Being Grateful. . .

In order to get a four day Thanksgiving break, the radiation therapy teams worked today (Sunday) so the patients could get four days of radiation before having a four day break.  (The teams were allowed to wear jeans and casual clothes to work today.)

 We asked for an early appointment and were headed out of Salt Lake by 8:23 a.m. this morning.

 We drive past the State Capital building almost every day (that Brendan's out of the hospital).

 Brendan was excited to be headed home -- even if it is only for 24 hours.

Yeah! He's eating an apple!  On the way home Brendan commented on how beautiful the mountains were.  Of course, this time of year they are brown and dry, but after being in a hospital room for weeks on end, they look amazing! Brendan really appreciated the beauty of everything on the way home.  I did too!

He commented that if this hadn't happened to him (meaning the tumor) he never would have appreciated all the wonderful things around him.  He also reflected on how many people were serving him and how he knew they were being blessed for their service.
Brendan also told me about how frightened he had been to have the feeding tube inserted in his nose and down his throat to his stomach this week.  The first time had been bad, so when they had to re-do it the next morning he was quite upset.  He asked Shaun for a priesthood blessing and said he was able to feel completely calm as they worked for an hour trying to unkink the tube.  He was even calm when they had to remove it and re-insert another one.  He is so grateful for the blessing and the calm feeling he had the whole time.

 When we got home, Brendan stepped out of the car and just enjoyed the beauty around him and the joy at being home.

  Tonight he enjoyed a "jam session" while he was hooked up to his feeding tube.  He is eating well by mouth and we are only having to supplement him right now.  He is getting more and more energy each day.  While still very tired, he is gaining some strength back and looking a little less gaunt.   

Tomorrow we head back to Salt Lake for radiation and his clinic check-up.  He also has a school session.  If all goes well, we hope to be headed back home Wednesday afternoon for a long weekend at home!