Circulars to Friends and Family
The e-mails I send to family and friends as my medical condition progresses has developed into a series of circulars reporting major medical events. At times I feel uncomfortable burdening our family and friends with these details. While these events are momentous to me, unfortunately most of us eventually suffer the indignities of illness and the associated medical interventions. My family and I have been very grateful for the expressions of concern and support during this odyssey, and the interest in following its development. Many have told me that they appreciate my circulars, and that I should make them available.
Below I provide links to the circulars. I have removed the more ephemeral personal news that I often included at the end of the circulars.
Starting in 2007 I am posting my circulars here without circulating them by e-mail.
- Tumors on the Spine Discovered—February 19, 2002
- It's Ependymoma—February 25, 2002
- Radiation is Planned—March 6, 2002
- Preparing for Spine Irradiation—March 16, 2002
- First Radiation Session—March 20, 2002
- Radiation Half Done—April 6, 2002
- Radiation Finished—April 28, 2002
- First Post-Radiation Followup—July 7, 2002
- Treatment with Temodar—December 28, 2002
- Temodar Treatment Continues—March 14, 2003
- Still More Temodar—June 13, 2003
- The End of Temodar—December 24, 2003
- Stable—June 22, 2004
- Still Stable—September 15, 2004
- Operation Planned to Remove Tumor in Neck—August 4, 2005
- Survived Operation (from Debbie)—August 23, 2005
- Home From Operation—August 25, 2005
- Post-Op Follow-Up—September 16, 2005
- Proton Treatment Planned—October 9, 2005
- Proton Treatment at MGH—November 23, 2005
- A Brain Tumor—January 13, 2006
- Steriotatic Radiation Therapy—April 17, 2006
- Chemotherapy—May 25, 2006
- Carboplatin—August 9, 2006
- Continued Carboplatin—December 8, 2006
- Progression—June 27, 2007
- Coasting—November 12, 2007
- End of Coasting—March 12, 2008
|