Next Steps

It turned out that Kevin did not have to make the trip over the hill to Stanford today. Dad did a wonderful job of calling various doctors, making sure they all saw Kevin’s latest MRI and asking questions. Kevin’s neuro oncologist at Stanford decided to order another course of the original one-dose chemotherapy drug he got in January, before radiation therapy had started. Kevin responded pretty well to that drug the first time around, so we’re hoping it’ll have a similar positive effect this time.

The neuro oncologist also agreed that Kevin could try a more aggressive chemotherapy drug (that Kevin would take on a more regular basis, separate from the one-dose drug he’s getting). The drug he’s been on for the last few weeks was a pretty standard form of chemotherapy, but not one of the more aggressive types, because the doctors were worried about Kevin’s platelet levels. However, his platelets are now almost up to normal levels, so it might be beneficial to try a stronger chemotherapy drug to match the aggressiveness of the tumor.

For the moment, Kevin is still at the main hospital in Santa Cruz. Some therapists helped Kevin get up into a large reclining wheelchair-type contraption so he could sit up and see the view out another window. His appetite is slowly returning, and he hasn’t had any more seizure-esque episodes (knock on wood).

You all are doing an amazing job of holding Kevin in your thoughts and prayers. Please keep up the amazing, incredibly supportive work.