Dec. 23, 2020

We returned home today after two days in Houston at MDAnderson.  This was a routine three month visit for CT Scans, MRI and blood work to evaluate Rusty's status.  Good news and less good news this time...

The scans and MRI revealed no tumor activity...at this time Rusty is clear of melanoma.  

During the week prior to our visit Rusty commented to me that he had experienced some numbness and tingling in his face and lips.  He also had some short episodes of slurred speech and some balance problems.  I reported these issues to both his melanoma and radiation neuro-oncology docs prior to our appointment.  We were both concerned that there may have been tumor activity in the brain.  The MRI revealed no tumors, but that Rusty had suffered two small strokes, and his symptoms were consistent with the location of the strokes in the brain.  They started him on blood thinners and are going to schedule a plethora of tests to determine the cause of the strokes...hopefully in January.

Thankfully, Rusty feels good, still has his twisted sense of humor and a positive attitude.  When Dr. Amaria told us about the MRI findings, Rusty's reply to her was "Since the cancer is going away I was not getting enough attention, so I had a couple of strokes"  He has no physical limitations other than trouble walking any distance further than the length of a room without his walker. 

We're planning a trip with the travel trailer up to Palo Duro Canyon in January and a trip to New Mexico in February...all safe distancing.

I will update you after the neurological testing.  Sincere wishes for a love filled, hopeful Christmas season and a safe, blessed, peaceful New Year!  Prayers appreciated!!

                    "Love" and "Hope"...Rice Village in Houston decked out for Christmas.
 

September 16, 2020 - 

Returned home last evening after two days of testing and doctor visits at MDAnderson.  As you may recall, the June visits were positive and the doctors promoted Rusty to three month visits instead of monthly.  This was our first three month interval...the longest we've been away from MDAnderson since January of 2017.

Scans, MRI and lab work all positive again!  (happy dance!)...no indications of tumors throughout the body and the area of the brain affected by radiation has shrunk further.  In all, a welcome, wonderful report!

In the time since our June visit, Rusty busied himself in his workshop making a cherrywood jewelry box for Dr. Amaria, his primary melanoma doc.  The precision work on a jewelry box with all its corners and intricate little cubbies takes great patience and skill, and I'm sure that both Rusty and Dr. Amaria were happy to know that his mental and physical abilities are returning so well.  I am sorry I did not take a photo of it before he gave it to her.  

As a matter of fact, with all of the special COVID precaution and activities during our visit, I only took one photo - that of Rusty feasting on Pappa's ribs back in the camper after a day of testing.  We again have a three month interval between visits and will return in December.  As you all should know by now, both Rusty and I believe that we could not have walked this journey without the love, support, concern and presence of all of you!!!  Thank you.

June 2020 MDAnderson visit

It has been two months since our last visit to MDAnderson - felt like such a long interval after three years of weekly, bi-weekly and monthly visits!  

MDA Anderson is being extremely careful about keeping patients safe - I was not allowed to escort Rusty into any of his tests.  Our "visits" with radiation neuro-oncologist and melanoma doctor were Zoom visits from our travel trailer.  

MRI, CT scans and labs were all found to be "stable"...no evidence of any cancer or tumor activity.  **HAPPY DANCE**.   We return in September (three months) for another check up - no immunotherapy infusion this time and no further immunotherapy unless there is evidence of recurrence.  

We came to Houston this time via Austin where we celebrated my 80th with a lunch and cake prepared by Linda.  Cole and Patrick were the only two kids available to join us, but it was sweet.  Joe's birthday is the day before mine, so we also celebrated Joe and his heavenly birthday.

We had planned on traveling directly from Houston up to Kansas to visit our friends Mary and Homer Goering and our grandson Jacob and his family who are stationed at Fort Riley, but that plan has changed thanks to the increase in COVID19 cases.  We feel that it is safer to head back to our little homestead and stay behind the gate until we can travel with less risk.  

We will return to MDAnderson in September.  Wear your masks, wash your hands, curbside, stay home and STAY SAFE!  Thank you sincerely for all the support and prayers that got us to here!!!  We are truly blessed.

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.