My Toes Hurt!

So I can't let Brian have all the fun at the Dr.  I had hurt my left foot several years ago and damaged the nail bed but just ignored it. Then I hurt my right foot while redoing the deck. Both my big toes kept getting ingrown because of the damage. I was tired of it so went to a foot dr. He decided to remove both my toenails! He says it will give the nail beds time to heal and then hopefully grow back correctly. Meanwhile, this is what they looked like a few days post dr. YUCK!

 

Distraction

     We have been so numb about the news of cancer recurrence that we went to Bledsoe Creek State Park as a distraction. It was very hot so we sat at a picnic table and some deer came over! Brian offered her some crackers and she came closer and closer. Then her spring baby came closer with her newborn baby! Never saw that before! Check out these pictures!

Look how close she got!

Even the squirrel had to get involved!

Can you see both babies?

Full of crackers now... family headed home.

Not The News We Wanted To Hear

     We have had a very relaxing summer. We have traveled to Arkansas and to Gatlinburg. We went crystal mining while in Arkansas and ruby and sapphire mining while in Gatlinburg. We actually traveled from Gatlinburg to Franklin, NC to do the mining. Then we came home to see the oncologist and have a CT scan.
     On Thursday August 9, 2018, we went to Vanderbilt's Ingram Cancer Center again. Brian had a CT scan at the hospital and then we went to see a new oncologist. Dr. Johnson is the head of the melanoma clinic at Vanderbilt. The news he shared was not horrible but great either. Another spot in his right lung...very small...but there. Advised us to come back in 3 months for another CT scan. We were OK with that even though we were hoping for no cancer at all. Then we got a message from Dr. Johnson on Friday. He had called Brian's cell phone several times and couldn't reach him. Of course, we called him right back. The news he shared was devastating to us. Brian has several spots of cancer in various places in his body. Dr. Johnson wants to start treatment again. He will agree to waiting 8 weeks but not more than that to repeat the CT scan and start treatment. We were supposed to call him back today (Monday the 13th) and conference about options. Brian couldn't make it happen...maybe tomorrow. I'm not sure what our options are right now. We are numb. Here is the CT report:

     Here are some pictures from our travels while we were blissfully unaware of any bad stuff.

Great guitar playing!

Brian and Miss Arkansas!

A ruby I found!

Brian finally met Santa Claus!

This big bear came to our hotel every night!