8 February Update

Good friends,
Buona Gente,

It's been a while since I've given you an update, but while there's not much of substance to report, I'll give you a status report.  If for no other reason it should at least let you know that we're still chugging along on relatively smooth terrain.

As I write I am gazing out on the Atlantic at Fernandina Beach Florida.  We are here for the month of February and enjoying the prospects of a nor'easter-free weekend.  Zora did the driving from Wilmington, which we parsed into 3 days with pleasant stops along the way in Edenton NC, and Savannah GA.   We've rented a small house on the beach so the views are great even if the weather is less than totally inviting.  It is warmish (currently near 60), yet not truly warm with a sprinkle most every day, but no truly foul weather.  I'm hoping to get in a little golf with Zora's cousin Al Tyre this afternoon, with more to come.  Zora's sister Anne is with us through the weekend, and my brothers and wives will join us next week for a brief reunion and brotherly golf championship match.  Fernandina Beach is a part of Amelia Island, and there has been a small chamber music series here for the past week.  We saw the Kruger Brothers Monday night, and violinist Hilary Hahn Wednesday night.  We'll get a dual piano accounting of "Rhapsody in Blue" at the Palace Saloon next week!

On the medical front, my oncologist in Wilmington has lined me up with a substitute in nearby Jacksonville Beach, whom I saw Wednesday.  She is overseeing my bi-weekly infusions of Avastin as well as keeping an eye on me generally too.  The Avastin continues to be symptom-free, altho it does reduce the clotting ability of the blood which is fine unless I were to have an accident of some kind.  Mainly it seems to be working so getting a 30 minute iv every couple of weeks is not a bad thing.  I have not had another MRI since the one in early January which  showed improvement in the tumor and have not experienced any symptoms to suggest that I should be concerned about any change in direction.  I am still shaking off the effects of the steroids which were stopped about two weeks ago and will take some weeks to be purged from the system.  These effects include a lack of energy/strength, and a tendency to lose focus if I don't work at it.  I am generally feeling good and able to do most everything a hale and hearty 69-year-old should be able to do, if not quite as well, or for quite as long.  Memory, especially short term, and reading comprehension have taken a fairly significant decline in recent weeks.  Occasionally frustrating, but that doesn't stop me from reading (or trying to remember where I left my coffee cup).  As far as regular meds go, I remain on Keppra, which is an anti-seizure drug, which I've been on from the get-go and will probably remain on as long as I'm kicking.  I've never had any seizures so maybe it's working/helping.   I'm also on a general purpose anti-biotic which will probably be eliminated in a few weeks.  As I said everything is quite easy to get along with and seems to be doing a good job.

Well, it's not exactly Lake Wobegon, but that's the news, such as it is.  Hope it finds you well and warm and safe.  We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon.

Ross