Today, we found out that Larry's cancer is in remission. The long wait was well worth it! I'm sure you all could hear the HUGE sigh of relief that I breathed when we got the news from Dr. Stein. When we walked out of the doctor's office my brother broke down and sobbed. Now, I'm not being the little sister that would once make fun of him for crying (I admit that did happen) I am telling you this because the minute I saw him cry I realized that was the first time he showed any emotion since he was diagnosed in July. I SO clearly remember July 18th when Dr. Salti came into Larry's hospital room and told us that he had stage IV colon cancer. My heart dropped to my stomach and I literally lost my breath. I felt like Mike Tyson punched me dead center in my gut. Larry asked Dr. Salti, " what is the worst stage?" From that point on Larry didn't ask for sympathy, did not feel sorry for himself for one second and when asked what he was going to do, he would reply "FIGHT what else is is there to do?".
For those of you who didn't know, My Way by Frank Sinatra was my dad's all-time favorite song. And let me tell you, my dad lived his life HIS WAY! My brother and I even danced to this song at his wedding. When I saw my brother outside of the doctor's office with tears in his eyes and unable to speak, I couldn't help but think..... He fought stage IV colon cancer HIS WAY! He fought with his head held high, without missing one day of work (other than what he had to take off), had a positive attitude even at his sickest, without complaining one single time, never looking back, never once showed us how scared he was and did it all with his twisted sense of humor. He deserved that breakdown - he had held in all of that emotion for 10+ months. He finally allowed himself to stop and realize what the past 10 months have looked like:
- an unplanned emergency surgery that took 5 ft. of his colon and don't forget his appendix!
- one week later, a trip to the ER and another week stay in the hospital with complications from his first surgery
- surviving many NPOs throughout his hospital stays
- PICC-line installed so his sister and wife could give him antibiotics 3/day for a month
- a mega port installed for chemo and blood draw
- a wedding!
- a Colon Cancer Walk - Larry's Crew you rock!!!
- 5 CT scans - having to drink barium each time and waiting for the results to be told to him
- 2 rounds of chemo (6 hours in the hospital each time and carry a pump for 2 extra days)
- Nuelesta shots when his levels would drop
- HIPEC surgery with a 9 day hospital stay right before Christmas
- Neurapathy and all the meds that go along with it
My brother amazes me more each time I'm around him. I am so grateful that he fought colon cancer his way, because I don't know what I would have done if he did it another way. Larry - your strength and courage are beyond what I ever could imagine. Thank you for showing me your way of dealing with adversity. I am so damn lucky to call you my brother. And thank you dad for being the example of how to live your life-MY WAY.
Now, it's time to celebrate - our traditional steak and champagne celebration at my moms awaits me.
Sox it to it Lar....
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