Near the end of the old year, and coming to the beginning ofthe new year...

One final time in 2009 we are back in Seattle, for my final Avastin treatment this year. It's been just over six months since this medical mystery began for me, and I have at least seven months of Avastin and Temodar to go in 2010. My MRI's in 2009 have continously shown improvements in my brain's healing and conditions, so I am looking forward to the rest of the work. We can call the timing now close enough to halfway to look forward to the finish, that is for sure.

While some of it may never be known or understood, quite a bit has become clear to me. At the top of the list is the simple reality that people are a whole lot nicer and more helpful than I ever expected. I never thought of my outlook as negative; I simply didn't expect much of anything from much of anyone, and never worried about it much. The amount and types of love, support, caring, financial aid and other pure gifts provided to us can't be expressed adequately, but I will say that they came largely as a complete surprise to me. The fact that lots of people I've never even met wanted to help me when they heard about my glioblastoma multiforme issue continues to leave me staggered, though in a positive way. My friends and family I was not surprised by, though I am also greatly pleased there, because my connections and relationships have grown a great deal.

At the end of 2009, one thing is clear to me. While I will continue to do battle with the remote possibility of cancer within my skull, I will face it with a level of support from friend and relatives -- and people I don't even know yet -- that would have never occurred to me to even remotely exist before this past year.

To each and every one of you...thank you, and the best of 2010 for each of you.

Our deepest appreciation,

Dennis and Faith

Back home in Southeast Alaska for the winter, and a big change in our lives...

While the bulk of information in these blogs has been about me and the recent medical course of my life, today is focused around a different event. This morning we took our loving and wondrous 14 1/2-year-old chocolate Lab to our veterinarian and held with her while he released her from her terminal pains. Kona and I had just returned from Montana and other points south; returning on the AMHS Malaspina To Ketchikan on Sunday morning. While she, I and all our friends had greatly enjoyed her presence down south, it was clear that the last few days had become much less pleasant to her. It was time for her to go, and she has gone on to a new version of the Happy Hunting Grounds. It is my hope and belief that when it is my time to cross over the Great Line, she will be there, restored in health, waiting for me.

Here are some happier pics...








































































She has been a grand joy to our lives for the past 14 and a half years, and being without her is already difficult. I missed her for two months this summer, while I was being treated at Virginia Mason; then had the joy of taking her the same length of time to Montana, South Dakota and Idaho to go hunting and visit our friends -- both two and four-legged ones. She only began going physically downhill toward the end of the trip, as we headed home...almost as if she knew her time was coming to an end. Aand now it has, for her. We are moving forward, knowing we will always miss her and remember her for the joy she gave us.

Here's hoping your moments with your pets, family and friends have bright moments the next few weeks...

Dennis and Faith