All in all it's been a pretty good weekend. Yesterday, we attended the wedding of Levi's close friends, BJ and Ariel. Levi and Maelie were both in the wedding and were as beautiful as ever. We had to laugh as Maelie squealed with delight when she walked (and stomped) on the carpet of rosepetals walking down the aisle. Poor Ericka chased her around as she held onto her pregnant belly. That girl is definitely her father's daughter! They are an adorable young and growing family. Elizabeth and David were also in the wedding of their friends from EWU, Stephanie and Doug, in Pasco on the same day. They returned to Seattle tonight.

Kelsey, Elizabeth and I leave for a trip to visit my sister, Barbara and her family in Connecticut on Tuesday. We will be back in time to honor Ed Frawley at his Memorial Service next Saturday. Jon will hold down the fort and maybe do a little backpacking while we are gone.

I really need to get a picture of Jon on the blog...everyone at the wedding commented on how great he's looking these days. His hair is back as is the sparkle in his eyes!

So no news will be good news. I should be back to the blog a week from today.

Memorial Service for Ed Frawley

Ed's Memorial service will be Saturday August 16th at 2:00 @ Orting Community Baptist Church

The address is 308 Kansas St SW
Orting WA 98360
360-893-4411

Return of the Chuemaster

Jon and I received a telephone call from Dr. Chue this week to check up on Jon and his recent procedures. It was a wonderful reminder of the excellent care and compassion we have received at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center.

Right now, Jon is under the care of Dr. Goswami at the University of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance until the embolizations are complete in September. Dr. Chue is just following him with scans and bloodwork. He reminded us to make sure that Jon's next CT scan includes his lungs so they can monitor the small tumors there while the focus remains on his liver. Once the embolizations are complete we will return to SCTWC for follow-up and on-going monitoring. Dr. Chue already has a "maintenance" plan in place.

He informed us that pancreatic cancer survivor, Arron Barret did complete the Seattle to Portland Bike Ride this year. He is a four year survivor, virtually unheard of outside SCTWC. Dr Chue also teased Jon that he had numerous other patients that have already "out-survived" him in pancreatic cancer. You know there's nothing like a little bit of competition to keep Jon motivated. I am always surprised at Dr. Chue's sense of humor...much more then what you would expect from such a smart guy!

We had an excellent backpacking anniversary trip and are going on a bike ride today. Jon looks really good with hair, eyebrows and eyelashes, he's still a little on the skinny side but is working hard to put on some more muscle. I'm working on getting a recent picture on the blog but my digital camera is broken :(

In Honor of Ed Frawley

On Sunday night, August 3 we received the tragic news that our brother-in-law Ed Frawley had died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 48. He and his wife, Kristi (Jon's sister) had been living in Japan the last few years while Ed worked as a liaison between Boeing and Mitsubishi. They have two adult sons, Kyle and Cody who live nearby in Buckley, WA. Kyle showed up on our doorstep late Sunday night with the news.

Tonight the family gathered at our home to share memories and stories of Ed's life. We were able to see Kristi via vidoecam in Japan with our niece Ann's computer. Kristi shared with us numerous stories of honorariums and memorials that have already taken place at the Mitsubishi Plant in Japan. Ed was well-loved and respected by everyone he knew. With the help of friends, Kristi is packing up their home and attempting to return to the US by early next week. Her best-friend Pam is already there and her son Cody leaves for Japan early tomorrow morning.

Please keep the Frawley family in your prayers.

This has been a good week for us. Actually I have to say Jon has felt better than I have after crashing my bike 3 times during the Seattle Century when my clipless pedals refused to unclip!! He's offered me a few of his Oxycodone but I'm sticking with ice, adjustments, massage and a few ibuprofen. We both feel well enough to leave for a weekend backpacking trip to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe how much has happened since then and I am grateful for every day (some days more than others!)

Jon saw Dr. Goswami today for a follow-up from his first chemoembolization. The post CT scan showed excellent uptake to the tumors and Dr. Goswami remains optimistic about curing this cancer. We could not have asked for better doctors on this journey. The next procedure is scheduled for Aug 21 where Dr. Goswami will finish of the rest of the right lobe then one more shot at the left lobe in September. It's getting to the point where Jon is scheduling procedures around his backpacking and hunting trips. With any luck the CT in October will be clear and our life will return to some semblance of normal.

Jon woke up Sunday morning without any pain. He lifted weights today and felt good enough to go out to dinner with me and some friends tonight. He has a follow-up visit with Dr. Goswami on Friday.

And He Calls Me Dr. Pooh...

Upon Jon's return from Lakeland Hills Thursday night he was doubled over in pain. Enough, we're going to the emergency room! You know if he actually agrees the pain must be severe because this guy never complains (about pain, anyhow)

After 8 hours in the ER, bloodwork, CT scan etc., it turns out that the pain is from superchemocancer poop plugging up his large intestine. Nothing serious but definitely painful. Jon says it almost feels like a chemical burn so I loaded him up with aloe vera juice. The ER doc also gave him a prescription to clean him out, he's feeling much better and actually left for a camping trip/bachelor party with Levi last night.

Never a dull moment.