94. Two years later - May 22, 2026

We have been held up by prayer, love, and support. And we are still walking on this journey two years later. Owen and I are so grateful for everyone who has lifted us in prayer, came by just to be with us, or brought us a card or some snacks or a meal. Every encounter has given me boosts of energy to keep going.

Two years after I prayed for MD Anderson to be part of Owen’s care, I learned that the answer wasn’t “No” but more like a “Not right now.”

With the hard push from both BAMC and Methodist, Owen has been accepted as a new patient at MD Anderson. He is scheduled for his first meeting with Dr. P in June. We will get a snapshot of his new plan of care - whether it is starting standard of care at MDA or getting into a clinical trial. Regardless of direction, I’m just relieved that he will be in one of the best places to be for cancer research and treatment.

It’s going to be another challenge because MDA is located in the heart of Houston but I am so grateful and hopeful.

Life for Owen has changed. His actions on impulses have tremendously increased. He is energy levels deplete fast. In a conversation not too long ago, I had explained to him that the brain forces the body to sleep because of the cancer and that as the cancer grows, GBM patients succumb to constant sleep. A sleep in which they don’t wake up from. When he is out and about, he is alert. When he is home, he just wants to sleep. And so naps have become my enemy. For myself, I am sleep deprived. But I don’t want Owen giving into sleep at all. And so my life has become taking care of him and trying to keep him up, at the cost of my own rest.

Owen has made a few changes like replacing sugar with some alternative. That was pretty huge seeing that he drinks a lot of sugar. He has also made a conscious effort in replacing regular cookies with zero sugar ones. And he hasn’t had ice cream in a long time. When he gets the 8pm munchies, I throw him an apple and he hasn’t complained (THANK GOD).

Owen spent a lot of good one on one time with the Munchkin this week. It’s so good having her close by. She just came to give him company and have a few meals with him while the Muffin was at school and I was at work. My heart is warmed.

Yesterday was hairy. It was swim day (starts at 1800) for the Muffin and I slept zero hours the night before (mistakenly took a new med that was meant for mornings). And I had to conduct two classes at our conference during the day. Owen let me sleep in this morning and I was so grateful.

I’m definitely old because I look forward to Friday for rest. Nothing more. 😂😂😂

Confession: I’ve literally become addicted to apples in the last several months. Sounds harmless but it’s rather alarming that a quarter of my fridge holds nothing but apples.

Today we pick the Muffin up before 2. The rain seems to be holding off so maybe we will go to a new park or find our closest library.

munchkin to the rescue