I am so sorry that this post is coming so late. I only slept for about 3 hours last night and when we hit our hotel room after our appointment, I took a much needed 2.5 hour nap. I got up just in time to meet two of our sons and Michael’s girlfriend for dinner. We just got back to the hotel room and so I’ve settled in to write.
Dr. Stapleford came into the treatment room today after viewing the MRI scan results and said,ย “Nothing has changed.” I looked at her and while I was staring I was thinking, “I came into this place with cancer in my spine and you’re telling me nothing has changed!” I wasn’t liking the way this was going. And my dad sent us up to Atlanta with some of his semi-world-famous peanut brittle for the doctor, too. Unless something changes pretty quickly, this peanut brittle is going back home with us.
So the questions started flying. What do you mean nothing has changed. Is that good? “Oh yeah, that’s good,” she said. Turns out what the good doctor was saying is that the hole that was left in my spine at L-2 is still there and it is still the same size. Although they can’t reach in there and look for individual cancer cells, if the radiation did its job, there should be nothing but dead tissue inside the hole in my spine. “Nothing’s changed” is good. Chances are good that the high dose of radiation killed the tumor, because if it wasn’t dead, it would likely have grown over the past few weeks since the treatment.
She poked and prodded. She asked more questions and determined that we should follow up with Dr. Pippas, Dr. Gorum and do another MRI without contrast in 3 months, which we’ll have done at The Medical Center. She is quite thorough and at the end of our appointment, I whipped out the peanut brittle and handed it over. She is quite thin, so this should be good for her.
So, the news is good and we’ll be meeting with Dr. Pippas this coming Monday, January 10 to discuss next courses of action. We’ll probably start an infusion of a drug called Zometa, which should help strengthen my bones against another metastasis. That is one of the things on our list to talk to Dr. Pippas about.
We’re both pretty tired and we’ll head back to Columbus tomorrow afternoon after a seminar we’ll attend in the morning up here. Once again, thank you all for your good birthday wishes and your concerns about my health and the welfare of our family. Also, please say a prayer for our friend Fred Morgan, who is having renal cell carcinoma surgery tomorrow morning at M.D. Anderson in Houston. He is really on my mind right now.
Please forgive me for the late post and thanks for following my blog.
Sandy Gunnels says
PTL!
Jan Venable Davenport says
GOOD news !! Baby steps, ya know ๐
Looking forward to more good news from you…..
oh, and by the way, tell Uncle John I could have used that extra bag of peanut brittle cause mine is gone ! ๐
Love to you and Jill,
Jan:)
admin says
Jan, that stuff is like crack! Dad uses it like currency. You’ve heard of the gold standard โ this is the peanut standard. It is soooo good.
Margaret Angell says
Thank the good Lord for answered prayers! What a wonderful way to start a new year, Mike!
Margie Ivey says
So glad to hear the good report!!!!!! Never too late for good news.
Wanda Farish says
Oh, what tidings of joy, a wonderful birthday present, and New Year’s proclamation all in one! Our God is so good!
Spencer Champion says
That’s good news. You ought to stop by on the way home and pick up a gallon of blueberries. Frozen but still better than any you can buy at the stores.
Twila says
Thanks be to God.
Cyndy says
News worth waiting up for! Thanks for thinking about US. Now, go to bed.
Eddie and Nancy says
As I have said all along, God answers prayers of all who really trust him. Your results today is proof positive of that. Our prayer now is that He will continue to strengthen you and keep you in the NED area for ever more. Be sure, our prayers for you will continue.
Sherrie says
Hallelujah..AMEN!!
Marquette says
God and the power of peanut brittle. And the people said “Halleluia and amen!”
Betsy Covington says
SUCH good news, Mike! I’m thrilled for you. What an amazing result… I sure am thankful for folks who develop such incredible technology!
Mark Venable says
Mike, I come bearing a late, nevertheless heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Additionally, I am so very happy about the report you received from the doctor. I am continuing to pray for you, Mike. I will be looking forward to getting a call from my famous, much-loved, writer cousin on December 4th. Take care.
Twila Rhodes Kirkland says
I NEED some of your Daddy’s peanut brittle!
Gary Murphy says
What fantastic news! Great, Just great to hear Mike.
Cathy Clare Williams says
Great news. You have been in my prayers all day, thanks for the update.
Carter Taylor Seaton says
Fantastic news.
Donna O'Brian Culpepper says
Glad to hear from you with the good news. I have been thinking about you today. Get a good nights rest!
Art Barker says
Great news Mike.
Pat Kelley says
great news! If I become a doctor, can I get some peanut brittle?
Peggy Dozier says
We love you Mike !! So happy for the good report !!! Praying for your friend at MD.. Bubbers sister rec. treatment at MD Anderson for the same type cancer…Sallye is doing great….God is so good…
Jackie Horne Pugh says
Thankful for your good news! I will keep your friend in my prayers as well. I pray for continued good reports for you.
Angela White Marine says
I was looking for this post last night before I went to bed. Got up early and came right to the computer to see your status. So happy to see that “Good Report Today” as your title. Also, glad your Doctor got the peanut brittle. Blessing and Good Health my friend.
Patti Trotter says
Oh, Mike, this is such good news. I am tearing up as I write this because I was praying before I read it…”Oh, Lord, please let it be good news. Please let it be good news.” God is soooo good. You have been covered with prayers. I continue to pray for complete healing.
Delane Chappell says
Wonderful News!
Debbie says
I am tearing up over this news. How fabulous! We have an ACS Crystal Ball meeting at the JBACC 5:30, Monday the 10th in the Conference Room. Everyone is looking forward to seeing you with an update. This is EXACTLY why we raise money for the ACS!! Praise God!
Tom says
Mike, very good news! As always, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sally Devine Morgan says
I was also looking for your post before we went to bed.
That is great! And I know she will enjoy that peanut brittle!
Gwen Ruff says
Great news! Your praise report is truly a blessing! You are such an inspiration and encouragement to many….Much love to you and your family.
Mallory Fuller says
That is great Mike! Prayers ARE answered:)
p.s. your post about Jill made me cry—I immediately sent it to my daughter as a recipe for love-you are both blessed with each other:)
Terry Toepp Fike says
YEAH!!!! 2011 is going to be a better year!
Allison Thompson says
Mike,
I’ve been thinking about yall, and am really glad to hear that good news! Hope you had a good birthday too! I know this new year will be full of more great news! ๐
Also – MD Anderson was on the news today in St Louis! Crazy!
I hope we can all get together and go to lunch or something sometime soon! My class schedule will be way more convenient!! Miss ya!
Allison T
callie says
Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, and most of all Happy NED!!!!!!
Susan Gilliam says
Praise God from who all blessings flow! So happy for you Mike!!
Richard Barrett says
It has been written many times here already, but this is really great news. Need your golf game ready for the High School Reunion in June.
Tina Ashmore Bowers says
What great news! Prayer + rest = healing. Take care.
Marianne Cashman says
Congrats on the great report!
Hope Phillips says
Your report was very uplifting. I am going to try to live 2011 with the idea that we are only given today. I pray each of your “todays” are full of good health.
Hope
gogo says
I am just hearing of this as well-so glad for you & your family for this good report.I imagine it’s your best birthday present ever!
Lizzy Givan says
Great news!!! I hope you are getting lots of rest ๐