Hello everyone! Meet Stanus...

Stanus is the newest member of our family. Some people call him an "ostomy." Because he's sort of a combination of a stomach and an anus, we've named him "Stanus."

Stanus joined the family on July 6th, as a result of Nick's colon cancer diagnosis. We've since learned a lot about the human G.I. tract. It turns out that Nick had a little more than half of his colon removed (he's now a semi-colon) as well as part of his rectum and 30 lymph nodes. Take that cancer.

Another thing we're learning a lot about these days is chemo. I think we both have a whole new respect for drug researchers and shall I say, drug companies? Don't quote me on that. But it is just amazing how many new cancer drugs they have now that they didn't have 10 or even 5 years ago.

Nick will start chemo in a couple of weeks. They have to put in a "portacath" first, which is a catheter that is surgically implanted in the chest. The chemo will then be infused through the portacath over a three-day period every other week. The cool thing is...it's a fanny pack, ya'll!!! Actually, the cool thing is that Nick can spend the majority of time at home - or out on the town for that matter - while he's getting his infusion. No hospital chemo room for three days. For you drug geeks out there, he'll be on a cocktail of Folfox, Oxaliplatin and Avastin.

In another couple of months, we'll report back on how this regimen is working.

Meantime, we've had a lot of people ask how they can help. Fortunately, our lives are really just pretty normal right now. Once we know how well Nick's body will tolerate the chemo, we'll have a better idea of whether he could use some company during the half days he does spend in the chemo room, or whether he could use an occassional ride to an appointment or something. But for now, we just enjoy seeing friends and family like always so anytime you want to visit, our door is open. Just make sure you give us dates in advance because Stanus has been pretty popular since he joined the family.

Thank you so much for all the funny (and mostly inappropriate) cards and gifts while Nick was in the hospital. They got a lot of laughs and more importantly, Nick felt the love.

XOXO,

Sally