Party like a rock star

Friday night a big group of people gathered in California to raise money for me. Even the band who doesn't know me donated their fee. They collected around $15,000 and had a great time. Even my parents danced the night away. I cant thank everyone enough, it is overwhelming the support you have all shown through all of this. I still cant believe that i am the one with cancer after all this time. It still doesn't hit me until we get more bad news and sad to report we got more bad news on Thursday. My stinky little tumor in my liver just keeps getting bigger and bigger, but we are hopeful since it has not reoccurred anywhere else. So keep praying, hoping, wishing, thinking and we can kick this together.

Thanks again to everyone,
Love the Vickers

IPT

Today was my first IPT treatment. I got 11 shots (one Travis got to give me in the rump and i think he enjoyed it a little to much). I get 10 of these everyday for two weeks and the one Travis gives me once a day for a year. They are $40 per shot plus the $4000 we pay for other costs per month, so do the math and we are really shelling out the cash again. The new drugs seemed to go okay today. The side effects are nausea, hair loss, fatigue, about the same as the previous 11 i have been on so not much new. I do have to be on a steroid again which just really pisses me off, but here's to angry Laura.

Several people have been asking about donations and Travis put a link on this website if you feel so inclined and we so appreciate every single penny you give. We spent about $70,000 last year and are expecting our costs to rise this year.

My friends in Sacto are having a fundraiser for me. Here is the website if you're interested in going. It should be lots of fun. Wonderbread 5 is playing at the Power House Pub from 5 until 9:30. To purchase tickets you can log onto www.powerhousepub.com/ click on tickets. My event is the Private Party until 9:30. If you have any questions you can call Jen Ham (707) 235-2277 or Tab (916) 548-3131. Thanks for everyone for doing, going, donating, supporting, praying, etc. We are so grateful to all of you.

BTW my boy lost last night and i am so sad for him. I cant believe the last pro pass he will ever throw was intercepted. I couldn't even sleep last night thinking about his departure. I wish him all the best and will miss his enthusiasm, endurance, and his pretty face. I love you Brett

Laura & Travis

As Arnold would say, "The Tumor"

Unfortunately, the Tumor is getting bigger. It is almost back to its original size from a year ago. The good news it that it hasn't spread any where else yet. We meet with the oncologist Monday about our options and Tuesday with a doctor who performs IPT treatments. Although they have been doing IPT for over 25 years, it is still not FDA approved and therefore not covered under insurance. Luckily my Cali friends are having a fundraiser for me this month to help cover the $6000 a month we will be dishing out. Wish us luck and thanks for all your support, prayers, and donations. Will post the info about the fundraiser tomorrow.

BTW, we got some snow last night and had a great day off from school. Gavin had on Sammy's old snowboarding suit and was cracking us up. He would fall and slide, but then pop back up since he is only 2.5 feet off the ground. It was great.

Bone Scan

Thank God the bone scan came back clear. The Vickers household is very happy. Thanks again for all your prayers.

I have another CT in January to see if there is further growth in my liver and that will determine what we do next.

Merry Christmas and I will chat with you in 2010, can you believe it?

Test Results

I had a CT scan last Monday and the results are not what we had hoped. Things were going along just fine, but then after 6 months things seem to fall apart. The tumor in my liver has grown. Not substantially, but enough for some concern. The trial will let us stay for now, but we are on the hunt for a new one and some alternatives. We're playing Russian roulette here. Do we stay with traditional that seems to fail every six months or go completely alternative and give IPT a shot? Timing seems to be everything. The more we read about traditional the more concerned we get. I feel like an hourglass is constantly running and i need to act fast.

To make matters worse, the side effects are coming on strong. My rib cage on the right side is completely out of whack so they are going to do a bone scan on Wednesday to see if it has metastasized to my bones. More waiting...

Then today i got a UTI. I have never been in so much pain. I was pissing blood with pains shooting up my back and then proceeded to vomit violently in the doctor's office. The good thing is that they gave me morphine for the pain. Yeah morphine (that is my drug of choice for so many reasons). Its the little things in life that makes me so happy.

I also have really bad mouth sores that only cold water seems to help, but then it makes me have to pee and that hurts the other area...

I may not get my Christmas letter out until 2010, but i guess better late than never right?

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas,
Love the Vickers

Long time no share

This month has been uneventful. Chemo on Mondays, Medical Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, work, grocery shopping, Hyperbaric, magnatherm, and chiropractor on Wednesdays and Fridays. Not much time for a life, but atleast I'm alive. I have an Eco, CT, and another test scheduled for Monday so i will post the results when we get them back. The big one will show how my heart infraction is doing. If it dips below 50% they will kick my off the trial and then we are SOL. Funny my mom asked what SOL meant. Anyways the kids are great and Travis is working hard at both work and home. He was so kind on Tuesday night. We thought it was my chemo, but think i caught a stomach bug and was up all night barfing. He made me ginger tea, got me electrolyte water, and held my hair. He's a keeper.

Heading to the SEC championship game tomorrow, very excited. We were able to see Tebow play his last game in the swamp, oh so many tears.

A Request

Noah Biorkman and he and his family are celebrating Christmas early this year. Noah is 5 years old, in hospice and most likely wont make it to December 25th. He has been fighting Neuroblastoma for 2 1/2 years and is loosing the battle against cancer. His one request is to receive lots of Christmas cards before he dies. Therefore I am asking that each of you send him a card so he can have the best Christmas ever. Noah said an angel figurine ornament was his favorite because it reminded him of where he’ll soon be “In heaven, and I’m going to be an angel.” His mom said she is asking to send $1 in a card to the family and they will donate it to the University Of Michigan neuroblastoma research center and the Michigan Make A Wish Chapter.
Cards can be sent to:
Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, MI, 48178

Merry early Christmas
Laura, Travis, Sammy & Gavin