war wounds.

At the end of week 5 of radiation, the treatment is leaving its mark.  It is easy to see the "radiation field" by his deep red skin color and torched skin texture.  And the bottom photo shows the "radiation hair styling".  (We don't recommend Mr. Radiation as a barber.)  Mike is sure a trooper through it all.  Fortunately he said he does not have pain with his burned skin, even where the skin has started to crack.

Mike reminds me that he can manage the treatments and the mask - and the burned exterior skin surfaces - but it is the torched taste buds and swollen throat that make this a struggle.  Eating is just plain HARD.  We were very disappointed to learn that Mike lost another two pounds today.  That is nine pounds since we started with another full week of treatment to go.  (To put a little more positive twist on that - ONLY 6 TREATMENTS TO GO!)  I would call today the low point for both of us.  The rather large one-day weight loss makes me feel like a failure of a caretaker - who can't come up with nutritious high caloric foods "that work". What works one day doesn't go down the next... I feel like I am always encouraging Mike to eat something (because I am)... and remember, favorite foods aren't favorites anymore and sweets almost always turn paste-y in a non-taste bud mouth.  It is hard.  And trying.  And frustrating.

But like I said yesterday - God gives grace - everyday.  In the midst of this yucky, icky day we listened to the final chapters of our book Unbroken.  Oh my.  What a beautiful, amazing finale awaited us.  We would like to encourage all of you to read these true life stories of Louis Zamperini and his WWII comrades.  It was also fun to see the wonderful new paint colors go on the front of the house - and the painters loved the pizza we treated them to at lunch.

Six treatments to go.