If You Can Handle MORE Good News...

...we've got it.

Brain cancer is...

 ...finished with cancer course for the year!

Darrell had his last appointment for October Cancer Course this afternoon with Dr. Park.  Dr. Park gave him the thumbs up and sent us on our way.  If all goes well, Darrell is finished with Cancer Course for 2019.  The next round isn't until January.  See you next year, Cancer Course!

Even More Good News?

The "Late Bird" thing is working out for us.  We made an afternoon appointment with Dr. Park.  Look (above)!  First in line!  We were in and out in 30 minutes.  Let's be late birds for sure.

And Yet Another Bit of Greatness?

You may have seen in other posts that Andi works with Block Four in mathematics methods on Tuesdays.  Last Tuesday Block Four gave me permission to post their picture.  But they got bumped by breaking news:  Nova's birth (a week ago today!).  Here they are:

In the photo, they are celebrating a wedding.  This block has a strong sense of community...and priority.  Love it!  They did a great job teaching sixth graders some problem solving today.  It was amazing to watch.  I'll miss them when they go.

So much good news, Team D., and it's only Tuesday!

Good News from UCLA

Brain cancer is...

...confirmed stable by Dr. Nghiemphu.

Dr. Cloughesy was called out of town unexpectedly, so today we saw a member of his team, Dr. Nghieumphu (above).  She confirmed that there were no changes from the previous scan to this one.  Yahoo.

I was proud of Darrell for rolling with the necessity of seeing a different doctor.  He could have let it rattle him, but he did a great job of embracing a new Team D member.  Hey, we have another person to celebrate Darrell's ongoing GBM success.  And another skilled opinion.  Added bonus:  She gladly looked at a picture of our new grand baby.  Any friend of Nova is a friend of ours. 

One more Cancer Course appointment:  Dr. Park tomorrow after Andi's class.  Yahoo.

Busy, Busy Skellies

 Meanwhile, in other news, Team D. members have captured multiple skelly sightings.

 Beth caught skelly all dressed up, ready to pop the champagne cork upon word of  Nova's birth.

Christine slowed down enough during yesterday's Long Beach marathon to snap this dapper chap.

 

Ginger says she often  sees these two in different poses.  She overhears them conversing as she walks by with her dog.  On this occasion she heard one say, "Oh!  One last thing!"

Happy Monday, Skelly.  Happy Team D.

Tucked in at Tiverton

Brain cancer is...

 ...tucked in at Tiverton.

Above is a picture taken in an inner courtyard at Tiverton House, where we stay when Darrell has an appointment at UCLA.

We enjoyed an al fresco lunch in Westwood Village and are now settled in for our respective parties:

• Darrell's party:  All football.  All day.
• Andi's party:  Grading extravaganza.

Darrell's appointment with Dr. Cloughesy is first thing in the morning, 8:00.

Enjoy your Sunday parties, Team D!

Pre-Trip Planning Meeting

Brain cancer is...

...ready for the Caribbean!

We are fortunate to have friends who are celebrating their 40th anniversary.  Yippee! We have been friends with Beth and Geoff for all but five of those married years.  

Next month we celebrate their anniversary with them in Grand Cayman.  Today was the trip planning meeting.

We are smiling, above, because our planning efforts were successful. Off to Stubriks with us!

Happy Saturday, Team D! Hope you’re planning a trip too!

One Fish, Two Fish

Brain cancer is...

...a connoisseur of great literature.

Reading aloud to our children was an enduring focal point of our parenthood.  (And we see that Tiana and Alex have similar plans for their child.)  

Today we held our granddaughter as Darrell read his selection from Dr Seuss: One Fish, Two Fish.  Truly great literature.

Nova thought the plot line was weak.  Either that or she was asleep.  That’s the good thing about literature:  New meanings arise from every reading. You’ll hear this piece again, Nova.

Fun Grandparents’ Fact

Tiana and Alex FaceTimed us when we were at dinner in Big Sur during our California Road Trip in February to announce the happy news of their pregnancy. Then (this post), we drove to Monterey and, at the aquarium, we bought our first book for Nova. Yes. One Fish, Two Fish. 

Here’s to the good stories that await us all.

We love you, Nova.

The Path Lies Forward

Brain cancer is...

 ...looking ahead.

We slept in today and awoke to a clear, blue sky.  Before heading to the park, we picked up Egg McMuffins. (Our McMuffin consumption seems to be escalating, but that's an issue for another day.)

Here's the conversation with the sweet woman at the drive through:

Woman:  "What happened to your head?"
Darrell:  [Lifts his hat to show his arrays.]
Woman:  "Oh!  Put it back on!  I thought maybe you had an injury."
Andi:  "He has brain cancer, and this is the treatment."
Woman:  "I am so sorry!"
Andi:  "No, it's good.  The treatment is working."
Woman:  "I will pray for you.  I don't know your name, but I'll just say 'the guy with the brain cancer.'" [smiling]
Darrell:  "Thank you."
Andi:  "And thank you for asking!"
Woman, Darrell:  "Have a great day."

It is a great day.  The treatment is working.  We've resumed our course forward.  It's a great day.

We love you!

News: Good and Early

Brain cancer is...

...breathing initial sighs of relief.

The scan went smoothly this morning, and the initial results are in--already!  When Darrell opened the report, above, he blew out whole lungsful of grateful air. 

The radiologist reports no appreciable changes in Darrell’s brain.  No change = good.

Next up in Cancer Course:  Dr. Cloughesy Monday morning.

Memory Lane and Cancer Course

No matter how far out we get from diagnosis, Cancer Course seems to hold a minimum of one tough day, strolling down Memory Lane. Some of those early feelings of helplessness and sadness, some of that sense of loss, return.  Today is that day.  The great thing we've learned is that Memory Lane fades quickly, and we can wake up the next day and get to the business of living.

Thanks for always being here, Team D, celebrating life with us!