Heather is officially finished with her chemo treatments for now. The standard treatment is 6 months on the Temador schedule after 6 weeks of radiation, and Heather lasted 10 months on it before her body said, "No more!" She is thrilled; she now saves $400 a month, and she won't have the infusions on Day 1 and Day 3 of her cycle and she won't have side effects. Both Jon and I are so happy for her, but taking her off something that has worked is very difficult for us as well. Heather's cancer has been treated aggressively, so I don't think we can ask for more - right now anyway. We return to UCSF December 8 for her first MRI/MRS not on chemo.
What next? As for Heather's treatment plan, we just wait. I don't think there are any plans to do anything right now unless something inside her little head starts to change. Right now her blood count is good; her MRI looks good (still a tumor, but it isn't growing); her life is good. She can sit back and enjoy spending her parents money on her wedding instead of medical bills. Even Jon and I like that :)
Monster Bash - what fun! Even though the weather worked against us, people supported the cause. Pictures will be posted on the site soon. It was a good night of fun, fabulous music, awesome people, and yummy food. What more could we ask for? Costumes were quite detailed and unique. I think almost half of the guests worse costumes, which added to the atmosphere.
Every year I meet wonderful people who have been stricken with brain cancer in some form - either as a care giver, a friend, a spouse, or a patient. I am also amazed at the strength these people have. This year, two people who lost their husbands to brain cancer donated time and support to the evening. Susan M. lost her husband almost three years ago to GBM; and Joey E. lost her young husband last spring to it as well. In fact, Joey's husband is the young man who went to elementary school with Heather. Also in attendance were four people who are currently surviving brain cancer: Heather, Courtney, Matt, and Ryan. They are the faces of those who are winning the battle. And of course, there were moms, wives, fathers, and so many friends who all supported an evening of fun, laughter, music, and a costume contest :) With the 50 plus raffle prizes and the silent auction items, we were busy all night. Old Chicago certainly knows how to host an event! Chasing Daylight knows how to play for an event! And, Mark Kresl knows how to photograph an event! We had it all!
What next? First, we are planning another November "national" Pampered Chef party. Michele needs to get busy with that ASAP! In January and February, LFAC will host another fundraiser with the UNO hockey team. More on that later. Spring time? We hope to add Hy-Vee to our list of supporters and have a car show in June. Then it will be back to Wear-Gray-for-a Day and Monster Bash.
So, with Heather in-check, our focus returns to our good friend Bob. He has to remain positive as he continues his battle with lymphoma. He beat it once four years ago, and now his enemy returned for Round 2. This time, it is stronger, so Bob has to fight harder. We are all praying and remaining positive that he will continue to light the way for Heather and she for him. She looks to him for her strength to beat the odds, so their tag-team is a unit. Not a night falls without some serious praying in our home, and some nights long conversations with Him go well into the night.
Once again I end with hope for the future, blessings for the present, and learning from the past.
Men may give up, doctors may give up, but God never gives up. We must remember never to give up!
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