Sunday, July 18, 2010

"We cannot adjust the winds but we can adjust our sails."


July 18th 2010
Today marks the 6th anniversary of Todd's initial diagnosis. It's a day filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, we are celebrating life and the fact that Todd has defied some serious odds.
On the other hand, we are disappointed with the news we received from Memorial Sloan Kettering. As mentioned in the previous blog, we were waiting to hear from an oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering as to which treatment plan would be best for Todd. Patiently and anxiously, we were hanging in the balance and hoping for an answer - or at least some direction.
So, what do you do when the person you've relied on for hope and guidance explains that there is not much he can do? Well, as my dad and Todd said this morning over breakfast, "You adapt. You overcome. You improvise."  Therefore, we'll continue exploring all treatment options and we will rely on all of our resources to find the best treatment plan and medical team for Todd.
For now, we'll remember that six years ago today, an oncologist told us that Todd only had six months - at best - two years to live. We've defied the odds before and we can do it again.
Love,
Amanda

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Pre-Season Training


After an extremely long and frustrating week, we finally have a short term game plan in place. Todd is still in the hospital at UPENN and will most likely be able to come home this Friday. Once home and recovered from the surgeries, our focus over the next 3 weeks will be to get Todd back to his fighting weight and help him physically and mentally prepare for his upcoming chemotherapy treatments.
Our oncology team at UPENN in combination with a research team at Memorial Sloan Kettering is currently investigating which type of chemotherapy will be best for Todd's case. The good news is that over the past six years, we have kept some heavy hitting chemotherapy in our back pockets as reserve.  Our team is exploring all options and, hopefully, over the next few weeks, we will have a treatment plan in place.
Although we are in somewhat of a holding pattern at the moment, we still have key goals to focus on: weight gain, exercise, and mental strength.
I suppose if Todd were back at Taft or Colby, this would be considered the most intense pre-season training he has ever gone through. Hopefully, I can be as good of a captain as he was.
Luckily and thankfully, we have the most amazing family and friends to help get us through these dark days with encouragement, support, smiles, and friendship. As a friend of mine recently wrote, we have an army of people behind us and, believe me, we can definitely feel your love and support.
I'll be in touch soon once Todd is settled at home and we have a chemo plan in action.
Love,
Amanda