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I never in a million years thought I would EVER be making one of these, especially for the person I'm making it for. On Wednesday January 22, my family was hit by the worst possible word: cancer. My dad was diagnosed with what they call Extensive Small Cell Lung cancer. They found a mass in his lung and as well in his liver. Fortunately, this type of cancer responds very well to treatment. His first dose of chemotherapy (it still burns to say that) was started right away on Thursday the 23. My dad will be able to return home for a 3 week period until he must return back to start a new cycle of treatment. After a few cycles, they will have them go through another scan to see the progress of the treatment.
Now, lets put the scary news behind us for a few minutes and focus on the good. For those of you who know my dad know that he is a one of a kind man. He's the kind of man that will hold the door open for a stranger at the grocery store while smiling and wishing them a good day. He's the kind of man that puts every single person's needs and happiness before him. He's the kind of man that is the glue of the family. For the last 18 years, he raised my sister Olivia and I as a single father. We lost our mom in 2001 from heart disease. Despite all of the heart break, grief, and everything else that comes with losing a spouse, he absolutely NAILED the whole mom and dad in one human thing. Dad was able to be an at home single dad for the majority of our teenage years. Every time he talks about how much of a "breeze it was" (yeah right), he says he would do it over again 10 times. He is truly a special person. Our mom left this world dang well knowing Olivia and I were in fantastic hands. I could go on and on about the way he has made our bad days good and our good days even better, but I'd probably lose feeling in my fingers from typing for so long.
Moral of the story is cancer is scary. Not knowing the future is scary. What we do know though is our dad is a freaking superhero. He is our rock and our strength. His spirits are high and I know he will kick this cancer's ASS. However, those of you who unfortunately have gone through this kind of thing now how costly this disease is. From the initial hospital stay, to the chemotherapy, to the whatever else comes our way, things will start to add up. To add on to that, my dad most likely will not be able to return to work. We are asking our friends, family, and community to come together as one. We already feel so much love and support from so many, but this is the reality of things and we need help here too. I'd like to take the time and thank each and every one of you in advance for the love, prayers, and everything in between. Our family and our dad could not and would not make without you all.
*God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference*
#TeamOlson
Now, lets put the scary news behind us for a few minutes and focus on the good. For those of you who know my dad know that he is a one of a kind man. He's the kind of man that will hold the door open for a stranger at the grocery store while smiling and wishing them a good day. He's the kind of man that puts every single person's needs and happiness before him. He's the kind of man that is the glue of the family. For the last 18 years, he raised my sister Olivia and I as a single father. We lost our mom in 2001 from heart disease. Despite all of the heart break, grief, and everything else that comes with losing a spouse, he absolutely NAILED the whole mom and dad in one human thing. Dad was able to be an at home single dad for the majority of our teenage years. Every time he talks about how much of a "breeze it was" (yeah right), he says he would do it over again 10 times. He is truly a special person. Our mom left this world dang well knowing Olivia and I were in fantastic hands. I could go on and on about the way he has made our bad days good and our good days even better, but I'd probably lose feeling in my fingers from typing for so long.
Moral of the story is cancer is scary. Not knowing the future is scary. What we do know though is our dad is a freaking superhero. He is our rock and our strength. His spirits are high and I know he will kick this cancer's ASS. However, those of you who unfortunately have gone through this kind of thing now how costly this disease is. From the initial hospital stay, to the chemotherapy, to the whatever else comes our way, things will start to add up. To add on to that, my dad most likely will not be able to return to work. We are asking our friends, family, and community to come together as one. We already feel so much love and support from so many, but this is the reality of things and we need help here too. I'd like to take the time and thank each and every one of you in advance for the love, prayers, and everything in between. Our family and our dad could not and would not make without you all.
*God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference*
#TeamOlson