Travis’ Fight

12/13/2023

We spoke to the oncologist yesterday and basically confirmed our initial thoughts on the scans. She said the liver did not respond and that some of the lung modules had minimal response and others grew.

With the growth she said the chemo is not effective enough to keep giving toxic drugs. The quality of life would be bad with no increase to the quantity!

At this point all treatments have stopped and she said maybe a year left. Of course there is no tangible time table so could be more or less.

Travis is feeling well. Only the chemo has made him feel actually sick. We will take every healthy day head on and do as much as we can together.

There are some clinical trials that oncology is checking into but their rates of efficacy is low with bad side effects.

Please keep praying and thank you again for supporting us through all of this.

P.S. our girls are very aware and supportive of his decisions as we traverse this news. Travis knows where he is going so no fear there.

12/09/2023

https://gofund.me/20b721d2

Hello, Travis has been a rock and support for our family for 32 years. He has given up a lot to w… Kristie Hendrix needs your support for Travis’ bucket list

12/08/2023

Travis had an MRI and A CT this week. The results posted in my chart and it looks like there is now a new tumor in the left lung, and that the other 2 lung tumors and the liver tumor have grown while on chemo. We will meet with the cancer center doctor on Tuesday for more information. At this point the census is no more chemo. The girls and I are all on board with whatever choice he makes.

07/14/2023

3 months!! Only 3 months cancer free.

Travis had a CT scan this week to have a new baseline to follow. Well the CT shows a new tumor in his liver (3cm) that was not there before and 2 in his lungs (1-2 cm) that we’re not there before.

Bob the blob may be gone but his cousins Larry Lenny and Lonnie are in residence!

Next steps: vacation, biopsy when we get back, radiation? Chemo? Surgery?

04/13/2023

He made p**p! This means his gut is waking up. His gas pains are better today so far. He will keep the foley for 5 days and the wound vacs anywhere from 3-7 days. Monday discharge at the earliest probably. Hoping for real food today.

04/09/2023

Bob the blob by Kyla Gordon

Written for Travis Hendrix

Bob the Blob

Life was going oh so well
Why Trav couldn't p**p, no one could tell.
He tried and tried again.
He started feeling really grim.
Back to the doctor he went.
That's when Bob the Blob gave a hint.
That tumor showed it's ugly face
That's when Trav became a cancer case.
Soon the bag came into play.
Did you know a bag can fart night or day?!
Sometimes it even tooted during Sunday School.
But he was lucky it held his stool.
Chemo, radiation, surgery soon came.
We all hoped Bob the Blob would stop playing his game.
The bag came out and things were good.
Except for bad farts, which everyone understood.
We all wanted Bob the Blob to go away.
No one wanted him to stay.
But... Bob the Blob decided to come back.
He really is a (literal) pain in the ass!
Radiation made him shrink some
Then more chemo- no fun!
Chemo didn't do the trick
That but monster didn't shrink one bit!
Bob the Blob still somehow grew
Oh the trials Trav's been through!
Now surgery is next to come.
We hope Bob the Blob will be done!
We just want it to all go away.
No one wants that Blob to stay.
The bag will be back again soon.
Hopefully Bob the Blob will face his doom!
We are all prying for the best.
We know God will take the rest.
Even if you won't be able to poo
Everyone is rooting for you.
No one like this Bob the Blob.
We want this surgery to do it's job!
We are all praying for you and cheering you on
Because everyone wants this cancer gone.
We all love you and wish you the best.
Now go conquer that butt monster pest!

04/07/2023

In 4 days Travis will have a pretty long surgery. If you wanna look up what he is having it is called APR (abdominal perineal resection) from what we are reading on a FB page for this surgery he may not be able to sit for several weeks. This means either laying or standing . Thanks to the fundraiser I was able to get him a mechanical lift chair so he can recline and watch TV.

We are expecting about 6-7 days in the hospital. He will have a permanent colostomy. Monday will be a liquid diet and bowel prep!

03/29/2023

Thank you everyone who could participate in the auction. This will allow us to prepare better for Travis surgery and recovery.

Best case is 3 months but more than likely up to 6 months if there are no complications.

If you wanna know what they are planning you can go here.

This guide will help you get ready for your abdominal perineal resection (APR) surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). It will also help you understand what to expect during your recovery.

03/23/2023

Surgery is scheduled!! Woot woot

Now starts the madness preparing for April 11th. I will have appointments with anesthesiologist, lab work, ostomy nurse, and who knows who else.

Surgery will be bright and early April 11th. Planning on at least 6 days in hospital then more recovery at home.

Possibly may need more chemo after healed but not sure yet.

03/21/2023

Met with NMCC docs today. They agree surgery should be asap. They are harassing UNMCC surgeon to get us in sooner. More to come as we get info.

03/17/2023

Update! Travis cannot get in to UNM cancer until April 6th to talk about scheduling surgery! Grrrr

03/17/2023

Several major issues going on in our house!

1. Travis had his CT scan after 4 rounds of chemo. 😢
-unfortunately the tumor has grown in the presence of the chemo.
- before radiation it was 2.9x2.1 cm
- after radiation it was 1.4x1.1cm (yay it shrunk)
-after 4 rounds of chemo it is now 3x2cm (damn it)

2. We have calls out to the NM cancer center and UNM cancer center (surgeon)

Travis has decided to stop chemo since obviously it is t working, going straight for surgery, and will most likely have whole re**um removed and live with a colostomy or ileostomy for life.

On another frustrating note we have had to resort to a lawyer for disability help. We have still not received any information on his claim. He has now been out of work for 28 months!

Please no texts or calls until we have more info. What is here is all we know.

Prayer requests-

less pain for travis, he has been having pain in his hip/butt area

For disability to be approved (back pay would be nice but just getting a check monthly would be amazing)

For Kristie to be approved for FMLA.

For surgery to be scheduled asap so it doesn’t grow any more

Peace for our kids (Katelin Michaela Briana) it hard to see your daddy sick

For peace as Travis makes life changing decisions