Radiologist Impression of TALBOTT MRI as of 5/27/08:
1. Stable postoperative changes without evidence of recurrent or residual tumor surrounding the right temporal resection cavity.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION....MY MRI IS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE!!! No Tumor reoccurrence!
Another major landmark passes! Next major landmarks, 1 year, 2 year, and 5 year!
So for those of you watching at home that puts the score at...
The Greatest Surgeon in the World, a few more of Dem Smart Docs, and all the thoughts and prayers from the Talbott Support Group - 2
Stupid Brain Cancer Cells - 0
We are still in the first period, but we are KICKING ITS ASS! :)
(we just have to keep our head up cause we know the big C (cancer) doesn't play fair and will throw a cheap shot to anyone getting too cocky)
==========================================
Ok, so if you were having trouble and can't figure out my language above, Kim and I went to Madison bright and early this morning for a 6:45am MRI followed by my normal blood test and a meeting with Dr. Ian.
The results were outstanding! No recurrence of the tumor, and stability with the "secondary" area of focus! That is the exact thing we wanted to hear! Dr. Ian explained that we passed another major landmark with this MRI. The stats are really good for people who do this well at this point. The next major landmark is 1 year, then 2 years, then 5 years.
I am still doing the Oral Chemo (Temodar) 5 days out of every 28 days. We will continue that for probably another 9 cycles. I am responding well and we want to keep it up!! I will keep getting MRIs every 2 months throughout this first year. The goal is to keep up at the same pace! NO RECURRENCE, STABILITY with the other Secondary Focus. I would be ok if we said that every 2 months for the next 50 years---cause the more they keep saying it, the more I get to keep chugging!
So, if I sound "HIGH ON LIFE", it's because I am...ALIVE and loving every minute!
Thank you all again for you thoughts and prayers. I am living proof that they are working!
PEACE OUT!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sharing Hope
This weekend Kim and I attended an American Brain Tumor Association Patient event in Chicago. The event was called Sharing Hope..for 35 Years. It was held all day Saturday, so Kim went in Friday night to keep from having to get up at the crack of dawn.
The first breakout session at this conference was a meet and greet in which they broke the participants in 2 groups...those in treatment and those after treatment.
Kim and I obviously went to the in treatment session. The room had about 40-50 people, patients and caregiver/support person.
Each person was given the mike to introduce themselves and tell a little bit about themselves and their story. The purpose was for people to be able to connect later throughout the day with people of similar interests. Needless to say, it was a pretty amazing and emotional hour.
The first person to speak was probably in his mid 40's, and he has had a Glioblastoma (what I have) for 21 years!! He has tried alot of the medications and treatments over the years and is currently doing Temodar, which is what I am doing. He has had 8 reoccurrences and surgeries over the years, and his advice to everyone was to keep humor in your life! WOW!
We continued around the room some people celebrating one year, 2 years or more, having dealt with reoccurences and multiple rounds of treatment.
One 23 year old kid told his story of having a GBM removed and going through treatment. Treatment seems to be going well, and he is looking forward to living out one of his dreams of doing a triathalon this summer.
The one thing other than Brain Tumors that each and every person in that room had in common was HOPE. It was pretty neat to see that many people in the same room in the same situation.
We went from that session right into the general session which combined both groups and equaled around 150-200 people. The general session was comprised of a series of speakers on topics from treatments, after treatment care, "The New Normal", to Diet, and a Q&A session. It was very informative and I especially appreciated the session on "The New Normal". It was aptly named and reinforced alot for me.
It doesn't take long to cheer yourself up at an event like this. Everyone around is so full of life and hope.
I am so happy that I went to this event. It gave me even more reason to continue on my path and continue to LIVE AND LAUGH!! HOPE is a pretty beautiful word!
For some pretty amazing stories about people with Brain Tumors who chose LIFE... Check out this page from the American Brain Tumor Assoc. Site... http://hope.abta.org/sharinghopestories
I would advise Kleenex or Puffs. :) But Tears are Cleansing Right? :)
PEACE OUT!
The first breakout session at this conference was a meet and greet in which they broke the participants in 2 groups...those in treatment and those after treatment.
Kim and I obviously went to the in treatment session. The room had about 40-50 people, patients and caregiver/support person.
Each person was given the mike to introduce themselves and tell a little bit about themselves and their story. The purpose was for people to be able to connect later throughout the day with people of similar interests. Needless to say, it was a pretty amazing and emotional hour.
The first person to speak was probably in his mid 40's, and he has had a Glioblastoma (what I have) for 21 years!! He has tried alot of the medications and treatments over the years and is currently doing Temodar, which is what I am doing. He has had 8 reoccurrences and surgeries over the years, and his advice to everyone was to keep humor in your life! WOW!
We continued around the room some people celebrating one year, 2 years or more, having dealt with reoccurences and multiple rounds of treatment.
One 23 year old kid told his story of having a GBM removed and going through treatment. Treatment seems to be going well, and he is looking forward to living out one of his dreams of doing a triathalon this summer.
The one thing other than Brain Tumors that each and every person in that room had in common was HOPE. It was pretty neat to see that many people in the same room in the same situation.
We went from that session right into the general session which combined both groups and equaled around 150-200 people. The general session was comprised of a series of speakers on topics from treatments, after treatment care, "The New Normal", to Diet, and a Q&A session. It was very informative and I especially appreciated the session on "The New Normal". It was aptly named and reinforced alot for me.
It doesn't take long to cheer yourself up at an event like this. Everyone around is so full of life and hope.
I am so happy that I went to this event. It gave me even more reason to continue on my path and continue to LIVE AND LAUGH!! HOPE is a pretty beautiful word!
For some pretty amazing stories about people with Brain Tumors who chose LIFE... Check out this page from the American Brain Tumor Assoc. Site... http://hope.abta.org/sharinghopestories
I would advise Kleenex or Puffs. :) But Tears are Cleansing Right? :)
PEACE OUT!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mother's Day
With Mother's Day's happening yesterday, I thought I would spend a little time on this subject as it relates to my mother and her impact on me.
My mother has endured a pretty amazing emotional roller coaster ride in the last several months...From the depths of despair & shock, as I call her from the ER and say "Oh by the way, I am at the Hospital...they say I have a Tumor, to the Fear of my surgery and eventual diagnosis, to our current reality....Lots of Laughter! So, I think it is only fair to spend a little time on this special person in my life.
When I said our current reality....Lots of Laughter, I figure I better explain. One of the positive outcomes of my whole recovery process is that my Mom and I talk about every other day. Inevitably we start talking about something that just gets us laughing! My mom and I laughing can be a pretty infectious environment and it always brightens my day.
The latest topic is a computer that I attempted to build for her. After a series of issues, my mom has the partially built PC. Now is where the Keystone cops routine comes in. Several weeks later and several hundred $ later, my mom has a pile PC parts and the local Computers for Schools group has the rest. I think my mom and I could have created a movie short called "The Keystone PC Hacks try to build a computer"
Laughter aside, my mom and I have always had a special relationship. When I think back over the years, it is always the fun things that I remember. Like my mom coming to Iowa State Univ and my Fraternity when I was a Freshman for Mom's weekend. The laughter was really out of control after she got hammered on 2 glasses of wine and started telling stories about me to my Pledge Dad and his Mother. It took me a year to live that one down. :) The second best part of that weekend was she took me grocery shopping!!! For a freshman at college, that was huge...and she used her "hidden cash" to buy it, so Dad wouldn't find out. (OOPS Sorry for outing you Mom...Dad should forgive....it was 20 years ago.)
Its little things like that I think of when i think of my Mom. Memories like these and other little things like the fact that if I have ever been hurt or anywhere near a hospital, she has been there! And no matter what the situation, the two of us can find something to laugh about. I guess that's where I learned to grasp at the "Good Stuff" all the time.
So this is my tribute to my mom on Mother's Day. (A day late and a dollar short as usual)
Mom - Happy Mother's Day, I love you, and thanks for always keeping me laughing!
My mother has endured a pretty amazing emotional roller coaster ride in the last several months...From the depths of despair & shock, as I call her from the ER and say "Oh by the way, I am at the Hospital...they say I have a Tumor, to the Fear of my surgery and eventual diagnosis, to our current reality....Lots of Laughter! So, I think it is only fair to spend a little time on this special person in my life.
When I said our current reality....Lots of Laughter, I figure I better explain. One of the positive outcomes of my whole recovery process is that my Mom and I talk about every other day. Inevitably we start talking about something that just gets us laughing! My mom and I laughing can be a pretty infectious environment and it always brightens my day.
The latest topic is a computer that I attempted to build for her. After a series of issues, my mom has the partially built PC. Now is where the Keystone cops routine comes in. Several weeks later and several hundred $ later, my mom has a pile PC parts and the local Computers for Schools group has the rest. I think my mom and I could have created a movie short called "The Keystone PC Hacks try to build a computer"
Laughter aside, my mom and I have always had a special relationship. When I think back over the years, it is always the fun things that I remember. Like my mom coming to Iowa State Univ and my Fraternity when I was a Freshman for Mom's weekend. The laughter was really out of control after she got hammered on 2 glasses of wine and started telling stories about me to my Pledge Dad and his Mother. It took me a year to live that one down. :) The second best part of that weekend was she took me grocery shopping!!! For a freshman at college, that was huge...and she used her "hidden cash" to buy it, so Dad wouldn't find out. (OOPS Sorry for outing you Mom...Dad should forgive....it was 20 years ago.)
Its little things like that I think of when i think of my Mom. Memories like these and other little things like the fact that if I have ever been hurt or anywhere near a hospital, she has been there! And no matter what the situation, the two of us can find something to laugh about. I guess that's where I learned to grasp at the "Good Stuff" all the time.
So this is my tribute to my mom on Mother's Day. (A day late and a dollar short as usual)
Mom - Happy Mother's Day, I love you, and thanks for always keeping me laughing!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Hanging onto the "good stuff" continued
To follow up on my last post, I have compiled some "good stuff" to share.
Another form of happiness. Tears of Joy, Mark and I reminicing, and my wife showing tears of happiness for all the love and support she is seeing for me. She is showing exactly what I was feeling at that moment. I get choked up now just seeing this picture. My rock for the three months of surgery and treatment and the head of my support team let some of their happiness tears show. It makes my heart happy to know how happy they are right there. Tears are cleansing right? (Kim-I know you don't like this picture, but I love you and wanted everyone to see another reason why.)
First, I want to thank all of you that donated to Kim and I on our MS Walk 2008. We had a great time, Kim was able to see some of the resources available to her. Kim's Mom, sister, nieces, and nephew joined us on the walk. We had a great day hanging out and walking at the Arboretum in Rockford. It was a gorgeous day! Here is a pic of Kim and her walking team. I am there, just behind the camera. :)
So I think this event will definitely become an annual event for us. Next year, we will build a team and build it up. Thanks Steph, Brytt, Lori, Greta, and Jesse for coming out and joining us and thank you again to all of you who donated. We really appreciated it.
So I think this event will definitely become an annual event for us. Next year, we will build a team and build it up. Thanks Steph, Brytt, Lori, Greta, and Jesse for coming out and joining us and thank you again to all of you who donated. We really appreciated it.So, while I was enjoying the "good stuff" yesterday, I started thinking about some other good stuff, one of my friends that was at my party sent me some of the pics he took. So in honor of celebrating the good stuff in life, I wanted to share these pics from the party...
Now this is true Laughter...laughter that only comes from the heart! Mark and I sharing some "good stuff"
Another form of happiness. Tears of Joy, Mark and I reminicing, and my wife showing tears of happiness for all the love and support she is seeing for me. She is showing exactly what I was feeling at that moment. I get choked up now just seeing this picture. My rock for the three months of surgery and treatment and the head of my support team let some of their happiness tears show. It makes my heart happy to know how happy they are right there. Tears are cleansing right? (Kim-I know you don't like this picture, but I love you and wanted everyone to see another reason why.)
Kim and I, and darling Miss Ava...Who is not really sure what to make of all the good stuff she is seeing, nor having Uncle Teeb take her away from Mommy.
A bunch of wanna be poker playas enjoying the good stuff!
Thank you all that came to this event. It brings tears of joy to my eyes just remembering! I promise to post more pictures as I get them.
Don't forget to focus on the GOOD STUFF!! Life is alot more fun that way.
PEACE OUT!!
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