It has been a while since our last post and so we wanted to thank everyone for their patience while we have been attending to kate, her appointments, and making decisions as to where we go from here. These have been very tiring and trying days for us and we thank you all for understanding. But the news from this past week is as follows.
The Bad News
First all should know that the preliminary biopsy results (still awaiting more thorough results) found only tumor and no fungus or signs of fungus. Secondly, Kate has noted a set of other symptoms that suggests that the tumor is continuing to grow and is thus affecting more nerves. These are bad signs in that treatment of a tumor in this region is incredibly more difficult than treating fungus and there is a great imperative for immediate treatment.
The Good News
Thanks to her doctors up here in Boston, Kate has already begun treatment involving oral chemotherapy and will soon be starting some type of radiation therapy (probably proton beam).
Kate and I will be staying up in Boston for the length of the treatment (at least two months) and there is hope that this treatment could kill the tumor and reverse some of her symptoms. But as has been said in the past, the location of the tumor makes any treatment dangerous and the need for care in this region means that it will be difficult to treat the entire tumor. With that said, the radiologist is hopeful and her other doctors have been suggesting many different options for further treatment. Kate is feeling well, despite the obvious emotional toll this news has taken, and we are taking one day at a time. We will try in the future to be quicker with posts, but her health and well being takes precedence over this blog and all else. Thanks again.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
David - I'm a friend of Josie's (Kati and I have met many times, too).
ReplyDeleteWhen we were in Maine this year, I made several field recordings of the lake ambience. I do sound editing and was going to use the stuff for my library, but Josie and I thought Kati would love to have the sounds of Maine as well.
You can download them here:
http://www.realm7g.com/music/For_Kati.zip
I have heard about Kati down here in Florida and will be praying about her recovery.
ReplyDelete--Dr. Steve Fortosis
Dr. Peden passed Kati's news on to us staff in the Student Admissions Office at Brody. I mainly know Emily from her work on the Admissions Committee and have met her dad, too. So sorry to hear of what the family is going through, and will keep you all "in the light." I believe you have the strength to get though it.
ReplyDelete