Another good MRI

We ventured back to UCLA on a rainy Wednesday for Susan’s scheduled MRI, suspecting we’d have a good scan since she’s had no symptoms of tumor trouble. We were not disappointed. Compared to November’s scan, her tumor is stable. Again. I think this is Susan’s 6th or 7th MRI without tumor progression dating back to 2009. When Dr Lai matched it with prior ones including her hemorrhage event in January 2009, he called her progress “incredible.”
 

We’ve learned to hold a doctor’s comments in check because it’s easy and unwise to project outcomes from such remarks, whether good or bad. But we’re genuinely encouraged that Susan’s tumor trend has been so positive for such a long while. Her brain cancer is not cured – it’s not even in remission – yet as long as this pause lasts, she gathers more resources for the next battle. She did have another urinary tract infection develop last week, and so began another course of antibiotics amid the reminder we still need to deal with the kidney stone that’s throwing off bacteria. Her next urology follow-up will be in February unless we need to step it up.
 

We’re so thankful for her current progress, for a good year overall, for the help we’re getting constantly from every direction, and for our peace and strength that are obviously God-given. As we look to the New Year, we know 2011 is infused with another gift borne of the Lord’s powerful support: hope.