i haven’t been able to give many updates in the past month, because things have changed weekly so we haven’t known anything for certain.

my bro and sis-in-law have been told everything from “its just a benign tumor” to “its the rarest-of-the-rare form of cancer”… from “we don’t know what it is” to “well, we know we said that but now we think this“… its disheartening and mind-numbing to watch those i love go back and forth from joy to sorrow and back again.

they’ve (and/or her reports) visited two of the three top cancer research centers in the world. they’ve heard conflicting reports from all sides. they’ve undergone so many more tests, including a NIGHTMARISHLY PAINFUL bone marrow biopsy.

after all these tests, the diagnosis is “hystiocytic sarcoma”…. basically, its cancer. bad cancer. crap. and on monday they were told that she’ll have to spend 3 or 4 days in the hospital each month because the chemo will be THAT bad. and, yeah, all her beautiful hair will fall out.

BUT, immediately after Monday’s appointment, a call came from the Mass General Tumor Board, asking for a bone marrow biopsy to find leukemia or lymphoma cells, and here’s where things look up.

between Johns Hopkins and Massachusetts General (along with further consultation with a few specialists and oncologists in the South Ga / North Fla region), they reviewed her bone marrow and determined that the level of “bad” cells in her marrow were not enough to be concerned about.

um, really?

but, didn’t she have a hystiocytic sarcoma removed from her body two months ago???

and isn’t that a bad thing?

yes, all these things are true. but the bone marrow biopsy didn’t show many bad cells, and no signs of leukemia or lymphoma. and, she’s young – she doesn’t need to undergo the torturous treatment of chemo/radiation unless she has to.

and, as the bone marrow biopsy indicated, there aren’t really any signs of much to treat…

WOW!

so, no treatment!!! and she can keep her beautiful hair!!!
of course, there will be lots of scans and x-rays and more scans over the next few years to monitor any signs of growths anywhere else in her body.

but, NO treatment… NO chemo and radiation…. wow.

all i can figure is that, whatever it was, its gone. period. so there’s nothing left to treat.

praise God! and, thank you so much for your prayers…

here’s a few pics from their trip to Boston:

me & my bro… I couldn’t resist cutting up with him! yes, we behaved for the camera – but those pics are SO boring!

Lee & Jessica… Lee likes to cut up, too. This is a great picture of their relationship. He’s deliberately kept things light and funny for Jessica during this time. He says that if they don’t laugh, they’ll cry… He’d rather laugh.

I took this pic of Lee & Jess, so its one of my favorites (i like sideways pictures!)… This is what the two of them look like when they’re having a serious talk… lots of serious talks.

Did I mention that my bro & I were goofs?! This was taken from the downtown marina @ Salem, Massachusetts.

Drew and I – waiting for the T @ the Harvard subway station.