Everyday Mom

I am so excited to have good news to share with you about my father.  As many of my readers already know, he is undergoing treatment for Stage IV colon cancer.  That basically means that the cancer started in his colon and has moved to other locations near that area.  He has about 6 spots on his liver.  His lungs, however, are clear and have been the entire time he has undergone treatment.  It’s been a pretty rough road so far with hospital stays, IV feeding, chemo sickness, colostomy issues, and the list goes on.  However, this week has been a great week.  I’ve talked to my dad no less than three times because he called to give me good news. 

The first call made me cry because it started with, “Hi baby, I called just because I needed to hear your voice.”  That was so sweet.  He’s been so weak that he’s had no choice but to slow his life way down.  He spends a lot of time in the front porch swing.  I’m sure it has allowed him time to think through his life and begin to enjoy things you just don’t have time to consider, like the sound of someone’s voice.  Have you ever thought about that?  Are you so busy that you don’t take time to remember someone’s look, or smell, or sound.  It’s probably silly, but I understood him when he said he just needed to hear it.

 We talked about a lot of things, but we focused most of our conversation on his Social Security Disability claim.  He had completed his application process, and was waiting for his interview to be scheduled.  He was optimistic that everything would work out.  He’s doing okay financially right now, but is aware that assistance will be needed soon.   Hearing him say he felt good and ready to move through the process was good news.

His second call was to tell me that much to his surprise, just two days after his interview, he had been approved for SSD.  He applied on July 24th and will get his first check some time in late August.  That is unbelieveable.  Many people, in fact, most people wait up to six months to get approved for SSD.  Now, I know that his case seems really pretty clear with little to dispute, but we never dreamed it would go that fast.  That was good news.  His monthly check will be enough for him to live on for a long time.  He won’t be rich, of course.  He may even be poor, but he was so thrilled to know that he would be self sufficient.  It’s hard for a workin’ man to lean on others. 

The final call, which came just yesterday, was the best.  He had a doctor’s appointment that included the review of his recent scan results.  It seems the cancer is shrinking just a bit!  This is very good news.  Now, I am not getting my hopes up, but I do feel better knowing that each time the cancer shrinks or slows down, Daddy gets more time with us and us with him.  He may even get a long break between this treatment regimin and the next.  He was so happy to give me that news.  His voice was full of optimism and anticipation.  He can finish chemo, get to feeling better, and do whatever he wants for a while.  He can go fishing everyday or come to our house to visit for a few days.  He can go on a trip or just hang out at home. 

I like good news!  I hope that’s how his life ends.  You know, on a high note, happy, joyful, and ready to go.  I was really starting to feel so sad that he might have to spend his remaining time here on Earth weak and sick and defeated.  He still has cancer, cancer that will kill him, but if he can just get the upperhand for a little while and live life to the fullest just one last time, I’ll be happy.  He’ll be satisfied.  If anyone ever says, “I have good news and bad news.  Which do you want first?”  Take the bad news first–the good news will leave you feeling better.