“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” – Psalm 136:1
Dear family and friends,
I was informed by my dearly beloved better half today that I am not cutting it in the cancer beating department and that I need to step up my game. What prompted such an admonition from the boss? Well, I’m moving to Plan B for cancer treatment.
A few months ago, I had an unusual after image in my vision that’s sometimes called kaleidoscope vision. They didn’t think it was cancer-related, but thought I should get a brain MRI. Also, I had a CT scan of the neck and torso last week that came back as stable, except that they got a little peek into the bottom of the brain and were concerned about something they saw there. Another reason to do the brain MRI. By the way, I hadn’t had a brain MRI at all during episode 2.0. I suspect that was because I didn’t have any physical symptoms of brain tumors, and having brain tumors disqualifies a patient for many clinical trials. I believe my doctor acted ethically and in my best interest, so let’s leave it at that.
I had the MRI yesterday, on the Catholic Solemnity (feast) of St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He was a husband, father, and worker I aspire to imitate every day.
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| Honoring St. Joseph with these by sockreligious.com |
He was beset by many contradictions which must have tested his faith. And yet he raised a boy into a man who was known for the quality of his work (Mt 13:55, Mk 7:37) and a lot more than that (Mt 27:54). I have asked St. Joseph to pray for me many times throughout my years of fatherhood, but especially this last year.
When I checked in for the exam, I was pleasantly surprised by the extreme thoughtfulness communicated to me with my gown packaging. Yes, you read that correctly.
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| Words I’m fascinated by here: so, enjoy, was chosen, especially |
I’ve got 5 brain tumors, the largest of which is 18mm in diameter. Still no other symptoms, and I feel fine. My doctor said, however, that it’s time for Plan B.
Tuesday I go in for a consult with radiation oncology about zapping the brain tumors. My doctor says that outcomes fall in on a spectrum from “cancer gives you the finger” (his medical terminology) to “tumors go away and never come back.” We won’t know until I get the treatment (10-15 sessions in 2-3 weeks), but you don’t want to hear about the last guy who gave me the finger.
After radiation I’ll go on a drug which is an FDA-approved therapy which targets the particular gene mutation I have. The doctor characterized the efficacy of this drug in similar terms as the radiation. Might not work great, might work great. Most patients have beneficial effect of the drug, but only 15% have very lasting effects. So it’s a 1-2 punch, and he says he has a lot of faith that I can do very well with it.
Side effects are likely to be there: fatigue from both, and possibly fever, chills, and headaches from the drug. I’m very likely to be able to tell I’m on a drug, which is different than the last several months, but apparently not like my ol’ pal interferon, which I do not badmouth but rather give thanks for.
I’m not deluded into thinking this will be the cakewalk the last 10 months have been, but I’m planning to be just as hilarious as ever. Hey, it’s Lent. It’s the time to thank God for the Cross, so that’s what I’ve got to do. Again, I don’t know why he picked me for this team, but he did, so here I am. I came here to do two things: write this blog post and kick cancer in the teeth. I’m almost done with this blog post. I’ll keep you posted on the radiation plan. Meanwhile, we’ll gratefully accept your prayers while I get to work on getting back on the boss’s good side.
Okay, let me finish up with something I’ve actually been much more focused on – a moment I’m incredibly grateful to have been able to experience. This voicemail:
Seriously, what guy diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic cancer in 2007 thinks he’ll get to listen to the greatest voicemail a dad has ever been left, a full 12 years later? There’s so much there: the “um”, the nonchalant utterance “ripped in half”, the fact that he’s convinced that dad will know “what’s the best thing to do with them.”
Life is so very good. It’s a wonderful life.
With fortitude and prayers for you,
Jim
Praying for you and your family. Your cheerfulness and whit are inspiring. What courage in the face of the cross! Hang in there!
Thanks for your prayers! You're getting ours as well.
Kendra has inspired me for years, and our family culture has changed significantly as a result of her books and blog presence. But you have changed my prayer life radically, Jim, and your lens of overwhelming gratitude and strength in the face of cancer humbles me. We will continue to lift you in prayer. "De Oppressor Liber" is our regimental motto, but it applies in a spiritual sense as well.
Get ‘em.
(this comment was written with you in mind, especially for you, chosen for you for your… outstanding experience?)
Ok, first…that is by far One. Of. The. Best. Voicemails…ever, hands down! Second…so, so many prayers coming your way. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us. You, Kendra and your whole family are true blessings to this earth! You are a tough cookie, so I am expecting a butt kicking on the cancer scene!! God Bless You!
Thanks, Katie. Daily prayers for your intentions, too!
Well…according to at least one package, I DO deserve the best. Thanks. Please put my goddaughter on the case, and I'm sure this will get handled.
Bobby 👏 The possum 😮😂 Saving that voicemail was such an incredibly good decision. Many continued prayers Tierney family!!!! We are with you for Plan B!
Nice. My former 11th Marine Regiment actually didn't have a motto that I'm aware of, but my 5th Battalion did: The Spirit of St. Barbara. I'm thinking that radiation treatment is a lot like "The Thunder of St. Barbara." When combined with De Oppressor Liber, I think we're on to something. Thanks for your prayers, and be assured of ours!
Thank you!
Praying for you, Jim. God Bless You.
Hello from Maine! I stumbled across your blog last spring, and just recently came across your wife's blog (that's a beautiful chapel at your house!) Just want you to know that our family is praying for you. GREAT voicemail! : ) and congratulations on baby #10. God bless you!
Thank you!
Thank you! We are praying for you, too.
Blessings to you as you continue to fight and thank you for your witness of strength in adversity.
Prayers for you! You'll be in our family's Rosary intentions tonight. I hope cancer has a big gap-toothed frown (from having its teeth kicked out) a short time from now. God bless.
My husband and I have now listened to the voicemail 3 times. It is hilarious and wonderful. Honestly, I suspected I might end up in tears after reading this blog post, but I never dreamed they would be tears of laughter. 🙂
You and your family remain in our prayers!
Praying to St Joseph to intercede for you and your family. God can do anything and will never be outdone in generosity, so I’m asking big.
Thank you! You are in our prayers, too.
Thank you! Love that image!
Thank you! My life is funny, cancer or not!
Amen. Your prayers are much appreciated!
“It’s a Wonderful Life!” My fave! And so is your wife. So thankful I happened to find her book, which has transformed our homeschooling, and now your blog. Many prayers for you as you gracefully handle what He has written. Peace be with you and your beautiful family.
Thank you! You're getting a lot of prayers from us, too.
Many, many prayers to you and your family. You're such a good writer–I dearly wish you never had a reason to start this sort of blog, but your writing is just wonderful, I guess it runs in the family. I give cancer the finger!
Prayers for you and your family. God bless you and keep you.
Hi bro, thanks for sharing. From today till the day we kick cancer in the teeth, you're number one on my daily Mass intentions.
God Bless you and family.
You and your family are in my prayers! Like others above have stated, you and your wife are an inspiration to so many people. Thank you for taking your precious time to share. I want to share a link with you to a website called Chris Beat Cancer. https://www.chrisbeatcancer.com You may already know about it and may already eat a cancer fighting diet. I wanted to share just in case.
May God bless you and your family.
Praying hard for you Jim! Stay strong . We are MC!
I’ve been inspired by your wife’s blog and your family witness! Count on prayers from the east coast! My dad had a rare form of blood cancer with a 5-10% chance and 17 years later he is still cancer free!
Thank you, Laurie! We are praying for you, too!
Thank you! We pray for you daily!
That's strong, Eric. I don't know what I'd do without my Ugandan support team! Omnia in bonum!
Thank you, Angie! It's great to have you in our corner!
Dear MC brother, your comment came through as anonymous. I'm grateful for your prayers. Who is this?
Thanks be to God for your dad's successful fight. I like the sound of that outcome – that would get me through almost all the years with teenagers I have remaining :-), and surely through to the next amazing breakthrough. Praying for you, too.
Signing up for some more adoration hours for you!!
Any particular blesseds on the job?
Finding the right blessed to intercede for you has been shown to be 490% more effective than radiation alone.
Thank you! Very grateful for that.
Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, pray for us!
I've seen that research!
One miracle attributed to the intercession of Bl. Alvaro is an American woman who had 100 melanoma tumors in her lungs. Gone.
Praying lots to Don Alvaro. I want to buy socks from sockreligious.com with your face on them, but not anytime soon!
Ha! Not ready for my tapestry to be unfurled at St. Peter's yet, believe me!
I have experienced this journey with my Mother over the last two years. Science is amazing and coming through on the other side of this journey will happen. I am praying for you and your family. May God Bless this season of your life
A lovely voice in the face of a great trial. Your post is a beautiful read and let me assure you of our family's prayers for you!
Protestant prayers from Canada going out to you! I have followed Kendra's blog for a few years now and think your family is pretty fantastic. The way you are walking this difficult road is so inspiring and encouraging.
Thank you, Terri. We will pray for your family, too.
Thanks, Burroughs family! Praying for you, too!
Thank you, Katie! We take all the prayers we can get and happily send some back your way!
Love your writing – even (especially?) in the face of adversity. Your family continues to inspire me daily. And that seriously is the very best voicemail in the history of voicemails. Prayers from Montana!!
Thanks, Ashley! Great to see you recently, and be assured of our prayers.