Not Feeling Good

Gus has not felt very good lately. Eating has lost its appeal and as a result, Gus has lost almost 5 pounds. The CA 19-9 blood work taken in Sheridan last Tuesday, June 23 was 61. Their normal range is 37. The CA 19-9 has continued to rise since April 28th when it was 31 with Bozeman's levels of normal being 50. Gus has been experiencing pain in his abdomen and this morning he woke up to extreme back pain. We decided this morning to call the doctor and get the CT scan moved up instead of waiting until July 14. Gus will do a CT scan in Dillon in the morning. We do not know yet when we will see the oncologist for the results. Gus and I both wished we had more faith in CT scans than we do.

To keep all of this in perspective, Gus is doing more physically than he has since getting sick a year ago. He is in the process of painting the inside of our home and yesterday painted the cathedral ceiling in our living room. That would give any of us back pain. All the questionable signs we are seeing with Gus could have logical reasons. We just want to be on the cautious side if the cancer has become active again.

Throughout this walk, Gus has truly tried to live outside the darkness of cancer. That is why he has seized his moments every chance he got. He pushed himself on his golfing trip; he pushed himself on his walk in the Relay for Life, and he is pushing himself on painting. All of these were things he did not need to do, but things he wanted to do. Gus is an example to all of us on how we should live.