In our world of discord, be it political, social, financial, racial, or anti-semitism, there is still compassion in our society.

Today, I signed consent for my clinical trial of one, and late this afternoon picked up the medication at the Fred Hutch pharmacy.

Through my cancer journey I have survived and lived through many a physical ailment – bowel obstruction, spinal nerve root compression, chronic neuropathy in my feet. I feel that none of that compares to the emotional pain I have endured this past month. The crush of the decision that I was disqualified from the “cure” (or even the flip side effect of death while trying for the cure) was more than an anvil dropping from the sky. Then the weeks of waiting for my liver to heal, and the subsequent push and pull between my doctors and the drug company to approve my trial.

All in all, the tremendous power of your caring and prayers have brought Sharon and I through these honestly depressing days. Tonight I begin the new therapy. I have one more treatment tomorrow and a blood test on Monday after which we will return to our home in Sacramento.

Over the next several months we will gage the response to this treatment. Frankly it can go one of three ways – no effect, suppression of the lymphoma, or remission of the lesions which will then allow me to try for the bone marrow transplant and the cure. It is unspoken which way we are praying for.

We will keep in touch. In the meantime, a heartfelt thanks to all.

Larry and Sharon