Hello All. Feel I should write. Well the family have gone back to South Africa and life has returned to the 2 of us. Diana is progressing and on Friday we again go back to Ann Arbor for blood work and another infusion of Avastin. I have found that her memory has worsened, but she still walks and carries on with life as much as possible. She is still knitting the hats for the Alaskan fishermen.
One reason for writing today is that 10 years ago Diana, Fiona and myself arrived at Newark airport in New York. That was the beginning of a new life in the US. It has had its ups and downs but we decided to make the US home.
Sorry this is short but all is quiet on the home front. will stay in touch. Keep well. Diana sends her to love to everyone and thanks you for your prayers and support. Ian
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
More Information on Avistan
[Click on the title for this post to learn more about the drug, Avistan, and its very recent use with brain cancer]
Di seems to be in good spirits. I think because she has the house back to herself and not tripping over things. I took her to home group last night and she was 90 minutes late for bed!! She enjoyed it and was laughing and talking. I thought rather let her 'live' than back to bed!!! Ian
Di seems to be in good spirits. I think because she has the house back to herself and not tripping over things. I took her to home group last night and she was 90 minutes late for bed!! She enjoyed it and was laughing and talking. I thought rather let her 'live' than back to bed!!! Ian
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Update from Ann Arbor
Hello
From kids last night: [It has been a long tiresome day, we had a meeting in Ann Arbor with a few of the big docs. The Doc has expressed some concern about the MRI. He is not sure how the tumor has responded to the treatment so far. He has suggested further treatment, which involves a more intense chemo and an infusion which starts on Friday and will continue every two weeks for the next few months. Mom is now tired after the long day, but is now home and sitting down with some dinner.]
[Yesterday] was long beginning at 7.45am and finishing at 5.30pm. Basically the tumour has not grown, however, the doc is concerned as there are white blotches around parts of the tumour. He says that could be as a result of the intense radiation and chemo OR that the tumour is still active. Instead of waiting he wants to give a double dose of chemo for 5 days, starting today and then a bi weekly infusion of Avastin. This will start on Friday and has to be done in Ann Arbor. Another MRI will be taken in 2 months to again asses the situation. So no trips to Florida or South Africa!!!!!!
Ian
From kids last night: [It has been a long tiresome day, we had a meeting in Ann Arbor with a few of the big docs. The Doc has expressed some concern about the MRI. He is not sure how the tumor has responded to the treatment so far. He has suggested further treatment, which involves a more intense chemo and an infusion which starts on Friday and will continue every two weeks for the next few months. Mom is now tired after the long day, but is now home and sitting down with some dinner.]
[Yesterday] was long beginning at 7.45am and finishing at 5.30pm. Basically the tumour has not grown, however, the doc is concerned as there are white blotches around parts of the tumour. He says that could be as a result of the intense radiation and chemo OR that the tumour is still active. Instead of waiting he wants to give a double dose of chemo for 5 days, starting today and then a bi weekly infusion of Avastin. This will start on Friday and has to be done in Ann Arbor. Another MRI will be taken in 2 months to again asses the situation. So no trips to Florida or South Africa!!!!!!
Ian
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year
Happy New Year. From all of the Macs to all of you a Happy and Blessed New Year.
Well the turkey has been eaten and I think the ham that was left over needs to be thrown!!! We all had a good Christmas and Di mad a good recovery from the seizure. She was very quiet for a few days afterwards, but is now back to normal. We have loved having the children here and they seem to have a fascination for shopping both in Midland and the local outlet mall!!! I have warned them that the luggage allowance has changed so will be interesting when they go home. We have had minimal snow, which I am sorry about as last year we had SO much. Andrew says as the plane leaves the US it will snow again. Anyhow we did have a few light snow showers and I had him out shovelling and using the snow blower. Watching how the children react to the cold I realise how different living in a cold climate is. I feel like an old nag telling them do this do that. In the end I have kept quiet and let them learn the hard way!!!! The deer fortunately have not been a problem YET. There have been footprints in the snow, but they have not jumped the fence to chew the plants. Managed to spot 2 deer in the distance for Andrew to see. They walk on our lawn and dig into the snow to eat the grass underneath. I don't object to that as it does not harm the grass. We have had grey days and lovely sunny days -- New Years day and today. We did think of taking to Rachel to the stables this morning, but the temp outside is negative 17Celsius!!!! The sun makes all the difference though.
Health wise been generally okay. I had a stomach bug last week and was out of it for a day. Diana has it now and was up all night. I am keeping her in bed today as we all want to go to Church tomorrow as a family.
Monday afternoon I will take Diana back to Ann Arbor as Tuesday she has another MRI and various doc visits etc.. Will be good to hear what is happening. Though she appears okay I have noticed that she has slowed down considerably. Andrew and family leave on Thursday night for Amsterdam and then connect to Cape Town. A long flight and hope that Miss Rachel will be okay. Not sure how long before we will have to be at Detroit as there are now new security regulations after the Christmas day attempted disaster.
This month, January 2010 is a milestone in our lives. On January 19th we will have been in the US for 10 years. Does not seem like it. Fiona is now a US citizen and I can apply this month.
Will let you know how Tuesday goes with her Lady!!!!
Hugs to you all. Ian
Well the turkey has been eaten and I think the ham that was left over needs to be thrown!!! We all had a good Christmas and Di mad a good recovery from the seizure. She was very quiet for a few days afterwards, but is now back to normal. We have loved having the children here and they seem to have a fascination for shopping both in Midland and the local outlet mall!!! I have warned them that the luggage allowance has changed so will be interesting when they go home. We have had minimal snow, which I am sorry about as last year we had SO much. Andrew says as the plane leaves the US it will snow again. Anyhow we did have a few light snow showers and I had him out shovelling and using the snow blower. Watching how the children react to the cold I realise how different living in a cold climate is. I feel like an old nag telling them do this do that. In the end I have kept quiet and let them learn the hard way!!!! The deer fortunately have not been a problem YET. There have been footprints in the snow, but they have not jumped the fence to chew the plants. Managed to spot 2 deer in the distance for Andrew to see. They walk on our lawn and dig into the snow to eat the grass underneath. I don't object to that as it does not harm the grass. We have had grey days and lovely sunny days -- New Years day and today. We did think of taking to Rachel to the stables this morning, but the temp outside is negative 17Celsius!!!! The sun makes all the difference though.
Health wise been generally okay. I had a stomach bug last week and was out of it for a day. Diana has it now and was up all night. I am keeping her in bed today as we all want to go to Church tomorrow as a family.
Monday afternoon I will take Diana back to Ann Arbor as Tuesday she has another MRI and various doc visits etc.. Will be good to hear what is happening. Though she appears okay I have noticed that she has slowed down considerably. Andrew and family leave on Thursday night for Amsterdam and then connect to Cape Town. A long flight and hope that Miss Rachel will be okay. Not sure how long before we will have to be at Detroit as there are now new security regulations after the Christmas day attempted disaster.
This month, January 2010 is a milestone in our lives. On January 19th we will have been in the US for 10 years. Does not seem like it. Fiona is now a US citizen and I can apply this month.
Will let you know how Tuesday goes with her Lady!!!!
Hugs to you all. Ian
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