Ana Updates 012 December 21st 2008 (English)

December 21st


Right now I’m with Ana in her room. She’s sleeping.

Her room number is 5217. Visiting hours are from 8AM to 9PM. Visitors are very welcome. The warmth and motivation she receives from a constant flow of people who care is great for her.

I wanted to share the sign that’s on the wall at the cancer ward at Baptist Hospital with all of you. I have rarely read something so powerful and inspirational.

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO

Cancer is very limited;

It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit

Anonymous

Each line applies 101% to Ana and to all the love and support we’re getting from all

The last few days at Baptist Hospital have definitely been a very positive change in terms of the quality of care and the sense of urgency to get things done.

Ana had her first session of radiation therapy yesterday morning. Doctor Lewin’s radiation oncology team came in on a Saturday morning just for Ana and to get her started immediately. They didn’t even doubt about coming in on a non working day to get her started ASAP instead of waiting until Monday. Dr. Lewin already told them they will also have to come in on Christmas day and New Years day to apply her daily radiation.

This kind of dedication is priceless and I’m so grateful.

The Radiation Oncology is applied to attack the frontal brain tumor and any bits that maybe left of the occipital tumor that the surgery didn’t take care of. When brain tumors are removed they are really scrapped away leaving the out layer intact. If the surgeon were to try and remove that layer he or she would also remove a small amount of brain tissue, thus causing brain damage. It’s sort of like when you eat a grapefruit you scrape away almost all the fruit with your spoon, you don’t get the very last part because you’d end up eating the bitter white part of the skin. The radiation takes care of those remaining bits and pieces. Ana also has possible cancerous seeds; these are tiny hot spots that have the potential to become real tumors. The radiation should wipe those away also.


Ana’s sister Nunzia arrived from Italy yesterday so it’s great to get some extra support and help with the children from her. The last time we saw her was in the summer of 2007 when we took a family vacation to Italy. Ana was very happy to see her and so were Chiara and Eric. Sophia really didn’t remember who she is, at the age of 3 you don’t remember people you’ve seen a year and a half before.

Ana remains very weak but stable. She had a full body MRI done yesterday after the radiation therapy to see exactly what’s going on in her body and to see what new issues may have appeared. Some suspicious things are going on but I want final confirmation before speaking of them.

Once again we need your continuous prayers, love and support


Sincerely


Victor Gospodinoff