Helmut’s Journey

Time flies when you are having fun?!?!? Has it been fun though? I guess some parts have been fun...others I could have done away with! Today is 2 years to the day that Mom woke up to Dad having his Seizures, today is 2 years since our world changed forever, today is 2 years since I thought my time with my Dad was up, today is 2 years!! Dad is doing AMAZING by the way...Mom and I were discussing how he is actually looking younger! His hair has grown back thicker and it is no longer grey. He doesn't even have grey in his eyebrows anymore. I went to the movies yesterday here in Winkler and the guy sold me a Seniors Ticket (I'm only 45, so what if my hair is grey)...Dad would probably have to prove he is a Senior with how good he looks! He of course still has his rough days and his memory may not be as good as it once was...but hey the man has been fighting a Brain BEAST for 2 years, give him some slack! We now just wait for the next MRI to see where this journey takes us next. I p...

I am trying to type and update this blog thru the tears running down my face!! This week was MRI week! I have been on pins and needles all morning, and yes...I have news! Life has been busy for all of us since the last update. I was busy planning our District Lions Convention at the end of February, David was Ice Road Trucking for the past 21 days, Jason was doing his thing, and Mom and Dad were living life to the fullest everyday. We all have been trying to live as much of a normal life as we possibly can over these past 21 1/2 months, but it has been hard. Mom and Dad took David and I out for supper last night and on our way home we both agreed that any time we get to spend with them is truly a gift! With David's Mom no longer with us, he and I have really realized that this past year.  This journey has not been a fun one and it has had many ups and downs, hills and valleys, rivers and oceans, but it has been our journey as we have travelled it together as best we can. We have me...

Time for an update to the Blog!! What's with the title you may ask?? When I called Mom and Dad this morning to ask how things were going...Dad summed it up in one sentence..."I have told 100 people...if the Doctors didn't keep telling me I was sick, I would think I was healthy!" Well do I even have to continue with this update? OK I will...because you all apparently like reading it! In my last update, I spoke of Dad's major Chemo Treatment (all in one day, then nothing for 6 weeks). Well after that first round they did bloodwork and you guessed it...his platelets plummeted to 45. So the Doctor said no to more chemo until his levels came back up.  With this round of Chemo Dad has been dealing with dry mouth at night. He has tried different remedies and the best one he has come up with is eating Pickled Herring of all things. I'm thinking it is the salt content that is making his saliva glands go into overdrive!! Best part is...when he returns to bed and tries t...

Where has the last year gone? We have been through many valley’s but we have triumphed through all of them! We could not have done it without all your prayers and support! Thank you! I said I would update the Blog once David and I got back from Cuba…so we are now back after being delayed for 2 days! We were suppose to be home on the 23rd but we landed with Santa Christmas Morning at 415am! After 3 hours of sleep we hit the road for Mom and Dad’s to spend the holiday with them! It was a great weekend! Anyway you want to read about Dad…not me! You last read that Dad was starting a brutal 1 pill Chemo Regiment and then nothing for 6 weeks! Well he is in the middle of that right now except it was 7 pills not 1. He took 2 Antinausia pills, waited an hour and then took 7 Chemo pills and headed to bed. The next morning he took a couple more antinausia pills and again the next day…and you guessed it…our miracle man has not been sick AT ALL!! Dad is amazing everyone with how he is doing! His ne...

I can't believe it is almost Christmas. As I sit here in my cozy home, in front of my Christmas Tree and Christmas Village, watching a Christmas Movie, I am pondering on the past year and a half and am reminded just how lucky we are. When the news first broke in May of 2021 our future looked bleak and completely different then what we are living now. I imagined the future Christmases without my Dad and it broke my heart. Christmas has always been our favourite season in the Neufeld family, and imagining Christmas without him was not something I ever wanted to do. Now we are a month out and Dad is still with us and still fighting the BEAST.  Christmas will be low key this year with probably just David and I going up to see my folks as Dad will be starting a new Chemo Regiment and we are not sure how it will effect him. Yup you read that right...he is starting a new type of Chemo treatment. He had his followup appointment with his Oncologist yesterday in Winnipeg. The results are not...

Hello All!! Just a quick update! Dad finished his first 21 days of chemo on Wednesday and took it on like a champ! He had bloodwork yesterday and a follow up with his Oncologist today...and the news is...his Platelets are up to 240. They were 218 when he started Chemo last month...so this is very excited news!!  His next MRI is on November 16th so I will have a longer update at that time! Keep the prayers coming!! ~Shannon - for the Neufeld's~

It has been just a minute since I updated this Blog...lets just say we have been enjoying our summer and making the best of each day we have been given. Dad has been feeling amazing and has been doing so well. When he first got sick Belle told him he had to fight so he could be at her graduation and celebrate this milestone with her. He did just that! We were at Austin with our Museum family as usual at the end of July and all though he couldn't drive his tractors he still had a great time with all his friends and family. His friend Bill Newton from Saskatchewan was able to make it out so the two of them spent a couple of days catching up and trying to stay out of trouble. I just love this picture I took of them. On the last day of the reunion Dad's friend Jake drove Dad's tractor thru the parade and Dad rode on his combine...his smile when from ear to ear. After Reunion Mom and Dad decided that because Dad was doing so well health-wise that they would take a road trip to A...