Day 8 & 9 in Germany November 23 and 24

Yesterday and today were spent with Jeannette continuing to get the intravenous drips almost the entire day long. Earlier today, we met with Dr. Jacob and the other two doctors on staff. They did another sonogram which showed the water in Jeannette's right lung stable at about .5 liter, down from 1.2 liters when we first arrived. Dr. Jacob takes that as a good sign that the tumors are shrinking in response to last Monday's chemo and antibody therapy. She does not want to remove the water as Jeannette seems to be tolerating it well. She is coughing much less. Her fever is completely gone and it appears that the CIPRO antibiotic knocked out her infection. Beginning tomorrow, Jeannette will start to receive Avastin, a relatively new FDA approved antibody therapy. She will get this in conjunction with chemotherapy, but the doctors are still waiting for the results of Jeannette's chemosensitivity test which was expected back today but has not yet arrived.

One of the other patients here, a gentlemen from Australia is very sick with advanced pancreatic cancer. He was given no hope by his doctors in Australia and he came to Dr. Jacobs for treatment in August and has not left. We have become friendly with his wife Suzy and he was for the first time well enough to join us for dinner on Monday night. We were very excited by this seeming improvement in his condition. However, he took a turn for the worse and was taken to a local hospital to have his gall bladder removed. Jeannette has been saying prayers for him. Likewise, there are many very sick people here and each one has their story of failing treatment in their home country and they come here. We have met several young patients as well which is very upsetting. Jeannette has asked that when you say a prayer for her please also include prayers for all the patients here. Thank you.

Yesterday I went for a 10KM walk in the forest and did my yoga routine. Today, Tuesday, it has been raining all day so I only was able to take a short walk to a local supermarket to buy some necessities. In the morning, we both got heat treatments followed by massage from our gentle, but giant, physical therapist - Ziccor. My back has been much better thanks to regular massages.

NOTES FROM JEANNETTE: I read all the inspirational comments, will always remember Barbara's "JEANNETTE", grateful for Frances being always the first to comment daily, for my ACS's co worker Compassionate Pei and Rosa, for my relatives Josie, for Julie, my Trump buddies Norman and Felice and others , for Peggy ! etc, for Liz's everday lesson. I truly read them over and over, my children Stan's simple love statement. My OCA cronies and My church lunch ladies etc...the wise Linda, Your advice is so uplifting, I count my blessings everyday. I also would add to LIZ's Rooney that I learned to do an act of random kindness everyday not because it makes one feel good (it sure does) but because it is the right thing to do.. With all these blessings I vow to help others in need... As you all have with me ... I truly believe if I cannot be cured with this advance stage cancer, I certainly can live with it with dignity... and function... I LOVE YOU ALL with all my heart and you have all reached into my soul and showed me goodness and kindness. I hope I did not forget any one ..... If so please forgive me you may not be mentioned since I cannot write a 5 page blog but you definetly are in my heart.
WIth all my love JW