June 28, 2003
Update # 36
Good Morning,
It's a beautiful cool morning in June. We had an actual Spring with gorgeous flowers and nearly perfect weather. We did not even turn on the air conditioner for the first time until June 13th. Since then, we have only used it part time and been able to enjoy open windows!
Jeff came home from his first year of college on May 25th. He had to stay three days longer to tape the graduation ceremony. He is again working at Dairy Queen plus taking a chemistry class through a nearby college. He was to take chemistry at Wartburg so this will fulfill that obligation. Wartburg will accept the credit and thus enable Jeff to schedule another course. Jeff's main highlight of the summer will be staffing one week of the broadcast workshop at Wartburg. The last week of his chemistry class coincides with the first week of the broadcast workshop so he will miss that one.
On Friday, June 20th, the three of us went to St. Louis for Jeff's check-up. We were able to see Jeff's main oncologist, Dr. Chu. I had mentioned that he was gone in March due to neck surgery. That surgery did not do well and he had a second surgery! Dr. Chu had not been back to work for too long before our appointment. Jeff had a CT Scan, x-ray, and thryoid test. We again noticed the x-ray showed the tumor shell a little lighter in color. Dr. Chu was pleased with Jeff even with the weight gain. Then we met with Dr. Norton, the radiation oncologist, for Jeff's six-month check-up. He also was happy to see how well Jeff was doing. We return over Christmas vacation for the next check-up. Dr. Chu and I played phone tag for a few days before getting the results of the CT Scan and thryoid test yesterday. The thryoid tests showed all levels had returned to the normal range. So again it will be just wait and check again in December. The CT scan preliminarily showed everything the same. The doctor then rechecked and noticed one node in the chest near the trachea measured just a bit bigger. Dr. Chu wants Jeff to return the middle of August (before returning to college) for a repeat CT scan. Dr. Chu doesn't seem too concerned. We asked about doing a PET Scan and, since it is only a minimal amount larger, he felt it was not necessary. So, I'll send another update sometime in August.
Jeff walked the Survivor Lap in the Relay For Life on June 14th. He was able to sign in as one-year cancer free and received a pin to add to his medal. The co-chairs this year were two ladies who had the same two exact types of breast cancer at the same time. We know the one and they are both doing very well.
Well, I'm going to head out to the front porch and enjoy a cup of coffee in this great weather. We hope all of you are doing well and enjoying life. We continue to thank you for your prayers for Jeff. They lift us all up in spirit. Have a wonderful summer and I'll talk again in August.
Love,
Marcia