5 Years Since Cancer

Five years ago; sometimes it feels like yesterday, sometimes a lifetime ago. My mom and I had just gotten to Ethiopia and had to come home. We were in pure shock- the doctors told my dad he had pancreatic cancer and if he didn't act quickly enough he'd most likely have less than a year to live. It was such a whirlwind! Within a couple weeks he had his Whipple and then 6 months of chemo. The next year was when scans showed the cancer had come back to the liver and he was told to "enjoy this time and get all his affairs in order" AND then the miracle happened. This week he had his 5 YEAR check with the oncologist. I'm in awe how this story has panned out and how he beat all odds.
I'm so thankful to have my dad still here. There were (and are) a lot of special moments that my life hadn't seen yet and I'm so beyond thankful he has been here to live them with us.

Here was my post 5 years ago, in 2012:
"It's been a rough week, to say the least, and this is the post we never wanted to make- We left Ethiopia on Thursday and arrived home Friday night. There is no place in the world we would rather be than next to my dad as our family stands together and fights this battle of cancer ahead of us."

That was one of the hardest weeks of my life. The night we found out. Calling a taxi. Bawling in the lobby of our hotel. The phones not really working. Going to the airport in a taxi. I remember texting my brother and telling him I was so angry and him replying with some very comforting words (can't remember what). Trying to find the next plane out. Having to wait 2 days for the next flight. Traveling outside Addis to meet Biruk, the boy our family sponsored-- feeling so happy but yet so sad. Running through the airport on the way home with my mom's hip in so much pain. My mom was so so very strong. It felt like we were in a fog just being dragged so quickly through so many things on that journey.