I know, I know, you are ready for a “check in!” So, here we go...
In September I went down to MD Anderson (Houston, TX) and received the surgery of my life! The petite doctor who was the main surgeon had to get up on a riser to perform it. I talked to Lori over the phone during the awake portion of the surgery, and encouraged the doctor to keep going to get it all! She did a happy dance about removing 95% of the tumor!
After recovering from surgery, I went back home for a short time to see my girls, and then returned to Houston for six weeks of radiation. Then at home in Michigan I was going to take a six month plan for chemo. This was going to be my year and I would make it through!
The cancer had different plans...
The chemo was developed in the 1970s and I was told it was pretty bad. I'll say the first month was didn't feel so bad, but the second round, beginning third month was simply the worst. I couldn’t imagine what six months would be like.
Because of COVID-19, I had a virtual meeting with my doctor at Spectrum Health after my most recent MRI on April 2nd. My doctor came on and said “I’ve got some bad news.” She told me that the tumor is still growing in two places, toward the middle and toward the back of my brain. I also am growing a second tumor, which shows bleeding. My brain is swollen, causing frequent dizziness and affecting my speech, reading, and writing abilities.
The doctor said it is pointless to continue this chemo.
My doctor here has made a next step recommendation of a drug called Avastin, which would be given through IV every 2-3 weeks, but we're waiting to hear from MD Anderson tomorrow too.
THANK YOU to my wife, Lori, for helping me write this post, and to my mom, Donna, for staying with us and helping us out throughout this entire quarantine.
Please pray for me... THIS STORY ISN'T OVER YET!
#IAMSTILLALIVE