July 12, 2011 LANCE WAS 30!!!

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On Sunday, July 3rd, we celebrated Lance's turning the big 3-0 with a BIG SURPRISE at Mom and Dad's house. (He was, indeed, very surprised!) Francine put together a beautiful party for Lance…Most of Lance's friends from high school were there. It was so good to see Lance just "hanging with the guys," having a beer or two. Lance and Francine even went out with them after the party was over. Lance said that night, "It is so good to just feel normal for once.”

Most of the time, at least from my perspective, Lance just goes about every day “taking care of business,” so to speak. He is still working diligently on his basement and some projects around the house. He also continues to do some work in real estate. (Thank you, Howard Hanna, for continuing to be so supportive.) Lance generally talks about the here and now, the task on hand. It isn’t often he is reflective or “deeper” with his thoughts. So, when Lance says something like: “It is so good to just feel normal for once,” or “It was like the movie Big Fish; everyone I loved gathered to be with me before I died…” this does something to me.

What has made this more bearable, at least for me, is that Lance is always positive and generally in good spirits. He has a lot of energy and motivation. He is not outwardly depressed. And he hasn’t been crying. To see him like this has made it easier for me to deal with my emotions.

But, recently, this past Monday, Lance was rather emotional. In the morning before going to chemo and then again at night he cried. Being poked so much had finally taken its toll. Consequently, together, Francine and my dad decided to schedule an appointment for Lance to have a port put in. (This will happen Monday, August 8th.)

The latest MRI was good; it showed no evidence of tumor progresstion. Lance’s oncologist was pleased with the findings. He decided for one more year to keep Lance on the every other Wednesday regimen of IV Avastin and irinotecan.

Lance continues to enjoy fishing. As I write, he and Francine are in the air, destined for Colorado Springs to stay with Morgan, Cherie, Joshua, and Abigail for a week or so. From there they will go to Aspen, where Morgan and Lance will have an opportunity to fish.

Golf has also been one of Lance’s favorite pasttimes this summer. (God bless Dad for taking him out every time he asks, even in the very hot weather!) In Dad’s words, “This has been the best thing for Lance; it’s bringing him back. He loves to drive the golf cart around.”

While not very pleased with the driving restriction placed on him, Lance has been very compliant with his doctor’s orders. He has lots of chauffeurs who are at his beck and call.

Lance continues to have some trouble with speech. He knows what he wants to say; he just has trouble communicating his thoughts. He is going to begin cognitive therapy classes soon to help improve his speech and memory.

Overall it has been a great summer. Paker, Kasia, and Baby Tristan are here from Poland until August 13th. Bob, the kids, and I spent three weeks at home this month. And prior to that Morgan, Cherie, and the kids were there.

One year ago we were all getting ready for our Snyder Family Reunion at Chautauqua Lake that took place the first week of August. Here we are, one year later, together again for a reunion of sorts, but under entirely different circumstances.

Each one of us is doing what we can to be there, to help, to support, and to love. There have been challenges and conflicts we’ve weathered, and compromises and sacrifices that we’ve all made. Yet, we do it all in the name of LOVE.

I may have mentioned this before. But, I continue to believe, more and more, that the saying is true:

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

As always, thank you Friends and Family for your outpouring of support and love…
~ashley

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