Thanksgiving 2008

What a great Thanksgiving gathering we had! I can't wait to see all of your pictures! I'm uploading ours here. Click on the photo to link to it!

Love, Greg

"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." ~Leonardo da Vinci

The Thought for Today

"The true value of a human being is determined primarily by how he has attained liberation from the self." Albert Einstein

It's from my Franklin Planner. I hope I didn't break any copywrite laws. See you soon.
J

Next Week!

Karen and I are really looking forward to Thanksgiving next week. I hope to see as much of you as you can take of us. Karen and I are both feeling well. We'll just have to remember to take it easy.
Tuesday, the 25th, Karen and I will be going to Wichita as Ashley and Dan close on their new house. If any of you are here (i.e., Mary Anne), you're welcome to go down with us. I think I'd like to stop briefly in El Dorado on the way to say hello to the folks. We're planning a fairly early start that day (8:00 am or so), so let us know if you're interested.
"Oh, distance has no way of making love understandable..." , Radio Cure, Wilco

John & Karens' Week

Hello, my friends (and no, I'm not trying to paraphrase John McCain). In my humble opinion, that guy just couldn't generate the charisma to compete.
Karen and I hope you are satisfied with the election results. Me, I don't really enjoy debating politics with people who disagree with me. I am not a political animal. Some people like it, though. To me, we're all a bit like Tom Cruise, as described by Jack Nicholson, in A Few Good Men:"[We] can't handle the truth." Nor are we interested in doing so, really.
Today was a beautiful November day in the 50s. Karen and I worked on winterizing the lawn. Karen worked harder than I did. I use my weakness from chemotherapy as an excuse for taking it easy. Karen will buy this for the most part and, frankly, it is based in truth. My seizure a few weeks ago may have been, in part, a response to fatigue from the prior day's strenuous work. I have also put on 6 lbs since therapy began. Another result of taking it easy (and eating well).
My 14 1/2 year-old pup (a Cairn Terrier, you know, like Toto, named Katy), is fast asleep between Karen and I and that's telling me it's time for sleep.
More soon.

Congrats to Danielle (and, yeah, Nathan too!)

We're very happy for you, Danielle and Nathan! We hope your every dream comes true with the expectation of your first child. This couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving couple. Karen and I can't wait to become a great aunt and uncle once more. You'll just have to blog the sonagrams.
Please take care of yourselves and keep us informed of every step on the way.
Love,
Uncle John

P.S. It was nice staying with you. Thank you for that. It was also very nice meeting Ellen.

Happy Halloween!

Karen and I had some fun carving jack-o-lanterns tonight. Let me know what you think of them. Karen and I are looking forward to seeing Nathan and Danielle soon. We're ready to enjoy some happy election returns with you. BTW, both these pics feature my "pumpkin face." Happy Halloween!

Heading Back to Duke Soon

Karen and I are getting ready to return to Duke Medical Center soon. This trip will be a quick-hitter, only a couple of days. The Duke Cancer Center (the Robert Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center - Where Hope Lives, to be exact) is expecting our visit. They have worked closely with our local doctors, especially Dr. David Einspahr, our oncologist. They make a fantastic team.
We had a scary experience Sunday. I had a seizure for the first (and I hope only) time. I had just gotten up and was letting my dog out when I fainted and lost consciousness. I hit my head pretty hard and bled a lot from my forehead. Karen was really really frightened but she kept her wits about her. She called 911 and emergency responders and an ambulance rushed to our house. I was still out of it as the paramedics took charge and I didn't really begin to track events until they had me in the hospital's emergency room. They told Karen not to follow the ambulance to the emergency room but to give them five minutes head start. According to Karen, I was combative and I was not cooperative. They managed without my help.
A nurse friend of ours has told us that a seizure is not necessarily a bad sign at all and that it may indicate healing is taking place. That's what we are praying is happening. Anyway, they have tuned up the Keppra (anti-seizure medication). It may have been set too low.
Karen and I visited with our family doctor today, Mike Atwood, who went over our experience with us in detail. I had an MRI yesterday and Mike was very pleased with the results of the tests. That really made our day and Karen is still smiling with relief.
The seizure has, at least temporarily (6 months maybe?) revoked my driving rights. My beloved Audi will have to sit in the garage for now, I guess.
Nathan and Danielle, Karen and I are looking forward to seeing you soon. Are you ready for a couple of low-maintenance guests? I hope your invitation is still on. We'll see you soon.
Love,
John

Going to See Dan & Ashley this weekend

Tomorrow Karen and I will be taking a quick-hitter trip to Wichita to see Ashley and Dan. These quick easy trips work best for Karen and I as we are both fighting wellness issues. It's going to be well worth it to see Ashley and Dan.
I had a scary experience on my new bike. I was out riding on a country two-lane to try to recover some of my past fitness. The road was quiet and rural. There is a sharp left bend in the road. As I cut the corner to maintain speed, this young man in a big, old pick-up fills my view. It was totally my fault (the disease has messed with my left peripheral vision). He slams on his brakes and moves to the right of the road. I jackknife the bicycle and wobble across the road inches in front of him and into the ditch. I never even fell off but we were both pretty shaken up. Thank God this young man was a responsible driver. I can still see myself vaulting over his grill. He turned around and came back to check if I was ok. I told him I was (I didn't mention my soiled drawers, lol). I was a lot more scared (I think he was too) then I let on. We wished each other well and went on our ways.
I learned an important lesson about where and how I should ride. I could have gotten killed except for the Grace of God and this young man's driving skills.
Be careful out there, all of you!

Nice Weekend

Hi everyone. I hope you got a chance to enjoy the lovely mild early Autumn weather. Karen and I did. This is just a short note to let you know another chemo cycle begins next week. Karen and I are ready. I'll be in touch.
Martha: Thank you for your input this weekend. You are an angel.
Love to all of you.
John

Blog Photo Update

Greg: thanks for the new blog photo. Karen and I like it as does everyone else who's commented. I feel as if I am looking more like my old self these days. It's a good feeling.
Karen and I attended a fundraiser for a local State Representative candidate this evening. It was a good time and I think it did some good. We met the Kansas Attorney General Steve Six there. I will be doing some door-to-door campaigning for him Thursday (his name is Bruce Cooper). He is a neighbor and a friend and, more importantly, a moderate Democrat, running against an incumbent right-wing pro-life Republican. Apparently, its a "watch" race. We have a good shot here.

A Busy Week

Congratutions to Dan upon his admittance to the Kansas Bar. Dan is now a full-fledged attorney-at-law. We're all proud of you, Dan!! Here are a few pictures from the induction ceremony.

Testing Today

Hi all. Karen and I are about to leave for the lab to have some blood taken today for testing. If signs are right they'll do an Avastin treatment (mellowed with Benedryl) this afternoon. It may be nap time for me! I wouldn't mind that. Everything is going well and I am feeling strong. So is Karen (which is really more important).

I will take a Bible along. While we're waiting I'll study and prepare for my "conversation with the children" in Sunday's service. I am looking forward to that and should have no trouble keeping it short. Thanks for the tips, Jane. I may be calling you again for your advice.

Check out my lovely coffee date from Saturday. Thanks for the coffee and the company, Ash. Thanks to all of you for all your support and concern.

H!aving a Good Week

Hi Trophy Runners! Your comments and conversations are really making a difference. Karen and I both feel very strong. We owe it all to you. I've had an Avastin infusion, some blood tests this week, and I just finished another Temodar cycle. I feel very well. Karen is feeling strong too. We owe it all to your thoughts and prayers.
We will see Dan and Ashley this weekend. They will do some housesitting for Dave and Diane Lawence so they'll be in town. It is always our pleasure to see them.
Danielle: how is your 5K training going? I hope you are looking forward to your race. Let me know how it goes. Enjoy yourself, that's the key to sustaining interest. I know you'll impress us.
Martha: Thank you for your last comments. Karen and I are optimistic and determined. I hope that comes accross. We feel your love and care constantly. We love you with all our hearts.
More soon.
John

1st Week - New Chemo Regime

Hello. As I prepare for my nightly dose of Temodar (only one more night after tonight this cycle), I must say the new treatment regime has been more gentle on us physically (and thus emotionally) than either Karen and I could have expected.
I don't know whether to suggest that this is the breakthrough and the success we're praying for but we have a strong sense that it is just that. Please continue your prayers for us. They are making an unbelievable difference.
The trip to Duke was so enlightening, mostly in a spiritual sense. Stephanie, our brilliant social worker, told us we are navigating the five stages of grief. What are they, anyway: denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance? As you can imagine, that wasn't easy to hear at first. Stephanie said, in those words and others, that my disease is fatal. I know this isn't easy for all of you to hear (not even Karen has read this part of the post - she did hear Stephanie say it, though). Stephanie went on to say that I could live many, many years. Maybe there's even a cure in my future? So what's to worry about? I intend to live! Some of the things Stephanie said will stick with us for a long time.
Don't be afraid. We intend to face our future with all the courage and joy we know which, thanks for you, is immeasurable.
Love,
John

1st Day - New Treatment

I began my new treatment of Avastin and Temodar today. I just took a full daily dose of Temodar and Karen and I are a little nervous about this. I'll be sleeping soon but I could be vomiting (like during round one of the previous round). They gave me Benadryl and some anti-nausea medication that really put me out. Thanks for your prayers and suport and please keep them coming.
My Church has a new minister and his name is Brad Walker. He came by monday for a visit. I foresee big things for our congregation! I want to b a part of this.
Love,
John

Pulse Chemo Next Week

Hi all! Next week (Tuesday) I begin another round of pulse chemotherapy. This time we are using Avastin in addition to Temodar. We are hoping for positive results of course. I'll let you know the side effects, if any. Keep the faith.
I intend to spend a little quality time tomorrow on the road with my new LeMond Etape road bke!

Cancer Treatment

My cancer treatment will be changing next week thanks to the brilliant people at Duke Medical Center. I won't be part of the vaccine study as we originally planned. My brain tumor is "multi-site" and this rules out my participation in the study.
Duke is offering an alternative, however. They are also doing studies with an anti-cancer drug that shows great promise for brain cancer although it has been used for other types of cancer. The drug is called Avastin (check me on spelling, Doc) and may be a wonder drug for my type of case. We are praying it's so.
It all gets a little complicated for me but the treatment involves replacement therapy. This means, as I understand it, that Duke will administer the treatment to me then be reimbursed or accept "replacement" of this type of medicine to fund to experiment.
Our doctors and other top-notch people believe this may just be the approach we're looking for. One thing I can say for sure is that these people are at the top of their profession, including the most amazing social worker I've ever met.
We'll try to do a little better about timely blogging. I am working on a couple of professional projects and I feel great as you can probably tell from my last couple of blogs.
More soon and I love you all.

My Other Great Love

I hope you can see a picture of my Gary Fisher Mountain bike. Bob, this is what you need to have. Just made for single track, Baby!!

First Some Bad News, Then Good News

As some of you know, my beloved LeMond Virginia City road bike was stolen this weekend. Bike Thief, may you rot in hell! What to do, what to do? Well, there's really only one thing to do. Yes, I replaced the bike with a new LeMond (this one is an "Etape" model). It is aluminium with carbon forks. The old one was medium blue steel number. I love my new one very much but I won't take it out until it stops raining. With the homeowner's policy (thanks, Weissbeck Allstate Agency) the replacement won't cost us anything.

Pretty spiffy looking, no? I did have my eye on a Specialized Tarmac (easily a $1,000 more) but Karen's voice of reason prevailed. I am delighted and can't wait to race you!

John and Karen in Chapel Hill

John and Karen recently went to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center in Durham, N.C. I won't go into detail about all that the center plans for John, (I'll let John do that) but I can relate that it is a "place of hope", and we are excited about the clinical trial in which John will be participating.
The reason for this post, however, is to let you know that 1) conveniently and fatefully, Nathan and Danielle live in Chapel Hill, right next to Durham and 2) John and Karen stayed with Nathan and Danielle while John was evaluated by the Tisch Center. Here are couple pictures that they took while visiting there.

Just Checking In

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted for a couple of weeks. I will rectify that (with pics of Wyoming). My pix can't compare with Greg's though. More soon! Off to Durham and Duke Monday!

The Swick's Wyoming Photo Album

You can also view them larger and with captions at http://picasaweb.google.com/grswick/Wyoming2008

Wowing over Wonderful Wyoming

Here we are on the Jenny Lake trail to Inspiration Point and beyond!

Hi all,

What a wonderful trip to Wyoming we had! I'll be trying to break down all of our wilderness adventures into their many chapters and post them here on John's blog in the coming days and weeks.


To John: Thanks for inviting all of us on this fantastic trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. This precious bastion of American wilderness is truly inspiring and worth preserving and protecting forever.

And, to all who joined us on this trip: Thank you for being there. It was truly awesome to share this beautiful place and time with all of you.

There will be many more photos posted here. You won't believe how many we all took. I'll upload the Swick's to an online photo site later today. If you don't have authorship privileges and have some photos from your collection that you'd like to have posted here, please send them to me. I'll even give you credit for taking the picture! :)

This week John enters his third round of pulse chemotherapy. Please keep countless thoughts and prayers pouring out for him. We are all grateful for your support and encouragement during this time.


Greg

3, 2, 1, Wyoming!

Hi all,
Preparations for the Grand and Glorius Tiffany Reunion in the Grand Tetons and Glorious Yellowstone are definitely in full swing! While we were in Topeka last week, we spread the maps and tourist information out and imagined what our days there will be like.
A dip in the pool helped us to prepare for the relaxing time in the American West and the reality of nightly lows in the 30's and 40's, with daytime highs in the 70's.

I suspect that these swimming suits will not be a common sight out there!

John is the quintessential hiker on this trip. See his sporty look as he showcases his fine new Keen hiking boots.

Yes, even Bob is looking forward to strolling the beaches of Yellowstone Lake. With Photo Shop, I am sure we can transport him to Atlantic City in no time.

And, Laura has decided to join in on the fun! I believe that makes 14 of us converging in the wilderness.

Finally, the libations of the Big Sky Brewing Company, including the one and only Moose Drool, await us all.
Cheers, all. We can't wait! See you soon!
Greg

My Birthday

Thanks to you all for all the kind cards and 50th birthday wishes. My 50th birthday was Saturday (July 26) and was a close-knit family affair with Justin and Ashley here to join in the celebration. Thanks Ashley and Justin. Dan, I know you wanted to be here but we understand your dedication to your Bar Exam study. Best of luck to you. We have every confidence you'll do very well.

To all of you, wour thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. Remember, 50 is the new 30. I am going to try to live that motto. You all make it look easy with your graceful way of aging and of growing up (for you youngsters - that's everyone younger than me!).

Dan and Ashley, I love the bicyling singlet you got me for my birthday! Here I am dressed as the Lion of Flanders. C'est tres formidable! I think it looks good on me.

Thanks for the birthday dinner, Justin. It is always very special when you're here.

Thanks to Martha and Greg for our Anniversary Dinner. We loved having you and it was fun watching the Alp D'Huez climb with you live. We always love your visits.

Thanks and love to you all!

John

Anniversary/Birthday

Thank you for the Anniversary and birthday wishes, especially to you, Martha, for your kind post. Karen and I are truly looking forward to seeing you and Greg soon. It is hard to believe that as of Wednesday, Karen and I will have been married twenty years. How quickly the years have passed. There are many happy years ahead too, with God's help.
Karen and I are still active in the very beautiful church in which we took our marriage vows. I have a meeting at the Church Wednesday to discuss the Church's financial picture. It's always tenuous, but that's a modern church for you. 1st Presbyterian is a special place architectually. It is one of only 11 churches in the United States with a complete set of Louis Comfort Tiffany windows and the only one west of the Mississippi. They are amazing. I should blog them, no?
We're also looking forward to celebrating my birthday Saturday with Ashley and Justin. I hope Dan can be there too. I know he's really busy with his Bar review.

Milestones in July

This next week will be a big one for the John and Karen. On Wed, they will celebrate their 20th anniversary. I do remember that day as we all were in the First Presbyterian Church to share that special time with them. It was rich with history as our grandparents and our parents attended that church. Our parents also getting married in that church with the beautiful Tiffany windows. Greg and I have gone to church with John and Karen several times and it is easy to get lost in the sun coming through those windows and thinking about our past sitting in those pews as well.

John will also turn the big 50 on July 26th! Now, I have slipped on past that half century mark and it was a bit daunting as you think you can't be "that" old. Little brother, I wish for you a wonderful birthday. I wish you a week that you feel stronger every day and many more birthdays. Greg and I will see you and Karen on Tuesday to help celebrate. I know that Ashley and Justin will be up to help celebrate later in the week. We are all looking forward to spending time with you in the mountains during that first week in Aug. The emails are flying in daily to hammer out the final details of moving around a dozen or so people through their flights and hotel reservations. It has been a blessing.

Everyone out there who reads this blog, please send some anniversary and birthday wishes to John and Karen. It has been a very big year for us all!

Ashley's New Wheels

My 2nd round of pulse chemo has ended. Give me a couple of days to wake up and I'll tell you about it. I am glad to be back to the hiatus stage for the time being.


Ashley got a new bike. It's a great little Trek IOOO. It is a great looking little rig. I am sure she'll get a lot of satisfaction from riding it. Let me know when you're ready to ride, Ashley. I am ready to school you on riding skills. It looks like you selected a really quality machine. I hope I
can attach its pic to this comment.

Lets Ride!

Pulse Chemo - 2nd Round

Hi. I began pulse chemotherapy 2nd round today. It was a bit rough. There was considerable nausea today. Let's just say I purged my tummy about as well as it can possibly purge. This happened with round one too and it passed quickly and didn't really recur. We hope for a similar reaction this time. Karen had our doctor fill a prescription to treat my nausea related to the chemo today. It really helped. If this medicine continues to work like this, the rest of the week will get easier and easier. We'll let you know how it does.

Check out the pics we took of the 4th of July celebration in Collins Park, here in Topeka. It was very good to see some old friends like Mary Anne's friend Brent, Ann, the McInerney's and their families, Noel & Scott and some friends from our church as well.

Katy got a star turn at the 4th of July celebration as well. There was a French film crew taking video of American small-town neighborhood festivities. I think they caught a couple of shots of Katy. We hope so!!

Kim's New Little Girl

Congratulations to Kim and Brian on your new baby girl. Karen and I can't wait to meet Megan. Kim, I'll try again to contact you this weekend about coming over to visit.
Karen and I went back to our old neighborhood on Independence Day for the Collins Park celebration. We stopped in at Brent's house and said hello. We also talked with Mary Anne's friend Anne and the McInerney's. Very low-key and lots of fun.
Talk to you soon.

Almost July

Hi all!
Just a quick post before I nod off. I am feeling great. I am still conserving energy from the pulse chemo regime and I make good use of power naps. Karen and I are very optimistic about how this is going. The doctors are too.
We went to Wichita today to visit Ashley & Dan. Justin met us there as well. We had a good time and lunched at Cheddars.
Ashley took an important test for her real estate license this morning. The property management corporation she works for requires it. She successfully passed the test. Congrats, Ashley. She is now set for a big bump in salary. She is doing very well with her new position and they are very impressed by her.
I have completed all the continuing professional education (CPE) I needed to nenew my license to practice as a CPA. I mailed off the renewal forms, paid the renewal fee, and submitted certificates of completion yesterday. I'll hold a permit for the next couple of years until I have to renew it again. I had not been accumulating CPE certificates because I had been out of public accounting for nearly two years. Now I've paid the fee and provided the documentation of my study. It's good to have that out of the way and I learned about some topics I am really interested in pursuing professionally.

1st Week of Pulse Chemo

I just finished my first "off week" of pulse chemo. This means I was off chemo this week and I'll be off for the next two weeks. Then I do back on double-dose chemo for 5 days, then off, repeat, etc.
I didn't think the this new dose level of Temodar was having much physical effect on me but I can nap during the day like I never have before. It is very therapeutic. I'll lay down after lunch and the next thing you know, it's late afternoon. I don't do this every day but I can if I need to. I am sure it's doing good things for me.
I hope you're all having a great summer so far. Karen and I miss seeing as much of Ashley and Dan as we used to. They have been back a couple of times to see us and Dan's family and to finish their move. We hope to maybe see them next weekend.
I hope you're all getting ready for our trip to Yellowstone. I have my eye on a pair of Gore-Tex hiking boots. I think they're a necessity. I will be out there pounding the pavement in the next couple of months to get in condition for the Cascade Canyon hike, the Lost Lake hike, whatever. I hope you're up for it too.

Looking Forward to Yellowstone

I intend to spend some time researching the outdoor opportunities of the Tetons and Yellowstone in detail soon. I could use anyone else's input on this who cares to contribute.
Out of those of you who want to go, I see these of us as the most likely to be there (by family group):
Karen, John, and Dan, Martha, Greg, and Nathan, Mary Anne, Paul, Andrew, Katherine, and Alex, and Bob, Sr. That makes twelve committed to going. I think we can handle this group with 3 separate rooms and keep the cost manageble. I can't speak for Karen but I am willing to consider any reasonable room-sharing arrangements. It'll be a lot of fun. Four adults should be comfortable in a room with two double (or better, say queen) beds.
We're still waiting on final word from Justin and Laura. I hope you can make it. It may change room arrangements, so we'll have to take this into consideration. For me, vacation planning is half the fun. I know, I am strange.

Euro 2008

So, Nathan, will Sweden advance to the knock-out phase of the Euro 2008 Soccer Tournament? They'll have their work cut out for them against Spain today, no? I still see them as the runner-up in that bracket. They do have a win in-hand of course.
Just what does "Heja Sverige" mean anyway? Does it mean "Go Sweden!"? I like soccer at this level. It's entertaining and the action is continuous, unlike American sports.
What do you think?

1st Week Update - John

Well, after the 1st day's nausea from the pulse chemotherapy, I have had little to complain about with this phase of the treatment. This week of teatment is going well. After this week, I go off treatment for the rest of the month. That should have me feeling even better.
I enjoy hearing from each of you and I look forward to your comments. Please keep them up.
Dan, I hope your Bar Review continues to go well. Karen and I are very proud of you for your perfect final semester in law school (the end of a perfect law school career). We share a measure of your parent's pride in your graduation Summa Cum Laude and as the top candidate of your class. I know Ashley is beaming. Of course, none of us is surprised.

John's Chemo

I am adjusting to my 1st week of pulse chemotherapy pretty well after all. After the Monday's day's bout of nausea I am coping with the treatment nicely. I hope this trend continues. Karen is taking some time off this week to monitor my treatment, Bless her.
I met with Dr. Wills yesterday (my brain surgeon) for some feedback about the progress of my treatment. He has a lot of confidence in the phase-two pulse chemo team that is now in charge. Coming from Dr. Wills, that says everything. He wants me to touch base with him in a couple of months or so.
I am working on some continuing professional education (CPE) I must finish by the end of the month. It is coming along fine. I am working on renewing my permit to practice as a CPA. I should have no problem wrapping that up in the next week or so.
I met with the Vida Hispanic Ministry fundraising committee today. We the members of this committee work to network with other groups and individuals to diversify and expand Vida's funding. It's a great organization and has great promise. I am proud to be a part of it.

Pulse Chemotherapy Begins

I began phase two of my cancer treatment today. I took 280 mgs of Temodar (administered in two doses of 140 mgs) today. This after a four-week period of no treatment. I must say the effects were pretty pronounced. I vomited a couple of hours after taking the 1st dose of Temodar. I threw up until my stomach was empty. It's not ununsual. The medicine was absorbed by the time the side effects made me sick. I was sensitive on the 1st day of phase one too. There is an adjustment period, so don't worry. My appetite is back and I am eating well. I'll let you know if my tummy troubles continue. I am betting they won't.
I don't know who to root for in the Euro 2008. I guess Germany is the favorite. I am partial to Croatia and Sweden. It will be fun to watch.

Pulse Chemo to Begin

Happy Weekend everyone!
I begin my 2nd phase of treatment Monday when I begin pulse chemo. This will entail the 5 day stepped-up Temodar medicine with a 23 day recovery period. This will go on for months (maybe 6 months?)
Karen and I will meet with our brain surgeon, Dr. Matt Wills, on Tuesday, June 10. He has been so strong and confident. We put a lot of stock in his opinion. We are going to suggest whether referral to an experimental program (at say, Duke?) is a good idea. We want to explore the best options to whip this disease.
I have taken on a few professional projects of my own in the meantime to earn some income. I will meet with the Session of Westminster Presbyterian (here in Topeka) to set up an audit of their 2007 financial statements. This may be my future (as a self-employed CPA). I am excited about this.

My Week

Hope everything is well with all of you. Karen and I are enjoying the warm-up in the weather. There has been some active weather around here and we're dodging thunderstorms and humid conditions.
It was great to see Ashley and Dan back in Topeka for the weekend. We hoped they enjoyed dinner with us. I know we did. They are still moving odds and ends to Wichita. We miss seeing them every day but they seem to be very happy in Wichita. They also seem to be adjusting well to life in the "Ta".
Kim brought her lively kids over to see me last Friday. Brian and Laurie joined us for lunch. We had a great time. Kim looks wonderful and even at 8 months pregnant: petite still. She's a natural beauty.
I have an appointment with Matt Wills, my brain surgeon, next week. I will be asking him about his thoughts about experimental treatments and that sort of thing. Maybe I'll be seeking treatment at the Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke yet. I'll let you know what he has to say.
I also want to say thanks to Bob and Vicki Owen for taking the time to come and see me. I have been a youth group volunteer with Ist Presbyterian since Bob and Vicki were very young. It is delightful for see how graceful and accomplished they are becoming as adults. Bob, good luck on your medical school aptitude exams (MCATs, right?) I am confident they will go well for you. I know your wonderful parents are very proud of you. There are no limits on your abilities.

Pulse Chemo Scheduled

Hi all! It's been something like 3 weeks since I have graduated from radiation treatment. I am scheduled to begin pulse chemotherapy on Monday, June 9. This will entail a double dose of Temodar (a tablet) for five days at a stretch with a 23 day recovery period. Things have gone so well so far that Karen and I are very optimistic about it. I can say that I feel great. I feel the "significant improvement" that Dr. Green speaks of.
Karen and I have spent a lot of time together working on the yard. It's paying off. We accidently dumped the water from on top of the tarp back into the pool as we were working to open it up. The water is clearing now, though. It may have the clarity for swimming this weekend. The back yard looks so green with all the rain we've had. The vibirnum and the hostas, the bee balm and the yew are producing lots of new growth. Very green! We have some annuals and perenials in for color. Geraniums and Begonias, Pansies and Peonies. We are enjoying our efforts. Always something that needs to be done. It's great therapy.
We are very impressed by the efforts of John's Team. What a wonderful job you all have done. I got a cool NC Blue T-Shirt in the mail with our team name on it. I love it. Thank you for that.
More soon.
Love, John

Post-Radiation MRI

I have some wonderful news to share with all of you! Actually, I've been a little remiss about not relaying this to you sooner.
Friday (May 23) I had a post-radiation MRI. Later that afternoon, I took a call from Dr. Russ Greene, my dedicated radiology oncologist. What he told me astonished me! Dr. Greene was delighted to inform me that there was "significant improvement" in my prognosis. He said he was very pleased. I didn't know what to say! I still don't. Knowing Dr. Greene as I have come to, I think of him as a very serious and sincere man who doesn't pull his punches. He wouldn't use a term like "significant improvement" unless he meant it in a true and thoughtful sense. I respect his opinion very much. The things he said to me during our brief conversation communicated meaning well beyond the words he spoke. It speaks volumes about what I need to know about winning this fight.
I spent the rest of the day calling a few of you who have been especially involved in my struggle. I wish I could have spoken to you all. Karen and I went to Ozark, MO and for an overnight stay with Greg and Martha. What a celebration we had!
We're not out of the woods yet but we have every reason to believe that we will win this fight. I owe it all to you. I won't forget you. Please stay with me as we continue on our road to wellness!
Life is Beautiful!

Road Trip to the Ozarks

We were happy to host John and Karen for their first road trip since this trophy run began.
You can't see Katie but she also made the journey to see us during the Memorial Day weekend.
We enjoyed a steak dinner, mom's potato salad, complete with celery seed dressing and a celebratory glass of wine. We toasted John's wonderful news from Dr. Green. I will let him give you the details but the radiation did its job and we are so thankful. Dr. Green called John with the excellent news on Friday after his MRI.

Here are some pictures of us as we are getting ready to send them home after a wonderful visit.
They have an appointment on Wed. that will map out the next stage of his treatment. It was great to get to share this weekend with them.

Thanks for the visit, John and Karen!

Angels Among Us 5k

Thank you, Danielle, for your report on the Angels Among Us 5k. You and the rest of John's Team are amazing. The support you have raised is truly impressive ($610). To quote my favorite musician (Yes, Ashley and Bob, by that I mean Todd Rundgren), "You can't stop, you can't stop, you can't stop ... love in action!" Ok, so I'm a 70s-style liberal at heart.

I have been feeling so strong and energetic this week with the radiation behind me, I can't help but feel I am beating this disease.

I was very sad to hear about Senator Ted Kennedy's own battle with brain cancer, as the news broke today. He and I have a difficult battle ahead of us with this dreaded disease. I have relative youth and more of an early start in my battle with glioblastoma than he can hope for. Whatever your politics may be, you must admit he is the great Liberal Lion of the Senate and a very important and effective legislator. I pray for his recovery as well as my own.

5K Update from Danielle

Dear all,

I sit here with tears in my eyes as I have just heard from the coordinator of the 5K for the Duke Brain Tumor Center -- she has told me that John's Team received $610 in donations!!!!!!! I can't believe it!! I never expected us to receive such an unbelievable amount. We can't even begin to thank you for supporting us in our race. They still have not given me a list of all the names of the people who contributed (that will come in the next few weeks) but please know that we thank you so much and there is no way we could have done this without your support. You all are amazing! John, we love you so much and are here for you!

Love,
Danielle, Nathan, Nita, Larry, Seth, & Ellen

Mother's Day

Mother's Day!

I decided to try my hand at this blogging deal because today is an important day. Today is John's last day of radiation and then they will get a well deserved break. I have talked with John and Karen several times this week and know they are looking forward to this short vacation in the treatment process. They have a doctor's appointment at the end of his radiation treatment this afternoon. I have included Karen because she has been John's chauffeur to all his treatments.

It is a beautiful time of year so I am so glad they will get a change in the routine for about 4 weeks. Dan will graduate next Saturday from Washburn Law School, a huge accomplishment and something they can all celebrate together. Ashley and Dan will move to Wichita in the next few weeks as well. A big change for all those involved.

It has been gorgeous this year in the Ozarks, the rivers and ponds are full, the Dogwoods are outstanding, and we are getting ready for summer. Greg will graduate from junior high and is going to the high school to work part time after being a class room teacher for 31 years. This is another huge accomplishment. This would have been our parent's 60th anniversary on May 15th and it is Mother's day.

I have done much reflecting on my family since John was diagnosed with cancer. He has taught me about faith and grace, friends and extended family members have been so supportive and the out pouring of encouragement and love has been so steady. Please don't stop as we are only part way through this "trophy run".

Love your family as we all need each other, forgive each other as we all make mistakes and appreciate each gorgeous day. These are the lessons I am learning from my little brother.
Love to all, Martha

Graduation Day

Today was my 30th and final radiation treatment for my brain tumor. Dr. Green calls it my graduation day. In honor of my graduation from radiation, here are a couple of shots of the mask I wore for the treatments. The mask is very individualized and fits very snug.

Now that I can see the mask as a relic it sort of gives me the creeps. Karen says I look like Jason in the mask. See what you think. I have it mounted on my basement wall.

My chemotherapy ended today too, for now. After an assessment by my medical team we'll move on to pulse chemo in a month or so.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Together we are working wonders, with God's help.

Danielle's 5K Report

We wanted to let you know that the 5K was a huge success!! Here's a quick rundown of the events: First and foremost, we all ran the ENTIRE thing with no walking!!!

Ellen, Seth's girlfriend, finished first amongst John's Team and even got a ribbon!! She is a runner by trade. She even came back and ran the last 1/2 mile with Seth and I again after she had already finished. Nathan was a speed daemon as well and finished an impressive 2nd on the team. Seth and I finished together although I have to say that we would have finished quicker had it not been for my um, eh, minor puke break about 200 yards from the end. Oops. Apparently speeding up during the last 1/2 mile just doesn't work for me! No worries though, I actually felt great afterwards and still finished with a bang. I was super thankful for my great team who stayed behind to give me some pats on the back.
After the 5K, my parents joined us for the Family Fun Walk which was a 1.8 mile walk through the beautiful Sarah P. Duke Gardens. We all had a wonderful time. They had a record attendance with over 3,000 people for the walk! It was inspiring to see all the teams and especially all of the survivors. And John, as the honoree, we got you a shirt like ours -- we're putting it in the mail!We won't have our team total for a few weeks so I don't know specifically who donated but we thank all of you who did from the very bottom of our hearts!! You helped make this a huge success! Thank you so very much!! John, you have so many people who are rooting for you and who love you!!!

Frank Tisch Angels Among Us 5K

Congratulatons and thanks to you all for participating in the Duke Brain Cancer 5K! You all look so fresh at the finish, judging from the photos. Looks like the distance (after a suitable recovery period) was no problem for you. Danielle, I am very impressed by your "guts" in the last few hundred yards. Ellen, congratulations on being team champion. Congrats to all of you for finishing the distance. I wish could have been there too. Maybe next year!

Thanks also to Nathan, Seth, Larry and Nita for being part of a team in my honor. I am very proud of you!

5K World Record

OK, I looked it up. The record is 12:37.35, run in 2004 by Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia. The woman's record is 14:16.63 by Meseret Defar in 2007, also of Ethiopia. This information is from IAAF (Intl Assoc of Athletics Federations) web-site. They ought to know.

Now you really have something to shoot for. Good Luck!!!!

Karen's Birthday

Happy birthday to Karen! Her Friend Mitzi and her family made dinner for us so I didn't even have to cook: shrimp pasta and garlic bread. Yummy and healthy. We are feeling strong. Karen's ankle is recovering from her fracture and is almost healed. She does have a little soreness but she's close to 100%.

Best of luck to those of you running the Tisch Duke 5k Saturday. Go John's Team. I will be with you in spirit, for sure. The world record for that distance is something just under 13 minutes. Go for it!!

Martha and Greg are coming to visit us Saturday. Karen and I can't wait!

Colnago Cap

I forgot to post the best photo of all of my new Colnago cap. Why, because Ashley is in the photo.

My Hair (Revisited)

Ashley offered and I accepted to take the bull by the horns and take control of my uneven hair. Ashley grabbed Dan's electric hair clippers and fashioned me a new look. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. This may be a whole new look for me. Karen is very impressed as well. It takes years off. Judge for yourself.

Thanks, Lil A. I love you.

Also, to Greg and Martha: Thank you for the cool Colnago cap (see the pic). It fits my new hair-style to a T. BTW: the Paris-Roubaix winner was the Belgian, Tom Boonen, in a sprint over Fabian Cancellera (sp?).

My Hair

I am feeling great. Thank you all for your concern. I have begun to notice a little hair loss. I knew this was bound to happen. It's right on schedule and signifies the Chemo is working. Another encouraging sign!

I have been doing some spreadsheet work for Karen this evening. I should be getting paid for this. Karen will, so that's great. I enjoyed doing this for her.

Chemo/Radiation - Week 3

"I stand for the sunny point of view - stand for the joyful conclusions"
W. Whitman

I am watching "The American Experience" on PBS about Walt Whitman. Excellent!

I am now into week three of Chemo/radiation. It's going well for me. I still have a full head of hair.

I hope the training for the Duke Run for Brain Cancer 5K is going well for my team. I think of your training often. Please ask for any training tips. The goal should be to finish and to enjoy yourself. Always listen to what your body is telling you. It is very wise.

"I sing the body electric. The armies of those I love engirth me, and I engirth them."

WW

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Thanks to all of you for all that you are doing to support John and Karen and to help John win this battle.

Update from the Swicks

As you probably know, our daughter-in-law Danielle and her family are doing a 5K later this month for the Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. They have dedicated their efforts to John and, in fact, have named their team "John's Team". What a great family you are! Thanks to all of you from all of us in John's family.

Now, for the update:

Nathan has now joined "John's Team" and is training with Danielle for the run.

We all know how much Nathan and Danielle love Duke University, right? I think Danielle likes Duke less than KU! I just have to emphasize that both of them are doing a charity run for Duke Medical Center. The irony is certainly not lost on this crowd! :)

I suspect that their disdain for Duke fades a bit as they move away from Coach K's domain. It was not that long ago that Duke wrote Nathan's paycheck.

From a distance, Duke University looks awesome to me.

When a cure for brain tumors occurs, it certainly will not surprise me if it comes out of Tisch Brain Tumor Center. So, run, Danielle and Nathan, run!

Please keep John and Karen in your thoughts and prayers in John's third week of radiation/chemotherapy treatment.

2nd Week of Radiation/Chemo

I begin my 2nd week of radiation and chemotherapy today. So far it's gone very well with minimal side effects.
Yesterday I had a visit from a young friend. He is John McKenzie, 22. He is beating testicular cancer. I believe the next stop on his cancer journey is to be declared cancer-free. Thank God!
John is the son of our neighbors and good friends, Scott and Susan McKenzie. Scott is the attorney who prepared the durable power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and living will for us. Scott and Susans' wonderful family have been important allies in my battle.
It was very great of John to come by. I know he's very busy in architectural engineering at K-State (beginning his senior year soon). Expect big things from this young man. Still, John let me monopolize his Sunday afternoon. I had a great time.
We share a love of cycling. He and friends bicycled from San Francisco to Santa Barbara over Spring Break on the Pacific Coast Highway (Cal 1). They camped out along the route. They passed through Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel, Morro Bay. Beautiful!
John has plans to cycle a much more epic route immediately after his graduation, into and through South America, before beginning his professional career.
John gave me specific and important information about his battle with cancer. He gave me advice on he coped with the health effects of treatment, how he dealt with the fluctuations of energy, and how he maintained his fitness. I didn't realize until I spoke to him just jow important this aspect is.
Thanks, John, for being a role model and example of how to handle cancer with aplomb and dignity. I like the idea of having someone your age (less than half of my own) I can look up to.
By the way, The Paris-Roubaix Classic is on April 20th. If you're not doing anything that afternoon come by and watch it at my place (on Versus). The "Queen of the Classics" is the best one-day bike race of the year, especially with the 38 (?) sections of cobblestones that they call "L'Enfer Du Nord" ("Hell of the North"). If it's dry, the riders all become covered with dust. If the weather is wet the going really gets treacherous. These cobblestones are absolutlely medieval. Very cool bike race! Maybe George Hincapie will finally get this long-sought title. I'd love to see that.

John's Radiation/Chemo Day 3, April 2

I think I have administrator rights at last! Thanks to my patient brother-in-law, Greg.

I seem to be settling into the radiation and chemotherapy routine and tolerating both well. I read that the chemo effect can be cumulative (it builds as it goes). Karen and I are monitoring its effects on my system as slosely as we can (in a non-medical way). I am still a bit nervous about stepping up the chemo dose after the radiation is done in 6 weeks. Radiation is a piece of cake. I trust it's doing its thing.

I had a conversation yesterday with a radiology oncologist, Brian, in California. He is a good friend of my sister Mary Anne and her husband, Paul. He provided me with specific, useful information. he has added to my expectation for success. A brilliant mind committed to healing is a beautiful thing.

Short post tonight. I need some rest. I'll be blogging again soon. Keep the Faith. I am.

A Message from Danielle

In support of John's courageous battle, myself, my parents, my brother and my brother's girlfriend will be running/walking a 5K on Saturday, April 26th at Duke (I know, I know, rival school!!).

However, it is for a wonderful cause -- all of the proceeds will go to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke. I wanted to give everyone information on where they could donate if you would like. The following website will give you all the information you need: http://angelsamongus.org/modules/getinvolved3/index.php?id=3

Originally we were just going to enter as individuals but now that there are 5 of us, I have decided to create a team....we are now called "John's Team"!!! We would love so much if you could sponsor us in this race as all of the money goes to fund research at the Brain Tumor Center at Duke. If you donate on-line, just choose "John's Team" from the drop down menu of Teams. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you so much for all your help!!

Danielle

Here's to John winning!!!!

John's 1st Day of Radiation/Chemo

Hi all. John speaking. Today I began radiation and chemotherapy. All went well. Radiation only took 15 minutes or so. It was painless and minimally inconvenient. Karen watched me from the control room with the wonderful technicians and Dr. Russell Green (my gifted radiation oncologist).

Then I swallowed my first daily dose of 140 mgs of Temodar, my chemotherapy tablet. That's going to take a little getting used to. It makes me a little queasy and fatigued. Ice cream helps with the queasiness. It's also a very expensive medicine ($1,400 a week retail). Thank God for good prescription insurance. The cost to us is so minimal it's like paying in monopoly money. I think insurance companies and the pharmmaceudical companies create a lot of paper revenue and expense for accounting purposes with this type of charge. I'd be interested in knowing the true cost of this medicine.

I'll be on these two therapies (radiation and chemotherapy) for six weeks. Then the radiation is done and the chemo gets increased for 6 months (I think). Once the chemo goes solo, I will use it for 5 days in a 28 day cycle with 23 days in between for recovery.

What then? I pray for a full recovery. Karen prays with me, as does Ashley, Justin, and my family and other loved ones. I know you all do too. I read in Lance Armstrong's book "It's Not About The Bike" that he's agnostic. I couldn't survive without my faith in God. In that way, I feel I am more fortunate than Lance.

That's all for now.

Paul and Mary Anne's Friend Brian

It would be hard to count all of the people that have come out of the woodwork to help John, but I would certainly be remiss not to mention Paul and Mary Anne's friend Brian Goldsmith, M.D. Brian is a radiation oncologist for Radiological Associates of Sacramento Medical Group.

So why do I mention him here? Because Brian generously offered to review John's pathology report to offer a second opinion, and John's pathology files have been faxed to him.

To quote John in a previous post:

"My network of friends, allies, and family has been stronger and more powerful than ever. Mary Anne's Oncologist friend, Brian, has offered to review my pathology files. Brian is of a newer, fresher school of cancer practice, one in which success is an expection, even for brain cancer patients. How blessed am I that my sister has such a friend as this?"

So, here's to Dr. Brian Goldsmith! Thanks so much for lending your expertise to our family! Cheers, all!

Blog Links

When John's journey began, I started a Links section on the left hand side of this page. My purpose was to inform everyone about the people and locations serving John, the science surrounding the disease, and expertise available on the brain tumor front.

Recently I have heard two other places mentioned and I thought I'd pass them on to John and everyone else reading this blog.

The first is the Duke University Medical Center Tisch Brain Tumor Center. It is full of hope, experts, and possibilities. Of course it is located in Durham, North Carolina; a hop, skip, and jump from Nathan and Danielle.

The second is the U.S. National Institute of Health Clinical Trials site. This website lists 177 current glioblastoma studies that are seeking new volunteers.

The Duke site also lists a number of clinical trials.

John, you know I like Native American teachings. I'll close with this one:

May the sun bring you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the breeze blow new strength into your being

-Apache blessing

John's Roller Coaster Week

As I mentioned yesterday, this was a roller coaster week for me in my battle with cancer. Tuesday was especially tough. On Tuesday I met with the doctor who will direct the radiology aspect of my treatment. Frankly, I'd rather not mention the man's name because, as far as I'm concerned, he's on thin ice with me and is on probation as my provider. I may have to fire him and find another man or woman: one who fights.
In my opinion (and Karen's), the man's assessment of my chances was unnececessarily harsh. He spoke in terms of stop-loss and of limiting the evitable and growing cognitive deficits and of the waning years. I don't believe he thinks this disease can be defeated. He spoke of me as a victim. I nearly came across his handsome desk and smacked him for that. A VICTIM?! Don't EVER use that term to describe me or anyone fighting this tough opponent. We are only victims if we resign ourselves to be. I am no hero but I will go down fighting to the end. Glioblastoma hasn't defeated me. I am not so certain of my radiologist/oncologist. And this was the initial consultation.
The consultation was the longest, sadest hour of my life beyond compare. The worst part was watching how it tore Karen apart. When it was over I just had to call Martha and cry like a child. What kind of doctor specializes in a desease he doesn't think can be beaten? He should have become a coroner. Karen calls him Dr. Death.
To his credit, the doctor saw what he was doing and apologized for starting off on the wrong foot. He offered to refer me to someone else. No. I want him to tow the line. I may have to teach the man faith in science and the science of faith. Either that or he's history. I, on the other hand, will turn out just fine. I can be angry when I want, can't I? It can be a useful emotion. Just ask Lance Armstrong about that.
On the other hand, there has been much to be optimistic about this week. My network of friends, allies, and family has been stronger and more powerful than ever. Mary Anne's Oncologist friend, Brian, has offered to review my pathology files. Brian is of a newer, fresher school of cancer practice, one in which success is an expection, even for brain cancer patients. How blessed am I that my sister has such a friend as this?
My step-daughter Ashley has given me hours of quality time. We've really enjoyed our time together.
Yes, Karen has fractured her ankle . Karen suffered a hair-line break in a hospital visitor's chair as I slept. Dr. Atwood gave her a cool sports-style cast and proscribed two more weeks of wear (as opposed to just limping around on it). If Karen had sought treatment immediately instead of refusing it for two weeks she'd be further along today.

for all I have to asy for now. I am feeling a little lonely doing all the blogging. If no one else is really interested in pgrticipating with this, my posts will become a good deal less frequent. I appreciate how busy your lives are.

John's Cancer Roller Coaster

It's been a momentous week in my cancer battle. I intend to blog at some length tomorrow about this. Tonight the sandman is calling (I hope).

More soon. jt

Hi From John 3/22/08

The doctors are taking another weekend to get back to Karen and I with my diagnosis. I meet with my oncologist (Dr. David Einspar) and my brain surgeon (the brilliant Dr. Matt Wills) Tuesday.

A special shout-out and thanks to Karen's sister Susan and her husband, Jerry. They made a very cool gift to me today. It's the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Resource for Cancer Survivors, Survivorship Notebook. I like it very much. It contains all sorts of survivors' stories, tools, topics, and updates. I am sure I'll get a lot of use from this impressive resource.

Tomorrow it's off to the early Easter Service at 1st Pres and then out to Dwight, KS for Easter dinner with Karen's mom and Karen's family. Life is beautiful.

Update by John 3/18/08

Hi all. I don't know if I told everyone but Karen has a nasty sprain from trying to get up from a hospital room visitor's chair during my second stay a week ago. It hasn't healed like I think it should have so we're getting it xrayed tomorrow by our family doctor.
We still don't have a pathology report on the biopsy taken almost a week ago. No news is still better than bad news. I remain truly optimistic and feel emotionally, spiritually, and physically prepared for whatever the Lord presents to us. Thank God, I have those around me who are much more confident, stronger, and smarter than me and who are using their God-given talents on my behalf. I humbly expect miracles.
I hope it's stopped raining in Ozark and that there's no flooding damage. Your city's story was featured on CNN today. Please keep me informed about your weather situation.
I noticed a couple of stragglers in the Tiff Tourny III pool. Don't be caught on the outside looking in.

March Madness!

Let's Dance!!!

An Obstacle That Can Be Overcome

More so than any time since John's original diagnosis, I feel a great sense of hope and optimism this morning. Hearing words from Karen yesterday like "primary brain tumor" and words from oncologist Dr. Einspahr like "this is an obstacle we can be overcome" have made a difference. We all have been changed by the events of the last four weeks.

Of course there is much uncertainty ahead, and we anxiously await the results of further testing and the meeting of the treatment team on Tuesday.

It is inevitable that faith enters the picture at times like these. Our family is largely composed of Presbyterians and Catholics, with a bit of Lutheran, Jewish, and Methodist traditions mixed in. In fact, there is a long line of Presbyterians in the Tiffany/French family. Martha and I are Presbyterians and raised our children as such. John, an active Presbyterian, likes to refer to we Presbys as the "frozen chosen". It's true that we are not pushy with our religion; we value reason, and we rely heavily upon grace. We are largely inclusive and accepting of all earnest spiritual paths, as we believe that God dwells in the hearts of all. We try to convey to those around us that we are people of God through our actions, not through proselytizing.

Enough about Presbys. Like Job, we all are wrestling with the big questions these days. Why, why, why? Cancer really sucks, doesn't it?

My point is this: I believe that God has been present in the hearts, hands, laughs, tears, hugs, and love that have been freely expressed within this remarkable family, whose closeness has been forged by adversity since the tragic loss of their mother back when John, George, Martha, Bob, and Mary Anne were all children.

God must have been present, guiding the skilled hand of Dr. Wills and all the skilled workers at Stormont Vail, because John bounced back from two surgeries in record time with no further damage to his brain.

The divine is near and in John as he continues to win over even the most skeptical, and to make new friends along the way. And most obviously of all, God has been present in the indomitable will and courage of John, and he has been a model of faith to all of us. It's an honor and a privilege to witness this.

Sure, we all continue to wrestle, but in these tough times, we cling to our faith. It has carried us this far.

Thanks to all of you on John's team for surrounding him and the rest of us in your thoughts and prayers.

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." -St. Francis of Assisi

John's Quiet Evening

Hello everyone. It's Friday night now and Karen and I are home relaxing. I hope I've had my last craniotomy of my lifetime, but you never know, do you?
In the last couple of weeks, I've learned a great deal about my faith, fear and courage. Most of all, I've learned some major lessons about borrowing strength and courage from those who know and love me. It is my humble honor to be the recipient of such grace.
The doctors are still analyzing the nature of my disease. The doctors are certain now that I have brain cancer. The cancer probably originated elsewhere in my body. My body killed it there. I am completely healthy at the original site which may never be known.
The doctors are also confident they now they have the biopsy they need to identify and treat my cancer. My cancer is very rare, however, in that the markers don't match any pattern they have ever seen. I am one for the science books. Oddly enough, this has proven to be a highly encouraging development. The sample has been sent to the University of Nebraska for testing. We will know more soon.
I can't wait to continue this fight. You are all in my prayers. Thanks and I love you.

A Note From the Patient

There's no way I can express in words my gratitude for the support and love I have received throughout this experience. I love you all! We are winning this fight as one!

Evening at Home

Here it is: Live Blogging! We are sitting at John and Karen's house enjoying ourselves. We are watching Something's Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, and Keanu Reeves for some comic relief. A church member brought Fettucine Alfredo, salad, and bread sticks from Paisano's Restaurant and so our stomachs are filled, but we still have room for Katherine's Girl Scout cookies.

Karen also is recovering tonight. While trying to help John in the middle of the night last night, she caught her foot in the hospital recliner and sprained her ankle. So, she's getting by with a wrap, elevation, heat, and tender loving care this evening.

There are some very important supporters of John that we haven't displayed in a blog photo yet. John and Karen's daughter, Ashley and her husband Dan have been there through it all, providing tremendous emotional and physical help in times of need. Here they are with John this evening.Also, I have permission from John to post the next photo. It's the official scar photo. I post this photo as a milepost for John. Someday when he is well, we'll all look back at it to see where he was back in March of 2008. The horizontal scar above his ear is from his most recent surgery and the more vertical scar is from his first surgery. And so, now that I've explained it, here it is with its PG-13 rating!So now you know what this incredible man has endured with great strength, poise, and grace in the past two weeks. The hospital workers made a new friend and, indeed, we all were inspired by John's wit, intelligence, and positive attitude throughout his stays at Stormont Vail.

We now move ahead as a team with determination and confidence, placing all our bets on John. Bless you, John, and thanks for sharing this journey with all of us. We truly do love ya, man!

Footnote to Top Ten List

RE: Dr. Matt Wills

#1: Neurosurgeon Matt Wills is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

#2: Martha cornered him this morning after he visited with John, and he said that the tissue will be prepared in wax and sent to Washington University's Siteman Cancer Center, the regional specialty cancer center. He was sure that the tissue would yield results this time.

#3: John will be released later today!

Top Ten Things to Be Thankful For

We were all encouraged by the results and the strength that John mustered after his 2nd craniotomy, so we brainstormed a "Top Ten List of Things We Are Thankful For"

I'll start with number 10:

10. John got a brand new wardrobe from the hospital. It includes a fine pair of flesh colored socks with skidproof soles.

9. John did not have to eat ICU food this time. In fact, they fed him a cheeseburger a couple hours after surgery, and we smuggled in a hamburger for him.

8. John has an especially "magnetic" personality these days. We think it's because of the staples in his head.

7. John has a brand new I-Pod. He's adding his own music collection, and refuses to put Martha's Rod Stewart Classics Collection on it.

6. John still has 99% of his full head of hair.

5. John has a strong and growing support system of people thinking about and praying for him each and every day.

4. John and his neurosurgeon, Dr. Wills, are on a first name basis. So, John's new friend, Matt Wills, and he are tight. Dr. Wills is straight forward and does not mince words. John respects and appreciates that approach, as he values knowledge and intelligence greatly, and wants to know all the facts.

3. John's second surgery was not nearly as extensive as the first surgery. His recovery has been swift and smooth, and there have been no side effects. The tissue harvested from the surgery was viable and diagnostic.

2. Dr. Wills determined from the MRI done yesterday that there have been NO changes in the tumors since the original scans on February 22.

1. John is strong, inspirational, courageous, and determined, and insists that he is going to beat this thing.

Out of Surgery

John is out of surgery. The pathology department said that the tissue is viable and will be diagnostic. We should know the outcome either tomorrow or Friday.

Since the tumor was on the periphery, right above the ear, the surgery was not nearly as extensive as last week's surgery. "Small incision with minimum brain disturbance", Dr. Wills said. So, he will be given a room in the Brain and Spinal Care unit, not in ICU.

So, this is good news. We will see John very soon.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers and efforts on John's behalf.

John is in Surgery

John went into surgery a little after 2:00 today.
Martha and I arrived at the hospital at around 2:20. Ashley, Laurie, Karen's sister Sue and daughter Erica, and Tracy from the church are in the waiting room. Karen went home to get a jacket.

Surgery will take a couple hours.

This time they will take the small tumor out and send the tissue sample to the pathology lab to make sure it is a identifiable before they close. If it is not an identifiable sample, they will go back in to get another sample.

Keep the prayers coming,
Will update later.
Greg