No....but

Just a quick update for those following Alex's story.....it turns out they couldn't find that 'needle in a haystack' in his blood, which happens in 1/3 of the patients, so Alex won't be a part of the study looking for cellular changes in lymphoma.  Needless to say, I was disappointed.  I'm not sure folks understand what it's like to wonder if every symptom could be a return of his cancer.  PTLD (post-transplant Lymphoproliferative disorder) is so sneaky....it can present as something as ordinary as constipation. Then after you've tested for everything else, it's cancer. That's what we live with everyday; you try your best to push it as far back in your mind as you can and live your life.  It's a precarious life.  It's also a thankful life, no moment is taken for granted; every hug, every kind word, every kiss on the head matters.

Yesterdays answer was No......but.  Stanford would like us to meet with their transplant cardiology team about a study they are doing to try and individualize immunosuppression.  Right now, almost everybody has a same window of suppression.  You take your medicine and they measure the level in your blood, most people are at 3-5 (as an example).  This study will look at ways to individualize those levels based on a person's personal history and how those levels relate to secondary diseases like cancer and renal failure.  Alex has spent his entire life on the cutting edge of medicine and we have always agreed to participate in studies that not only help him, but others following us (as long as it hasn't been harmful to Alex) so this is nothing new to us. This is the path we've been given to walk.  God's purpose for Alex continues.

Alex will be followed by Stanford every 3 months with his next PET scan in mid-September.  Our hope and prayer for that is CR (Complete Recovery). Right now, the doctors are happy with his progress, his blood levels are good and they remain optimistic that the PET will be clear.

On a lighter note, I recently helped my dad clear out my mom's closet and we came across all my mom's report cards from 2nd grade thru 12th.  The fact that my grandma saved all these (mom was the 10th of 11 children) amazed the family.  But one particular year was quite reflective of my mom.  From her 7th grade teacher:
Sept - "Barbara sometimes talks a little but she is one of my very few good students.  She is capable and dependable."
Jan. 29 - "No trouble with talking this period.  Complains about assignments as though work is an awful thing but I don't think she really means it that way.  Does nice work and has a pleasant personality."
April 2 - "Barbara is not doing too badly so far as failing is concerned but she isn't working up to capacity.  She is talented if she would dig in and put out her best."
I can just see this teacher, perhaps in her first year of teacher, wanting to write something nice about each of her students.  Mom obviously came out of her shell after the first quarter and voiced her opinion (no surprise there).  But as the year wears on, the teacher slowly starts to slump over her desk.....