I Visited With My Brother

Hi Everyone!  I have been MIA the last couple of weeks because of out-of-town guests and then a much needed trip to OH to visit with my brother.  As many know, my brother finished up his treatment on July 22.  On my way over to his house, I kept praying that I would be able to control my facial expressions when I first saw him.  His wife had told me that everyone was correct, the weeks after treatments were finished were the worst of all!  My prayers were answered, because when I saw him I wanted to just break down and cry, but I was able to control myself.  The very first thing that popped into my head when I saw him, was the word, "corpse".  He looked just terrible.  Not only had he lost a lot of weight, but he looked like he aged 10 years and his color was terrible.  Very ashen - like a corpse.  Sad, sad, sad.  But I was lucky, I was there for the change.  It was slow, but by the end of the week he looked like a different person - almost like himself!  He finally started drinking more and is at least trying different foods.  All the food tastes like crap, of course, or as he says, like mold,  but he is trying. He was sleeping much less by the end of the week also, and the dreaded mucous was not causing nearly as much trouble as when I first got there.  All in all I am very encouraged by his progress.  I feel the worse is behind him, for now anyway.  The long wait for his first scan in mid October is on.  I pray everyday that the beast is dead. 

My best to all of you.  I have been keeping up with you all.

~Shawn~