Happy Dance City...

The scan went well! Many of the cancerous lymph nodes
have shrunk or stabilized. I had a happy attack upon receiving the
news.

Although I’m no longer involved with the clinical PDX trial, I can continue receiving PDX because of my participation in the trial. This does not cure me; however, this drug shows promise of making the disease livable, like diabetes, or other chronic diseases. I feel so blessed. Thank you to everyone for praying for me during this time. I will continue receiving PDX at a dose less than I’ve been currently receiving. Life is so good!

I look forward to seeing you guys in July!

Fight 2 Win
-Alese

Sweet Reminder…

I got to come home! For the first time in over a month and a half, my feet touched California soil! I cannot tell you how good it feels to be home with my family. I arrived last Tuesday, and I leave Monday morning at 4:30 A.M, yes, A.M. (There will be coffee involved.) I arrive in New York around noon, and I have a 4:00 p.m. appointment with Dr O’Connor. When I met with Dr. O’Connor last Monday, I was experiencing side effects that were minor enough to live with; but serious enough to postpone treatment. This specific clinical trial only allows for two treatments to be missed, and they’re not allowed to be replaced or made up. So by default, as of now, I am done with PDX.

On Tuesday afternoon, I will get a PET scan and a CT scan, and since it will be a long few days, I have plans to sleep over at Ronald McDonald House which is a few blocks away from Sloan Kettering. If the scan results come back that the tumors have either stabilization or show reduction, I will continue on PDX… If there has been growth, we will explore other options that include low grade chemotherapy.

I request your prayers that there will be no growth of any tumors. Thank you.

On a lighter note, my sister Shallyn turned 19 on the 16th. Janet Soliman, the woman who made my whole 21st birthday so special, let my family use her house in La Quinta (the town next to Palm Desert) for 4 days. This is the first time in many years that my family and I have been on vacation. Janet’s an amazing person and fellow Hodgkin’s survivor. She’s also someone who I truly admire and look up to.

It’s Saturday evening and by anyone’s standards, my parents have taken a lot of pictures. I look forward to sharing our celebration with you. Speaking of pictures, I will be uploading some new photos in the next few weeks. My hair has grown over 3 inches since the last pictures were taken in November!

There will be another fund raiser at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, in July. I hope to see all of you there. Also, the lavender wrist bands are back!

Thank you so much to everyone for the prayers and support, I have the most amazing support group ever! You all give me strength and hope.


Fight 2 Win,

-Alese

Feeling Good Continue...

Three weeks and counting... Outside of some minor side effects, this is the third week in a row I've been feeling good. After feeling sick for so long, I've forgotten what it's like to feel good.

I received treatment on Tuesday, I've been taking fluids with every treatment and I've noticed this has really made a difference in how I'm feeling immediately after receiving PDX. I have two more treatments of PDX and at the end of the month they will scan me.

My Dad flew in a week ago Sunday, it's been great having him here; he wakes me up in the morning with breakfast in bed and feeds me these unbelievable meals. My friend Haley flies in next Friday, she's really fun and I'm really looking forward to her visit.

The following week, Dr. O'Connor has given me the green light to go home for five days. Its Shallyn 19th birthday and my parents have planned something really special for her. I can't tell what it is because she reads these updates. Shallyn you're gonna have a great time.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Fight 2 Win,

-Alese