One Week Later...

A note from Mama and Pops:

Hello Family and Friends,

This weekend we spent a lovely time with family, basking in this wonderful mountain air while bundled up in lots of woolies to keep warm.  The skies have been radiant blue and the sun brilliant, causing the fall colors to be so spectacular.  The family has enjoyed raucous meals around kitchen and dining room tables, enjoying hot apple cider, hot biscuits dipped in butter and honey, scrumptious apple pies and varied wines.  Everyone enjoyed carving funny-looking pumpkins, filling them with candlelight and placing them on the stone fence along the dark country lane to add to the Fall festivities.

Today we enter the next stage of Kelly’s journey and ask for your continued and fervent prayers.  

This morning Rabbi Goldwasser called to give us an initial update on the pathology report and the Brain Tumor Consulting Team of the Presbyterian Hospital met later in the day to review Kelly’s case.  Their current conclusion is that Kelly’s tumor contains a mixture of oligodendro, astrocytoma and neuronal components, making for an aggressive cancer.  The Consulting Team will forward us more specific details and recommendations.

In the meantime, we have processed an authorization allowing the hospital to release the MRI and pathology reports, which we will take across the street to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for a second and third analyses by both their leading neuro-pathologist and neuro-oncologist.

The cancer currently diagnosed is graded as a Type 3, and approaching a Type 4 (cancers are rated 1-4 in terms of malignancy, 4 being the high end).  Kelly will probably undergo both radiation and chemo therapies.  We do not know how long Kelly will need to undergo therapy or any other details of her upcoming treatment.  At this point we are unsure whether we will return to Panama briefly or remain in the U.S.  Of course, first Kelly must fully recover from her surgery so that she begins any subsequent therapies at her maximum physical strength.  In fact, that part of her recovery is apparently well advanced, exceeding all expectations.

Yesterday Dr. Stieg’s assistant Amanda, called to ask Kelly how she was doing.  She asked her if she had any headaches? No... fever? No.... Dizziness? No.... Nausea? No ...other symptoms? No.  I heard Kelly say, “Yup, I’m feeling great!  Just can’t move my head too fast ‘cuz I get a woozy feeling.”  Amanda told Kelly that her recovery was a medical marvel.  They had never had a patient undergo brain surgery and not show any signs of discomfort.

Today the incision on Kelly’s head looks completely sealed.  It’s the cleanest looking surgery that any of us have ever seen.  And she now wears her hair combed back naturally - showing only a tiny trace of the cut near her ear.  The temperature has dropped the last two nights, leaving frost behind in the mornings.  Last night Kelly came in from outside and as she was peeling her coat off she made the comment, “Wow, it’s so cold out there, I actually feel my staples...they feel like they’re frozen!”

Cancer is a strange disease; each case is different and each patient responds differently.  We must not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of gauging Kelly’s path by Internet reports of past cases.  Cancer brings its struggles and its hard moments, just like any virulent disease.  It requires a lot of courage to face the day-to-day treatments and that comes from a strong positive attitude.  When we gave Kelly the news from pathology this morning, she looked at us and said, “Well, we will do what we have to do.  I was prepared for this ever since Dr. Stieg said in our first meeting that the need for follow-on radiation would be possible.”  We wouldn’t have expected her to give any other kind of response, right?!  This is a true Kelly common sense statement.  She is a strong girl and with your continued positive support, Kelly will come through this the same way she came through the brain tumor operation...with flying colors! 

So, we leave you today with this latest information and ask for your continued prayers and positive vibes.  We will keep you informed via the blog as further information becomes available. 

Mari and Mark