This post is brought to you by Walgreens and SheKnows Media. The opinions and text are all mine.
My dad and I have always been close. I am his only child and even though my parents divorced when I was young I always spent a lot of time with my dad. From basketball games, to cheerleading, to teaching me to drive, and buying me my first cell phone (shout out Nokia phones). So in February of 2012 I was driving over to my best friend’s house and I can tell you the exact intersection I was at when my phone rang. Hillcrest and Lovers Lane in Dallas. It was my dad. I picked it up thinking it was weird for him to be calling midday when he’s usually at work, but when he’s not busy he checks in on me.
“I have cancer.” Just like that my world stopped. I pulled over into the nearest parking lot and listened as he told me he had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He would be undergoing chemo very soon. I was leaving town the next day to attend a blogging conference and said I wouldn’t go. He encouraged me to go since no decisions or plans were happening for at least a week. I went and was met with so much love and support.
Fast forward six months. August of 2012 my dad’s chemo was NOT working. He was on a much harder round of chemo that gave him really intense migraines and made him very sick. He was brought into the hospital on a Sunday and stayed for several weeks. When he was in the hospital he had a surgery due to an infection in his eye and lost most of the sight in his left eye as a result. As an avid golfer, he worried he would never play again. The one hobby he enjoys most. He got sicker and sicker and we were told to prepare for the worst. He was not strong enough to undergo a stem cell transplant which he desperately needed.
He went home and had in-home healthcare for a while and then he gradually regained some strength. In January of 2013 my dad was strong enough for a stem cell transplant. The process was hard on him and our family but he persevered and taught me more about strength, dignity, and perseverance than I will ever be able to explain. When you feel like the world is stacked against you just push forward.
Now in early 2018 my dad is in complete remission. Something our family never thought would happen. He got to walk me down the aisle, be at the hospital when his first grandson was born, help us move into our first home, and more. He started playing golf again, returned to work, and lives a life he loves. I love how strong my dad is and seeing him go through this firsthand was so hard. I was at the hospital every single day. I would arrive at 7 AM and stay until 10 at night most days. I worked from a chair in his hospital room and ate a lot of hospital food. But here we are 6 years later. We are closer as father and daughter and my dad is stronger than ever. Every year when he goes in for tests of course we worry but thankfully so far so good.
When he was sick he needed A LOT of medication as you can imagine. I am so grateful there is a place like Walgreens cancer specialized specialty pharmacy and their services. It can be really stressful to worry about where and how you will get certain medicines. Something that’s great about Walgreens specialty pharmacy is they deliver the medication where you need it. So even if you are a few hours away from one you are still good to go! You will get the medication you need. Their customer service is incredible and they TRULY care about their patients. Their goal is for patients to focus on what matters. Not on trying to get medicine, if a pharmacy will have what you need, or how you will get to the pharmacy etc. There is a specialized trained staff that UNDERSTANDS what’s going on. You aren’t getting a generic person who doesn’t understand the needs of a cancer patient. There is also someone available 24/7 to talk to. If you know someone in need of services like this I really recommend looking into the Walgreens cancer support services. They are incredible. We are so blessed to have services like this.
I’m sorry you and your family had to go through what you did, Neely. I’m glad to read that he’s doing okay now! ❤️
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Wow- what a rough journey to walk. I was diagnosed with an illness that requires a stem cell transplant and it was a scary process.
That is so great that your dad is in remission! Praise God!
Speaking from experience, having a parent with cancer is hard. That’s great that you were able to find such good care from his doctors and Walgreens too!
I was an oncology nurse for 24 years and our hospital had a Walgreens in the lobby to assist our pts. It is so hard when someone you love goes through cancer treatment. Blessings to you and your dad.
That is wonderful about your father.
My sister had stage 4 Non-Hodgkins in 2000 and was given a 10% chance of living. I am happy to state that she beat the odds and is now a mother to a high schooler. She did the chemo and then radiation and bone marrow transplant.
My father was there everyday for her during that journey. I just lost my father three months ago to cancer. I was hoping for a good outcome like my sisters but it was not to be. I am fortunate to have my husband, mother and six siblings.
Wow, what an emotional journey for you and your family, thank you for sharing! It’s amazing that you get to see him love life again in remission!
I’m so sorry to had to go through this and am so glad to hear that your dad is recovered and doing well! I’ve spent some time in hospitals with family members as well so I know how important it is to have great services to support you during that time.
Oh em gee! I am so glad it turned out well. Congratulations on his remission! That is such a huge thing to celebrate. I grew up with a single dad so we’re super close.
Ashley @ A Cute Angle // acuteangleblog.blogpsot.com
I am glad your dad pulled through. I am so sorry you and your father had to go through that. Having had a special needs grandson I do know how important it is to have a great support system and great people caring for you in the hospital. The staff at Children’s of Alabama was very good to us.
Having a loved one go through cancer is so difficult. My fiance’s mother passed away a few years ago after a very long battle with cancer. He and I have been together for years so I was there for the worst of it and it was heartbreaking. I’m so glad your dad is in remission!
I’m so sorry for what you’ve gone through. I understand, as I am going through cancer with my Mom currently. It’s nice to have a pharmacy that works.
I would have broken down in tears as well, I am close to my Dad. I can say I wasn’t as a teenager and my parents were divorced when I was around 10 or 11 but now as an adult, my Dad and I have a great bond. I am glad to hear this story went well and remission is always a good thing from what I hear. I couldn’t imagine, but I do love that Walgreens was there to help and make the time somewhat easier. I had no idea that there were options like this!
Wow, I’m so happy to hear he is in remission. That is amazing. I’m at the age now (40ish) where I have so many friends who haven’t been so lucky. Prayers that he stays healthy!
I’m so glad to hear your dad is in remission and back to doing what he loves. What a tough journey – for him and those he loves. I’m a big fan of Walgreens in general, but I had no idea they had such a pharmacy (that was cancer specific). That’s fantastic.
so beautifully written, it made me tear up. My dad had his gallbladder removed last year. Seeing this macho man in a hospital gown, all yellow and thin really shocked me. I just wasn’t prepared for it. I wish I could say I was by his side day and night… but I just couldn’t do it. I was so freaked out seeing him like this. It was hard for my dad too, as he’s such a macho guy. Of course, it was nothing at all like what you went to, but somehow it made me think about my dad and how vulnerable he looked.
Thank you for sharing your story…
As a major daddy’s girl myself, I am so sorry that you and your father had to go through that. My husband’s step-mother (whom he calls his mom) recently beat breast cancer and can I just say…I hate cancer-all types of it. I’m so thankful for the strength you were able to have for your dad & how strong your relationship probably has become through this battle!
xoxo, SS
Southern and Style
What an amazing outcome for your dad! I am sure it was an extremely difficult road, but it is nice to hear he had so much love and support.
So glad that your dad is now in complete remission, but wow, that sounds like a long, tough, and scary road to get back to health. I can’t even imagine that journey.
So glad your dad is in remission. I understand how difficult and challenging this time was for you and your family. I was a daddy’s girl as well being an only child. My dad passed away from complications with his heart in 2010. I still remember the day I got the call. I was lucky enough he was able to walk me down the aisle but our first born wasn’t born until 2011 so he was never able to meet his grandchildren. He was an avid golfer as well… I hope your father continues in remission and continues to live a long and full life.
So good that he made it through to still be with you today. Hard to go through, but in the end it seems to be all working out!
I am so glad to hear he is in remission! Cancer sucks.
Cancer is a tough road and I’m glad your Dad made it through.
Not all journeys are pleasant but I’m sure there were some good opportunities for bonding along the way.