Here we are in San Francisco...
Muir Woods...

Visiting with Carolyn Caine, my second mom who just turned 88!! We love you Carolyn!

Columbia CA...a mining town in the Sierras...Visiting Kim and Nick Hatch's apartment... Lake Tahoe...

Happy Anniversary to us!

Well, it's been 27 years of wedded bliss today! Hip hip hooray!
We are heading to San Francisco tomorrow to celebrate. We're driving through Lake Tahoe and the gold country which Craig loves on our way there. We'll post pictures after the trip.

Last week we had an appointment with Dr. Jones with the results of the latest CT scan. Reality hit and we were reminded that Craig really does have cancer. He's been feeling pretty good and doing what he wants to do but the tumors are growing. As it says in the radiologist's report: "There is near complete replacement of the upper segments of the right hepatic lobe." Meaning the tumor is taking over the right side of the liver. Unbelievably his liver function is still normal and all other lab results are good. The largest tumor measures 13.2 x 21.0 cm on the right side. That is about the size of two remote controls put together! His left lobe of the liver also has many tumors with one measuring 5.6 x 5.6 cm. The right side of the liver was where the first chemo treatment was focused. We wish she'd done a better job or that Dr. Carlisle had done that side. Craig is reticent to go back for more treatment as he is enjoying life much more now but I really would like to kill some more tumors. To complicate things, Dr. Carlisle has left Huntsman and they don't have an intervention radiologist on staff right now. So we're petitioning the insurance company to use Dr. Carlisle at St. Marks. It just isn't easy getting this all taken care of. Dr. Jones would like to see him get treatment in July...he'd like to wait until September as he had a pretty lousy summer last year. Dr. Jones did tell us that Craig has the largest tumor load in his liver of any of her current patients. Did I mention reality sucks?

Maddie wins SBO at Skyline!

Maddie is the new Publicity Chair for Skyline High next year! We are so proud of her for putting herself out there and trying something new. Chase served on Publicity two years ago so it's a nice precedent he set. Maddie will be producing all the assembly videos with the help of 3 other Publicity members. I can't believe it's her Senior Year coming up! Thanks to Chase for helping her attain this great accomplishment and special thanks to her cousin Matthew for starring in her tryout video. I'd love to show it on here if I can...

It's Been A Year...

Well, it's been a year since the diagnosis. I'm glad to say Craig is still doing amazingly well and even hiked Millcreek canyon again just like we did last year. Here he is with Scout and Ruby. For fun I've inserted a video of Scout with his friend Bruce and the ball. This is a never-ending routine these two love to play. Craig doesn't really want to commemorate the anniversary as it isn't really anything to celebrate but I think it is because last year at this time we didn't know where we'd be right now. I'm just glad to say we're all still here and we're doing the things we love to do.

Craig and Dr. Jones

On April 6 we had a visit with Dr. Jones. She was amazed at how well Craig is doing. His liver function is perfect. His weight is good and healthy. He really is doing much better than we ever thought he would at this point. She wants him to do a scan in May but other than that she feels he's good to wait until hopefully this fall when he'd be willing to try another round of chemo. We still are waiting to hear on the chemo pill, Sutent, but so far insurance hasn't totally turned us down. Our intervention radiologist, Dr. Carlisle, has left Huntsman so we really don't have a doctor to use for chemo at the moment anyway. We feel really lucky to have Craig in such good health right now. Thanks for everyone's prayers and good vibes.

Spring Break in St. George

We went to St. George for spring break with 3 teenage girls, Maddie, Shelby and Emilie. We had a great time but wished the weather was a little warmer. Here we are at Olive Garden for Easter dinner! Chase was in Zions with Andrea and Jenn for a UofU class "biking through Zions". They had a fun time for 12 hours in the broken down Suburban on the freeway on the way down. Somehow it worked out and they got to their ride and we got to drive the Suburban home after a new fuel pump in Kanosh on Monday.

2nd Opinion

Last week we had an appointment with Dr. Scott Samuelson, an oncologist at Salt Lake Clinic with Utah Cancer. We decided to go for a 2nd opinion to make sure there isn't a treatment out there we're missing out on. Dr. Samuelson was great and spent a lot of time with us and basically confirmed that what we are doing is the best treatment for Craig's cancer. He did suggest the same drug, Sutent, that Dr. Jones wants Craig to try. We haven't heard back from our insurance on that appeal yet so there still is a possibility Craig could try it.

We have had some success in getting insurance issues resolved between the U Hospital, IHC and the Huntsman financial person. Lots of hours on the phone and refiguring out-of-pocket costs and the deductible. Just a few items hanging out there now that I'm hoping will resolve soon.

Loving the warmer days lately. Looking forward to spring break in St. George in a few weeks.