IMPROVEMENT

Jon has been in Mexico for one week and we're already seeing noticeable improvements. Last week he was taking 8 pain pills a day and he is down to only 2. When he went to the hospital, he had quite a bit of pain in the abdomen liver area, as well as the shoulder, and he could feel a large lump (or tumor) just under the rib cage. The CT scan showed he had 2 tumors the size of tennis balls. Today Jon said he could not feel the lump any more!! Isn't that GREAT news? He receives a heat treatment every day and the doctor is hitting the big tumors from every angle every day. I just weep with joy and thanksgiving for the knowledge we gained only a few weeks ago. I received a call from the oncology nurse urging Jon to make the appointment for his continued chemo treatments. Sorry . . . we're not going there again. When he returns, we will follow up with the UCSF liver specialist.

He continues to receive nutrients through IV up to 6 hours a day. That's in addition to about 50 pills he takes orally every day. His meals are simple with no added salt, sugar or spices but include lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, fish, soups, and at least a green drink or fruit drink with every meal. No pasta or breads, etc. He eats everything they bring with much less effort than last week although he still feels some nausea occasionally.

There is a woman in the room across the hall who Jon has befriended. She is from North Carolina and is in for Lyme disease being bit by a spider 11 years ago. She has been fighting the ongoing illness with $$$ all these years and has high hopes for a cure through Dr. Bradford. Her husband is with her, actually stays in a motel across the border but visits every day. They have included Jon on their walks along the Tijuana streets which isn't really refreshing but perhaps better than lying in bed all day every day.

Kaylinn and my mom were there to visit for a few hours Monday. Kaylinn gave Jon the ultimate buzz and shaved his head because the hair had fallen out and was blotchy and left hair everywhere. She also brought him a picture book full of all our latest family pictures. I had even taken some pictures of my hiking around Mt. Diablo trails which Kaylinn made a few 8X10's. He got pretty teary eyed feeling close to home. My mom took in four more books for him to read since he finished everything he had taken. If you double click on any of the pictures including the slide show, they will enlarge.