Negative. Zero. It's Positive.

Happy Dancing in Houston

Positive is our preference, but every once in a while DEAD and NEGATIVE are really, really good. Everything you could hope for, actually. In the case of oncological surgery margins, dead and negative are exactly what you are hoping and wanting the surgeon and pathology to say. This week, the doctors in Dallas and Houston gave Jack (and us) wonderful news: all of the tissue they tested came back 100% necrotic (dead, ie no cancer) and negative margins throughout the effected area of his pelvis. No more tumor present. Adíos and stay gone!

He’s had a terrific response to chemo. 100% of his tumor died in response to the first 6 rounds of chemo. I cannot tell you how wonderful this is. The doctors put it into perspective: they get excited to see 90% response, so 100%…well, we were all giddy. Jack, me, Will, Drs. Lewis, Gorlick, Gill. Nurses, PA’s, Physical Therapists. Dr. Campbell and team in Dallas. Everyone just delighted.

Jack is getting around better each day. The surgeon’s note, “he tolerated the surgery well,” is more than an understatement. Dr. Jen, his pediatrician, qualified that as the understatement of the century. We high five Dr. Jen. And I think even Dr. Lewis would agree. 😉 A nurse asked if he really had just had such a big surgery 2 weeks ago. No pain meds for 4 days. Not even a Tylenol. He needs crutches for long walks or prolonged time on his feet, but now he’s cleared to begin working on gently rebuilding stability, deep core muscles, balance and a normal gait. He can even walk on his tip-toes—Dr. Lewis’ test to see if he can start driving again. Unfortunately, he passed that one too. 😝 Just maybe he’s responsible for the new skid marks on Meadowood that appeared less than 5 minutes after we got home from Houston. Sorry neighbors.

Matías and Lucas in town this week and Alex coming home for the weekend. Dinners out of the house. More steak. Sushi Saturday. A beer or two? We are all welcoming a return to some normalcy even as the journey continues.

Matías in town to visit Jack (and Pilar and Jay, his parents, too)

This plethora of good news means he’s cleared to return to chemo. Jack and Dr. Campbell will undoubtedly be discussing UT Baseball, in addition to all things VDC next Monday when he checks into Children’s. Eleven is the magic number for rounds remaining. Surely Nigel Tufnel isn’t responsible for picking this number (clue: Gen Z’rs watch This is Spinal Tap). No, decades of research with other patients indicate this is the best protocol for optimum outcome. So, Jack will follow the course. Of course, we hope these are as boring and uneventful as the first 6. We won’t bore you with photos of the window art in each of his rooms (although they are pretty memorable!) or too many updates but know I’m documenting and will share at some point down the road.

Lots of love, gratitude and deep appreciation to everyone on TeamJack!