Celebration Day!!!

No More Radiation! As you can see, Mark was strapped in so he could not move and shoved into this tube where he had to be completely still for an hour to an hour and forty minutes. He struggles with claustrophobia, so this has been challenging, but with the help of Ativan, good music, self-talk, and prayer, he has made it through. But he's happy to have it over! In about six weeks, another PET will be done. The tumors will continue to shrink for some time, so it’s best not to have the scan too soon. 

Infusions of the immunotherapy drug, Keytruda will be administered every three weeks with hopes that it will keep other tumors from growing. In the past, Mark has handled it quite well, with minimal side effects.

Here you can see the MR-Linac machine that has allowed the SBRT radiation to be administered with such precision, allowing more potent doses of radiation to be given. I asked the radiologist if radiation on the tumor near the pancreas would have been possible without this machine. He has used SBRT radiation since 2008, so it would have been used, but the dose would have been less potent as the beam could radiate the surrounding area causing problems with his digestive system. With this machine, a constant MRI shows the exact location of the tumor in real-time. He had to hold his breath while the dose of radiation was given so that it was exact. Having this machine here now is such a gift! So, today we are celebrating that he had access to this cutting-edge treatment, and now, it is over. 

Since January, we’ve been through lots of ups and downs, and there have been times that we’ve wondered if he would make it through. However, today we are more hopeful than ever. We are humbled by all the support we have received and look forward to turning our focus to others who could use extra prayers and love. Neal A. Maxwell once said, “…the Lord requires a few intact individuals and families to help others manage their trials and tribulations, even though these roles often rotate." So, we wouldn't mind being more intact for a while and hope to incorporate what we have learned from so many of you on how to give such generous love and support.