THANKS-giving

We've just returned from HUP (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania) where Mark had his every-nine-week MRI. In meeting with his oncologist, she gave him a very favorable report. Nothing has changed on the MRI and his blood cells and platelets have returned to normal. We are very encouraged! This will be such a special Thanksgiving for our family. "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."(Psalm 126:3) We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Great Vacation

Mark and I had a wonderful time in Sarasota! The weather was beautiful! We enjoyed reconnecting with good friends there. Because of his hearty appetite, we enjoyed restaurant meals almost every evening. He was tapered off of his Megace (medication to increase his appetite) and now continues to eat well and need no meds for that. Praise God! He has regained about 7 of the 30 lost pounds. (Soon I'll be putting him on a diet . . .just kidding.) This return to good eating has also given him new energy.
The only glitch he had was that we got a phone call from HUP that his previous blood test had shown a decrease in white blood cell count and platelets. So we made 4 trips in 2 weeks to a Quest Lab in Sarasota and had the results faxed to HUP. The counts have come back up, so that he did not need those tests when we got home to PA.

We had a planned appointment on Monday, November 13, with the oncologist who needed to see him at the end of his 7 weeks of the experimental injection study. Also, next Monday, November 20, there will be another MRI to determine if there is any new tumor growth. If not, he will resume 5 days of oral chemo; and 7 weeks of the injections (at home). We want to continue with this program, if the Lord wills it.