Let me start by apologizing for delivering this news by email, as many of you are hearing about this for the first time. Please understand that it takes a lot of energy for us to talk about this and we need to reserve that energy for each other right now.
Nick has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It appears to be at an advanced stage despite his minimal symptoms, but he’s young and fit and positive and the cure rate for this disease is quite good. Nick will be receiving chemotherapy and possibly radiation treatments over the next six months. He’s home from university and will be focusing on his health for now. I’m also off work for at least the next couple of months.
This has obviously come as a huge shock to all of us, particularly as Nick has always been so healthy. He noticed some lumps in his neck area in September and saw a doctor on campus shortly after he started university. He then had an ultrasound, a needle biopsy, an incision biopsy and a CT scan, and this past week we were given the diagnosis. Over the next couple of weeks, he’ll have more scans, a bone marrow biopsy, tests to baseline his heart and lung functioning and then will start his treatment program.
We have a hard road ahead of us but we know we have a lot of support out there. I’m sure this comes as a shock to you as well and we know that you’ll be there for us if we need anything. Please don’t feel the need to respond, and understand if we don’t always answer emails for a while as we’re all still processing this information. I’ll be creating a blog where we can keep people updated on any new developments without having to repeat things over and over. I’ll add your emails to the distribution list for that.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Ray, Carolyn & Nick
Thinking of you all. So much love. How did the last couple of days go?