Just Checking In

Hi Everybody,

Jim this time. Linda's condition is so stable that it's hard to provide any kind of update other than "Things are the same." Linda's getting around so well that she's started driving around a little bit by herself, and consequently I ended up going to work every day last week. So yes, things are going well for now and Linda is taking advantage of the new medication every chance she gets.

I thought I would take the opportunity to post some of the pictures from the birthday party:

Sorry about the formatting, believe me, it's harder than you think. Thanks to Bob and Heather for all the great pictures.

So the next big event will be a CT and bone Scan, on or about July 1st. We'll see what that brings.

One last thing---Today Linda and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. If for no other reason, Linda deserves canonization for putting up with me for all these years.

Later,

Jim

won't be long!

Hi!
I know it's been a while since I wrote to everyone, but there really isn't any new news on the medical front. My doctor continues to be pretty amazed that I'm doing so well, so we're continuing with the Torisel as long as we can. On the weekends I get to take a little more of the steroid medication and that helps my energy level a lot.
Of course our attention right now is focused on Andrea and the new baby. She is due on July 20th, so we're trying to figure out when we should go down there, how long to stay, etc. If she goes early, I'm not sure what the plan will be! Another consideration is that we have to arrange for me to get my chemotherapy treatment while I'm down there. Unfortunately, I can't miss even one week's treatment.
So the summer is going very well for me. I feel very fortunate to be feeling so well at this most exciting time in our lives. All of those prayers must really be doing the trick! Thank you all.

Love ya! Linda

more good news

I guess it has been a while since I've written to all of you....but I do have an excuse! We went on Tuesday to have my follow-up brain MRI done and we were lucky enough to hear the preliminary report from the doctor right away. It was all good news. The original tumor has been shrunk to the size of a pin head (follow the arrow on the picture) and, just as important, there are no new sights or tumors. We were afraid to pass on this news to everyone right away because we wanted to wait for the final report from the radiologist, which we finally got yesterday. So the radiation seems to have worked and the brain tumor is no longer a worry--at least for now.

I just have to go back every 3 months for more scans. Needless to say, we were quite relieved.

I continue to do quite well on Torisel. I still get low-grade fevers about 3 or 4 times a week, but usually a few Tylenol will do the trick. My energy level is so much higher than when I was on Sutent and I've been doing some "normal" things once again. Jim even went to work two days in a row while Andrea has been here this weekend. Let's hope this all continues for a long time... at least until the end of July when the baby comes!

Thanks for your continued support and prayers.

Love ya!

Linda