Failure is not an option

Let’s catch up, shall we?

Recovery from Justin’s spinal debulking and fusion surgery pretty much sucked, still sucks. Wasn’t quite the recovery we were expecting with challenges that still lie ahead. He was more than 12 weeks in his Aspen collar, several weeks in a soft collar, as many PT sessions as insurance would afford, nightly neck rubs, lots of Tylenol, grit, and determination. I still wonder how he does it and with a smile to boot.

A lot has happened at the Yarbrough house, too. Birthdays, a graduation, summer vacay, and sending a chick-a-dee to college (eek!).

In the past couple of weeks, Justin has finally been able to golf again. Shot an 84 just the other day … not bad for a guy with five fused cervical vertebrae. Being on the course does wonders for his psyche and forces stretching and movements he tends to guard during regular activities. I think golfing alone has regained more range of motion than PT. No lie.

So here we are, the end of summer, Bergan in college, Carter in high school, Justin off to Houston … wait, what? Yep, Justin is on his way to Houston to elicit the expertise at MD Anderson. The cancer in his neck is rare, like super rare, like less than 300 new cases in the US per year rare. So, it is imperative he go to a “high volume” hospital. During his first clinical visit earlier this summer, the doctor said “chordoma is rare, but not on this hallway.” That’s when you know you’re in the right place.

After a trip for “mapping” scans and head, neck, and facial molds for treatment, Justin was ready to begin his 7-week regime. Yes, you heard that right, seven weeks of daily radiation treatments. Although MRI imaging of his neck several months post-surgery still indicated no evidence of visible tumor, we all know how sneaky and prolific those cells can be. The plan is to blast it to HECK and I accept no other alternative.

Radiation has come a long way in the past decade or so. Justin’s treatments will be of the proton variety and although I can’t say I know much about it, I do know it’s fancy and insurance doesn’t like to approve it. (And in all honestly, I’ve been burying my head in the sand with this one) The biggest benefit of this particular technology is it can get exceptionally close to the spine (or other structures) without causing damage and that’s a big deal. Of course Justin has some compounding issues, for instance, scoliosis and oh yeah, let’s not forget, claustrophobia.

We’ll have lots to chat about over the next two months, so I won’t bore you with all the details today.

Please pray for my husband, for his strength and will, for healing and recovery, for a clear sight of better days to come. Pray for our family, that the kids maintain their faith and focus on life’s most precious gifts.

As always, I will keep you posted on all things Justin right here. You’re always welcome to reach out to me or Justin directly.

Much love,

Christina