Prayers Answered

The Vemurafenib is working!  In just 28 days, my remaining brain tumor is significantly smaller AND equally important - no new brain tumors were detected in my latest MRI.

When Dr. Flaherty told us the phenomenally good news, I wanted to jump down from the examining table and dance.  However, I was having "one of those days" (swollen and inflamed joints in my feet, knees and shoulders were making walking and standing a little complicated).

I teasingly asked Keith & Melissa why they weren't whooping it up for me.  Later, I realized they were too stunned to react.  The outcome - an absolute reduction in the size of the tumor - was more than we had hoped for after only 4 weeks of treatment.

If the tumor had merely stopped growing, that alone would have been a cause to celebrate.  The fact that the medication also appears to have halted the development of new tumors (for now at least) calls for downright rejoicing.

When Keith and I were driving Melissa to the airport today, she admitted that this was the first time since last August that she felt okay about leaving.  Although she mentioned that it would have been lovely to have time to go out and celebrate such a great outcome.  I settled for her officially dancing by the curb when we dropped her off  - only to have Keith perform his own little 'happy dance' for me right there too.

I EXPECT EVERYBODY TO GET UP AND DANCE AFTER THEY READ THIS (EVEN IF YOU ARE AT WORK).  FEEL FREE TO PUNCTUATE IT WITH A FEW YAHOOS.  TEARS OF ABSOLUTE JOY ARE ALSO AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION.