Home » 2009 » June

Quote of the Day:

I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
- Christopher Reeve
Jun 23

Father’s Day

My Story 1 Comment »

I’m FINALLY feeling better!  I didn’t post for quite awhile because this cold just became worse and worse and it finally required anti-biotics.  It’s taken the better part of a few weeks or more to start feeling better.  I still have remnants but at least I’m not laid out like I was.  This is a repeat of what happened last spring but I think it’s come and gone now.  Thank you for all of the emails and comments on the site.  Your words of encouragement have meant a lot. 

So Father’s Day – it was really nice.  My son Aidan – he has such a soft heart and as you’ve seen in other posts, he loves to color.  Well, he made a card for me and this one wasn’t so much coloring but it brought tears to my eyes.  These are the moments I live for.  This is why I want time.  There are are hard times, yes.  Really tough times.  Tough times at home trying to deal with what we call a “new normal”.  Tough times juggling work, medications, and doctors.  A very heavy load on my wife having to pick up pieces because I can’t do what I used to do.  Most of you know exactly what I’m talking about.

But…there are these wonderful bright spots that shine through.  Sometimes you have to look for them and sometimes they are right in front of you.  This was right in front of me on Sunday.

I’ll just place it in this post and close here.

aidan-fathers-day-09.jpg

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Jun 17

Avastin – Seizures – MRI

Seizures 5 Comments »

I’ve been quite sick over the last several weeks.  I came down with a terrible cold that started as a virus and then was bacterial.  I waited it out in the beginning but it hung on for a week so I went in and at that point antibiotics seemed to have taken care of it.  Still pretty fatigued but that’s just because of a suppressed immune system.  It takes a lot longer to get over these than others.  Those of you who are survivors understand.

I’m going in tomorrow for an Avastin infusion as long as all of my lab work comes back fine.  My vaccine injections are now 16 weeks apart so I have plenty of time to fit this in before the July 22nd injections. 

I seem to have found the right combination of meds to control seizures.  I haven’t had one for a week now and was having one every 2 days so this is a good sign.   MRI due end of this more than likely.  Again, don’t pay too much attention anymore.  Just focus on today as much as possible – but it is difficult to do sometimes as we all can attest to.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there – hope the weekend is good!

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Jun 06

Sick – Missed Avastin

Brain Tumor Treatment, Complications 1 Comment »

Has anyone had this summer flu/cold that is going around?  I’m sure a lot hands went up.  It’s bad!  Especially if your white cell count is consistently low.  I was supposed to have an avastin infusion last Thursday but I took most of that day off and all of Friday and slept.  There isn’t much else you can do.  Today is the first day I have felt better with some good energy.  I’m going to see if I can set that up this week. 

Avastin, because it cuts off the blood supply to the tumor, can not only work on slowing the tumor’s growth but can also help with brain swelling.  As I’ve posted, I’ve had some issues with focal seizures on the left side since my gamma knife surgery so this can help lessen these in theory.

I am still juggling meds to control seizures.  I had a few late last week and one in the middle of the night that woke me – that was new.  It was like someone shook me!  It was like all the others though.  So we added back in a med that gave me a bit of vision issues last time but I’m taking it every other day and at a lower dose.  I started this on Friday.

My son Aidan came home the other day and said he had a Father’s Day present for me and asked “Can I give this to you now and then we can do it again on Father’s Day”?  Sure.  First he made this great card – a picture of him in an over-sized suit jacket and a tie with a caption that read “this is what my dad wears to work” and then a note that read “Thanks Dad for making the money for our family to live here.  Your the best dad.  I love you”.  SO FUNNY!!  The picture is priceless.  Then, the present is a river rock that probably weighs about 5 pounds – no kidding!  It’s painted brown and with black paint he painted “I love you Dad”.  Now, I never in my professional career found a reason to use paper weights.  It’s not like people are working on rooftops or in the middle of a sidewalk.  What are they supposed to do?  But, I have a government issued, Aidan-reconditioned paper weight in case a wind storm hits our high-rise and I don’t have windows anymore!

This week hopefully I can have my Avastin infusion.  I’ll have an MRI in another 5-6 weeks I believe – don’t pay much attention anymore.  Just try to stay in today and live life.

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Jun 02

Celldex Vaccine – Interview with CEO

Brain Tumor Vaccines No Comments »

Immunotherapy appears to be gaining a lot of traction in the fight against cancer.  Here is another vaccine that is specifically designed to target brain cancer.  The interview with Celldex CEO Anthony Marucci  can be viewed on CNBC.

 This approach is nearly identical to that of DCVax-Brain.

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