On a New Quest Now

​Eight days since Willie’s round 7 of chemo was supposed to take place and didn’t, we are now on a new quest; recovery and seeking help for his voice. 

Yesterday, he did labs.  His bloodwork is significantly improved over the one a week ago.  He’s been eating and drinking more (small amounts more frequently) and no issues with nausea or vomiting this past week.  He does get stomach pains when he eats too much. He’s still getting used to portion size. But good news is his taste is back.

We met with both the oncologist and surgeon this morning.  Willie decided not to do two more rounds of chemo (for 8 total). He’s done 6 and that’s enough for him as far as his mind and body feels. He’s done ✔️ 🔔.

Backtracking to Monday 1/5, he did a video swallow test with speech therapist.  It appears he does aspirate when drinking water.  It was interesting to watch the videos of him drinking water with barium so it shows on xray, to pudding, to crackers.   They recommended thickened water and gave us some packets to make it thicker.  He has the most issues with water and has a very hard cough when he drinks it.  I have been super worried about the cough because it’s so hard.  But apparently coughing is a good thing as it keeps the water from going down the wrong pipe into his lungs (hopefully).  

They referred him to an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) doctor now to follow up on the vocal cords not closing and his hoarse voice.   We meet with the ENT next Monday, 1/12/2026. That is our new quest.  One of the most bothersome things that happened after surgery is that Willie lost his voice and it’s very breathy and hoarse. People can’t hear him and it’s very frustrating not to be able to speak.  I mean, he’s used to LOUD.  Anyway, we will now aggressively seek a solution to his speech issue now that his chemo is done.  The surgeon thinks it is either due to one of the following; 1) the sedation tube during surgery or 2) nerve damage that maybe one got cut during surgery with #1 being more likely due to the surgical site being much lower down.  With luck we will find out and resolve his floppy vocal cord issue.  

He will meet with oncologist and surgeon again in 6 weeks.  In 3 months he’ll do a CT scan.  Then he’ll meet with oncologist every 3 months for the first year, then each 6 months for year 2, and then once a year after that until 5 years.

For all intents and purposes his cancer is gone and he will now work on healing and getting stronger, growing back hair and fingernails, muscles, and eating more. Thanks to everyone of you reading this and sending all the love, good thoughts, prayers, miracles, food, cards, gifts, and so much more.  We appreciate each one of you.   

👆🏻Photo above is this morning at Mare’s  it’s a beautiful spring day in January in Wenatchee today. 

And below 👇🏻 picture is Willie and I three days before his first chemo on 7/11 and bottom photo is 2 weeks after his last round 6 on 12/18 where he was super neutropenic (low WBC and dehydrated).  They gave him a bag of fluids that day, New Year’s Eve, instead of chemo (round 7).  He got another bag of fluids yesterday.  

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