The BIG C Word

Today I am in complete AWE of how I was Specially Educated.

Back in August my dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  4% of the sample they tested turned out to be cancerous. It's a miracle HOW we were informed of his cancer, but it was a blessing to find it so early, allowing him to have more time and options to consider what the next step would be.

A few weeks ago he had 12 more samples taken and sent out for testing.  We were informed of three (I think?) possible outcomes: The cancer could have been removed in the previous surgery (where we found out about the cancer), he could go through Radiation Therapy, or could have his Prostate completely removed.  Needless to say, the waiting hasn't been easy.

Yesterday, my mom and dad went for his appointment to find out what news they had for him.  I'm beside myself with happiness to say that the option I almost completely discounted has become true: MY DAD IS CANCER FREE :)  All 12 of the samples came back negative!

When they first told me about this I didn't cry at all, which is odd for me.  I guess I feel that I wanted to be INFORMED about what I was crying over.  I did have a dream that he had a heart attack that he didn't live through, and woke up sobbing.

Tonight, I was Specially Educated when I realized that I was more worried than I could have imagined, and I didn't know until relief washed over me so quickly and so strong that I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.  I went to the bathroom and cried quietly, then wiped my face to come back into the living room where Dale was.  When he asked what was wrong I completely lost it... I was sobbing with relief and fear... just the idea of my dad fighting something so unpredictable as the Big C humbles me.  He has been so strong in keeping a great mindset and not letting it get him down.  My mom has been so strong in supporting him.  The two of them chose to tell us the news in such a promising, uplifting way and I couldn't appreciate them more for it.  Today I learned that sometimes you just have to internalize what you're feeling, but that eventually it all catches up for you.  I know that in my teaching sometimes I just have to laugh so that I don't cry, smile so that I don't scream, and shrug so that I don't throw an adult-sized child tantrum.

MY DAD IS CANCER FREE. I can't say that enough :)