It’s been a while since my last update, and in that time I’ve managed to stay out of the hospital! I did have another infection, but we caught it early enough that I was able to get a big dose of antibiotics at the Immediate Care Clinic, Winship's urgent care facility for cancer patients. That did knock me off my chemo schedule (again), but my doctor was concerned that my immune system would be weakened by the chemo and the infection might take advantage of that, and she wanted to keep me out of the hospital (yay!).

I had a CT last week to check the progress of the tumors and lesions. Anna and I waited until today to read over them so if there were questions I’d be seeing my oncologist later this morning. The lesions on my liver continue to get smaller and there is no indication of additional growth. The CT isn’t clear enough to get a very good look at the tumors, but it was enough to see there has not been a significant change, and that is what the doctor was looking for; stability. 

Because of this, we are going to move ahead with the plan to move to oral chemo in the next few weeks. I am very excited about this, as we’ve been trying to move toward it since starting treatment back in October!!

I have continued to feel very good over the past month, even with the infection. I caught it quickly enough that even though I had a fever, I got on the antibiotics quick enough to keep me well. Swim team has started back and that has helped fill the hole that not being in the classroom had left. Being able to interact with kids on a daily basis makes me feel normal! I’m grateful for the times I got to go up to Trinity to spend time with my students and coworkers. It has been difficult being out for the majority of the year. 

As always, I am so grateful for the love and support coming from so many of you. I am reminded of this daily, and as I told my students earlier this week, I 100% believe this support and my interactions with you all counteract many of the side effects I would be experiencing without them. I can’t express my gratitude adequately enough.

I am going to continue remaining aggressively optimistic and I have been doing so since I started treatment in December ’22, Keep Moving Forward!

Much Love & Big Hugs!

Thomas