And so it begins

Well there's nothing like a couple of sick kids at home to help distract me from the looming start of my dad's treatment.

On Tuesday my dad and brother went to Syracuse for oncology and pulmonology appointments, and to finally find out what the course of treatment will be.  He also has a new oncologist because the other one took a mysterious leave.  My brother seemed to like this guy better anyway as he was a little more straight forward and to the point.

Bottom line, they have to treat both cancers.  My dad looks and feels great, and based on that they've decided to do the radiation first.  He will get a 5 day course of radiation at Upstate Hospital, and they already called to set the appointment for this coming Monday.  The oncologist feels its better to do this first because there is no telling how he will feel with the chemo. He may become too weak to do the radiation at a later date.

Within three weeks from Monday he will begin chemo 1x a week for 6 weeks.

Those are the facts and now for the mushy part.

My dad was here for Easter and brought all three grandchildren baskets.  He really does a great job of picking out what they like, they are always so pleased with his gifts.  While I watched him drive away I got teary because since his illness I've come to realize that out of all of my children's grandparents, he has the most natural way with them.  They always run to him and hug him when he arrives.  They climb all over him when he sits at my kitchen table.  And it is all effortless.  He doesn't try too hard to get their attention, he just loves them and they know it.  I get angry sometimes because I see how close they are to him and I know they will most likely only have a short time with him.  I don't want them to have to go through the pain of losing someone they love so dearly.  On Sunday as he was about to leave he turned to Thomas and said "Grandpa's got to go home now"  Thomas said in his cute 2 year old voice "Don't go Grandpa, stay here with me"  

Thats the stuff that really really gets to me.