Friday, January 15, 2010

Another Clean MRI

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Three in a Row

Michele had a MRI Wednesday and received the results Thursday.

The MRI did not show any indications of renewed cancer growth. This is as close to remission as GBM cancer gets and may not be remarkable, but is certainly unusual. She has been on Avastin / CPT11 for almost six months now -- since 20 August 2009.

We will continue the same Avastin / CPT11 three-week cycle -- two Thursdays of treatment and one resting / recovery week.

The next MRI will be in about nine weeks -- on or about Wednesday, 17 March, St Patrick ’s Day -- that will be over a year after her first surgery.

RKS

Saturday, December 12, 2009

With Help from Our Friends

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Ode to Michele on Her 65th

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She tried her best and in the past harassed us,

But she just couldn’t slip December 2nd past us. [Bill]

No way Michele, c’est vrai, forget it,

Here’s something even tous can’t edit. [Julie]

--- ---

At Passover time, we’ve been asked to tell

How our ancestors in Egypt used to dwell. [Sandy]

Then life with Pharaoh began to unravel,

And the Jewish folks were forced to travel. [Marshall]

Michele’s clan offered a similar story,

Though not quite the same in stature or glory. [Sandy]

From Egypt Michele was forced to flee

And now the rest is history. [Marshall]

From Cairo to London to Hong Kong she wandered.

Why not NYC and San Francisco she pondered

Around the world, from many lands she reported.

She moved so often you’d think she was deported. [Kim]

Along the way on her various stops,

She perfected her journalistic chops. [Andrew]

She worked in Vietnam -- sans bon bons,

But left when we let Saigon be Saigons. [Ken}

The war in Asia filled her with strife,

Then Paris offered her the good life.

But there was much more to see,

So off she was to Tel-Aviv.

Someone told her Rockwall would be great,

But there are far better places in this state.

So Austin is now her home sweet home,

With so many friends, never again to roam.

--- --- ---

At the paper she wrote news, features and shorts.

She did everything else, except for sports. [Andrew]

Michele ruled over the business desk domain.

With her in charge, it was never quite the same. [Kim]

In Washington her prowess grew.

She wrote a column, front pagers, too. [Ted]

She was our expert on topics like NAFTA.

She quit smoking then, she knew she’d hafta. [Debra]

She returned to Austin and the Legislature,

Always working hard because it’s her nature. [Ralph]

Green card in hand she wanted more,

Hoping to be counted in the electoral score. [Barbara]

Because Michele is nobody’s fool,

She knew her citizenship could be dual. [Ted]

She called a congressman, one of San Antone’s.

Became a Yank, saying “Let them eat scones.” [Ken]

She conquered Austin, then took on the Capitol,

Where she found the bastards all so laughable. [Ross]

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She loves kids, but carolers made her jangle.

When on deadline their tiny necks she’d strangle. [Renee]

Among her good friends is ex-Mayor Bruce Todd,

But even he should not sing “Feliz Navidade.” [Elizabeth]

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Since she was good at telling others what to do,

Consulting was a natural thing to pursue. [Bruce]

George Dubya Bush and Karen Hughes,

Soon others were seeking her vociferous views. [Renee]

Cornyn and Carole and the GOP,

But enough politics, it was time to flee. [Bill]

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So once more, it was back to the paper,

And the big pink dome for a final caper. [Linda]

And soon, she recalled, this took a lot of meds.

So she fled down the street, until she got to St. Ed’s. [Ross]

Nobody who went there had ever talked faster,

So in no time at all, they declared her a master. [Sharon]

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In front of her class, she stood 4 foot 10,

And all of her students wanted to sign up again. [Bruce]

She had the kid reporters all in a tizzy.

Michele barking orders would make anyone dizzy. [Mary Ann]

But she remade the program until it was stellar,

Leaving her mark on every girl and feller. [Elizabeth]

----- ----- -----

She taught everyone from far and near,

And along the way married an engineer. [Ralph]

We’ve seen lots of weddings, but her’s was a treat.

Not often do you see a couple that sweet. [Mary Ann]

We grew to know Robert as a really great pal,

And all know for certain he picked the right gal. [Linda]

Their home is up on the mountain of cat.

Where friends always find their welcome mat. [Ted}

Through all the years and all the hard work,

Her family and friendships she never did shirk. [Barbara]

She’s always made time to see that we feel

Her love and kindness, and know that it’s real. [Debra]

We’ve bragged on Michele, though we all have our flaws,

Thank goodness for flexible immigration laws. [Ken]

----- ----- ----- -----

So today you’ve reached 65 years.

Happy birthday to you, and to Britney Spears! [Julie]

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thankful

Thanksgiving 2009

What am I thankful for?

Michele, Michele, Michele, Michele, Michele

I am thankful that she has broaden my horizons

and has shown me a world that I would have

never known without her.

I am thankful that she inspires me.

I am thankful to have her to love.

I am thankful to be loved by her.

I am thankful that she has changed my life.

Although life may not turn out exactly as hoped,

I will always be thankful for Michele.

RKS

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

NYT Article on GBM

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NYT Tue 17 Nov

Here is a new piece on GBM from the New York Times. Avastin is one of the drugs that Michele is taking every three weeks by infusion (IV).

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17tumor.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=gbm%20%20denise%20grady&st=cse



RKS

Friday, November 13, 2009

Brief Report

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Another Great MRI

(My resident managing editor has directed that this posting be brief.)

Michele had a MRI on Wednesday, 11 November.

It was clean and showed no evidence of cancer.

Dr. Chadha, her oncologist, has extended the MRI interval from six to nine weeks.

Next MRI will be o/a Wednesday, 13 January.

She will remain on the same three week chemotherapy protocol indefinitely.

RKS

-30-

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Fantastic MRI

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No Sign of Active Cancer . .

Thursday 01 Oct 2009
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Yesterday’s MRI results: “No evidence of any abnormal growth. There is only a very minimal amount of gliosis (scar tissue) around the region of the prior resection (surgery).“


This is the best possible news. The Avastin/CPT 11 treatment seems to be working. Michele will continue that treatment indefinitely--two weeks on, one week off.


Next MRI will be in early November.


RKS
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Port Report

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Success 16 September 2009

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The surgically implanted power port worked well during blood sampling and IV infusion this month. Both were painless. However, contrary to what one would expect, the IV took the same length of time as before. The round trip from home and back is about seven hours.

This chemotherapy continues to have a much greater impact on Michele than the Temodar treatments earlier this year. Michele is pretty much wiped out all day on Saturdays and spends most of that day in bed. The treatment seems to take a day to kick in and kick butt.

This week’s treatment side effect was a potassium deficiency--easily corrected with five inexpensive and easy to take pills.

Michele is feeling better early in the week. On Tuesday, she was feeling well enough to attend a very enjoyable dinner meeting at the Headliner’s Club. It was the first major social event we have been to in months.

Hopefully, things will be pretty routine for the rest of the month.

 

RKS

 

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