Happy News!
3/11/2004

Lori, her Mom, and I met with Lori's neuro-oncologist, Dr. Raizer, and her neuro-surgeon, Dr. Levy, today.
All the test results are in and all three results indicate no tumor activity! It appears that the enhancement on the last MRI is an indication of tissue change caused by radiation.....in the words of Dr. Levy, "we hit the right spot and the radiation treatment is doing what it's supposed to". The enhancement we were worried about appears to be either tissue irritaion caused by the radiation or dead tissue caused by the radiation. Dr. Levy indicated that patients showing this kind of change around the tumor cavity do better than others. Dr. Raizer told us Lori can continue her normal routine of chemo....

To share a couple moments of the day with all of you:

Lori and I sat in the waiting room impatiently waiting, wondering, worrying. We both feared the worst.
All of life's other problems and challenges seem trivial when thinking of the possibility of losing the one you love. In the despair of the moment there is a gift. The recognition that life is precious and to have love, share love, be in love, be loved is what really matters.

A few minutes later we're in the exam room. Stephanie, Dr. Raizer's assistant has left and we are anxiously awaiting Dr. Raizer's arrival. We're still fearing the worst, trying to read into Stephanies demeanor, was she smiling because it's good news or because it's bad? My cell phone rings and I look to see who is calling. It's Linda, Lori's mom. I answer and hear Linda say "I couldn't wait, I'm here at the hospital, I'm in the waiting room".
As I'm leaving the exam room to get Linda Dr. Raizer walks in. I tell him to please wait 30 seconds, "put on your best poker face while I get Lori's Mom."
I'm standing at the intersection of 2 hallways 1 leading to the waiting room with Linda anxiuosly peering in and the other leading to the exam room with Dr. Raizer already engaged in conversation with Lori. In the 5 seconds it takes Linda and I to get to the exam room he has already begun telling Lori, "there's no tumor activity". So the three of us, a patient, a husband, and a mom breath a collective sigh of relief, tears in our eyes, hugging each other and Dr. Raizer. Again love is present. The love of life and a life filled with the love of family. Precious gifts to cherish.

Thank you all for your prayers, love, kind thoughts, and words. Your support is profoundly felt and deeply appreciated.

All our love,

Erik

ps. Lori will write more this weekend.

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