Houston Style

I'm in my little private waiting area again. Apparently some people did not get the memo because there are several others in here right now. I'm trying to cope.

Also I wanted a snack so I went to the gift shop and got a bag of gourmet popcorn. I chose Houston Style. Idk what it is but I can see some pieces have a sugary coating so I'm thinking sweet and salty? Ok sounds good.

Wow wow wow! The not sugary coated pieces are not salty. No. They are hot. HOT AS FIRE! SPICY HOT! So I picked out the sugary coated ones. 

Ok enough about me. 

David had scans last night. We drove over for his 7 o'clock check in, 9 o'clock scan. Made it to the hotel about 11. 😴

Blood draw this morning at 8. Dr. at 10. We were called into Dr office early! And the research nurse was already waiting for us! And the news was good! No progression! Then a Fellow intern fellow came in, said there was actually some shrinkage! Yay! All the happiness! Praises and thankfulness!

Then the boom. Dehydrated. Ugh. Why oh why can he not drink enough water? So they are going to add a 2 hour saline drip to his infusion. Ok, it is simultaneous, so it will take an hour longer.  

But no! Then the Dr says no, that's too fast. 4 hour drip. 4. Hours. In my not so private room. With too spicy popcorn. And we will be smack dab in the middle of rush hour when we leave here. Houston Style.

Focus. Perspective.

Thank God for good news. 

Davis is tolerating treatment and it's working.

One third of my popcorn was edible.

The last time he needed a 4 hour drip we were here until midnight. At least we are getting an early start today.

No one was in my chair in my corner of my (not) private room. 

I'm going to get David this gallon jug:

And put this cowboy drinking on it:

Cool, clear, water. (Water) 🎶

He. Will. Drink. It. All. Everyday. 😡

Guess what? Joy! Everyone left my room!

Please continue to pray that this treatment continues to be successful! 

Thank you for loving us!

Still waiting

I am in the waiting room while David has his infusion. There is a little side room next to the pharmacy that no one is hardly ever in. I found it so it's mine. It has relatively low lighting, a television on a non controversial channel (Jeopardy right now), a huge fish tank and a chair in the corner next to a plug. I have my phone charging and a yeti full of unsweetened tea. It could be worse. See:

I am also still waiting on a miracle. Today was not the day.

The news was overall good. Some shrinkage, mostly stable. But some growth in one pesky lung tumor that apparently did not get the memo.

So David will continue on this trial for another round; 2 more infusions after today, then scans again in May. If there is continued growth in that tumor or any new growth then he will be out of this trial and on to something else. The Dr said there are many more things we can do and many more options coming out all the time. So we aren't losing hope by any means. But this has been one of the easier treatments for David. Less side effects than the others. But who knows? Another treatment could be the cure. So we press on. And we wait.

Dr. Tannir seemed a little down today. We both remarked on it leaving the office. I wished I'd asked. I don't know if he was sad about this trial not being what he thought it would be for us, or news he had to give someone else or just fatigue and sick of cancer in general. How could he not be? Or maybe we seemed sad? Anyway, lift him up in prayer please. He is a very sweet man.

And if you really want to know about waiting...
Last night David's scan was scheduled at 5:30. We were really early getting into town. Let's just go early, he said. Maybe they can take me early, he said.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

He finished up about 9:00. There comes a point when he can't eat before a scan. But nobody really knows exactly what time 2 hours before the scan will actually be, now do they? 🙄

Also. Why were they running so behind? Because a bazillion people have cancer, that's why. And a lot, a lot, a lot of them are here getting treatment. A LOT. There is too much stinkin cancer.

I'm thinking David might be about finished upstairs, and it's about 2 hours earlier than we thought we'd be finished so I guess that evens out with last night?

Here are my prayer requests please:

1. Miracle. No more cancer at the next scan.
OR
2. Stupid, uninformed tumor in lung, get the hint and SHRINK!
3. No new growth or progression.

Also please pray for John, Lorraine, Bill, Holli, Melissa, Betty, Ruth, and Pete.

Before I go, a praise. David got a new job that he is really excited about. He will be the new district math coordinator for Seguin ISD. That may not be the official title. This an admin position and promotion! He is a little sad to leave his current district, but they have not realized his potential for too long and it is time. Please also pray for a smooth transition for him!

Thank you for loving us.

5 year anniversary

This month is the 5 year anniversary of David's diagnosis. It's been a long road, bumpy at times, but we are still here!

David had his second scans since starting the new trial. The scans were good! They showed more SHRINKAGE from the scan in July and significant shrinkage since April! The clot is also dissolving. Dr. T is very pleased and is optimistic for the future, so we will just continue to trust the Dr. and more so, God!

Please continue to pray for a cure, just give up stupid Cancer!
Also pray for some mild side effects to go away!
Please pray for Ruth, Lorraine, Bobby, and Holli.

Going to watch the election results now, thank you for loving us!

Short and sweet

David had scans yesterday and Dr appt today. He is having an infusion now.

The scans show the blood clot is dissolving and more importantly, not propagating. So he will continue on the blood thinner as planned. He will also start back on the trial oral drug, but at a lower dosage.

After today's infusion, we don't have to come back for 4 weeks! But it is a larger dosage, so pray for minimal side effects!

His next scan will be in 3 months, according to protocol of the trial. Pray for more shrinkage until then!

Thank you for your prayers always!

Here's a picture of the tree sculpture in the main lobby of the Mays building.

Thank you for loving us!

Great news!!!! But...

Since I hate when the nurse and doctors take forever to tell us about the scans, I'll just get right to it for you!

The exact words of the research nurse were, 'Your scans look amazing! We were so excited when we looked at them last night!'

So now the rest of the story.

We went to MDA yesterday morning and the scan was scheduled at 1:45. The scan actually took place about 4:30. The place was packed. Ugh. Cancer.

Then we found a great chicken fried steak at a local dive called Natachees. David wanted CFS. And if he's got an appetite, we're going to find what he wants!

Our table was ^^^ right here!

It had a South Austin kind of charm if you know what I mean. 😉 No offense South Austin!

Today started early, 7:45 bloodwork that happened about 8:15. 9:30 dr appt, that happened about 10:30.

The scans showed that some of the smaller nodules have shrunk to be not measurable and the larger ones, 2+cm, are reduced by half or more! Yippee! Thank you God for some good news today!  We haven't had news like this in years! He has been mostly stable for a long while. Which stable was good, we took that! But this! This is wow wow WOW!

Okay. Now the buzz kill. David has a blood clot in/near his spleen. This can be caused by the oral, trial medication he is taking.  So. He has to take a blood thinner for the next few weeks (and then probably as long as he takes this medication). And he has to stop the oral med until we go back. Without the stupid clot he would have graduated to once a month infusions and a scan every 3 months.  But now we go back in 2 weeks to check on the clot. Hopefully it will be dissolved, absorbed, whatever clots do, and he will go back on the trial med in conjunction with the infusion. He still got the infusion today and that should continue with the next one in 4 weeks.

So it's a setback, but we are still celebrating! Because cancer sucks and we want it gone!

So after seeing every dr and nurse and new PA and a Fellow with zero personality, we headed to the infusion, followed by an EKG that is part of the protocol but didnt get scheduled, surprise! You get to stay an hour longer today!

We were out about 4:00. Hello Houston traffic. I do love you, HOV lane!

Home about 7:30. So much happy!

Thank you for all the prayers! And thank God for these answers!

Please continue to pray that the clot goes away, the medication keeps working and minimal side effects!

Please also pray for Lorraine, who was at MDA today in the same building, on the same floor, at the same time and we didn't even see each other because the place is so stinking big!

And for Bobby and Ruth and Holli and Gloria.

Too much sickness.

Thank you for loving us!

Ugh

We just finished up with the Dr and now waiting for the infusion.

Yesterday started with a blood draw at 6:45am, followed by the last required biopsy and 3 different scans.

We were finally out at about 10:30pm. David couldn't eat anything until right before the last scan. I had some granola bars in my purse that I ate when he was not with me. (No need to torture him further).

Needless to say, we were tired and hungry at the end of it all.

Good news that we didn't have to start again today until noon. Bad news is that starting at noon means getting out, well who knows when, but later than desired.

The results of all the scans were not what we wanted to hear. We were hoping of course, always, for a miracle. For no sign of the disease. We would have been thrilled with shrinkage too. What we got was no new spots (okay that's good), but a very slight enlargement of existing spots.

WAIT!

They emphatically told us not to worry, that it is very common for patients on immunotherapy to experience 'psuedo' growth. That the tumors are actually absorbing the treatment and we could see a drastic reduction at the next scan. So he will stay on this protocol for 6 more weeks until the next scan. At that time he will have been on the treatment for 3 months and they feel that will be long enough to see if this is going to work.

They are very encouraged that David feels so well and has minimal side effects.

So we will wait and see.

So please continue to pray.
1. SHRINKAGE
2. SHRINKAGE
3. SHRINKAGE
4. SHRINKAGE
5. SHRINKAGE
6. SHRINKAGE
7. SHRINKAGE
8. SHRINKAGE
9. SHRINKAGE
10. SHRINKAGE

That should about cover it.



Thank you for loving us.

A hard days night

Today began at 2am since we decided to make this a one day trip and they scheduled David's first appt at 7am. So we left at 3am. We had no problems and arrived a stinking hour early. So we went to Whataburger for breakfast before heading in to MDA.

I am not a fan of the AM hours before about 9. Just saying.

This is the second time we've had a 7am blooddraw and he didn't get in until after 8. Grrr.

Then we waited for the Dr. The nurse called us back. She said our research nurse was not there so Dr. T would be in to see us. Knock at door and in comes a PA. She says Dr. T not there, so Zita, another PA will be in. Then knock at door and Shehanie, our research nurse comes in. Then another nurse comes and gets David for more blood because he didn't get enough at 8. While David went to do that, knock at door and Dr. T comes in.  Who's on first? Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anyone really care? 🙄

Anyway. They all agreed that all the bloodwork looked great. And we could go on to get the infusion. But wait. They ask about side effects David is experiencing? Yay no stomach issues to speak of. A slight rash that has gone away. He also mentions that his back has been aching. We have read this is one of the most common side effects. But they decide he needs an xray of his spine. Just to rule out metastisis. And they want a full bone MRI next time. So instead of going to the infusion we stop for the xray.

Then on to the infusion. They call him right back! And get everything ready. Then we wait. An hour. Because the drug is not there yet. This happened 2 weeks ago too. Where is the drug? Downstairs in the pharmacy. Ugh. Finally it comes, takes about an hour and we are out!

It's now 2pm. We are tired and hungry.

Lunch and home!

I just checked online and the xrays show no sign of metastisis. Yay! But I guess he'll still have the bone MRI anyway. We finally met the whole deductible/co-pay, so whatever is fine. Do it now before the insurance year starts again in September!

It was a good day, all things considered.
We are anxious for the scan results in two weeks, but we remain optimistic!

Please pray for clear bone scans and shrinkage/disappearance of the other stuff, no more side effects, less back pain. And a good nights sleep!

Thank you for loving us!