My Last Post on this Blog....

Yesterday, Tony and I met with the Oncologist that has been treating Tony at UCLA for the past 5 months. It was our "exit interview", and it was a time for questions to be asked and answered. The pic-line was removed, so Tony no longer has anything invading his body. Tony said "I feel free."

A Petscan will be done in 2 weeks, and will be used as a baseline for future scans.
Tony will need to have a Petscan done every 3 months for the next 2 years and he has a 50/50 chance of re-occurance. We are moving forward with the attitude that the cancer will not return.

We finally got an answer to the burning question; "what caused the nerve damage to Tony's foot and arm?" It turns out it is what we thought all along. Cancer. It is rare....but 3% of the people,with high-grade Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, will suffer nerve damage. Apparently the cells change and turn into the same type of cell that causes Muscular Dystrophy. Tony's response was, "only 3%... lucky me!"
Again, we were told, that it depends on the degree of damage to the nerve as to how much normal function, if any, will return. It can take a year to 18 months to see any improvement. After 18 months, it will be as good as it's ever going to be.

Tony is riding a stationary bike for 15 minutes per day, and is working up to 1/2 hour per day, as recommended by his physical therapist. Tony lifts free weights to try and strengthen his arms, is eating well and taking vitamins and supplements. We hope to meet with a nutritionist at UCLA, later this month. Tony weighed in at 177 pounds, yesterday. His goal is to weigh 215. The doctor said Tony should begin to gain weight in 4 weeks, and his hair will start coming back in 3 months.

This is my last post on this blog. I cannot fully express our gratitude for all of the prayers and caring thoughts we received from all of you. There were days that your comments, e-mails, cards and text messages kept me lifted up spiritually. I truly could not have kept myself together without those kind, caring, loving messages. As my sister, Dana, said recently...."Jesus was here just once...it's thru one another that we still have Him and see Him." So true.

In this Advent season, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we wish all of you
a joyful Christmas.

Love,
Patrice and Tony

Chemotherapy is Officially Over....

Tony and I arrived home late this afternoon from UCLA. The 6th and final round of chemotherapy is over! A Pet Scan will be done in 2 weeks to confirm the remission of cancer, which is what we all expect will be the case.

Tony and I will meet with Dr. Territo, Tony's Oncologist at UCLA, on December 2nd. We will find out at that time, what this next year will require in terms of follow up....ie., blood tests...Pet scans...medications, etc.

Today we feel like we can and are, walking away from cancer. It's over and now we look to the future. Tony will try to gain weight, while I try to lose it. The focus now will be his physical therapy and using any and all treatments in order to improve his nerve function.

We now ask for specific prayers for Tony. That the Lymphoma will not return...and that Tony will regain the use of his arm and leg. We have seen so many positive answers to prayer these last 5 months. You all have been faithful to pray and our Heavenly Father has answered those prayers with a resounding YES! We are so grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of the Frisinas

"Lighter" News

Tony has begun his last round of chemotherapy. This final round is "a little lighter", meaning the chemotherapy cocktail has one less drug and the course will run 4 days and not the usual 5. Additionally, Tony did not need to have an Echo-Cardiogram administered today. The Echo has been required before every round of chemo to gage Tony's heart's ejection rate, because his heart was compromised in June when Tony experienced Tumor Lysis Syndrome. Apparently his heart has tested well the past few times.. so the doctors have determined that Tony's heart has recovered and is no longer a concern in regards to the rigors of chemotherapy.

On the way to UCLA this morning, Tony said, "I feel so good today.....I haven't felt this good in months!" It was great to hear those words come from Tony!! In a couple of weeks after the side affects of the last round of chemo subside....Tony should be able to gain weight and ride the stationary bike for longer periods. We both hope Tony will be much stronger by Christmas.

We send our love, thanks and gratitude to all of you who have continued reading this blog and been faithful to pray.
Tony and I wish you the best Thanksgiving ever!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good"..........Psalm 34:8

Counting Down...

This coming Wednesday morning, Tony will check into UCLA - Santa Monica campus to begin his 6th and final round of chemotherapy. If all goes according to schedule, Tony will be released from UCLA on Monday, just before Thanksgiving.
Just after the Thanksgiving weekend, Tony will have a PET Scan done. We expect the results will be the same as they were after the 4th round.......complete remission.

We will learn at the end of this next round of chemotherapy, what the protocol will be for post chemo medications and blood draws. Dr. Territo, Tony's Oncologist, told us that IF the Lymphoma comes back....it wants to come back within the first 2 years after treatment. I'm sure Tony will have blood tests and other tests administered often over the next 2 years.

Tony is upset today. He saw himself in the mirror this afternoon and believes he has lost more weight. I remind him often that we can see " the light at the end of the tunnel," and after the effects of this last round of treatment are over, he will begin to put on weight, grow his hair and look and feel more like himself. It feels like the hard part is almost over.

My sister and brother-in-law.....Dana and Jim, brought Tony a recumbant bike a couple of weeks ago. Tony has been on the bike at least once a day for 15 minutes, ever since. His Physical Therapist told Tony that the bike was his best hope of building up his leg muscles, in order to walk without the aid of a walker, by next spring.

We covet your continued prayers for complete restoration to Tony's body.

Our Mothers...Sisters and Brothers...

Tony and I look forward to next week and completing the 6th and final round of chemotherapy. Tony will be coming home just a few days before Thanksgiving and we have been talking about what we are thankful for this year. There are many, many things, but at the top of our list this year are our brothers....Larry and Keith, our sisters...Debbie, Dana and Leigh......and our mothers...Bonnie and Harriett.

At Tony's Birthday party last weekend, Tony publically thanked 4 women, whom from day one have been with Tony around the clock taking care of so many of his needs. Friends Kathy Larson and Cheryl Franco, sister-in-law Nanette Leonard, and me.

Here and now, we both want to publically acknowledge our gratitude to our siblings and mothers. They have supported and cared for us throughout this ordeal, remaining quietly in the background. Their support has come in a myriad of ways...financially, emotionally, spiritually and physically. It is not an exaggeration to say that we would have not been able to get thru these dark days that have threatened our lives on every level, without them.

Bills would not have been paid, phone calls and all the business of keeping a household together would not have happened. Keeping our children feeling safe and loved through their constant communication(s), was yet another way that they banded together to keep our family from coming unraveled. Our brothers, sisters and mothers have made so many sacrifices on our behalf, they will never know the depth of our gratitude. To say they have been the "wind beneath our wings", doesn't come close to covering it. Solid as rocks, all of them. We love them, are proud of them and are humbled by their love and concern for us.

Tony and I are looking forward to Thanksgiving Day. We have much to be thankful for.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.


"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.....I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.....psalm 9:1

No Conclusion...

Tony came home from the hospital late this afternoon and is resting comfortably after 5 days of chemotherapy. His 5th round is completed, with one last round to go.

The results of the MRI taken of Tony's neck, offered no answer(s) as to why Tony is losing strength in his right hand. The doctors have said that they suspect the Lymphoma is the root cause, but are not certain. Since there seems to be no nerve damage at the spine, they are hopeful that Tony will regain use of his foot, arm and hand over a year's time.

We continue to be patient and wait on the Lord in all circumstances. We trust Him to know what is best for Tony's life...and our life together.

Our request for prayers are specific. That the Lord would heal Tony of all his nerve damage and bath us in His peace.

New Battle...

Tony has been experiencing weakness in his RIGHT arm and hand. Today he struggled holding his utensils while trying to eat lunch. The Neurology Doctors and Orthopedic Doctors are now involved and MRI's and Neuro tests will be administered tonight, tomorrow and over the next 3 weeks.

Tony's right foot and left arm have been compromised since June..and many, many tests have been performed without a diagnosis as to cause or recovery. We are hoping these new tests and further investigation will offer some answers as to why Tony is now losing strength in his right arm and hand.

We have been rejoicing over the past few days, since learning that Tony is in remission. We know God has been merciful and gracious to us and never leaves us. We ask for continued prayers for full and complete healing. We hope you all will join us in our petition(s).