The Morning Report!

Good Morning!
We already know quite a bit more than we did when I wrote last night, and we've set up a donation page to help with all the fun medical bills so I wanted to get that out :)

Our donation page is through gofundme and you can reach it using it's main link or through the tinyurl.  Please don't feel like you have to help with money - your positive thoughts, good vibes, and love are what we need the most and keeping Kurtis in your thoughts in more than enough.  That said, we learned last time that this 'activity' is expensive and know that for some of you, this feels like a good way to help.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Main address: http://www.gofundme.com/helpkurtis
TinyURL: tinyurl.com/helpkurtis

Here is the latest information...

Where we are: MCR -- currently in a much better room! Kurtis is out of the ICU (yes!) and we are now in the neuro room that has a bathroom and Kurtis isn't hooked up to as many beeping, whirring, and buzzing machines which is nice.  He is both able to move around better and sleep more easily and comfortably. If you'd like to come and visit, you can send me a text or email me (rockieslizard@gmail.com) and I can let you know when a good time would be :)

Medical Stuff: We looked at the scans of Kurtis' brain with the help of the neurosurgeon yesterday.  It's a good thing he was there to show us what everything was - really strange pictures that are confusing until you have a frame of reference!  There is a small "clump" of tumors on the right side of Kurtis' cerebellum, a small one on the left side of the cerebellum, and then one on the left side of his brain in the back.  They are small which is a really positive thing.  Although there was a small glimmer of hope yesterday that Kurtis would not need brain surgery, the doctors have decided that the best thing to do is go in and remove the clump of tumors.  This is due to his cancer history and wanting to get those things out.  It is my understanding that there is a "brain/blood" barrier which does not allow all chemo drugs to work in the brain.  Therefore, this option is the smartest for what we're dealing with :)  The surgery will take place on Monday sometime - from what I can tell it looks like the afternoon is what they're aiming for - at MCR.  It should take 3-4 hours and the neurosurgeon seems confident that everything should go smoothly so we are trusting that!

Right now Kurtis is just resting and the weekend should be pretty "quiet" as far as tests, etc. go.  Today he will have a brainwave scan to help assess his risk of seizures, but that is the only test he has to have today (at least for now).  Should be a lot better day for him - much more fun than a 2 hour MRI!

We also met with our oncologist earlier this morning and he went through the treatment plan for the cancer.  Kurtis will start with pinpoint radiation for the tumors in his brain (two on the left side) that they didn't remove.  Then, he will start chemo.  After talking with the doctors at IU, it was decided that we are not in a place where we should be in a clinical trial yet, and there is no need to go to Indy right now which is a relief!  Chemo treatments will be straightforward (once a week) and outpatient so that is another positive.  He also said that the drugs in this chemo mix shouldn't make Kurtis as sick as some of the other chemo drugs he has had in the past - hooray!


THANK YOU for all the kind words, facebook posts,  text messages, emails, etc.  They are fantastic and have helped to keep our spirits up! :)

I didn't write this last night I don't think, but please feel free to share this blog with anyone you'd like - it's not an invite only club and the more positive energy we have flowing Kurtis' way, the better.

Love,
Liz, Kurtis, and Chauncey