Just Keeping A Promise

Many of you have asked for updated photos. So here you go. Quick update, Magda is amazing! She continues to work with the elderly at the Jewish Center, she is feeling great, and looking amazing I might add! See Pictures! For those new to the blog, thanks! Some friends have asked that I add additional folks. Below is our story of the last year or so. Hope your year is off to a great start.

Love

The Newmans

Magda's Next PET SCAN

I hope you are all preparing for Thanksgiving and excited by the promise of extra time spent with family. Needless to say, now more than ever we should all be thankful for our health, our children, and those in our lives who make every day worth living.

Tonight, if you read this on Sunday, please say a few extra prayers for Magda. It is time for her second set of PET SCAN's post chemo therapy. We should have results on either late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

We all believe that we will receive more great news to be thankful for come Thursday.

To those of you also suffering with family challenges during the holiday season, know a day does not go by that Magda and I dont think of all of you. Magda more than anyone I have ever met, truly worries more about any of you she hears about with struggles than she does herself. Lets just be thanful that we have each other to rely on.

To each and every one of you, know this, when we sit down on Thursday, regardless of the outcome of this weeks tests, THE NEWMAN FAMILY WILL GIVE THANKS. Thanks for having people like you in our lives.

Wishing you the best for this Holiday Season

THE NEWMANS

p.s. I will be deep frying Turkey again, the photo here shows last years efforts to NOT burn my house down. It was raining so I came up with the idea of doing this in the Garage

October Update

Hey Everyone. Time for another update. The last few weeks has brought some new information and news. Magda has had the opportunity to visit Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY. Arguably the worlds leading Cancer Center. There is a doctor there named Joachim Yaholam from Israel. He is believed by many to be one of, if not the, top Radiation Oncologists in the U.S.. He specializes in Lymphomas and we were blessed to be able to get an appointment.

Special Thanks to Jeff Sinacori for helping us get the appointment.

As many of you know, the decision to follow up Magda's Chemo with Radiation Treatments was one of much debate. The doctors here were not in favor of doing the Radiation. We very much wanted to get a second opinion to make sure we are doing everything possible to insure the Cancer does not return.

Our visit with Dr. Yohalom was amazing. From the moment we walked in, we knew that Sloan Kettering was a special place. After a thorough review of all Magda's records, her treatments and a physical exam, we met with Dr. Yohahlom for about an hour. Here is what he had to say.

• Magda is absolutely in complete remission. This is great news.


• Everything they have done in NC to this point has been perfect.


• He agrees that we should NOT do Radiation.


• Here is where the news gets a tad bit worrisome. The reason he and the Dr's here in NC do not want to do the Radiation is the extent of Magda's earlier cancer. Because it got so late stage and because it reached so many parts of her body, there is no way to know where the Radiation would have the best and most impactful effect. They would need to radiate to much of her body and this poses to grave a risk for other forms of cancer.


• Dr. Yohalom also feels that due to the extent of the cancer and the aggressive nature of the form of Hodgkin's Magda had, the prognosis for a recurrence of the disease is not as positive as we had initially hoped. Still good odds the cancer won't return, but not as good as we previously believed. Given his extensive experience and the number of patient's he has seen, Yohalom feels the odds of the cancer coming back in the next 2-3 years is about 50/50. In the past we had thought it was more like 70/30.


• If the cancer does return, IT IS STILL VERY CURABLE! At that point however, the treatment would be far more extensive than just chemo. We did not get into to much detail, but it may include a bone marrow transplant, more chemo, and would definitely require Radiation at that point. Because of the extensive treatment, Magda's doctors here in NC and Dr Yohalom all agree that if it does return, we would need to go to Sloan Kettering for future treatment. Dr. Yohalom has already promised to see us ASAP if anything should happen.


• Over the next two years we have to step up the vigilance with which we monitor Magda's condition. She will need to have PET SCANS and Checkups every 90 days. And in the event of any symptoms returning she needs to go for a SCAN immediately.

So, 50/50 is still pretty good odds. Magda is feeling great although she does get pretty tired still. The boys are thriving with Mommy back. Magda as usual is amazing. She is living every day to the fullest and even though there is this dark cloud over her head, you would never know it. She already has a bunch of new Piano Students and is volunteering at the Jewish Community Center teaching piano to Senior Citizens for free. Funny, I even came home the other night from a 3 day business trip, one of our neighbors was having a baby. Magda had taken their two other children in for a sleepover. She was playing piano and games with all of them and all the kids were just having the time of their lives. She really is a special women.

On a separate note, some of Magda's other friends from Chemo are not as lucky as we are. Please tonight, say an extra prayer for those people living with this horrible disease. Magda worries more about all of them then she does herself.

Keep smiling everyone. Take heart in Magda's strength and courage. And know that every day should be cherished for the gift that it is. All our love, THE NEWMAN'S

Happy Days!!

To say it has been a long summer would be somewhat of an understatement at this point I think. So I won't say it! But, what I will say should bring a smile to your face, a tear to your eye and otherwise brighten what is left of your day. Magda is in COMPLETE REMISSION!

Your read it right. Over the past few days we have reviewed the results of all the follow up SCAN's and Bone Marrow Biopsy. From ever radiologist report, Magda's oncologist, and a radiation specialist, NO SIGNS OF ANY REMAINING HODGKINS! (sorry about all the exclamation points) If I could shout this across the country to all of you I would.

Needless to say we are all overjoyed at this point. In fact, as of now Magda is not even going to need radiation as we had expected. (may go for a second opinion on this point but not sure yet)

Some negative news but not much. The cancer has left her with some spine injury. To small fractures in her spine that cause some discomfort. Magda will be seeing a back specialist soon. But in the grand scheme of things not to bad given the early diagnosis and prognosis.

If you could all see the life rushing back into Magda I think you would be moved beyond words. To watch her chase the boys around the house and play tickle monster, to listen to her sit at the piano and play again, to have her back in our lives as the wife and mother we all know and love is overwhelming and wonderful!.

Saturday will be our 5 year anniversary. You have all given us a gift we will never ever forget or ever be able to repay. Your love and support has just been remarkable. Thank you all so very much.

The Newman's

CHEMO IS OVER!!!

Well its hard to believe but Magda made it! Yesterday was a big day. Magda completed her 12Th and final chemo treatment. As you might expect she is not feeling all that great today, but our hopes are high for the future. Over the next 30 days much will be reviewed and decided on. PET SCANS will be redone and Magda will need another bone marrow biopsy. (YIKES THIS HURTS LIKE HELL!) God willing, if Magda remains "Cancer Free" we will then need to decide on Radiation Treatments. Given how large the masses had grown in Magda's chest and spine and the fact that the cancer made its way to her bone marrow Radiation Treatment is probably going to be needed to ensure the Cancer does not return.

Then if all goes as hoped SCANS and MRI's will be done every 90 days for the next 2 years or so. Given that Magda had Stage 4 Hodgkin's there is a 20-30% chance the cancer will return. THAT MEANS THERE IS A 70-80% Chance it will not!

Thanks so much to all of you for your encouragement, love and support over the past 6 months. The road has been long and bumpy, but because of all of you it has been bearable. The boys are both doing well and the entire Newman clan is hoping for a brighter and smoother road ahead! Thanks again.

WHOLLY COW SHE DID IT!!

MAGDA IS CANCER FREE!!! Can you believe it?? 1/2 Way through Chemo and we went in for a PET SCAN and Magda is showing CANCER FREE! Just amazing news for all of us!

Lets not get ahead of ourselves, she does have to endure 3 more months of Chemo. The purpose of which is to make sure it never returns. But this is really amazing news. Magda is beside herself with joy.

The past 3 months (SORRY FOR NO BLOGS LATELY) have seen some pretty rotten days and nights. Better I didn't bum you out. But the news this week has really lifted our spirits. So tonight, raise a glass and have a toast! We did!

Whether it was the power of prayer, the power of love, or just the indomitable power of my wife's spirit I DON'T CARE! Because MAGDA IS CANCER FREE!!!!

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!

Love the Newmans

p.s. How'd you like Jacob in Magda's Wig

YITBOS

Most of you who read this post have no idea what the title means. Dont worry, you shouldnt. But those of you who do, Thanks! This past weekend, our family came to realize once again the power of those 5 letters. The photo attached tells you why. Not to leave you all in the dark, just know that it means brotherhood. Phil and Russ, you can't imagine what it meant to have you show up the way you did. BALD NO LESS! Magda was so moved and cant stop talking about you guys.

Magda has chemo #3 today. She feels pretty good.

I wanted to share these pics as I think they show just how amazing my friends and more importantly my wife are!

Ill update later this week to let you know how Magda held up to this round of Chemo