MY HUSBAND WILL LIVE.

After having an awesome appointment with the radiologist, we felt on top of the World.  They were very concerned with Dusty's weight loss and wanted him to eat more of a balanced diet rather than a vegan diet.  He needs to keep his body strong because the next step is going to be draining and make him very weak.  This was music to our ears.  We were both getting exhausted of always having to think so much about eating.  It was never really easy for us.  I mean, the food we ate, we enjoyed but it was always a process to decide what to cook.  We are still going to make healthy choices but he needs to eat fish and chicken to keep his muscles strong.  He will have a hard time swallowing while on radiation so what he does swallow needs to be high in caloric value.

The radiologist did not have the results from the CEA yet so we didn't get those answers just yet.  Another day of waiting for answers.  I hate the waiting game.  He did tell us that our oncologist is very particular about the CEA levels being low.  He wants to make sure there are not any micro-matasstis in the rest of the body before starting radiation.  Radiation treats just the effected area, chemo treats the entire body.  The higher the CEA level, the greater the chances of the cancer spreading.

Thursday morning we had our appointment with the oncologist.  This is it!  We've been waiting for this for almost three months.  The doctor came in and sat down.  The blood center didn't test Dusty's CEA levels.  I almost fainted.  The doctor left the room and I immediately called the doctor's office back in Augusta and had them give me his CEA results over the last 8 months.  Dusty had his blood taken prior to his last chemo treatment and his CEA was at a 29.  In three treatments it had gone from a 94 to 29 and he had the fourth treatment after the 29 blood work.  I explained all of this to the doctor.  I'm sure it was a sight.  Me, explaining this to a World renown oncologist.  I felt like I was pleading for my husband's life.  Like I was begging him to accept us.  He wants the CEA to be around a 10.  But, he accepted us.  He said it was time for us to move to Houston.  AAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!  YES! YES! YES!  Oh thank you God.  Thank you so much!  


We start chemo/radiation on July 2 in Houston.  6 weeks of daily chemo and daily radiation.  It is going to suck.  It is going to be hard.  But,  MY HUSBAND WILL LIVE!

We got to the car and I lost it.  I laid in Dusty's chest and cried for the first time in a long time.  I've been so positive and kept such a strong face for weeks and it finally caught up with me.  Finally, I felt like all of my words came true.  We are going to beat this.


Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressively returning cancers.  Once you make it to five years, you are in the clear.  We will take this day by day.

This is our future.

We arrived Tuesday, prior to a horrible storm.  It was raining so hard that we decided to go straight to the hotel.  I'm still working on learning my way around Houston and I don't want to learn in a monsoon with Houston traffic.  We unloaded and went to our room.  I prayed that the rain would let up.  There is nothing worse than being stuck in a hotel with the big fat elephant.  We have learned to deal with it in Augusta and life is back to normal, well as normal as possible.  But, in Houston, there is no escaping that we are there for cancer.

The rain let up and we went out to dinner.  Dinner was awkward again.  Back to the blank stares and meaningless conversations.

We had to get to bed early.  Dusty had a PET/CT scan at 6:00 am on Wednesday morning.  This is the biggest test of our lives.  We have been sick about this test.  Basically, what this test will determine is if his tumors have spread or continued to grow during chemotherapy, there is nothing else that they can do for us.  Nothing they can do?????  This is the best cancer facility in the WORLD.  ?  


I didn't sleep at all.  I tossed and turned all night.  You can't imagine what it is like to wonder if your world is going to be ripped away from you.  To constantly worry if you're going to be a widowed mother of two.  I don't even know if I could continue without him.  He is my life.  My boys' lives.

On the way to the hospital we talked about how we can handle anything.  We are a great team: Dusty's strength, and my determination; we can handle anything!  I think!


Dusty's PET scan took about 2.5 hours.  Then, he had to go give blood.  The doctors want to see if his CEA levels are low enough to start adding radiation to his treatments and start treating locally (his esophagus) instead of only doing chemo which treats his whole body.  We finished everything and went straight to see the radiologist.  He said our PET/CT scan has already been uploaded to the system.    Gulp!  This is it, this is our future......


"I don't see anything else.  I see that your body is reacting correctly to the chemotherapy and your tumors are shrinking."  Wait, what????  What did you just say???  Seriously?  We celebrated, cheered, danced, laughed, etc.  Oh you have no idea.  It was so great!  Then, the doctor said, "BUT."  No "buts", you're not allowed to have "buts", this is our moment.  HUSH!  "But, the oncologist has to read it and makes the ultimate call on your plan."

Golf Charity Event

We have had many ups and downs lately but I can honestly say that Monday, June 18 will forever hold a special place in my heart.  I saw my husband happy, I mean truly happy for the first time in months.  We had a BLAST at the golf charity event at Jones Creek, hosted by Ryan Forester and David Lewis.  It was such a special day.  The day started with free lunch and range balls and a silent auction filled with many great golf memorabilia's and other items.  Augusta native, Vaughn Taylor and Matt Bettencourt, married to Kelly Rush (Augusta girl!), sponsored the event.  Both PGA players sent in items and clubs to auction off.

ONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF DUSTY'S LIFE:

Matt Bettencourt gave Dusty a Taylormade Driver that he actually used on tour!  Dusty was invited to do the honorary tee off.  It was so special.  I had chills!  Dusty is just a "for fun golfer" and when he drives the ball it is possible that he will be taking a mulligan!  But, not this day.  Nope, not at all.  He slammed that ball.  It was beautiful.  I know he was soooooo nervous.  He had about 60 people watching him.  It was so great!

Thank you to all who came out and played and supported my family.  Special thanks to Ryan Forester and David Lewis for all of their hard work.

Thank you to Jones Creek for allowing us to take over the afternoon.

Thank you to all of the sponsors.

Thank you to Joel Ferrara for your donation.

Thank you to my favorite guys: Steve, Marcus, and Jason!  You guys are the BEST!

Thank you to Michelle for helping me get some golf items to auction off.

Hope for the Haydens

I'm am so touched by  all of the people in my life.  I am surrounded by the best.  Friends, family, and Augusta have stepped up in a time of need and I'm forever grateful.  Thank you to all.

On Saturday, June 16, my daycare family held a family fun day, Hope for the Haydens.  It was a great time.  Blue Ridge Daycare is such an amazing daycare.  All members are like a family together.  We are a tight knit group and we all support each other.  The love that has poured out of the faculty at Blue Ridge has been so warming.  The teachers love my boys like they are their own.  Thank you for giving them extra attention in a time of need.

Red Robin also helped host the Hope for the Haydens.  My long time friend, Katie Dyches who works for Red Robin, brought the Red Robin team out and provided all of the food.  Thank you guys!

Thank you to the following people/companies for your donations and baskets for the silent auction:

Cracker Barrell (basket) - Evans

Palm beach tan (gift certificate)  - Evans (publix shopping center)

Paradise kennels - gift certificate.          ( Martinez)

Music & Computer pals - baskets

Ladybugs flowers & gifts - basket (Evans)

Jiffy Lube - gift certificates ( Joseph Lane)

Applebee's (gift cards)

Windsor ( pandora bracelet)

Dale Howell - basket(assistant director at daycare)

Lynne Johnson - basket

Simply Beautiful Photography - gift certificate (misty Maphis)

P & J's Bouncing Fun Inflatables

Advance Auto Parts - tool set (bill britton)

Modish Salon - 2 hair cuts (Sarah Smith)

Wal-mart - $200 for game supplies( Thompson and bobby jones)

Panera Bread - baked goods

The ultimate ride and fitness- free week certificate

Bee-lite - gift certificate

Beverage South - drinks

Pepsi - drinks

Coca-cola - drinks

General Wholesale - drinks

Red Robin - food

At Last Productions - gift certificate (cherie Barnett )

Rick Milton photography - gift certificate

Butler Automotive - gift certificates

Jennifer Langley with PartyLite - basket

5 O'clock Bistro - basket

Parkway Baptist Church (venue)

Chili's - gift card

Zaxbys - gift card

Wild wings - gift card

Bird dog grille - gift card

Sonic - gift card

Martina's flowers and gifts - gift card

Surrey Center Pharmacy - items for silent auction

Carolina Ale House - gift cards

Evans Animal Hospital - basket

DJ - John Burleson

Giving Thanks

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped with the carwash on Saturday.  We raised a lot of money and had a great time.  I am truly blessed by lots of love.  Thank you to all of the sponsors and to all of those who came out and showed their support.

Thank you to all of the Street and Trail staff for allowing us to set up camp in your building and parking lot.  You were all wonderful hosts.

Thank you to Amber Cave, Sabrina, Melissa Bailie Cave, Elaine Sparks and everyone else who helped arrange the sponsors and get the gifts for auction.

Thank you to Emily and Dallas Williams and TJ Byrd and Brian Newman for buying and cooking all of that yummy BBQ!

Thank you to Chad Stawicki and Hooters for supplying and cooking all of the yummy wings and bites.  I have been on veggies for about 5 weeks and I cheated and ate some chicken bites and they were delicious!  Also, thank you to the beautiful Stawicki girls for helping wash cars.  You two are precious.

Thank you to Marianne Flanders for working so hard and doing such a great job.  Thanks for being you!

Thank you to my family who came out and helped wash cars, hold signs, and sell baked goods.  Mom, Dad, Aunt Sandra, Aunt Alison, Dolly, Sue, Bre, Kevin and Brooklen.

Thank you to Rachel Moats for your expert camera skills.  I'll post some to my blog once she gets them up.

Thank you to Brie Wells Tucker for working so hard.

Thank you to Miss Carly and Miss Brandy for helping wash cars.  You gals ROCK!

Thank you to Chris and Ann for your expertise in sign holding!  :)

Thank you to Erin Smith for watching my babies!

Thank you to Nicole Willis Stansell and her mother, Sandy Willis Lott, for your continued support.

Thank you to Melissa Cave for looking so sexy and drawing in all the cars!  :)

And Thank you to everyone who came out and bought shirts and bracelets and got your car washed.

A special thanks to the Christian Motorcycle Association.  God brought us together so that we could meet Elaine and Bill.  They are special people and have forever touched our lives.  Elaine is an esophageal cancer survivor and had the esophagectomy surgery.  It was great to talk with her and pick her brain a little.  We have gained a new grandma!  :)

AMBER CAVE YOU'RE AN AMAZING FRIEND AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU.  THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.  YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH MY FAMILY APPRECIATES EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE.  HE IS ONE LUCKY GUY.

Thank you for all of your love and support.

I'm sorry that I haven't blogged in a while but I don't have any updates.  Dusty is doing exceptionally well  with his chemo treatments.  This week is chemo week and he is doing great.  Of course he has his days but all in all he is doing very well.  Yesterday was his last chemo treatment in Augusta.  We fly out to Houston on June 19 to redo his scans and re-evaluate with the doctor.  Please continue to pray for Dusty.  Pray that his chemo treatments are working and shrinking his tumors.  Pray that he does not have anymore tumors and that his cancer has stayed localized.

Thank you to The Knights of Columbus and the Sheehan family for throwing the BBQ for us last Friday night.  Thank you to all that came out and supported us.  We greatly appreciate all of the love and support that you all are giving us.

Don't forget to swing by Street and Trail Saturday, June 9, between 10:00 - 2:00 to get your bike or car washed and join in on the Poker Run.  Thank you to Amber Cave for all of your hard work putting this together for my family.  Thank you to all of the sponsors: Tournament Housing & Events, HBH Inc Pools, SFC Contract Services, Southern Landscaping, Fine Lines Tattoo, Claeys McElroy-Magruder & Kitchens, Austin Ornamental Iron Works, GaLina Plumbing & Remodeling, Jiffy Lube, and BP Stucco.