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We are back home again after one of our quickest trips. We left later than usual yesterday because I had to put a new battery in the car. We're just thankful it didn't happen after we had already left. We just passed 140,000 miles last month, so we had it in the shop a couple of weeks ago for a check-up. It got a clean bill of health. Has this not happened to all of you?: the battery had a free-three-year-replacement warranty, and we had bought it three years and one month ago. It's a conspiracy! They did give us a huge discount, as it was an eight-year battery. Anyway, we made it to SA and back with no problems.

Today was an easy day at the clinic. In at 9:00 and out at 11:30. Relatively routine. Short visit with the PA. Blood work good. Another week's supply of LDE225. Next week's appointment on Monday will include blood work, a PET scan, followed by a CT scan, my strange breakfast, an appointment with Dr. Mita, then back to the treatment room to wait for two week's supply of pills. It will be a rather long day...

We did discuss the protocol today and found out that the 20% growth standard applies to this experimental drug as well. If measurements from new CT scans show more than 20% growth from the baseline scans (from May), or if any new tumors appear, I will not be able to continue on this trial. This is basically the same for just about all clinical trial drugs. We continue to trust God and His good plan for our lives.

Please pray for Helen's niece, Angela. She is having at least part of her thyroid removed tomorrow. There is a possibility that it could be malignant; God knows and He has a good plan for her. Also, Helen's sister, Diane, is having surgery to try to correct complications from diverticulitis on Wednesday. It is quite a difficult surgery. Pray that God will enable the doctors to accomplish what needs to be done.

We are thankful for all of your prayers and concern.

Kenny and Helen