Let me begin with an apology to everyone who reads this blog regularly. It’s been an emotional week for me and I’ve allowed myself to be spread too thin to write an update. I will endeavor to do a better job in keeping everyone updated.

Karen’s last appointment (2 Aug 07) with the cancer doctor went very quickly because after obtaining the result of the blood tests it was determined she was not well enough to endure the chemotherapy. She was given a Neupogen shot to help boost her white blood cell count. There is a bunch of fancy information that goes along with the shot and what it helps your body do but in plain English a low white blood cell count means your immune system isn't as strong as it could be and that you are at increased risk for infection. The fewer white blood cells you have and the longer you remain without enough, the more at risk you become for developing a potentially life-threatening infection. Karen’s was really low. She is tentatively scheduled for chemotherapy again on 16 August.

From there we went to meet the Neurosurgeon, Dr. Chris Tomaras, so he could review the tumor in Karen’s brain. He and is staff were prompt and efficient. He agreed with the Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Henry Cline whom we met a week earlier that Gamma Knife surgery would be the best option available to deal with the tumor. He explained that the scans performed before the surgery is more intense than those that revealed the tumor and sometimes they find more tumors during those scans. If they do find more tumors then it may be necessary to rethink treatment options. He hopes all they see is the one tumor which is about the size of a small marble. I hope they find none, which is possible with God.

Karen is scheduled for Gamma Knife surgery the morning of Friday, 10 August. Please follow this link if you are interested in learning more about it. If things go as planned, it will be done at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and I should be able to bring her home the same day.

Brain surgery can be a bit of downer so I want to leave you with some good news. The last tumor marker test taken 19 July, showed a drop from 362 to 309. Karen was getting sick 4 to 5 days a day and over the past four days (5-8 August) she has only been sick twice. During this same period her energy levels have improved to a degree where she has been able to get back to her sewing machine which is therapy for her in and of itself. The best news of all is she will be healed of cancer one day here or in heaven.

Until next time…