WOW! I knew it had been a long time since we last updated this blog, but today I saw that the last post was in June - geez! Time has sure been flying by in our world!
I guess there is quite a bit to talk about in this post today. First off, we have been doing GREAT! Scott feels great, he looks great, and he has a GREAT attitude about life and the cards he has been dealt. Our little guy, Tyler is also wonderful! He just celebrated his THIRD birthday! I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and all he said was a SHARK CAKE! So we decided that we wouldn't do a huge party this year and we would just invite his cousins over to celebrate with one BIG shark cake! He was one HAPPY HAPPY little boy! He has been so much fun these past few months, because he is really starting to talk more and understand things. It makes life much easier! Im thinking the threes will be much better than those terrible twos!!! heehee! Nonetheless, Tyler has been a great distraction from everything that has transpired over the last few months! As for me, I am just trucking along and doing just fine!
Now to the news - as you may remember, Scott had gotten off of his Chemo and was getting great scans with no new tumor growth for quite a few months. Well, over the summer things got a little "rocky". He first started getting scans where the tumor was changing around April/May. Then things got a little better, the progression stopped, so the doctors believed that it was probably just scar tissue that was forming from the initial radiation and surgery. So they left things alone. But in October, his MRI scan showed that this aggressive GLIOBLASTOMA had reared its ugly head and had definitely grown back! So at that time, his oncologist suggested that he start back on a form of Chemo (one that he actually took in the beginning - but a much stronger form. It's called TEMODAR). This Chemo is the standard treatment for brain tumors. So he started back on the Chemo at the end of October, and it was a tough start. The Chemo made him really sick! He had a rough few weeks, but when we went back a month later for another MRI the results were clear - THE CHEMO WAS WORKING!!! WOOHOOO! The tumor had shrunk quite a bit! After expressing our concerns with the way Scott was feeling, his oncologist lowered his dosage for the next round. He continued on taking the "POISION"(as SCOTT calls it) and this time the lower dose was much better! His body was able to tolerate it and he really only got tired at times - but luckily there was no sickness involved! We went back again one month later, in December, and once again the MRI looked AWESOME! The tumor continued to shrink! At that point everything stayed the same - same treatment, and all. This time we didn't have to return for two months!
Yesterday was our two month mark, and we went back in for the MRI results - guess what??? they were once again just FABULOUS!!! The tumor continues to shrink! We are so blessed! His team of Doctors and Nurses are always so happy to see us! Yesterday we ran into an old Nurse that he saw on a regular basis when he was in the Trial a while back and she was so excited to see him! She said that we made her day!!! She also wanted us to meet a new couple that was there - they have a two month old baby - the dad had just been diagnosed. We know what they are feeling at this moment because Tyler was only 4 months when Scott was diagnosed. However, the couple had already left so we did not get to meet with them. It would have been nice for them to see Scott - he looks and acts so great- if you didnt know, you would never know he has a BRAIN TUMOR! I remember when we first started going to MD Anderson we just wanted them to tell us that he would be fine and that they would get rid of this tumor, but they never said that; in fact, we are still waiting for those words! We may never hear them, but in the meantime, we will not stop living our daily lives that we have been blessed with. We will continue to praise our God every day for working this miracle on Sweet Scott. We cant get through this tough journey alone, we need everyones support and prayers. For everyone that is praying, those prayers are helping, and our Mighty God hears us - so please keep them going!!!
For now, that is all. I promise I will try not to wait so long on the next post! I must start preparing for our trip to California in a week and a half! We are so excited...Going to make a trip to Disney Land, Newport Beach, Lego Land, and San Diego and an Aquarium somewhere in there! We have to make sure our little sea life obsessed son gets to see his favorite sea creatures!! It should be a jam packed week, but we are ready to get away and enjoy some awesome California weather! Wish us luck on the flight - It will be Tylers first airplane ride, and well if you havent met him- he has a set of pipes on him! hahaa I just hope he doesn't feel the need to use them!!!!
Much LOVE to all,
Candace, Scott, & Tyler
Here are a few of the MRI Scans I thought I would include. You are looking for the "white" area where the arrow is pointing. That is the tumor. The dark "hole" next to it is where the initial tumor was - it was taken out and the brain does not regenerate, so Scott does have an actual hole in his head! ;)
