Fenter's Friends and Family: Update 6 -- 97-07-09

Gail's MRIs on April 16 and June 11 each showed a small amount of growth. Also, Gail's speech and energy levels continued to drop during that time. The evaluation on June 11 almost brought our participation in the TNP-470 to an end. Strangely, if the tumor is growing and the patient is experiencing tumor related problems, then you no longer receive treatments.

Two of the three doctors evaluating Gail's case felt that we should be dropped from the study. However, since we were about to leave on a seven day Alaskan cruise (during which time Gail would not be receiving treatments), they agreed not to decide until we returned from Alaska. Additionally, they moved Gail's next evaluation up to the day after our return.

Gail's evaluation on July 2 was significantly better. Her speech had improved and her energy level was quite a bit higher. Dr. Fink (who heads the team) concluded that the treatments, rather than the tumor, were causing Gail's fatigue and speech problems. So we've been able to remain in the study group and Gail is again receiving every-other-day treatments. Also, Gail has returned to work. She is an incredible person who continues to amaze us all.

During this time we celebrated two birthdays, one for each of our girls. Rachel's twelfth birthday was on May 26 and Marta's sixteenth birthday was on June 15. Both parties were bigger than anything we've ever given before. As you might imagine, we cherish each special event with renewed fervor.

Gail and I had a wonderful week together in Alaska and British Columbia with friends from our San Antonio days, Norris and Linda Elam, and Barry and Karen Alexander (now in Austin). We cruised aboard the Dawn Princess (1997 is her inaugural season) through College Fjord and Glacier Bay National Park. We ported in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan before debarking in Vancouver, B.C. In Skagway we rode a narrow gauge railway up White Pass. In Ketchikan the boys took a float plane ride over Misty Fjords National Monument. It was Barry's second flight over Alaska in two days as he and Karen missed the boat in Juneau and then flew to Ketchikan to catch up.

They missed the boat..., but with good reason. While in Juneau we all rode a tram up Mount Roberts. Linda, Karen and I decided to take a trail down the mountain rather than the tram. About halfway down the 3.5 mile trail Karen slipped on a muddy section seriously spraining her ankle and breaking her tibia. After being carried down the mountain by Search and Rescue and overnighting in the Juneau hospital, she and Barry gamely rejoined our group for the rest of the trip.

We ended the trip touring Vancouver and Victoria. Those are the pictures with Karen in the wheelchair. The pictures of Karen aren't quite clear, but if you look closely you'll see her under all of our shopping bags, umbrellas, purses, etc.

Last update I faced the complication of having pulled my Achilles tendon away from the bone. It has healed nicely as long as I stretch it each morning. This update I'm dealing with something, which for me, has been more serious. In early May a ringing began in my ears which has never completely stopped. It's about the pitch and intensity of a dentist's drill.

I didn't mention it to anyone for a couple of weeks hoping that it would go away. It didn't. I began to lose sleep. One evening I told Gail and the girls about it. Marta had recently read an article in People about William Shatner (Captain Kirk) who had the same thing. After six years he finally got help through the University of Maryland.

I called Maryland the next morning. The waiting list was 8 months long. They, however, referred me to the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas, only a couple of blocks from where Gail sees her oncologist. I made and kept one appointment on June 10. I was supposed to go back on June 11 while Gail had her MRI, but that's when it looked as if we were going to be removed from the study group. Directly after that, of course, we were in Alaska. I'm still waiting for another appointment.

Unfortunately the ringing (called tinnitus) is so loud I am unable to sleep many nights. During one period I went four nights without any appreciable sleep. That's when I finally got some medication from a doctor, and, at his progressive direction, finally fell asleep having taken a triple dosage. I feel badly that I'm having this struggle as Gail is the one with a life-threatening condition. My sleeplessness and tension from the tinnitus are distractions which we don't need.

Thank you for all of your prayers. We live by them. You are part of a network which keeps us alive and hopeful. We thank God for you. We can't do without you.

 Randy, Gail, Marta and Rachel Fenter