Eric Update

I've had a few people request updates about Eric's chemo. He has had four rounds of chemo so far (well, five if you count the first incorrect dose of CHOP) and is doing great. The chemo regimen he is getting is called ABVD, which stands for four different drugs. One of the drugs is called bleomycin and has serious side effects. It can cause lung damage and lung failure, so Eric has periodic lung function tests to make sure his lungs are handling it okay. When he went in for his last round of chemo, his doctor told him that his most recent lung function test showed a decrease in diffusion, so she witheld the bleomycin from his treatment. Eric did not seem worried about his lung function because he said that he thought the test results were wrong. Apparently, the nurses administered the test differently the two times he was tested so he thinks it is a discrepancy with testing, not his lungs. He goes in today for another lung test and hopefully we'll get good results. Eric really wants to receive all parts of his chemo because the combination of drugs makes it the most effective. But we appreciate that his doctor is being conservative and playing it safe. She told Eric that a young male patient did die a few years ago from what they call "bleo-lung" and that we really have to respect this drug. Can you imagine dying from the drugs that were supposed to be saving you? Anyway, we'll keep you posted about the test results.

Here are the encouraging and miraculous facts about Eric during his treatment:

1. He still exercises almost every day (and even sprints on the treadmill as his own personal lung test)
2. He works half days and even some 3/4 days when he feels good (the doctor in Minnesota told him it would be virtually impossible to work while on this chemo regimen)
3. He hasn't caught any cold or infection despite having almost zero immunity (and despite our sick kids coughing and hacking all around him)
   
4. He hasn't thrown up once
5. He has regained all the weight he lost and is back to his normal size
6. He looks awesome bald!

We are so blessed and know that prayers have been answered in our behalf!