Brian update - 12/21

Dear friends and family,
The good new is that the evaluation tests on Friday (bone marrow biopsy, CT
scan, blood tests) all showed that Brian responded well to thes first week of
chemo.  Cancer cells in his bone marrow are gone (for now).  His kidney was
swollen with tumors to double its size, but now it is down to normal size with
only some tumors.  The tumor in his head has also shrunk.  This is all
wonderful news.


All tests on Friday were hard for Brian.  He slept a lot from the two episodes
of general anesthesia and then could not sleep but about 1 1/2 hours on Friday
night.  He experienced pain in his head, stomach, legs and arms throughout the
night.  The morphine lasts about one hour.  The first 1/2 hour of each dose he
played, talked, sang, and then fought off sleep.  About the time he should be
sleeping, the pain returned and he needed a new shot which woke him up.  We
went through this cycle all night.  The doctors put him on a morphine drip in
order to break this cycle, but it makes him constipated.  As a result, he
hasn't had a bowel movement in over 24 hours.  Stool softeners all day have not
done the trick, but we are hopeful to see action soon.  He's gained two pounds,
and it's all in his intestines!

Steven, Sara and Stan returned from Family House Saturday morning to relieve
Susan from night duty.  Susan then went to Family House to sleep, shower and
eat.  It is a really wonderful place!

David flew in from L.A. Saturday afternoon, but he has a cold.  Because of the
risk of infection, unfortunately, he can't come to the hospital until he's 
well.

Sara, Steven and Stan spent the day in the hospital with Brian.  It was
a difficult day for everyone.  Denny came over at 6:30 (there was a two hour
commute because of holiday parties and shopping), to bring dinner and fresh
clothes.

Thank you for your continuing prayers.  We do experience the positive moments
that sustain us through the more difficult times.  This second week of
chemotherapy is already proving to be hard after only one day.

Family House has a big holiday dinner and party on Christmas Eve.  Sara and
Stan will be taking Steven over there for the celebration.  This will be
unusual to spend Christmas at the hospital this year.  But, we realize that the
importance of the season is being together as a family.

Merry Christmas everyone!!
Love,
Sara