14 days since our last update. Here’s what we’ve been up to.

A blur, is an understatement. We are narrowing down treatment options with only one more hospital to visit, MDAnderson in Houston, TX (we leave today). Last week was extremely fast paced as we had a 3-day consult with the staff at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Newnan, GA and directly after that headed to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. At this point, we have received more than a handful of opinions from Doctors all over the country (including Emory, City of Hope, UC San Diego and several Alternative Doctors too) and feel that our path is becoming more clear and that is something we are grateful for. Clarity.

We anticipate starting treatment by weeks end and plan on attacking the cancer on many fronts. With a foundation of chemotherapy, we will also layer in a supplement regiment with a strict diet. It’s important to understand that this pursuit is a war and not just one battle. Once we see results (and we know we will) from our initial efforts we will then go into a 2nd phase of treatment. Our goal… stabilize, reduce and hope for surgery.

Our spirits continue to be high and we are fueled largely in part to your support, love, well wishes and prayers. Thank you for everything you are doing. The cards and emails. The phone calls and notes on teamhidi.org. The donations. The meals. The gifts. The hugs.

‘Round Up for Ryan’ has extended far and wide including, Muss& Turner’s, Local Three, Empire State South, Five & Ten, The National, Bacchanalia, FloatAway Café, Abattoir, Brick Store Pub, Leon’s Full Service and Cakes & Ale. UNREAL!

A charity hike, ‘Hike for Hidi’, occurred on Saturday the 19th in San Francisco by great friends Ray & Bridget of Primal Fitness. Even Ryan’s younger brother who lives in Sacramento, made the trip to SF to be part of the experience. There are other events happening all over the country from, California to Indiana and here at home (all events can be found on teamhidi.org). We are amazed and honored to be this fortunate.

Until our next update, thank you from the bottom of our souls. Thank you. (For a few pictures from the last two weeks, visit here.)

We will close this ‘Ryan Update’ with a letter that he wrote to his M&T family. It puts a lot into perspective.

I’ve learned some interesting things about the human race over the last few weeks. My heart is speechless from your generosity. Jen and I just spent the last few moments reflecting, and crying. We are now in the final moments before our treatment path embarks, and are realizing how big of a fight, and how big the odds are stacked against us. Over the last three weeks, it has been easy to push the fear down inside. With the barrage of doctor appointments, blood and urine tests, family in town to help with treatment planning sessions, tons of letters of support, dietitian meetings, reading countless documents to make sure we know all we can, and then the last little bits of the quiet evening before sleep when Jen and I just stare at each other… minds racing. It all comes to a head in the coming week.

The wave of love, prayers, contributions and well wishes is so warming to our souls, that I feel I’ve already won… I’ve already won guys. I’ve already won.

My thanks, and gratitude is eternal, I’ll carry it through whatever time God sees fit for me to have on this planet and into whatever is next. But fight like hell I will. I take into battle the energy of a thousand people who have reached out over that last few weeks. I’m ready for this challenge, and a great part of that preparedness I owe to you!

On behalf of Jen and I, thank you from the bottom of our hearts M&T family!

Ryan