Friday November 18

The results of the biopsy are back. Sadly, the diagnosis is cancer. Chris has a grade three gliomatosis cerebrii. This type of cancer is not operable because it is not a single tumor. It is located throughout the brain, and the average life expectancy is 1 to 3 years. Chris is being referred to the Kaiser Southern California regional oncologist in Los Angeles. The neurosurgeon expects that the treatment will be chemo and radiation therapy. In the meantime, Best Doctors has been gathering the records related to the case, and is working on obtaining the pathology so they can have it retested at Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston, the neurosurgeon has referred us to UCLA for a 2nd opinion and we are looking at a possible opinion from UC San Francisco. I am pretty sure that Chris understands the diagnosis but he still doesn't talk much. I just pray that this cancer is not so aggressive that it is causing him to deteriorate more each day. It's so hard to say right now what it is that is causing him to be sleeping most of the day and somewhat uncommunicative. He recognizes us and knows where he is, I'm just not sure about the rest. Chris is not ready to be discharged yet, possibly Sunday; however he isn't ambulating yet. It's possible that if he isn't able to get up and start taking care of himself fairly soon, he may have to go to a skilled nursing facility for a bit. Arlo is working on putting a schedule together for people to come help "Chris sit" once he gets home. If anyone is interested in coming to help out for a few hours during the day, please let me know. I hope this makes sense, it's just so hard to write about this. I have been dreading having to write this one that puts out the bad news. I so wanted it to be the good news blog. Please keep us in your prayers, and you will continue to be in ours. Love, CJSRJ