Rugged Heart

There has been a lot happening in the past 24 hours.  Yesterday afternoon, the radiation oncologist ordered another CT scan to get Denny ready for radiation if that becomes part of the plan.  We had been told all this time that radiation will never be an option again.  The radiation oncologist (Dr. Cmelak) that is seeing Denny disagrees.  He is reviewing all the data before ruling it out.  This doctor has patients coming to him from all over the world because of his work in head and neck cancer radiation.  He is a researcher, professor and director at Vanderbilt in this area.  Denny is in good hands. 

Vanderbilt got Denny's films from the Center for Advanced Medicine in St. Louis from his initial radiation treatment in 2004.  Dr. Cmelak wants to see what the original radiation field was.  Since the tumor has moved locations and with the advances in radiation medicine, there is a chance that Denny can have IGRT instead of IMRT as he had last time.  We don't know much about IGRT at this time so we can't answer any questions you may have.  As I write, Dr. Murphy and Dr. Cmelak are working on a plan of action for Denny.  We are meeting with the teams on Monday.

Chemo is being delayed until they can get a handle on this infection.  Denny will probably be in the hospital at least until Monday, we are guessing.  He is still getting IV antiobiotics.  They keep switching the types of antibiotic so hopefully treatment can proceed soon.

Denny had a rough night last night.  His IV came out and he said it looked like the OJ Simpson crime scene.  It took 3 nurses to finally find a vein to get one back in.  For some reason, he doesn't have easy veins to access the IV.  Hopefully, today will be a little better.

If you want to visit, his room is similar to Intensive care; only 2 people at a time.  Please use the hand sanitizer at the door before entering.  He is still in the Critical Care Tower at Vanderbilt in Room 7649.  I am going to be heading down shortly.  Dan and I had to do something things around home this morning to try to keep everything running smoothly.

Thanks for the prayers, cards and encouragement.  Thanks to Pastor Mark Youngman for his visit yesterday.  He is a very inspiring and encouraging man.  We appreciate you, Mark. 

Superman is still fighting hard.  His heart and soul are doing battle to win more time.  He wants to see Dan graduate on May 31st.  That has been his goal since 2004 - to at least see both of his kids graduate from high school.  Please, God, give him another miracle!