Do you have a special childhood vacation memory? My wife fondly remembers going to Disneyland in CA and then the Grand Canyon. I have great memories of going on camping trips and skiing in Colorado. Our Team Phelps favorites have been going to the beach or to the mountains for our vacations. We recently realized we had not been to the beach since 2019 (maybe getting my doctorate got in the way…ha ha). So, we put all our heads and calendars together to schedule a time when we ALL could make it to the beach. This has become quite a feat with young adult children with full time jobs and Jordan and Mary in their medical residencies.  But we pulled it off over Memorial Weekend and what great memories were made having everybody together in one tiny condo!

Two of our favorite things to do as a family has been to go to premier movies and to go out to eat. We were able to do both during our weekend. We filled an entire row of an AMC Theater in Destin to watch the premier of Top Gun: Maverick.  All my children have had the obnoxious pleasure of watching me rewatch my favorite movie, Top Gun, over and over through the years, so they knew that seeing Top Gun: Maverick was going to be our movie of choice for the vacation. It did not disappoint. It was awesome and we all loved being together. Now, when we are together, we quote our favorite lines.

We also were able to go to our favorite outdoor seafood restaurant that is called Hammerheads. I can remember us all sharing one bucket of seafood in the early days, but boy have we all grown and now it takes three buckets to fill our bellies with the best seafood on the Florida Emerald Coast. There was nothing left but the shells when we left.

One unfortunate event on our vacation was me face-planting in the sand when I attempted to sit in my beach chair. I think I am still getting sand out of my ears! The cancer treatments have had an adverse effect on my balance and my energy levels. I had more difficulty walking in sand and being able to get in the ocean on my own. All of this has hurt my pride, but I am continuing to thank God for giving me more days of life to even experience our vacation.

I am gearing up for my next chemotherapy cycle starting June 24, 2022, and continuing for the next five days. Chemotherapy is a preventative measure to make sure that no tumor returns. We know that my type of cancer, glioblastoma, responds well to chemo, me and my body not so much! Pray for strength and perseverance. I am looking forward to visiting an uncle and some friends over the 4^th of July weekend if all goes well this cycle.

The most recent update is that the MRI did not reveal any new tumor, but it did reveal that I have growth of the necrotic tissue/dead tissue again. I know dead tissue and growth sounds like an oxymoron. It is kind of like “poop in the yard”. The growth is NOT where I need another surgery( like two months ago), but they will keep a watch on it and add a new treatment to my go- forward plan. They will be adding an immunotherapy called Avastin to my regimen to hopefully help my body fight off the cancer better. Please pray for little or no side effects to this. I will be taking the immunotherapy every three weeks intravenously from now on.

I am doing well besides some balance issues and short-term memory issues. Praise God with me for His goodness of giving me continuing life. Continue to ask God with me for healing from this terrible cancer.

Your James 5 prayers mean so much to me and my family. They have truly been our lifeline as we have traveled through this diagnosis the last 10 months.

Sincerely,

John Phelps