Hello Warriors! I can't help but go back to when we were in the hospital getting ready to head home. We had no idea that the very next day everything was going to suddenly change. We had come to expect the unexpected during the long journey battling his cancer. But through every treatment, appointment, recovery, we still had hope and were able to fight the battles. But May 4, 2021, that all changed in a matter of moments. I still haven't processed what the Dr had said with he told us that Keith was looking at 6 months maybe. For the first time since 2012, we had reach the end of the treatments. At that moment we all cried, Dr and his team as well. We will forever be thankful for all they did for us and know they truly felt the pain with us. Keith and I didn't talk much about it, we decided to focus on getting back home and taking little time to process then make sure we told our family in person. That was so hard because we had to fib little on the updates to our loved ones so they didn't have to hear it in text.
Once we made it home, he took a turn and just couldn't stay awake. Before we had time to figure out how was going to tell everyone, he started have a rough episode. I ended up having to call the ambulance to take him to our local hospital. We had experienced episodes like this often where he needed to go get fluids. This trip was going along the line of the previous trips until the end. They were processing him out when decided to do a CT scan just to be safe. Those results came in and more of our world started collapsing. Instead of going home, he was admitted due to changes in his tumor. It was severe. I remember calling the family and telling them they needed to come up. That was such a hard time because I knew then we were not going to be able to soften the blow of the news. I felt the air being knocked out of me shortly after they arrived when the Dr told us it wasn't a matter of months but days. I don't know how I didn't fall out right then, other than I knew I needed to help him through that. I will never forget trying to get him to understand that the 6 months was not going to happen. It tore me to pieces as I watched the hope drain from him.
I have so much pain and trauma from that part of the journey, a lot of it that my body has not allowed me to access yet. I know I've made a lot of progress this year, but as the 3rd anniversary approaches, I feel like I've made none. Starting this foundation to honor him and continue his love for others has been a big help. I look forward to watching it grow and reach others. I am forever thankful for our family and friends cause I know without them I couldn't have survived.
This has been a hard post to write, but I do want to share the journey with each of you. Keith stood by the belief that if what he was going through could help even one person, it was worth it. That is what this foundation stands for. Please feel free to share your journey or ask any questions. You are not alone on this road. Stay strong Warriors!