7th Inning and "Clobbering the Odds"

This picture may not tell you the whole story, but it means a ton to me. Pictured here are 5 of the 10 professionals that work together as a team to offer Multidisciplinary Neuro Oncology Cancer Care at Intermountain Medical Center in Utah. Three of these were assigned as the team to work on my cancer treatment. Dr. Ali K. Choucair, MD (seated) is my Neuro Oncologist; Dr. Mark V. Reichman, MD (Center Left) was my Neuro Surgeon; and Dr. John W. Thomson, MD (Center Right) was my Neuro Radiation Physician. After the surgery - radiation and chemotherapy, treatments have consisted of one week in four of continued chemotherapy (doses quite a bit higher than the original treatments with the radiation). Six treatments have been been administered with MRIs after each of three treatments to determine how effective the treatment plan is working. We spent most of the day at IMC completing bloodwork, and MRI and meeting with Dr. Choucair. It was quite frustrating to have the bloodwork require two good pricks and some fishing around to find the vein and then the MRI staff couldn't get into a vein either until the sixth try and then success! But, that was worthwhile to reveal that the treatments are still very effective. Dr. Choucair seemed pleased with the lab results and the MRI results. After I made the comment, "Well I guess we are beating the odds.", he responded, "Are you kidding? You are doing great. I just can't believe how well you are doing. You are clobbering the odds." So that is what you would have heard if you were a fly on the wall of that treatment room. We still have several more treatments in the months to come and then if we still have a clean bill of health there will be continued MRIs periodically to watch for any changes that might need to be addressed. The chemotherapy treatments are administered orally so that is more convenient than going to the hospital for IV administration. Also, the side effects seem a bit less to me than others I have met in this process (some fatigue, rashes, headaches and digestive disruption - loopiness and thinking ability a bit mixed up too). It was a pleasure to participate in a market research group of patients with the same diagnosis recently. It was of concern to me to observe very difficult side effects of the others with similar diagnosis. Interestingly, it seems each three to six months, new treatments become available to keep the latest medical technology fighting this difficult disease. We understand some patients are being treated in ways that were not available to us just a few months ago. What started as a challenging day ended up quite encouraging. Such advances keep us hopeful that we will beat this thing yet. It isn't over until it is over and we expect some setbacks along the way but this is good news. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers ---- along with a wonderful medical team, your support has been critical in keeping us optimistic.

Thumbs Up Still - Mission Reunion

The standard routine continues --- chemo one week every four and an MRI every three months.  As long as the health remains strong, the routine continues.  Last week the latest MRI --- still showed no reoccurrence of the tumor.  So chemo continues to keep it that way.  We had a very special evening last Friday - the NYNY South Mission held its annual mission reunion in the Salt Lake Stake Center.  We joined with President and Sister Steve Bennion and had a respectable turnout.  We really enjoyed visiting with the wonderful missionaries.  So many have started little families and those cute babies caught our affection.

One missionary, Elder Lopes, gave us a Y baseball hat to balance the U hat we had in the blog earlier which we received from our daughter and her husband.  

We were able to visit our son and his family in Maryland two weeks ago.  They seem to be doing very well.  Jayne just celebrated her 7th birthday.  Russ is a successful dentist and we celebrated his birthday as well.  Feel free to leave us a comment but we haven't figured out how to respond to your kind comments.  

August Action

Several followers have wondered when the next update to the blog.  Well there is not much new to add.  Still feeling surprisingly well.  The double dose of chemo-therapy was just completed last week.  It takes about three days after the week's treatment to overcome the somewhat unpleasant side effects.  The hairstyle is slowly growing back.  In Church recently one good brother publicly commented that he wondered what Jeff Morrow was doing with his hairstyle.  No more hats - seems a bit of sun on that bald head encourages the hair to grow.   Tell us what you think - Hat or No Hat?  The most difficult of the side effects is a sense of weariness --- a nap after lunch-time helps a great deal.  There have been several alternative treatments that seem to offer some significant positive possibilities - each one needing some study and some are very expensive.  It is a shame to miss out on legitimate treatments but there is a limit to our financial resources.  In the meantime, it is still necessary to try to regain the function of earning a living.  The real estate market is still very soft and hiring is not really in high gear - but nevertheless we still need to keep at it.  Oh, one wonderful new event --- our daughter, Jessica and her husband John Gardner and their two children, Lizzy and Thomas have moved back here to SLC from Virginia.

Interestingly, they moved into a home right next door to the home my family purchased when we first moved to SLC nearly 50 years ago.  We are grateful to have them here and enjoy being with them.  Last week we had Lizzy and Thomas in the back seat and I made a sudden stop and cute Lizzy said, "Nice stop, papa!"

   

As you can see, we are enjoying our life and doing what we can to keep productive and happy.  We are looking forward to visiting Russell and his family next month.  They are still in the DC Area.  We miss those little girls, Jayne and Reagan, and wish we were with them at Disneyworld.

Thanks for all the kind messages we receive.  We enjoy reviewing them very much.

"Christmas in July!"

Well folks, we received some good news this week. After having another MRI completed, three of my physicians have reviewed the results. All three entered the office with a similar smile, as they concluded they were very pleased with the results of the MRI. Dr. Ali Choucair indicated that the MRI showed no evidence of any additional tumors but cautioned that we still have a long process to go to keep it that way. He then indicated I would need to continue Chemo-therapy treatments for up to one year - starting yesterday.

Dr. Mark Reichman then met with us and indicated he saw no evidence of reoccurrence of the tumor and seemed very pleased with the healing progress. I did mention to him that as I was walking the neighborhood, a wonderful gentleman, stopped me and wanted to compare scars from our individual surgeries. When I took off my hat, he exclaimed jokingly, "Who took a hatchet to your head?" When I explained that it was Dr. Mark Reichman, he laughed and commented that he had been Mark's Explorer Advisor - so I then said, "Well then, you must have taught him how to use that hatchet!"

Today, Dr. John Thomson also reviewed the films and confirmed what the other physicians had indicated - "No tumors, but we are going to watch things like a hawk for a while." The other aspect of the good news is: Driving restrictions have been lifted by the physicians. But, wouldn't you know it, when I got home my car had a flat tire! I am still sporting an evolving new hairstyle. This week, the left eyebrow disappeared and some of the dark hair on the back side of my head started to fall out as well. We've attempted to be very careful not to contract any unwanted infections or germs to aid in the healing process.

All of this is secondary to a really wonderful experience we have not published until now. Shortly after the surgery, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to our home for a visit. He was so kind to offer a blessing on my behalf and indicated that this disease would not shorten by even one day, the Lord's intended time for my time on earth. That was a wonderful comfort during the major part of the recuperation period. The following weeks have been blessed by visits from Bishop Thornton, President Grant and Elder Sam Clark. Thanks to all for your thoughts, prayers and efforts to have my name placed on the prayer rolls of various temples throughout the world.

Now, the effort will focus on making a living to pay for the past and upcoming expenses of this challenge. We will keep you all posted.

Marvelous Friends -- Magnificent Physicians!

Finally!  Done with Chemo and Radiation Therapy!  Now four weeks of rest before another MRI is conducted at the end of June to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.  Now here is an amazing story that has left us with an increased amount of hope!  As you all know, we had this challenge detected just around April Fools Day by my childhood friend and Primary Care Physician, Dr. H. Craig Harmon, Internal Medicine.  Craig was always kind; in fact he taught me to ride a bicycle when we lived across the street from each other.  Years later, Craig attended George Washington University Medical School graduating in 1982 and completing his Internship and Residency at the University of Utah.  As my primary care physician, Craig was kind enough to squeeze me into a very busy schedule to see me the very day I called his office on Monday, March 30.  After a brief physical, he felt it necessary to order an MRI - which was conducted the very next day.  

An hour later, the results were finished and Craig revealed the cancer diagnosis and contacted the Neurosurgeon, Dr. Mark V. Reichman for confirmation.  Mark and I became acquainted at as young boys in junior high school and attended Highland High School together.  Mark attended medical school at  Loyola University in Chicago and then completed his Internship and Residency at the University of Utah.  Mark asked to meet with me the next morning April 1 - and arranged to remove what was thought to be a golfball-sized tumor which ultimately turned out to be more the size of a baseball.  We were told it had doubled in size in just 4 - 6 weeks.  Mark felt it necessary to perform the surgery right away and he resected it the very next day.  I spent one day in the ICU at the new Intermountain Medical Center and one day in a regular room.  Terri tells me I was a rather anxious patient and it seems I was recovering pretty well and on Saturday afternoon, was released to go home for the rest of the recuperation.  

Shortly thereafter, I was introduced to Dr. Ali K. Choucair, MD, Neurology.  While we were not personal friends, we found a very common and wonderful mutual friendship.  Dr. Choucair and his wife were personal friends with our predecessors in NYC - Larry and Flora Spackman from Calgary Canada.  Dr. Choucair received his medical degree from the University of Calgary and completed his Internship there as well.  He completed his residency at the University of Utah.  Dr. Choucair has been responsible for the Chemotherapy treatments and will be primarily responsible to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined treatments and determine if further treatments are needed.  

Finally, the Radiation Therapy was to be under the direction of Dr. John W. Thomson, MD - yet another friend of the family.  Dr. Thomson was the close friend and former LDS bishop of Terri's parents, Ray and Elda Rae Gunn.  Dr. Thomson is a very kind and dignified physician.  He likewise completed his medical training at George Washington University and Residency at the LDS Hospital in SLC, Utah.  It was under his direction that the radiation therapy was conducted 5 days a week for six weeks.  He has been a constant resource during this phase of treatment.

It is so fortunate to be treated at the Huntsman Cancer Center at Intermountain Medical Health Care's brand new facility with some of the finest physicians.  Further, the Jon and Karen Huntsman family has extended their support to assist in any additional treatments required.  We will keep you all posted about the results later in June.  We have a renewed hope in the Lord's will.   We don't always get to choose our opportunities and challenges.  We are absolutely certain that our missionary service and other service opportunities have been made at an early time in our lives.  We know His ways are not necessarily our ways - but we have felt concerned about what our next focus since we returned 2 1/2 years ago.  Since then, Terri has had throat surgery, a broken leg requiring two surgeries to satisfactorily repair the break.  And now we have this challenge that we are determined to positively participate in the treatments and remain faithful to our covenants!  Thanks to all of you for your kind messages.  Well now it is time to pick up the business again ---  hope the energy level increases soon to enable me to take care of my wife, Terri ---- as she has so admirably done during the recuperating process.

Side Effects - Yuck!

Half Way Through Chemotherapy and Radiation!

Well, this past week was the half-way point through the chemotherapy and radiation.  My schedule is 5 days per week (Mon-Fri) for both Chemo and Radiation - Then on Saturday and Sunday - Chemotherapy only.  It seemed I was going to get through this phase with only minimal side effects (no nausea - and only some expected fatigue) then all of the sudden last week, the hair started to fall out in clumps (only the dark hair - gray hair remained!).  Fortunately, we had some hats to cover the hairless parts around the front of the head near the scar from the surgery.  Our son, Russ gave me a cool "Quiksilver" hat, --- Jessica and John gave me a U hat (seems our BYU oriented missionaries are aghast!), --- a NYC hat next to my bed, --- a French looking hat (Terri thinks it looks just fine for Church), --- and a brand new "Life is Good" hat to celebrate our half-way point (and hair loss) ---- but ultimately, my sisters (Joy and Jan - identical twins and both hair dressers) have taken the responsibility to keep the hair trimmed properly to smooth the effects.  Russ thinks I just need to shave it --- but I am a bit timid about that drastic change.  

The other side effect has been some expected fatigue.  About an hour after each double treatment (Monday - Friday) I feel fatigued and need about an hour nap before I can get going again.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are somewhat functional --- but Thursday and Friday afternoons are quite fatiguing -- Saturday and Sundays are time to regroup for the whole process to start again the next week.  And further, each week becomes a bit more fatiguing than the previous week.  Frankly, the cure seems more difficult than the actual disease.

Fortunately, I found the black easy chair is still my favorite spot for R&R both before and after the diagnosis.  All in all --- life is wonderful and we are quite optimistic.

Chemo and Radiology

Well the next phase has actually started - we are starting to get to know Chemo and Radiology this week.  This is the picture of Intermountain Medical Center and the Huntsman Cancer Treatment section is in the foreground.  Inside, the building is a well designed facility with modern equipment and very well trained staff to treat this disease.  Side effects so far - tired afternoon - wired nighttime - got to get that straightened around.  

Love to all,

Jeff and Terri (The Two-Morrows)  

PS:  Terri's Birthday was great - but she is so busy watching after me that she did not get enough time for a real Birthday R&R.

Surgery Recovery

April 14, 2009:  Well it's back to work --- at least for the time from home!!!! While I am still sporting a bit of a black eye and the hair is in pretty bad shape, at least I can wear a hat and sunglasses and get away with not attracting too much unwanted attention.  We just met with both the Neuro-Chemotherapist and the Radiologist last evening to establish our Chemo/Radiology plan -  Chemotherapy will be every day with radiology 5 days a week for the next six weeks (starting this Thursday) then off for a couple of weeks while they evaluate the progress through another MRI.  Wow - you would not believe the financial commitment expected to complete this phase of treatment!  I am very grateful for the excellent medical care and medical insurance here in SLC.  We can hardly believe how attentive the physicians have been and how the new Intermountain Medical Center seems so completely ready to attack this thing "head-on".  Hopefully the real estate market will turn around sometime soon --- but - for now it doesn't matter --- "they" won't even let me drive due to potential liability issues - kind of silly if you ask me.  In the meantime, I will pick up my twice per week teaching schedule (Selling: The Profession - Marketing 1480) at SLCC again on Thursday early morning.  We just sent our daughter and her two kids back home to Washington DC today and our son's family returned on Sunday so hopefully we can get our home quiet for some recovery time.  We have not even been able to enjoy having Terri's family stop in --- just too much going on and they have been so respectful of letting us take a bit of time to retreat.  Your messages are very gratefully received and as one reminded us we will "figure it out".  Keep us in your prayers --- we will do everything we can to stay on the mend.  Keep posted for future developments.  Oh - just a quick note to let you know that Terri's birthday is on April 16!!!! 

We love you all. 

The Two-Morrows 

Not An April Fools Joke! (Start Here)

April 2009 brought us a new surprise --- we just learned that I was diagnosed with a Level 4 Glioblastoma (malignant brain tumor).  After some minor symptoms (numbness in the right leg, headaches and such), we were quickly admitted to surgery to remove the baseball sized tumor, stayed in the ICU, moved to regular recovery, and now the "Two-Morrows" are back home recuperating.  Unfortunately, with so many siblings, spouses, family, friends, missionaries and such it is difficult to make the home the needed place for recuperation.  As my strength begins to return, it will be necessary to move into the next extended phase of the recovery - Chemo and Radiation!  That should start the middle of April and will require our home to remain a clean and quiet place to completely recover.  Although we would love to have all well wishers stop by for a visit, it is just too difficult to host so many of you from our home.  Please feel free to leave a message here so we can enjoy your message at a convenient time.

This week, Russ and Jessica and their little families (2 kids each) came from the DC area to spend some time with Grandpa and Grandma before the Chemo-Radiation time begins.  They were just a joy to have around but with a usually quiet home, this activity was about as much as we were prepared to receive.  We enjoyed having an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 11. 

We were told that the next phase will probably require lots of recovery time and necessitate some privacy to keep from being worn out.   It is sometimes also difficult to know when others are unintentionally bringing infectious contaminants into the home while I am recovering.   This phase starts this week - even as early as Monday or Tuesday.  So we thought this would be a good place to keep you all posted on the recovery of this phase of our lives. 

We need your faith and prayers!

Love, Jeff and Terri