 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures..that little Sadie is such a cutie pie! Congrats on your tumor nearly being gone, how wonderful and miraculous! God is looking out for you and I know for Elisa too. May she soon bestowed the same blessings. Keeping all three of you in my prayers, be well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so thrilled for you Nathan!!!! God will heal you and make you and your lovely Elisa healed and whole!!!! I love the pictures of Elisa and Sadie and the fact you all were able to have such a joyous weekend and wonderful Father's Day, btw, late, but Happy Father's Day!!!!! :)
    I am so excited for you Nathan!!! Truly, thank God! Elisa's going to get great news next!!! We serve an awesome God!!!

    Sadie is adorable and I am so happy to see her so content with those tea cups!!!! My daughter loved them too at Sadie's age!!! :)

    More prayers, love, and hugs to you all from Virginia!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So happy you were able to get out and have a little normal day of fun and sun. When you get a chance can you again give what other things you will be doing in the second half of your cancer stage. Are you having surgery to remove the remaining tumor and have the chemo poured directly into the area of the surgery? I am so glad this is a life extending time right now for you. I am hoping Elisa gets to the point sooner than later. I am holding all of you in the light.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will keep praying for you all every day in the hopes that all these positive thoughts and wishes are really making a difference for your family. You all are - in the words of Randy Pausch - Tiggers, not Eeyores, and an inspiration to everyone that has heard your story. God bless you all and thank you for sharing something so personal with us in the hopes that your words can make a difference in other's lives too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So happy about your good news, Nathan! I pray for your family DAILY! Sending you all positive healing thoughts!
    A fellow bay ridger!
    Katie

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so unbelievably thrilled with your good news, Nathan! That is simply amazing and what a blessing. I will continue to pray for all of you from Texas and hope for some good news for Elisa. Thank you for continuing to share and allowing others to be a part of your journey. *hugs to you all*

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yay! For your good news!! Happy (late) Father's Day as well! Good to see you all had a great time & Sadie is soooo cute!! Especially with her tea set. I look forward to hearing of the same great news for Elisa! I will continue to pray for you & your family here in Virginia!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What beautiful girls!!! Loving you all so much from Memphis. Kiss Ms Delgado for me right on her third eye please. xo ms reed

    ReplyDelete
  9. as someone who battled cancer for two years when my son was 7, I have been following your blog and am so happy for your good news. You both are going to pull through this grueling time....one day at a time, one hour at a time...you will get there and you will be whole again. Prayers surrounding you from ALL over the world!! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Praise be to God! AMEN! God is good all the time! I am so happy yeah! Fuck that cancer!

    ReplyDelete
  11. i keep you both in my best thoughts and hopes. so happy to hear your good news and hoping that elisa stablizes soon so she can move forward with wellness. love the photos.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great great news. Glad you had a wonderful weekend...

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is great news, and I can't believe a) how big Sadie is, and b) how great Elisa looks even in a camouflage baseball cap! You guys deserve some fun time, and I am glad to hear you got a little bit of it. Much love.

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is wonderful news for you! Love the pictures and praying that Elisa gets good news soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations on your fantastic news!! I will continue praying for your recovery, and also that Elisa will be on the same road of recovery very soon.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm over the moon about this fantastic news! You are all in my thoughts and prayers--sending you life energy from UWS NYC!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such wonderful news. We are dancing for you down in Texas.

    ReplyDelete
  18. WONDERFUL news!!!!... Now praying for more of the same for Elisa...

    ReplyDelete
  19. So glad that you have some good news. Enjoy it. You are working so hard. Tell Elisa to hang in there. She is a tough cookie & will get through this. It just takes some time. We are all saying prayers for your family.

    ReplyDelete
  20. When I saw the title of your post, my heart leapt into my throat.

    Bless your little family, and thank you for sharing these difficult times. I'm so glad you had a wonderful weekend, and here's to many, many more.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations on the great news!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wonderful news!! I will continue to pray for complete healing for you and Elisa. Sending you good vibes from FL!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thrilling news for you, Nathan. I'm very happy. Let's hope Elisa gets on the same bandwagon and her counts go up.
    Thinking of you guys always and sending love.
    Marianne

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great news at last. Hope you both get to spend some warm sunny days with your little. Thoughts & prayers to you both.

    Barbara (Canada)

    ReplyDelete
  25. wonderful wonderful news! I pray that Elisa hears the same soon :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh my gosh, Nathan, your news is so wonderful! Now, if the doctors can help Elisa through everything she's dealing with. I can imagine that this is very difficult for her to deal with both emotionally & physically, as you have mentioned. Thank goodness she has you and your adorable Sadie to help cheer her up. But, she needs to get some good news soon. It is worrisome that Elisa is having the seizures and low blood counts. She needs to get a break and. hopefully, we will hear some good news from you soon. Thank you so much for sharing your cute stories about Sadie and her new tea set, her swimming skills and Grandpa Pasta. I didn't think I'd be laughing from reading your blog, but Sadie is a real cutey, that's for sure. I just want to see both mom & dad get well. You have been through so much, it's nice to hear you all had a great Father's Day. Your pals, Vicki and Blazer, the poodle (he's like my son to me).

    ReplyDelete
  27. Fabulous news! One down, one to go! Your spirits to fight and choose joy and hope are amazing. We're with you all the way!

    ReplyDelete
  28. awesome news, I am so happy for you, Nathan!!! I will continue to keep you both in my thoughts and prayers and hope that Elisa can have a piece of similar news soon!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Magdew why would Nathan need surgery if his tumor is gone? We should not ask him questions he may not know the answers to. We must respect the Bond's privacy and let them tell us what they want - when they want. I am sorry, but you sound more like the Enquirer than a concerned friend/aquantance/human being. It is not our business to know anything and we are the ones being blessed by this amazing couple. Please do not ask these things of them. I have had friends with cancer and some of them are not here and what you did was just rude and uncalled for - even in you well meaning way, because I am sure it was well meant. Sorry for the rant, but we must remember this is a privilege that they share with us - so let them tell us, lets not ask. We are here to support not sound like the Enquirer!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I hope you and Elisa and Sadie are having another fun-filled holiday weekend this 4th of July!! God bless you both and Sadie too. I am keeping you all close to me in my prayers!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. So happy to read your good news! I will continue to pray for both of you, and specifically for Elisa to get on the "good news wagon"!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Such good news about your tumor, Nathan! Will they do radiation now? Then you REALLY need to slather the sunscreen! I hope Elisa is not having a reaction to Neulasta. That made me feel like I had the flu...out on the couch for three or four days. Going in for Neupogen shots several days in a row worked much better, as I was able to function. If she's taking Neulasta, ask your doc about that.

    ReplyDelete