Back home in California.
Well, it wasn't easy... but, we made it. We are all exhausted. I have a new found respect for people that have to travel and care for the handicapped. It's a ridiculous amount of work to accomplish tasks that I used to take for granted. The hotel we are staying at is right by the medical center in Beverly Hills. News Flash... Beverly Hills is really expensive. We spent $70 on basically three hamburgers at this hotel, ouch!

Anyway, the stress and strain was really getting to us yesterday. So, we are trying to rest today before Dad goes in to see Dr. Black tomorrow.

I will update the site as soon as I have more information. Thanks for everyone's support so far. We've still got a lot of work ahead of us.

We're off to see the wizard...
Dad has been released from the hospital and is back home now. We are getting ready to travel to LA and set a bed up for Dad downstairs. Trying to get all the travel plans ironed out.

The happiest day of my life!!!!
Mood:  happy
Dr. Black has agreed to take Dad on as a patient! Dad will be flown to Los Angeles for Surgery on Tuesday. I am so excited I could explode! I will be flying to LA on Sunday. If you have any questions, email me.

Love you all and keep up the prayers and support, It's working!

Articles about Dr. Black
Still waiting to hear from Dr. Black's team...
Brain Power - LA Magazine

Heroes of medicine

Keith Lanier Black, M.D.

More bad news...
Topic: MRIs and Statistics
The doctors at Duke have interpreted the results of the most recent MRI scan and the tumor is definitely growing. The exact numbers are not yet available, but you can clearly see from the MRI scans below that the tumor is growing upward towards the scalp. They have removed Dad from the CPT-11 protocol and have suggested a treatment of Temodar and Radiation.

From left to right, tumor view from bottom, then middle, then top. Click here for a brief summary of GBM's in an MRI scan.

More interesting information about cell phones...


Phones Do Cause Cancer / Phones Don't Cause Cancer

How Cell-phone Radiation Works

Did Johnnie Cochran's Cell Phone Kill Him?

Transcript of CNN interview with Dr. Black with regards to cell phones

Getting a Cell Phone for Your Child? You May Want to Call up Research

Hospital Transfer
Mood:  bright
Dad is finally out of the ICU after 7 days! He is doing much better and will be at Good Sam in West Palm Beach. He'll be at Good Sam until his physical therapy is complete. Further updates coming soon...

A new website, www.tugmcgraw.org, has been launched by national brain tumor research organization...
Topic: Clinical Trials
Tug McGraw (a major league baseball player) went to Duke for his treatment and his brother Tim McGraw has been a huge supporter of GBM research in finding a cure.
tugmcgraw.com

No news from Duke yet....
Somebody at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital or DHL goofed on the shipment. So, the MRI's will be at Duke tomorrow morning.

Better news.
Our neuro-oncologist from Duke told Kathi that the tumor has not grown and that the seizure may have just been induced because Dad had some alcohol with dinner. We won't know for sure until we get the MRI back and that probably won't be until tomorrow.

No more alcohol for Dad! Sorry Dad.

Also, Kathi and I have been reading a lot about how cell phones may contribute to brain tumors. Dad's tumor is above his ear on the right-hand side and he's been using cell phones since they become available back in the 80's. I'm not confirming or denying that they do cause tumors, but... why not get a headset or at least a speaker phone car kit?

Please read this article:

Study: Long-term cell use raises brain tumor risk