Quick update

This is a quick update on how Dusty is feeling and where we are with our treatments.

Dusty has completely stopped responding to chemotherapy.  There are no more options to try.  We got accepted into a phase one clinical trial at MD Anderson.  We were ecstatic to say the least.  It gave us hope again.  Hope that we so desperately needed.  Dusty has continued to lose weight and is now down about 75 lbs. (at least he had the weight to lose but now he is getting below healthy).  He can't eat and can't swallow.  We found out that he does have a metastasis that has spread to his right lung but they are not concerned about it at this time because it has not changed in ten months.  His spirits have been lifted with this clinical trial.  We are hoping and praying for results.  We should know February 28 if it is working.

At first our insurance denied the clinical trial, it was the worst beating that we've taken so far.  We thought it was the first chisel in his tombstone.  We were desperate.  After three days of being sick and unable to focus on anything in life, we got the call that Dusty's insurance came through for the trial and they would cover it.  AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have had many ups and downs through this but this was by far the biggest!

Dusty and my dad left for Houston Sunday, February 3.  Dusty passed all his pre-test and met with the doctor on Tuesday, February 5.  He starts the clinical trial on Thursday, February 7.  He will be taking 1000 mg. of a chemo drug that is in trial.  He takes it daily.  They don't know the side effects yet but know that it does cause fatigue.  Dusty will come home Saturday.  Yay!

He has to travel back and forth to Houston about five times a month for the next 2.5 months.

We are still accepting donations and/or sky miles or hotel points.

Photos taken by Jessica V Photography:
http://www.jessicavphotography.com/index.php/2013/01/30/augusta-ga-family-photographer-hayden-family/