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Posted by: Dan @ 4:13 pm
Only Sandy could say that, with a smile no less, and mean it.
Today we met with her neuro-oncologist and got the word that the entire team of doctors are on the same page and in agreement about her best treatment at this point… her surgery is scheduled for next Monday, May 15. It is a huge relief for Sandy to have this finalized and action is being taken. The doctors, and Sandy, decided surgery is the best option. She basically had four choices — do nothing at all (not an option), continue with current chemo treatment of Temodar (not aggressive enough for Sandy), have cyberknife radiation surgery followed by chemotherapy (too long of a lag time to know effectiveness), or have conventional surgery to remove the tumor and as many cancer cells as possible, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the next type of chemotherapy. Also with surgery, they can do pathology on the tumor and determine it’s type and growth rate potential - a key bit of knowledge to help decide on the best chemo treatment afterward. So it’s set. We celebrated by going to our favorite seafood restaurant for lunch…
I didn’t write anything here yesterday (Sunday) because I was feeling emotionally drained - partly from the Angel Adventure Walk the day before and from an experience we had yesterday. You could say it was a religious experience. We went to the Stanford church, an amazingly beautiful and peaceful place, for a public worship service. [See the photos of church from last October’s trip - link at left]. We sat right below “Sandy’s Angel” - a stained glass window. A few minutes into the service, the choir, that I did not realize was there because they were up in the balcony behind us below a massive organ, sang this hauntingly beautiful traditional chant. Their amazing voices created a sound in this large church like nothing I’ve ever heard. It brought us both to tears. The rest of the service we held each other, taking in the experience with all senses and emotions wide open, hearing some good messages for us, tears released and flowing out on the soaring music…
Tonight, we’re doing something more mundane… going to a movie at the Stanford Theatre downtown - a classic, old restored theatre that only shows vintage films. It’s the best place we’ve ever seen a movie in.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, comments, emails and love… we’re taking it in everyday and it’s keeping us going.
Good night,
Dan