2nd cycle

Cycle number 2 starts this Thursday, so I have been trying to do a bunch of things to have fun in between. Took a trip to the dell, where we got kicked out of the hotel room at 6:30 am on Sunday morning. Sorry for party rocking.   Went back home on Saturday morning and spent some time with the family. Friday was my Mothers birthday and sunday was fathers day of course.

Went to church on Sunday and had a very powerful experience. I always feel amazing after church but it was quite different this time. After the service there was a little ceremony for me, where the elders of the church and family and friends laid there hands on me and pastor marc said a prayer and poured olive oil on my head. Very Powerful stuff. I got to talk to some people at church that I haven't seen in a while and it was very nice. It seemed like very one was asking for prayers for someone with cancer. I don't know whats going on but since this all started I have seen "cancer" everywhere. I will hear it on a movie or hear of some one else tat has been diagnosed with it or I see a commerical or something. I dont know why but it just comes up alot more then it ever has before. Maybe I am just more aware of it.

After church, we celebrated fathers day and it was great! Steak, crab legs, twice baked potatoes and all the fixings. It was soooo good. I eat like a pig now and I still and lossing weight. I know that prolly makes many of you mad hah sorry.

Monday morning, dad and I went fishing and caught a bunch of perch then after I went golfing with luke patterman! It isn't everyday that you get to go fishing AND golfing in one day. We even went out for wings and burgers and beers after. Prolly the best Monday EVER.

This week is CUSA. I might not make it to any of the days this year... which is sad bc i have some good friends there and i only get to see during that time. My 2nd cycle starts thursday the 23 and I will prolly be in the hospital for a couple of days. My counts will prolly be a little low after that so they will prolly tell me I cant go.


I think thats about all i got today. Oh yeah My hair is falling out! Was I sad? I guess just a bit. It was more  weird then anything. I could just grab a chunk of about 50 hairs. I would wash my hair in the shower and look down at my hands and see like 100 hairs. It was weird. Today amy took the razor to my head and more im smooooothhhhh.

I hope everyone is doing well, and having a great first day of summer... to bad the temp isn't a little better so I get outside and play. Maybe I will anyway!

ryan

First cycle COMPLETE!!!! HEADING HOME!!!!!!!!!

I'm heading home today!!!! Im soo happy to get out of this place! Words cant even explain. God has blessed me soo much throughout the first cycle. I puked just a couple of times on Wednesday but other than that. I have felt good through the whole thing. I have had tons of visitors and my family and Amy came to visit. There were some long lonely days but I got though them. I am stronger then to think. That is my new Motto and It will be for the rest of my life. Justine Schneider, an Amazing friend of mine set up this little fund raiser for me because I will not be working alot this summer she wanted to raise some money to help me out with rent and things like that, living expenses. Well she raised over 1000 dollars in like 3 weeks!!!! They she wanted to give it to me during our 5 year class reunion which was this past weekend on Saturday. But I was still stuck in here. They called me on the phone and sent a picture with everyone at the reunion with all the t-shirts on. She told me and I pretty much lost it right away. If i was there in person i would have no idea how i would have reacted. I dont do very well receiving gifts like that. I would have cried for the rest of the night haha. I pretty much did in the hospital anyway. I was way overwhelmed. God has created a beautiful world and there are so many great people out there that just want to help other people. I will forever be in debt to those people who bought a shirt and donated money just to help me out. I am so grateful. I wish there was some way I could give back to each and everyone of them.

In a way being diagnosed with caner has been a blessing I have become closer to my friends and family and Amy and deeper in my faith. My outlook on life has changed. I used to want to Win national championship's and was on my way to Minnesota to get starting in a great career as a strength coach at a competitive school with elite athletes. Something I always wanted to do. But Maybe not anymore. I also want to work with high school athletes now teaching them leadership skills and life skills that can be used during there time in sports but also throughout there lives!  Petty little problems aren't so bothering some anymore. they just don't matter. I could live I could die and don't want to spend the time I have here on the glorious earth that God created not living it to the fullest. It's may be weird to hear but I thank God for giving me this challenge. I never backed down from one and i wont start here. "Pain is weakness leaving the body" I have been saying this for as long as i can remember and as I go thought this chemo I stay strong by repeating this and changing that negative painful energy into a energy that is POSITIVE AND STRONG.




PICTURES OF THE AWESOME SHIRTS AND  my 5 year reuinon that was not very well attended haha

First Cycle almost done.

I was told today by my Doctor that the leading arcitect firm of hospitals are also the leading builder of prisions. I believe it get me outta here!!!

Well I haven't wrote in a while. I like to write when I am alone and I have had alot of visitors this week I have been in here.

Got to St. Lukes Tuesday and just did some check in things. Wednesday I got the port placed in my skull. Ended up getting 8 staples put in there. Honestly I look real tough haha. Thursday I started the first bag of chemo. Today I am on my 9th and final bag of this first cycle. I still feel real good. No sickness, no puking, a little tired but overall the energy is good. Doc came in this morning and told me that all my blood counts still look real good. But he also said that I shouldn't get to excited b/c i am getting some strong doses and they will catch up. Hopefully I will get out of here soon b/c i am getting real bored and a little nuts. I wanna get outside and ride a bike, swing a club, shoot a ball or anything. I got a bike in my room but it sucks! The food here SUCKS as well.

I got some more information today about after and things my blood counts should start dropping soon. That's when i am going to start to feel tired and not being able to fight off infections and basic colds. I really don't know what to talk about today. I feel like I'm telling this story over and over.

I got an awesome quilt yesterday made but Debbie Diedrich that was signed but tons of people and it slept with it last night It was quite comforting. My people i haven't talked to in a long time signed it. Teachers and old friends. It was soo nice I even got some nurses to sign it. One of my Nurses, Lara, even started to tear up when she saw it. I am sooo bless to be from a small community where everyone truly cares for each other.

Ryan

First Bag of chemo done.

Well I got my first bog of chemo today at about 8 this morning. It took 3 hours to run all the way through. They said i might feel Sick or fatigued but I don't have any of that. In fact, I'm about to jump on the bike again. Yesterday I got the Port put in my head, that still kind of hurts. I have like 5 staples in and it just a little sore around the cut.

Today is Amy and my 2 year anniversary!!!!

She has been soooo incredible through this whole thing. I know she doesn't really like it when i brag her up on there but she deserves the credit. Everyday I have been in the hospital she has slept in a cot next to me. It's just REALLY nice to have someone there. I start to think a little to much about things when im alone.

I have to admit that its weird being here. There is ALOT of really sick people on this floor... I feel like I shouldn't be here. My energy is still really high and attitude is good and positive.

I got a book from my buddy Aaron the other day. It was the Lance Armstrong book, Its not About The Bike The journey back to Life." I skipped to the section where he talks about getting the chemo and treatment. He scared the crap outta me. Maybe in a way though it prepared me for the worst. I feel completely fine right now but I know that i have 4 1/2 more days of this. I might not be so fine on the 5th day.

Ryan

Me getting my first Bag of Chemo (day 1)