info

Here it is: Slight problems started a year ago. Visit to dr., then nuerolegist, nuero surgeon. First MRI showed fuzzy area on left side of brain. Futher MRIs same thing. No change. Had a biopsy done in early March 2009. Results came back somewhat inconclusive. Not cancerous cells though. Follow up with MRI every three months to keep an eye on it. Around August, Dan started getting some numbness in foot. Went to doctors about it. Did some tests. Was told it was related to the back. Sept. MRI showed nothing new. In October Dan went to Doctor and told them he wanted to go to Seattle to see what they thought. So off we went to Virgina Mason Hospital. Met with a Dr. Taylor there. Within ten minutes she was able to tell us what was happening. On Sept. MRI she saw a new definite spot. I even saw it. Everything indicated a gleanoma [tumor] of the brain. She pointed out the area on a brain model. Explained everything very well. She recommended a biopsy. Now had a definite spot to aim for. Next meet with the nuero surgeon. He agreed with Dr. Taylor. Scheduled a biopsy. Had the biopsy a week later, than results a week after that.
Results were: Grade three gleanoma. As the surgeon said "A hell of a lot better than a grade four." So then a plan to take care of this. Six weeks of radiation and chemo. This can be done in the Tri-Cities. It will be monitered by Dr. Taylor.
Since this is a "brain cancer" it put Dan on a permanent disability. No more work. He has enough years in with the sheriff's dept to retire, but he did want to put in a few more years and then pick up another job for a bit. Not an option anymore.
So I hope I didn't forget anything.
Right now Dan is doing really good. The fact that he can't work anymore was a surprise. Unless you live with him day to day you wouldn't know there was anything wrong. As the treatments continue he might get tired. I plan on getting as much work out of him as posible before that happens.

minutes

Dan is doing good. Getting all the blood work and othe stuff done before starting radiation. I think he has met with all the doctors that he needed to. Make some phone calls tomorrow. {the ones who were suppose to call today and didn't} Since it is Thanksgiving weekend radiation probably won't start till Monday. Hey, cancer doesn't take holidays off, start it NOW! I find little things will really irrate me. When something I've been waiting for in the mail didn't come today I wanted to throw the mail. Really hard.

Pika

learning?????

testing, testing, 1 2 3 testing

Let's see if I am doing this right.

In the Begining

Nov. 22, 2009

Where to start. I am Sheryl Gayda, commonly known as Sam. Dan is my husband. We have been married 29 years. Most of them happy. Majority rules, right? We have two boys. Kris 28 & Jacob 24. Kris is attending BYU Idaho majoring in geology. Jacob has the degree in business management & production. He works at Con-Agra. We live in Burbank, WA where we can see the Columbia River. Things we enjoy to do are, horses, camping, backpacking, nature observation, scuba diving & motorcycle riding. We have 2 horses, 3 dogs, some farm cats, bird, fish tank, goat and 8 alpacas. Starting to get into the alpaca fiber business. All in all, Life is Good.