Held at bay ...

First ... Amanda is without question the bravest warrior I have ever known. For me, she totally redefines what it means to be such a thing, and in a way that I think exemplifies the nature of Christ in her approach toward the challenges that lie ahead. She looks in the face of the enemy and smiles ... not in a mocking or haughty way ... but in a way that clearly communicates she is totally here for the journey and it is well with her soul. When I grow up ... maybe I can be more like her.

Regarding the situation as it stands now ..

• The small metastasis's in the lungs have NOT grown.
• The newer area of disease at the base of the spine, which was treated with radiation a few weeks ago, currently shows NO activity of cancer cells at this time.
• The original area (left pelvic area - higher hip) still has some activity, but has not advanced as far as we can tell.

Plan of attack ...

• There will be three more rounds of Chemo treatment, one of which Amanda has already had today. The next two rounds will be given in Columbia. It is basically a three-hour long infusion that takes place at the hospital. After each treatment, there is a three-week wait between treatments. Currently the next treatment is scheduled for August 13, and the final treatment for September 10.
• Amanda will have to return to M.D. Anderson for another complete set of scans on October 6 and October 7, with consultations with the doctors and surgeons on October 8.
• If the cancer continues to be held at bay with the ongoing treatments, (and we expect that to be the case), there will be a major surgery on her left upper hip area. This surgery will be intrusive and could require some changes in the way Amanda is physically able to move about and the weight that can be put on that particular hip. Regardless, Amanda has already told two nurses here today that she intends to be recovered in time participate with her cheerleading squad at school, and walk down the isle as one of the bridesmaids in her sister's wedding in December. In fact, she went so far as to say, with that precious smile on her face, that having the surgery in October is "perfect timing."
  
• The surgery would also require that she be hospitalized here at M.D. Anderson for a period of about three weeks before returning home. The reason it is important for this surgery to take place is because Dr. Anderson tells us that a durable remission is not possible without the removal of the cancer activity in this area.
• Should the hip surgery go as planned, later there will likely be two different lung surgeries ... one on each lung, to try to get the spots that are attempting to get some traction there.

Many of you know that Amanda won a Make A Wish trip for our family, and that is a GO! :-)
It falls in her treatment in a perfect place.

We are currently packing up here at our room, and heading back to Columbia tonight. I will drive through the night (for the most part) and we expect to be back home tomorrow morning sometime. See you there.

dad

p.s. To my wife and six children ... I love you more than you could ever imagine ... more than all this world and everything in it. :-)