Mental status continues to improve little by little.  All lab tests on the spinal fluid so far are negative...many are still pending.  Rusty has been fever free for 48 hours, and was up walking with physical therapist today.

Today was the 4th radiation treatment to the tumor in the upper arm. Inflammation in the radiation site caused some severe pain last evening, but the staff were diligent about pain medication and today the pain is way less.

                             "De-stressing" photographs lining the halls of the radiation unit.


Rusty's primary Melanoma physician, Dr. Amaria, paid us a long visit today.  CT scans taken on Friday reveal that there has been new tumor growth in the chest and abdomen.  Dr. Amaria says that the assumption is that the new growth is Melanoma and describes the tumor growth as "aggressive."  This, of course, indicates that the drug regimen he was on has ceased to be effective.  The tumors become "smart" (go through genetic changes) and resist the drugs.  He will no longer be on the clinical trial he has been on since February, and the team will attempt a new treatment modality for him, probably a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.  They want him to recover fully from this recent brain episode before they start new treatment for the melanoma, and will wait until after Jan. 1 to make a final decision and start treatment.

So...we are back to the drawing board...taking one step at a time, still with absolute confidence in the medical personnel here at MDAnderson.

To compliment our new truck, we ordered a new travel trailer and picked it up on our way up to Houston last Monday.  She is an Imagine, a beauty by Grand Design, and is our Christmas gift to each other.  She will make our frequent trips to Houston much more comfortable.