Hi Buddies and Happy Thanksgiving to you! This is the most recent family pic we just had last month. I had my dr apt at UCSF and it was a very positive experience. I know God was listening to everyone praying for me. "Thank you" just doesn't express how grateful I am for those prayers, but I don't know what else to say except THANK YOU! I will start FolFox with Avastin hopefully next week if not the following week. That is the very first line chemo regimine I was on three years ago. I'll have neuropathy in the hands and feet but shouldn't feel too bad or tired. It was easier on me than the second line treatment as far as feeling bad. I just won't be able to drink, eat or hold anything cold. I'll be on it until my blood counts get too low and I have to stop or the neuropathy starts to become permanent. I'll go in for the drip and come home with the pump attached to my port for two days. This will happen every other week. The dr is hoping to either stop or reverse the growth I've had. He hopes this will buy me about a year, than I'll go on the second line treatment for another year and by then hopefully they'll have something better for me. He was very positive and upbeat about it. It pays to go to a positive person like Dr Venook at UCSF. He gives so much hope and encouragement. So tonight Casey and I are feeling good and happy about the future instead of unsure and frightened. So again, thank you everyone for the prayers, the cards, the FB feeds, the emails, the calls to check up on me, and words of encouragement. Your response to me has taught me how to be more considerate and empathetic to others. And your continued prayers have strengthened my hope and faith because I see first hand how God does listen and answer prayer. May the God of creation bless you all during this wonderful season of Thanks Giving. 1Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God helps me remain true to my faith through whatever difficult times I face. He will gladly help you too! Just ask Him.

Hi Blogger Buddies. Today was a pretty stressful day. The Blue Cross denied the appeal for the clinical trial. So I'm back to square one except the little cancer cells are still growing and they are not back to square one. I will meet with my Dr next Wednesday in the morning to go over other options. Hopefully he has something else to offer me. Sounds strange to be wishing there was more poison to shoot up me but I hate the wait knowing that the cancer is growing while I'm waiting for insurance or appointment. My daughter Brigitte sent me the perfect verse today. Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." This is why I am doing as well as I am. I have such strong support, prayers and encouragement from my family and friends. So I will wait until next week and try again not to worry about what God has planned for me. This morning was rough, not only did I get the denial but my father was taken to the hospital for a heart attack. I went see him in the emergency as soon as I heard. As it turned out he just missed having a heart attack. He was eating breakfast in the dining hall where he lives and his defibrillator went off in his chest. Not once but five times. His heart was about to go into arrest when the defibrillator did what it's supposed to do. Amazing how it stopped the heart attack. He stayed in the hospital for a few hours then was sent home. On the way home he wanted to stop first at Walmart then go out for Chinese lunch. That guy doesn't stop!!! I asked him if I could have one of his 9 lives! The pic is of Brigitte at a family photo shoot we had two weeks ago. The shirt she is wearing is very special to me because it was my favorite one when I was about 20 years old. Yes, before I was married and I kept it all this time. It fit her perfectly and I couldn't even get it over my body!! Thank you again for all your prayers, support and wonderful cards. It is truly appreciated. As Brigitte reminded me today "The Lord will determine my steps".

Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you know I will not be starting the clinical trial tomorrow as planned. Blue Cross denied it. My dr at UCSF put in an appeal and they have 72 hours to let me know if its a go or not. I'll know by Tuesday one way or the other. If the appeal is denied then I'll have to go back to UCSF and figure out what to do next. I had to laugh at the news last night when Nancy Poloci said on TV, after the signing of the health bill, "now the insurance companies can not get between you and your doctor". Yea right! We'll see if the insurance industry continues to play doctor in the near future.....Anyway, I'm not too worried about it because I do trust that God has a plan for me. Maybe this trial isn't the right one for me or maybe he wanted me to wait a little longer to get over my congestion that I've had for the past week. So I will continue to trust the one who knows me better, longer and deeper than any other. I love the verses in Psalm 139 1-16. If you get a chance to read it you'll understand why I trust Him so. He knows each one of you too! Thank you for your prayers. They truly make a difference and I know He hears each one. God bless you all and have a wonderful week. Oh, the pics are of Brigitte charging during her game at Sonoma State today and of my dad who came to watch. He's hanging in there..