Merry Christmas!

Today we got an early Christmas present; the results of my latest CT scan.  Dr Sharma, our oncologist, came in and simply said "there is no sign of disease".  Yea!!!!!

This CT scan, originally scheduled for November 18, was delayed due to complications from my last surgery.  But here we are now, just a few weeks later, and All is Well!

My Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) count, which had risen to 2800 (abnormally high and indicator of cancer), is now 1.4.  Normal is between zero and 3.  My port (for chemo admin and blood draws) will remain in place for 6-12 months.

Our lives have changed for the better and we have learned to love life more fully and to live every day as if it is a gift.  We also know that every day holds the possibility of a miracle. 

One quick story about a miracle Arvonne witnessed while at Huntsman three weeks ago.  While I was in surgery, she met a lady who was also in the waiting room. She told Arvonne that her husband had been fighting pancreatic cancer for almost two years and recently had been given eight months to live.  As a last ditch effort they decided to do an experimental treatment to extend his life.  Later that day, she told Arvonne that not only were they going to be able to remove the cancer but that the doctors felt that he would make a full recovery and live a very long life.  We will miss rubbing shoulders with so many amazing and brave people.  For us, Huntsman has been a place of healing and hope.  We will be forever grateful to the doctors and nurses there that took such good care of both Arvonne and me.

To all of you that have supported us over the past eleven months, thank you!  We thank you for your concern and caring, for your encouragement and optimism, for your prayers, and for seeing to our needs.  A scripture reminds us of you.  It says "I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up".  You have all been angels to us.  Again, thank you so much!

Going forward, I will have CT scans every three months.  This is due to being categorized as "high risk for recurrence" because of the advanced stage when it was found.  However, the longer we go, the less likely it will come back.  Our initial target of two years cancer free started on June 22.  So we are looking forward to June 22, 2018!  

Go, Fight, Win!