| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
(the following is an e-mail from Mitch Ware -- FB) Wow, Two Year Matt Ware cancer-free celebration!! Sunday February 5, 2006, Everyone, Wow! Today is the second anniversary of Matt's brain surgery! In many respects, these past two years absolutely flew by! Yet, there have been some long anxious moments filled with frustration and uncertainty along the way. But here we are 24 months to the day, with no active cancer! That is a huge blessing and an answer to prayer. I can't help but think about some of the emotional roller-coaster that Matt has endured these past 24 months, and as there are so many new people on our team here is a taste of the roller-coaster ride we live: * at the ripe old age of 25, he has dizzy spells, finds out that there is something on his brain... could be an infection, could be something else, maybe even a cancerous tumor! * We had just put Lori on a plane to Germany, if we could reach her, what would we tell her? * He had to wait a week for surgery due to some tonsillitis he was dealing with. * The surgery reveals a tumor and it was categorized a malignant cancer called anaplastic-astrocytoma. * The surgeon told us that he was able to remove the tumor and that Matt would now need radiation and chemotherapies. * Matt was accepted into a clinical trial for treatment! * Matt underwent 6 ½ weeks of extensive daily radiation. * All the while beginning chemotherapy treatments; 5 days on, 23 days off... for a whole year! * Matt went from a 205# buffed out head turning 20-something to a leaner 165# (still pretty good-looking) cancer warrior. * He of course lost his hair, and in support his brother Scott and his Dad Mitch shaved their heads! In fact his Dad (who hadn't had short hair since he about 10 yrs old) still keeps his hair super short as a reminder of the journey and support! * The family went to work doing research. This duty became a passion of Matt's mom Lori, as she is now the family expert on treatments, clinical trials and such. She has developed a huge network of friends around the world who are in the same boat as we find ourselves! * The research reading was not very encouraging, and the diagnosis was considered a terminal one. * Matt graduated radiation and eventually chemo universities as a Valid Victorian!! The anti-seizure drugs that Matt was on were taking a huge toll on him, as he no longer had energy to get through a single day! * We explored sleep and rest issues. He was going to bed at 8pm, but not getting any rest. He went to a sleep clinic, but nothing seemed to help. It was an extremely frustrating time. * Matt remained determined to find a solution. He began to rehab his body, being very careful what he ate, drank and slowly began to work out again. For months he had to get rides from co-workers and family. Not something an alpha-male is readily willing to do! This is a painfully humbling experience. * In August of 2005 the MRI showed some new enhancement. We were told to wait and see! * Again in October, the enhancement was still evident. The medical team was quick to schedule another surgery. * Matt and his family wanted another opinion so they scheduled a meeting with a brain surgeon/oncologist at Henry Ford in Detroit. * It was determined that the enhancement was not cancer, and that Matt could get off the anti-seizure meds! WO-hoooo!! That was a huge blessing and Matt's energy began to come back shortly after! * In December the MRI still showed the enhancement, yet another smaller spot in another part of the brain began to get some attention. * Matt was beginning to lose the left side of his field of vision. * Again the surgeons were ready to go in, and surgery was scheduled for January 24. * The doctors put him on steroids to attack some brain swelling. * Again, Matt and his family went to Henry Ford, where they discovered the other spot that had appeared was not cancer, but evidence of a stroke! * Relieved that we had a stroke and not a re-occurrence of cancer we called friends and family with what otherwise would be terrible news. This is indeed a strange journey! * The doctors sensed that Matt might be having some small seizure activity, and put him back on some anti-seizure meds. * Matt enters into what can be best described as a drug induced depression. The steroids are reeking havoc with his emotions. * Matt decided that the steroids were more harm then good, and leaned himself off of them with doctors supervision. * Matt's sense of resolve and otherwise positive attitude sets the tone for those of us around him. He is truly an inspiration! * Surgery was cancelled, and a ton of tests scheduled! The tests come back substantiating that there is no active cancer, yet there was stroke. But not sure why... stay tuned! So what have we learned through all of this?? TONS. We have learned that things are not always what they seem!! We have learned that although there are very wonderful and dedicated people in the medical professions, you still have to advocate and insist on top rate care! You have to do your own research, make phone calls (tons of them) write letters, and be prepared to go to court if need be just to get tests ordered and read! We have learned that networking is critical. The free flow of information found on internet support sites is worth its weight in gold! We have learned that Gilda's club is a wonderful place to not only get support, but to be supportive and make a difference in other peoples lives. Ditto church. Isn't that why are placed here in the first place? We have learned that despite all the studies, journals, best intentions of friends and family, there is no magic pill. We have learned that you can live happily on faith! We have learned that there is nothing more precious in life then life itself and this very day!! That friends really are more important then all the money, cars, toys, trips, and fun stuff in the world! We have learned that family with all of its warts and dysfunction, is a wonderful gift from God. It is pretty cool to have brothers, parents, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents that love you know matter what! We have learned it is okay to have a bad day or two or three (even in a row)!! We have learned a hard one, that no matter how strong you are, it catches up with you. That is called being human. And believe me, we are all human. So on this second anniversary of Matt's new lease on life, we celebrate the past two years and all of the things we have experienced. Do we wish that we never had to go through this? Sure!! But is it the end of the world? Nope. We are much further along and doing much better then we ever thought possible if you had asked us 2 years ago today!! Check this out, in many ways we are better off then we were before! We are certainly better people inasmuch as we understand more about what is really important in life. We love more. We are more accepting, more tolerant, we have much more patience and we are more forgiving. We have been humbled. We are grateful for our many friends and prayer warriors. As we think about what tomorrow brings, we have hope in the knowledge that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and we take comfort in that! We have learned that we have to trust and let God be God, and we have to enjoy the day that we are given. It is choice! These days are not easy, but 'living', not living as in the opposite of dying, but appreciating the day, is definitely worth the effort! We have learned that our lives are a unique and very special... made just for you' filled with ups and downs type of journey. How we handle the twists and turns ultimately defines you as a person. Matt's and our lives have been abruptly and dramatically changed forever. But in so many ways, we are much better for it! Bolstered by your prayers, he and we are handling his journey with courage and conviction. Thank you for them! Our prayer for you is that you realize and seize the fullness of this new 24-hour lifetime that you have been given. Make it count! We hope your day is the best ever! Mitch and family! | ||
| Henrik |
Wow - very nice. Thanks for posting that update. Henrik | ||
| Reepicheep |
Wow. I'm speechless. | ||
| Bomber |
wonderful news -- and even wonderfuller advice | ||
| Rocketman |
Wonderful  Rocket | ||
| Blake |
Thank you Mitch and JH.  |
