Phew?!

There are no words for what we are feeling today. Glen came out of his last radiation appointment completely spent. It was emotional and exhausting. He is done with that and on Tuesday he will be done with chemo. Two weeks for the residual effects to begin to clear and then he will begin to feel like himself again.

We're looking forward to a 3 day recovery period before his final treatment. Happy Labor Day to all!
j

Hotel Kabuki

Here we are in the home stretch. And what a wild ride it will be. Glen woke up in the night with his face "on fire." The vicadin didn't cut the pain. By the time we got to UCSF for his regular radiation appointment he was dealing with it, but absolutely miserable. (I'll let him describe the misery to you in more detail when he's ready.) Dr. Yom was there to save the day...in more ways than one. The first thing she did when she saw Glen's red and puffy face was go to her computer and google something that she wanted to share with Glen. When she found it - she had Glen read it. It was a report that the greater the skin reaction to the Cetuximab, the greater the odds are that it's working. So that was a moment of glee - in a weird way. Then she asked him what he was taking for pain and couldn't believe that he was only taking 1 or 2 vicadin. She said, "That's for a sprained ankle, not radiation!" She prescribed some heavier duty pain meds and off I went to the pharmacy. (It's almost a daily visit I think.) Dr. Yom saved the day again because when I got there and the pharmacist said he couldn't fill the prescription (I'm sure he had a very good reason) and told me to go back to my doctor's office for another one. Yah right, drive back to UCSF at 4:30. Anyway...the incredible Dr. Yom convinced him that he could fill it and voila - Glen is feeling much better now...if you know what I mean. Actually, his word was "numb," but I told him that numb was a good thing for the next couple weeks. After that he can start moving out of numbness and into the "colored" world (my reference to Oz).

Phew...now where was I? I really was just going to tell you all that we would be spending our night tomorrow (Thursday) at Hotel Kabuki in Japantown. We have actually had a reservation there for Thursday night for the last month, thinking that it would make it easier on Glen not to have to go to SF twice on Friday. Hotel Kabuki lets patients check in early and check out late so Glen can get some rest. But up to now, he hasn't wanted to stay (I think he likes the normalcy of his own house, bed, kids, etc.). However, since it's his LAST radiation treatment on Friday - we thought we'd make it a "date" and make it easier on ourselves. So we won't be answering emails till Friday afternoon. You can reach us by cell/text until then.

"Talk" later,
j

A week of "lasts"

I thought I'd do a quick post and asked Glen if he wanted me to "say" anything for him.  He said, "It's a week of "lasts"...last Monday, (second to the) last Tuesday, etc. all the way to the LAST radiation on Friday.  Be thinking of him at about 12:30 on Friday when he goes in for his LAST radiation treatment.  What an accomplishment!Last weekend Glen was feeling the difficulty of what he'd been through and was having a hard time looking forward through the remaining weeks.  He had an incredible appointment with Dr. Yom where she really listened to him and let him just sort of "feel" what he was feeling.  She knew that he was struggling and she was concerned about his spirit, but she was so incredibly encouraging and caring.  Her inspiring words really helped Glen refocus and we went home feeling much better. Glen was really re-energized to finish up strong-well as strong as he can be after what his body and mind have endured.  Amazingly though, Dr. Yom wasn't through.  She emailed Glen at 1:00 AM on Friday night/Saturday morning with more encouragement.  She said she was really concerned and wanted him to know that he is making INCREDIBLE progress medically and he really needs to stay strong mentally.  Can you believe that???!!! A doctor staying up worrying about her patient and then emailing him a long email in the middle of the night?   OMG!   We are blessed by fabulous, caring medical experts, supportive, caring friends, business friends, family and even acquaintances and strangers.  Thank you all!  We are in the final stretch and are racing (though at a non-Olympic pace!) to the finish line.  joyce

explanations...

First...to those of you who are trying to text Glen...he left his phone at UCSF this afternoon so he will have to catch up with everyone tomorrow.

Second, he had a great conversation with Dr. Yom today. She "scoped" his throat and is very pleased with the progress. She expects that he'll start feeling more like himself 2 weeks after treatment ends (Sept 2) and a full recovery thereafter.

Third, I know I posted some photos and you all are wondering - what the heck? I spent hours trying to post a slide show and/or just some photos and that was the best I could do. Techy I'm not. So the top photo (I think) is of Glen and the kids at Johnson Hall on the UO campus. For those of you who are in the know...that's the Admin building they used for Animal House! Not a good sign for Niels-or maybe it is!

The other pictures are from our trip to NYC-Sheryl Crow from the Today Show concert, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square from our hotel and Niels with Steve Carrell...sort of...

I may try to get photos up again. Wish me luck!

Hi, I Haqve Missed You

I think it has been over a couple of weeks since my last blog, so I thought I would take a few "good moments" and send a "hoarse" shout out to everyone.

First of all, thanks to Joyce for all the wonderful things she has been in this journey. I simply know I could not be getting through this without her. I will never be able to repay her in any real way, so I guess she will just have to be stuck with me loving her in my unique, oh so fallable, ways. I LOVE YOU HUN!

I feel all the positive energy flowing from each of you out there. It is providing me the energy I never thought I would need, let alone have, to fight this cancer. The past few weeks have been all-consuming. I appreciate your text messages as I find it easier to reply versus talking on the phone.

I truly hope I will be able to find a way to repay those of you that have helped me get to this point. Your visits, short or long, all of the wonderful text messages, wonderful meals for the family, it goes on and on. Your acts of kindness to me are as humbling an experience as I have ever faced. I care and love all of you deeply. (I need to stop, as writing this is making me cry and frankly it hurts physically to cry right now.)

On to status - I completed my 26th radiation treatment today. That means I have 9 more treatments over 7 days. This includes two more dreaded Fridays. But, I know I can do this. Around 1:30 PM on Friday August 29th, I will receive my final radiation. I believe I will get to take "my mask" with me on the final day. I am trying to decide how best to dispose of this wretched thing. I also have 2 more doses of Cetuximab, August 26th and September 2nd. I will likely experience a residual effect from the accumulated radiation and final Cetuximab that should dicipate by the 8th or 10th or September. Then my body can begin to heal. I am really looking forward to this. The day to day progress of getting well.

I will be back at you when I can!

Be Well!

 

 
 
 
 

Blog Tricks and more...

Well, as I've mentioned...everyone has been so kind to offer their support of all kinds and I'm getting that help from all around! (All kinds of people have offered to fix our running toilet!) Chris York, Glen's partner just turned me on to a cool addition for Glen's blog. You can add "gadgets" to the blog so that our readers can have quick access to other cool things.

Note that you can now subscribe to Glen's blog so you don't have to remember his address. I've also added a link to the ThomasYork blog. Chris got that going a couple weeks ago. Very techy firm, don't you think?

I'm also adding the blog address of a friend of ours who is going through a very similar challenge. Her name is Diane Fidelibus. She and Glen have connected and text each other sharing their successes and challenges. She has a blog that her husband, Jim is running. Take a look at her story if you have a minute.

Glen is currently at his second to the last chemo treatment. He'll be home this afternoon and will take a nice long nap. He's struggling a bit in these last two weeks so any texts or visits you make will help to break up the day. He had a visitor the other day and he gave him a big smile. It's the first smile I've seen in a few days...other than when he's cracking his bad jokes with the doctor.

Stay in touch everyone. Glen needs you now. (And the kids and I do too!)
j

Sundays

Well...Sundays are a little better than Saturdays.  Glen is feeling a little better today.  We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of Galen to hang out with us.  He's going to take Glen for his appointment tomorrow and I will go to work in the morning to do some prep for the beginning of the school year.  Galen's even going to try to fix the toilet that's running!  With the drought and our water rationing we can't afford to lose that water!  (And to those of you reading in So.Cal...you ARE stealing our water!  Pay up!)  Like I said...we appreciate support of all kinds!  Stay tuned...j

Saturdays are hard

Oh...Saturdays follow Fridays and Fridays mean 2 rounds of radiation. Saturdays are tough for Glen. He woke up feeling okay (all things being relative), but as the day progresses he just starts feeling worse and worse. He has trouble eating (no appetite) and he's restless and just wants to feel better. I liken it to having the flu and just being miserable all over...only with a few really bad areas (mouth, throat and stomach-though no vomiting).

We look forward to a better Sunday so that he can regain some strength for Monday and...

Keep him in your thoughts for a better Sunday...
j

Only 2 Fridays to to...

It's been great having our friend Steve Sagehorn here these last 2 days.  He just  has a way of making us laugh.  If you know Steve, you know what I mean!  For example, I was printing his boarding pass today and found a different time for his flight than he had told me.  He figured it out...but this is just how Steve's life goes.  I can't figure out how he's going to get to Dubai on Sunday when he can't even figure out how to get to Boise!  (Did we ever tell you about how once quite a few years ago he missed his flight to Whitefish when he was meeting us there?  He took a flight to Spokane and then had to rent a Uhaul to drive the 4 hours to Whitefish. We had driven from I don't know where to meet him there and enjoy his condo overlooking the lake. He didn't want to inconvenience us and keep us waiting all day, so he told us to break the door down to his condo because he "wanted a new one anyway"...and we did!  That's Steve!)  Anyway...I digress...Steve is a wonderful friend and we appreciate his effort to come down here leaving his 6 month old baby and wife Tracy for three days before he literally heads to Dubai (for work) for 2 weeks.  Thanks Tracy and Cole.  It's always entertaining to have Steve around and we love him!

And speaking of great people...thanks to the entire ThomasYork (TY) team for their ongoing support and incredible ability to step up to the plate while Glen takes time away from the office. Blair and her friend Claire Edelmann and I joined the TY team for a fun company party today. We played those horrible "teambuilding" games... and had a BLAST! Maybe they aren't so horrible after all! How about those "Mamma Mias" and "Black Pearl" teams???!!! Nothing like a little friendly competition to get to know people! (And oh yeah...the Mamma Mias rocked the hula hoop game!)

But seriously, thanks to Glen's partner Chris and the rest of the incredible folks at TY for making it possible for Glen to let go of his day to day work routines and focus on his health. It's really a blessing for him and I think that it's really helped him to get through this horrendous treatment program as well as he has. He wouldn't be doing as well as he is if he were trying to keep all the plates in the air still.

So before I get sappy...only 2 more full weeks of treatment to go (thus the title of this post) plus one day of chemo on Sept. 2nd...but who's counting? Keep those thoughts and calls and emails and texts and comments on the blog coming. I've talked to quite a few people recently who say they check the blog "religiously." We're glad that it's helping you stay in touch with what's going on with Glen. I hear many of you are still struggling with commenting. You don't have to have a gmail account. You just have to make a little account in order to comment. If you look way back in July, I explained how to do it.

Thanks again to you all for all of your support of all kinds. We are truly blessed.
Happy weekend everyone,
j

PS I just want to mention that as the "kids" of our friends and Niels' friends start heading off to college, we are thinking about all of you. What an exciting and bittersweet time for us parents. I know this is what we all "signed up for," but did it have to come so soon???!!

so far...

so good...I thought you all might want to know that Glen is not feeling any undue nausea at this point. The 4 anti-nausea meds he's on seem to be working! As they told us...there are not any real new advances in chemo treatments for cancer...but there are new and better drugs to treat the side effects. The only side effect he's feeling now that we did not expect, is his case of the hiccups. This cisplatin seems to give him some indigestion that results in a raging case of hiccups. He took a Zantac to try to control the indigestion thereby controlling the hiccups. Seems to be helping some. BTW - you might think it could be funny to watch him hiccup for 2 hours (as he did with the cisplatin 3 weeks ago), but it is actually quite annoying for him so it's not a laughing matter for us.

Well, back to the Olympics and the A's game. (Yeah they won last night!)

"Talk" later,
j

The List

Well, I'm happy (and Glen is even happier) to say that we are done with Sisplatin (sp?) and can check it off the list!  Glen flew through a very long day in the Infusion Center receiving his Benadryl, saline, anti-nausea drip, Cetuximab and Sisplatin and I may have missed one or two others. :(  He was able to sleep through some of it, chat with his "neighbors" and power an Ensure shake.  Radiation only took about 15 minutes after the chemo treatment so we were on our way home by 4:00 (I think).  Just a regular "work" day at UCSF.  What were all of you doing?  Probably working!  Now we just hope that he sails through the effects of Sisplatin as successfully as he did last time (no nausea) and then look forward to shorter Tuesdays for the next 3weeks!

Glen came home this evening and promptly fell asleep on the couch (good thing we just got that extra cable sports package!) and took a 2 hour nap.  I told him that there's no such thing as too much sleep right now.  He is currently watching the A's game (how depressing is that?!) and switching back and forth to the Olympics.  (Wasn't it nice of the IOC to arrange the "tournaments" during his treatment?) Blair is anxiously anticipating Michael Phelps' swim in awhile. Wasn't that 400x relay AMAZING!!!!!????? I think I woke Glen up with my screaming at the tv (he was in bed long before the event).

Besides our daily trek to UCSF we're staying pretty busy here. We're looking forward to a visit from Steve Sagehorn on Thursday and Galen Schmidt on Sunday. Dave Bing will be transporting Glen on Wednesday and next Wednesday Jim Kelley will have the honors. Glen enjoyed a visit from Mike Quillin yesterday. Your phone calls and texts and emails (to me) are all much appreciated. They really do help the days go by and give us something to look forward to, as well. And can I just say...the dinners have been fabulous! Talk about having something to look forward to...THANK YOU FRIENDS!

Stay tuned...
joyce

Half way there!!!!!

Well, halfway almost! As of tomorrow Glen will be half way through his treatment. He has done an INCREDIBLE job of getting through this treatment program. When I go back and think about when we first heard about the clinical trial and how we were so excited that he might qualify I think...wow - we were a bit like deer in headlights and really didn't fully fathom the severity of the side effects. BUT as I watch Glen work through the side effects with such strength and determination I am amazed. And we are so excited by the results he is experiencing. The doctors are also very positive.

Glen's week has been pretty successful. He seems to have figured out how to manage his oral care to the point where he is actually eating "real" food. On Friday when we were in the city all day for 2 radiations he actually ordered eggs and pancakes for breakfast at the diner across the street. This weekend he has eaten meatloaf, mashed potatoes, chicken soup with rice, pancakes, and more! This is a really good thing. He's sleeping for 6 hours at a stretch, plus a short nap or two in the afternoon so that really helps him recuperate. When we met with the OT (Glen refers to her as the "lovely Joey) on Friday she was very pleased with the fact that he seems to have maintained pretty much the same swallowing capacity as he did before treatment. He will see her again in two weeks. (He's looking forward to that!)

Tomorrow Glen will meet with his oncologist, Dr. Dubey. She has not seen him for a couple weeks so we look forward to getting her feedback on his progress. She has been away on a cruise to Alaska. Can't wait to hear what she thought of that. It's on our list of things to do someday.

Glen will probably see Dr. Yom (radiologist) tomorrow as well. She has been away on a little camping trip. She expressed her chagrin at leaving her patients, but Glen assured her that she needed her time away too. He even took her a little gift to let her know that she deserved a break. She laughed when she saw the bag of glow in the dark bracelets and the "headlamp" that I used in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day walk a few years ago. She wasn't looking forward to camping, she's more of a "room service" girl, but we know that she will have a story or two to share.

Thanks to both Jims for their posts last week. It's great to have the perspective and "voice" of others who are working with Glen through this blip in his life. It looks like next week we will have the pleasure of a visit (and transportation to UCSF) from Galen and another "old" college friend, Steve Sagehorn. Can't wait to have them here to provide some more laughter!

Blair had her 16th birthday last week. She had an enjoyable day getting more ear piercings (yikes!) and going to Beni Hana with her "soul sister," Marina. They had a great time there. It's a family tradition to go to Beni Hana for the kids' birthday dinners. Since we couldn't do the "family" thing this year, Blair worked out an alternate plan. I'm sure we'll celebrate a little later when Glen is ready.

Continued thanks to all of you who have been calling, "commenting" and keeping Glen in your thoughts. Also, thanks to those of you who will be dropping off dinner for us!

Hugs to all!
joyce

Courage

There is a word that keeps coming up whenever I talk to anyone surrounding Glen's care and the challenges he is facing right now and that word is COURAGE! We can easily add a few more like 'attitude', the positive variety, and 'f'ierce' and 'vulnerable' and lots more. But the one that stands out is 'courage'. Comes from Latin 'cor' (heart) as I understand it. Thank you for being you and meeting this challenge with such deep determination and heart! Glen, you are such an inspiration to all of us. Much love and gratitude to you and for you being in our lives.

Jim Kelley

My Day with Glen

This post is from Jim Gebhardt:

I wanted to take a moment and let you know how Glen is doing from a friend's perspective. I had the priveledge of taking him to his chemo and radiation treatment yesterday at UCSF. What an amazing place? The environment is new, bright and chearful as are everyone I met yesterday involved with Glen's care. And then there's Glen himself, who, from the moment he walks into the building he's saying "Good Morning" to all his favorite faces as he makes his way up to the infusion center (which is where he has his chemo treatment) with the same enthusiasm as if he's saying "Good Morning" to the Starter at the 1st tee Bandon Dunes. Having witnessed both, I can't tell the difference ~ how amazing is that! Once in the Infusion Center he has his usual playful and often sarcastic bantor with the specific nurses that provide his treatment and in the process brings some sillyness to an otherwise very serious setting. I'm sure the nurses feel like he is a breath of fresh air!

As Dr. Yom (his Oncologist) said during his check-in with him prior to his radiation session: "You are a very special person to us - Thank You." Glen, who consciously is working to improve his ability to "receive" did a nice job of accepting Dr. Yom's comments. It was an emotion filled moment. The modesty in all of us rarely allows oursevles to feel that we are special but as we all know Glen, Joyce, Niels and Blair are ALL truly special people.

Given all that Glen is going through he looks great. The sores in his mouth are impacting his ability to talk and eat (and we all know how much Glen loves to talk and eat...:). The more he can eat the less weight he should lose and then the faster his recovery should be. So getting the sores under control will be a hugh improvement in his day-to-day.

He has his routine down pat and his attitude is great! His care at UCSF is truly amazing and matched by the care he receives at home from Joyce and his family. With all that love surrounding him I'd say his path to outstanding health is well underway!!!

All the best,

Jim

Heading into Week Three!!!

I made a decision a week ago to not bring my computer home with me. One of the side effects of my chemo medications is a "touch" of anxiety. This led to some fairly restless days where I wasn't able to rest well. You see, I would want to work at my computer answering emails, working on projects, etc. and not be able to. This would make me anxious as my emails grew. So, ever the prioritizer, I decided my health is first, last and always at this time. So my computer stays at the office for the interim. I will let you know if that changes. One good thing is I have been able to get to my office Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings for 1 to 2 hours. I love my office and the people there. They foster within me such a wonderful sense of pleasure and joy and they are doing such a terrific job in my mostly absent state. My gratitude to them goes beyond words.

Before I get to an update on my health, I want to ask everyone to place someone I have come to know in the past month within their positive thoughts, energies and prayers. Diane Fidelibus lives within our little Walnut Creek - Indian Valley community. I hope I am not divulging any confidences, but Diane had cancer some 18 years ago. She discovered almost at the same time as me that she also has oral cancer. Due to prior treatments, Diane cannot receive radiation therapy and will therefore be having surgery this Wednesday. I am hopeful that she will have a less radical form of surgery and that she will come through this with flying colors. BE WELL DIANE!!! I have so enjoyed our sharing moments.

Today I received my 12th of 35 radiation therapies. At weeks end I will be at 17 of 35, or half way. I will also have received 4 of 8 of the Cetuximab and 1 or 2 of Cisplatin. One moment at a time, one day at a time.

I want to thank Joyce for her wonderful blogs while I was recovering this weekend. I am learning that Saturday and Sunday are important days for me to build strength for the coming week. This past Saturday was a difficult day for me as I was dealing with 3 different things happening in my mouth. My throat is becoming dry (dead saliva glands) and sore from the bombarding radiation; the third dose of Cetuximab decided to display its side effects through ulcers on my inner lips and gums and I developed a raging case of Thrush. This made it nearly impossible to eat unless I numb my entire mouth. This has taken some practice. Plus Joyce has helped me find foods that I could gum down my throat. Well, I now have a way to deal with this and feel great for it.

I think NYC was great for Blair, Niels and Joyce. They all got to do something they wanted to do (maybe Joyce will blog with more details?), plus it allowed them a break from this disease which has consumed our family for the past 2 1/2 months. It was also great for me that I got to spend 5 days with my Mom. Everyone knows there is nothing like having Mom take care of you, but we had a chance to talk about some things that we haven't discussed in years. I love her dearly. I also want to thank Dad for sharing her with me. Thanks Dad and I love you too.

My Mom and I met with Dr. Yom after radiation last Thursday. She scoped me again and it seems my primary tumor is half it's original size (YAHOOOO!!!) and that it has receded from my voice box. Dr. Yom was especially pleased with this as she stated it was a concern of hers. I know I have said this before, but UCSF Med Center is an awesome place. I feel in such great hands. Plus Dr. Yom makes me laugh a lot.

One last thing, Joyce mentioned how inspiring, heartwarming, humbling, etc all of your comments and emails have been for me. I continue to be amazed and in awe of the outpouring of positive thoughts and energy from each of you. Please know that you all have touched me in a very special way. Thank you!!

I will try not to be so long between blogs.

Revised!

Good Afternoon!

Glen just read my post (and your comments and emails that were sent to my address) and has some revisions to the treatment schedule. I thought it should be accurate so here you go...

As of today, he has completed 3 rounds of cetuximab, but he has 5 to go (not 4 as previously stated). The really good news is that as of Tuesday, he will be half way done with cetuximab! Yeah!!!!! I think I'll have a glass of wine on Tuesday to celebrate! (...as if I needed an excuse!).

The other correction is that he will have his last radiation on August 29th (hey that's THIS month!) and his last cetuximab will be on Sept. 2nd. So...stay tuned for more good news!

As for Glen's weekend activities...he's been eating a bit more today-squeezed down two scrambled eggs, a few Ensure shakes with banana, chocolate sauce and protein powder, a spoonful of honey, a bunch of water and he's looking forward to pudding and jello with whip cream for dinner! Well, at least he's going to try those tasty treats! He's also promised to walk around the block after dinner and he's currently taking a shower! Wow-what a day! The good end of day news is that he thinks he's turned the corner and his mouth is recovering from last Tuesday's chemo. Now he'll have a couple days to prepare for the next round. And so are the days of our lives...(You have to be of a certain age and gender to get that one!)

Keep your comments coming-he hangs on your every word of encouragement! Even the ones with the bad jokes! Actually, especially the ones with the bad jokes!

"Talk" soon,
j

2 weeks down...

Glen is on his way to complete and total health...it's not an easy path, but it's the road he's traveling and we are on our way together.

As of today he has completed 3 rounds of the clinical trial chemo (cetuximab) - he has 4 to go (I think). He has completed 1 of the 2 rounds of cisplatin. The final dose of that treatment will be August 12th. He luckily has not suffered from nausea to this point, but the cetuximab is really messing with his oral health. He has developed several of the expected or possible side effects of that treatment and is experiencing difficulty eating and speaking. He has found the humor in being told that he has to eat...after a lifetime of being told to "not eat so much!" Now he just wishes he could eat without pain.

He has completed 2 weeks of radiation with 6 doses per week (2 rounds on Fridays). His last radiation treatment will be on September 2nd. On Thursdays he meets with the radiologist, Dr. Yom. She has been pleased with the shrinkage of the tumor and that is just the news we want to hear! Both she and Dr. Dubey have been helping Glen with pain management. They are incredibly caring and personal physicians - and they both have a great sense of humor!

Last weekend our "best man," Galen came down to hang with us. It was great to have him here - both for his help and for his great sense of humor! He took Glen to treatment on Monday and then took Niels and Blair and me to the airport on Tuesday. Thanks Galen and Janet for your friendship (I hate to think how many years!) and support.

We returned yesterday from NYC. I want to thank Glen for encouraging us to make the trip. We missed him very much, but did appreciate the opportunity to take pleasure in the city - enjoying the sights (saw a Yankee game, walked the Brooklyn Bridge and many of the neighborhoods including Soho, Greenwich Village, etc.), sounds (saw the Conan O'Brien show taped - thanks to our friend Sue Edelmann and Blair and I also saw Sheryl Crow on the the Today Show) and tastes of the city (felt like we traveled back to Italy one night and came upon one of the "top 10" Thai restaurants in the nation!). We were fortunate to have Glen's mom here to care for him and shuttle him to UCSF. We owe her a huge thanks for allowing us to take our vacation without worrying about Glen's care. Also, thanks to Jimmy G. for bringing Glen to the airport to pick us up.

Glen has not brought his computer home from the office so he may not be writing any more posts for awhile. He is using his energy (what little he has) to stay focused on the task of getting through this treatment. As he said from the beginning - he has to get really sick in order to get well. While it's fairly easy to say that, it's not easy to live through...but he will get through this with your continued positive thoughts, energy and prayers.

So...you're stuck with me writing the updates...unless I can get Niels or Blair to give it a try. As always, thanks for checking in with Glen and letting him know you're "there" for him through your comments. I will print them out for him to read as he's able.

Love and thanks to all,
joyce