Blindsided

As you have all already learned, my father, Mike Smith, has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. (Skima Cell Carcinoma, non-small cell; subtype - squamous).

He was being treated for back pain when blood test results sent him to the hospital. Doctors thought it might be an infection in his lower spine, started him on antibiotics and did a biopsy from the affected area.

We waited all weekend to find out the type of infection, when Monday we were blindsided and learned it to be cancer. But where did the cancer start? Monday night he went for a cat scan focused on the chest, stomach and pelvic regions; Tuesday a bone scan. And then Wednesday, lung cancer...

Dad has a tumor in his left lung and it has spread around his windpipe and down parts of his spine. He started Radiation treatments Tuesday, which will continue every weekday ending March 14 and are marked to shrink the tumors on his spine. This has already started to relieve him on his back pain and he was discharged from the hospital today! Chemo therapy will begin after radiation is complete and will be once a week, 3 weeks on, 1 week off for however long is needed.

It comes to no surprise, however, that we absolutely have the greatest family & friends we could ever wish for. The support you have all given us is absolutely heart warming. I am not one to agree with any war, but in this case, and with army... watch out cancer, because you're about to get your ass kicked!

We will be sending out updates on this blog, literally keeping us all on the same page. We encourage you all to comment on posts and send us inspiration - we will post it.

"A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ" -John Steinbeck

Chin up! We're gonna beat this.

Keri
(peaceofkeri@gmail.com)