A Lot has happened since John had his last radiation treatment 8 weeks ago. So this one is a long one.   The plan for him was to take a month break from the chemotherapy pill he was taking and then to start up again for 6 months.  However, his post radiation MRI revealed two new cancer spots in other locations in his brain.  One is a small mass of less than a centimeter and the other a small brush stroke of cancer cells.  These new spots mean that the chemotherapy drug was not working while he was taking it during radiation so the doctors have decided to not continue with the drug.  Instead, we looked at two possible trials.  One at UPenn in Philadelphia and the other here locally in Fairfax.  As of now he will be going forward with the UPenn trial in the middle of April.  It consists of starting with 3 radiation treatments to the tumor using a cyber knife and then monthly receiving two intravenous immunotherapy drugs for up to 2 years as long as the cancer does not grow.  We will use the Fairfax option as a backup unless something else comes along.  The Fairfax trial is an inhibitor and they are currently in phase 1, the dosage stage so not as promising as the UPenn study.  Time is crucial for John and we don’t want to wait around while the dosage is being figured out.  

John is still struggling with his recovery.  His cerebellum now has a lot of scar tissue and swelling from the surgery and radiation.  He is receiving at-home physical therapy sessions to help with leg strength and balance. As part of his recovery, John keeps telling me he has to watch golf ALL DAY in order to feel better and insists on controlling the TV remote.  Hmmm….. I have begun to question the validity of his recovery and have now watched enough golf to become a professional golf coach. :) BTW I think we should all back Scottie Scheffler, he seems like a nice guy.

I love that we continue to have visitors, phone calls, notes and prayers sent our way.  Thank you for all of it.  Going through this is extremely difficult and something I never in a million years imagined we’d have to endure.  Having friends like you makes it bearable.  John, the kids and I continue to remain in constant prayer that God has a plan of healing.  

Thank you for your continued prayers for John,

Kim