Making a Difference

Mark had his first dose of DTIL3 yesterday morning and things are going smoothly so far. It took a bit of preparation to get here but here we are now.

Last week was full of screening tests and another bone marrow biopsy (number 9?). Unfortunately, Mark's blast cells (leukemia ones) were over the acceptable limit for the study so he had to endure 3 additional days of chemo prior to starting the new trial drug. As exhausting as this all is, we are happy to be actively treating the disease again. It feels like we're trying to do something instead of just waiting around.

The doctors have been cautious about investing all our hope in this but we are happy to be given another shot. It is totally experimental, only 8 other people in Canada have tried it so we need to keep this in the back of our minds as we go through the next two weeks.

Mark is at the Cancer agency and was able to come home today on a day pass. He gets the drug on Mon/Wed/Fri so if he is feeling well, he is able to come home on his off days It was nice to have dinner together and put the kids to bed. Kind of almost feels normal.

Over the next two weeks Mark will be contributing to Leukemia research by participating in this phase I clinical trial. It seems scary and unreal at times, but I know he's making a difference - and that's what counts.
I'm proud of you Mark.
Love Leslie

A Remote Possibility...

It's with a reserved and cautious optimism that I share this information with everyone... Mark has been offered a chance to participate in the DTIL3 study after all. Unbelievably, his blood was retested and it came back within the acceptable range to move ahead in the study. We are in complete shock and almost afraid to believe it.

We have been sitting on the news for a while because we don't want to drag everyone along on the rollercoaster with us, but we have a bit of hope to hold on to now and that is what is important. It is all very preliminary, there all lots of tests this week still, but we at least have another chance and that is what we are focusing on.

The last two weeks or so we have been unreal - almost like we're in a movie. Watching people go about their day, listening to people shush their kids in waiting rooms, watching them bustle about on Broadway while they catch the B-Line. All of it while Mark and I sit in traffic or wait for another doctors appointment for what? It all seems so wasted. Everyone's time is wasted rushing somewhere or rushing their kids to grow up. It has really changed the way we look at life and it has changed us forever.

It's impossible not to think about our future and how this disease is stealing it away from us. The last two weeks have changed us and in a wierd way, made us even more committed to fighting this disease. For now we have a slim chance and we're taking it. No matter how much disappointment may or may not be around the corner, we'll take today - with open arms.