Journey's Start 2009

Here is a question I have been asked, when did this all start? (When did you find out Carl had cancer? How did you find out Carl had cancer? etc.)

Sometimes you have been on a Journey for a while, and you didn't even realize it.

• 1993 Carl rips leg muscle running the Dinosaur Dash in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
• 1993-2008 Carl wears a compression band on leg to keep swelling and pain down.
• 2009 summer Carl notices he's limping. Others notice too.
• 2009 Late November Carl finally goes to see his Doctor. (I made the appointment and told Carl to cancel it if he wasn't going to keep it.
  
• 2009 Early December Carl has an ultrasound done on his leg, the ultrasound result - have an MRI.
  
• 2009 Dec 08, Tuesday:
  • 10:30 AM Carl had an MRI on his leg. Result - not good. See a surgeon ASAP.
    
  • Snowstorm that night.
• 2009 Dec 09, Wednesday:
  • 1:30 PM Meeting with Surgeon
  • I think the bad weather helped us get in to see the surgeon this early, because patients had canceled due to weather (??).
  • 3:20 PM blood work
  • 3:30 PM Biopsy on leg.
  • Very cold weather continues...
• 2009 Dec 10, Thursday:
  • 10:00 Carl had a CAT Scan
  • We got this appointment due to a cancellation due to the bad weather.
• 2009 Dec 11, Friday:
  
  • 8:00 AM Carl had a bone scan.
  • We got this appointment due to a cancellation.
  • 1:00 PM Meeting with Surgeon
  • My journal has this note summarizing what I heard of what the Doctor said about Carl's health
  • "MAN U R SICK!"
• 2009 Dec 12, Saturday:
  
  • We went to Breakfast with Santa.
  • On the way home, Carl's neck starts to hurt.
• 2009 Dec 14, Monday:
  • 2:30 PM Meeting with Oncologist
  • Diagnosis: High grade Sarcoma with Epithelial Characteristics. Or something like that.
  • 4:45 PM Flu Shot and H1N1 shot
• 2009 Dec 15, Tuesday:
  
  • Carl went to the dentist for a tooth cleaning totally unrelated to his leg.
  • That night, Miranda and Anthony preformed in a GREAT band concert.
• 2009 Dec 16, Wednesday:
  • A cancer tumor board discussed Carl.
  • 8:00 AM Carl had an Electrocardiogram
  • 10:30 AM Meeting with Lung Surgeon
  • 12:30 PM Lab for Blood work
  • 1:30 PM Biopsy on a rib.
• 2009 Dec 17, Thursday:
  
  • Carl went to work, didn't see any Doctors, and broke out in a rash.
• 2009 Dec 18, Friday:
  • 11:00 AM Carl had a Pet Scan, the first scan head to toe.
  • 1:00 PM Meeting with Doctor. He said what is causing that rash?
    
  • Chemotherapy scheduled to start the Monday after Christmas.
  • And that weekend, Carl's Dad came in for a welcome visit.
• 2009 Dec 22, Tuesday:
  
  • 11:00 AM Carl had a Port put in, for chemotherapy.

Photo above is Carl's Dad visiting Dec 18-20, 2009.


Photo above is Carl's Dad, Carl and the 4 children Dec 18-20, 2009.

Which brings us closer to Christmas.

But wait - a couple of plot twists are developing soon, so I will leave the Christmas Holidays for another post.

We are looking forward to the "Treat" in Treatments!