One Day At a Jeffing Time!

This week has been about the quiet battles. The throat irritation has really settled in, making swallowing even harder. Fatigue sinks in deeper each day, saliva thickens, and I would do a lot to be able to even taste water right now. My protein shakes are my only calorie intake, and at this point getting enough down to maintain my weight is simply my full time job. I sleep more than I probably ever have before, but I know my body needs it.  Every day is still a step forward, but the weight of it all is undeniable. And yet… the “almost there” moments are finally starting to feel real. This coming week is my last full week of treatment. After today, I have six radiation sessions left. My last chemo is on Wednesday, the 20th and my final radiation treatment is Tuesday, the 26th. The finish line isn’t just a dream anymore, it’s right in front of me. Still, I know this last week will test me in ways I haven’t felt yet. I am ready to hear the sounds of those bells ringing. This past week...

The first half of this week continued on from the last. Still feeling pretty nauseous, weak, and unable to get much food down. It’s amazing how much something as simple as eating becomes such a challenge. Time moved slow this week, which makes everything feel a bit heavier. My weight is my biggest battle, after my first chemo I lost a bit then was able to bounce back, this one not as much. But the doctors told me that in order to keep going, and feel better I have to try my best. So I give it my all.  Wednesday I went in for a hydration infusion, and by Friday I could finally feel the tide turning. Since then, I’ve been able to get down 4–5 high-calorie shakes a day to keep my weight steady. It’s not the kind of “meal plan” I’d ever choose, but right now it’s my job.  Then came the moment that made the whole week brighter. On Tuesday, I got a call from my doctor with the kind of news you hold on to, the tumor has been shrinking so rapidly that they can reduce the size of the ...

The back half of this week has been, without question, the toughest part of the journey so far. Round two of chemo hit different. Solid food became impossible, and even water felt like climbing a mountain. On top of that, the radiation side effects that began to show up last week my taste is gone, saliva thick and relentless. Layer chemo on top of that, and it’s just brutal. There is no other way to put it.  There are moments when you realize this isn’t something you can always push through. Cancer doesn’t always let you fight, it demands that you surrender, even if just for a moment. But I haven’t given up. Not even close.  Today, I managed to get a few protein shakes down. That might not seem like much, but to me it’s a win. Right now, progress doesn’t look like leaps, it looks like sips. And I’m learning to honor every one of them. This isn’t a sprint it’s a long, uneven marathon. And I’m still in it. There’s something about reaching this point that makes everything fee...

This week brought a new layer to the journey, radiation side effects have started to show up, and I’ve officially lost my sense of taste, a lot of foods have an awful after taste. So I’m learning what I can and can’t get down. It’s a strange thing, eating without flavor, but I know it’s just part of the process, it’s not a pleasure to eat anymore but I know I have to. Even with the hard stuff, I still feel incredibly blessed. The support, the prayers, the check-ins they carry me more than people probably realize. Looking ahead, it’s a big week. Another round of chemo on Wednesday, and I know what that brings and I’m not looking forward to it. But once I get through this one, I’ll be over the halfway hump. That’s a milestone I’ve had my eye on since the beginning. It’s going to get tougher before it gets easier, I know that. But I’m doing my best to find one thing each day that gives me purpose or keeps me going. Some days it’s a walk, a laugh, a good conversation. Some days it’s ju...

This week felt like a small win and around here, we celebrate the wins. After days of feeling completely wiped from chemo, I finally started to turn the corner on Sunday. The fog lifted a bit. The nausea eased up and things started to feel manageable again. To top it off, my blood work came back all normal. After everything my body’s been through these past few weeks, that was a huge relief. It gave me a little boost of confidence that this fight is moving in the right direction. AND I even got out on the golf course. Twice. Once with my buddies and once with my son-in-law. Just being out there laughing and swinging, it felt great to have a sense of “normal”. I know not every week will be like this one. But this week was good. And I’m learning to take each good day as it comes and to be really, deeply grateful for it. Thanks for sticking with me. Week 2 done, bring on week 3! -JD/JK

First, I want to say thank you. The amount of love, messages, support, and strength I’ve felt from friends and family has meant more than I can put into words. It’s made the hard days easier and the good days even more meaningful. I never realized how much an encouraging text or a simple “thinking of you” could lift me up until now. So thank you  After week one of treatment being completed I can officially say, chemo sucks. More specifically, Cisplatin sucks, which is the specific type of chemo I am on. It’s rough, the nausea, the fatigue, the fog. I knew treatment wouldn’t be easy, but chemo has a way of knocking you down in ways you can’t quite prepare for. You push through it because you have to, but it’s no joke. On the flip side radiation has been manageable so far. I know it’ll get tougher, but for now, I’m feeling grateful that it hasn’t hit me as hard. One day at a time. If you’re reading this and you’re scared to go in and get checked don’t be. I feel incredibly luc...