I Can Dig Deeper IF I Have To
John J. Hagen
Phase #3, Week #10
Treatment Day #178
ReInduction I is over, done! See ya! Good riddance! Ba Bye! Ugh, it was so hard on John. The side effects of John’s treatments pummeled his body. He is swollen from the steroids and beaten down from the pain. Unfortunately, John spent the last few days of ReInduction I inpatient at St. Jude. We just couldn’t get control of his “nerve” pain (a chemotherapy side effect). It radiated down his back and legs and caused him debilitating pain. His screams were piercing, the pressure breaking capillaries in his cheeks & eyelids! Thanks to our new friend, HydroMorphine, John was able to get “some” comfort! He was discharged after a few days and allowed to rest and recover back at The Grizzlies House with our old friend, Morphine.
Last night as I tucked John into bed, I told him how proud I was that he found the strength to push through the anguish of the last few days. His response took my breath away. He said, “I CAN DIG DEEPER IF I HAVE TO”!
Cancer has taught John the real definition of determination. It has taught him how to reach down inside himself, when he truly believed he is empty and find strength!
John is my HERO!
We will be in Memphis for another couple weeks. John is awaiting a BIG treatment next week followed by a Lumbar Puncture, Chemotherapy to the Central Nervous System, and a MRI scan of his joints (to look for joint damage from high dose steroids) the following week.
ReInduction II is also right around the corner. This will be 3 VERY intense weeks of treatments and will most likely be followed by several weeks of recovery! We anticipate John will be at St. Jude the majority of November and December. We pray we will have him home in time for Christmas!
In a couple weeks John will be SIX months into treatment! His strength and determination has carried him through intense rounds of treatments and agonizing side effects! Most importantly, SIX months into treatment John is CANCER FREE! John is in REMISSION! John no longer has cancer!
#UnstoppableDetermination
Thank you for loving him, for praying for him and standing with him in this journey.
Love Kathy
Don’t forget, September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Make a difference in a child’s life. PLEASE consider giving blood this month in honor of John Hagen! Blood products breathe life into children enduring chemotherapy treatment!
Reader Comments (11)
Thanks Kathy...we are all praying for JHUD! There is lots of Love and admiration for him here in Sea Bright.
God Bless you All
I read and reread your loving update. Then I smiled knowing the strenght that God has given you my dear Kathy. John is with me all day long...every day. I carry a prayer book with mme and are times I pull my card over to the side of the road and pray. How can it be that John is so brave. He is remarkable. He is the man...........We are so proud of him, you,Rich and Isabella. Having our weeks with her I realized that God has also Blessed you with her. Please take care of yourself. you are love, mom
Johnny my boy - You are more then a hero to me. You are a inspiration and your determination shows and confirms, how much of a man you are, you are the man..don't forget it. I cant even put into words how proud I am of you.
Fist bump
Chad
John -
You show us every day that no matter what the circumstances are, as long as we never stop fighting - with unstoppable determination - we can persevere.
You're a hero, warrior, survivor, and inspiration! Six months into this battle to beat cancer - YOU ARE STILL WINNING!!!! Keep up the good fight and never forget how brave & strong you are!!!!
Many blessings to you and your family.
I am in awe of John's strength, bravery, and determination! Thinking about you!
Courtney
John and Kathy....I am so excited to have my project to do for you. I really feel in a very small way that I am helping you. But I do know it is a very small way.
Everyday you are so close to my heart. These past few weeks have been so awful for you. I am proud of you , John. Each day I pary you will be better and better. Love, noni
Dear Kathy, Rich, John and Bella,
You do not know me.....I am a cousin of your father and papou. As children we saw each other when his family came to Canonsburg, Pa. to visit his Thea Sevasti or when we went to Gary, Indiana. As we grew older our visits were less frequent and then as adults totally non-existent. We were lucky to re-connect a few years ago. Your papou filled me in
on his children and grandchildren. I have followed John along his current journey and are awed by his strength, stamina, determination and his 'dig down deeper attitude'.....all the ingredients for a healthy recovery. I pray for John daily and light a seven day candle in church every Sunday for his speedy recovery and for your entire family. God grant you many years. Love and prayers coming your way. Love, Sylvia
We are getting ready for the LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK!! All donations go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am so happy that Bella will be able to walk with us! Prayers of peace to you all. Much Love, The DuBose Family
lightthenight.org
Always thinking of all of you. I pray for John to remain cancer free and for strength for all 4 of you. John's inner strength is inspiring and I hope his pain diminishes. Love and prayers always
Denise Dulligan
Hey John......its your cousin John Michael. I just wanted you to know I was thinking of you. You truly are determined! I have faith that things will get better--love your cousin John Michael
John and family, you all have come a long way in short time. I knew from the start that John had the power to overcome this just like all Hagens. I keep a watch on your progress and pray for a great outcome. You know I'm not one for words and age is setting in fast. I see myself forgetting a lot of things and moving around is getting harder each day. I look at John's unstoppable determination and I just follow his footsteps. Tell him he's still invited to a big fishing trip in Mexico when he can travel. Well that's it for now and if you need anything let me know.
Rich Sr.