Today is a great day!

I know it has been some time since we've posted anything. Sorry about that.

Happy New Year everyone!

We had a great Christmas, thanks to our family and friends.

Our precious Dakota

The first of December didn't start out the best. Our dog (Eddie's dog) Dakota is no longer with us. She has been by Eddie through all of this. She lived a happy 14+ years with us. Her brother Red is still with us. He wasn't happy and kept looking for her. That was the sad part. Sandy on the other hand, I don't think she cared.

Eddie was not a happy man at all.

Anyway enough of that sad news.

Now for the good news.

A week ago Eddie and I went to an adoption event for Helping Heelers Hell. We went to see one dog. As hard as Eddie tired to make friends with her, she wasn't the one for us. While Eddie was with her, there was another one named Dewey. He was sweet and kind. We walked around the event for a while. And as we came back by Heelers. Dewey was out with his foster mom. Eddie ask to see him. Enough said, it was love at first sight. We took him home that afternoon.

LaDoux "Doux"

Meet LaDoux (as in Chris LaDoux) we changed his name.  We call him Doux (Dew) for short. It's pretty close to Dewey.

Eddie is a happy, happy man. His a lot littler than our other heelers. He only had to be shown once where the dog door was located.

Eddie is back with walking everyday. He takes Doux for a walk to the Blonde. It's a mile from our house. They either walk back or I pick them up. Doux is a hit.

Now for the GREAT news!

Eddie is cancer free!

He had a PET scan last week and got the results today. Completely negative from ears to his knees.

Because Eddie is this trial at Mayo for two years, they asked him today if he would do it for 5 years. He'll have to go anyway for follow-ups and he was like why not. If it can help someone else down the road.

Eddie is back at work (he never really stopped, just slowed down a little). He still runs out of energy but everyday is getting better and better.

Eddie doesn't drink Crown anymore. He's into beer, Madelo that is.

Thank you to our family and friends for all the support. We can't thank you enough.

More picts of Doux.

Sandy's like WTF who's in my spot.

Doux loves his toy.

Eddie's walking the dogs to the mailbox.

Someone is happy in his new home.

In Eddies words

Radiation Done!

Words from Eddie. I just typed them for him through my tears. 

My last session was Tuesday. It’s been a humbling journey. I’m cancer free and a very lucky man. The sights that I’ve seen in the last 30 days of treatment of the children, men and women who have endured far more than I ever had will be etched in my mind and in my thoughts and prayers forever. 

I wish to thank all of you who sent your thoughts, prayers, text messages, emails, calls, lunch dates and stopping by the house. Because of all your support gave me the strength to fight through it. 

But the people I want to thank the most are, my wife Mary Ann, my girls Crystal and Maria, my in-laws Fred and Mary, my brother and sister in-law Rick and Megan and of course my nephew Grant. Without them I could not have done it. 

The strongest advice came to me at 4:00 in the morning for when she said for better or worst. I love you, Mary Ann. 

So now that I’m cancer free and my neck looks like a fried lobster and my Jason mask is ready for Halloween come join us at The Dirty Blonde on Saturday, October 20 from 2-6 to celebrate me being cancer free. 

The Dirty Blonde Tavern

4929 W Chandler Blvd.

Chandler, Az

https://g.co/kgs/N16WHG

8 Days to Go!

It's been awhile since I updated last. Sorry about that. I've been a little busy these days.

Eddie only has 8 more radiation treatments! His last treatment is October 16. He'll still have to go to Mayo but not everyday. He's put on a lot miles on the truck and cars.

Eddie wants everyone to know that he is doing good and is thankful everyday.

He is ready to get back to work. I'm ready for him to get back to work. He is taking it slowly. So, if you need your car worked on give him a call.

This weekend we are headed up to NAU for parents weekend. It'll be nice to get out of this weather and into the cool pines of Flagstaff.

8 days down 22 to go

I know it’s been a week or so for an update. Last weekend Eddie went down to Inde. He felt so good he took out the race car. He was very happy. I personally want to thank Pete for taking him down and keeping an eye on him.

Eddie physical therapist wasn’t to happy about him in the race car. He was really sore. Eddie realized just how much muscle he’s lost.

This weekend Eddie went up to Flagstaff to have dinner with Maria on Friday. Saturday he is giving golfing a try. So, he’s in Williams with our friend Toby in a golf tournament.

The nurses at Mayo tell him it’s all about positivity. So he’s trying to live as normal as possible.

The good thing for me I get sometime to myself!

3 days downs!

These photos he actually said to put them on the blog. Any other time he didn't want photos of him. It reminds me of the movie "Friday the 13th." He gets to keep it when he's done. Just what I need!

Eddie has completed 3 days of radiation.

He said the first day he had a little freak out moment. The mask wouldn't allow him to see and he made them stop. He told them he needed to see "I'm used to wearing a helmet for racing" they had to go get an engineer to look at it and they were able to cut holes for his eye.

Every day it gets a little easier he said. So far he's doing great. They mentioned that the last two weeks he'll notice some changes. His last day is October 16 for radiation. There are some days were he'll have 5 or 6 appointments in one day. And, other day he might have two appointment and not close in time. sometimes he drives to Mayo twice a day. I told him to keep track of the mileage for taxes!

Everytime he goes to physical therapy they make him work a little harder. I have to remind him to do his exercises at home.

If you want to talk to Eddie give him a call. He's speech is good. His appetite, no problems there!

First day of radiation

Here’s a throwback photo of Eddie from 10 years ago!

Tomorrow (09-05) is Eddie's first day of radiation. If you have a minute send him a quick text.

Eddie will have radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. He also have physical therapy and meets with a nutritionist.

Eddie is doing great. He’s spirits are great.

Last weekend Eddie went to Inde Motorsport. He delivered one car and picked up two others. Plus, he worked on the race car. He came home exhausted but he said it felt really good to be there.  I want to thank Pete for going down to Wilcox and helping Eddie with the race car.

The next step

Sorry I haven't been keeping up on the blog. We've had a lot of changes in my office and it's been a little stressful and I'm exhausted by the time I get home.

First off Eddie met with the physical therapist and she took one look at him and said he was not ready and she would see him in 10 days.

On Tuesday we met with oncologist. Two fantastic doctors. Eddie had one lymph node on each side of his neck test positive for cancer. That means radiation treatment. He'll go 5 days a week for 6 weeks. He'll also meet with a speech therapists, nutritionist and more physical therapy. He had to go see our dentist and have him sign-off for the treatment.

Good news is NO CHEMO!

Our dentist Dr. Oto and his staff have been great through all of this.

We were given three options for treatment. Two are different trails. Eddie choose this trial because it was less radical. The type of radiation he'll receive is call Proton Radiation. Here's a link that explains it better than I can. It reminds of something from Back to the Future movie.

"In proton therapy, energy is carried by protons — the positively charged particles in an atom. Protons are raised to a high energy level by a powerful machine called a particle accelerator."

Proton Beam Therapy

Monday Eddie has to be at Mayo by 6:40 a.m. they will make this mesh mask that hooks to the table along with some other tests. Not sure when the radiation treatment will start. I'm assuming soon. 

Eddie is hoping that radiation will be done so he can get back to what he loves "Vipers and race cars." The new race season at Inde Motorsports in Wilcox starts mid October.

Maria is headed back up to NAU on Tuesday, August 21. Life will definitely be quieter around the house.

I'll write more soon.