Short summary: Two or three more rounds of chemo and then most likely surgery to remove one lobe of his liver. Dr. Lin will confer with the surgeon and we'll know more about surgery later. Hopefully, surgery in January-ish.

Last week, I was given the huge blessing of being able to get away by myself for 3 nights. It was much needed and much appreciated. A couple from our church has a guest house behind their house at Birch Bay and they graciously opened the door for me there.  I am very thankful for that.

Tomorrow we go back to Seattle for Harv's CT scan. It is this scan that will help determine the next steps in his treatment. Surgery is possible, but not definite. If dreams came true, I think, the tumors in his liver would show up in the CT scan as very well-defined, which would make surgery possible. And, I THINK that it would be ONE surgery in two parts  --- (1) to remove a smaller, tumor in one part of the liver and (2) the removal of a-whole-nother section of his liver. Evidently, one can survive with only a 1/4 of the liver. 

Honestly, the "dream coming true" sentiment is mine. For some reason, it just SOUNDS better to cut out as much of the ugly as possible. But, I'm not positive that Dr. Lin will think that's the best option. It all depends on how the liver looks in the scan.

The one sure thing is that Harv will be on some form of chemo -- most likely oral -- for the rest of his life... surgery or no.

FAMILY LIFE: 

Celeste has stayed busy at her work and with her class at Whatcom and with her social life. I imagine that there are things she might change if she could, but she handles things well. We are thankful that she's here and that we've had some "regular life" time with her.

Sarah and Hannah also seem to be doing well. School, this year, has been packed with lots of learning and stretching and growing. The cross country season is over, but they continue to run pretty much every day after school with occasional time in the weight room, too. 

Harv is soaking up the time he's having to heal. Walking when he can, playing guitar, reading and enjoying his various gadget hobbies.

I, however, continue to struggle with letting go of what was and embracing what is. How in the world does one really DO that?  I'm trying, but I feel kind of like a little girl in kindergarten clinging to my mama and not wantin' to let go. 

We are looking forward to the holidays...a slightly slower pace and, hopefully, pleasant winter weather. ☺ 

We are thankful for you all. We appreciate your prayers as we move into what we hope is a new, productive, time of healing.

We love you.

 

Just met with Dr. Lin... All of Harv's numbers are moving in the right direction. He's very pleased with the way things look. The number that shows how much the cancer is circulating is ZERO! And, Dr. Lin said that with conventional treatment, most patients with Harv's diagnosis would be resistant to the treatment at this point. Harv, however, is continuing to be receptive... And THAT is a VERY good thing.

 

We'll come back on the 20th for a CT scan and then a decision will be made about whether to do surgery or stick with oral chemo as maintenance.

 

So...as tired as we are (mostly me), we are thankful that Dr. Lin is making a difference for colon cancer patients -- worldwide -- and specifically, in our lives.

 

GFW!

We head back to Seattle tomorrow for Harv's 3rd round of chemo. If we're lucky, this will be the last round before potential surgery. Please pray, think good thoughts, keep your fingers crossed, or whatever you do -- that we will see enough progress in the coming weeks that chemo will not have to go beyond tomorrow. (I'm kinda tired of chemo and it's not even going into my body.) GFW! Get the heck outta my husband's body you insane, stinkin', obscene, evil cancer!! I mean it!