how are we all?

[phillymorris]

hows life everyone? finally some SUN in the UK

[Jimmerz]

Doing well here in Pittsburgh! Cancer Free now for about 4 months....

We finally got some much needed rain. You getting ready for the Olympics?

[phillymorris]

well done dude on cancer free! i am on year 9 i think!

Oylimpics, i will watch the 100 meters final and thats it. like most people? ha

[Jimmerz]

Awesome, I can't wait to say 9 years!

As for the Olympics, my daughter can not wait for the swimming and gymnastics. I do like the track and field events as well as the basketball and boxing. (if Boxing is in the summer Olympics?)

Overall I enjoy watching them. Probably gonna be up late nights here in the States to see anything live??

[phillymorris]

yes i love the boxing, i used to be a boxer along time ago, got to the army finals and yeah its in the games. BUTi do have a passion for Baseball even though i am English,

you will get to 9 years brother

[AustinsMom]

Hot and humid here in the Baltimore/Washington area. Looking forward to a quiet evening with my husband to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies this evening!

Austin had his port removed two weeks ago and just last week flew up to New York City for some much deserved fun. The Social Director in the clinic at Johns Hopkins invited him to partake in a week long trip to NYC sponsored by the SUNSHINE KIDS FOUNDATION. I had never heard of them until she handed us a flyer one day. I must put in a plug for this incredible organization. For anyone out there who is under 21 and has been undergoing chemo or has any life threatening disease, they offer various trips to different cities throughout the year, with all expenses paid. This trip has 40 teens from cities across the country and a dozen medical volunteers as well as staff who have been staying in the Westin Times Square all week and they have been going non-stop. They've seen The Lion King, Spiderman and Blue Man Group, including back stage greetings after each show. They've taken carriage rides through Central park, double decker bus rides to Ground Zero Museum and the Empire State Bldg., cruised down the Hudson River on a private boat tour, which included the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island etc. They've had catered dinners as well as eaten at Carmines and Dave And Buster's (yuk). This morning the kids were all on GMA...like right inside the studio on GMA.... and had front row seats to see Gwen Stefani perform. Austin just texted me from Times Square where he and kids are doing some last minute shopping before their farewell party this evening. ( He LOVES his new Debit Card he got just recently too. Imagine that. It always makes me nervous when he buys something, like a jacket, in July no less, but doesn't know how much it cost or what size he got ...but that's another story!)

We were a little hesitant about the trip, but were assured all precautions were taken and there was plenty of supervision, including private security hired for the hotel at night and the boys and girls on separate floors with a strict curfew. They are even set up to Chemo pushes and blood draws right at the hotel! An Oncology Nurse flew down and escorted Austin and the other teen from Hopkins up and will fly back with them tomorrow. Despite the fact we travel to NYC every year and he's already seen and done most everything before, Austin is having the time of his life. I don't think we realized the emotional impact this ordeal had had on him and now that he's feeling better it's been really therapeutic for him to be around other kids with similar stories. He's been hanging out all week with pretty little Hanna from Houston and having a ball....(no pun intended)! Austin had still been napping every afternoon up until he left and has not needed an afternoon snooze the whole week, despite that option being there. He is so energized and full of life again......just so happy!! Right now....Life IS good!!

To all of you out there, if you or anyone you know, might be interested in this program, contact them. They have a website and are based in Houston, with two other offices. I can't say enough good things about how well organized they are and what an incredible opportunity this has been to be able to let loose and connect with other teens.

I know there a lot of guys about to begin treatment, in the process of it or who have just completed it. Just know that, even though you may have some tough days...Austin sure did....you will get through it. There can be bumps in the road along the way, for sure, but things will get better and life will get back to a "new normal"....which is OK.

Diane

[phillymorris]

great post x well done to you all. Would love to go to New York one day myself but being from the Uk is mite never happen

[zesasmom]

So glad everyone is doing well


Diane...i have followed austin s progress and am thrilled that he is all.clear and having a fun filled summer. He certainly deserves it! The program sounds wonderful.

As a mom of tc son i have found your posts so helpful inspiring and encouraging. You seem so courageous and positive in your advocacy for your son and it has given me hope when i have felt so afraid at times. So thanks for your posts and i hope austin continues to have a fun relaxing summer. He certainly has a strong mama!

Lori
eli s mom

[Fed]

Hey Philly! Love the impromptu post here!

I can attest to the nasty weather that Diane (AustinsMom) described. It's been a busy and productive summer. I hired two summer undergraduates that have produced more data and results than I had expected. The first paper from my lab was published just last week. Our group, together with a group in Leuven, Belgium, figured out one of the mechanisms that helps metastatic melanoma evade traditional chemotherapeutics. A while back we had designed a compound that targets that particular protein, and it turns out that it does indeed make metastatic melanoma sensitive to cisplatin and other more common chemo agents. With the work and the training a TBD marathon, the plate has been full!

[Scott]

Where is that Like option?!

[Smartie]

Hi Philly.

I'm fine, thanks. Enjoying the summer holiday from school, and the nice weather. Also enjoying the Olympics.

You okay?

[Aegean]

Olympics? Without hockey? Yeah, I'll watch the women's volleyball... cuz I love volleyball

This summer is certainly a H-O-T one. They closed the local yacht club because the canal nearly dried up... go figure. At least we have friends near us that have pools for the kids to enjoy. Good summer though!

[phillymorris]

Hi all.

I am ok. still a bit in shock after my beautiful Laura got told she has melanoma so heads still a bit wazzed but all good at the moment. good feed back from the flim. The survivors trek on snowdon is next week(again) so all good. hope you are all doing well

[phillymorris]

Hey Philly! Love the impromptu post here!

I can attest to the nasty weather that Diane (AustinsMom) described. It's been a busy and productive summer. I hired two summer undergraduates that have produced more data and results than I had expected. The first paper from my lab was published just last week. Our group, together with a group in Leuven, Belgium, figured out one of the mechanisms that helps metastatic melanoma evade traditional chemotherapeutics. A while back we had designed a compound that targets that particular protein, and it turns out that it does indeed make metastatic melanoma sensitive to cisplatin and other more common chemo agents. With the work and the training a TBD marathon, the plate has been full!

Fed thats brilliant. Melanoma frightens me to with in an inch of hell. i had no idea how many young women die a year from it. more people die in the UK from Melanoma than men get TC but there is still no set treatment that works. i honour you and your crew

[frank1980]

So dear friends, let me write two words also here... a very hot summer also in the place where I live, in the afternoon it seems to be inside an oven or in the desert... anyway, for the rest, nothing important to say, I'm trying to rest a little bit my mind after the troubles of the last months, sometimes I go out to have a little walk on the sea coast, or to eat an ice cream but nothing else...

Best!

[DoubleZero]

Just arrived in France for a weeks holiday with kinds and grandparents. So doing okay...