Continued Treatment

The kids are enjoying more hazy, lazy days of summer. Kyle has passed his driving test & we have a licensed driver, yahoo! As the years stretch on it seems that time is going faster & faster.

We are getting closer to our Relay for Life event in Barry County and we have a Golfing Event before that happens. Tom has been busy with the planning for this good cause. I think that he is looking forward to wrapping up this years events & focusing on feeling well for a while.

Tom got the results that his Calcitonin was up a little to 1016. It's not an alarming jump, but I would like it to be on the downward trend. Tuesday we headed to Detroit for the day. We were on the road by 7:30 am and did not return until 7:00 pm. I have to say that we had a good day together and even though it was a long trip, and we were worn down by the time we came through our door, we seemed to be in good spirits. Dr. Ali did not have anything new to report other than Tom's Potassium and Magnesium continue to be low. They are increasing his potassium and putting him on Magnesium. The doctor also gave Tom a prescription for "Magic Mouthwash" to help with his mouth sores. The next trip to D-town is for Tom's scans next month. This will be a 3 day trip and we will be taking the kids for the first time.

Tom's meddie friend has written information about MTC to help her friends and family understand what we are going trough. Kyle has put it into a link to share with everyone. It is titled MTC Information under the MTC Diagnosis & Treatment in the link section at the top right side of page. After clicking over to the link, select download and be patient it will come up. I know some of you still do not understand this rare form of cancer and hopefully this will help. When Tom read it he said to me "This is my life".

I will leave you with another of my favorite scriptures, Psalms 61:2

"For wherever I am, though far away at the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help. When my heart is faint and over whelmed, lead me to the mighty, towering Rock of Safety."

Thankful for One Year

Tom has been on XL-184 for one full year. I look back and can't believe how much has changed in the last year. People who have not seen Tom in a long time do not recognize him. They comment on his hair color change & loss of weight. He tells them he doesn't recommend his diet plan, what a sense of humor my husband has! At the start of this trial I don't think either one of us were prepared for all that would happen. The biggest challenge was for Tom to stop working. I tease him about being my Mr. Mom and he takes it well, but I'm sure if given the choice, he'd prefer to be the bread winner.

The last Tuesday in June Tom had his monthly visit in Detroit. His scans were done in May but they were done after his doctor visit. The scans came back stable and for a couple months we can breath a little easier. Tom's blistering has come back to his hands, feet, and top of his head. Dr. Ali said that as the weather gets warmer the toxins are exiting his body and it is typical that the heat pulls them out of these areas. Tom's potassium was low again & they are increasing his dosage to keep it leveled. Tom continues to struggle eating with the soars that are also in his mouth. I can't count how many times he has made a meal, taken a bite or two and then pushed his plate away. Getting him to eat more than Cheerios has been a challenge.

I am so glad that Tom was able to get on this drug. Even with all Tom's side effects and struggles I believe without it the cancer would have continued to spread and as the cancer was aggressive we would have had a much different year. Thank you to all our warriors that pray without ceasing. God has heard you & he is the Great Warrior & Great Physician.

Colossians 4:15 "Let peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privileged as members of his body. Always be thankful."