Dr. K, Our MVP

Help! The Hegewald blog has been hijacked! This is good and bad-- good for Abby in that not having to compose her brilliant, witty, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming entries is relieving some stress on her end. Bad for all you readers in that the hijacker is not quite as brilliant, witty, heart-wrenching, or heart-warming of a writer as Abby is... The most important thing is you can still find your Hegewald news here. And the occasional picture, too.



Dr. K Updates:
Let's rewind a week ago today. (Friday the 16th) A scan of Kevin's hot spots in his back showed two white spots. :( Radiation began this Monday. 10 doses-- although Kevin used his fast approaching family trip or "I'm a doctor, too" wink and cajoled them into allowing him to double dose the treatments this week, 2 at a time. Needless to say, Kevin was pretty down and out this week. But while the church history portion of the big family summer adventure was edited out of the picture a couple weeks ago, the whole family was still able to depart today for two weeks with family. Kevin flew to Utah to meet road tripper Abby and the kids for a week in Utah. Then they will go to the Cannon Family Reunion in the outer banks of North Carolina (Norfolk, pronounced "Nawfawk" in Abby-speak.) While Kevin might not touch the ocean, he will have a great view from his bed.

The San Clemente ER is now safe to visit, reports Abby. Dr. Kevin worked his last shift last Sunday before taking disability. Abby said that was a week (or maybe a month) longer than he should have. Kevin has been experiencing substantial pain, so it's amazing he powered through so long. He is happy to be able to have more time at home to rest. He is now enjoying most of his time on his back, in bed. Well, except for when he embarks on a two week cross country adventure. But he can rest when he gets back. And great news, his eyesight is improving! Less double vision! So for any patients who will miss seeing Kevin in the ER, you can visit him at home where he will tell you the two nose, four arm problem you used to have is looking better.

And this Wednesday night, our MVP was honored at Angel Stadium for being a true ANGEL. Kevin was entered in an online/Facebook "MVP" contest and WON as one of the world's most valuable people. He was recognized in a pre-game ceremony on the field with four other MVP's. Horrible traffic made him a little late for the pre-game stadium tour he took with Sam in double-time, so he was sweating by the time the ceremony started. But along with his family and some super-fan friends, he made it all the way to the seventh inning stretch before deciding he wanted to take his seat pillow and finish stretching at home. Kevin was all smiles on the field and jumbotron. He is a true Angel to all who know him!! And a very deserving MVP!

Kevin, Ben, and Sam on the field in the pre-game ceremony

                                                                       Dad and Ben

The "MVP's"

                                                         Now, there's a jumbo smile!

We'll be back with more as the travelogue reports come through... In the meantime, keep up the great love and prayers for the Hegewald family! They feel each one, and man, do they deserve them!

So who's the hijacker, you may ask? All you need to know is I wear my HOPE FOR HEGEWALD bracelet every day with love and faith. And as a non-Hegewald, have full rights to boast and brag about this fabulous family who daily inspires all of us to live our lives with more kindness, happiness, and love!!!

Here's the Plan:

Here’s the plan:  What’s the plan?  I know that many of you have been checking in to see what’s the plan.  I even found myself checking the blog in hopes that it had been updated.  I looovve having a plan - everything is so much more tolerable, more doable . .heck, I’ll even take a bad plan over no plan at all.  When Kevin came home with his chemo schedule on June 27th and the next chemo wasn’t scheduled until August 15th, to put it kindly, I freaked out.  I determined that this didn’t even qualify as a bad plan.  I came to the conclusion that I must be needed to come up with a suitable plan.  When Kevin threw up his arms and yelled, “I can’t take it anymore!” I thought he was talking about the chemo; in fact, he was referring to ME and my constant badgering on what I thought the chemo plan should be.  So last Thursday, Kevin set off on a quest to determine a plan.  His good friend flew in for the day to accompany him, and again, I tried to take no offense to his statement that his presence was a “tender mercy” which could easily have been interpreted that when Kevin is around me he would simply scream “mercy!”  

1st stop: the radiologist.  The most recent radiation to his spine burned its path through Kevin’s esophagus, leaving him unable to swallow, eat, drink, or breath without pain.  Kevin actually found comfort in the assurance that this was in fact normal and will heal within a few weeks.  Party favor: a prescription for a “miracle mouthwash” to be taken 5 minutes before eating to numb the esophagus.  Result: When I asked him how one of my super gross, super healthy smoothies tasted, he replied, “This one wasn’t too bad.  That mouthwash numbs my taste buds too.” 

2nd stop: Dr. Chawla, LA oncologist.  After tracking the last few weeks of Kevin’s life - the esophagitis; continued shoulder pain, new back pain, new pelvis pain; low blood counts; fevers - Dr. Chawla’s the one who yelled, “mercy.”  He recommended no more traditional chemotherapy. Participating in the CoQ10 study starting in August is a possibility. (Since it is a clinical trial you have to be “clean” of radiation and chemo for 30 days; Kevin’s 3 weeks of radiation disqualified him from starting the CoQ10 study in July) Party favor: a shot of Xgeva, supposedly a “new and improved drug” comparable to Zometa (remember that bone strengthening drug they give to 80 year old ladies?) Result: Kevin is experiencing every single side effect listed: flu like symptoms, muscle aches, bone pain, back pain, fevers, sweats, and the big one, sciatica.  I’ve never actually seen anyone get electrocuted, but I have a pretty good visual of what it would look like just watching Kevin the past 4 days.

3rd stop: Dr. Tetef, local oncologist.  Dr. Tetef agreed with Dr. Chawla’s recommendation to discontinue the use of traditional chemotherapy.  Party favor:  Fentanyl patches.  I don’t know my narcotics but this one is supposedly up there.  Result: Kevin could hardly wait to slap one of those on.  Hopefully in a week he will start feeling the effects(ie. less pain!!)

So, now you know all that I know . . .and I still want to know, “what’s the plan?!”  I guess the plan is:  To heal.  To allow his body to recover from all of the radiation and chemo.  To get the pain under control.  To have faith.  And to recognize that even though I have NO idea what the plan is, God does.