DC Bound to George Washington Hospital

With so much support from some special friends out there, we have confirmed appointment with Dr. Ahlgren on Thursday at 215pm at George Washington hospital. Deb and I are very excited and blessed to make this trip.

Until I can thank you in person, I want to stop and use this opportunity to personally thank all of you again through this journal that have been incredible support to Deb and our family. Lisa in DC for your continued support to us via Susan/Ellen, Barb/Kevin/Tina Y. for the DC airline tickets, Leslie/Scott for ticket, Lisa M. for using her points on DC hotel, house supplies, scrumptious meals, all Deb’s thoughtful birthday gifts/goodies, lunch excursions with friends, pedicures, Bonnie, weekend with Connie/Reed/Susan/Ellen, my parents special love/gifts, all the beautiful flowers from everyone which add great color to Deb’s journal and so many others that are too many to list.

Short Term Treatment Plan

We have completed the Oncologist appointments last week with Dr. Yaffe and today with Dr. Brodeur. Both Oncologists have confirmed for Deb to immediately taking the Sandostatin hormonal injection that is a synthetic base hormone that will assist in slowing the growth of the existing neuroendrocrine cancer cells. This treatment will not necessarily shrink the tumors but will help Deb feel better after she gets use to the injections. What’s nice is that we will administer the injections at the house. I was certified today and passed along to Bonnie tonight. In addition to the Sandostatin, Dr. Brodeur has referred us to a ENT (Ears Nose Throat) specialist to discuss removal of the 1 cm thyroid nodule in Deb’s neck which should reduce some of the sickness she is currently experiencing. After two weeks of self injections, Deb will get a monthly injection from nurse at Cumberland. We are still not clear on our longer term treatment plan options so I will hold off on listing the options here until we discuss further with Dr. Ahlgren in DC tomorrow.

Deb has been doing better this week and is more alert/less foggy from the pain medicine since we switched from a dose every 3 hours to a dose every 8 hours (time release). For the first time in the last few days she has been able to at least sleep for most of the night. Each new day we can tell she is a little bit more caught up on her rest but still many days to go. She is able to walk around fine on her own around the house but takes too much energy to go out shopping, etc.. without the use of a wheelchair.I was able to order the wheelchair today and along with her new handicap permit, will make her trips outside the house less complicated.

It was a good, productive day all around and we learned a lot more from Dr. Brodeur visit. We look forward to meeting you in person tomorrow Lisa and thank you for taking time out of your day to meet with Dr. Ahlgren and us.

Sleep well beautiful.

Love to all and KTS!

Rod and Deb

You're in my heart, you're in my soul.. You'll be my breath should I grow old.. You are my lover, you're my best friend.. You're in my soul
Rod Stewart