I haven't checked in for a while—not really sure why, maybe just because things have been relatively calm on our end lately. But I'm always lurking and reading,😉 and honestly, I'm just so grateful this community exists. It really helps us all keep pushing forward.
Like I mentioned before, my dad is holding up pretty well. He’s eating a ton,😁 he isn't in much pain or anything like that. We're actually in a bit of a lull right now between radiation treatments; he finished his first six rounds, and he’s got another six scheduled for late March. After that, we go back for more full scans. His last lung scans after the twelve chemo sessions looked good—the tumor shrunk down to about 18mm, so his doctor was actually pleased and decided to try and wipe it out with radiation. There aren't any new metastases either, and since they cleared those brain lesions, everything looks clean there too.🙂 👍 Anyway, that's the update from me. Hang in there and stay strong through whatever you're fighting!! Love you guys.
slyseal28 said:Just wanted to give you guys a heads-up—there’s going to be a segment on our Association today on the "America Live" show starting at 4:00 PM (not sure exactly when we come on). You'll even hear some commentary from Dr. Mirando Mrsić, the physician who's been working with us. Tune in...
Hey man, I am so incredibly sorry for your loss,😢 I really hope you find some strength to get through these next few days. Hang in there, and please reach out whenever things feel too heavy... Like you said, she’s found her peace somewhere beautiful now, and she’ll live on forever through the love you have for her..
Thanks for the reminder, Angela Wright. I actually filled out my application last week, but getting to the post office is impossible when I'm stuck at work all day. I’ll get that application sent off ASAP,😉Because this is a huge deal!!
My dad hasn't improved much; he's still in the hospital dealing with some intense vertigo, so he can't even walk. The CT scanner is still out of order, obviously, but they're driving him to New York City today for an MRI. Hopefully we'll have some actual answers after that. I'm pretty scared...
Sending my deepest condolences, I am so sorry,😢 You’re a seriously brave soul, being able to step up and comfort others while you're dealing with this kind of heartbreak. Thank you for that. Death isn't the end... They're together somewhere better now, living on forever through the love you carry. Sending you all the strength in the world,🙂
Things are pretty rough on my end lately... Dad's been stuck in the hospital since Sunday after the paramedics picked him up. What really gets under my skin is how the doctors here won't tell us a single thing. He's weak, vomiting, getting these massive dizzy spells, and his head is killing him. He needs an emergency CT scan, but of course, the machine at our local hospital is broken.😠Mom is meeting with his doctor today, so we'll see what happens. I can't even get over there to sit with him because my job is breathing down my neck about overtime—nobody around here has any empathy, honestly. Anyway, greetings to all the fighters out there, hang in there,👍
Hey everyone... I want to wish you all the absolute best in this coming 2008. I hope your year is filled with smiles, happiness, and those little moments of joy with your loved ones. Most importantly, I hope you find the strength and grit needed for the battles still ahead of us!! 👍
You guys are such a huge support to me, and I'm honestly just glad this Forum exists. Love you all, 😍
Reading through your posts, I just wanted to say I really admire how much grit and heart you're showing. You’ve got a level of courage that’s honestly pretty rare, and I’m rooting for you to find the strength needed to tackle everything coming your way. I truly believe you’re going to come out on top because you deserve nothing less. Just lean on Him and His love, 🙂 let that be what carries you through the tough stretches. We're keeping you in our thoughts and prayers, 🙂
I saw mellowbadger5 mention her mother-in-law drinks buttermilk, and I really wanted to give her props for that. Buttermilk is absolute gold for liver regeneration, especially when it’s being hammered by heavy medications. Plus, the mineral profile is phenomenal—it’s hard to go wrong with it.
Thanx, Carol Ramirez 🙂
My dad used to drink buttermilk every single day during the second week of his break between chemo rounds, but his blood work was looking pretty rough. Then I stumbled onto something online saying you shouldn't overdo it because it can mess with your blood counts, so we figured that might be the culprit and decided to cut it out..🤷 ,even though I know it's generally super healthy,🙂
mellowbadger5 said:I’ve been lurking here for quite a while now. Mostly, I just feel helpless because of how little I know. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with microcellular lung cancer. After four rounds of chemo, they actually stopped treatment because her follow-up showed the tumor was in remission. She was supposed to be recovering—maybe even head down to Miami for a bit—but then things took a turn for the worse. Now she’s back at Jordanovac getting chemo and she feels terrible. She's dealing with body cramps, weakness, constipation, and nothing seems to be helping. She’s using Heder Propolis, royal jelly, and drinking whey since the hospital staff suggested it. I’m honestly glad this place exists where we can actually learn something, because doctors tend to say so little. I wish we didn't have to be here at all and that we could finally beat cancer once and for all.
Dear mellowbadger5,I'm rooting for you guys. Sending you all the strength and grit in the world! Whenever things get heavy, reach out... This forum and all these amazing people are what give me the fuel to keep pushing forward.🙂 We used to give my dad whey for a while too, but then I read online that it can mess with blood counts, so I wouldn't really recommend it. 🙄 Maybe once in a blue moon, but not as a staple.
Hey Melissa Kim45,I am so happy I can finally read some good news this Monday morning!! I’m seriously thrilled for you and your mom.😍
Hang in there, everyone. We’re stronger together.👍
Diana dear, I am so incredibly sorry. Please accept my deepest, most sincere condolences,😢
Death isn't the end... you two will always stay connected because that massive love you shared is going to live on forever. I know things are brutal right now, but God will give you the strength to get through this. His love has a way of carrying us through the toughest stretches of life. Hang in there—we’re all thinking of you,🙂
northernfox9 said:My dad passed away on November 8th at 8:30 AM. It feels like a losing battle, but I trust that God always knows best and has a plan, and that he’s somewhere much more peaceful now...
Angela Wright, please accept my deepest condolences.
I want to thank everyone who has stood by us over these last 10 months.
Never back down, I'm so sorry,😢 My heart goes out to you.. Your dad is definitely in a better place now. Sending you all the strength in the world to get through this and process everything. Stay strong. You're in my thoughts and prayers, along with everyone else struggling right now..
Hey everyone. My dad was supposed to head in for his 9th chemo session this Monday, but his blood work came back looking pretty rough, so they told us to check in today. We’ve been trying everything under the sun to help him bounce back, but his numbers just aren't budging. Now, the doctors are saying he needs a blood transfusion. Honestly, I'm freaking out a bit, so I wanted to see if anyone here has gone through this before...🤷Are there any major risks or long-term side effects I should worry about? Or is this just a way to get his levels back where they need to be so he can power through those last four rounds of chemo? Thanks for the help! Hang in there. Big hugs to Jane,🙂
Angela Wright said:My mom passed away peacefully this morning. Thanks to everyone here for riding shotgun with me through this rough patch. Love you guys! God bless you all in your own struggles. Keep pushing forward.
Hey Jane, I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.😢
Sending you nothing but strength and grit. I'll be keeping both you and your mom in my prayers. Hang in there, we're all thinking of you.🙂
Nancy Hernandez43 said:I was just talking to my dad, trying to see if he actually believed the news. He just gave this little laugh, totally speechless. I figured maybe he was just wiped out from everything—the whole fight, the long drive yesterday... but he said that wasn't it. It was actually the doctor's reaction that caught him off guard. Dad was expecting something like, "This is amazing! You’ve conquered something huge," but instead he got, "It's fine. See you on February 14th." He says those doctors in America can be so cold; felt like he needed a little warmth just to get through his day. He says Mom is acting pretty detached too—she doesn't want to talk about it and is weirded out that we're celebrating, since there's another checkup every three months anyway. Honestly, I think Mom's being distant because she's basically a "typical American" 🙂. We should just be glad they're forcing these three-month checkups so there aren't any nasty surprises. Now we just have to move forward with this new chapter—finding ways to live healthier (moving more, cutting back on smoking... lowering stress) and just soaking up every single day.
I'm so happy for your dad—honestly, the main thing is that the results look good, and to me, that's great news regardless. Four rounds of chemo is no joke, but I'm sure you guys will power through it with plenty of faith.
As for Mom, she's turned her health into a routine: every morning on an empty stomach, she takes a spoonful of olive oil, eats at least one banana a day, drinks nothing but bottled water at room temperature, and makes her own veggie and fruit juices whenever she feels like it. The only supplement she takes is some native propolis to keep her immunity up, and I think it's Nexus. She took Nexus during all six rounds of chemo to help with potential stomach pain.
Like you said... this illness has pulled our whole families together. No matter how brutal the sickness gets, it's a beautiful feeling knowing you aren't doing this alone. My family finally learned how to actually talk to each other; we finally found a way to show real emotion, and through all of this, we've proven we're a bond that even tragedy can't break!
KEEPING ON! THE FIGHT GOES ON... kisses
Yeah, the doctor's coldness caught us off guard too when they gave us the news about the clear results (it's not just the doctors here). I guess they just have that "textbook" way of doing things where they don't let emotions get in the way...🤷 We were left feeling pretty confused and disoriented ourselves, especially since Dad's prognosis had been so grim before—like 3 to 6 months left. But we know we have to BELIEVE that everything is okay for now and that it'll stay that way.. Anyway, we keep moving! The fight continues, and with our families standing by us, we can handle anything.😉
Oh my gosh, I am just over the moon for you guys!! Miracles really do happen, 🙂 That line you wrote—"Every single day is fueled by faith"—is exactly what keeps us all going through these endless struggles and worries..
We haven't met, but I can't even put into words how much joy I'm feeling right now after hearing about your mother's test results and seeing everyone on this forum share such incredible news, 🙂 And honestly, my dad’s recent scans from two weeks ago look amazing too. His brain is clear, no signs of metastasis, and the stuff on his lungs is actually receding! He’s still pushing through chemo, with four rounds left to go. It’s still going to be a grind, but we're tackling it together like a family that's been bonded tight by this fight. We're going to win this!!
I'll check back in when there's more news. Sending love to all the fighters out there, 👍 Brave !!
Angela Wright said:Life itself is basically built on struggle. It’s just part of the deal. We’re constantly fighting through stuff just to keep going. Whether it’s dragging ourselves to class when we’d rather stay in bed, or showing up to work while feeling under the weather... it starts with those tiny, everyday annoyances. You stub your toe, you bleed, you feel it. Humans are fragile, and let's face it, we're prone to pain. But we also have this incredible ability to adapt and rise above it. Pain isn't necessarily a bad thing; it's actually how we grow. It levels up our perspective and clears our vision. Good things can come from hardship. Think about a mother in labor—it’s intense, but once the baby is here, that joy wipes away the memory of the struggle in an instant. Pain is unavoidable for everyone, and honestly, everyone’s struggle feels like the heaviest one, even if we sometimes think our burden is bigger than someone else's. Asking "why do we suffer?" is kind of a dead end because suffering is baked into the human experience, and figuring out why is just another part of the journey we all have to take.
Hey Ivanica, you're sounding pretty inspired today,🙂 Thanks! Seriously, Bog gave you a real knack for this—that gift for comforting and encouraging people that helps me and so many others who are going through it right now..
"People who live by hope see further. People who live by love see deeper. People who live by faith see clearer."
electricgardener14 said:Hey everyone, my husband is finally coming home tomorrow after finishing his fourth round of chemo. His blood counts are a total wreck right now—he’s pale as a ghost, weak, and just completely wiped out. I'm looking for any and all advice on how to get his blood work back on track and help with his digestion, because he's really struggling there, too. All those meds he's on have him totally backed up. Hang in there, everyone, Diana
Diana, you might want to try Ocean 21 from CaliVita. It worked wonders for my dad.👍 His blood counts stayed steady through his entire chemo treatment because he started taking this right at the beginning. It's basically a blend of aloe vera, sea algae, beet, celery, broccoli, and stuff like that. It's mostly geared toward boosting immunity and fixing blood counts, and it actually helps with constipation, too—no issues there. It's similar to Noni or Aloe Vera, but honestly, I think this works better. Along with the Ocean 21, maybe try some fresh beet juice, Co Q10 (also from CaliVita), and plenty of fruit and veggies if he can manage to eat even a little bit.
Sending you guys so much strength and courage on this journey!!😉
Hey everyone! First off, my heart goes out to anyone here dealing with loss right now..😢
To lighten the mood a bit, we finally have some decent news. My dad went in for scans last week after finishing his second round of chemo (he’s fighting lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastases that were operated on back in early July; prognosis was originally 3-6 months)
And... the results are looking great. His brain is clear, no signs of metastasis, and the lung scans don't show a single shadow—it's like everything just backed off..🤷 It all feels a little surreal to me right now, but I know I have to hang onto this hope..🙄 Because miracles do happen!! But I'm a bit confused—if the results are this good, why does he still need to finish the chemo?! The doctor said we should be incredibly pleased, though he didn't call it a miracle or anything; Dad still has two more cycles of chemo to go.. What do you guys think about all this?! Obviously, I am beyond happy, and this gives us the strength to keep pushing, but I'm also feeling a little lost..🤷
Anonymous said:I totally get where you're coming from. It’s the same for me, especially since I was adopted, so my mom and I had this unique bond. We definitely went through some rough patches, mostly due to her drinking, but I always found it in me to forgive and move past it. Like I said before, she just got diagnosed with esophageal cancer today, and honestly, I have no clue what happens next—if she can even handle surgery, how she’ll cope, or how much time we actually have left... It’s a massive shock to the system because just over a month ago, she seemed perfectly fine.
It kills me seeing her stuck in the hospital, hooked up to an IV and all that. She can't eat normally and has to force down tiny bites just to get by; watching her struggle like that is brutal. 🙂
Up until now, I guess I just took everything for granted—our relationship, our life together—and now it feels like someone just dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. 🙄
The Chosen One, hang in there! 👍 I’m asking those same questions myself, and let's be real, there isn't anyone out there who can give us actual answers. 🤷
Deep down, I know God has a specific plan for everyone, including your mom and my dad, but sometimes my faith just wavers and I get lost in the "why" of it all.
All I know is that we have to show up for our people, every single second. We need to spend as much time with them as possible, being their rock and their strength, even when we're feeling terrified, confused, or completely broken inside.
Wishing you guys nothing but strength and resilience on this journey. 😉