OK all ye faithful members of Rusty's Booster Club!...Yesterday we got the news we've all been waiting for for three years!  After CT scans and blood work yesterday, April 9, Rusty's primary Melanoma physician, Dr. Amaria,  pronounced him "CANCER FREE"!!!!!!!!!

CANCER FREE ! 

During the first year, Dr. Amaria explained to us that melanoma is now treated as a "chronic" condition, so if and when there are flare-ups they are treated just like any other chronic condition.  That was very helpful to us, it meant that we did  not have to wait and pray for a cure, just for good enough health to have an active, satisfying life.  We feel as though, with just a few bumps in the road, we have been in that situation for the past two years.  Yesterdays' news is wonderful, but, just as with any of us, that could change tomorrow.  In the meantime we are intensely grateful for MDA Anderson, for Dr. Amaria and her team, for all the many physicians who contributed to the digressions of this disease and for all of you...our most treasured support team!!!

Visits to MDAnderson will now be less frequent.  Rusty goes back in June for an MRI and visit with his radiation neuro-oncologist - after that, as long as he stays well, visits should be every three months. 

When a patient is found to be cancer-free, they usually get to "ring the brass bell" in the clinic signifying victory.  Rusty refused the privilege yesterday, saying that he wanted me to be with him when he rang the bell - the "team" idea.  Due to COVID19 I was not allowed to escort him into any of the MDAnderson clinic facilities yesterday - I sat in the truck and we communicated via cell phone.  We will "ring the bell" on a future visit when our two person "team" can do it together.  

I wish all of you could ring the bell with us!!!...this journey and yesterday's news has been a clear example of "it takes a village."  I will post a short blog after each upcoming visit.  We feel deep gratitude for you - our friends and family who walked this path with us, and to God.  

  

I apologize for the late blog this month... our MDAnderson visit on March 12 was another smooth event and there's not really any news.  Rusty's labs were good (normal), the doc and melanoma team are very pleased with his appearance and his response to the therapy, and his immunotherapy infusion was unremarkable.  

He has had 24 months of immunotherapy and next month he will have "re-staging scans" to determine the status of his cancer.  At that time his primary melanoma physician, Dr. Amaria, will make a determination as to the frequency of his future visits....perhaps longer between visits if scans are good.

Rusty's miraculous recovery from the brink of death (medical team words) to his full life today is due in large part to receiving immunotherapy along with other measures.  The man responsible for developing immune therapy is Dr. Jim Allison, an immunologist, now at MDAnderson.  There is an excellent movie on Netflix "Jim Allison: Breakthrough".  It is the story of how a harmonica playing, party boy from Alice, Texas came to be so determined to find a cure for cancer  He overcame all sorts of serious obstacles and went on to win the Nobel Prize.  Whether or not you have a loved one with cancer, I highly recommend this 90 minute movie.

Like you all, we are taking all COVID 19 precautions...we cancelled our trip to the Pacific Northwest and Alaska...actually "postponed" it until things are less threatening.

More next month after the scans.  Thanks once again for your support, love and prayers.

Greeting friends and family - the Rusty Rank Booster club!!

I apologize for not preparing and sending out a blog after our January visit to MDAnderson.  At that visit, Rusty had new scans which once again show no tumor activity, (HAPPY DANCE!!) otherwise the visit was uneventful.  

The reason for the lapse in blog posts is that we went directly from MDAnderon to Hobby Airport and flew to New Jersey for 10 days...I did not have my computer and we were busy visiting both our families and frolicking in the snow!

Rusty's brother, Barry, and family...Left to right:  Jessica, Barry's daughter; Rusty; 

Robin, our niece from California; Charlie and Maggy, Jessica and Chuck's son and daughter; 

(Chuck was taking the picture) me: Jean, Barry's wife with Keith, Jon's son, on her lap: 

Barry and his son Jon.  Jon's wife could not make the gathering.

   

Johanna and Anthony having their first son baptized.  Johanna is my niece, my brother's daughter.

 My brother Jody, his wife Jane, and their first grandchild, Anthony James.

 You-know-who playing in the snow

Us with my sister Kris and her husband at the historic Red Mill on the Raritan River

Our February appointments at  MDAnderson were on Thursday, Feb. 13 and Friday, Feb. 14.  Thursday visit with Melanoma team was very heartening - since Rusty has had stable scans and is looking and feeling well, his physician is considering increasing the time between appointments...the April scans will determine if she thinks he can go longer between check-ups and immunotherapy sessions.  For Rusty that was very encouraging news!

On Friday, Rusty saw the neurologist, who feels that his condition is improving.  With  some medication adjustments and 12 weeks of Physical therapy, his walking, balance and stamina have improved markedly.  The neurologist is going to arrange for a driving competence test next month for Rusty...he is very anxious to get back to driving.

  

On Friday we drove from Houston directly to Hallettsville to participate in the quarterly Saturday Hallettsville market.  Got home Sunday evening.

  

In all, the blessings continue - we did not dare hope three years ago that life could still be so sweet - travel, productive work, wonderful, supportive, fun friends and family and the gift of time together.  Thank you sincerely for your prayers, your help, your constancy and your love.

Another routine visit to MDAnderson on Thursday, Dec. 19.  Lab tests (all good), visit with Melanoma team ("all looks good") and monthly immunotherapy infusion.  Next month will be "restaging" - scans to determine the status of the cancer.

The neurologist is working to adjust Rusty's seizure medication so that seizures are controlled, but medication is not so strong that it affects walking and thinking....that is a work in progress at this point.

Once again Christmas is in the air at MDAnderson - 

An Italian dinner to celebrate out blessings, and a visit to Cadge and Bob's for lunch on our way home on Friday.  

Merry Christmas to all of you who are on this incredible journey with us.  

Started our trip last Friday driving to Hallettsville for the November Saturday Market.  Good show and wonderful people!  Left Hallettsville for MDAnderson, Houston on Sunday, stopping at a favorite seafood restaurant in Eagle Lake en route.

 Grace parking the rig at the Texas Seafood and Steakhouse

On Monday Rusty had a brain MRI and on Tuesday he had an appointment with the Radiation neuro-oncologist.  Good news again!  The MRI showed only a miniscule dark area where the largest of the brain tumors was removed, and no evidence of tumor.  It also showed only scar tissue in the area where the second, smaller tumor was removed with Gamma Knife Radiation and where the post treatment necrosis (tissue death) occurred....once again no evidence of tumor.  Happy Dance and a Starbucks to celebrate!

After our Tuesday appointments, we drove from Houston over to Richmond (about 30 minutes) to Cadge and Bob Morley's house.  Most of you know that Cadge was my roommate in Nursing School in the late 50's...a dear friend. They moved just over a year ago from Tennessee to Texas.  Had a happy visit, learned to play Bunko, and did a jewelry show on Wednesday at the Lakehouse Community Center in the Del Webb village where Cadge and Bob live.  Once again, good show and great folks.

Back to MDAnderson, Houston on Thursday for routine monthly appointments for lab work, Melanoma team visit and Immunotherapy infusion.  Team is pleased with Rusty's appearance, condition and progress, and were very encouraging.  Rusty has been seizure free since July and the neurologist has been adjusting his seizure medication.  As a result, he has been less confused, is more alert, can concentrate better and has better balance when walking.   

Once again, we are grateful beyond words for good news, for health, for loving family and precious friends...so many blessings, so much to be thankful for this season!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our visit to MDAnderson was Thursday, Oct. 24.  This visit was the "restaging visit", which means that body scans are done and they are compared to prior scans.  We had great news - the primary melanoma doc, Dr. Amaria, pronounced the scan results "AMAZING!"...no evidence of tumors in the body...nothing short of a miracle!

Rusty will continue the immunotherapy infusions every 28 days and will have a brain MRI in November to determine the status of the post-treatment problem areas in the brain...for that visit we will see the neuro-oncology radiation specialist.

We stayed an extra day in Houston to see the Houston Symphony perform Friday evening - Wagner and Beethoven - so wonderful.  Houston is in the midst of Astros fever - it is such a hoot to see everyone from waitresses to bank execs in Astros regalia.  

Pic below is from Thursday's dinner to celebrate "amazing" Rusty.  We'll return to MDAnderson for appointments on Nov. 17, Nov. 18 and Nov. 21.  All your prayers , positive vibes, good energy and wishes are working!!!  Thank you sincerely. 💕

  

Once again, our visit to MDAnderson was routine and uneventful...thank God.  The Melanoma team feels that Rusty looks great, today's labs were all good and he checked out well on exam.  He had his regular immunotherapy infusion...fortunately, he has no negative side effects from the infusion.  Next month will be "restaging" scans and tests.

While the disease seems to be under control, Rusty is still having trouble with walking balance and coordination and uses a walker or his scooter most of the time.  Since the walking problems are believed to be caused by the brain treatment and/or the anti seizure medications, we are not complaining...it's a small price to pay.

We left Houston on Wednesday and traveled northwest to the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram, Texas, just outside of Kerrville, where we will take part in the Texas Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday and Sunday.  We're in a rustic campground on the Guadalupe River ... life is good.

  

Thank you again for all your support, love and prayers.