HEY YALL,

GREAT NEWS! As you guys know, the last scan showed that the chemo had stopped working, so my Dad was put on a ALK-inhibitor regimen that Olivia had found (Alectinib (brand name Alecensa) pills taken twice a day). And today's scan was probably the most important scan of his entire treatment so far, as we were running out of options. But before I share the news, let me paint the scene first:

So 8 of us (missing Lauren) are crammed in this exam room waiting for the doctor. The appointment was for 9:45am, and around 10:15am, Dr. Villasboas' Fellow opens the door but immediately seemed overwhelmed by our circus car situation and basically said "Ope nevermind I'll wait until Dr. Villasboas is ready." We didn't know exactly how to read that but it wasn't too comforting. Then, another 30 minutes pass and we start to panic a little, thinking Dr. Villasboas and this fellow are in the next room playing popcorn as to ways to break terrible news to us. You can always read my anxiety levels by my performative comedic bullshit and let me tell you I was on full display. Finally, at 10:56am, Dr. Villasboas enters the room, greets us, sits down, and says "Have you guys seen the scan?" "No.” He flips over a print-out of my Dad's scans side-by-side and LO AND BEHOLD THE TUMOR IS GONE!
(Pictured above. Today's scan is on the right.)
(The black circle above his tumor area in todays' scan is his heart. "God took away your tumor and gave you a heart!!!" Lol.)

Now I know I can get carried away so I've been instructed to write a disclaimer that this does NOT mean he is cured or  that we're out of the woods YET. Although there are no signs of malignant tissue on the PET scan (praise God), it doesn't mean that there couldn't be cancer cells in his blood that haven't been killed off by the Alectinib. So in 4 weeks, he'll have another PET scan along with a ClonoSEQ ID/MRD test (circulation cell-free DNA test) to see if any free roaming cancer cells can be detected in his blood. If so, we'll have to make decisions about either going on a more potent ALK-inhibitor (Lorlatinib (brand name Lorbrena)) and/or starting the process of an allogeneic stem cell transplant. 


That being said, WE. ARE. THRILLED. 
PRAISE GOD!!!!! Personally, I was not tryna be orphaned by 30 so I couldn't be more chuffed. 2024 has been one hell of a year and we really needed this win.

I'd like to commence a round of applause for Dr. Jose Villasboas Bisneto of Mayo, Dr. Allison Rosenthal of Mayo AZ, Dr. Jacob Soumerai of Harvard, Genentech (+ their parent company Roche), and of course, our own Dr. Olivia Crum who researched her butt off and found the regimen that brought us this clean scan!!! I'd say my dad is getting his Mayo tuition checks investment back in spades. Also, in our competition of becoming the favorite child, it’s safe to say she is winning. 

Lastly, a MAJOR thank you to all of you who've been so loving, supportive, and prayerful with us throughout this whole journey. God blessed us with amazing family and friends. 

Yours truly,
Gabby