Yesterday, after working from early morning to noon, Lisa and Mitchell (he’s on Spring Break) took me to lunch, Chili’s. Afterward, we went to my doctor appointment. I had the eyebrow stitches from the March 29th eye surgery removed by my primary surgeon Dr. Steiniger. He also told us that he and Dr. Alidina remove 75 lymph nodes and additional tumor from my neck during the March 23th neck dissection surgery. The tumor and 10 of the lymph nodes were cancerous. The scars are healing very well and the cancer doesn’t appear to be outside of the face and neck. On Tuesday, April 13th we go back to the Florida Cancer Institute and meet with Dr. Hochman to begin radiation treatments. I believe they will first create the radiation mask. I will undergo 40 treatments over the course of 8 weeks, 5 days a week. The treatments should last about 30 minutes. Next week I also start physical therapy to regain full range of motion and feeling to my upper left arm, neck and shoulder. Still trying to gain weight in anticipation of losing weight during radiation.

Thank you again for the overwhelming, beautiful support and warm encouragement of our friends and family. Your prayers mean a lot during these strange times.

Great News! Yesterday, we were presented by the agency with the beginning of the adoption package for our foster son. The process is months, perhaps years away, but its great progress within this very slow and challenging system.

As we strive to walk closely with the Lord, I was reminded this morning in my quiet time that God goes before us, He stands beside and behind us to provide protection and comfort (Psalm 139:7-12). Even in the midst of bewildering circumstances, the Lord is there.

That give us confidence to press on.

Lisa posts updates from her perspective on www.CarePages.com, search for RichardHayes (no spaces).