We Are On Our Way Home

Hi All,

We saw the PA-C (Maura Glover) and doctor (Dr. Kim) this morning. Everyone was so nice and helpful (except that Maura is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and thought the referees were right in that awful call in the Super Bowl). Maura said that my immune system must really been working because the spots that I do have are not growing very fast. She said that I am very healthy, which is a good thing for the possibility of other treatments. When Dr. Kim came in he did offer me two different treatment plans:

1) Isolated Limb Perfusion (The same treatment Dr. Thompson from Seattle Care Alliance wanted me to have, which is not offered in the Seattle area.) This treatment does not affect the rest of the body, just the right leg.

2) Interleukin 2 Immuneotherapy: This boosts the immune system. It is a lot like Interferon, which I did do for 20-weeks and was stopped because of Bell's Palsy. The doctor said that there is a possibility that this would also cause Bell's Palsy since I have had it once already. It would require hospitalization with intense treatment. It would be given every 8-hours for 5 days and I would have to stay in the hospital the whole time with another week in the hospital after the treatment. This all would have to be repeated six times. This also could probably be given in the Seattle area and not mean a trip to Houston. This treatment affects the whole body.

I have chosen #1, Isolated Limb Perfusion. This means that I will have to come back in 2-3 weeks to see the surgeon and then he will schedule the surgery. This is a one time treatment.

Now about the weather: Yesterday it was 95-degrees and very muggy. Today is was cloudy when we got up and by noon we had a lightning and thunder storm. It didn't last long. The sun is shining now and it is back to being hot and muggy.

So we have a flight out of here tomorrow at 12:48 PM and arrive in Seattle at 3:20 PM.

Thank you for your prayers during this time. I know they are working. This morning when they took my blood pressure it was 117/64. She was very surprise since it was my first appointment here and she said that new patients usually have elevated blood pressure. I just told her I was very calm this morning.

See you when we get home.

Love you all,
Karen