Day 18-20

To say we were overwhelmed with gratitude would be an understatement.

We are beyond blessed to have been connected with Can Do Cancer. Their support extends far beyond physical items. They have offered resources, encouragement, and compassion for both of us through the good days, the bad days, and all the days in between.

There are many organizations doing wonderful work in this world, but if you're looking for a place to donate or support, I encourage you to remember Can Do Cancer. They are locally based, community focused, and invest directly back into the people and communities they serve.

I honestly cannot say enough about how much they have meant to our family during this journey.

And for that, we are incredibly grateful.

Day 20 - October 25

Day 18 - October 23

Today is one of those days where there simply isn't much to report, and honestly, that's okay.

We continue to count our blessings as we prepare for David's second round of chemotherapy next week. One thing we are especially grateful for is that he has been able to maintain his strength and appetite. As we quickly learned, those are victories that should never be taken for granted.

For today, we are thankful for a quiet day, good meals, and the opportunity to simply enjoy some normalcy before the next phase of treatment begins.

Many people have complimented us on getting out and making memories during this time. While that is true, it is also not entirely true.

We are making memories, but not because David has cancer.

We're making memories because that's what we've always done.

The day itself was fairly low key, but it led into an amazing evening. We purchased tickets to see the Iowa Wild take on the Manitoba Moose. Not to gloat, but I definitely know how to use my resources to find a good deal. This time that included scoring second-row seats just to the left of the team box.

The seats were incredible. More than once we found ourselves jumping as players crashed into the boards just feet away from us. We watched pucks slam against the glass and saw the intensity of professional hockey up close. I even managed to bring home a souvenir from our adventure: an official puck used during warm-ups.

Day 19 - October 24

While the Wild didn't come away with a win, it was a wonderful opportunity
to get out of the house, enjoy an evening together, and simply live our lives.

Because that's exactly what we're doing.

Living.

We are now just days away from David's second round of chemotherapy.

As he looked through pictures from last night's game, he suddenly realized we were less than 48 hours away from Cycle 2. Less than 48 hours from another day of IVs, injections, medications, and hours spent sitting in a treatment chair.

It's completely understandable that he became emotional.

As both of us navigate our own health concerns, there are days when the weight of everything feels overwhelming. The other day was one of those days for me. I found myself repeating the same words throughout the day:

"I did nothing wrong. I don't deserve this. I just want my life back."

As David reflected on the last few weeks and looked toward the days ahead, he found himself saying something very similar:

"I want my life back. I want our lives back."

As his wife and caregiver, I often feel helpless. Just as he wishes he could take away my pain and struggles, I would do anything to take away his discomfort and the challenges he faces every day.

What we do know for certain is this: we have each other. We have family. We have friends. And most importantly, we have God.

As the rest of the day went on, I began preparing David's chemo bag for Cycle 2. Since his first treatment, something truly amazing has happened for our family.

We were connected with an organization in Central Iowa that supports individuals and families facing cancer throughout the Des Moines and Ames areas. Since David's oncologist is based in Des Moines and much of his treatment has taken place there, they were eager to help us navigate this new journey.

As I've mentioned before, Can Do Cancer has been an absolute God-send.

Founded by a breast cancer survivor more than a decade ago, Can Do Cancer exists to support patients and families throughout the cancer journey. Since then, they have touched countless lives by providing practical support, guidance, and encouragement during some of life's most uncertain moments.

A few weeks ago, David received a care package from them that was both humbling and incredibly helpful. Inside was a durable chemo bag, a blanket, hat, gum, mints, moisturizer, hand sanitizer, drinkware, lip balm, stationery, and gift cards or vouchers for services and resources throughout Central Iowa. These included assistance with groceries, quick meals, and even home cleaning services.

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