A Bittersweet Week

Today was a sad day. Our cat Smokey had been diagnosed with a number of health problems. He had some liver damage, an infection of unknown origin, an open sore on his left cheek, and . . . worst of all . . . diabetes. His glucose was very high. So today I took him to the vet and had him put to sleep. Sandy agreed that this had to be done but did not want to know when. I made an appointment on Monday and he was put down today, on Friday. I pampered him all week while telling Sandy nothing about the appointment until she came home from work this evening.

We'll miss him, and we guess that Bandit will miss him, too.

On Wednesday the 16th, Sandy and I drove to the University of Chicago Hospital to see her doctor. We got there about 20 minutes early and didn't see the doctor for another two and a half hours. It was a busy place that night.

The good news is that Sandy is still very much in remission. The CA-125 score that must be below 35 to be in a "no-cancer" range was nine. 9! Good news indeed.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Life In Remission

Sandy is doing very well. Her life is back to normal. We've hosted Thanksgiving dinner for her family and we've been doing some local traveling.

at the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm in Indiana.















Colors at Starved Rock State Park, near LaSalle, IL.















Waterfall at Starved Rock State Park.





















Canyon wall in Starved Rock State Park.















Collecting Army Worms on the trail at Starved Rock.















Sandy and I took Julie's sofa to her in St. Paul.
We'd stored it in our basement since August 2006.
Here's Julie and Todd.






















Ava turned 4 on November 10th.
Her birthday party on the 14th was in her new home in Woodbury.















Ava gets her cake.





















Julie's self-portrait with Ava.






















Sandy hosting Thanksgiving.





















Historical Society Museum in Elgin, IL.















An Elgin watch.




















Sandy at the General Store in the Elgin Museum.





















A chance encounter with Sophie, peering over a park bench.














Next day, we drove to see the lighthouse at Michigan City, IN.















A smokestack near Michigan City.





















1 of about 80 deer pictures that Sandy took, west of Michigan City.














Sculpture in basement of Lake County Courthouse.






















"Quacky Tourist" outside John Dillinger Museum.






















at Popolano's in Chesterton, IN.






















at Popolano's for lunch.






















After we got home we put up a couple Christmas trees. This is how Sandy's been spending her time in remission so far. She has another appointment with her oncology doctor, Doctor Yamada, on December 16th.

When cancer strikes, the patient is subject to chemotherapy. The chemicals cause hair to fall out. The lack of hair may cause the patient to buy wigs. That's where Sandy is now.

What you don't want to do when wearing a wig made of synthetic hair is get near a hot stove or oven. If you do, it might singe the wig. Sandy has gone through two or three wigs in just this way.

To help her remember to be more careful, Sandy did this:

Stage Two

We saw Sandy's doctor yesterday evening. She said that Sandy is officially in remission, but . . . her CAT scan showed some "borderline" areas to keep an eye on. For now, everything looks good. The doctor said that because of these borderline areas she is not a candidate for the year-long clinical trial. We will see the doctor once each quarter.

Meanwhile, the doctor ordered another test for CA-125 to ensure the number stays well below 35.

Sandy is happy. Her hair is beginning to grow back and she's in tears watching the premiere of Grey's Anatomy.

It's a good day.

Winding Down

Sandy's health is getting better. The neuropathy in her feet isn't nearly as bothersome to her as it was near the end of chemotherapy. Her life has returned to what it was before her diagnosis in January.

She has another appointment with her oncology doctor on the 23rd. It's then that we'll learn the results of the CAT scan Sandy underwent on August 27th. If she "passes," the doctor will declare her to be in full remission.

On Saturday I rented a core aerator and punched holes in our yard wherever we don't have new sod. After I got done, Sandy said, "Why don't we go to Yoder's Kitchen for lunch?"

Yoder's Kitchen is over an hour and a half away, in Arthur, IL. Nevertheless, we cleaned up and took off on I-57 south. When we got there at 2 o'clock we figured the place would be empty. Who eats lunch at 2 o'clock? We found out.

The region was having its annual Corn Broom Festival. Yoder's Kitchen was filled with people. We waited over half an hour just to get a table. When we finally did sit down, it was right behind the noisy ice cream machine. But the food was good and we were soon on our way.

On the 19th, Saturday, Sandy and I took our bikes up to Frankfort, IL. We rode 25 miles on the paved bike path called the Old Plank Road Trail. I was very impressed that Sandy just kept right on going, didn't take many breaks.

She was sore the next day.

Her eyebrows and the hairs on her head are beginning to grow back. This makes the prospect of entering a clinical trial unpleasant. She could be put on the one "arm" of the trial that would give her the kind of taxol that she received during her six cycles of chemotherapy. If so, there goes the hair again. If not, she'll have a full head of hair within a few months.

We'll see her doctor tomorrow, ask a few questions, then make a decision about that clinical trial.

Remission!

Sandy and I went to UCMC Friday to see her oncology doctor, Dr. Yamada. We talked about the clinical trial that Sandy might be able to get into, but Dr. Yamada expressed concern that the neuropathy (burning and tingling) in her feet might bar her from getting into it. Sandy will have a CAT scan this coming Thursday to check for any anomalies. Then, on September 23rd we'll see the doctor again for a progress check.

Meanwhile, the doctor told Sandy that she is officially in remission! Sandy was so happy about this that she insisted on another trip to Ghirardelli's Chocolate Shop in downtown Chicago to celebrate.

The Energizer Bunny

Ever since the day after Sandy's blood transfusion she has been going virtually nonstop. She goes to work, she cooks, she bakes, she sews, she rides her bike . . . she keeps busy. The burning sensation in her feet has diminished.

I think that, for her, feeling good is the absence of feeling bad. When you don't feel well, you wish you did. Now, when she feels well she appreciates it!

We'll see her doctor in Chicago on Friday. We have questions for her, and . . . based in part on her answers . . . Sandy will decide whether to go into their clinical study. To do so will mean monthly visits to UCMC for a year and it might mean enduring chemotherapy side effects for as long.

Meanwhile, daughter Julie is setting up a law practice in St. Paul while Scot and family are looking at a new home in their near future.

Big decisions for all.

Here's Sandy, in front of Lincoln's temporary tomb in Springfield, IL (He was here six months before being moved to his current site).
(Click to enlarge)