Category Archives: Updates

Hello friends and family, No news over the past year has been good news, but we have some updates to share now. Jeff had brain surgery this past Monday. He has been coming back to NYC every 6 weeks for scans, and until a couple of weeks ago all the feedback we got was thatContinue reading “An update on surgery”

I visited New York again last week to get updated scans and check in with the trial oncologist. Prior to the visit I was hopeful that the TIL treatment was continuing to do its magic, and that I would continue to see regression of the melanoma. Luckily this was the case – the scans showedContinue reading “Brief update after 6 weeks”

We are a little overdue for an update, but it has been nice to just do regular life for a couple of weeks. Since Jeff got cleared to come home a couple of days early, we have enjoyed being back home together with the kids. This past week Jeff went back to MSK for hisContinue reading “Early results from TIL Treatment…So far so good?!?!”

Thanks to Arianna for keeping this blog up and running while I was feeling bad in the hospital, and announcing my escape last week. She stayed with me until Thursday, when Greg arrived. For three days Greg and I walked all over the borough, and even into Brooklyn. I feel energized by the ability toContinue reading “Playing Tourist and Goodish News?”

Hello from outside the hospital! Jeff got a standing ovation from the nurses and attending doctors on his way out of yesterday, which was very moving. We got lucky with a sunny and 50-degree day that allowed us to enjoy an afternoon coffee/tea at a park and sit outside to eat lunch facing the EastContinue reading “A change in scenery”

Tomorrow is discharge day! Jeff finally gets to leave the hospital and breathe fresh air again. He’s very excited to have some freedom, but he will be limited in what he can safely do while his body and immune system continue to recover from the last three-week onslaught. The best news today is that theContinue reading “Almost free”

Jeff is feeling relatively good today, except that he still has bothersome hearing and vision loss, and a headache that comes and goes. Because they don’t really know what is causing them it’s hard to treat or give an estimate of when they will get better. His blood work is all continuing to improve, andContinue reading “Cabin fever”

Just here to share a few positive things. First, Jeff did over a mile in laps today. Major improvement! Second, he actually felt hungry for the first time in two weeks. Third, a couple of markers in his lab work are looking up: white blood cells are detectable again, platelets hit 31, and liver markersContinue reading

Jeff has had a couple more rough nights. Despite skipping the last IL-2 dose on Monday night, Jeff’s blood pressure dropped, he had a persistent high fever, and his heart rate was too high when they checked his vital signs routinely at 9pm that night. This set off an automatic septic shock alert. He spentContinue reading “Two steps forward, one step back”

Jeff is done with his last treatment dose. He has powered through the last three days like an absolute champion, despite feeling like garbage. It will take a few days before he feels better, and even longer before they let him leave the hospital, but every day past the chemo and IL-2 he should improveContinue reading “On the upswing”