Jadan’s LAST DAY of CHEMO: Friday, October 3, 2025: “Wanna ring the bell?”

03 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

by lanikamal in Jadan's Cancer Journey Tags: , , , , , ,

It was a day of gratitude and relief. Jadan’s last day of this 12-week chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer is over. We have been looking forward to this day for a very long time. Personally, I feel exhausted. I have also been emotional off and on all day. I am focusing on the ‘good’ or ‘positive’ of having cancer. I acknowledge that with Jadan’s cancer being curable, we are so fortunate. And I celebrate this. At the same time, we have met so many beautiful people during treatment who are in for the long-term journey. There are so many people from every background, culture, age, gender, etc. Cancer does not discriminate; it takes anyone, as we know too well.

In preparation for today, Jadan and I planned a few tokens of appreciation for our excellent nurse care team. We thought it would be a good idea to replenish their stock of Jolly Rancher hard candies, so they got a 3-lb bag. I had no idea they came in such large quantities. Jadan requested that they each get Soulgardener earrings and a custom pen.

We also included watercolor paints, Be the Change stickers, and a pocket notebook. Health care workers can experience burnout, chronic grief, and compassion fatigue, which can affect the nurse-patient relationship. The time we spent with the nurses only reiterated how vital and essential their work is and how essential acknowledging their key role in healing for all patients is. Words cannot express our gratitude. Health care professionals, especially our nurses, are heroes. They are true Soulgardeners of humanity.

Last but not least, Kevin, Vanny, and Subi ran to Dunkin’ Donuts for some tasty treats for our nurses. Everything was a big hit! Jadan’s nurse put on her earrings and was delighted with her pen.

Jadan’s treatment started at 9:15 am and finished a little past 1 pm. Everything went well.

As we approached the final chemo med infusion, Jadan’s ‘robot shot’ was attached to his abdomen. This device will administer the medication to boost his white blood cells 27 hours after the cisplatin. And yes, this is the last time he will have this done. Yay!!!!

When Jadan’s port was flushed, there was slight nausea, but overall, it was okay. As the nurse removed the Huber needle, she asked, “Wanna ring the bell?” His reply was, “Oh, yes, I want to ring the bell.”

We have been waiting for this for 12 weeks.

Enjoy!!!!

Day 4 of Last Week: Thursday, October 2, 2025: “ONE MORE DAY!!!!”

03 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

by lanikamal in Jadan's Cancer Journey Tags: , , , , , ,

Jadan has made it to the second-to-last day of chemotherapy. Today was the first day we noticed the flip calendar on the counter. Funny how we don’t notice things and then see them as something new. After helping Amanda change the date, he received his words of encouragement and was welcomed to his chair. Even with the excitement of being so close to the end of treatment, he struggled with nausea.

Once again, we were grateful for our very attentive and caring nurse who helped Jadan avoid feeling sick during the Huber needle placement and flushing. Jadan’s vitals are always checked first thing, which was great.

The next task is to visit the blanket oven for a warm blanket to snuggle with. One of the side effects of treatment has been shakiness. Having a blanket on the shoulders or lap helps.

FUN FACT: I checked to see if our little soulgardener was still watching over us, and he was! So cool! He has been there since our first week of treatment. I didn’t expect the little guy to stay there the whole time. It’s very cool that he’s still here!

Overall, today was better than the first few days of treatment. Jadan still experienced off-and-on nausea, but was able to go mindfully still which helped keep getting sick at bay.

We had a visit from Jadan’s doctor toward the end of the day. We learned that he will have another CT scan in about a month. This will be a baseline scan that will help us as we move further into navigating his cancer. Keep in mind that Jadan’s tumor was mixed, 80% treatable with this therapy and 20% only treatable with surgery. What we don’t and still don’t know is the type of cancer that spread to his lymph nodes. The baseline could give us more information on that, but may not. The doctor said it takes time to see the results of chemotherapy. We were relieved to learn his scan will be sooner rather than later.

Mobi welcomed Jadan home. He waited patiently while Jadan was in treatment. All the animals seem to know when he doesn’t feel well. They surround him with snuggles, which is perfect comfort as he prepares for the last day of chemotherapy.

Art for Day 4: Inspired by patience in times of difficulty

“When calamity striketh, be ye patient and composed. However afflictive your sufferings may be, stay ye undisturbed, and with perfect confidence in the abounding grace of God, brave ye the tempest of tribulations and fiery ordeals.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Day 3 of Last Week: Wednesday, October 1, 2025: “Surrounded by Beauty”

02 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

by lanikamal in Jadan's Cancer Journey Tags: , , , , , ,

Fall in Albuquerque is stunning. The previous owners of our home planted a large portion of the yard with Maximilian Sunflowers, which have exploded with beauty. I’ve been going outside every day after returning from Jadan’s treatment. I am captivated by the vibrant colors, their movement in the breeze, and all the life that can be found on the flowers. Immersing myself in beauty helps me navigate the feelings and emotions of Jadan’s cancer journey, as well as help me grieve the loss of Laurie. Seeing flowers bloom and the shimmering sunlight between the flowers and leaves in the trees inspires hope and purpose.

Day 3 started better than the first two days of Jadan’s treatment week. We were a little slow getting ready due to fatigue, but his nausea felt more under control. Jadan has been doing a great job taking his anti-nausea meds before treatment. This seems helpful, along with additional approaches to help with the side effects of the chemo meds.

FUN FACT: On a side note, the kids saw the new Superman movie a few months ago. I heard them talking on and off about it, but didn’t pay too much attention. It wasn’t until I saw it that I realized what they were saying. Evidently, Jadan could be the doppleganger for the Lex Luther character. All Jadan needs is a black coat, and he is all set for Halloween.

We are looking forward to being able to see family more often once treatment is over. It will also be exciting to have family and friends visit.

Wrapping up day 3 was a little rough due to nausea. The highlight was when Subi welcomed Jadan with puppy kisses. She loves going on car rides, especially when they involve picking up the kids.

Jadan has successfully completed day 3 of his last week of chemo. We are getting very excited to complete this treatment and move forward in life.

Day 3 Art is inspired by beauty:

“How wondrous is the unity of the Living, the Ever-Abiding God — a unity which is exalted above all limitations, that transcendeth the comprehension of all created things! He hath, from everlasting, dwelt in His inaccessible habitation of holiness and glory, and will unto everlasting continue to be enthroned upon the heights of His independent sovereignty and grandeur. How lofty hath been His incorruptible Essence, how completely independent of the knowledge of all created things, and how immensely exalted will it remain above the praise of all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth!

From the exalted source, and out of the essence of His favor and bounty He hath entrusted every created thing with a sign of His knowledge, so that none of His creatures may be deprived of its share in expressing, each according to its capacity and rank, this knowledge. This sign is the mirror of His beauty in the world of creation.“

Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 261.

Day 2 of Last Week: Tuesday, September 30, 2025: “I”m good!”

02 Oct 2025 Leave a comment

by lanikamal in Jadan's Cancer Journey Tags: , , , , ,

Day 2 started with words of support, encouragement, and nausea. Jadan’s handwritten love messages on his medical bracelet are a necessity now. They are just a small reminder of how much he is appreciated.

It continues to be challenging to see him suffer. He has moved ‘into’ himself these last two days. From the outside, watching is hard. According to Merriam-Webster (2025) suffering is “to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it”. And when ‘Abdu’l-Baha was asked, “Does the soul progress more through sorrow or through the joy in this world?” he replied, “The mind and spirit of man advance when he is tried by suffering. The more the ground is ploughed the better the seed will grow, the better the harvest will be. Just as the plough furrows the earth deeply, purifying it of weeds and thistles, so suffering and tribulation free man from the petty affairs of this worldly life until he arrives at a state of complete detachment. His attitude in this world will be that of divine happiness” (Paris Talks, p.178). Jadan is a perfect example of how he is commtted to choosing positive thoughts during his last week of treatment. Every time his nurse asks him how he is doing, he says, “I’m good!” even when he is struggling. His strength is an inspiriation.

When nausea hits, a cool wash cloth helps. He tends to get warm and by cooling him down, it helps take the focus off not feeling well. He is still sensitive to the smells of the saline, steroid and chemo meds. The nurses are always coming up with new approaches to navigating the smell difficulties. During the third session, the nurse offered to take out the Huber needle that connects to the port after every infusion. This is still being done and continues to help Jadan not only with deceasing the med smell, but also allows him to shower and sleep more comfortably. A new approach he is trying is having a Jolly Rancher hard candy during the connection of the Huber needle and saline flush. It has helped him have more control over the queasiness. I appreciate the creativity and continued effort of Jadan’s nurses to problem solve his side effects. We are so close to completing his treatment. As Jadan says through out the day, “I”m good!”. Yes, he is.

Today’s art is dedicated to the powers of the mind: attention, thinking and memory. The video is a project that was included in a recent presention on how attention, thinking and memory serves information processing in human life span development. The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It increases focus and creativity, provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well-being. The Zentangle Method is enjoyed all over the world, across a wide range of skills, interests and ages. You will need paper, pencil and pen. If you want to add color, water color or colored pencils will do. Enjoy!