Breathing a guarded sigh of relief after today's appointments, tests and discussions with melanoma team.  For about the past week, Rusty has has a tender area in his right upper arm that has been getting slightly larger daily....so... in addition to the rountine tests, they ordered a Doppler ultrasound on his arm.  He got that familiar dirty-old-man twinkle in his eye when he saw the department they sent him to for the ultrasound....

Late this afternoon, we learned that the swelling and discomfort in his arm are due to some fluid accumulation...probably a "hematoma" from oozing blood after a venipuncture.  The problem does not appear to be a tumor and they expect it to resolve without treatment.  Melanoma doc is pleased with Rusty's status and agreed to postpone one immunotherapy infusion in February so that we can take our annual trip to New Mexico with the Stegalls.  Rusty's primary Melanoma physician, Dr Amaria, has a "quality of life" patient philosophy rather than a rigid adherence to perfect patient compliance....we are learning to value and appreciate that.

Dinner tonight al fresco at D'Amico's in Rice Village, (Italian, of course!) followed by a visit to a Houston tradition, the Christmas "Zoo Lights"' ...the Houston Zoo is transformed into a holiday wonderland with music,  15 miles of amazing lights, food and drink.  The extravaganza is sponsored by TXU Energy Company and is a fund raiser for the Zoo.  It runs from Nov. 18 throughput Jan 14, from 6 to 11 PM.  The zoo animals get to "take a long winter's nap" during each evening's event.

Hoping that you all had a good Thanksgiving.  We have much to be thankful for...please know how thankful we are for each of you.

Our RV resort is decked out in Christmas finery, and it is a happy time.

We'll be back in two weeks.

Pretty routine to MDAnderson visit today.   Lab work, immunotherapy infusion, visit wth neurologist to reassess seizure activity (Rusty has had none since the two in August) and visit with ophthalmologist.  The two oral chemotherapeutic drugs that Rusty is on may cause fluid collection that would affect his eye sight...so far no sign of that.  Both neuro and ophthalmic reports were very good.  At this stage, Rusty only sees the Melanoma team once a month.

                                      Cellist in the MDAnderson lobby on Tuesday afternoon

About 2 weeks ago it became apparent that there was a large area of the right side Rusty's beard that had fallen out due to the radiation to his neck, so he shaved the whole beard off.  He's unhappy about having to shave every day after so many years of a beard, but it's a small price to pay.

                                                      The "New" beardless Rusty

Rusty is feeling good.  This week in addition to helping me transport and set up for two shows, he scouted around Corpus Christi for a new truck....test driving, negotiating, comparing and having a pretty good time.  We are now the proud owners of a new Ford crew cab pick-up.

Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you!  We are thankful for you, and your love, concern, messages, prayers and support.

I am starting this blog post with a pic of Rusty and Jeff preparing to head out fishing at 7 AM last Thursday.  Rusty feels good and is up to most of his old tricks.  (Notice I said "fishing", and not "catching." 😉)

On our way up to Houston on Saturday, we stopped in Katy where my roommate from nursing school, "Cadge" and husband, Bob, were visiting her daughter...we have enjoyed a 59 year friendship.  Their home is in Tennesse.  Good visit.

Rusty had an early Sunday morning MDAnderson appointment for "restaging" scans.  Restaging diagnostics are performed every three months and compare prior diagnostics to current ones to assess comparative size of tumors, effectiveness of treatment and general state of the disease.

Monday was lab work, EKG, Echocardiogram and MRI, and Tuesday morning before seeing the Melanoma team, Rusty had an EEG.  We saw the Doc and the Melanoma team Tuesday and the tests show improvement in all areas...in many cases, tumors have completely disappeared. There is one small tumor near the right kidney which they will watch closely.  The tumors which appeared on his shoulder and neck in July are much diminished since the radiation and are not painful.  Brain lesions are improved and according to doc "brain is happy."  In all, it was a positive "restaging" visit.

Rusty has more energy, is encouraged, and is, in his word, "giddy" about todays reports.

Sunday afternoon was free and we attended the Houston Symphony concert at Jones Hall.  What a performance!, and what a pleasure to experience a city with such rich offerings!

We'll be on the road home Wednesday and we leave on Friday for our regular monthly Market gig in Wimberley...about a 3 1/2 drive from home.  We take the RV, set up on Friday, sell on Saturday and come home Sunday...it really is fun.

Thanks for the support, wonderful messages and prayers.  We are so grateful.

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!

We left Corpus Christi in the wee hours yesterday in order to park the RV and get into MDAnderson in time for afternoon appointments for testing...blood work and MRI...as a follow up to the Gamma Knife surgery.

                               Rusty checking out his "surgeon" image in his MRI scrubs

As we left the Main Clinic at MDAnderson we were caught in severe Houston thunderstorms with flash flooding...the shuttle did not get us back to the campground until about 7:30 PM.  Houston did not need the extra water...once again, there is standing water in areas of the city.

                                                       Waiting for the shuttle

Our first appointment today was with the Radiation Neurologist who performed the Gamma Knife procedure.  She is very pleased with the results...one tumor appears to be completely ablated and the second tumor, which was very small to begin with, is smaller and she expects that it will continue to shrink.  She will see him again in six months.

Rusty had his routine immunology infusion later today and after a laid back afternoon and a nap, we had barbecue at "Pappas" famous Barbecue restaurant.

We are both feeling particularly blessed to have received such a grim diagnosis 9 months ago and to have Rusty feeling so good and taking part in most of his usual activities .... thanks to prayer, palpable support from familyand friends and the incredible staff and facilities at MDAnderson.

We'll  be back in two weeks...I'll post again then.

Harpist playing in the Waterfall sitting area at MDA.

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We drove back up to Houston on Wednesday for Rusty's regular infusion and doctor visit on Thursday.  The tumors in his neck and shoulder are smaller since the five radiation treatments last month and he is having no pain in his neck or shoulder now.  His doctor told us that she had seen the scans of Rusty's brain after the Gamma Knife procedure and the two small tumors that had been there appear to be gone.  All in all a very positive visit and Rusty is feeling good.

August was an active month for the Ranks in Houston...five days of radiation treatments, the Gamma Knife surgery, ER visit for seizures, routine immunotherapy infusions, a visit from the Seattle Ranks, and a hurricane.  We are looking forward to a quieter September.

Now we have to start cleaning up the yard from the mess Harvey left!

We return to MDAnderson on September 18 and I'll post again after that visit.  I will try to remember to take pix!  Thanks for your prayers and good thoughts.