Update on Michael Connors
The oncologist called last evening with the PET scan results. The lymphoma spots are "cold." There are some funky spots in his bones that neither the oncologist nor the radiologist can identify, but it may just be the marrow regenerating. No more chemo is planned at this time. We'll see the oncologist on the 30th, and have another PET scan in 2-3 months.

This type of lymphoma has a 30-40% chance of coming back, but there's nothing we can do about that, so we choose not to dwell on it. Yesterday's news is the best we could have received and we're very grateful for it. Now starts the long road back to feeling good and picking up life again.

Thanks for all your prayers and support, which have meant, and continue to mean, so much to us.
Dan

FUNDRAISER
Please join our fellow coworkers in Saint Louis to support Kathy Furman and her team for the Relay for Life an American Cancer Society Fundraiser check out the link below or see Lise with any donation you would like to make and we can all make a difference.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09PL?team_id=516004&pg=team&fr_id=16977&fl=en_US&et=0HmFWqc3kQCt-QsvqXQudQ..&s_tafId=285215

RECYCLING
With Shannon leaving at the end of the month, there will be a lapse in our bottle recycling program. As you know, there is a collection bin in the cubicle across from Bret. About every two weeks Shannon takes the bottles home, separates them, brings the deposit bottles to the store and the non-deposit to her recycling station. Anyone interested in helping with

Who’s In, Who’s Out
Bret in Worcester June 18, 2009
Valerie Vac June 18-19
Rosanne out June 18
Lise in St. Louis June 27-July 2

Birthdays
Rob June 13
George June 21
Judy June 27
Paul June 27

Spring Cleaning

Just a reminder that it's time to begin tidying up our work areas in preparation for our visitors Monday and Tuesday.

Merci!

Good News!

Margaret thanks you for your prayers for her brother-in-law. She wants to share with you the good news she has just received.

As hard as it may be for you to believe, I am nearly, utterly speechless.

I have just come from Chad's appointment with his oncologist where we received the report on Saturday's MRI. Dr Schultz met us with his laptop in hand...displaying the March 26th MRI images and the May 30th MRI images side by side. The large white masses known to be the tumors on the left screen were COMPLETELY missing from the screen on the right!! Mind you, this does not mean that the tumors are completely gone, we could see them as grey shadows. But as the doc says, GREY IS GOOD, GREY IS GREAT !!!

The official report reads " When today's exam is compared with the patient's pior exam of 3/26/09 there has been a dramatic improvement in the appearance of the mass. Mass appears to be significantly improved in size and severity of enhancement".

I have only one more thing to say: YOU WHO SAVE ME, YOU WHO RESCUE ME, LORD I SING YOUR PRAISE !!!
Chad and Mary Barton

Who’s In, Who’s Out
Paul in Dallas May 26-29
Bret, Dan S & Anna in Chicago May 26-27
Bret, Dan, Dan, Julie, Anna in Anaheim May 27-29
Julie in NY June 4
Lise in St. Louis June 4-6
Bret in St. Louis June 5-6

Events
Bayard Board Meeting will be held in New London June 8-9

Birthdays
Rob June 13
George June 21

SYMPATHY

Bethany Kosztala called last night to let us know that her father, Joseph Holly, passed away yesterday. He died peacefully while Bethany and her mother were at his bedside. As you may know, Bethany just this week left the company so that she could more fully attend to the needs of her parents. Please join me in extending our condolences and assurance of prayers to Bethany and her family.

Update on Michael Connors

Hi everyone,
Michael had a CT scan on Monday, the first time they've looked to see if the chemo is working. The news, in the words of our oncologist, Dr. Marks, is "mostly good." The scan shows that the tumors have "responded significantly" to the chemo. The large mass in his chest has decreased substantially, and bumps that had been visible on his liver and other organs are mostly gone. Overall, Dr. Marks says Michael is about where he should be at this point in the treatment, but in today's conversation the number of treatments, hitherto described as 6, is now being described as 6-8. Michael doesn't care about that, as long as the chemo does the job.
What about that word "mostly" good? The scan shows what might be a bit of fluid in Michael's left lung. It might just be inflammation, but Marks wants to keep an eye on it and wants Michael to have a chest x-ray the next time he comes in.
Next time is Monday, for chemo number 5, plus the dreaded lumbar puncture. The last two LPs left MIchael with a horrible headache that rendered him barely able to function--and that lasted a week the first time, and two weeks the second time. The difference in Michael after the regular chemo, compared to Michael after regular chemo plus LP, is significant. We hope to address that with Dr. Marks when we see him.
This present week is just a regular week after chemo (no lumbar pucture), and Michael is feeling pretty good. He gets exhausted easily, which is to be expected, but his appetite is good and his blood counts are holding very steady. His hematocrit levels aren't budging and he has not needed a transfusion.
Overall, I do not think we could have realistically hoped for better news from the CT scan. Thanks for all your care and concern and prayers.
Dan

Save the Date!

Employee Picnic
Friday, August 7, 2009 at Noon
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock in New London

More details to come...