CODY'S FIGHT

  Co went under for a Cholangiogram (a procedure where they access his liver through his side and inject some fancy dye to light up the bile ducts like a Christmas tree and identify any narrowings or blockages). And, would you believe me if I told you they didn't find a blockage? That his surgical site looks good and isn't causing a fuss? Well, it's true. They didn't leave a drain, they weren't able to do much of anything because there's no specific blockage. Co is now scheduled for a liver biopsy tomorrow afternoon to look for an autoimmune disease that could be the culprit of his symptoms. His team is also investigating the medications he's taking to see if those might not be playing nicely with his baby liver. This process is long and tedious, but we have full faith in his care team at Mayo. I cannot begin to express how grateful we are for a team that truly cares about Cody's well-being and is openly communicating with us multiple times a day. Co is...

       It's mid-September and we find ourselves back in Minnesota. It was a crisp thirty-nine degrees this morning and these Texans are cold! We flew into Rochester Wednesday evening and settled in for a few days of labs, scans, consults, and diagnostic procedures. As I mentioned in our last update, Co's been struggling with some liver infections on and off over the past couple of months. We've been in close contact with his team at Mayo, and after the most recent labs and scan they decided we needed to head north for further testing and a possible procedure. We try to stay local for as much monitoring as we can, but when Mayo says it's time to return to the Motherland, we go. People are constantly asking us "why don't you get treated in Texas", and the answer is quite simple for us; we go to the best and the best is Mayo.       Since arriving Wednesday, Cody has completed a COVID test, labs, MRCP scan, three consults (Hepatobiliary Surgery, Inter...

 We've had a fantastic summer despite living within a global pandemic. Co and I have spent a lot of time on the water enjoying fishing at the coast and family time at the lake. Thanks to my wine gig, we were able to take a much needed tropical vacation in celebration of our anniversary, and Co's one-year recovery from treatment. It was absolutely incredible and as it turns out, somebody is quite handsome in Hawaiian shirts! Co has had a few episodes of cholangitis (inflammation within his liver) due to some mild bacterial infections on and off since May. His team at Mayo has been closely monitoring his labs and scans to make sure things stay under control. As of right now, there are no signs of his cancer reoccurring, something we are grateful for every single day. Cody hunts as much as he can and continues with small projects around the house as his strength allows. We've come to absolutely cherish our quiet nights at home with our puppy dogs; it has been a lovely few mont...

  September 11, 2018.   Two years ago, today, our lives changed forever. There are so many things I could say within this post, but I’ll keep it short & sweet since Co doesn’t like it when I make a big deal out of things.   But, today is a big deal. With a survival rate of roughly 20-30% at 2 years, today is an extremely big deal.   Congratulations on blowing those statistics out of the water, Co. I have never met someone as strong and determined as you to push through each and every day. Despite everything you’ve been through, you still show up and love our little family with everything you have.   Nine months of chemo, seven weeks of radiation, six different tubes out of your side, two transplant evaluations, one massive resection surgery, and post-op abscess turned sepsis, chest tubes, biliary tubes, stents, mediport placement, lab draws, IV’s, scans, waiting rooms, Houston traffic, Minnesota relocations, and all the things in between, you have overcome i...

It’s been an entire YEAR since Cody’s liver resection! One whole year of being tumor free! The road to this point has been grueling, but Co continues to defy the odds and get stronger every day. It’s amazing to look back and see how far he's come in less than two years.   Thank you to all of you Cody’s Fighters for standing by our side and being our biggest cheerleaders.   Thank you to Mayo Clinic and every single person who had a hand in Cody’s care.   MASSIVE thank you to the world’s best mother-in-law, Candace, for the endless, selfless love and ALWAYS making sure things fall into place.   Thank you to our family, friends, and coworkers who have sent prayers, hugs, food, donations, and love.   Thank you to complete strangers on this page that have shown us kindness and love during our trials and triumphs.   We are so excited to have reached this milestone. Naturally, we had to celebrate with a Cookie's n' Cream ice cream cake!

Why, Hello There!     It's been a hot minute since we've given an update on Cody and our lives after surgery/sepsis/chemo/radiation, and I certainly apologize for that. However, in the medical field, no news is GOOD news! Co and I have been enjoying the last several months getting back into our natural groove and remembering what it's like to not be in the thick of cancer treatment. It's taken quite some time, and he's not back to full strength yet, but he's getting stronger each day and getting back to the activities and pastimes he enjoys the most. The Medve family was extremely generous in hosting their annual Birthday Bash in Cody's honor this past fall. There was a fantastic turnout with so many great raffles and some delicious BBQ. It was incredibly humbling and heartwarming to see so many friends and family come together once again to support our favorite cancer fighter. Deer season came and went too quickly, as usual, and our holiday season was s...

     It's hard to believe so much time has passed that has lead to this anniversary post. Looking back, it seems like an eternity ago and just yesterday all at the same time. It's been exactly one year since the moment when the resident came into our room to reluctantly admit that it was, in fact, cancer and that we were being transferred to MD Anderson. September 11, 2018, at 0946 will forever be burned into our memories. It's a part of who we are now, what's shaped us into the people we are today. I would have never imagined this would be our life today, and I wouldn't wish this on anyone.      Honestly, I could write a J.K. Rowling length post on all of the negative aspects this year brought to my husband, myself, and our loved ones. This year has been grueling. However, we have been showered with immense amounts of love; outpouring love from people who've known us our wholes lives as well as love from complete strangers. This year has taught us ...