Dear Friends and Family,

December 26th

On 12/25 Ron's symptoms included not only the headache, but issue with his vision and numbness on one side of his face.  An MRI of his brain was done, the last one of which was four days prior.  This time the results demonstrated what the docs called a raging and  serious fungal infection.  It's onslaught came about because Ron has no immune system - and in spite of taking anti-fungal oral meds from the very beginning, the absence of an immune system means something can take hold and proliferate quickly.  

I am devasted to report that cancer patients who have fungal infections stand a 5% or less chance of survival, no matter the intervention, due to the absence of an immune system.  After consults with UW ENT, neurology, and neurosurgery, the options presented were:  starting a specialized anti fungal IV medicaton immediately, having a "small" surgery to clean out the blocked sinus (and thereby relieve the headache and hopefully vision issue) and obtain diseased material for further testing, or having  a "big" surgery that would involve attempting to excise as much of the diseased tissue as possible.  The "big"surgery would be long, painful, likely to result in disfigurment and have an extended recovery process.  It also did not come with any significant likelihood of improvement.

The antifungal IV was started late afternoon 12/25.  The "small" surgery was performed in the early evening 12/25 at the UW.  No ICU care required, so returned to his regular room at the VA.  Test results not likely to be available until later. I'll post more as things develop.

December 29th

Another MRI was done on 12/28 and the fungus has spread in spite of all the medications being used to address it.  Short of having the "big" surgery which was described above and Ron declined,  there are no further interventions that would change the overall picture.  Hospice has been called, Ron is coming home tomorrow.  Prognosis is maybe 2 or 3 weeks.