As you may recall, at Rusty's August visit to MDAnderson, his CT scan showed some "small spots" in his spleen that were, at that time, unidentifiable, and they asked that he return in October for a repeat scan.  We returned on Oct. 28, and the repeat CT scan show no change in the "small spots" that were viewed on the August scan.  According to Dr. Amaria, Rusty's primary melanoma Doc, this is good news because there has been no growth or change in the spots.  No one is hazarding a guess as to the nature of the spots at this time, but we all feel relieved that there does not appear to be tumor activity.  (HAPPY DANCE!!!)  

We will return in December for a brain MRI, opthalmology and dermatology appointments, but will not see the melanoma team again until February.

As you probably know by now, we have moved to Washington state.  We have not sold our Corpus Christi house yet and have not found a house out here that is a good fit yet.  We have our travel trailer and are living in a gorgeous RV resort in Gig Harbor WA, surrounded by towering evergreens and hardwoods in their amazing fall colors.  We flew into Houston from SeaTac on Wednesday evening and flew back on Thursday evening after the appointments.  Jeff and Nicole live in Renton which is only about 15 minutes from the airport, so we stayed with them the night before the flight to Houston and again when we returned on Thursday evening, and they transported us to and from the airport.

As ever, we appreciate your prayers, your presence and your love!  We couldn't have done it without this amazing support system! 

    

After a four month interval, we were back at MDAnderson for a routine follow up visit on August 16th and 17th.  In the interim we put our house up for sale, had a month long trip to Washington State with the truck and travel trailer and scouted out where we might want to live in Washington.  Rusty has felt very well both during the trip and when we arrived back in Corpus Christi to begin the process of dismantling, sorting and packing up 40 years of living in our Flour Bluff House. 

The CT scans of his body this time showed some "tiny" spots" in his spleen, which the docs at MDAnderson feel may be cancerous, but since the spots are so small, they are going to wait and rescan in October to determine if there is any change.  If there is concern about growth or spread in October, they will make recommendations at that time....and they seem to have many options for treatment if that is necessary.  A multidisciplinary team at MDAnderson considered his case on Monday and made the decision to rescan in two months before taking action.

We are tentatively (hopefully) planning on living in Washington State by that time and plan on flying back to MDAnderson, Houston for appointments...we credit that institution, Dr. Amaria, Rusty's primary Melanoma physician, and your prayers, with the fact that Rusty is still with us today....feeling blessed.

   

After a 3 and 1/2 month interval, we were back at MDAnderson on April 12 and 13 for scans, MRI and lab tests to determine Rusty's status vis-a-vis Melanoma.  Happy to report that his status is that there is NO EVIDENCE OF MELANOMA !!!  (Happy dance here!)

                                                              Celebration !!!

After our December visit to MDAnderson, Rusty was found to have a genetic condition which causes his blood to clot more readily than normal.  He was tested after our son and two of our grandsons were found to have this condition.  He, as well as our son and grandson, is on blood thinners now, and the docs believe that the condition may have contributed to the two small strokes he was found to have suffered in December.  Other than some minor numbness in one hand, he has had no effects from the strokes.

Our next visit for scans and follow-up is scheduled for August - 4 months!! - what a change from only a couple of years ago when visits were every week or two weeks.  We know that we have been blessed beyond measure....with medical care, with prayers, with friends and family to walk the journey with us, with faith, with love, and with a full life.

                                           Our home away from home in Houston