Tom is in terrific spirits! Mary reports that he's been up early every morning this week--which is very much out of character for him!--and eager to start treatment at the West Michigan Cancer Center next week.
Tom and Mary, after much discussion with friends, family and doctors, have decided not to pursue treatment at Duke at this time. Tom will complete six weeks of treatment at the WMCC beginning Monday, and, at the end of those six weeks, will decide based on his progress whether to continue treatment here in Kalamazoo or to move on to a major national cancer center like University of Michigan or Duke.
Tom and Mary are so appreciative of their wonderful circle of family and friends who've delivered dinners, sent messages, made calls, offered advice, said prayers, made recommendations, offered help, and kept them in their thoughts. Your help has been greatly appreciated and welcomed.
Tom has reached the point where he's feeling up to short phone calls and visits. The best way to do that is to email Mary--she can best assess the constraints of both their schedule and Tom's energy level. He does tire easily, and he continues to experience challenges with both language and balance, but Mary describes his demeanor as "sunny" and hopes that their friends will come and take advantage of it.
Once again, thanks for your support and care. We all appreciate it more than you can possibly know.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Update: February 23, 2010
We are so warmed and encouraged by the messages and visits we've received from family and old and new friends. It really does help!
Tom's condition continues to be stable, although he's very frustrated with the challenges he's experiencing with speech. He's also experiencing trouble reading. Mary has been reading the newspaper to him each day, and he comprehends (and has strong opinions about) everything he's hearing, but he's having trouble either visually or with comprehending what he's seeing.
Many people have asked how they can help, and Mary and Tom have been overwhelmed with your generous offers of delivered meals (which they are very much enjoying!), household help, and general kindness. Please feel free to contact Mary by email at martift(at)att.net or Molly at chasefamily3(at)gmail.com if you would like some specific ideas on how you can help.
Thanks, everybody, for all of your support, love, and warm wishes!
Tom's condition continues to be stable, although he's very frustrated with the challenges he's experiencing with speech. He's also experiencing trouble reading. Mary has been reading the newspaper to him each day, and he comprehends (and has strong opinions about) everything he's hearing, but he's having trouble either visually or with comprehending what he's seeing.
Many people have asked how they can help, and Mary and Tom have been overwhelmed with your generous offers of delivered meals (which they are very much enjoying!), household help, and general kindness. Please feel free to contact Mary by email at martift(at)att.net or Molly at chasefamily3(at)gmail.com if you would like some specific ideas on how you can help.
Thanks, everybody, for all of your support, love, and warm wishes!
Update: February 20, 2010
Thanks for checking out this new vehicle we're trying for keeping people updated on Tom's condition. We're encouraging family and friends to contact us through here or via email, as Mary and Tom have a fairly packed schedule between medical appointments and visitors.
As most of you probably know by now, Tom began experiencing a severe headache and "losing words," or dysphasia, while he and Mary were in San Diego. They returned to Kalamazoo and went straight from the airport to the Emergency Room at Bronson Hospital. After an MRI, Mary and Tom met with a neurosurgeon who felt that a craniotomy and biopsy were warranted. Tom underwent the craniotomy on Friday, February 12. He was diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma multiforme shortly thereafter.
Mary and Tom met with medical and radiotherapy oncologists at the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo on Friday, February 19th. They are very encouraged by the WMCC's ability to provide care for Tom. The oncologists feel that, while the prognosis for survival remains much the same, the quality and duration of Tom's life can be extended with treatment.
Mary, Tom, and their family are so grateful for all of the supportive gestures, emails, cards, prayers and kind thoughts that have come their way. If you'd like to help in a specific way or would like suggestions for what might be helpful to Mary and Tom, you can contact Molly Chase, their daughter, by email through this site. Because their schedule is so hectic, Mary still asks that rather than calling, you send her email and she and Tom will call back as time allows.
I also encourage you to comment on these posts--Mary and Tom will see all of these comments.
As most of you probably know by now, Tom began experiencing a severe headache and "losing words," or dysphasia, while he and Mary were in San Diego. They returned to Kalamazoo and went straight from the airport to the Emergency Room at Bronson Hospital. After an MRI, Mary and Tom met with a neurosurgeon who felt that a craniotomy and biopsy were warranted. Tom underwent the craniotomy on Friday, February 12. He was diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma multiforme shortly thereafter.
Mary and Tom met with medical and radiotherapy oncologists at the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo on Friday, February 19th. They are very encouraged by the WMCC's ability to provide care for Tom. The oncologists feel that, while the prognosis for survival remains much the same, the quality and duration of Tom's life can be extended with treatment.
Mary, Tom, and their family are so grateful for all of the supportive gestures, emails, cards, prayers and kind thoughts that have come their way. If you'd like to help in a specific way or would like suggestions for what might be helpful to Mary and Tom, you can contact Molly Chase, their daughter, by email through this site. Because their schedule is so hectic, Mary still asks that rather than calling, you send her email and she and Tom will call back as time allows.
I also encourage you to comment on these posts--Mary and Tom will see all of these comments.
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