The Good Fight

We've just returned from Dr. Aviles office where we learned that Mark is currently cancer-free!!!!! The tumor they radiated shrunk and at the moment, miraculously, there are no signs of cancer elsewhere! Yes, it is expected it will return and Mark will have a scan every few months but no further treatment will begin until the cancer reappears so they can better target the appropriate area to treat. It really is the best news that we've had in a year but it wasn't totally unexpected because Mark has felt better in the past few weeks than he has in a year and a half. We had a great trip to CA, Mark has gotten in several golf outings and we have reunited with many friends we were unable to see for a while. Mark still sleeps quite a bit but fatigue, which is expected, is the only symptom he has lately! This was totally unforseen a mere few months ago when his emotional and physical condition was so dismal, therefore, we are pleasantly surprised, feeling rejeuvenated and looking forward to some fun short term plans.
We are going to Matt Terry's wedding in Naples Florida in early November, planning Thanksgiving with family then hoping to get to Puerto Rico for a few weeks prior to our business' Christmas party December 15. Kevin and the two sets of newlyweds will all be home for Christmas!
Gary is completely done with treatments and his hair is growing in nicely and he looks fantastic. He will go for periodic testing over the next ten years. The next set of test results for Mark will be reviewed December 19 and we will plan our next posting at that time. Meanwhile, thanks, as always for your support and acts of kindness and friendship throughout Gary and Mark's dark days. Your compassion, optimism and spirit have inspired and strengthened our family. Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours sure will be filled with gratitude!

Mark had a great family reunion with his brothers and spouses before his brother, Joe and wife Carol, passed papers on their house and moved to North Carolina. A few days later, he completed radiation treatments and we left later that same morning for CA. We took it slowly, Mark slept a lot and we had a fantastic trip. We loved Kevin's school, Sierra Nevada, his apartment and meeting his girlfriend's parents. Then we traveled the coast and stayed a few nights in Carmel, a few nights in Santa Barbara and wound up in Rancho Sante Fe where we had a wonderful time with close friends, Elly, Ginni and Graham. We've been home for a week and miraculously, Mark has even played golf with Gary and another father/son team. He had not played since the end of May but played well and was elated. He has tests next week and will get the results on October 18 so I will fill you in on results after that.
We are also happy to announce that Gary finished his radiation treatments, his hair is growing in nicely and he married his girlfriend/fiance of four years, Kristina Conaway, in a private ceremony on the beach in Barnstable Saturday, October 6. They "tied the knot" barefoot on the beach, Kristina in a simple white gown with just a JP and photographer in attandance on an incredibly beautiful October afternoon. They arrived by limo and spent the night at the Chatham Bars Inn. They may celebrate with others at a party in a few months and hope to go on a honeymoon this winter. Kristina has been incredibly supportive throughout Mark's illness and during Gary's treatments her compassion and caretaking gave us complete peace of mind. We lovingly welcome Kristina to the family and wish both Gary and Kristina a lifetime of good health and endless days of joy.