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

Closing out November; getting ready to head home.

Tomorrow is the last day of November, and Faith and I are in Seattle for an Avastin infusion tomorrow. This morning we were in Fort Benton, Montana, after celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday with our grand friends Laurie, Jack, Bentley and Johnna. The delayed Thanksgiving dinner plan turned out to be a really good one, when Erin harvested her mule deer buck on Thursday afternoon -- a really nice one, I might add! Here they are, after we got it back to camp and hung it from the tripod. I took a "B" tag doe the day before, to go with the doe I took in South Dakota and the buck I took earlier in November. This has been a grand hunting trip, and not taking an elk or antelope is just part of the events. We all have plenty of meat now -- Erin, Heather and Faith and I -- and we had a wonderful time at various points and events. Erin and Heather got a good break from southern California, where they live, work, play, teach and learn...and Faith came here from a professional conference where she was honored with a national Forest Service award!

Tomorrow, after my various medical events, Faith and I will return to Missoula, MT. She will be there for one more day, and I will stay butcher, grind, vacuum-seal and freeze the two remaining deer at the home of our great friends Orville and Olleka -- who have provided me far more help than I can ever describe -- then head for Bellingham for Friday afternoon's rendevous with the AMHS ferry headed back to Ketchikan. This has been a great seven weeks, though I should probably apologize for not reporting events all that regularly during my adventures. I feel ever so much better than I did in October when I headed south, both physically and emotionally. Now being home in Alaska will be wonderful too, and I will continue to improve my health.

Thanks again for all your help and support...

Dennis and Faith

It's been a good while...in a good way...

It's been a couple of weeks since I've entered a report -- but it's been a couple of very good weeks. As I noted the last time, I'm in Montana and points east and west for a few weeks, visiting friends and mostly hunting. Weather has been largely very good here, despite heavy snow further south in Wyoming and Colorado. My health has been very good, relatively speaking, of course. The Avastin-Every-Other-Monday event is going well -- I've made two flights from Missoula to Seattle and back, and if anything they're quicker and cheaper than flying from Ketchikan. Planes aren't as big, though... Temodar is a bit of a different story, since I have been really feeling it now when I take it. Fortunately, it's only five days out of 28, so I can move past it and get over it. By about day four, my appetite is gone and it's hard to eat. By about two days past day five, I'm back into the eating business.

Hunting, both alone and with friends, as been great fun. Some things, like trying to find an antelope during the one snowfall I encountered, proved to be pretty unlikely to happen. It was great fun on my friend's ranches, but no meat came out with me. Deer hunting, however, has turned out very nice indeed, in part because the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has a very hard-working and very nice set of people working to re-assign tags that are turned in because people are unable to use them. I had been only able to buy a "B" (doe) tag for mule deer, until Monday, November 2nd. Then they made available some leftover deer-elk combination licenses that had been returned to them, let me know, and put one aside for me to come to Helena to get -- because, you see, when they let me know on Monday, I was in Seattle getting an Avastin infusion! Monday night I flew back to Missoula, Tuesday morning I drove through Helena on my way to my hunting area near Ft. Benton, and Wednesday morning...

Not the biggest mule deer buck I've ever killed (though it's plenty big enough), but might be one of my biggest celebrations. It's hard to describe how good I felt, having come through my needed treatments through the summer and made it back to my life well enough to go out by myself and begin filling my freezer for the winter. I have some hunting trips to go, including an elk hunt with some good friends; a visit to South Dakota that will be grand; and a trip here from my daughter Erin for her hunt near Ft. Belton. We'll end up with Heather and Faith joining us there for a few days to conclude my venture to the Lower 48 and celebrate Thanksgiving and our anniversary. So far my trek has been wonderful, and I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks!

Hope your month goes well too...

Dennis & Faith

Back to Seattle...this time from Missoula...

Last week I forgot to do our Blog on Sunday night, but this time I didn't do it Sunday night on purpose. Waited until Monday night, that is. Last Wednesday, Kona and I put the truck on the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Malaspina and headed south. About seven weeks are scheduled down here, in several states. Four of my every-other-week Avastin infusions will take place during this trip -- the first one happened this morning. And one of the reasons I didn't write the Blog entry last night is that I flew into Seattle; stayed overnight at the Inn at Virginia Mason; got up early this morning for the infusion process; finished it up mid-day; went to Neurology to get the Temodar; and headed back to the airport at 2:00 pm. Whew! Only three more of those from Montana -- and about 18 more from Ketchikan. But things are going very well; my blood tests are coming out well, and I feel better every week.

Now I'm back at my friends' house in Missoula, getting ready to start my fall hunting trip here. Kona has happily renewed her long-term relationship with Luke, their older German Wirehair, and is getting to know Maggie, their five-month-old puppie version. The next few weeks, I hope to be able to spend more time talking about hunting than chemotherapy...

That's the story so far...have a great week...

Dennis & Faith

Can forgetting be good sometimes...?

Like, for example, when you forget to do something that was a daily regimen for a long time? In my case...I forgot to write the blog last night! Wasn't feeling bad; wasn't concerned about what was or was not going on -- just simply forgot that it was time to do something that had, at one point, been a crucial, daily event. I do apologize, if you came to look for it and didn't find it. I will try to do better, though with the next many weeks of hunting trips intermingled with trips to Seattle for Avastin infusions, I can't make any promises.

Wednesday the 16th I get on the Alaska Marine Highway System ferry with Kona and my pickup truck -- headed south for a couple of months. We get out on Friday morning in Bellingham, WA, and head east for Montana, though with a short side trip in Lynnwood to pick up new glasses from Dr. Lugo's office. She has been our opthalmologist for about seven years, and was very helpful in examining my eyes, particularly the left one, after six weeks of high-powered radiation. Thankfully, both eyes are doing well, though I need some minor-level glasses so I can see better. I will arrive in Missoula, MT Friday evening; then turn around Sunday to fly back to Seattle for Avastin. Kona will be staying happily with her long-time dog and human friends in Missoula while I fly back and forth, so that system will work handily.

And then the hunting starts! Wish me well, as I wish you well in whatever activities make you feel good in the autumn...

Dennis & Faith

From three to three million...

At this time last week I was sitting in camp with two of my friends, enjoying the evening after a day of mountain goat hunting. This evening Faith and I are back in the Greater Seattle Area, which surely must have at least three million folks around here. On Monday my friend Pat shot a gloriously large billy, with horns easily placing it into Boone and Crockett records, and he and friend Jim packed it back into camp in the high elevations of the Tongass National Forest. On Monday this week Faith and I will be talking with doctors and nurses about my treatments and I'll have an infusion of Avastin, in the heart of downtown Seattle. So goes my life these days, which seems to shift between the serenity of Alaska and my "normal" life, and the continued pressure of all the treatments and information required from my current medical processes. In many ways, having this contrast and being able to return to Alaska every time is the highest source of sanity for me.

Life is going very well for me, in general. I've very happily been able to stop using Bactrin, as my blood tests show good levels of the significant sections. Oddly enough, the two chemotherapies -- Temodar and Avastin -- seem to be causing me very little discomfort. Some of the other pharmaceuticals, like Bactrin and Lamotrigine, do cause me discomfort. As I continue to improve in health, I (hopefully) will be able to cut them back or stop altogether. At least it has worked with Bactrin so far. I'm also slowly getting adapted to doing all the medical things I have to do, which is a new experience in my life.

Summer has passed into Fall, and the short-term, emphatic acts of surgery and high-level treatments have passed into the long-term effort of Avastin every other Monday and Temodar five days out of every 28, until the middle of next summer. And we are adapting, and adjusting to the inevitable changes in our lifestyles. And, as good Alaskans, being just a hair stubborn to assure that our lifestyle doesn't change too much...!

Here's hoping your entry to Fall is going well for you too...

Dennis & Faith

Hunting Goats on the Mountain

Greetings from Alaska where I am reporting that Dennis and hunting buddies flew in to a lake above Ketchikan and are hunting mountain goats. The weather cleared just enough for the plane to get in and I have to assume the next two days of nice weather has allowed the men to get their animals and get out. How do you like the hunting mohawk?

Dennis got some work in for The Nature Conservancy in this week! We traveled by interisland ferry to Prince of Wales Island only to have a rough crossing coming home on Friday. Even Kona was seasick!

The week was a topsy turvy one for us, beginning with great news that his MRI on Monday was even clearer than the one three weeks before and that the area of the surgery was healing nicely. He has a tiny leak of cerebro-spinal fluid into his left eye socket and the sinuses in front of and behind his ear, where there is still some swelling. The doctor says this will clear up in a few weeks; he is due to see his eye surgeon next Tuesday as his eyesight in the left eye is not as good as it used to be.

The month "off" from his oral chemotherapy is now over and he is finishing up his five days of temodar for the month. So far he tolerates it well, sleeps hard on the nights he takes the drug, and appears to have minimal side effects. He will do this every month until July. The drug is a lot stronger than the doses he was taking for the months on radiation.

We received notification that Dennis cannot have his avastin/placebo infusions anywhere but Seattle through the remainder of the clinical trial. This was upsetting as he is trying to live his life and heal by being home. He is now deciding what he will do; movement in and out of Alaska is problematic in winter due to low fog ceilings and visability, so everyone pray for a mild winter.

I want to personally thank all those that were working to allow Dennis to have his infusions at home in Alaska, you know who you are. We love you all and I hope to be posting goat pictures soon. Best from Dennis and Faith

Back to Seattle...

Tonight we're back to Seattle, with my fourth every-other-Monday Avastin injection scheduled for tomorrow. Only 22 to go after it...! I also have an MRI scheduled first thing in the morning, meetings with a couple of doctors, and of course the standard blood and urine tests. All things being equal, we should know more about what is happening and how things are going for me when we fly home tomorrow evening.

This past week has been good, with several common, standard acts feeling very good, for exactly that reason. I remounted the topper on my pickup, as I've done every fall for several years, then took half a dozen rifles to the range to test them before hunting trips. Five out of the six are doing very well and are ready to go. The other one is not, and will have to wait until next year before it gets repaired/readjusted/restocked or whatever it will take to make it work well enough to suit me. I also went fishing again on Saturday, and added more vacuum-sealed salmon packages to the freezer. What a grand feeling that has been! And Saturday night we had dinner with a friend from Montana and his son and daughter-in-law, who live and work here.

We return home Monday night, and Tuesday afternoon we head to Prince of Wales Island -- work for both of us. Faith is doing several activities related to her Forest Service position, and I am back to work on my contract with The Nature Conservancy. And we'll be staying at a couple of different friends' homes, near Craig and in Thorne Bay, which will also be great fun. And, because we're taking my truck, Kona the Wonder Dog gets to go with us! We come back first thing Friday morning on the ferry, just in time to start another weekend.

Well...that's our story. More to come next Sunday...

Dennis & Faith

Home again, and a great weekend here

Our last blog told you about my good visit with my high school classmates of 40 years ago, and our joyous surprise party for my Mom's 85th birthday. This week she called me to thank us again, and asked me to put up her post-birthday statement. So here you go:

"To all my tricky relatives and friends:

Now that I’ve got my breath back, I would like to give my utmost thanks. I was truly surprised. It was great to see all of you, but I’m still waiting to go to the restaurant!"

Betty Neill

It was a grand party, and her note really tops it off for us.

Two days day after the party, we flew to Seattle and stayed overnight for my third Avastin treatment. I also had a couple of pretty thorough interviews with doctors at Virginia Mason on Monday, and am waiting to read copies of their reports. We flew home that evening, and were once again overjoyed to be there with Kona and the cats Maxie and Minnie.

The rest of the week went pretty well, though the weather was pretty typical southeast Alaska events. That is...lots of rain. Saturday and Sunday were nice, though, and I got to go fishing with my friend Dave. We headed out of Knudsen Cove about 7:00 am, right at high tide, and dropped herring just outside the bay, and almost immediately began catching big cohos. I caught two, and Dave caught four during the course of the morning, and happily returned to the dock with half a limit of gorgeous, big salmon. I can't begin to tell you how much fun a simple fishing trip was, after my summer, and how great it is to have fresh fish again! Then today Faith and I went a mile down the road with Kona and spent a couple of hours picking red huckleberries for her jam projects.

It is so good to be able to return to our normal life style. I will continue treatments for another 11 months, and then tests will determine what needs still exist and I will determine which way to go...but for now, life is returning to "normal", and I am feeling and doing much better every week.

We hope life is going well for each of you, and thank you again for your help, support, conversations, comments and care.

Dennis & Faith

HOME at Last...

As things go it was the happiest day of my life to bring Dennis home to Alaska a week ago yesterday. The weather was cool and rainy and wonderful when our friend Lee picked us up at the airport. Leaping out of the car I unlocked the front door to find Kona dog asleep on her dogbed in the kitchen. When she realized Dennis was at the door calling her she wiggled at both ends at once and it was just so heartwarming to see them together. When the cats came out they both couldn't believe we were home, and curled around us asking to be picked up and hugged. It was a glorious homecoming, like no other.

As healing goes, coming home has meant better sleep, darkness, and more appetite for Dennis. Over the next three days we received and unpacked four boxes sent from Seattle, went on numerous dog walks (Dennis), picked huckleberries and salal (Faith) and began to settle into our Alaskan daily routine.

By Thursday we were off again, this time on planes bound for Missouri, and Dennis' 40th high school reunion-and a surprise 85th birthday party for Betty, his mother. Can I say it was a great success, particularly the look on Betty's face when the family greeted her for her party? Thanks to Marian and Chris for helping me organize the party-they are awesome!

Faith went with me to a couple of parties for my 40th year class reunion -- I graduated from Trenton High School in 1969 and the joint reunions are held over Labor Day weekend every year. I went alone in 1989, to my 20th, and brought Faith along to my 30th in 1999. It was fairly questionable whether or not I would be able to make it, but as I grew closer to the end of treatments, I went ahead and bought the tickets. I knew then I could make it, and truly wanted to. The "Class of 1969" event Saturday night was quite enjoyable for me, and my classmates were largely knowledgeable about my situation -- mostly because they heard about and read this blog! They were very kind and supportive, and I really appreciated their many conversations with me.

I also liked the party for Mom a lot -- she told me it was the first time in her life that anyone had pulled off a secret party for her without her knowing about it in advance. Lots of our family relatives showed up, and it was great to see them and visit.

Tomorrow we fly back to Seattle, and on Tuesday I have my third Avastin injection in the morning and a meeting with Dr. "B" early in the afternoon. Then it's back to the airport and flight 69 home to Ketchikan. So once again, after a wonderful trip and visits with classmates and family, we will return to our dog and cats with joy. My condition is improving day by day, and my appetite is improving daily. Every day that I feel a little better, I can do a little more, and that makes me feel even better. Who knows -- perhaps I will be able to venture out on my goat hunt by the end of the month!

We hope you have all had a great holiday weekend as well...

Dennis & Faith

First full day at home...

And oh my has it been wonderful! We got into Ketchikan a little after three pm yesterday; Faith's friend Lee picked us up at the airport and drove us home to greet Kona, Maxie and Minnie. I'm not sure if the dog and cats were happier at it or we were, but it was a great gathering. Mostly we spent the evening getting unpacked and organized back into our house, after a month absence for Faith and two months for me. And, of course, walking Kona and playing with the cats. Last night, it was very quiet and dark...something completely absent where we stayed in Seattle.



Today we started with a trip to the airport to pick up a cooler full of food from the apartment and an extra-heavy piece of luggage that we weighed at the Alaska Airline cargo center and decided to send with the cooler. Then we went to a couple of grocery stores -- driving a vehicle of our own, and parking without paying for it -- to replenish our empty refrigerator. We had a great coffee milkshake on the way home -- one made with locally roasted coffee beans. Once we got back home, I cleaned out a pipe point in the gutter to run water to the storage tank, and repaired a door that had gone out of alignment. If all of this sounds pretty normal and not really worthy of reporting -- then we are very happy!



Now we are preparing for the future. On Thursday we leave for Missouri, to see Mom and a bunch of relatives, and to attend my 40th high school reunion. On Monday we fly to Seattle, for an Avastin injection on Tuesday, and then return to home again. We plan to add a blog entry on Sundays, unless something exciting happens in between, so expect to hear from us again while we're in Missouri.

Have a great week...we sure are planning to!

Dennis & Faith

Phase 2 Done and we are Goin' home!

Our last day in the city has finally arrived. ..it was cooler and cloudy by afternoon. We awoke early for an appointment at the MRI facility across from the hospital. Realizing we had only one more night in Seattle and we'd be flying tomorrow I burst into tears. It was that kind of day, full of relief and thanks to all those who have helped along the way, including all our visitors, friend, colleagues that have been tracking us on the blog.

Today at about three thirty Dennis rang a bell outside the radiation room three times to symbolize his treatments were finished. The entire radiation team applauded and presented him with a certificate for accomplishing his program. He gave them many compliments for their care and their awesome attitude-they truly have a touch job. Afterwards we went for a walk and ate coffee ice cream bars to celebrate.

It was a monumental day-right before going in for radiation we got the MRI results back from that morning-the report from the radiologist, and later his doctor agreed that there were few perceptible dye enhanced cells indicating cancer. There was a symmetry that had returned to his brain, the folds and fissures were well defined, the blood vessels seemed intact, the optical nerve seemed good. These were very good results.

Today the medical records that will travel with us whenever he goes for treatment also arrived. Imagine a file folder three inches thick and you will have a sense of his records. We returned from his last appointment quite exausted but ready to eat leftovers and pack.

Faith and I have been going through celebration flurries throughout the day. Every step we took ended one more thing needing to happen -- on the last day of this phase. First was the MRI, which produced outstanding results. Then came the second application of the cognitive test, designed to see how well my brain functions were recovering from the tumor and the surgery. I did much better this time than the first one, showing improvement in several parts of it. Then I had the 30th and final application of radiation. The crew there is terrific, and served us throughout the six weeks as both highly competent and very caring and friendly. One couldn't possibly ask for a better crew. Finally, at the end of the day, we met with the doctor providing the overall management and direction for all the medical treatments I've been getting since my surgery. She was extremely pleased with the results of my treatments, particularly as shown by the MRI, and congratulated us on how well the treatment had gone.

I will have chemotherapy for the next year, and more MRI's and exams, as well as meetings with doctors and other people. But a great point has been reached, and I go home to build my condition and abilities back as much as I can. And I get to fish a little, and go hunting this fall. Life feels good right now, and once we get back to Alaska, it will feel a lot better.

We will cut our blog entries to once a week on Sundays, unless something really exciting happens. And we'll be back at our home mailing address, so you can use that again if you want to.

Thank you so much for your love, support and thoughts...

Dennis and Faith

One more day!

Today was a reasonably easy day, with only one meeting outside the normal treatment. That was an interview to gather information for a potential story about my experience and approaches to dealing with my brain tumor. That was from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, then Faith returned and shortly afterward Erin and Glen headed back to LA. Having both daughters here the last week of treatment was really grand; we had wonderful conversations and information-sharing.

Treatment went well, though it was an extremely good feeling to go into it knowing that this was the next to last radiation event. Anything like this moves an individual downhill, and that is certainly true of me. That is expressed in a number of individual ways that are usually somewhat different on each patient, though headaches, nausea, hair loss, burnt skin and smells that aren't really outside are pretty common. My headaches are pretty minor; I have yet to vomit, though the feeling is there a lot; I definitely need a mohawk haircut; my skin needs daily treatment; and we have defined the scent as the "inside the skull smell of dead cancer cells". So, while I feel nowhere near as good as I did, say, six months ago -- relatively considered, I have done very well the past six weeks.

Tomorrow, the last day, has a pile of meetings, services, and the final treatments. We'll be happy to eat dinner and go to sleep in our Baroness Hotel apartment tomorrow night -- but not nearly as happy as we will be to get on the Alaska Airlines flight the next day.

Take care, and we'll let you know the story from the final day of these treatments tomorrow night...

Dennis & Faith

Support Group Meets

Well, here is it Wednesday with two final days of Dennis's treatment to go before a break of 28 days. Phew! It has been raining and blowing in Ketchikan, and all reports are the weather is clearing for a short while, so at least we'll be able to fly home amidst the rain clouds.
Four large boxes of belongings are winging their way home. How did we ever accumulate so much? Don't ever ask an Alaskan about that-there's always something that is needed back on the island home.
Dennis was very animated about the brain cancer support group meeting he attended with his daughter Erin and her friend Glen. He said that he not only was able to meet some other folks who had the same type of tumor, but others who were much further along in their treatment than himself. A real eye opener. He said he was feeling much better than the day before and was looking forward to Erin cooking deer steaks for him for dinner.
Tomorrow I will be returning to Seattle and looking forward to helping Dennis through our move back home. I am praying that all the redhuckleberriesand salal have not fallen off the shrubs yet. Looking forward to talking with you again, Faith and Dennis

Relatives coming and going...

Today was a lesser treatment day, with only radiation in the hospital, and the regular pharmaceuticals taken at the apartment. That was a good deal in the family arena, as youngest daughter Heather and cousin Kevin both left this afternoon, and oldest daughter Erin and her friend Glen arrived. Kevin took Heather to the airport, and picked Erin and Glen there and brought them to the Baroness Hotel. A little later, he headed out of town, on his way back to his home in Iowa. This is a week filled with family, and I am very glad to have that comfort as I finish my treatments.

Erin and Glen went with me to my 27th day of radiation. Only three days to go, and I am glad. While I fully grasp the importance, value, and reality of this treatment, after six weeks I am thoroughly ready for it to be done. I am certain that it has been very successful at killing remaining cancer cells, and I am glad for that. I will be happy to be done, though. I will say that the staff that administer this treatment are high on the list of the finest people I have ever been associated with, let alone received life-saving treatments from.

So...just a few more days...

Hope things are going well for you too...

Dennis and Faith

Last Monday in the City

By all accounts it was a busy Monday, beginning with an avastin/placebo infusion beginning at 8 am, then Faith off to Bellingham to work around noon, then chemo and radiation and meeting with doctors afterwards. When I called Dennis to confirm my colleague and I had made it to Bellingham he was touring his daughter Heather and cousin Kevin around First Hill, showing them the architecture and enjoying the evening.

Everyone including Dennis's infusion nurse Min and the entire radiology tech crew had wanted to meet Heather, so it ws great she could be here. Kevin helped me pick up the rental vehicle that I would take to Bellingham, which was very helpful. The traffic going north was steady but in two hours my colleague and I arrived, and I must say, it is even more quiet here. We are working on a Forest Service exhibit at the ferry terminal, and I am due back in Seattle Thursday

Meanwhile, tomorrow Heather leaves and Erin arrives. I am sure Dennis will have lots of new adventures to report! Until tomorrow, Faith and Dennis

Too much activity for the blog last night...

We forgot to do the blog last night, and it was a good thing! It was relatives here to see us that led us into talking late into the night (for me, anyway) and just not get a blog entry done. Heather arrived Saturday -- in the limo, of course -- and yesterday evening cousin Kevin from Iowa drove in. He first went to Portland for visits with relatives there, then drove to Seattle. He brought an array of photos gathered up from a variety of sources, many of them from the 30's, 40's and 50's. Fascination with them is one reason we forgot to do this...

This morning will be my second Avastin injection, first thing today at 8:00 am. They come on a Monday, every two weeks. Then will come the standard chemotherapy, followed by radiation number 26. After today I will have four more days of chemo and radiation -- then fly home to Ketchikan. Yes, this is tremendously significant to both of us, and yes, we are likely to mention it every day!

And so...the last week here for us starts...

Dennis & Faith

Heather arrives!

The black limo (don't ask) pulled up beside our hotel today-and there was Heather-here for a visit and it was so good to see her!! Since she left Seattle the day of Dennis's surgery she has traveled to Ireland, so we got a full account of her adventures and a lovely dinner together at a local restaurant.

Heather is still attending classes, albeit remotely, at Fuller Seminary. She took some intensive courses this summer that lasted all of two weeks. We are both happy she is here.

We expect a full house at dinner tomorrow night, with cousin Kevin from Iowa arriving from Portland. The weather has been very pleasant, and we are begining to feel like home is just around the corner-and it is. Reports from a friend in Ketchikan indicate it is cool and wet. Kona and Max and Minnie are faring well. We look forward to talking with you tomorrow, Faith and Dennis

TGIF? You bet...!

Are we happy today is Friday, and the next to last week too? Yes we are. Things have been going relatively well, perhaps a step or two above average -- but they are still sometimes difficult, and build up over time. Both of us are tired mentally and physically, and really eager to return home.

We did make one group's day today, though. When we went over for my radiation treatment at 2:30 today, Faith brought over a plate full of gravlax on crackers with cream cheese. I made the gravlax at home, after returning from surgery and before coming down here, so it meant even more to them. They have done great work on me, so it's good to do them a small favor.

Tomorrow is the start of visits by family members. Youngest daughter Heather will arrive mid-day tomorrow, followed by Cousin Kevin on Sunday. Or Monday, depending on when he feels like coming up from his trip to Portland. Then on Tuesday, oldest daughter Erin and her friend will show up as Heather heads back home. They go home Thursday, but then there is only one day left for Faith and I to go through, before we can go home. So everything here will end with family activities -- which is probably a pretty good approach.

Here's hoping you have good events in your weekend too...

Dennis & Faith

80% there...

Today my radiation treatment shifted to a "booster" program, where the diameter of the radiation is tightened for the last seven days of application. When completed, it was number 24 out of 30 days of radiation killing the remaining cancer cells left behind after surgery. With only a little math while laying under the equipment, I figured out that 80% of my treatments had been done successfully. If this were being graded, I would already have a "B". Now only six days of radiations until I get an "A" and get to go home!


Things are beginning to tighten up now, as meetings and sessions for the last week are being planned. Along with Avastin and blood testing on Monday, I'll meet with a tumor support group on Wednesday and have an MRI and cognitive test on Friday. By the way, when we read the results of my blood test this week, we saw that all but one of my points were within the standard criteria, and it was only a touch high. The doctor said that it was close enough that it might only represent a variance on my part.

Along with all of that, both daughters and a cousin will arrive over the next days. So the days will seem full and go quickly.

Hope you are having a good week as well...

Dennis and Faith

The Heat In On...

As the mercury climbed into the 90s today Dennis and I both felt like crawling into a refrigerated truck or a cold shower. All in all it was a day where everything we needed to do proceeded, but it seemed the heat made us slow and encouraged napping. Today was the very last regular radiation treatment for Dennis-for the last seven days, ending next Friday, the field of the beams is narrowed to a much smaller area pinpointed around where the tumor had been removed-this is called the boost phase.
Boost or not, we can visualize leaving and we are excited about the arrival of both daughters and possibly other family in the next few days. We hope they bring their sunscreen, or, in lieu of that cooler weather and rain. Anything akin to temperate rainforest will be appreciated. We are homesick and it will be a long time before we complain about rain again. Here's hoping, Faith and Dennis

Photo ops and auras...

Today was a day of many meetings, along with treatments. The first meeting was with the Virginia Mason photography shop, where they took a head shot of me for use in a potential interview. This should prove interesting; there are quite a few features of this situation I'd be happy to talk about.



The next meeting came with one of the doctors and a nurse in the Radiology-Oncology section, after I received my radiation treatment for the day. (Eight days to go...!) They agreed that everything was going very well.



Then, late in the day, we met with the doctor who is basically in charge of my participation in the clinical trial program that two others and I are participating in. This was a good meeting, where I got a lot of questions answered -- as did the doctor. A lot of it involved preparing for events after I finish this six weeks of treatments and go home. When do I restart one form of chemotherapy; how can we make the schedule of using the other chemotherapy better for my life and schedule; what can I eat and drink; when should I go see my opthalmologist to see if my vision has been affected; and several others. One interesting discussion was about my "sense of smell" from inside my brain, from an effect caused by the radiation. This is refered to in the medical arena as an "aura." Though I occasionally pick up a smell, or "aura," best described as burnt hair, rotted leaves and ozone, in fact it doesn't exist and is totally within my cerebral functioning. Apparently a variety of people suffering cerebral impact of various forms smell the same scent. Personally, Faith and I call it the smell of dead cancer, since killing the remnants of cancer in my brain is the entire purpose of these treatments. I like the notion that I can smell it dying. After the meeting was over, I felt that every question was patiently answered; I hope I was as patient answering the doctor...!



After all those meetings, we returned to our apartment and ate dinner, after which I did laundry. Finishing the day with "common events" was comforting, somehow.



Hope you had a productive day too...



Dennis & Faith

An Olympic Weekend

The Olympic peninsula was a sea of blinking lights as we arrived in the fishing resort village of Sekiu facing the waters of the Straits of Juan de Fuca friday evening. It had taken four hours to move along across the ferry from the east side of Puget sound to the west side and along the winding route along the Olympic peninsula in nw Washington.
But it was worth it for the peace and quiet, the sunrise and sunsets, lavendar fields, the seabirds and beaches full of wonderful rocks and shells, and-campers, a sea of them. This was the escape for many city folk, and it felt great.

Dennis was very tired from his radiations and the meds were beginning to take their toll. I drove into the night and we fell right to sleep in our little seaside cabin after meeting out hostess and her lovely chocolate lab "Bird-ette".
The next day we went to Neah Bay, looked at the wonderful artifacts excavated from the site of Ozette-including the coolest orca whale effigy studded with teeth-and headed out to Cape Flattery for a trip to th lighthouse overlook and the furthest point northwest on the continental US. The Makah Nation is a vibrant whaling people with unique culture and wonderful art forms covering 4000 years. We were glad to visit.
Our second day we took off for the Ozette area, which has some petroglyphs we could not visit, as it was too long a hike for the both of us along the beach. We then went inland to the Hoh temperate rainforest and while Dennis napped Faith walked among the moss and big spruce and douglas fir trees. It was a terrific day and we were both tired at the end.
Monday we went inland and across the Olympic National Forest and the National Park, including the Sol Duc and Elwha river valleys through Port Angeles and Sequim back across Puget Sound on the ferry, grocery shopping, in time to arrive back in Seattle for radiation and weekly blood tests.
The weekend served its purpose-Dennis slept completely through the night Sunday for the first time. I got to pick salal berries. We saw an elk cow sleeping in a meadow. At the end of the day today he now is in single figures for the number of radiations of his brain-only 9 are left! Talk with you tomorrow, Faith and Dennis

Saturday out of Seattle...

Today is a great day, because we spent last night in a resort in the little Olympic Peninsula town of Sekiu. It is a small, mostly resort, community on a grand little bay -- currently filled with an array of campers, RV's, boats, trailers, trucks and about anything else you can think of. A youth salmon competition started this morning, so there are lots of families here with kids taking part. Nearly everyone here is from Washington -- only two vehicles from Montana and two from Oregon were spotted this morning on my exercise walk around the harbor.

While I sit behind the closed library in Clallam Bay using their wi-fi and outlet, at the recommendation of several different residents, Faith is at an organic natural food outlet, shopping for our weekend and remaining 14 days before flying home. It is quiet here, and the air is clean. The "escape" from urban vibration is exceedingly good for both of us, and we slept very well last night.

Since wi-fi is pretty limited around here, we may be a little limited on our ability to write on the blog every night. If you miss anything for a couple of nights, just know that we are in a beautiful rural area enjoying ourselves very much. As the owner of our resort, who used to live in Alaska, told us: "It's almost as good as Alaska!" We agree with her -- this is a grand part of Washington indeed.

Here's hoping you're having a great weekend too...

Dennis & Faith

Returns of rain and a friend...

Today had a pair of good features. For one, rain has returned to Seattle. After a couple months of real shortage, rain seems to have returned in a normal fashion. We've also been informed that the same is true at our home, Ketchikan, which has had lots of rain over the past few days. This is important knowledge to us for a variety of reasons, among which is the fact that our dog Kona now has streams in the roadside ditches to get her drinking water from. This makes her much happier.

The other good feature of today was the overnight visit of our friend Elisabeth. She came in yesterday, and spent the night and most of today here with us. She and I took a nice walk around Swedish and Harborview Hospitals, while Faith was accomplishing a bunch of her work in the apartment. Like everyone else we've taken out to see it, she was impressed by the features of the 1931 original hospital building. It is definitely worth the time to go look at it, if you're in the area.

Every day is a celebration these days, as the treatments are coming to a conclusion, and our return home looms ever closer.

Here's hoping you have a good weekend...

Dennis & Faith

So it is Wednesday

Today we were blessed with cloudy weather and really helpful discussions with medical types at the hospital and coordinators of the clinical trials. Dennis, although tired and nappish throughout the day, has high hopes of being able to coordinate getting his avastin/placebo infusions with his hunting goals and tags. Wowee, the fall is getting busy, and it sounds like our freezer at home may benefit.

Naps are therapuetic and I sometimes wish I had time for them. Occaisionally I will feel like it, but with the cooler weather I have been getting a lot of work done. Dennis will pick the couch if I have moved my office to the bedroom, or he will use the bed if I haven't expanded past the coffee table.

We have a close friend from Ketchikan visiting overnight-Elizabeth brings us news from home and updates on what is happening in town. It is wonderful to see friends. It sounds like it has been raining at home and our pet parent Ardath has called to say the "cistern runneth over". Kona has been in good health and is "shedding again" This is great news and we really appreciate all Ardath does.
Dennis hit the hay early - with only a dozen treatments left to go, we are looking forward to Friday and the last two weeks of radiation and visits from both girls. Talk with you tomorrow, Faith and Dennis

Over the crest and headed downhill to home...

Today really felt like we've moved over the top and began to accelerate downhill toward home. We're well into my fourth week of six weeks of chemo and radiation treatment, and the 17th of 30 radiation visits. It seems like we can really see the end of what needs to be done here, and the joy of returning to Alaska. It's still two and a half weeks away, but somehow seems closer.

We have also developed a real practice of buying ice cream at the hospital cafeteria after my radiation. Somehow that seems like a good "treat" -- and Faith wants it as much as I do. Sitting quietly in the cafeteria dining room eating an ice cream bar seems wonderful, and it means that all of the day's treatments are over. Then we return to our apartment, where typically Faith goes back to work on her multitude of job requirements, while I take a long nap. Then we have dinner -- today was a great spaghetti dish, with the sauce featuring Montana mule deer burger and a bunch of vegetables. Another grand feature of this evening was calls from my brother and my cousin, and a call to Faith from a long-term friend she hadn't heard from for a while. All in all -- a pretty good day.

Thanks for your support, and the great comments many of you leave for us...

Dennis & Faith

The Clinical Trial Begins....

Today was some Monday. It began at 8 am and we are now back at 3:30 pm. Dennis began with his first infusion of avastin or the placebo that took 90 minutes-they do this slowly the first time in case the person is allergic to the drug. He will receive this once every other week for 26 weeks. Avastin is use on recurring cancers of the brain but has only recently been accepted by the FDA for clinical trials and initial treatment.

Then when he went to radiology they used x rays to make sure what they were targeting had not changed in dimension.

The techs said there were no changes and that was a good sign. Fourteen more to go and we are outta here!

He sailed through both of his appointments, and is now more tired than most days. Thank goodness it is cool and cloudy. We are celebrating by having home baked Amish chicken (from Missouri) and heating up the apartment.

Talk with you tomorrow, Faith and Dennis

A City Sunday

Only to be interrupted by the powerwasher that is...for some reason the hospital was being power washed yesterday morning. We saw our friends off after breakfast: all three were headed home to Alaska. Dennis and I had projects to do, including plan a birthday for his mom (those in the family that read this PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THIS AWAY, it is a surprise). The one thing we are counting on is that she won't read this on the internet or be told it by a family member...please don't spoil the fun!

I finally pulled out my featherweight sewing machine and worked on two projects, that are now semi-complete enough to tape of the wall. Dennis napped. We did laundry. It was a lovely afternoon. The weather is due to cooperate this week, which is nice.

Tomorrow is a day of anticipation and begins the clinical arm of the treatment for Dennis. Since I am writing it this morning it is here! There will be lots to report tonight. May you all have a great start to your week, Faith and Dennis

Out into the southern Washington country for a birthday surprise...

Last night we headed off to meet our friend Jim's mother, sister and other family members overlooking the Cowlitz River in southwest Washington. The drive alone was nice, sitting in a quiet rental car with my friend driving, making our way south. When we arrived, we met more people in the family, who pretty much reflected his appealing personality. His entire purpose in coming down was working with his sister to create a surprise 85th birthday party for their Mom...which happened very nicely. Getting to take part in that was a great break for Faith and I from our usual proceeds.

Faith also got to spend some hours out picking blackberries, in a productive and very attractive countryside. We did some hiking too, and truly enjoyed being out in the country -- with very nice weather with temps in the 60's too. Now we're back in Seattle, with our friend staying with us a night before flying back to Alaska.

Hope all of you are having a great weekend too...

Dennis & Faith

From City to Country

Dennis is now half way to completing his chemo and radiation! Yahoo! It is Friday and the end of the week is marked by great anticipation- we are escaping into the southwestern Washington countryside with a friend who has flown in from Alaska and rented a car.

The trip south from the city took several hours and we were stunned by the traffic-wow! It was a veritable parking lot. It was so nice and cool in the air-conditioned car I fell asleep. The skies were gray and it sprinkled a little. Finally we arrive to a lovely spot overlooking the Cowlitz River Valley. The gardens were in full bloom, the blackberries and other berries were hanging off the vines and we all relaxed. It felt wonderful... and we are ready to enjoy the night outside the city and our new hosts are great people, we really enjoy them.

Thanks again to all those that have visited this week-we appreciate you! Talk with you tomorrow, Faith and Dennis

Fine Friends

Today the cooler weather ushered in friends. One set was here from Ketchikan and visiting Virginia Mason for medical reasons. Thank goodness their surgery went well. We were treated to a lift to the bank and some shopping and then back. Phew, that was fun! In the afternoon a friend from Juneau stopped by to spend the afternoon before going on to visit family in Michigan and parts east. It was nice to see everyone, and the weather held the entire day, keeping the treks uphill more tolerable.

Tomorrow is a milestone in Dennis's treatment-it marks 15 days have passed, and there are 15 days to go!! He is doing well, and pacing himself, with lots of naps, and time to get exercise and to be with friends. I think he is doing great, considering everything that is happening. The last seven days of his treatment will involve radiation of the same dose in a smaller, pinpointed area.

This weekend we are escaping to rural Washington with a friend from Thorne Bay, and are both looking forward to the quiet of being outside the city.

Hope your weather is great too...

Faith & Dennis

Cool weather here for sure...

It's sometimes amazing what a week can do for the weather...in this case, very much in our favor. The temperature here when I went over for my radiation was a solid 62 degrees -- a mere 43 degrees lower than the high last Wednesday! It was so cool today that Faith went from shorts in the morning to jeans in the afternoon when we walked down to the library. Did I mention how much better we like this weather than hot summer days?

On the wi-fi customer service front, we continue our mission to get the system in our hotel fixed. Right now, we typically get our computers kicked off the wi-fi Internet about every 15 to 30 minutes. Then we have to remember the special code and reregister into the ysstem. It's such a difficulty, to say nothing of nuisance, that I emailed the department in the hospital that provides services to patients about the issue. Since they also run both of the hotels next to the hospital, they seemed like the right ones to talk with. I got a response fairly quickly, but when nothing happend in a few days, I sent them another email. This time I got a phone call from a higher-level official there, who promised stronger effort. He has called several times, keeping me informed on their effort and progress. And while it may not happen in our time, it does look like future residents of this hotel will have good wi-fi service available to them. Seems pretty important in the 21st Century to me, so I'm glad they're trying to fix it.

Here's hoping you had a good day too...

Dennis & Faith

An Afternoon of Meetings

Besides being my first full day back in Seattle, it was a day of meetings and a new schedule for Dennis. The clinical trial begins next week, with the first infusion of avastin or the placebo.

Dennis received his third haircut as well, now called the "No. 1", which means that there's about one fourth of an inch of hair on his head and beard. This allows the radiation mask to fit better and more accurately, an extremely important fact. Lan, who is a wonderful female barber, now knows us and smiles when he walks in the door.

I decided to spoil him so I am making him tapioca. The hottest it got today was 70 degrees, so I figured I should go for it. It is nice to see sunset with clouds out the window, and it is a great blessing to laugh together and be together again. Talk with you tomorrow, F and D

Gary leaves; Faith returns...

Today was a big change in my company. Gary flew back to Colorado early this afternoon, after two weeks of staying here and helping me out. He got well-acquainted with staff at the hospital, and I'm pretty sure they will miss him now that he's gone home. I don't think he's going to miss the heat much, but he did like some of the technicians giving treatments to me quite a lot. And rightly so...they are several steps above most that you encounter, even if the others are pretty good. Then Faith arrived in the early evening, after two weeks at our home taking care of lots of things that needed caring and attention. It's great to have her back; we celebrated with Montana mule deer steaks for dinner! Yum-oh was that good; it was also good that it has finally cooled off enough here that I could actually cook dinner without heating the whole apartment up.

Today is also the start of week three of my treatments, and the start of week five of our stay in Seattle. So, while I am only a third of the way through my radiation and chemotherapy -- we are half way through our two months here. The notion that our time is starting to slide downhill toward our trip home is a really good one. I do appreciate what all the medical folks here are doing for me, and I am certain that it is necessary, but I will be very happy to return to Alaska after the second phase is finished on August 28th.

Thanks for all the comments and support you have been giving us...

Dennis & Faith

Another nice Sunday...

Today is Gary's last day; he leaves tomorrow to return to Colorado. Faith returns from Ketchikan a few hours after he leaves, so I won't have much time "alone" here. While things have gone well for me so far and I am fully capable of functioning by myself -- at this point -- it has been comforting to have people here to take care of "things" for me. Throughout my life, I have mostly thought of helping my friends, and seldom thought of my friends helping me. Now that situation has been reversed, though hopefully not for long, and it is staggering to me how many people care about me. I am fortunate indeed, to have a grand wife and a great measure of friends helping me in one way or another. It has all been somewhat humbling, in a positive and valuable way. Gary's support and help has been wonderful, and I deeply appreciate it. It's way different from going hunting with him, but I'll be back to doing that by next year.

Gary and I left the apartment shortly after 11:00 am, headed for an early lunch at a restaurant we had been to before. On the way we passed a nice-looking pizza place, and decided to have lunch there. Then we saw that on Sunday, they didn't open until 12:00 noon. Hmmm...what to do? Since it was a pleasant and relatively cool morning, with lots of shade on the streets, we decided to take a wandering walk around the neighborhood. We walked by a giant, cathedral-looking church, only to discover that it's a Baptist Church. I've been around a lot of Baptist Churches in the Midwest, and have never seen anything that looks like this one, so I assumed that the current occupant had bought it from someone else when they moved to another site. So we walked all the way around it, and found two interesting, though totally unrelated, facts. One is that, in fact, this church was built by the Baptists in 1869. The other is that the building on the other side of the street is the Polyclinic, and there is easy parking and an entrance. Faith and I have been going to a doctor there for several years, but have been entering from Broadway. This will be a much easier way to get in, I think. And oh by the way -- the pizza was really good.

Here's hoping all of you had a great weekend.

Dennis & Faith, with Gary one more night...

Walkin' to REI...

What a great change from Wednesday and Thursday today was! The temperature at noon was at least 20 degres cooler; but the temperature at night was even lower by comparison. When I woke up at 6:15 this morning, after sleeping very well, I fired up my laptop to find the temperature was a mild 61 degrees. With a small fan blowing the cool night air into my bedroom, I slept better than I had in days.

About 8:30 this morning, Gary and I launched our walk to REI. (For anyone who doesn't know, it's a great recreation/outdoor gear store, originally established in 1938.) According to my Mapquest map, it was 1.15 miles from my apartment. This seemed like a good walking distance on a cool morning, and so it was. We made no particular effort to move fast; instead we enjoyed the walk and the views, and arrived a bit after they opened at 9:00 am. The staff was friendly, and the store was fun to wander around in. I even bought a small, multi-functional tripod to use with my camera and small version spotting scope; and a bottle of "multilevel protection sun block" to help protect my skin. Happily, not only were both items relatively inexpensive -- they were both made in the State of Washington. A grand visit, and a nice walk.

No radiation today or tomorrow, but I took the Temodar on the same schedule for the weekdays with radiation, since it's been moved to the afternoon. That fit nicely with our "hike" to REI, as we arrived back at my apartment at the right time to meet that need.

All in all, a really nice day. Hope you had one too.

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

End of week two...

Today was the end of my second week of radiation, with four weeks to go. Tomorrow will be the end of the second week of Temodar chemotherapy, but I only have radiation five days of each week. So far, both treatments have gone very well. I have some minor effects, but nothing of any seriousness. I got the results of last Friday's blood tests today, and so far my blood system is taking all the medical treatments very well. There are expectations that features like white blood cell and platelet levels will be reduced, but so far I am doing very well and am considerably above the minimal levels. So far so good is the best way to put it, and I intend for that to continue the next four weeks.

The weather has certainly changed to our benefit. Around 85 degrees was the max today, after Wednesday's high of 105. I do not want to experience that again -- the mere concept may play a huge role in travel I plan the next few years. And better yet last night -- the lows dropped into the 60's. They are predicted to drop into the 50's tonight -- hurrah! That will make sleeping ever so much easier.

Here's hoping you all have a great weekend. I'll report what we do to have a good one tomorrow and Sunday...

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

Adapting to conditions...

Today we had a newly developed system of adapting to the high-heat weather pattern -- we went into the hospital way early -- Gary eating in the cafeteria before my afternoon Radiology session, then us sitting in the lobby and reading after my treatment. Did I mention it's air-conditioned in both places? While we were sitting in the lobby, a lady came wondering through giving everyone popsicles. We had also gotten popsicles handed out in the elevator when we were headed that way. We decided we prefered the cherry flavors to the orange ones, but were happy they were handing any out. We've also been eating at the wonderful Rhododendron Restaurant in the Inn at Virginia-Mason, which is about 75 feet from our hotel. The food is outstanding; the prices are quite reasonable; and they are air-conditioned! Unlike cooking supper in my un-air-conditioned apartment, which has been out of the question in the heat of the last few days.

Switching my radiology treatment to mid-afternoon has proven to be a real bonus. I can easily do work in the morning, before I apply chemotheraqpy and receive radiation. I eat more before taking the chemo, though I still stay at the "two hours without food" plan before taking it. Doing it after lunch seems to work much better for me than doing it after breakfast. The folks in Radiology supported the change, and today gave me the revised schedule though the end of my treatments. To say I am grateful to them for making the change a third of the way through would be an understatement.

Today proved to be significantly cooler than yesterday, which topped out at 105 degrees, though it was still in the high 90's. At this moment -- 9:30 pm -- it has dropped to 78 degrees, and is reportedly moving to the 60's tonight. What a climatic relief that will bring us! Sleep under those temperatures will be a major blessing, at least to those of us from cooler climates.

Things are going well; in fact better than a few days ago. Here's hoping things are going well in your lives too...

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

Afternoon service is a good thing...

Today I tried something different in Radiology. Rather than having my radiation between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, we scheduled it for 2:50 pm. I discussed this yesterday with the great crew that provides my treatment every day, and they were happy to make the switch for a couple of days to try it out. Wow -- was there a difference in today's outcomes, at least in how I felt all day. For one thing, I was able to do some work this morning, while I felt good from sleeping reasonably well during the night. I could also spread the morning pill-taking out over more time, which I think helped too. After they finished the radiation this afternoon, I asked them to see if I could be rescheduled to the afternoon for the rest of my treatments. They started looking to see if they could; I will get the answer tomorrow. They were very supportive and want to help me in any way they can, so I have hopes for the next four weeks.

Earlier this afternoon, our friend Elizabeth arrived for the day to visit with us. She had never met Gary, but was happy to do so -- in part because he's here helping me and in part because he set up the Texas pig hunt I went on with him in February. Yes, Elizabeth does love that free-ranging, organic pork I brought back to Ketchikan from Texas! And she went with us to Radiology and got to meet and visit with the folks there who do the work on me every day.

The only problem we're having here is that it is way hotter than could possibly be pleasant. Record-breaking may be a mild discussion of what's going on here in Seattle, and it's even warmer in Oregon and California. But it ran at least 101 degrees here today; the previous record was 95 degrees in 1971 -- according to the weather report on my laptop, anyway. In any event, I spent no more time outside than it took me to walk across the street and into the hospital, We did stay there for several hours after the treatment, though -- sitting in the nice seats in the lobby talking and reading newspapers. Did I mention it was air conditioned in there and not in the apartment?

So...if you want to hope for anything for us this week...hope for mysteriously cooler weather. A high of, say, 71 degrees would be very nice, particularly if the night-time temps ran around 57 degrees.

Today was a very good day, despite the heat. Thanks for your support and thoughts...

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

A good day a couple of ways...

Today was a shift back to a pretty good day, with an added bonus at the end of it. First and foremost, I woke up feeling pretty good -- in fact quite a bit better than the past few days. I had to get up at 5:00 am, because my radiation was scheduled for 9:20, which meant I had to finish eating by 6:20, and take all the medication that is to be taken with food by then. Then I had to wait two hours and take the chemotherapy. So this is a little cramped early in the morning, though I felt good throughout the process. After the radiology was over, I asked the crew about the value of rescheduling for the afternoon, at least to see if having the morning available for working and take the treatments toward the end of the afternoon might be worthwhile. They agreed, and one walked me over to his computer for planning it out. They had 2:50 pm available for the next two days, so agreed to reroute me to those times. This is great support on their part -- because now I can test it out. If it seems a lot better, I think we'll reschedule. I love working with those folks...they are greatly determined to help their patients, and it shows.

The other great thing that happened is that my cousin Jenny from Missouri came to visit. She is here for a conference, and was able to spend the afternoon and evening with Gary and I. She's a 7th & 8th grade science teacher in her town in North Missouri, and really enjoyed both the conference and a chance to catch up with me and what is going on, medically and otherwise. It was a grand visit, and by 8:30 or so it had cooled off enough that I could get a badly needed walking exercise by walking her to her hotel, and then walking back to my apartment.

So far, so good...off to bed...more info tomorrow.

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

The beginning of hot days this week...

Today was the hottest day since I arrived here July 6th; somewhere in the mid-nineties. Being from Ketchikan, where very little summer heat breaks 70 degrees, this is more than a little tough on me under the best of conditions. Given that nearly every phase of my treatment here carries warnings about suffering from heat, it's even greater concern to me. I realized, when we came out after my 9:20 Radiology appointment, that having early radiation treatment, as scheduled this week, is a hidden bonus. While it was starting to get warm, it was still well below its high point this afternoon, so heading over to a close local grocery store and heading back to the apartment worked fine. An hour or two later, like last week, would have been problematic. Sometimes, scheduling works just fine for reasons that occured to no one at the time it was made...

The rest of today we spent inside, reading magazines and dinking on the computer. Actually, I did send several serious emails to people, all of whom have responded to me. So some work was done -- but mostly we just endured the heat. Much cooler in the apartment, so that was good.

We have company tomorrow and later in the week, so the next few reports should be more interesting. Hope all is well with all of you...

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

Sunday Sunday...

The title is a line from a song from the Sixties, though I can't remember the rest of it...but it fits today. Very quiet, though a bit hot. Gary and I did walk down to the Barnes and Noble store, carefully winding around to stay in the shade. Neither of us wanted a lot of sun today in the heat, and with my various medications I have to be really careful about it. One of the truly nice features of living near the top of the First Hill in Seattle, though, is that there is a significant availability of shade -- a crucial feature for some of us.

Barnes and Noble was very quiet and pleasant, with good food for lunch and lots of interesting books and magazines to scan. Didn't buy anything this time, at least in part because we became distracted by the notion there was a mall outside its "inside" doors. Sure enough -- though it only goes five floors up in the building, with an eight-screen movie theater on the top floor. Lots of interesting stores and restaurants too. I'm somehow guessing Faith and I will be back there a couple of times.

Now the weekend is over -- it has been a quiet break from action. Tomorrow it starts again, with daily radiation and several meetings in the hospital. And a meeting here in the evening from a Missouri cousin -- that will be a nice treat.

Things start early tomorrow, so off to bed I go.

Dennis & Faith, with Gary too.

The weekend starts...

This morning, the first day of the weekend, I had no real schedule facing me. While the various pills I take have certain time constraints between them, on the weekend days without radiation there is no constraint on when I start. So I could stay a little extra time in bed snoozing, which was pretty nice. And since it was a nice Saturday morning, I made tart cherry scones for breakfast, for a break from weekday practices. I had never made them before -- Faith introduced me to scones and has always made them for us. But I looked the "Sticky Fingers Bakery" bag over carefully, and determined that a product requiring adding 3/4 cup of water and stirring until mixed was one I could easily achieve. And the result proved my assumption to be so. Did I mention that they were really really good?

About ten o'clock this morning my friends Steve and Barbara from Utah arrrived -- they had been north of Bellingham for a few days -- to visit with us and see how I was doing. They enjoyed the scones too, and stayed long enough to go out to lunch and walk around looking at the neighborhood. I really enjoy it when friends come to visit -- it certainly helps me work through my habitation in downtown Seattle. And while Seattle is actually a pretty good city, it is still true that I am really not capable of living within any big city anywhere.

The other part of the weekend that is decidedly nice is that the nearby construction program takes it off, so the sound level reduces greatly during the daytime. This makes it considerably better for hanging out in the apartment and working on the laptop or reading books. Though I do have to say that the construction product is pretty interesting to watch sometimes, so that sort of makes up for the sound level.

Time to meander off to bed...hope all of you reading this are also having a good weekend.

Dennis & Faith, with Gary too

First week of radiation ends...

Today was the last day of my first week of radiation. So far so good -- the work is very precisely applied, and I'm not having much in the way of reaction to it, if any at all. There is so much going on in my life right now, with radiation, chemotherapy, several other pills being swallowed, and the effect of living in the heart of a city after eight years outside Ketchikan, that it's a little hard to tell. Since the radiation is given five days a week, Monday through Friday, I won't have it Saturday and Sunday. It will be interesting to see if I notice a difference in physical feeling by Sunday night -- that will be a good clue that I am being affected. So far, with everything else going on, it's a little hard to tell what is causing which feeling. One thing I do know -- we will be happy to see the technicians who are running my radiation on Monday. They are a grand set of young men and women -- all of them are in their early 30's; they are positive about their work; very happy to see us; and today gave us donuts when we left. And Gary loves visiting with them while they're applying the work to me.

After the work, we went up to Oncology to reschedule the appointment I apparently had with Dr. Otero on Tuesday, though I had no paperwork. They were very nice, and reset it for the 31st. Afterwards I went in for the first of many blood tests I will have -- at least one a week, to see how various treatments are affecting my blood system. Hopefully I will hear these results on Monday.

After that life was pretty peaceful -- lunch, then a really nice nap, and later a good dinner. My Mom and two good friends called later, and after dinner Gary and I took a nice walk in the cool evening air. The purpose, if such a thing actually applies to an evening walk, was to find the ATM in the Swedish Hospital. Which we did, and just like my credit union said, there is no fee for pulling cash. Which is a good thing, in big cities.

That pretty much finishes the day. Thanks for your support and thoughts...

Dennis and Faith, along with Gary

A quiet day...

Today was a quiet and peaceful day, cool outside with cloudy skies. My radiation was a touch delayed, because of a situation with another patient, but I was delayed no more than 15 minutes, and we were out in time for an early lunch at the hospital cafeteria. It was another part of the hospital I thought to show Gary while we waiting for my treatment, and after we came out from it, lunch there seemed like a good idea.

In the later afternoon we went to the library, after our naps, of course. Gary was quite impressed with it, if a trifle curious about its architecture. We will be spending a number of hours there next week, when the heat is expected to reach the 90's every day.

And that pretty much covers today -- it was pleasant and quiet, and we liked it just fine. I'll let you know tomorrow night how Friday goes, but I expect a similar day.

Dennis & Faith, with Gary

More friends visiting...

Treatment by the radiologists was scheduled for an hour later this morning, at 11:20, so this morning was more leisurely. I have decided this was a pretty good deal, or at least more relaxing. The radiation itself went like clockwork, without any noticeable effect today.

This afternoon friends Larry and Joanne stopped by to visit, and ended up doing us a big favor. We had a great visit, as they got to meet Gary for the first time and we shared lots of information and perspectives. When we mentioned our need to go to a Target and get a new air mattress for Gary, they agreeed to drive us there as they headed eastward to home. Great, and thanks, we said to them, planning to be dropped off and taking a taxi back here. So I got my MapQuest map and Gary got his Garmin, and we both got into the car with them. First thing we learned is the MapQuest and Garmin don't exactly agree on the best route to anywhere. This might have been a little confusing while driving the route to the Target store, variously described as six or more miles. And trust me, as we followed the directions down and out and around -- it was more than six miles.

But we found our way there, thanks to Larry and the Garmin, mostly, and Gary got his prize and I picked up three new shirts -- light cloth and double pockets. This means I can carry my cell phone in the pocket instead of on my belt -- much better, I think. And I have enough shirts to lower the rate of laundry, which is also a good accomplishment. Larry and Joanne calmly said they would be bringing us back to the hotel on their way out, which at least in my mind was way better than calling a cab. And I put the MapQuest printout back in my pocket and let it all go with Garmin. And yes, it reinforced my notion that I ought to buy one. Especially when we turned the wrong way and it rapidly readjusted and told us a new and suitable route to take.

Another grand day, with a great visit and several good phone calls from friends. It's time for me to go to bed and sleep toward tomorrow, so "good night and sleep well, all" and I will write more tomorrow evening.

Dennis & Faith, with help from Gary

Gary's first day...

Today was Gary's first day with me in Seattle, after arriving late yesterday evening. While I had discussed the apartment and its surroundings quite a bit, nothing really conveys the reality of living in a small apartment next to a major hospital where a large crew of construction workers is building an addition to the hospital, quite like waking up to experience it. All day long. Loudly. Interestingly enough, we live right above where they gather for their start-of-the-day meetings, so we get to watch and listen as they prepare for their labors.

Gary also got to watch me meander my way through the myriad of pills I have to take every morning, starting shortly after I get up and eat something, with various others at certain times through the morning, culminating with the Temodar that is my chemotherapy. I have to take it two hours after eating and one hour before radiation. All this is very specific, and requires some thoughtful scheduling. Fortunately for me, Faith wrote all this up before she went home Saturday, so it's pretty simple for me to keep track of.

And he came with me to Radiology and met all the staff who provides the treatment every morning. They are a grand set of young technicians, who seem to enjoy helping their patients and spending time with them. After the 15 minutes or so that I was strapped down under my mask (look back a few blogs if you want to see a picture), we met with Dr. B, who runs the oncology radiology branch. He's a great guy to meet with, very positive and supportive. He was very happy with how things are going so far, as am I, and plans to meet with me every Tuesday to see how everything is going.

After all the medical work was done, we returned to the apartment for lunch (BLT, except we used spinach instead of lettuce. Yum!), then took naps for a good bit of the afternoon. Hey, it was too hot and the sun was too bright to go outside. After it cooled down and the sun was at a sufficient angle to give us shade walking, we hiked down to QFC Grocery to buy some stuff we needed for meals. This time we took a rolling carrier for duffle bags, that I use on airplanes mostly, and found that it's a great way to bring heavy groceries back from a store, at least when you don't have a car to drive.

So that's today's events...pretty nice all the way around. Hope all of you are having good days too.

Dennis & Faith, and Gary too for a while...

First day of treatment...

Today was the first day of treatment. I rose at 6:00 am, because I had to eat breakfast and take the first set of pills by 7:00 am. I can't eat for two hours before taking the chemotherapy, and I have to take it an hour before radiation -- which was scheduled for 10:10 am. Thus...this whole effort has become something of a step-by-step schedule. The nice part of it is that I was back in the apartment fixing tomato soup for lunch by 11:00 am.

On the first day, I have no effects from either process. I have 41 days to go, and it is clearly uncertain what effects either or both may have on me. It is likely that there will be some, but every individual varies, so only time will tell. I am shooting for the least, of course... :)>.

In the good news category -- I found a Trader Joe's market close enough to walk to on the Internet yesterday, and walked down there this afternoon, once it had cooled off enough to make it feel good to me. Being from Ketchikan where the average summer temperature runs around 65 degrees does make it a bit tough here when it's running 20 degrees warmer, so I prefer morning and evening jaunts. I'd actually like it a lot if it rained more, but so far that doesn't seem to likely.

My friend Gary from Colorado just called; he's in a taxi headed here from SeaTac Airport and should arrive in a few minutes. So I'll finish up and wait for him to arrive. The next couple of weeks should be fun!

Dennis & Faith

Last day before treatments...

Today was the last day before my new life begins...with intensive treatment to kill the cancer left in my brain beginning tomorrow morning. Chemo comes first seven days a week, followed by radiation each morning Monday through Friday. Both are carefully designed to be focussed where they are needed. I'm more than ready for this work to begin...in point of fact I would have liked it to start a week ago. But the Dr's and staff have been carefully planning and measuring and preparing, particularly for the radiology, and it is finally time to begin. I'll let you know how it affects the rest of my body, but what it will do inside my skull is really all that matters at this moment.

Today was a quiet and peaceful day. Lyndell and I did our laundry, then walked down to the library and spent a peaceful afternoon there. Her friend is picking her up this evening, and they're heading east for Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota and other points tomorrow morning. Her visit with us has been grand; next time we plan to visit her in her upcoming new home in North Carolina while she completes her Master's Degree there.

Thank you all for your support and thoughts, and all the love and caring you show...it makes a difference in our lives.

New helpers for a little while...

Faith returned to Ketchikan this morning, to take care of our house, our pets and her work up there for a couple of weeks. She showed me how to write for this blog, and called from home once she got there. I talked to Kona, who misses me almost as much as I miss her. While I wish I could be home too, I know it will be good for Faith to spend some time there before she comes back to spent the last part of my treatments helping and supporting me.

Fortunately, my niece Lyndell came in Thursday, and is staying through tomorrow. We walked down to see "Bite of Seattle" at the Seattle Center today, then went into the Science Center to see the displays and exhibits there. Pretty good food, and interesting things to look out. That, with a good walk that made me feel in better shape, made for a great day.

My friend Gary is coming in Monday for a couple of weeks -- so I've had and will continue to have good company and will have plenty of support and assistance, if I need it. Monday I start radiation and chemotherapy, so sooner or later I will know what kind of help, if any, I need. Key point is everything that's done to me will help kill remnants of cancer, and that is the most important action right now. I plan to kill it until it's dead, and then just keep killing it.

This is my first Blog effort, but I'll be keeping it up while Faith is home. Hope you enjoy my views on things...and thanks for your support and thoughts.

Dennis & Faith

A Little Alaska in Seattle

Today was one of those really warm days where you searched for the shade at each intersection before moving into the hot sun. Us Alaskans were dripping! Lyndell thought it was pleasantly cool (but she is from Missouri) Dennis and Lyndell went off to explore the Central Library and were amazed.
In the afternoon Dennis received the final work up (two x rays with his mask on) to adjust and orient the mask related to his radiation treatments. He met the team of radiation techs that will be implementing the radiation oncology perscription five days a week. This is IMRT, or intensity-modulated radiation therapy. That is where CT scans images are used to design a unique treatment regimen for each patient. Radiation, along with the oral chemotherapy Temodar, begin on Monday. His schedule is very busy and intense in the mornings, which should work out well for resting and doing activities in the afternoon. Everyone there was really helpful down to taking requests for music during the approximate 20 minute procedure.
For dinner at Chez Neill the pirate made grilled Alaskan salmon. The entire meal was an epicurean delight as the photo suggests. More later, Dennis and Faith

Arrivals

Yesterday was marked by lots of arrivals. First, around noon, the chemotherapy packages we had been waiting for since Tuesday arrived, in two parcels and as well as gifts of headscarves from friends and pictures of Missouri (lillies from the garden and new babies) from Dennis's mom. Later in the day Dennis's neice Lyndell arrived to spend several days.

We decided to take her out for a birthday dinner, a plan we'd been hatching for awhile. It was fun to talk about her graduate school move to North Carolina and news of the family. It was fun to go out to dinner. Tomorrow, Dennis and Lyndell go and explore the library while I get work projects done. Talk with you later, Faith and Dennis