This morning Missy, along with our parents, met with her doctors at the National Institute of Health (NIH). The lab tests done on the tumor removed during her 2nd surgery shows that she has a Grade 3 Astrocytoma. We had feared it may be a Grade 4, so this is good news. Her original tumor contained a less aggressive cancer type along with the Astrocytoma cells, but they now seem to be gone.
After meeting with the doctors and discussing options it was decided that the best thing for Missy at this time was an FDA approved IV treatment that will cut off the blood supply to the tumor. The IV treatment drug is called Avastin and she will receive it once every two weeks. Along with that she will take a chemotherapy medication called Temodar each evening. Hopefully these two medications combinded will stop the growth of the cancer and shrink the existing cancer cells. Both treatments can be done in Lexington, so she will only have to travel back to the NIH every eight weeks for monitoring.
Missy is doing amazingly well. She is exhausted, but ready to continue this fight. She is so thankful for all of your love and support during this time. You all mean the world to her and to all of us. Thank you for all for your prayers and constant support!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Resting
Hi everyone. I just wanted to drop in and let you know that Missy is doing really well, and that there isn't really any new medical information at this point. She got home at the end of last week and since then has been at my parents house resting and recovering from the surgery. We spent the day with her Saturday and had a wonderful visit. It was good for my heart to see her sweet face. She came to town Monday for a quick check in with the doctor and stayed in Lexington to spend time with her boyfriend. I know she was very happy to be back at her house and to spend time with George. Tuesday she headed back to my parents so she can continue the recovery process. She is very tired and sore, but is so strong. She is doing amazing.
The next step will be to head back up to the NIH and find out the lab results and get her new treatment plan. As far as I know, the NIH likes to start treatment four weeks after surgery. We are expecting her to go up for the meeting with them at the end of next week or possibly the beginning of the first week of March. The date has yet to be set, but we know it will be soon. At that point we will have more information and a course of action. For now she is just trying to feel better and be as ready as possible to start fighting this cancer with her new treatment plan!
The next step will be to head back up to the NIH and find out the lab results and get her new treatment plan. As far as I know, the NIH likes to start treatment four weeks after surgery. We are expecting her to go up for the meeting with them at the end of next week or possibly the beginning of the first week of March. The date has yet to be set, but we know it will be soon. At that point we will have more information and a course of action. For now she is just trying to feel better and be as ready as possible to start fighting this cancer with her new treatment plan!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Home Again
I am really sorry I haven't updated in a couple of days! Time just got away from me. Missy is doing amazingly well. She is actually flying home this evening! She has had a good last couple of days, just resting and healing at the NIH hospital, and she is now ready to continue healing here at home. Both of our parents are still there with her and will be helping her make the trip home. Lucky she has a direct flight right into Lexington, so it will be as easy as possible. She will then be going to our parents house for the next week or two to continue recovering from the surgery. We will not have any lab results or treatment plans until she goes back up to the NIH in three to four weeks. For now we are just so happy to have our sweet girl back home!
Many of you have asked if you can do anything to help once they get home. First we want to say thank you for all that has already been done for her and our family. Your donations, thoughts and prayers have made a huge difference during this time. Plane tickets, food baskets, money to cover bills, constant messages of support. These are things that have meant the world to all of us and the words Thank You just don't seem to feel like enough. You have all done so much already, the question of "what can we do?" is hard to answer. Not because we do not need things, but because we already feel so blessed to have you all.
That being said, we continue to appreciate your desire to help. Food or gift cards to restaurants that do takeout would be very helpful and make life a little easier as everyone attempts to get back to a normal routine. Donations to Missy are also always extremely appreciated to help cover expenses while she is off work. Details of how that can be done are on the left sidebar of this blog or you can contact me (biogirl79 at gmail dot com) and I can help. As always, good thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than we can say. We are so thankful for all of you and your support during this time.
Many of you have asked if you can do anything to help once they get home. First we want to say thank you for all that has already been done for her and our family. Your donations, thoughts and prayers have made a huge difference during this time. Plane tickets, food baskets, money to cover bills, constant messages of support. These are things that have meant the world to all of us and the words Thank You just don't seem to feel like enough. You have all done so much already, the question of "what can we do?" is hard to answer. Not because we do not need things, but because we already feel so blessed to have you all.
That being said, we continue to appreciate your desire to help. Food or gift cards to restaurants that do takeout would be very helpful and make life a little easier as everyone attempts to get back to a normal routine. Donations to Missy are also always extremely appreciated to help cover expenses while she is off work. Details of how that can be done are on the left sidebar of this blog or you can contact me (biogirl79 at gmail dot com) and I can help. As always, good thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than we can say. We are so thankful for all of you and your support during this time.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday Update
Just wanted to post a quick update to let everyone know that Missy got a lot of much needed rest last night. In the early evening she developed a bad headache, but they got that under control and she was able to feel better and rest well.
We found out that the MRI done after surgery showed that they were able to removed the 90-95% of the tumor that they were expecting. We are really happy with this result. They said today that her recovery was going great and that she would really just be staying there the next few days to keep the pain under control and to get her ready for the flight home. We can't wait to get her back here, but we know she is in awesome hands.
We found out that the MRI done after surgery showed that they were able to removed the 90-95% of the tumor that they were expecting. We are really happy with this result. They said today that her recovery was going great and that she would really just be staying there the next few days to keep the pain under control and to get her ready for the flight home. We can't wait to get her back here, but we know she is in awesome hands.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Recovering
Missy is doing amazingly well with her recovery. Boo and I headed back to Kentucky this afternoon, but we got to spend the morning with Missy and she is really doing great. Yesterday afternoon she moved out of the ICU and onto the regular floor and the transition has gone awesome. Last night she was up walking the halls and laughing and joking with me and Boo. It was a wonderful night. She still has ups and downs with the pain level, but the doctors and nurses seem to constantly be on top of keeping her comfortable and that is wonderful.
Missy, along with both of my parents, will stay at the NIH until the end of the week. As far as we know she will continue to stay in the hospital during their entire stay, and my parents will continue to stay in the family lodge there on the NIH campus. I cannot tell you how great it was to be right there with her and to have this housing provided for free. The entire NIH complex was amazing. Everyone was so kind and helpful. It is hard to be so far away from home, where we have the support of so many of you all, but the NIH has done all they can to create the feeling of home for these families who have all traveled so far. It truly is an amazing place that I hope with all of my heart that none of you ever have to visit. Still, we are so thankful that they are here for us, and all the other families during these difficult times. It is always better together.
Missy, along with both of my parents, will stay at the NIH until the end of the week. As far as we know she will continue to stay in the hospital during their entire stay, and my parents will continue to stay in the family lodge there on the NIH campus. I cannot tell you how great it was to be right there with her and to have this housing provided for free. The entire NIH complex was amazing. Everyone was so kind and helpful. It is hard to be so far away from home, where we have the support of so many of you all, but the NIH has done all they can to create the feeling of home for these families who have all traveled so far. It truly is an amazing place that I hope with all of my heart that none of you ever have to visit. Still, we are so thankful that they are here for us, and all the other families during these difficult times. It is always better together.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Surgery Day
Missy's surgery went very well today! We are so very thankful for the amazing doctors and nurses here at the NIH who worked on her and made this day run as smooth as it has. Surgery began at 8:30 and lasted right around five hours. After surgery the doctor came out to meet with us and said things went great. They tumor was in a slightly different location than they originally thought, which meant that one of the side effects they were worried about was no longer a concern. This was very exciting news!
After surgery Missy was taken directly to the ICU and we got to see her after about an hour. Her head was hurting very badly, but she was talking and even laughed a little bit. She was struggling from having major surgery, but was clearly her normal sweet self, and it was so wonderful to see.
The doctor seemed pleased with the amount of tumor removed. He said he was fairly sure that at least part (but not all) of the tumor was dead cells rather than new growth. They did a follow-up MRI this afternoon to see the exactly how much tumor is left and we will have those results tomorrow. We will have lab results on the actual make-up of the tumor in about two weeks.
For tonight, our girl is still fighting a headache but is doing awesome. She will spend the night in ICU and should hopefully be moving back to the regular floor sometime tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and support. We so appreciate you all.
After surgery Missy was taken directly to the ICU and we got to see her after about an hour. Her head was hurting very badly, but she was talking and even laughed a little bit. She was struggling from having major surgery, but was clearly her normal sweet self, and it was so wonderful to see.
The doctor seemed pleased with the amount of tumor removed. He said he was fairly sure that at least part (but not all) of the tumor was dead cells rather than new growth. They did a follow-up MRI this afternoon to see the exactly how much tumor is left and we will have those results tomorrow. We will have lab results on the actual make-up of the tumor in about two weeks.
For tonight, our girl is still fighting a headache but is doing awesome. She will spend the night in ICU and should hopefully be moving back to the regular floor sometime tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers and support. We so appreciate you all.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Pre-Op
Well the Shepherd family has made it to the NIH Hospital safe and sound. Mom and Missy arrived yesterday and Dad, Boo and I flew up this morning. We got to the hospital around nine and Missy had already been admitted and things were rolling. She had a day full of pre-op tests, such as an EKG, x-ray and MRI. Lots of blood work and meeting doctors. It was a long day, but also enjoyable because we were all together. I am pretty sure we laughed more than most families the day before brain surgery, and it was good for us all.
Really today was basically about just getting ready for tomorrow, but we did learn that the plan on the surgery being 5-7 hours and is scheduled to start at 8:30. We are expecting a long hard day, but we are hoping and praying that there will be good news at the end of it. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I will hopefully update again tomorrow evening and let you all know details from the day.
And now just because it is sorta cute, here is Missy with me and Boo. We sure do love our sweet Melissa.
Really today was basically about just getting ready for tomorrow, but we did learn that the plan on the surgery being 5-7 hours and is scheduled to start at 8:30. We are expecting a long hard day, but we are hoping and praying that there will be good news at the end of it. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I will hopefully update again tomorrow evening and let you all know details from the day.
And now just because it is sorta cute, here is Missy with me and Boo. We sure do love our sweet Melissa.
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