Shrinkage...the good kind.

Good News!

Alec had his appointment this week and we were blessed with some good news. Drum role please....his tumor has shrunk! Dr. Shellito (Alec's surgeon) was able to take a look at the tumor and compare it to when he first saw it in October. He was "very pleased" with the results. (my ears perk up every time I hear words like, pleased, optimistic, curable, etc. I take mental notes of any and all positive words because I know doctors do not just say words like that unless they mean it!)

What this means is that the radiation and chemo has worked! I remember Dr. Allen back in October saying the results at the end of his first round of treatment would be "very telling" and hopefully his body will respond to the drugs...and he did! Hallelujah!

Alec's surgery has been scheduled for 3/8. Why did they wait so long? I guess radiation continues to work long after the last day of treatment which was 1/12. So 8 weeks gives it even more time to shrink the tumor and create the best case scenario for surgery, which is going to be very difficult according to Dr. Shellito.

Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers? Alec started his diet today. Dr. Shellito advised him to lose as much weight as possible before the surgery, again to get optimal results and make the surgery and recovery as easy as possible. Biggest Loser here we come! He has also talked about buying some of those "shape-up" sneakers, walking sticks and some short shorts so he can power walk around the neighborhood. (he was kidding...I think!)

We still find it pretty funny that while most patients who under go chemo/radiation lose tons of weight and are encouraged to eat more, Alec just cant seem to stay away from ice cream sundays, whoopie pies and chimichangas!!!!

Last weekend I took off for a girls only party at Steph's house where we partied till 4:00 in the morning! Just like the old days at Salve. It was great to see everyone and meet Steph's beautiful baby girl, Mia. Alec spent some QT with his sisters and mom.

Next week he will have a MRI, which will give the doctors a clearer picture of how things are going throughout the rest of his body. Keeping our fingers crossed for some more good news!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. (I think they are working!)

Love,

Heather, Alec, Millie

Back from the Sunshine State

We are back! Alec and I enjoyed our escape to Florida more than I can even describe! We had a such a wonderful time, all that cancer stuff seemed so distant and far away. Luckily, the weather had warmed up just for us and although we had a couple of cold days, most were beautiful and above 70. We did a whole lot of nothing which, for a change was so nice! It takes us both a couple of days to unwind, as we are both always into something and feel the need to be busy, but after a couple days, not to worry we were about as relaxed as one could be!

We can not thank Katie and Jon and Jon's parents enough, they were so generous to let us stay in their beautiful place at Pompano Beach. They have such a nice set up, right on the water, with Jons boat docked only a few feet away. Alec could have used Jon's help catching some fish though! We spent hours chasing around sailfish and we think we may have had a bite or two, but got nothin! Except for the giant stick that Alec pulled in which we were convinced was a giant fish. Haha, woops!

It sure was hard to wake up Thursday morning to 10 degrees! But, like I said, we relaxed and Alec got the rest he needed. The first few days he would take long naps and slept a lot, but towards the end he felt great and did not need to sleep as much. He kept saying he was looking forward to coming home and starting the wood floors in the guest bedroom/office! I am like, "Seriously? You have issues."

But he has done just that and the room is finshed!

We were both thrilled that Scott Brown won. Not to talk politics, but there have been times were I get this pit in my stomach thinking about the government running health care. I believe that until you go through something like this, you really do not know how important your health care is. I am not sure of how much Alec has cost but I am sure it is hundreds of thousands of dollars. And he has had to pay maybe 500 with co-pays and meds. Also, since I have the "cadilac plan" when Alec resigned from his job on 12/30, I was able to call up HR and switch him over to my plan that very same day and he was covered under my plan by 3:00 pm. Not bad right? Also, I think about the future and my family. If the healthcare bill were to pass, what would it take to get a colonoscopy or mammography? There is no way waiting until we are 50 years old is acceptable. For women like me and my sisters who have family history on both sides (my aunt at 32, Nana, 2 Grandfathers) I want to be able to decide when and where and by whom. I do not want some government person telling me how to take care of myself and my family. Not to mention, only 15% of the country is un-insured, (and most of those are young people in their 20's and chose not to be) so why punish the 85% that is covered?
OK, I am off my soap box, but this past election was very, very important to me and I thought I would share why.

Back to reality this week...We have an appointment with his surgeon on 1/27 and will find out exactly when the surgery will be and also if the radiation and chemo has worked, (they will look to see if the tumor has shrunk). So please keep your fingers crossed and say an extra little prayer!

Thanks again to Jon and Kate for the best vacation ever! We owe you one!

Love,

Heather & ALec

All Done With Round One!

Wow, we have never looked forward to a Friday as much as we did today!

Alec finished his last week of chemo/radiation for the colorectal treatment! He is doing great, the doctor last week said considering he is under going 2 types of treatments right now, he is doing "remarkably well". Everyone who walks into the exam room does a double take, as if they are expecting to see some skinny, shriveled up guy, then they see Alec, strong and healthy and are blown away. He still has not even lost a single pound! And everyone reading this can take credit for that...providing delicious meals for us, we are very spoiled! Thank you! (I think I have put on a few pounds myself!)

It has been such a blessing to stay in the city during these past few weeks. I am able to work in the am, then bring Alec to his appointment at noon, then drop him off and I can go back to work for the afternoon while he takes a long (really long) nap. At night we go to dinner or meet up with family or friends. Last week we got to hang out with my fam and this week Amy, Keith, Kendalle, Caitlin. Amy and Ken made us a yummy meal, thank you! We also got to see Bobina and Julia and Jilly and Brian last night for dinner!

We have met so many wonderful people over the past five weeks. I am actually going to miss seeing some of them every day. Gloria, a women in a wheel chair who has a brain tumor, she is such a warm, sweet person and I loved seeing her. We met a couple the other day, The DeMarcos! It was funny, she was sitting in the waiting room and the nurse came out calling Mrs. DeMarco, and it was not for me...the women sitting next to me. And her husband Frank...(my dads and my Papa's name). There are a few others who we have gotten to know, and I just pray that everyone makes it through and lives long, healthy lives! (Even though most of them are really old! :)

I gave Alec a card the other day I thought I would share:

I Believe

I believe in mind over matter.
I believe in the human spirit to prevail.
I believe in miracles and blessings both great and small.
I believe in possibilities.
I believe that hurdles in life are meant to be jumped over, not as something to stop us.

I believe in you.

I am so proud of Alec. He is amazing. Never a single complaint. We even shoveled the entire driveway last weekend! (OK with the help of his mom and sis, but still, anyone who has been to our house and seen our driveway knows its the size of 10 driveways!) And this weekend we are headed up to Sunday River to go snowboarding...he must be feeling real good!

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I will update next week, we should know when his surgery is going to be by Monday. Still can not wait to go to FL!

Love,

Heather & Alec and Millie!