A Journey has ups and downs, today was definitely an UP!

*Andrew and Dr. Araujo (she is to the right of Andrew)*

Well everybody, I'm sitting in my hotel room here in Houston and I have a big smile on my face after day 1 of round 3. Not because I am cured, not because chemo is all finished, not because I am even done with this cycle! My smile comes from getting some very positive news on my first meeting with my doctor in regards to "how this chemo treatment plan is working" We met with the doctor(s) for about an hour and a half today. I can tell you I was so nervous that I broke out in hives on my neck and back....they actually had to make sure I was ok! haha. That part went away quickly when I left the meeting, trust me. We discussed the results of my PET SCAN, which is a full body (head to toe) scan that detects tumor size, location, etc. The results after the first two treatments showed a shrinkage of the tumors that exist in the abdomen,pelvic area, and the liver. The spots in the liver actually showed the most significant improvement of all the areas that are affected. Also good news is that there is no other spread to other areas of my body at this time. Overall Dr. Araujo was very pleased with my progress, and is excited that I have stayed in really good health so far, not suffering from any side effects and able to be strong and healthy during the chemotherapy. She said that my nutrition has been excellent and my protein level is were it needs to be. She is going to keep me on the same drugs, and amounts for the next two rounds (rd 3/4) The only new drug I am going to introduce is a once a day acid reflex pill (nexium) to help reduce any acid issues. TEAM: I cannot tell you how excited I was when I walked out of that appointment. I went straight over to the chemotherapy intake and got right into the treatment, but not a thing in the world could have gotten me down today! I was getting my big shot of chemo late tonight, and I was thinking how lucky and blessed I am to have every single person in my life that cares so much for me, and of course the big man upstairs has been leading this all from the point guard position! Everyone out there that is with me every step of the way, is truly amazing, and so cool. Each one of you knows just the right thing to say to me, just at the right time that I need it. The prayers have been overwhelming, and our first prayer has been answered, and I feel truly blessed. Have a great week everyone, lets kick some butt this week out there in whatever you are doing!!!

Andrew

Round #3

Andrew is back in Houston this week to start round #3 of chemo. Today he has a full body PET scan and then tomorrow he will meet with his doctor to discuss the results of the tests, as well as evaluate the progress so far. Please pray for positive results and small(er) tumors! We will post any new information as soon as we receive it. Andrew will then begin chemo tomorrow afternoon. He will be in Houston for the week then hopefully back in St. Louis to recover for another 16 days. Let's all be thinking about and praying for Andrew this week. He needs lots and lots of prayer during chemo, as well as encouragement and positive attitudes. Please don't feel bad if he doesn't call you back or respond - he stays very focused during the weeks he receives chemo.

We wrapped up selling bracelets at the final Husky game this past Saturday and will post pictures and share the success we had in the next few days.

Andrew loves this picture of his niece Riley. She is sporting her first ever pair of sunglasses. I wanted to start his week off with a smile, as well as yours - - - Happy Monday!

Seattle PI article

Click here for the link to the Seattle PI article about Andrew. For all you local folks, go buy your paper today!

Seattle PI article to run tomorrow

I just received word from Jim Moore this morning that his story on Andrew will run in tomorrow's paper. Make sure you pick up a copy of the Seattle PI tomorrow and look for Andrew's article in the Sports section.

Buy a Seattle Times today!

For those of you who live in the Seattle area, run to your nearest newsstand and purchase a copy of the Seattle Times today. Steve Kelly wrote an article about Andrew and it appears on the front page of the Sports Section of the Times. Here is a link to the article.

In case you missed it...

Andrew did a sweet radio interview on KJR with the "Gas Man" last night before the Husky game. This is a link to the Gas Man's audio page and then if you scroll down the page you should see Andrew's name to hear the interview. http://www.kjram.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=gas.xml

The bracelet sales went really well at the game last night! The fans were really excited about them and so we sold a couple hundred!

Also, we talked to Jim Moore and Andrew will be having his picture taken in St Lou this weekend so the PI article won't show up until next week on Monday or Tuesday. We will post a link as soon as it runs in the paper.

Martha

Kowabunga! 2 rounds complete!

I wanted to give everybody an update on how I am doing, and what has been going on the first 2 rounds of chemotherapy. I feel like I have been to the hospital more in the last 30 days then anybody would go in their whole lifetime, but I cannot complain the experience has been super so far at MD Anderson. I kind of liken it to picking the "big college" over the small college to attend. You get all the perks of a big place: technology, special programs, etc. You just have to get past the fact that there are so many people everywhere, and you can easily get lost in the large buildings and parking lots. Treatment and tests can be in different buildings or labs on different days, just depending on space. I have to say it is very nice to be able to do outpatient treatment, and get to go "home" every night after you complete your session. This helps you regroup, and get ready for the next day, and its great to eat your own food!I feel like I have handled the physical part of the treatment ok so far. The only real thing that bothers me is some abdomin pain for which I have pain meds for. The drugs have had some small side effects (constipation, mouth sores, hair loss) but for the most part I cannot complain at all, I have stayed fairly healthy and have maintained my weight(well I have lost weight in my butt and legs which isnt good for those pairs of seven jeans!) The mental part of the chemo is defenitely the hardest part for me. When you spend every single day talking about, and doing something related to cancer, it can creep into your head and make you think about alot of different things. Also when you walk thru the halls of MD Anderson, everybody there has cancer, and you see people at all stages and levels of energy. I decided very early on, that I could do one of two things: 1)Let it get me down and wonder what is going to happen to me, and all of them or 2)Smile and be positive every single day, with every single person that I come into contact with at the hospital and hopefully thats the one encounter that that they had during the day that lifted them up, even if its just a little bit. Sure I have my days of thinking in my head whats going on with my body? I wonder if this pain means this, or that. Is this chemo working? All of those things I think about, but I know one thing, I can change my own life, and other peoples with my attitude. The next step for me is on March 9th. I will be doing a full body scan. This is the first time we are going to measure if the current chemo plan is making a dent, what the tumors are doing (size, place in body,etc) and if we need to make any changes to the chemo drugs we are using. I meet with my doctor the next day to discuss the results and talk about the progress of the first two rounds. I want to thank every single person who is out there praying for me. I can feel the power of prayer lifting me up during this time. For those of you who have sent me hand written notes, cards, letters, and even some great pictures that have been drawn for me from caring children who just want to help out-I cannot tell you how much it means to me to open up a card on a daily basis from a friend, or family member. Thank you to those of you who have sent books, itunes cards, and those great musical friends of mine who have made me countless cd's to listen to. I cannot thank my family and very close friends enough for all the help with cooking, cleaning, organizing places to stay, flights and all the things that go into traveling to do treatments in another city. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world when it comes to a support group. Iknow in my heart that I am going to make it thru this, and I am so grateful to all of you for your enthusiastic, powerful support. Talk to everybody very soon!