update from Seth

Hi Everyone, I am down here in Mexico with my Mom, and thought I would give you an update while I had the time. I know Carol hasn't been answering her phone or looking at her email and I know (from first hand experience) that it can be frightening not to hear anything or be able to reach her.

The move to Dali Suites in Playas de Tijuana was a brilliant one. The city is so different from downtown Tijuana. It's much more of a walking city. Just blocks from the beach, a walk to Starbucks, and even a movie theater that shows movies in English. It will be great when my Mom has the energy and strength to go walking! The grounds here at the Dali Suites are peaceful and serene.

This is the view from just outside her door:

We have hired Veronica, the Assistant Manager at the hotel, to help Carol with the food prep and the day to day chores (like her large assortment of meds). Veronica is fantasic! So friendly and reliable. She checks in on my Mom 3 times a day and cooks her really yummy, healthy meals. 

For the last few weeks, it appeared her health was declining rapidly. Her energy all but disappeared, and her mind just could not gather the information required to communicate. But recently, her doctor took her off the pharmaceutical med she was on (or at least the homeopathic version of it) and slowly her mind is coming back to  her. It is so nice to be able to hold a short conversation with her, and to have her express what she is going through and what she needs.

She had a growth on her shoulder blade that has been growing over the last 3 months. Three different doctors looked at it: her alternative doctor, her consulting doctor who combines traditional and non traditional medicine, and her regular oncologist. They all came to the same conclusion: it was just a lipoma (clumping of fat cells) and since it did not bother her, there was no reason to do anything about it.

Well, thank G-d for her ability to communicate again. As soon as she was able to, she told us it was hurting her and the pain extended to her ribs. So we scheduled a time to go into the hospital the next day with her oncologist (who is a fantastic surgeon) and have the lipoma removed.

Of course, nothing is ever that simple, and it was not a lipoma, but a tumor that extended from her rib cage into the shoulder where it was growing very large. The pain in her ribs was from the pressure of the growing tumor. They got out as much as the could without putting her through major surgery. I must say, she is the bravest person I know. I fold myself into a tiny ball when I think it's time for a tetanus shot. But she faces everything with an even keel and an air of determination.

Her primary doctor, Dr. Humiston, feels that this is one of the main reason she is still here and will beat this thing. Most people go into panic mode and their body reacts to everything without processing it. And there is only so much you can do with your survival instincts when you are constantly controlling your whole system with them.

Anyway, we were obviously not happy to hear about this tumor. So far, all of the tumors she has had have been hidden to us visibly. Inside her lungs, inside her ovaries, and so on. We were worried that it meant the tide was turning and the cancer was getting worse. Which is so strange, because her weekly blood tests show the tumor marker numbers significantly decreasing!

Including today, by the way! Last week's tumor marker was at 441. Today is was at 409!! In just a month and a half, her tumor markers have declined by over 150 points...no small feat at all!!

We are still working hard to get her weight up so she has some energy reserves. Dr. Humiston is looking into a product called PROTOCEL which he is just now learning about (and Mike has been learning about for a few months as well). Call it a coincidence, or call it divine intervention, but the same day Dr. Humiston told me he was looking into PROTOCEL for my Mom, was the same day Mike told me he ordered it for her.

So he just overnighted it to us and on Tuesday when we see the doctor again, we'll see if we are about to start that leg of the journey. But there is hope, and there is plenty of love. My Mom is sorry she has been unable to talk and communicate with everyone. She loves you and is so grateful for your love and support. She also looks forward to having you over to dinner when she is happy, healthy and back home in San Rafael.

The whole family would also very much like you to send some positive energy to her brother Norton, who is courageously fighting his own battle with cancer. We have no doubt whatsoever that he will win the war and return to happy,a  healthy life with his wife and kids. Your prayers and thoughts are so very welcomed in an effort to see this cancer scare for both Carol and Norton pass quickly and easily.