Me & My Mom
It has been a very busy few weeks in the Denby household. 3 weeks ago I went to St Luke’s to get my skin graft redone. It all happened kind of fast, but the deadline for beginning my next treatment is bearing down on me and to avoid various infection risks when that starts, I need my various surgeries to be as close to healed as possible. I spent 5 days in the hospital tethered to the vacuum pump and an IV. I only got up to use the facilities. It was really hard; being in the hospital is not fun under the best of circumstances, but being separated from Lillian was really awful. I finally got to go home on a portable vacuum pump right before the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Of course, the pump decided to stop working on Sunday. So, while on speakerphone with Dr Izadoost, my plastic surgeon, and following his instructions, my mom removed the pump, took and sent pictures of my back to Dr Izadoost with her cellphone, then redressed my wounds. It made for an exciting holiday!
I met with Dr Darcourt, my oncologist, to discuss treatment options. If all insurance approvals go well on June 23rd I will start a regimen of pegylated interferon. Pegylated Interferon was just approved by the FDA in April and requires only one shot a week; the current standard treatment requires 5 shots per week. There may be a slight diminishment of side effects as well. The protocol for this interferon calls for a 5 year regimen, however if there is a clinical trial, or new treatment Dr Darcourt may choose to switch me to a more beneficial treatment later.
My first few months on Interferon will likely be tough. I will probably have flu-like symptoms and nausea, and most likely Dr Darcourt will prescribe an antidepressant as a preventative measure — depression is one of Interferon’s more serious side effects. But Interferon increases my chances of a lengthy remission. Josh will learn to check my lymph nodes and moles. I will have follow ups every 3 months for the rest of my life.
Dad & Me
I am very glad to put the surgery part of this ordeal behind me for now. I want to personally thank everyone for their generous prayers and good wishes, and especially to thank all of you have helped us with food and other kindnesses. Cancer is a very lonely diagnosis: I am sure I would not have made it without all of your support. It means so much to us to know how much you care for our little family.
Trying to get comfortable
Lillian continues to grow by leaps and bounds. She is a crawling pro now — much to the cats’ chagrin. She eats 3 meals of cereal, fruits and vegetables a day with gusto, as well as sucking down copious quantities of formula (it’s a lot more expensive than breast milk!). Most nights she sleeps through the night. The most astonishing thing is how her personality continues to develop. She is a charming, funny, mischievous girl who loves to explore and play. She has been on several outings and has even joined us for dinner at a restaurant. She is finally back in the care of her mom and dad at night.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
The Lilibug’s great-uncle David has a big pool (actually, she has two great-uncle Davids with big pools, one a Graves and one a Wenner) and she spent Memorial Day afternoon splashing around in it with her dad and some of her cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents and great-grandmothers (although her great grandmother decided not to do any splashing). She ate hot dogs and potato salad and a cheesecake made by her fabulously talented cousin Miranda.
The Denby Clan 