News just in.

Karl is dead.  The cancer is in TOTAL REMISSION.  The waiting game is over and the toxic junk that was pumped into me over 4 months did it’s job.  The oncologist was the happiest I’ve seen him and gave me a big smile and a hug.  I don’t think he gets to deliver news this good very often.  Now it’s all about getting fit again and staying healthy.  I’ll have a checkup every 3 months to make sure nothing returns. 

And, my hair is growing back (first picture), see the fuzz on my face and my head.

Your prayers and thoughts made a huge impact.  Thanks be to God for the healing and those who were praying for me, like the Australian Carmelite nuns who live in a monastery near Siena.  My family and friends, I am so fortunate to have you and won’t forget your faith and continuous support through all of this. Thank you!   

My grandson, August, had a message for me (see the third picture).

Now, for the gory details.  I’m not sure I officially stated it early on, but the original diagnosis was Stage 4, B-cell non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  I had it in all of my lymph nodes, my spine, my pelvis, my ribs, the PET scan looked like a Christmas tree.  Fortunately, doctors know how to attack this particular cancer and I was healthy enough for them to unleash every tool and probably recover from the side effects (some I’m still working through).  But it worked, I have included two pictures from the PET scans.  The picture on the left is current, the picture on the right is the original scan, where the cancer is glowing yellow.  You can see my damaged spine (with no cancer) in the first one, and the glowing yellow is the cancer as it was in the original scan.  The second one shows my pelvic area with the progress shown.  Note how the cancer was all over the bones in the original scans.  The cancer was eating the bones.  Some of my bones, such as my ribs have completely healed, which the doctor says is not common, a true blessing.  Now I need my spine to do the same.

Such a blessing to be on the other side of these treatments and starting to get my fitness, energy and mental abilities back to my normal old guy self.  Thank you for my every caring nurse and wife Amy for helping me through this latest challenge.  

Give hugs to all your loved ones, because never know what tomorrow may bring.