I just wanted to put another post up to announce that Jeff is simply AMAZING! When I went to see him in the intensive care unit this afternoon, he had just moved out of the recovery room. He was wide awake and completely alert. He was cognizant and sharp. He carried on conversations easily with me and the resident brain surgeon (which required him to quickly change gears mentally from "Duhhh" to "right craniotomy with stealth for tumor resection"--no small feat). Here are some other highlights from the afternoon:
Jeff is already telling people that brain surgery is way easier than back surgery and a lot better than biochemo. He said it doesn't hurt much and he feels pretty good. The resident surgeon also tested the strength in his left arm and noted that although it was considerably weak right before surgery, he now believes it is comparable in strength to his right arm. So, hopefully this means he can hold Finny again soon! It has been so sad the past couple of days to watch him struggle more and more holding Finn and to finally sacrifice holding him for fear of dropping him or falling down with him. I offered to put Finn in a bike helmet and bubble wrap, but this offer was politely rejected.
Jeff felt so good this afternoon he called the kids, his mom, and his dad to talk on the phone. When he was on biochemo he went for DAYS without being able to talk on ths phone, so this was a vast improvement. In fact, Jeff called home tonight from the ICU to ask me to make him some popcorn (!!!) and to find out when his Mom was coming to visit. As I write this, Mary is delivering Jeff's popcorn to him along with printouts of all your blog comments. He will be so happy to get them--I'm sure he can't wait to get back on the computer and update you, himself.
In the meantime, Jeff has displayed a miraculous side-effect: You've heard of people who have brain surgery and emerge with the ability to speak a new language or paint intricate landscapes . . . well, the brain surgery has made Jeff FUNNY! He was doing a one-man show for the neurosurgery resident. The resident was explaining to Jeff that his post-surgery CT scan looked good and that although it shows a little air in his brain, this is normal and expected. He explained that when the brain is compressed and the tumor is removed, it takes a little while for the brain to spring back into shape. In the meantime, the "dent" from the tumor fills with air. Jeff said, "so is this what is known as a Brain Fart?" Ha ha! Two shows nightly folks, no cover charge or drink minimum!
Finally, I was very encouraged to discover something odd that Jeff had packed to take to the hospital along with his clothes and other toiletries: a hair brush. This, to me, is the pinnacle of optimism! Keep it up, honey!
Well, I just wanted to share a few insights into Jeff's recovery and to let you all know that although he is tired and sore, he is doing well. I'll continue to keep you all informed. Until then . . .
Kelly
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The Reverse Mohawk
This update is dedicated to Jeff's new hair-style, affectionately called "The Reverse Mohawk." I haven't seen it yet, but I hear it is fabulous. I'm sure you will all want one. Jeff had surgery this morning. He is now in the recovery room and the neurosurgeon told me to go home for a couple of hours, eat, and take a shower (hey . . . wait a minute!! I can take a hint.) So, I'm taking a quick break to update all of you on Jeff's progress. Jeff underwent a right craniotomy at approximately 8:30 a.m. this morning. I arrived at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. to see him off before his surgery. He was simultanously distraught and resolute--knowing surgery was necessary, but also fearing the outcome. We cried and said what we could muster the strength to say, but as they wheeled him away on his bed he was focused and brave. The procedure was performed by our Superstar neurosurgeon, Wade Mueller and his team of high-kicking Surgeonettes. Or maybe some other doctors and nurses. The surgery was complete around 11:30 a.m. and the doctor told me the results were good and that things went "just fine." Dr. Mueller said that he shaved Jeff's head himself and I wondered to myself why I should pay $2,700 for a haircut college roommates routinely give each other for free. As if reading my mind, Dr. Mueller informed me that he does several hundred such surgeries per year and that he does a fair amount of melanoma resection. He is familiar with its ways and its fury and he believes that Jeff has what it take to beat it.
While it was reassuring to hear Dr. Mueller talk about the details of the procedure and it's anticipated success, it was even nicer to hear Dr. Mueller talk about what a "great guy" Jeff is and how Jeff inspired his team to do their best work. He said that the pre-op medications affect the brain in such a way as to allow patients to reveal their starkest selves and Jeff proved to be inherently one of the most polite people he's ever met. Jeff was entering the opertating room, chatting with the nursing staff, introducing himself. Dr. Mueller said it's patients like Jeff that make him love his job and that make it easy for him to do it well. He said Jeff is "full of light" and "really a very neat, very great guy."
Dr. Mueller explained that because Jeff is otherwise young and robust, he felt comfortable taking a very aggressive approach to the cancer. When he met the enemy face-to-face the melanoma revealed itself to be large and diffuse (like a web insetad of a ball). It was bleeding due to an abnormal blood supply. He explained that one of the unique and very interesting hallmarks of cancers is their ability to create their own blood supplies. However, because cancer cells are abnormal cells, they create deformed blood supplies that easily leak. He said that he not only cleaned out the tumor but that he also "grossly messed with its blood supply" thereby attempting to choke it off at the source. He also said that only subsequent scans will reveal how much of the tumor remains (if any) and that if any remains that can be further removed he will open Jeff back up to remove it. Jeff is tough enough to withstand another surgery and deserves every fighting chance of a cure. So, hopefully, he got all that he could the first time, but if he didn't he's willing to continue with a very aggressive approach to eradicating the tumor. He said there appears to be a much much smaller tumor above Jeff's left eye, but that it can likely be treated effectively with a Gamma Knife procedure involving extremely high dose, focused radiation.
The only downside to Jeff's surgery today is that he is likely to have some permanent impairment to his left side the extent of which remains to be seen and which will only be known for sure after the next few months. The doctor said that due to the location of the tumor along the sensory motor area and due to the diffuse nature of the tumor, he had to intrude upon healthy tissue to get everything he could. He said he is constantly cognizant of the balance between surviving the cancer versus the effect permanent impairment could have on quality of life and that we will simply have to wait and see. Dr. Mueller said "he's going to need some luck" but that he's pulling for us and will do everything he can to help Jeff.
So, in summary: Of the two known tumors, the doctor removed all of the large tumor that he could safely remove and he agrees that the smaller one should be addressed with Gamma Knife and whole-brain-radiation. Jeff will likely have some degree of permanent weakness on his left side with hope that it will not compromise his quality of life. He'll be in the intensive care unit for the next two days and then in a regular hospital room for a couple more or until he regains strength enough to safely go home. The doctor said he could be released as early as Tuesday if all goes well.
In the meantime, he will have headaches for two days and will then feel exponentially better after that. He will undergo CT scans and MRIs over the next day or two to monitor the bleeding in his brain and he will be closely monitored for seizures and strokes. His hair will grow back--but he will likely lose it again when he undergoes radiation treatment. The radiation treatments should be well-tolerated. The worst side effect may be some dementia, so if Jeff owes any of you money, you should try to collect it now before he conveniently "forgets" to pay you. Ha! On the other hand, if Jeff doesn't owe you money, you will soon be able to convince him that he does since he won't remember anyway.
I hope this information is enough to tide you over until later when I have more specific information for you. It is now nearly 2:00 p.m. and he should just be waking up in the recovery room, so I am going to sign off and go back to the hospial for a while to be there when he becomes somewhat alert. I hope that Mary can spend some time with him tonight. I know she is desperate to be with him and I'm sure it would be a comfort to him. I don't care how big you are, it's always nice to have your mommy!!
So, I'll continue to keep you updated and I'll return phone calls as I'm able (cell reception is terrible in the hospital!). Until then, take care and pray for Jeff's peace of mind and that his hope is renewed. It's been a very rough and trying week for him, and things are not going to get easier for a while. It will help him immeasurably to know that you are pulling for him.
P.S. Thank you so much to Tony Popanz for sitting with me in the waiting room. You made the whole ordeal so much more bearable for me and I appreciate it more than you will know. Your willingness to cut-short your trip to Door County is a real testament to the kind of friend you are to us and we are so glad to have you (and CeeCee and the girls) in our corner!
P.S.S. It has been exactly 7 months to the day since Jeff was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. Weird.
Kelly
While it was reassuring to hear Dr. Mueller talk about the details of the procedure and it's anticipated success, it was even nicer to hear Dr. Mueller talk about what a "great guy" Jeff is and how Jeff inspired his team to do their best work. He said that the pre-op medications affect the brain in such a way as to allow patients to reveal their starkest selves and Jeff proved to be inherently one of the most polite people he's ever met. Jeff was entering the opertating room, chatting with the nursing staff, introducing himself. Dr. Mueller said it's patients like Jeff that make him love his job and that make it easy for him to do it well. He said Jeff is "full of light" and "really a very neat, very great guy."
Dr. Mueller explained that because Jeff is otherwise young and robust, he felt comfortable taking a very aggressive approach to the cancer. When he met the enemy face-to-face the melanoma revealed itself to be large and diffuse (like a web insetad of a ball). It was bleeding due to an abnormal blood supply. He explained that one of the unique and very interesting hallmarks of cancers is their ability to create their own blood supplies. However, because cancer cells are abnormal cells, they create deformed blood supplies that easily leak. He said that he not only cleaned out the tumor but that he also "grossly messed with its blood supply" thereby attempting to choke it off at the source. He also said that only subsequent scans will reveal how much of the tumor remains (if any) and that if any remains that can be further removed he will open Jeff back up to remove it. Jeff is tough enough to withstand another surgery and deserves every fighting chance of a cure. So, hopefully, he got all that he could the first time, but if he didn't he's willing to continue with a very aggressive approach to eradicating the tumor. He said there appears to be a much much smaller tumor above Jeff's left eye, but that it can likely be treated effectively with a Gamma Knife procedure involving extremely high dose, focused radiation.
The only downside to Jeff's surgery today is that he is likely to have some permanent impairment to his left side the extent of which remains to be seen and which will only be known for sure after the next few months. The doctor said that due to the location of the tumor along the sensory motor area and due to the diffuse nature of the tumor, he had to intrude upon healthy tissue to get everything he could. He said he is constantly cognizant of the balance between surviving the cancer versus the effect permanent impairment could have on quality of life and that we will simply have to wait and see. Dr. Mueller said "he's going to need some luck" but that he's pulling for us and will do everything he can to help Jeff.
So, in summary: Of the two known tumors, the doctor removed all of the large tumor that he could safely remove and he agrees that the smaller one should be addressed with Gamma Knife and whole-brain-radiation. Jeff will likely have some degree of permanent weakness on his left side with hope that it will not compromise his quality of life. He'll be in the intensive care unit for the next two days and then in a regular hospital room for a couple more or until he regains strength enough to safely go home. The doctor said he could be released as early as Tuesday if all goes well.
In the meantime, he will have headaches for two days and will then feel exponentially better after that. He will undergo CT scans and MRIs over the next day or two to monitor the bleeding in his brain and he will be closely monitored for seizures and strokes. His hair will grow back--but he will likely lose it again when he undergoes radiation treatment. The radiation treatments should be well-tolerated. The worst side effect may be some dementia, so if Jeff owes any of you money, you should try to collect it now before he conveniently "forgets" to pay you. Ha! On the other hand, if Jeff doesn't owe you money, you will soon be able to convince him that he does since he won't remember anyway.
I hope this information is enough to tide you over until later when I have more specific information for you. It is now nearly 2:00 p.m. and he should just be waking up in the recovery room, so I am going to sign off and go back to the hospial for a while to be there when he becomes somewhat alert. I hope that Mary can spend some time with him tonight. I know she is desperate to be with him and I'm sure it would be a comfort to him. I don't care how big you are, it's always nice to have your mommy!!
So, I'll continue to keep you updated and I'll return phone calls as I'm able (cell reception is terrible in the hospital!). Until then, take care and pray for Jeff's peace of mind and that his hope is renewed. It's been a very rough and trying week for him, and things are not going to get easier for a while. It will help him immeasurably to know that you are pulling for him.
P.S. Thank you so much to Tony Popanz for sitting with me in the waiting room. You made the whole ordeal so much more bearable for me and I appreciate it more than you will know. Your willingness to cut-short your trip to Door County is a real testament to the kind of friend you are to us and we are so glad to have you (and CeeCee and the girls) in our corner!
P.S.S. It has been exactly 7 months to the day since Jeff was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. Weird.
Kelly
Friday, August 10, 2007
A Plan of Attack
Hi! It’s a quarter to ten on Friday night and I’m sitting in my room at Froedtert Hospital here in Wauwatosa. Froedtert is one of two large hospitals that anchor the Wisconsin Medical Center. The center is only a mile away from our house—if you’ve been here to visit we may have driven you by it. The Wisconsin Medical School is here, too.
Anyway, we have had a busy day and developed our plan of attack. First thing this morning I had a visit with Dr. Oesterling, an oncologist. He had received a final copy of the MRI report. It showed a large tumor on the right side of my brain. It sits very close to the strip of tissues that control arm and leg motion on the left side of my body. The tumor appears to be bleeding, which is most likely what is causing me to lose strength and function in my left leg and arm. The report also indicated a smaller tumor in the front lobe of my brain, right above my left eye. The doctor said when they can see a couple of melanoma “mets” in the brain, then most likely there are 15 to 20 smaller ones they can’t see.
The doctor said it was urgent that we remove the large tumor immediately. I had contacted two neurosurgeons yesterday when Dr. Legha told me I needed to have surgery as soon as possible. One of the doctors I contacted was Dr. Wade Mueller, who was recommended by my dermatologist and one of Kelly’s legal partners. Dr. Oesterling agreed that Dr. Mueller was a good choice and arranged for me to meet with Dr. Mueller right after lunch.
Dr. Oesterling said we could address the smaller tumor, as well as all other melanoma cells in my brain, by attacking them with radiation. He arranged for me to meet with a radiation oncologist to discuss this part of the plan. The radiation oncologist said we would take a two-part approach. The first part would entail using a “gamma knife”, which is essentially a concentrated radiation dose, to go directly after the smaller tumor. They would do this procedure shortly after the brain surgery. They don’t have to wait for the wound to heal to do it. As soon as my wound has healed fully—in 10 to 14 days after surgery—they would radiate the entire brain. The brain radiation would be conducted five times per week for three weeks. This should destroy all other melanoma cells in my brain.
This plan of attack conformed to the recommendations made by Dr. Legha yesterday, so Kelly and I felt comfortable proceeding. I met with Dr. Mueller today after lunch. He is a very likable man who performs 300 to 400 surgeries per year specifically to remove brain malignancies. His sense of humor had me laughing hard for the first time since this new nightmare began. He said he would do the surgery Saturday morning and admitted me to the hospital immediately after our appointment. He ordered me to have a chest X-ray and another MRI scan, this one done with mapping sensors taped to my head. The sensors will help the doctor identify the precise location of the tumor when he goes inside.
The surgery itself should take two to three hours. They will shave a strip of hair just to the right of the center of my head for the incision. He said they will return me to the intensive care unit for close observation after the surgery. If things proceed as they should, I will be back in a regular room within a day or two. He said the first two days are unpleasant but then the recovery is remarkably fast, and I should be home in three or four days if all goes well. He said that, given my age and otherwise good health, the most likely side effect is prolonged or permanent weakness in my left side. It all depends on whether he can remove the tumor without removing the brain material that controls motor functions on my left side.
Kelly brought the kids to my room for pizza tonight so we could visit. My sister, Mary Margaret, was here as well. Her boss, who is a melanoma Stage III survivor, gave her the day off to come up and babysit the kids while Kelly and I went to all our appointments. I was so glad to see them all. My very good friends, Tony and Cee Cee Popanz and their two daughters, came by to say hi. Fr. Charlie from our parish, St. Jude’s, also came by to give me the sacrament of the sick. It meant a lot to me to have them here.
When I stop to think about what is happening, I get frightened. Fortunately, I haven’t had much time to think. The good news is that the doctors feel fairly confident that they will be able to eradicate the cancer in my brain with this approach. I appreciate all of your prayers and notes of support. Hopefully I’ll be home soon and doing my power walks around the neighborhood before too long.
Jeff
Anyway, we have had a busy day and developed our plan of attack. First thing this morning I had a visit with Dr. Oesterling, an oncologist. He had received a final copy of the MRI report. It showed a large tumor on the right side of my brain. It sits very close to the strip of tissues that control arm and leg motion on the left side of my body. The tumor appears to be bleeding, which is most likely what is causing me to lose strength and function in my left leg and arm. The report also indicated a smaller tumor in the front lobe of my brain, right above my left eye. The doctor said when they can see a couple of melanoma “mets” in the brain, then most likely there are 15 to 20 smaller ones they can’t see.
The doctor said it was urgent that we remove the large tumor immediately. I had contacted two neurosurgeons yesterday when Dr. Legha told me I needed to have surgery as soon as possible. One of the doctors I contacted was Dr. Wade Mueller, who was recommended by my dermatologist and one of Kelly’s legal partners. Dr. Oesterling agreed that Dr. Mueller was a good choice and arranged for me to meet with Dr. Mueller right after lunch.
Dr. Oesterling said we could address the smaller tumor, as well as all other melanoma cells in my brain, by attacking them with radiation. He arranged for me to meet with a radiation oncologist to discuss this part of the plan. The radiation oncologist said we would take a two-part approach. The first part would entail using a “gamma knife”, which is essentially a concentrated radiation dose, to go directly after the smaller tumor. They would do this procedure shortly after the brain surgery. They don’t have to wait for the wound to heal to do it. As soon as my wound has healed fully—in 10 to 14 days after surgery—they would radiate the entire brain. The brain radiation would be conducted five times per week for three weeks. This should destroy all other melanoma cells in my brain.
This plan of attack conformed to the recommendations made by Dr. Legha yesterday, so Kelly and I felt comfortable proceeding. I met with Dr. Mueller today after lunch. He is a very likable man who performs 300 to 400 surgeries per year specifically to remove brain malignancies. His sense of humor had me laughing hard for the first time since this new nightmare began. He said he would do the surgery Saturday morning and admitted me to the hospital immediately after our appointment. He ordered me to have a chest X-ray and another MRI scan, this one done with mapping sensors taped to my head. The sensors will help the doctor identify the precise location of the tumor when he goes inside.
The surgery itself should take two to three hours. They will shave a strip of hair just to the right of the center of my head for the incision. He said they will return me to the intensive care unit for close observation after the surgery. If things proceed as they should, I will be back in a regular room within a day or two. He said the first two days are unpleasant but then the recovery is remarkably fast, and I should be home in three or four days if all goes well. He said that, given my age and otherwise good health, the most likely side effect is prolonged or permanent weakness in my left side. It all depends on whether he can remove the tumor without removing the brain material that controls motor functions on my left side.
Kelly brought the kids to my room for pizza tonight so we could visit. My sister, Mary Margaret, was here as well. Her boss, who is a melanoma Stage III survivor, gave her the day off to come up and babysit the kids while Kelly and I went to all our appointments. I was so glad to see them all. My very good friends, Tony and Cee Cee Popanz and their two daughters, came by to say hi. Fr. Charlie from our parish, St. Jude’s, also came by to give me the sacrament of the sick. It meant a lot to me to have them here.
When I stop to think about what is happening, I get frightened. Fortunately, I haven’t had much time to think. The good news is that the doctors feel fairly confident that they will be able to eradicate the cancer in my brain with this approach. I appreciate all of your prayers and notes of support. Hopefully I’ll be home soon and doing my power walks around the neighborhood before too long.
Jeff
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Bad news
Hi! We've had a sudden turn of events. I had an MRI scan performed this morning and it shows that the melanoma has spread to my brain. I have been on the phone all day with Dr. Legha in Houston and various local doctors as we try to determine the best way to treat this. I have been ordered a prescription for dexamethazone (sp?), which is supposed to help alleviate the symptoms until something more definitive can be done.
Here's what happened. On Monday, I was feeling great. I went for my usual lengthy power walk and even ran about a mile in the middle of it. When I got back home and did some stretching, I noticed that it felt weird when I tried to extend my left leg all the way. On Tuesday, I noticed my left leg felt a bit heavy during a portion of my daily walk but the feeling passed so I figured I was just tired from the day before. That night, I had a sharp pain in my hip, which I took to be a muscle cramp caused by the fact that I hadn't stretched after my walk (I was rushing to get the kids to swim lessons and had to abbreviate my normal exercise routine). Wednesday I noticed my left leg was acting funny. I was having trouble controlling it. It was like it was asleep, but it wasn't numb. I had trouble putting my left foot in a sandal, for instance, and every time I tried to turn on my left foot I felt like I was going to fall over because my foot didn't move with the rest of my leg. I tried to take a bike ride with Regan and Jack that evening but had to cancel it because I fell off my bike before I even got to the end of Perry Ct. I think I scared the kids a little by that, and I was starting to get scared myself at why my leg wouldn't work right.
Then this morning (Thursday), I could barely put my shorts on because my foot wouldn't go through the leg hole. Also, my left arm was beginning to feel heavy (it's acting kind of nonresponsive as I type this). I called Dr. Legha. He was very concerned and told me I needed to get an MRI today. Fortunately, my luck in getting quick appointments held up once again and I had an MRI scan this morning at 11:30. Dr. Legha called me at 2:00 and gave me the bad news. He hadn't seen the actual report yet--it wasn't finished yet--but he had talked to the radiologist who confirmed the presence of a suspicious lesion of roughly 3 to 4 cm in the right side of my brain.
Dr. Legha said we need to move quickly in treating this. He said I need to be working with an oncologist and/or neurosurgeon by tomorrow. Dr. Legha said this is something that could be handled locally here in Milwaukee but that if I was having any trouble at all in getting things moving that I should come to Houston tomorrow (Friday). I have contacted my local oncologist, Dr. Matthaeus and, though he is out of the office until Monday, his colleague Dr. Oesterling could see me tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. (Dr. Matthaeus and Dr. Oesterling were the two local oncologists recommended by my dermatologist, Dr. Barnett). I should know much more about my treatment options by tomorrow morning at 8:30. Dr. Legha said aggressive surgery is the best treatment for this; the idea is to get in and get rid of the tumor entirely before it causes any more problems. I hope Dr. Oesterling feels the same way.
We will keep everyone posted as we learn more. Please keep us all in your prayers.
Jeff
Here's what happened. On Monday, I was feeling great. I went for my usual lengthy power walk and even ran about a mile in the middle of it. When I got back home and did some stretching, I noticed that it felt weird when I tried to extend my left leg all the way. On Tuesday, I noticed my left leg felt a bit heavy during a portion of my daily walk but the feeling passed so I figured I was just tired from the day before. That night, I had a sharp pain in my hip, which I took to be a muscle cramp caused by the fact that I hadn't stretched after my walk (I was rushing to get the kids to swim lessons and had to abbreviate my normal exercise routine). Wednesday I noticed my left leg was acting funny. I was having trouble controlling it. It was like it was asleep, but it wasn't numb. I had trouble putting my left foot in a sandal, for instance, and every time I tried to turn on my left foot I felt like I was going to fall over because my foot didn't move with the rest of my leg. I tried to take a bike ride with Regan and Jack that evening but had to cancel it because I fell off my bike before I even got to the end of Perry Ct. I think I scared the kids a little by that, and I was starting to get scared myself at why my leg wouldn't work right.
Then this morning (Thursday), I could barely put my shorts on because my foot wouldn't go through the leg hole. Also, my left arm was beginning to feel heavy (it's acting kind of nonresponsive as I type this). I called Dr. Legha. He was very concerned and told me I needed to get an MRI today. Fortunately, my luck in getting quick appointments held up once again and I had an MRI scan this morning at 11:30. Dr. Legha called me at 2:00 and gave me the bad news. He hadn't seen the actual report yet--it wasn't finished yet--but he had talked to the radiologist who confirmed the presence of a suspicious lesion of roughly 3 to 4 cm in the right side of my brain.
Dr. Legha said we need to move quickly in treating this. He said I need to be working with an oncologist and/or neurosurgeon by tomorrow. Dr. Legha said this is something that could be handled locally here in Milwaukee but that if I was having any trouble at all in getting things moving that I should come to Houston tomorrow (Friday). I have contacted my local oncologist, Dr. Matthaeus and, though he is out of the office until Monday, his colleague Dr. Oesterling could see me tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. (Dr. Matthaeus and Dr. Oesterling were the two local oncologists recommended by my dermatologist, Dr. Barnett). I should know much more about my treatment options by tomorrow morning at 8:30. Dr. Legha said aggressive surgery is the best treatment for this; the idea is to get in and get rid of the tumor entirely before it causes any more problems. I hope Dr. Oesterling feels the same way.
We will keep everyone posted as we learn more. Please keep us all in your prayers.
Jeff
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Finn's Baptism
Hi! I don't know who's reading this thing anymore but I thought I'd post a couple of picture from Finn's baptism, which was July 22nd. The first picture was taken at the church during the baptism. Finn was baptized at St. Jude the Apostle Church, our parish here in Wauwatosa. The second picture was taken at our home afterward. It is of Kelly and me with my brother, Michael, and my sister, Michelle, who were his godfather and godmother. My parents, my sister Mary Margaret and her husband Bryan, and my brother's fiance Victoria also were able to join us for the day.
We're enjoying the summer, although it's going much too fast. Aubrey and Regan are taking swim lessons; Jack is spending most of his time out doors this summer with Abe and Ben, the neighbor boys; and Finn is being a very good baby, sleeping five to six hours at a stretch most nights and eating as much as he can during the day. Kelly resumes her role as lead singer of the Rabid Aardvarks this coming weekend, with concerts both Friday and Saturday. I'm still doing my writing and watching the kids and puttering around the house.
Jeff
Friday, June 15, 2007
Stable and happy
Hi all! I'm reporting from Houston, where I've just completed my two-month checkup since ending biochemo. My dad and I flew down on Wednesday and have been staying with my good friends Kevin and Melissa Gardner. I had a battery of tests and scans--a full blood panel, chest x-ray, brain MRI, and chest, abdomen, and pelvis CTs--yesterday followed by a visit with Dr. Legha this evening.
I wasn't sure what the doctor would say during this visit. I have regained most of my strength since treatment ended and I feel pretty good, but the two subcutaneous nodes that remained after biochemo had grown significantly. Thankfully, Dr. Legha reported that the internal tumors have remained stable and that all of my blood counts are normal. He said my lymphocyte counts in particular were very good (from what I understand, the lymphocyte counts provide doctors with a way to measure the health of the immune system). The doctor also said there is no evidence that the melanoma has metastasized to the brain or lungs. He told me to keep an eye on the subcutaneous nodes and that he will remove them if they grow much larger. That would be fine by me. The less cancer I have in my body, the better!
Now I can rest easy for another two months and enjoy being at home for most of the summer. I will return to Houston on August 23 and 24 for another two-month checkup.
In other news, Finn is exactly one month old today. He's a great baby and eating like a champ. Aubrey, Regan, and Jack continue to shower him with affection; they're proving to be excellent siblings. Kelly is getting back on her feet; in fact, she's holding down the fort all by herself while I'm away. I hear she even took all the kids--and the neighbor boys--for ice cream at Baskin Robbins today to celebrate the last day of school (yes, you read that correctly; they're just now getting out of school). I guess you can't keep a good woman down!
We fly out of Houston tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. so I need to cut this off. I'll write more in a couple of months after my August visit. Keep the prayers going that we hear more good news at that time.
Jeff
I wasn't sure what the doctor would say during this visit. I have regained most of my strength since treatment ended and I feel pretty good, but the two subcutaneous nodes that remained after biochemo had grown significantly. Thankfully, Dr. Legha reported that the internal tumors have remained stable and that all of my blood counts are normal. He said my lymphocyte counts in particular were very good (from what I understand, the lymphocyte counts provide doctors with a way to measure the health of the immune system). The doctor also said there is no evidence that the melanoma has metastasized to the brain or lungs. He told me to keep an eye on the subcutaneous nodes and that he will remove them if they grow much larger. That would be fine by me. The less cancer I have in my body, the better!
Now I can rest easy for another two months and enjoy being at home for most of the summer. I will return to Houston on August 23 and 24 for another two-month checkup.
In other news, Finn is exactly one month old today. He's a great baby and eating like a champ. Aubrey, Regan, and Jack continue to shower him with affection; they're proving to be excellent siblings. Kelly is getting back on her feet; in fact, she's holding down the fort all by herself while I'm away. I hear she even took all the kids--and the neighbor boys--for ice cream at Baskin Robbins today to celebrate the last day of school (yes, you read that correctly; they're just now getting out of school). I guess you can't keep a good woman down!
We fly out of Houston tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. so I need to cut this off. I'll write more in a couple of months after my August visit. Keep the prayers going that we hear more good news at that time.
Jeff
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
A New Life
Hi all! Kelly and I are excited to announce the birth of Finn Patrick Dodd on May 15, 2007. Everything went well, and Finn is absolutely perfect. He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 21 inches long. He wailed and wailed nonstop for about 45 minutes after he was born, but then he calmed down and has been very sweet and calm ever since. That's pretty amazing when you consider that the kids were at the hospital yesterday, holding him and petting him and kissing him nonstop for four hours. He never cried once!
Finn's birthday was not a surprise. Kelly's doctor scheduled a C-section several weeks ago. That turned out to be a good thing because the doctor discovered during the delivery that Finn's umbilical cord was tied in a knot. We would have ended up with an emergency C-section if we had tried to deliver him the old-fashioned way. After our experience with Jack, we definitely believe a planned surgery is much better than one that catches you by surprise.
Kelly is doing well. She has been up and moving around already. The doctor said she'll probably go home Friday or Saturday. Kelly's mom, Myrna, flew into town yesterday to join us. She wasn't able to join us when the other kids were born, so we're glad she's here this time around. Aubrey, Regan, and Jack are totally excited about our new addition. And Regan has already started praying that we have another baby! I know they're all going to be big helpers in the weeks and months ahead.
We're so happy to have this joyful moment in our lives right now. It's just what we needed.
Finn's birthday was not a surprise. Kelly's doctor scheduled a C-section several weeks ago. That turned out to be a good thing because the doctor discovered during the delivery that Finn's umbilical cord was tied in a knot. We would have ended up with an emergency C-section if we had tried to deliver him the old-fashioned way. After our experience with Jack, we definitely believe a planned surgery is much better than one that catches you by surprise.
Kelly is doing well. She has been up and moving around already. The doctor said she'll probably go home Friday or Saturday. Kelly's mom, Myrna, flew into town yesterday to join us. She wasn't able to join us when the other kids were born, so we're glad she's here this time around. Aubrey, Regan, and Jack are totally excited about our new addition. And Regan has already started praying that we have another baby! I know they're all going to be big helpers in the weeks and months ahead.
We're so happy to have this joyful moment in our lives right now. It's just what we needed.
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