A rather routine MDAnderson bi-weekly visit was greatly enhanced by a cool front bringing low humidity and chilly temperatures...finally, fall is in the air!

Picnic lunch on the Infusion Therapy porch

Rusty has not been driving, as per doctor's order, since the seizures in August.  He has been VERY anxious to get back behind the wheel, and today's visit with the oncology-neurologist was encouraging.  Since he has had no further seizures, since the seizures were confined to the muscles in his face without loss of consciousness and since he is tolerating the anti-seizure medication well, he can begin driving again on Nov. 14...three months from the date of the seizures....providing he has no further seizures.  His neuro examination detected no problems, and the oncology-neurologist does not need to see him again for six months.

In addition to the neuro visit, Rusty had routine blood work and his regular immunotherapy infusion...a short day for us.  Rusty's nurse told us that MDAnderson does on an average of 400 chemotherapy infusions daily.  Staggering!...and the staff treats each person as if they were the only patient needing care.

We treated ourselves to dinner al fresco at D'Amico's Italian restaurant in Rice Village...a very good day.  Back to Corpus tomorrow to prepare the Bangles booth for the Texas Jazz Festival weekend.

Know of our continued sincere gratitude for your concern, prayers and messages.

We came to Houston a day early this time in order for Rusty to take part in a research project conducted by MDAnderson.  In a nutshell, the research is aiming to develop brain imaging techniques that will be able to differentiate between scar tissue and tumor tissue in the brain.  Since Rusty has some of both, he was deemed a suitable research subject, and had a CT scan and an MRI of the brain using the enhanced techniques.  The study will image the brains of 100 such subjects.

Tuesday was our routine bi-weekly visit...lab, EKG, Melanoma team visit and immunotherapy infusion.  Doc is pleased that Rusty has stabilized since the shoulder radiation, seizures, and Gamma Knife procedure.  Since he had the seizures he has been on anti-seizure medication and has had no further seizures.  A side effect of the seizure med is weakness with fatigue, and Rusty was having both, to an extreme degree for the past two weeks.  The doc decreased the dosage and already Rusty is feeling more like himself.

As you might expect, the fatigue did not stop him from working with Jeff for two days on a major outdoor plumbing problem or doing extensive repair work on our lawn tractor.

It is Wednesday and we will head home today to prepare to leave Friday for our regular monthly Wimberley gig.  Life is good.  Keep those prayers and good thoughts coming!