Update from Fleming Rd.

Thankfully, we are still at home and doing well for the time being.  Bill continues to work on eating enough to put on some pounds, not as easy as you might think, and gaining strength.  We have been walking every morning and have even made a trip to the zoo.   We are trying to do as many "normal" things as we can.  Yesterday we finally made a trip up to Northern KY to visit with the kids and see Amy and Troy's  beautiful new home.  That was quite a morale booster!

Bill's wound seems to be healing nicely, hopefully it will be healed enough to move forward with the chemotherapy treatment by our Sept. 9 appointment.   We're really not looking forward to starting that treatment but we know the importance of moving ahead.  We are so grateful to everyone for continuing to check in with us and let us know how much you care.  We truly appreciate your kindness.   Keep in touch.  Holly

Next Steps

As promised, we saw the oncologist this morning at the Brown Cancer Center.  The suggested treatment for Bill is called Bio chemotherapy, which is a combination of three chemotherapy drugs and two immunotherapy drugs given over a period of 5 days.  He would be in the hospital for the treatment.  The nurse explained to us that the first week home is usually pretty rough, still a lot of the side effects, but the third and fourth weeks are usually pretty good.  If the treatment works, the PET scan shows no further cancer growth, then he would have another cycle of the treatment.  If it does not seem to be working, we would seek an alternative treatment. 

He is tentatively scheduled to begin the first cycle of the bio chemo treatment on Sept. 9, at University Hospital provided the wound in his belly is healed.  The oncologist does not want to begin chemo until the wound is healed.  It sounds like this is a solid plan, from all that we've read about metastatic melanoma, this seems to be the most aggressive and successful treatment.  

We're still trying to absorb it all, as you can imagine, it is overwhelming.  We know you will  keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we make these decisions.  More time in the hospital will not be easy, but if that's what it takes, then that's what we will have to do.  Please stay in touch, I know if we do not go back into the hospital until Sept. 9, we're going to get out and do some things as Bill feels better.  Holly 

Still At Home!

It's been over a week now and we're still at home.  I really hesitate to make that statement for fear that I might jinx things, but so far things are moving in the right direction.  Bill is getting stronger each day and eating more.  He is still not up to a  2000 per day intake, so he continues with the TPN (intravenous feed) in order to build his strength.   Everyday he is able to walk a little further in the neighborhood and putter around the house more.  Today in fact he went to the grocery store with Emily.  He was rather put off by the recent changes in the Kroger store, as most of us have been I'm guessing.  

We're planning a low key birthday celebration this weekend with the kids and granddogs.  Bill's birthday is Tuesday, the day we are scheduled to see the oncologist to discuss next step treatments.   Hopefully we will get some positive news, which would be a wonderful birthday gift.  

We are so thankful for the continuous stream of thoughtful cards, emails, responses to the blog and visits.  We feel so blessed.  Your prayers are working.  Please stay in touch, and I'll keep you posted on things as we find out more about the upcoming treatment.