On Friday, 11 October, I returned home from my latest stay in Walter Reed’s finest.

I am back in my own castle and getting additional nutrition from a home TPN regime of 1800 calories that my wife hooks up to a port in my right bicep every afternoon that pumps until the next morning, 12-14 hours later.

I augment the TPN with an additional 200-400 calories that I eat on my own. Usually, I meet my intake goal by consuming calorie dense soups or mash potatoes (bring on the butter and heavy cream) or protein shakes (but ones that I make as pre-made types cause me to throw up now).

I am already gaining weight, vice losing any more. I was down to around
140 lbs, which sits about 25 lbs below my average weight of 165 lbs.

I put on 4 lbs in the hospital and have put on another 4 lbs since getting home.

With my weight and strength trending positive, I start chemotherapy on Tuesday.

Now begins another health battle to make sure I withstand the treatment regime while also keeping a healthy weight.

I have to stay strong through Thanksgiving as that is when I will complete my last infusion.

Here’s to the battle that continues to rage! Here’s to joining the survivors!