And then, cancer came, three ~ 2019

That.was.rough. Your dad's chronic headpain began in June 2019. He had an infected tooth that a root canal down in Mexico and a a few rounds of antibioticcs weren't healing. His mouth smelled like death. He was in pain and unable to sleep laying down. By August, the doctors had declared it was cancer. Burt began doing eerything he could to treat himself naturally and homeopathically. Fortunately, he had your grandma - who had been out to visit at the onset of Burt's headpain to celebrate Sarah's graduation from high school - to lean on for funding his alternative medicines and treatments. I remember him diving into a plant based diet with gusto. He lost a lot of weight quickly. While he was waiting for conventional treatment his symptoms were progressing. The tumor was growing quickly in his right sinus cavity and was affecting his ability to see, smell and hear. It was scary. (Meanwhile, I was experiencing acute anxiety in response.) But as these photos attest, your dad was still so present to you (and me.) We went big for both of your birthdays that September. In November, Burt began chemotherapy to which he immediately benefitted. He had friends, like Auntie Jenn and Uncle Stu, sitting with him in the office when he received his six infusions. The day after Christmas, he began upper head and neck radiation treatments. He received 48 of those over the next few months. Unfortunately, it was this treatment that burned the inside and outside of Burt's throat making it painful for him to swallow. He ended up in the hospital in early February 2019, and had a gastro-intestinal tube placed directly into his stomach. Our community was there for us, each step of the way. Helping to financially support us with fundraisers. Uncle Stu drove your dad to his radiation treatments so I could maintain your daily schedule with naptimes. And in so many other ways, we were supported. Burt supplemented his conventional treatment with aternative remedies as well. Cannabis helped him to alleviate his nausea. He had an infrared sauna in his office that someone gave him, and more. Your dad was 100% the biggest trooper through it all. He rested. He stayed warm in his office. His eyes never lost that gleam or twinkle. His smile never faltered. Your Dad is the truest definition of what it means to be a SPIRITUAL WARRIOR. In May 2019, after this physically harrowing ordeal, Burt was gifted with remission from a cancer that had become 4th stage in affecting his lymph nodes and reaching his liver. His gi-tube was removed and we were ready to downsize our life and depart southern California in order to worldschool you south of the border.