FINISHED!!!!

Neil is officially finished with cancer treatment. His last radiation treatment was today and he is expected to remain cancer-free. This is a photo of him walking out of his last treatment. The nurses gave him his mask as a souvenir!

We are so grateful that his treatments worked. It has been a tough journey and Neil has been so strong! We never would have made it without the help of our friends and family. I would especially like to thank our parents, who took turns taking Neil to treatments and helping us out more than we can ever thank them for! Thank you to Karen, who has been a good friend and supporter of the family throughout this process. Thanks Gretchen and Steve for the visits and meals. Thank you Nate and Stacia for your friendship, support, hospitality and words of encouragement. Thanks also to Pam, who used her own experience to give Neil hope, as well as to Rhonda, who was on her own cancer journey but always gave helpful advice and checked in on us. Thank you Outi and Henry, our friends in Finland. Henry was diagnosed and treated on the same schedule as Neil, and their friendship has been so important. We hope to meet them someday! Thanks also to Lauren and Adrian, who took charge and helped us move with their huge trailer--that was so helpful during a very stressful time.

Neil has a followup visit on April 1st and then we expect a visit three months out. He will continue to be checked out at least every six months for five years. After one year, he can have his port taken out. After two years, they will declare him cancer-free.

We finally found a reasonably priced (read: not $300 an hour) dietician who is very excited to help Neil with a diet and exercise plan that can help him rebuild his strength, repair damage and keep him healthy for life.

Here's a closer look at that crazy mask!