Before Phillip’s PET scan on Saturday, February 21, we carved out time for a much-needed date night at 6Smith. For a few hours, we set aside the weight of worry and simply enjoyed being together. We dined on tartare, lobster, bread with gourmet butters, and heirloom carrots. It was such a wonderful date night and we soaked up the normalcy. Phillip went to bed early to ensure he could "ace" his test the next day. We were told the PET scan results would be "rushed" so we could

Here we are, back in Minnesota's gray chill, settling once again into the rhythm of chemo cycles. During our cruise, we soaked up every ray of sunshine, every degree of warmth, and every moment of normalcy we could gather. It was the perfect way to recapture joy in the midst of maintenance chemo. There were learning curves for all of us, especially for Phillip's family, during buffet breakfasts, when Phillip needed to ease into the day at his own pace. He captured it perfectl

We had our virtual appoint with Dr. Thiels from the Mayo on January 8th. This was a much anticipated appointment - would this be path toward a No Evidence of Disease (NED) life for Phillip? Would our anxiety (ok, my anxiety), be put to ease because science and expertise are in front of us? My Type A personality could not prepare for this appointment because I had no idea what direction the meeting would go. It became clear as Dr. Thiels began talking that surgery was off the

The last maintenance cycle deviated from our expectations, instead bringing extreme fatigue and nausea. These unforeseen symptoms during "easy" chemo highlighted the unpredictability of a cancer journey, reminding us that assumptions should never be made. Over the past two weeks, I know I was particularly annoying to Phillip by repeatedly asking, "How are you feeling?" and "Do you need anything?" As a caregiver, there's a feeling of helplessness when the person you love and c