The tumors are responding to treatment

Today I'm grateful for...

Not having to drink that awful Coke

Seeing our boys again

A wonderfully great, sensitive, and caring wife Great NICU caring for Lourdes

My sister for helping in a time of need

We have some really good news to report. Lulu's breast tumor sizes (in the right breast) have reduced in size per the oncologist. Yesterday we had a 9:00 AM appointment with the oncologist that is the lead on Lulu treatment regiment, and after some preliminary discussions on what problems she was having and effect the chemo drugs had on her in the last two weeks, the doctor measured Lulu's three tumors. Originally they measured approximately 3/2 cm, 2/2 cm, and 2/1.5, but in today's examination she thought that they were improving dramatically. (2/1.5, 1/1, and 1/.5 cm respectively).

I was about to tell her to measure them again, but then I thought; just live the moment. This is some of the only good news that us guys have had for awhile, just bath in it, and rejoice. I missed most of the rest of the examination, because I was still soaking up the wonderful news; oblivious to Lulu, the doctor, and her assistant. When the doctor ask me to move away from the door, I came to just enough to temporality move my jubilant self out of the way.

Right then, I felt the tide turning in our direction, so what if Lulu had a left breast with a large something residing there and she was being dosed with high powered chemotherapy drugs, the healing/guiding power of God had choose now to lay upon us the ability to believe a cancer free future. I wanted to run out into the streets and shout "Glory to you Lord" at the top of my lungs (but instead I walked out of the breast clinic and into the infusion center only thinking about a positive future for Lulu). I was feeling pretty high as we walked into the 5th floor infusion center for Lulu's second course of anti-cancer drugs.

Two weeks ago I was skeptical that the chemotherapy was going to help us fight this horrible disease, but now I had great hope that these specific cancer drugs were saving her life. We were happy to see the same nurse from the first session was to be administering the medications today. And since she was the first person we had seen since he wonderful news with the oncologist, we practically blurted out that Lulu's tumors were responding to the drugs. Of course she was happy for us and I could see her proudly start the IV and administer this next regiment of medications. (the compassionate care the technicians/nurses deliver is a sight to behold). As Lulu was settled in, and the pumps were slowly dispensing the drugs, I retrieved the post cards the boys spent the previous weekend tenderly crafting.

I have to admit that I was a little nervous as I prepared myself to seek out patients in the infusion center; force myself into their lives and exert my adoration on them. This fact maybe hard for someone that doesn't believe in a higher power, but as I steadied myself and was about to seek out my first cancer patient connection. There was a 50 something professional, very distinguished looking lady facing me not far from Lulu , and she glanced up from her cell phone (she I presumed was texting on) Was she calling to me with her eyes to a start a conversation?. I couldn't believe my eyes, she was encouraging me to come over and build a friendship! I could feel her pull at my body and my mind. How could I not start a conversation with her? Before I knew what i was doing; I heard my voice warmly and invitingly say, "Looks like you're a pretty good at texting"? I thought she was going to explode with kindness? After at last a quarter hour of great conversation (where I learned her name was Sue, she was a trial lawyer in the bay area, had children just a little younger then myself, and a adopted 8 year old girl) I told her of my children's wish was to brighten cancer patient's days by making decorative cards that they wished me to pass one along to her. I thought that she didn't hear me at first? She sat staring at me, looking quite stunned, then she looked down at the card I was holding slightly raised for her to see. Slowly she took the gift from me and was speechless as she slowly read my Thomas' 6 year olds writing style. He had wrote on this card, "SENDING YOU A SMILE", and he had attempted to draw the semicircular appearance of two lips pushing up at the corners into a smile. Time froze, I wasn't sure if I should speak? Did Sue understand Thomas' penmanship? Should I try to explain why my kids felt the need to make these cards? Was what I was doing too bold? After what seemed like minutes (it was probably only 10 seconds) Sue responded, "I'm very impressed that you kids would care about people that they have never met. Would you write down their names, so I can respond appropriately to their wonderful gesture." My heart soared. Nothing could make me fell better then someone complimenting our children. I couldn't wait to return home to tell Carter and Thomas the impact this small deed had on at least one cancer patient. With my confidence soaring high, I pulled myself away from Sue (I could have spent the rest of the three hours talking to just her) and I went to solicit the rest of the boy's cards.

I handed out four more well wishing cards to patients in the next two hours. I learned so much and made four long term relationships on this Friday. I met Teresa and her husband Chuck from San Jose area. I connected with Teresa though our conservative values in which I noticed from the fact that she was reading Dick Morris's new book "Catastrophe". There was Harriett, who was there with her daughter for treatment. She had some great suggestions for places we might like to eat in the SF, since she was a native of SF (and had to be in her mid 80's). Then, a crossed from Lulu was a strikingly pretty lady named Caroline. She was most impressed with the creativeness of the boys artwork, and also wanted their names and when she might see us again? She wanted to have a return gift for them?

But their was one cancer patient that stood out during this trip. I spotted Helen diligently working the keys of your iPhone while wanting to go back for treatment. I opened the conversation with, "Is that the new iPhone". Helen was quite young (I was to learn that she was diagnosed wit Stage III breast cancer at 38, and was here for hormonal treatment post chemotherapy and surgery) and she reminded me a lot of Lulu. She had this easy way about her and she was very open about her battle with this illness. She told me that she didn't have the new model of iPhone that she was still using the first model Apple put out three years ago, and that it had sentimental value. It turns out this phone was a present from her husband when she was first diagnosed with the cancer. As it turns out she has close to the same type, stage, and course of treatment that Lulu has. Here was (to me) another sign, signal, gift being laid at my feet to comfort me and guide me, and give me the strength to handle all that has been trust upon my shoulders. Helen ask if she could help by sharing her story with Lulu? I was grateful for her gesture, and said yes. Helen wrote down her email, phone number, and some nice encouraging words to go a long with the contact information. I told her that I needed to get back to Lulu and check on her progress and assured Helen that I would pass the info on to Lulu when she woke.

I returned to Lulu's side and she was nearing the final dosages being pumped slowly into sleeping body. I sat there pretending to return some emails on my iPhone, but in reality was thinking about all the lovely people that I met during this journey, and wondering how it seemed to me the nicest, most caring, and truly strong people were inflicted with this vile cell aberration called cancer? Why, if this had to happen at all, weren't the deviant, cunning, and non-caring people afflicted? As I pondered this, Helen was by some fate of God escorted in by the attendant and prepared for her hormone treatment in the seat right next to Lulu. Could things be planned out any better? Lulu woke for a short time and I introduced her to Helen and tried to foster a relationship between them. You could see the bond building between them with every word, this was a relationship that is to verbally heal both Lulu and I!

I couldn't wait to get in the car and tell Lulu all about the contacts that I had made that afternoon. We caught a glimpse of Kate this afternoon in the hat and wig shop. She looked to be here with her Mom and Dad, and was trying on various wigs, but seemingly not having success in finding one she liked? Both Lulu and I sat outside the store waiting to be noticed by her, but she didn't look to be having a good day. So, after sending 5 or 10 minutes unsuccessful in meeting up with her, Lulu and I needed to get up stairs for her chemotherapy infusion appointment. We would need to wait until another day to share stories and hopefully comfort each other during this difficult time?

We arrived in Reno around 10:00 PM (the traffic from SF to Sacramento was bumper to bumper and it took us 6 hours). We just had to stop for some Baby Lourdes snuggles time. She was looking very good, and the night shift nurse informed us that tomorrow we could start feeding Lourdes by bottle. I was so excited that I could wait to get home and jump into bed, so morning could get here. Tomorrow morning I was going to be at the NICU by 8:00 AM and feed Lourdes with a bottle.