As Frank Sulloway told me a few weeks ago, nothing really ever goes exactly as planned at these appointments:
Spent some time at the hospital today. About 7+ hours. We didn’t start treatment today, which was the plan, but, we did get some great news. I am a match for the immunotherapy PD1 drug. Boom! The mojo is workin’, people. Now we are waiting to see if I start with it, or with chemo, and have a few fertility things to handle. The PD1 drug treatment is a randomized deal with the clintrial. I’ll know this weekend what I start with. We are crossing fingers for the trial. But if it is indeed chemo, and it doesn’t work well, we can convert over to the immunotherapy. A bit wacky I know. But this is how it works.
Fast forward a few hours later at dinner tonight at the house, Pops and JoAnn (who sat patiently earlier today at UNC as they always do) and I heard Larry Stogner announce that he has ALS. We have been watching this dude since 1982, as long as I can remember watching tube in NC. Like many of you, his voice has been a part of our home for a long time. And he has a incurable disease. It made me sad, and also made me feel lucky. Mine is incurable too. But I’ve got more options. More treatments. And the MW gang, of course.
I truly appreciate all the MW pics, texts, calls, emails, pages, letters via carrier pigeon, smoke screens, morse code and cave drawings that came in today. Lot of folks wondering about my well being and it feels great. Stogner has a long time coin-phrase that he used tonight, and I hope that he doesn’t mind if I borrow it from him and apply it to all of you who are supporting me. “Thanks for the company”. I am beyond happy to have it.
Thank you for the years of quality local news broadcasting and best of luck to Larry Stogner. Watch his announcement here:
http://abc11.com/entertainment/abc11s-larry-stogner-announces-retirement-/487847/
So glad to hear you are a match! Keeping the mojo coming fo’ shiznizzal! xoxo
So happy to hear of your good news from today. Hopefully a sign of more good things coming your way. We’ll be keeping your mojo rollin’!
Great news about qualifying! Fingers, toes, hairs, pretty much anything I can cross I crossed that you can start the trial! West Coast MW in da house!
Sam
I send my MW vibes to you and your family daily! Always thinking of you!
I think I Love You says it all at this point!!! We all do!!
Keep the writing up, you make something pretty scary and ugly, sound almost comical and eloquent. When you have conquered this cancer, your book will be a NY Times Best seller!!! We will celebrate at Slim Shady’s large beach place appropriately called, “Mojo Warrior” (you knew that was coming)!!
You are awesome!!! Hang on, we have tied a huge knot at the end of your rope there is no way you can fall off even if you do we are all here to catch you!!!!
great news on the trial. Anti pd1 is a game changer. You are right where you need to be.
Great news about the PD1 drug, Sam. Thank YOU for the important, sweet and funny part that you play in our family. Looking forward to talking with you soon about the road ahead.
Sad news about Larry Stogner. We hope that the Ice Bucket Challenge funds might help with finding a treatment for his terrible disease.
Glad to hear some positive stuff, Sam. When I started chemo I was terrified because I thought I would be the only person in the world to explode once the stuff was administered. As you know, I did not explode, and I am alive and well in your old hood. Thinking about you more than you know. Trusts the docs and HANG IN. xoxox
Great news Sam. Sounds like they are taking good care of you and glad you are a candidate for anti PD-1.
Hi Sam,
I recently became aware of your battle with lung cancer. To say the least, I was shocked and sadened to hear by the news. Some of our friends told me about your website, so I wanted to stop by and let you know that me and Rebecca are sending you positive vibes and thoughts. I look forward to following your site and journey to becoming cancer-free. Hope to see you on the court again soon! Good to hear you so upbeat and positive. Chris
We’re doing the MW Dance here on Chestnut!
xoxo