Helmut’s Journey

This update isn't a health update, but just some musings of mine. Today is Remembrance Day, a day that in the Neufeld house was as important as Christmas. It was the one day of the year that we as a family would go to Remembrance Day service wherever we were living. It was a day where my Dad took pride in teaching us kids the importance of the day and what it meant. He would drive home the importance of remembering and thanking all those who fought for our freedoms from our past. As a little girl I loved watching Dad polish his High Browns...even if he did use spit to shine them up. I may have thought that was gross at the time, but they sure did come out shiny in the end. Then he would put on those pants that looked like he put bananas in the pant legs, it always made me giggle that he had to wear suspenders to keep them up, I only ever saw bigger guys wear suspenders, so seeing my skinny Dad wear them was amusing. My pride would always swell when he would finish off his ensemble ...

Since starting this Blog, I have always said I would be 100% honest with my readers...even if the truth hurts, this journey has not been all teddy bears and bunny rabbits. Yesterday was an emotional day to say the least. I think I had convinced myself that Dad wasn't sick and that I wouldn't see a difference in him since the last time I saw him. But the reality is that there is a difference. This past week was not so good for him...he is in the middle of his 23 days break from Chemo but it is definitely doing things to his body...not so good things, but we are living in faith that with the not so good things that it is doing what its supposed to do, killing the BEAST! At the beginning of the week Dad had become quite unstable and balance was not his friend. Mom also noticed that his memory was lagging and he wasn't as sharp as he normally is. She got on the phone right away with Cancer Care and it was decided to try him on a steroid to hopefully reduce swelling to his brain...

It has been a minute since I have updated the Blog, but when things are going amazingly well and nothing has really changed...I don't have much to write about. Dad has finished his second round of Chemo. With this round they doubled the dose from the first 6 weeks. So he took the Chemo for 5 days and then had a break for 23 days. At his last blood work his platelets have dropped to 100, the Doctor is confident that he can keep them under control which is positive. I just spoke to Mom and the Docs decided not to increase his Chemo for this round but to keep it at the same for the next 5 days and see what happens next month. He starts this round this coming Wednesday. It sounds like this will be the treatment plan going forward with a MRI here and there to see if the BEAST is behaving or better yet dyeing!! Dad said the Doctor is very pleased with how he is doing and feels like things are going in the right direction. Dad's spirits are still as high as ever, and other then less h...

Happy Sunday All!! I went to see Mom and Dad yesterday at Austin and the first thing they said to me was "you haven't updated the Blog yet have you...we have been getting calls all day!" 😜 So I guess I better post an update!! Friday was the day of answers. Were they the answers we wanted....yes and no! But lets back up a bit! Since Dad's last treatment (Bell Ringing Day), he has been living his best life! One thing that I have learned about both my parents is that when faced with adversity they take it by the horns and plough through. I have so much more respect for them then I ever have had. They both are my real life heroes! They have just been enjoying every bit of life with each other and with the rest of us. With the crappy hand we were dealt this summer, I can honestly say it was one of the BEST summers I have ever spent with my parents. We just had a beautiful time with each other, reconnecting, growing and just being together. I thank the Lord for the days he...

Hello all! Just a quick message…not really and update but kinda! Update first: Dads body has decided that it can start regenerating Platelets and White Blood Cells again! Very exciting news! I’m not sure of exact numbers but I know at last test his platelets were in the mid 200’s which is AWESOME!! Now the prayer part: Dad has doctor appointments this coming Friday where his MRI results will be shared and the next steps will be decided! We continue to live in the Faith Beyond the Facts that the tumour is gone! But we will take it one day at a time and deal with whatever they tell us! Thanks for your continued prayers and support! We really appreciate it!! God Bless! ~ Shannon ~

So...we have all been home for over a week and there isn't much to report on. We are all doing very well. But you all want to hear about Dad! He is doing very well as well...or at least as well as can be expected. Mom and Dad stayed in the city until last week Tuesday as Dad's platelet levels were still lower then we wanted. Cancer Care Winnipeg made arrangements for Dad to have his blood tests in Brandon and if he needed another infusion then he could also get that there. So with that news Dad called Nathan right away and made arrangements to move the camper back to Austin Tuesday Morning! Let just say they both were happy to be back "home". They stayed in Austin for a couple of days and then headed back to Shoal Lake where according to Dad "feels amazing to be"! He has had a few blood tests and his platelets did not get low enough for another infusion which is wonderful. Since then his body has been producing its own platelets and as of today they are back...

Where has the last Month gone? I came to be with Mom and Dad on July 12th and in the next 2 hours I will be headed back home and back to some sort of normal. This summer has been one for the history books....the only thing I would change would be Dad's Cancer. In my last post I had said that Tuesday was Dad's 73rd Birthday. We surprised him with close friends of ours, Ron and Lise Mitchler. Them being here was what it took to turn Dads frown upside down. We had a great visit and evening with them. Thank you for surprising him Ron and Lise. Tuesday afternoon Mom had noticed Petechiae on Dads feet and legs which apparently it a sure sign of low platelets. Thank goodness Mom was a nurse...I don't know what anyone else going thru this would do without a nurse in their life. I would have never know what "petechiae" was or what to even look for. Anyway because of the he was scheduled for Platelet Infusion Wednesday afternoon. This procedure takes about 1 1/2 hours and i...