Hi Family and Friends,
It has been a challenging two years since this whole process started with Bridget. Quite frankly, there were so many curves and options thrown at us that it has been a whirlwind of activity just trying to say ahead of the disease. There were lots of conflicting options offered by some of the best institutions in the business, starting with Northwestern downtown, The University of Iowa, and University of Chicago. Several paths we had selected did not get the hoped-for results, but more on that later.
This first medical entry will catch you up on where we are at today, solicit your support and prayers (even giving you a name: Gigi's Journeywomen and Journeymen ), and finally invite you along to share this path of life that we have found ourselves on. We appreciate any comments or support but please direct any medical suggestions and/or questions to someone in the family outside of Bridget or Craig. We know everyone’s heart is in the right place but you have no idea how many remedies we have heard Old Uncle Harry has taken and he's still around today 20 years later. Having said that we are open to suggestions, but we need to filter this from Bridget and Craig!
So here we go. Our beautiful Bridget has Neuroendocrine Cancer.
https://netrf.org/
It's a rare form of cancer that seems to be surfacing more in the world and is often misdiagnosed and the medical community is not sure why it is occurring so much now. The not so good news, right now, there is no cure. The good news is that it is very slow-growing and can be managed. Her cancer is on the tail of the pancreas (no it is NOT pancreatic cancer, thank God, more on that later) and has metastasized to her liver. Her liver currently has a 70% tumor burden. The excellent news, that was just reconfirmed, is that her KI-67 rating is very low at 6%. You can read more information about Ki-67 here. Therein lies our hope. Also, after a recent PET Scan, her liver functions are normal. That is EXCELLENT news as we continue discussions on a live liver transplant!
There is also an issue with the tumors throwing off high levels of Cortisol. This is your fight or flight chemical and unfortunately, Bridget's number's here is very high. It plays crazy tricks on blood pressure and glucose. It also throws off potassium, and so regular blood work needs to be collected to keep everything in balance.
Right now Bridget's liver is around four times the normal size and she has also developed ascites (accumulation of fluid in the body), as a result, she needs to be "drained" once a week ( which also means a 1.5 hour wait for a Covid test each week). The procedure yields 1.5-2 liters each time. The doctors have prescribed a diuretic to help pass more fluids and to keep the swelling down. It is working but like a lot of things in medicine, there are side effects of severe muscle cramps which cause significant pain if she moves to quickly.
Right now, we are working with our hoped-for silver bullet. It is called PRRT. For all you guys reading this, here are the details on that when your better half asks questions :-)
Bridget’s Doc at UofC is Blasé Polite, he has a video at the bottom the page.
PRRT stands for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy, an FDA-approved therapy used for systemic treatment of neuroendocrine tumors.
Peptide. Receptor refers to a specific target which the peptide attaches to. After the peptide joins with a receptor, it becomes attached to the targeted tumor cell.
Radionuclide. As the peptide enters the cell, it brings the Radionuclide into the tumor cell.
We are working with the Neuroendocrine Department at the University of Chicago. The PRRT therapy will consist of a treatment every 8 weeks for a maximum of four times. Bridget had her first treatment over the summer a second one in the fall and her third is coming up on November 30.
Additionally, Bridget is doing complementary treatments with an Eastern medicine doctor who has three PHDs in Chinese medicine. This is to help build up her endocrine and immune systems. So far, she has had excellent results. Our doctor and friend is Rose Lopez and she has been a great support and guide through this journey. .
So, there you are Gigi's Journeywomen and Journeymen. Cards and letters are more than appreciated at any time. Bridget and Craig need all the positive support they can get. Since this is public post, we do not want to put out home addresses. Please send and cards or notes to my attention
Ron Waltz, PO Box 407, Fox River Grove, IL 60021
Lastly, anyone who knows me well has heard me say "my son-in-laws make me look like shit!" Of course, it is a tongue in cheek compliment. But a special mention to Craig, Bridget's husband. This man has supported our Beautiful Bridget emotionally and physically with love, tenderness, and respect. He takes on extra duties as a dad to our grand-kids Kieran and Alana, all while managing a very challenging full-time job. On more than one occasion, Craig has had to break very difficult news to Nancy and I. Thank you Mike and Anita Sievers for raising such a fine man!
Nancy Praying at Lourdes France
I have also stated on numerous occasions that I married way over my head, and that would be an understatement. My Nancy promised Bridget when she got sick, she would never leave her side. And you know what, she never has. I have lost count on how many nights Nancy has slept on a crummy hospital couch tending to Bridget's needs, all night sometimes. Thank you, Nancy, for taking care of our baby girl. And she still finds time to tend to our other daughters Erin and Ceara and our 7 grandchildren, and as she likes to say "I have to get home to take care of my four year old?" I just can't seem to convince her I am really 6!!
And to you Bridget. Life has brought us to the passage when the student becomes the teacher. Your faith, courage, and determination has taught me so much about the capacity for goodness in human nature even while in the eye of the storm. Thank you for being a role model for me and the world.
Love and Peace
Ron
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