Friday, February 20, 2009

Update on Marilyn

This little voice inside my head kept telling me to call Marilyn this week. Maybe it was because the anniversary of Marita's passing is fast approaching. Maybe it was because I have been listening to David Cook's song "Permanent," which reminded me of his brother's fight with brain cancer. Or maybe it was something larger. Who knows?

Anyway, Marilyn was diagnosed with malignant brain cancer in June. When I called her, she was her upbeat self. She had really good news. She stopped chemo in December. She went to a team of specialists in St. Louis (Barnes) who looked at the "cloud" and still couldn't determine what it was. They could determine, however, that it had NOT grown. Also, she is regaining some of her strength. Next step will be a biopsy of her brain. If the mass is necrotic tissue, then the cancer is gone (the tissue would be its dead remains). If it is a tumor, they will take it out right then and there. So far, to their knowledge, it has not spread.

This is such a ray of hope! She was given six months to a year in June. I know better than to place all of my hope in this news, but it sounds pretty good. So, if you would keep her in your prayers in the next few weeks, I am sure she could use them.

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