Kristy's Story...Our Good News is Always Followed by Bad

Why can't we have some good news without it being followed by bad? Michaels' doctor from Duke called yesterday to give us the report on the recent MRI. The tumor had shrank some more, good news, but...there is a new tumor, very bad news. The doctor was not 100% sure it is a new tumor, it could be radiation damage, but he believes it is a tumor. It is on a critical part of the brain and Michael would become paralyzed if they try to remove it or even try to get a sample of it to find out if it is the same type tumor.

They are going to change his Temadol chemo medicine to a new drug then do another MRI in about four weeks. They are hoping to find out exactly what the new enhancement is, tumor or radiation damage. Michaels' recent symptoms of numbness in the face and left side of his body are related to problems associated with damage to this part of the brain.

About the same time we found out about the new tumor we heard from Roswell on getting the brain cancer vaccine, Michael was not chosen to receive it. We then contacted the Burzynski clinic in Houston and was told they are only taking children at this time.  We just can't catch a desperately needed break.

Kristy's Story...More Twists and Turns in Our Life

Well, where do I start? I know we have a month of catching up since I last posted. I have had so much going on it is very hard to breathe much less write a story. Besides the brain cancer treatments we have some family issues that have changed our life, we hope temporarily. So I think that is where I will start.

It started mid December, one week before Christmas, with a phone call from Child Protective Services. They wanted us to take in three kids that were being removed from Michael's sister. She has six kids, three girls and three boys, and wanted us to take the girls. I won't go into the whys right now because this issue is still being looked into. Any way we ended up taking in the three girls. The ages are 16, 12, and 11. The 16 year old gave us so much trouble and attitude we had to request she move in with her grandma, Michael's mom, along with the three boys. But the other two girls are still with us. Needless to say we now have two more mouths to feed, clothe, get to school and back. homework, and the list goes on. Our time is pressed to the max.

Now to Michael. He has had a rough time the past month. The chemotherapy has finally hit him pretty hard. His blood platelets are low and making him very tired. My "never sit down husband" has had days where he just doesn't want to do anything. He just did a new blood work-up to tell us what needs to change to help him. They are talking of spacing out the days he takes the chemo instead of doing the doses in five days every few weeks.

Within the last couple weeks Michael's face has become numb and he mentioned this to his doctor Friday. The doctor is concerned and wants to do his MRI now instead of waiting another three weeks. He says the numbness is a sign the tumor could be growing again. The new MRI is scheduled for this Thursday, February 2nd. I will inform you of the results when we get them.

Lastly we heard about a new vaccine that is claiming to cure cancer!!! The story aired on TV stating Roswell Hospital in Buffalo, NY is choosing 18 to 20 people, I know not very many, to get the vaccine. I was the first one to get through to the phone number when lines opened and signed Michael up. They took some information from me and have emailed me a couple times since. They are to call me Monday for more medical information. Roswell received over a thousand calls in the first couple hours.

Enough for now. I will let you know the MRI results and if Michael gets chosen to receive the vaccine.