Our dear dad, passed away peacefully yesterday (Monday, January 7) morning, surrounded by loved ones after a courageous fight with cancer.  

Funeral services will be this Friday, January 11 2013, 4:00 pm at the LDS building in Eugene- 
3132 River Road, Eugene OR 97404

Thank you for everyone for your thoughts, prayers, love and support!  We are so grateful for you all!

Update:

Dad has finished the fourth round of chemo last week and has been doing great!  He handled this round of chemo (along with all the others) like a champ having no side effects!  Like the last update, we can all see improvement with Dad's speech/communication and his balance.  He will have another MRI in a few weeks to see again how the tumors are reacting to the chemo.  

Dad, Mitch and Frankie on game day- GO DUCKS!

Dad is THRILLED that football season has begun!  Every Saturday is like Christmas morning for him.  Proudly displaying his Oregon flag, watching game day and all the other games throughout the day and even going to a few himself (of course with some welcomed company).  He has loved going to the Duck game these past few weeks!  He has also enjoyed hanging out with his grand-daughter Frankie for the past few weeks- she definitely keeps him on his toes and he is definitely being the best grandpa ever!

Megan, Sydney, Mitch and Dad on game day- Quack Quack

Dad's brother, David and his wife Stephanie came up for a long weekend to visit with the family.  It was a great visit for everyone, oh the stories that were told!

Thank you again for all the love, support, prayers, gifts (bread, cookies, goodies, lots of diet coke and chocolate and everything else I might have forgotten).  Thank you for those that have helped with the girls!  It really does mean a lot!  Also, thank you for those that have helped financially!  We can't not express how grateful we are for the generosity of those that have helped out in that way! 

Dad wants to thank you all for the emails (dad loves to read emails from old friends- remembering the good old days...,) calls, visits, texts, lunches, and whatever else that I may have forgotten. 

Love, the Figgats

Update

So, dad had his check-up with his Oncologist.  His MRI showed that the tumors have had some reduction in size- in other words this round of chemo has been effective.  We (Dad's family, including himself) can tell that there has been some definite improvement.  His speech and balance have gotten a lot better!  Dad will continue with another round of Temodar, with the same routine.  It will be a two month treatment- taking a pill each day for 5 days- off for a month and then taking a pill each day for 5 days and off for a month.  After the second round of pills, dad will have another MRI to determine how the tumors are handling the second round.

Dad has been enjoying watching all the Olympic events!  But can hardly wait for DUCK season...and I don't mean hunting for all those non-duck fans.  I am sure if you were to ask when the first game is, he would be able to tell you before you even finished the sentence.  What a loyal fan- definitely the biggest duck fan I know.

Thank you again for all the love, support, prayers, gifts (bread, cookies, goodies, lots of diet coke and chocolate and everything else I might have forgotten).  Thank you for those that have helped with the girls!  It really does mean a lot!  Also, thank you for those that have helped financially!  We can't not express how grateful we are for the generosity of those that have helped out in that way!

Dad wants to thank you all for the emails (dad loves to read emails from old friends- remembering the good old days..., calls, visits, texts, lunches, and whatever else that I may have forgotten.

So, thank you again to everyone!

Love, the Figgats

Dad and Kacey on U of O campus- GO DUCKS!

A little update on dad:

Dad and his trusty side kick/best friend Rufus!

This past week dad finished his second round of chemo.  His body handled the chemo well, no real side effects, which is good.  He will have a follow-up MRI at the end of the month.  Dad is having some difficulty with memory and his balance.  He is still on a small dose of steroids to help with his balance, which does help.  His feet and ankles have been swollen quite a bit- more so his left.  His oncologist did an ultrasound to make sure there wasn't any blog clots in his feet- fortunately that came back negative.  Dad has been told to relax with his feet elevated with pillows- for all those that know dad relaxing and not doing anything for long periods of time does not suite him well but he has done well with it- even though it is difficult for him to not to anything.  Overall and considering the circumstances, dad is doing good.  Just enjoying each day at a time.

We, as a family want to thank everyone again for all the support that has been shown our way.  Through thoughts, prayers, delicious cookies, bread, all the other goodies, library days for the girls and especially the financial help that so many of you have offered to us at this time.  We are so grateful!  

Love, the Figgats 

Check Up

Dad mini golfing with Jessica and Ashley!

On Friday, Dad had his check up appointment with his oncologist to make sure that everything was good since he has recently been off the chemo pills.  Considering dad's situation he is doing well.  Communication for him is limited and difficult at times as many of you know.  He does get tired very easily throughout the day but knows when he needs to lay down and rest.  Nights are especially  difficult for him.  Dad seems to have a difficult time falling and staying asleep.  He is usually up all night wondering the house, which makes it especially difficult on my mom being up with him and checking up on him.  Through out all this, Dad still has a very positive attitude.  He still has his sense of humor and will crack jokes throughout the day, he even throws a little sarcasm into the mix to keep everyone on their toes.

Dad's oncologist tried to slowly take him off his steroids a few weeks ago, but he started getting sharp pains in his head and his balance was completely off.  So now he is back on 6mg of steroids a day for about another week- they will then try to tapper off the steroids.

Dad will start his second round of chemo (Temodar) in the middle of July but his oncologist has decided to increase the dose by 100 mg.  After completing the second does of Temodar, he will have a MRI to see how the tumors are reacting to the Temodar- by then we will know a lot more.

Again, we wanted to thank you for all the prayers, thoughts, cards, emails and texts.  They mean so much to have such wonderful and supportive family and friends.  Dad has enjoyed his outings away from home with his friends, so thank you to those for their efforts!  Dad was able to join a friend to the track and field Olympic Trials at Autzen Stadium last weekend.  Despite the bad weather, he had a great time!  Later in the week some friends took him out for a round of golf.  He was worn out by the end of the day but had a lot of fun!  Mom has also enjoyed all the diet coke and chocolate people have dropped off (who wouldn't)!  For all those that have helped with Jess and Ash- we are so grateful for that.

Thank you again to those who have helped financially, it has been such a huge blessing and relief for our family, especially for mom!

Love, the Figgats

We just wanted to thank every one for all the thoughts, prayers, support, financial help, love and everything else!  We greatly appreciate everything during this difficult time.

A little update on dad:  he has started the chemo a few days ago- and he has been handling it well.  A few more days of taking the pills and then he will be off until next month.  He continues to love all the emails, texts, letters, memories of the good old days, etc.  They really make his day!  So thank you again!

Pathology Update

The Pathologist got back to my parents this morning.  The tumor is a grade 3, anaplastic astrocytoma.  They also met with dad's oncologist, who is starting him on chemo.  The chemo pill is temodar.  Dad will be on it for 2 months, taking the pill for 5 days and then off the rest of the month and then 5 days again for the second month.  After the 2 months, dad will have a MRI to see how the tumors are reacting to the temodar.

Dad and Mom- what a great pair!

Thank you again for every one's thoughts, prayers, support, financial help, texts, emails and love!  They are all greatly appreciated!  Love the Figgats