October Update

We are in our new 'normal' and have developed a routine. I am teaching in the mornings and usually home by 1pm. Dwayne is doing things around the house,  kitchen cleanup, vacuuming, watering the plants, etc. That is a big help. In the afternoons we try to walk at least a mile, either on the beach trail or in the neighborhood.

 Yesterday, Dwayne was evaluated by a new rehab center. The physical and speech therapists had him go through their testing. He did well with the physical therapy and after going over the notes from his last PT, she was encouraged that after a month of no therapy he had not lost any ground. She will be working on strength and balance. His endurance is much better. We went to Sea World this past Saturday and he did the day without using the wheelchair!  Speech is still the area that needs the most work. Short term recall and aphasia are still a challenge.

Today he began his third round of chemo. This will go on for five days. The week of November 7th he will have the next MRI. We are praying that the last three spots are gone!

Thank you for being an important part of our lives.

English Translation, Please!

This was too funny not to share. Dwayne has been doing much better with his word finding, but there are still some he just can't find what he needs.

We have been trying to walk the beach trail near our house as often as possible. Sometimes going about two miles in about an hour and a half. A couple of weeks ago, we had finished the walk and because it was very humid that evening, decided to stop for frozen yogurt.  Dwayne was tired and didn't want to go in, so I asked him what he wanted. He told me vanilla, then I asked if he wanted something on it. He said he did, but could not remember the word. So, I went back to the stragity that the first speech therapist, Mary Beth, had said to use,"yes/no" questions. This usually works pretty well, and has taken out some of the frustration at times trying to communicate. So, I began with did he want fruit-"no", nuts-"no', chocolate chips-"yes, but with the feet and limbs attached". That one really threw me. Wasn't sure what to do with it. He still could not get the word out he wanted, and finally told me that I would figure it out. I was not as confidant. So, I went in and started looking at the toppings. Came out with 'cookie dough' on the top. He said he knew I would get it. Sometimes you just have to laugh!

Someone have an English/Aphasia dictionary I can borrow?

Sun setting over Catalina, from the beach trail.

Six Months!

Dwayne's new look!

Alice, Esther, and Barb
Three of the best friends you could ever hope for!
Happy Birthday to us.

It does not seem possible that we began this adventure six months ago today. At times it has gone very quickly, others times, it feels like we have be at it much longer.

 Well, we have made it through the first three weeks of the school year, and seem to have settled into a pretty good routine. The mornings that Dwayne has therapy, I drop him off at the hospital and then pick him up on my way home. He will be finishing his two months of rehab on Thursday and just doing speech a couple times a week. He will have his second round of chemo this week. Tomorrow in the doctor's office and then the five days of the at-home drug.

We finally did the head shaving last week. He never lost it all, but had places that were 3" long and spots with nothing. Kind of had the doc look from Back to the Future! It is returning, about a quarter of an inch long, and very blond. I guess we will see if blonds have more fun!

Last Friday, we helped in the surprise 50th birthday for Esther.  Since three of us have birthdays in the same week, it was easy to convince her that we were going out to dinner for our birthdays. She was not even suspicious. Fun evening and great friends.

Catching up!

Did August go quickly or what??

Tomorrow is back to school for me, just seems like last year ended. A few changes for me this year, I will be having a team teacher and I am very excited for that. I have known Shannon for a number of years and we will work together well.

Dwayne has made a lot of progress this month. He has now been in rehab for a month and they keep raising the bar on what they expect of him. They want to extend his therapy for another month. We are waiting on what insurance says on that.  During the past week, Dwayne and I have walked the local beach trail near our home four times! We have done about two miles, each time a little faster. This is such great progress, considering he needed a cane to get around the house just two months ago! His stamina is improving every week.

Sea World

The week before Jared went back to school, the three of us spent a day at Sea World. Longest outing he has done in six months. It was great! Slow paced enough for Dwayne and we always enjoy the animals. Dwayne used the wheelchair for the most part, but also walked in some of the less crowded areas.  Jared and I took turns pushing! It is hillier than you think there!

The weekend of August 20th, my cousin Diana and I took Jared back to Monterey. Hard to believe this is his senior year! We helped get Jared settled and then spent Sunday exploring Monterey. What a beautiful place. We stayed at Asilomar and it is so peaceful and a nice walk across the street to the beach. It was a good trip. Nathan came and stayed at the house with Dwayne.

Sea World-August 2011

Watching the dolphins

Jared back at UCS Monterey

Dwayne and I after the first time we walked the beach trail

The beach across the street from Asilomar.
Beautiful!

Dwayne began his new chemo last week. The first one was given in the doctor's office and it divided into two days. They want to make sure he will not have any major reactions. He did great. The second drug he took at home for five nights before bed. That one is unsettling his stomach some. He was given some anti-nausea that seems to be helping.

Hang On!!!

Dwayne and I met with Dr. Cheng, the local oncologist this morning. He had not seen Dwayne since mid July. He was pleased that his speech so much better. He went though the plan for the next chemo. We should have a start date by next week. There will be four months of the two new drugs and then another MRI. He also said they would work the chemo around the rehab schedule, so Dwayne does not have to drop that.

As we were finishing, I asked him about the MRI report. What did "significant reductions" mean? Well, he went through the three page report with us. The swelling is decreased in his brain. Three of the lesions have shrunk, one that was 10x10mm is now 1.3mm! Another that was 5cm in March is completely gone! Seven others they did not even comment on because they are no longer there!!!

We appreciate the prayers so much, thank you just does not seem adequate. Hopefully the new chemo will give a complete remission.

Good News!

We made it through the past few days. They have been anxious ones at times. The MRI was done on Monday afternoon. We went up to the UCLA specialist on Tuesday morning. We got there an hour early, we had allowed two hours to get there and made it in a little over an hour.  The traffic was great, not sure how I would have been had we gotten struck.

The doctor was great. He spent about an hour and a half with us. Asked some good questions, and Dwayne did well with the neurological part of the exam. But the MRI report did not get up to him on Monday afternoon like it was supposed to. He looked at all of Dwayne's MRIs. We had hand carried them, but did not comment on them. He agreed with what the two other oncologists have said and we'll see Dr. Cheng (the local oncologist) on Tuesday for the next step. Will be two new chemo drugs. The goal is to get a complete remission on this.

This afternoon the nurse called from Dr. Cheng's office with the MRI results. It shows "SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION" with the lesions! This was great to hear!

Thank  all of you for your prayers! We are headed in a good direction.

Back to Boot Camp!

Yesterday was a big step forward! Dwayne went back to the rehab unit for their outpatient program. This is where he was an inpatient in May. He will now go three mornings a week for their day program. The doctors and therapist think he is strong enough to be able to do the three hours sessions. He actually got approved three weeks ago, but we had to wait for an opening. The home speech and physical therapists who had working with him fought the insurance company to be able to keep coming until he got into the day program. He has made a lot of progress in the last month. Very grateful to them!

Next Monday and Tuesday will be important days. On Monday he will have the first MRI since May. I am a little apprehensive. Even if it shows all the lesions are gone most likely there will be more chemo. His local oncologist and the neuro-onclogist at UCLA have said because this is so rare and they know it is aggressive, they want to do more treatment. The local doctor said he has only seen it twice in 13 years of practice. The neuro-onclogist said that of the hundreds of people that they see a year, only about 5% are this type. So they both wanted Dwayne seen by a lymphoma specialist. This will be on Tuesday morning at UCLA.

Thanks for all the prayers, encouragement and other practical things you have done for us over the past four months!