Oh, What a week will do!

Dear Friends,

Let me say, that Wednesday of last week, I had no idea what would transpire in the week in between. So, let me do my best to describe it.

More in line with the old adage, "it's who you know and not what you know", we were talking with our niece, Debbie Paneta in New Jersey. Debbie had inquired about coming out and being of support when we spoke with my radiologist at Adventist Hospital. Debbie took down a lot of information and consulted with experts on the East Coast about experts out here in Portland. One of them suggested seeing Dr. Johnny Delashaw at OHSU and intervened by sending an email to his office. Consequently, we received, in less than an hour, a call from Dr. Delashaw's office and we were scheduled to go in the same day, Friday, November 4th, for a consultation. We were told that all of the images heretofore taken would be of assistance to him, so we called Adventist and while we prepared to leave for the scheduled appointment at OHSU they made copies of our files that were in the hospital and were in Dr. Samuel Hughes' office. We stopped on the way and picked them up for delivery to Dr. Delashaw. At Dr. Delashaw's office we consulted with him and he stressed the importance of getting a fresh picture, so we arranged for another MRI on Monday, November 7th at 5:45 pm.

On Monday, we went back to the radiology department and got an MRI that evening. We were told that it often takes 24-48 hours to get results, so I really did not expect to hear anything back from Dr. Delashaw until today at the earliest, but he called me yesterday with the results. He did not mince words. He said that he thinks we should go back in and re-sect what is there and then proceed with the radiation and chemotherapy. I asked if the pictures showed other lesions and he said no. At that point he said that he would have his office call to schedule an appointment for this coming Friday. They called today and we have an appointment scheduled for Friday at 9:45 am.

Based on the above information, it is my belief that I will agree to the "re-section" and go back for surgery as soon as is practical. Hopefully it will be within the next week. I do not look forward to recovery from another surgery, but so be it. I will ascertain the risks, but I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. If I can get surgery within the next week, then we can go from there.

I called Adventist today and gave a heads up to Dr. Hicks, my radiologist and to Dr. Hughes my neurosurgeon. I felt encouraged by the response of both.

So, the next step will be a "re-section" to remove the tumor as much as possible. Then will be radiation and chemotherapy to kill as much as what remains as we can hope to kill. I'll try to keep you all up to date as we go forward from this point.

Ps 148:13-14

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

14 He has raised up for his people a horn,

the praise of all his saints,

of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.