Brandon got the call from Columbia University Hospital yesterday afternoon to let him know the mesothelioma doctor there can see him on Monday, October 9, for his initial consultation. We don’t have much more information than that at this point. We assume he will assess whether or not he thinks Brandon would be a good candidate for treatment there (which his oncology surgeon here thinks he is), then Brandon will go back sometime this month for the surgery.

Brandon is doing a good job of staying positive, and he’s feeling okay at the moment, so we’re all ready to DO this!

Brandon had an MRI yesterday and a CT scan today, and the oncology surgeon said they found a few recurrent tumors at his port sites. The surgeon said he could remove them, but he would prefer Brandon go to Columbia University in New York to have the CRS/HIPEC surgery done again. He said they would leave the abdominal port in place there and run chemo through it periodically, rather than just one time, and he said they are Brandon’s best option as far as experience dealing with the recurrence. He also said they have procedures to try to protect his kidneys from further damage.  He is going to contact them and make the referral to get everything set up, and Brandon should hear back from him this week as far as timing goes. Obviously, he wants it done soon. Stay tuned, and please keep praying!

Brandon’s biopsy results came back today, and we didn’t get the news we were hoping  for. The mesothelioma is back. They are surprised it came back so soon after surgery. He has an MRI scheduled next week to see if it is localized or has spread again. Depending on the findings, they may refer him to the University of Columbia Hospital in New York. The doctor thinks they may be able to help more than M.D. Anderson could.

We are all a little numb and speechless right now. Please keep Brandon in your thoughts and prayers. He’s obviously afraid but ready to take on the battle.

We are still waiting on results of the biopsy from last Friday. We do know from the lab results that Brandon is anemic, which is causing shortness of breath and fatigue. He’s scheduled for a procedure on Thursday to see whether this is a result of a completely different issue he’s dealt with in the past. They are also considering doing iron infusions for a few weeks to help alleviate these symptoms. All in all, he’s just having a rough go of it lately.

Please hold on to positive thoughts that the biopsy results and the results of the upcoming procedure on Thursday both come back in his favor and that we can get to the bottom of the kidney and anemia issues so he can start feeling better and stronger again.

Brandon was scheduled for his kidney biopsy first thing this morning. And true to his past hospital experience, things didn’t go quite like we thought they would. When he got there, they told him the orders for the biopsy had been canceled, so he had to wait while they paged his kidney doctor and to figure out what happened. He finally went in a little later than planned, and they told him his surgical oncologist had also put in orders to biopsy the abdominal wall where he felt something earlier this week. Odd that no one from his office called Brandon to let him know they were doing this, but it means not waiting two weeks for the MRI they had scheduled. Thankfully, the biopsies were completed without any issues, and Brandon was in recovery by 10:30 this morning. After that, he waited in the recovery room until after 7:00 tonight to finally be taken to his hospital room where he’s to spend the night under observation. He said he has a little pain, but he feels okay otherwise. The doctors told him this afternoon that the biopsy results wouldn’t be available until next week, so we’re prayerfully waiting for those. The kidney doctor did come in later and tell him that they did not find permanent damage/scarring to the extent they thought they might find, which was good news. They still aren’t sure what is holding up the recovery process, but they are planning further tests with special dyes so they can try to get to the bottom of it.

We’re hoping Brandon gets a good night’s rest in the hospital tonight (which isn’t easy to do) and can come home early tomorrow. Then he’ll need to take it easy and rest at home this weekend.

Please say a prayer that the biopsy results from the oncology standpoint come back with positive news. With the kidney news we got today, we feel that we at least have a fighting chance with those. Brandon sends his love to you all appreciates your thoughts and support.

Brandon had two follow-up appointments today, one with the surgical oncologist and one with the kidney doctor. First, the surgical oncologist examined him and felt “something” at the site of the laparoscopic surgery he had when he was diagnosed. He said that sometimes tumors can hide in the laparoscopic site and not be reached by the chemo he used following his surgery, so he is sending Brandon for an MRI to see if he can determine what it is. (MRI because he can’t do the CT scan they would normally do since Brandon’s kidney function is still not good.) There’s a possibility it could be scar tissue from the laparoscopic procedure, so we are praying for that! The soonest he could get in for the MRI is October 3, and he will follow up with the surgical oncologist for results on October 4.

The kidney doctor said that his numbers had been EVER SO SLOWLY creeping in the right direction, but she’s not sure if they will continue to get better. They’ve pretty much leveled off in the last month or so. She wants to go ahead with the kidney biopsy she had considered doing earlier in the summer so we can find out for sure what is going on there. She said they will be able to tell if there is permanent damage/scar tissue from this procedure or if the kidneys are still plugging along, trying to regenerate. This is scheduled for Friday, and he will go in early in the morning for the biopsy and then spend the night in the hospital for observation afterwards. If all goes well, he will come home Saturday morning.

Please keep Brandon in your thoughts and prayers over the next couple of weeks as he goes through these procedures, and we’ll update this site with any results or news.

Brandon started his third week back to work today. So far, so good. Since going back to work, he’s taken Kristen to the first Chiefs preseason home game and  Kayleigh to the Royals game last Friday night.

Sometimes it’s still a struggle for him to keep from overdoing it and wearing himself out, but at least he’s able to do some of the things he enjoys again.

His last couple of labs for the kidneys were a little disappointing. Two weeks ago, the numbers were exactly the same as they were the week before going to MD Anderson. He had labs again last week, and the numbers had inched in the wrong direction. We hope that doesn’t become the trend and that they start going in the right direction again. He could definitely use your prayers and positive thoughts on that front. He’s at a little over 20% of normal kidney function, so he still has a long way to go.

On a positive note, at least it feels like he’s getting some balance now. Some good news and some not-so-good news, but better than it was when he kept getting hit with one challenge after another.

I would just like to thank all of my coworkers. Today was my first day back, and they couldn’t have made me feel any more loved. I truly feel like I work for the best company with the best group of coworkers. Thank you to my Teva family.

Brandon had a good meeting with the peritoneal mesothelioma oncologist at MD Anderson today. We were concerned about the contrast scans they had scheduled because the contrast dye could further harm his kidneys. This doctor was very aware of the potential of that happening and actually decided not to do the scans today. He said he wanted to get a more detailed surgical report from the oncology surgeon in Kansas City, but his current understanding from the records he reviewed is that all evidence of disease was removed during the CRS/HIPEC surgery. If that’s the case, there is a very low probability of any recurrence so soon after the surgery, and the risk of the contrast dye harming his kidneys outweighs the benefit of having the scan. He also said there is no benefit in follow-up systemic chemo if there was a complete removal of all disease, followed by the HIPEC. This made us feel better that Brandon wasn’t missing out on necessary treatment just because of the kidney issues.

So at this point, he is waiting for the detailed surgical report to confirm what he discussed with us today. If that holds true, he wants to see Brandon again for follow-up scans in November. If he hears anything to the contrary, he will change the course of action. Brandon is feeling better, and we’re confident that the November follow-up will be the plan. This gives his kidneys a little more than 3 more months to continue on the path to recovery.

Teva friends, you’ll be seeing him next week!

We’re in Houston. Brandon has appointments lined up all day at MD Anderson. The last appointment is at 6:45 pm. We aren’t sure what they have planned for him over the next few days, but we will find out! We do see the mesothelioma oncologist today, so we should get at least some idea of his thoughts on treatment options.

Say a prayer, send positive vibes, break out the lucky rabbit’s foot – whatever you’ve got, we will take it! Thanks so much for your continuing support!