Hello everyone!
It's been super ages since I wrote a blog page. It's been such an eventful few weeks with everything. Alot of close family and friends would know, but I would like to announce a fantastic victory in my hands.
Recently, I had my MRI. As always I was nervous and very anxious. As MRI's determine your fate and can indicate if the tumor is responding. I'll cut to the chase, as soon as I got the MRI scan and my Oncologist came into the room with a big smile on his face. My tumor had shrunk by at least 40%! My tumor is responding to treatment! Praise God! Thank-you Jesus. Ten significant long months of fighting this blasted disease and finally got some good results. This was amazing, I felt like a thousand bricks lifted up and I slept for days as I was battled weary.
For more information on this story, my awesome friend Jackson Miller who is going to become an outstanding Journalist has written an article about it. Here is the link.
http://newsroom.macleay.net/features-tom-upbeat-about-austin-cancer-boost/
This is amazing, but the battle is not over. I still have a long way to go. I know my treatment is booked till February next year, and it makes my decisions harder if I can physically do University next year. It can be really hard to have a consistent lifestyle with cancer. I've had to adapt and to learn now to make any plans with almost anybody as I've had to cancel more coffee catch ups then actually attend coffee. I feel far behind peoples lives, even though I love being social it has had a big effect on me.
Recently, I got to go to Sydney twice. My second favorite city in Australia. The first trip was healing for me, as I love Sydney. My father was on a small business trip up there, and I got to go on a plane. It gave me so much hope to travel again and get that amazing Airport buzz, that buzz that makes you feel on top of the world. Yesterday my Fiance and I just got back from a week's holiday in Sydney. We got to spend so much time with each other. We went to the Zoo, Darling Harbor, CBD shopping and just explore. Even made some friends on the roof top spa. Many thanks to the Holiday Inn Old Sydney for looking after us.
I was saying to my cousin Amy a few weeks ago, we needed this trip to be afresh-ed. What is romance? The old meaning of romance can be candlelit dinners, movies and going to a circus or going to the theater. For us this year we have had heaps of beautiful precious moments, but it was time for the Cancer to get the heck out and just enjoy life. Holding each others hand in a chemotherapy ward, surrounded by poor souls entering death, is the moment you really do feel so alive, and you know as a couple you can achieve anything. Small petty shit doesn't matter anymore. We have had to age, we have had to mature, as our friends go out partying, travelling, and being young, we have had to take a different path. I firmly believe this path is going to lead us to an amazing destination, one in which I have full faith in God it's going to be great.
Its so hard to believe that I am going to live, those nights your mind just wonders. Why should I sleep? I am wasting time. Sometimes when it really gets to me, I turn on kids shows to occupy myself. It is very strange but recently I can't stop thinking about childhood memories and how more vivid they are becoming. I sometimes think is this the end? but firmly I still believe I am going to be okay, but what does okay mean for me? For me, I want to be healed completely. A story I can tell my future kids one day hopefully.
Also a BIG special thanks to my amazing sister Sarah for organizing an outstanding Shopping Tour! About 2 buses went out and raised money for my treatment. Also another BIG thanks to the Year 11 Assumption College VCAL Kids, and Megan Richardson for organizing socials etc to help me. I really am looking forward to speaking to the VCAL students really soon.
As of now, I am really getting excited for Christmas, and cant wait to start doing some of the Christmas shopping even though I can't stand shopping centers this time of year, but that's no excuse! I am alive right now and I will just go in and out in mins like a typical male.
Thanks heaps for following!
Thomas!
It's been super ages since I wrote a blog page. It's been such an eventful few weeks with everything. Alot of close family and friends would know, but I would like to announce a fantastic victory in my hands.
Recently, I had my MRI. As always I was nervous and very anxious. As MRI's determine your fate and can indicate if the tumor is responding. I'll cut to the chase, as soon as I got the MRI scan and my Oncologist came into the room with a big smile on his face. My tumor had shrunk by at least 40%! My tumor is responding to treatment! Praise God! Thank-you Jesus. Ten significant long months of fighting this blasted disease and finally got some good results. This was amazing, I felt like a thousand bricks lifted up and I slept for days as I was battled weary.
For more information on this story, my awesome friend Jackson Miller who is going to become an outstanding Journalist has written an article about it. Here is the link.
http://newsroom.macleay.net/features-tom-upbeat-about-austin-cancer-boost/
This is amazing, but the battle is not over. I still have a long way to go. I know my treatment is booked till February next year, and it makes my decisions harder if I can physically do University next year. It can be really hard to have a consistent lifestyle with cancer. I've had to adapt and to learn now to make any plans with almost anybody as I've had to cancel more coffee catch ups then actually attend coffee. I feel far behind peoples lives, even though I love being social it has had a big effect on me.
Recently, I got to go to Sydney twice. My second favorite city in Australia. The first trip was healing for me, as I love Sydney. My father was on a small business trip up there, and I got to go on a plane. It gave me so much hope to travel again and get that amazing Airport buzz, that buzz that makes you feel on top of the world. Yesterday my Fiance and I just got back from a week's holiday in Sydney. We got to spend so much time with each other. We went to the Zoo, Darling Harbor, CBD shopping and just explore. Even made some friends on the roof top spa. Many thanks to the Holiday Inn Old Sydney for looking after us.
I was saying to my cousin Amy a few weeks ago, we needed this trip to be afresh-ed. What is romance? The old meaning of romance can be candlelit dinners, movies and going to a circus or going to the theater. For us this year we have had heaps of beautiful precious moments, but it was time for the Cancer to get the heck out and just enjoy life. Holding each others hand in a chemotherapy ward, surrounded by poor souls entering death, is the moment you really do feel so alive, and you know as a couple you can achieve anything. Small petty shit doesn't matter anymore. We have had to age, we have had to mature, as our friends go out partying, travelling, and being young, we have had to take a different path. I firmly believe this path is going to lead us to an amazing destination, one in which I have full faith in God it's going to be great.
Its so hard to believe that I am going to live, those nights your mind just wonders. Why should I sleep? I am wasting time. Sometimes when it really gets to me, I turn on kids shows to occupy myself. It is very strange but recently I can't stop thinking about childhood memories and how more vivid they are becoming. I sometimes think is this the end? but firmly I still believe I am going to be okay, but what does okay mean for me? For me, I want to be healed completely. A story I can tell my future kids one day hopefully.
Also a BIG special thanks to my amazing sister Sarah for organizing an outstanding Shopping Tour! About 2 buses went out and raised money for my treatment. Also another BIG thanks to the Year 11 Assumption College VCAL Kids, and Megan Richardson for organizing socials etc to help me. I really am looking forward to speaking to the VCAL students really soon.
As of now, I am really getting excited for Christmas, and cant wait to start doing some of the Christmas shopping even though I can't stand shopping centers this time of year, but that's no excuse! I am alive right now and I will just go in and out in mins like a typical male.
Thanks heaps for following!
Thomas!
Hi there Thomas! I was actually just checking out a few of your posts and had a quick question about your blog. I was hoping you could email me back when you get the chance, thanks!
ReplyDeleteEmily
Great news! Glad you enjoyed Sydney as well!
ReplyDeleteJenny, USA
Thank God! I have been praying for you and this news made my day. May you continue to be blessed mentally, emotionally, and physically. I would love nothing more than to come back and one day read that the cancer is gone. You are in my thoughts and prayers, thank you for sharing your story. Your strength and determination is inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous news, Tom! So very happy for you and your family and friends. May you continue to get better and better every day.
ReplyDelete