Some newer pictures...

Yeah!! Mom (Kris) figured out how to post! As I have been a negligent granddaughter, I'm glad she's stepped in to help with all of Grandpa's adoring fans :) As Mom mentioned, Milo and I and Mike were able to jaunt down again with Grammie Kris this weekend, and I've got pictures somewhere of that, but can't put my hands on them, so you all will have to put up with ones about 2 weeks old.

Here's a snapshot of a heated discussion in Grandma Sue and Grandpa Gary's kitchen in their new house, I think having something to do with something terribly important, maybe who was going to start the next pot of coffee or who's turn it was to do the dishes. Grandma Sue likes to start that fight as it seems impossible for her to sit and let anyone else do anything for her ;)

This was the week of Halloween and Milo informed me that he would accompany Grandpa Gary to one of his last radiation appointments, and I figured I should chaperone him. Grandma Sue and I drove with Milo, and Mom drove with Grandpa to the clinic in Des Moines. That way, we still managed Milo's carseat and the dogs could still come, because who would ever dream of leaving them behind? We waited a few extra minutes for Grandpa's "yoga" drugs to take effect in the parking lot, and for Grandma to double check that it was okay to bring the little munchkin in; Des Moines had put out word that kids under 18 weren't allowed into the hospitals because of everything surrounding H1N1, but this was a clinic, we weren't really in close quarters with anyone, so we were all good. Good thing too, I think it might have broken Milo's heart had we not been able to go and woo everyone in the waiting room in his skeleton costume. We stopped for a celebratory breakfast on the way home, and of course we saved all three of the little canine friends a little bite of pumpkin pancakes.

While we were in the clinic, we met some of Grandpa's fellow soldiers in his battle against cancer. We met a woman who's husband was in for radiation who had made little coins with angels on them to guard over all the fighters and their families. We met a mom who's son was in for pancreatic cancer, who was very hopeful even against great odds. And Milo and I found "lucky" pennies left by another kindred spirit we never met on all of the chairs in the space. This is definitely a place of hope, of support, and of camaraderie. We added another layer to this common experience: we had printed Grandpa some business cards with his new job title of "Cancer Assassin" and some stickers for fellow fighters. Soon everyone was part of the war on cancer, proudly donning their own badges claiming their fight.

We also met Carissa, Grandpa's patient advocate. I think I may have heard this term in the past, but not until now did I understand what this meant. Carissa was there at every appointment, she met with Grandpa and Grandma whenever something was happening in his treatment. She answered questions, and in the rare occasion that she didn't know something, she quickly found the answer and relayed back to them. She walked along with them along this journey. She was a representative from the clinic, but not a doctor or nurse; she was someone who's area of expertise was people, and knowing and helping people. Carissa was warm and caring, and professional and intelligent at all times. She was someone who knew what she was talking about, definitely had the brain to comprehend all the ins and outs of treatment, but she had and used her heart to make sure her patients had the moral support all along the way. I hope everyone who has to go thru anything like this would have a Carissa.