MIRACLES EXIST!! Bob still in remission!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I received a phone call from Bob's oncologist this afternoon. Bob had me on speaker when she got into his room to deliver the news. She said that she spoke to the pathologist this afternoon regarding Bob's prognosis and that miraculously Bob is still in complete remission. They classify remission as less than 5% blast cells in the body and initial reports indicate that Bob has less than 2%. The doctor was very surprised, as was I, because all indications in his blood work (the drop in hemoglobin, platelets, and white cells) are all indicative of the cancer coming back. She had no explanation for it. Bob will still need to receive 3 day consolidation chemotherapy which is still very risky due to his condition, but it will not require him to be transferred to Boston. He and I will be discussing whether or not he wants to remain at Bethesda for continued treatment or possibly go to UM Sylvester in Miami. Either way, they are going to want to start the chemotherapy this week.

In other news, Bob took a barium swallow test to see if he could stop drinking thick liquids and move back to regular liquids like water. He has to drink barium and they do xrays to see if the liquid passes to his stomach or if some gets aspirated into his lungs. He passed with flying colors! Good news abounds!

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone again for all the donations received, and special thank you to Mussa Mohkami, a powerlifter from Germany for writing Bob a letter today. Although Bob has never met Mussa, his letter was very inspirational and I read it to him this morning when he woke up. Here is an exerpt:

"I do belive in an higher power, a power that is bigger than man. The mind is a great tool - it can make the impossible, possible. I belive when you think positive and put all your energy and the energy of friends and family and loved ones fans and iron brothers all around the globe together there is nothing that you can´t do!"

I echo his sentiments exactly. Thank you to everyone who has been pulling for Bob. It means more than you'll ever know.

Love and thanks,
Michele