Sweating Out the Chemo!

Our journey began on 9/11 when we discovered a golfball sized tumor in Marcus's brain. After a successful surgery where all traces of the tumor was removed, we learned that it was cancerous. Medduloblastomas make up about 1/3 of all childhood brain tumors, but are VERY rare in adults (less than 1% of adult brain tumors). Since they are rare, there is little research on the best way to treat them.  The surgery has impacted his motor skills (mostly on the left side) and his eye sight. 

Marcus underwent 6 weeks of intense proton radiation in Seattle along his entire spine and brain. We were able to return home to our home and pets just before Christmas! At this point, Marcus was able to walk independently (without a cane!) and his eye sight had improved a little. 

We took the month of January to recover from radiation and to ween off of the high dose of steroids he had been on since September. Once he came off of them, his mobility decreased and had to go back to using a walker to get around. 

Chemo was our next step, which we started in February. Since this is considered to be an aggressive cancer, we were being aggressive in our treatments. Thus the surgery, intense radiation, and harsh chemo regiment of 42 weeks with harsh drugs. Marcus gave 12 weeks of this regiment his all, but when the drugs started to damage his nerves to the point being put in a wheelchair we knew something had to change. He had very little use of his hands and zero use of his lower legs and feet. Had we continued, he would have been hospitalized within the month because he would have been restricted to a bed. As a team, we decided to stop chemo treatments and focus on letting his body recover.

Our NEW goal is to get rid of the gross poison that is still lingering in his body and the best way to do this is to DETOX!! We are doing all we can in our own home drinking special smoothies and teas, but we need more. One of the best ways to get rid of junk in your body is by sweating it out, however with Marcus being in a wheelchair it is hard to work up a sweat through physical activity. We are asking for help in raising money to purchase a simple 2 person indoor sauna so that he has room to get in and out of his wheelchair. I would love to have the ability to allow his body to naturally detox 2 times a day. 

We are so thankful to have such amazing, supportive people in our life and this journey has definitely been scary, stressful, and humbling. It's difficult asking and accepting help. To be honest, I'm embarrassed that I'm even making a gofundme project. I just have to remember that I'm doing this for Marcus. He is my life and I need him to get better. 

Thank you so much for all your support, love, prayers, and thoughts. We are truly blessed to have such an incredible support system to hold us up and keep us going. So much love to you all!