Lisa, Janet, and Sandy (2005)

Lisa on the left, Janet on the right, Sandy in the middle...at the gazebo in Nantucket, with drinks in hand!

Mt. Quandary, Colorado @ 14,265 ft.

The Young's hiked Mt. Quandary (Summit County) in the Summer of 2006 and planted photos of cancer fighters Sandy, Marci, and Harriett (Will's mom).

Update December 18, 2006

The last couple of weeks have brought great news, and it is a great feeling as we approach Christmas. We’re now in the window following radiation and chemotherapy (about 3 months post-treatment) where the benefits are evident and the measurements are more reliable. Sandy’s most recent scans illustrate very good results. They indicate that the primary cancer around the common bile duct has reduced in size significantly, and there seems to be no indication of positive lymph nodes. If true, this would certainly qualify as a best case response. It is very encouraging to know that the cancer is responding to treatment and to be able to quantify the results.

I should add that we have learned that the ability to image lymph nodes is pretty unreliable. The most recent scan was a series of MR images, and Sandy is scheduled to also undergo a PET scan this week. That should provide another view that will improve our understanding. Hopefully, just one more step towards success.

These most recent results are very encouraging, and so is Sandy’s overall health. She has gained the weight back and looks strong and healthy. Her energy and endurance are very good—the best they have been since March of this year when we were in Steamboat, I would say.

This opens doors for possible surgical approaches that were not available before. If the lymph nodes are clear, then this would make Sandy a much better candidate for transplantation, and a less controversial one. It has the added benefit of simplifying some of the insurance issues, since the positive lymph nodes were the one exclusion criteria that we were concerned about. Hopkins is now treating her in the transplant service and proceeding with evaluations with the intent to transplant. There seems to be a vision for surgical treatment where there was none before. Now, we just get Sandy through the steps, the little victories, to get her there.

You learn through an experience like this to temper your reactions to all news, good and bad. It is a long journey marked with great uncertainty. You take these for what they are—victories. They may seem like small victories at times, but are still victories, nonetheless.

Battle or War?

I have lost affection for the word “battle” when describing what a person does when confronted with cancer. Calling it a battle really seems to understate it. I find myself liking the word war right now. Battle sounds so tactical, so “one and done.”

Imagine Ray Lewis only studying game films for one season, or Cal Ripken going to the batting cages only for one season, or a 19 year old Wayne Gretzky ever saying, “that’s good enough.” Absurd. I simply cannot imagine that the Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse Team would have won one--let alone two--national championships unless they had the same kind of commitment. Something tells me that Kristen Kjellman, Aly Josephs and every one of those women has her stick in her hands every single day. That’s not a battle; that’s a war.

War connotes countless battles. Only through a continued, relentless, and dedicated effort can war be won.

SSS: Perth, Australia!

From Perth: Great friends and a terrific family...Kate and David (left). Jen and Lizzie (right). Below, (from left) the whole family and great friends David, Jen, Kate (holding Millie), and Lizzy.

David will be glad to know that, at the time of this post, the Ravens lead their division and are making a strong case as potential Super Bowl contenders.

See Singapore pics at this link http://staystrongsandy.blogspot.com/2006/11/coven-in-singapore-toasts-to-sandy.html