More milestones...

God has carried us past several milestones in the past few days. Helen and I celebrated our 34th anniversary last week. I have been so blessed to be married to my best friend for all these years. Seven years ago, it seemed like a long shot to even make it to our 30th, so we are so thankful to still have each other through God's grace.

The 15th of June marked the three year mark since finding out cancer had been found in my lungs. It had been a little over four years since my original cancer diagnosis, synovial sarcoma in the left forearm, and now this same cancer had moved (metastasized) to both lungs. We remember being told that, outside of finding some kind of treatment that would work against metastatic sarcomas, my tumors would probably turn aggressive within six months. At the time, there were no promising recommended treatments, so we went home with nothing to do but to wait on the Lord. If something needed to happen, He was going to have to make it happen. Within two weeks, a new clinical trial with a crazy experimental drug had opened up, and I was a good candidate for it, so we went for it. This drug contained a live virus, actually millions of them, and for the first full year I took this drug the tumors didn't grow. For the next six months, there would be slight growth, enough to conclude that the drug was no longer effective, meaning I was ineligible to continue taking it. Two more clinical trials, and today, three years later, we are still standing. God has directed our steps as we have depended on Him to lead the way. He has never failed us!

Also last week we completed one full year on this latest new drug, LDE225. Having been one of the first patients in this "phase I" trial, I have had a few unfavorable side effects, but things could have been so much worse. Anyway, another milestone we celebrate.

We had another appointment on Monday. Most of our discussion was about the implications of my surgery next week. Dr. Mita wanted me to quit taking LDE225 for at least the next three weeks, until after July 12th, when the first post-op CT scan is scheduled to see if there are any measurable tumors remaining in either lung. If there are none, I will probably officially be taken "off study", no longer eligible to take the drug. If there are any tumors detected, the doctor and the drug sponsor will decide whether I can begin to take the drug again. So for now, I am not taking LDE225. (Maybe my taste problems will go away.)

We are preparing for next week. We expect things to be similar to the surgery on the left lung four months ago, but we know the outcome is entirely in God's strong hands. We are planning on being in San Antonio for at least a week, but nothing is certain and we'll be prepared to stay longer if necessary. While I'm not looking forward to it, we are ready to get it over and done with.

Dad has shown some improvement in the past week. He has been at Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Veteran's Rehab Center for the past 15 days, which we believe has been good for him. It looks like he may be there for another 15 days, the Lord willing. We appreciate your prayers and concern for him and our family.

Again, we want to express our love and gratitude for all of you for all of your support shown to us in so many ways. We could not make it without you!

Love you all...