This hectic life...

Life is about as hectic as it has been in a long time, between challenges at work and health issues with Dad, cancer care at San Antonio and everything else. At least it means I am alive. And I don't kid myself; I know it can get much, much rougher. So we are blessed indeed.

My Dad has been home since Friday after spending ten days in the hospital -- five in ICU following a mild heart attack. Although he has shown improvement in some areas, we are not confident that he is doing much better nor that he will get much better. We are covering new territory as a family, and are learning as we go. Please pray for us.

Our appointment yesterday was about as vanilla as it gets. My labs were back to normal ranges (as least for me), but I did lose the two pounds that I had previously gained. (If you happen to see a couple of pounds laying around, they might be mine.) I am sure the weight loss is because I have not focused as much on eating lately with everything going on. We made an appointment for June 10 for a consult visit with the surgeon, Dr. DeArmond, so we can discuss surgery on the right lung and perhaps come up with a possible date for that. I do have DEXA scans (bone scans) on schedule for our next regular visit in two weeks. We are excited that come June 1st, Lord willing, we will be celebrating one year on LDE225.

Later...

Our latest visit...

Today marked the beginning of our 13th cycle on LDE225--before we reach the end of this four-week cycle, the Lord willing, we will have completed one year of treatment on this experimental drug. Our visit to San Antonio included some fun this time--we went to the Spurs playoff game Sunday night with Janis, Don, and our great nephew. Even though it would have been much funner if they had made a few more free throws and won the game, we had a great time. Just getting to see Ginobili and Duncan and Parker and Bonner and Hill and ... we were really excited to see Steve Nash, too.

I had CT scans today at CTRC. Dr. Mita said the lungs were stable; virtually no changes in either since last time. We realize that any time we walk into the doctor's office to discuss scan reports, our lives could be turned completely upside down when we walk out. We are so thankful for God's grace and mercy in our lives. I also have gained about a pound and a half in the past two weeks, so we have even more to be grateful for. We had a good discussion with the doctor about the possibility of surgery on the right lung in the near future. She said she thought it would be a good thing to do, and because things are stable, there is no immediate need to do it. We will be considering it and praying about it in the coming days.

A real highlight of our day was the reunion of the Three Musketeers (or was it the Three Stooges?, see above photo). Helen and I have gotten very close to a couple of patients (and their wives) who have had the very same cancer as me--synovial sarcoma in the arm which has spread to the lungs. All three of us were on the same experimental drug (Reolysin) at the same time. We just developed a unique bond together, but because our treatment paths have gone different directions, we do not get to see each other very often any more. We were looking forward to today, because we knew we were all three going to be in San Antonio at the clinic on the same day. Let's just say that we all did a lot of laughing and breathing and living and still somehow avoided getting thrown out by security. It is great to be alive...

I would ask all of you to pray for my mom and dad. They are struggling with health issues and lately have not been doing so well. We love and appreciate you all...

Kenny