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

  

 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.