A Revoltin' Development

As Jimmy Durante used to say, "What a revoltin' development dis is!!!  On January 26, I visited a local clinic because of some pain in my left shoulder, expecting to line up some physical therapy.  Two months and two days later, I've been through X rays, CT Scans, PET scans, a needle biopsy, radiation treatment to reduce a bone tumor on my left ribcage, and two of 18 weekly chemotherapy treatments for stage 4 lung cancer!!  Yikes!!!

During this period I've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love from so many people.  It's hard to express my appreciation for your prayers and good wishes.  Someone suggested that I try blogging my experience......that I might be able to keep folks updated in a convenient way......so that's what I'm setting out to do.  Please don't stop calling and writing though, and especially keep me in your prayers.  Ellie and I need your support.

I mentioned chemotherapy.  As it turns out, I'm enrolled in a clinical trial to test a new immunotherapy drug here in Florida.  This is one of many such experimental drugs  that are intended to enable the body's auto-immune system to identify and kill cancer cells, as an alternative to traditional chemotherapy which, in essence, poisons the cancer cells.  They hold great promise for increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy, while reducing the "collateral damage" to normal cells which are unavoidably poisoned during chemotherapy.

The trial will last for as long as it is seen to benefit me, but at minimum 18 weekly sessions.  During that time, I'll be "tethered" to Venice, Florida and will find it hard to travel much, so we don't expect to be able to spend any meaningful time in SC until after July.  Beyond that, the treatments are scheduled monthly instead of weekly, so we're hopeful that we'll spend most of the late summer and, (God willing), the Clemson football season back at The Cliffs.  What a terrible year to contemplate missing any Tiger games!!

All this has transpired during a time when my brother Dave and his wife, DD were here in Florida, and they were a great help to us.  Ellie and I are also so grateful that Kathy and Joseph came down to be with us for Easter, and that they have put their career plans on hold pending the resolution of all of this stuff.  And we're looking forward to being with daughter Cindy when she visits us later this month,

I thank God for all of you and for your prayers, and offers of assistance.   And I thank God for Ellie, the love of my life, who carries the biggest load in this little adventure.  She gets me through each day and makes me realize how discerning I was 49 years ago when she married me and how lucky I have been every day since.

Next chemo is tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Bob