Mark is in the VA Hospital in Temple Texas
The guys from Reno, Alan and Mike, were here and great fun was had by all especially at the football game which UT won on a beautiful sunny day. Mike went back on Sunday and Alan on Tuesday before Thanksgiving. On Tuesday before Alan left, Mark was up at 3 am complaining of excruciating elbow and arm pain. When the local VA clinic opened James and Alan took Mark there. Mark ended up going by ambulance to the VA in Temple. He had x-rays, labs, fluid taken off elbow and now bets are being taken over whether it is an infection or gout. Mark will miss turkey day at home. The docs have disappeared for the holidays and there is apparently no one to discharge him or give him a pass home. What a turn of events! Oh well, this too shall pass and we'll go on to the next adventure.

Mark Will Be in Austin Soon and And So Will His Buddies Allen and Mike

Mark's friends and former coworkers Alan and Mike are coming from Reno for a visit this week and Mark is coming from Thailand to get ready for his kidney surgery in December. The guys have tickets to the University of Texas football game on Nov. 20th. Barry who sold us some of his family's season tickets has invited the guys to a tailgate party. This is exciting like getting extra icing on your piece of cake. Barry let me know that someone has been making a documentary of their tailgate party and they have a lot of footage already, but wouldn't it be fun if Mark and the guys could get in the film scarfing down some ribs or chicken or something? Mark gets his energy to fight cancer from doing fun stuff and being with fun people. Having something to look forward to and then enjoying is always good medicine.

On August 2nd Mark went to the VA to Schedule Surgery for Renal Tumor

Mark and I made a mad dash for Houston on Monday for a 3:30 appointment regarding his upcoming surgery for a renal tumor. About 4 pm he saw the most knowledgeable lady doctor who showed us the MRI and the tumor. Mark will probably have three incisions which is lots better than the large incision we thought he was going to have. Mark is hoping to schedule the surgery for a little over a week before Christmas. The plan is a couple of days in the hospital and then home for about a six week recovery. This may be renal cell cancer separate from his adenocarcinoma or it may be metastasis from the adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or it could be benign. We will know when the tumor is examined after surgery.
As you may have guessed we got away from the VA in time to play with the rush hour traffic in Houston before exiting the city for Austin.
We wonder how many people have experienced two different kinds of cancer. If you had two different kinds, please post a note.

Mark just back from an 11 day trip to Lake Tahoe, Reno, and California
Mark went camping, fishing, and seafood-eating with Alan and Mike, guys he used to work with in Nevada. They had a lot of fun, caught a lot of fish and saw a white whale. Mark needs days of fun to help him deal with fighting off cancer. At the present time he is 5 years and 5 months out from his diagnosis of esophageal cancer with metastasis to the liver. Does he have cancer now? Is it in his kidney or lurking somewhere else?

Although Mark's recent pet scan was clean, his MRI showed that his small kidney tumors have doubled in size in the last year. He will see the urologist/nephrologist this coming Tuesday and he will see his new oncologist at the VA the next day. Mark is staying positive. He's ready to head to Thailand and has a ticket for August 11, but could end up staying longer for kidney work.

We'll miss Mark when he heads to Thailand. We really enjoy having him close by - he is good company, keeps the pool clean (having brought it back from green to beautiful blue), keeps the grass mowed, the kitchen clean, cooks, and is upbeat and positive. We've all seen what a tough battle he wages against this cancer, and it's both impressive and especially nice to see him in such good spirits.

In the meantime, Marks sister, Stephanie, has taken a transfer of sorts with her job and moved to Okinawa, Japan, with her ancient cat, PingPong, in tow. This means she will be much closer geographically to Mark and I will be able to potentially stop in to see her both on the way to/from Thailand. We're waiting to hear her first impressions of Okinawa, and perhaps both Mark and I will be able to visit her while she's there.

I'll put some more cultural information about Thailand on the blog soon.

Mark in Austin at the Tacco Express

Ever heard of the expression "Keep Austin Wierd?" One of the places that lives up to this motto is the Tacco Express on South Congress. On Sunday at noon and some evenings, there is live music. Today's music was a gospel and blues group. Some people dress up in things like tutus feather boas and dance. That includes men as well as women. Sometimes people show up dressed to the nines while most go casual or off beat. If you go, you will fit right in.

Mark has been busy since getting to Austin. He has been to the Veteran's Hosp. in Houston twice and has to go again. He has cooked brisket in the smoker, brought the swimming pool back to blue from an ugly algae green, been working on healthy living from eating healthy to exercise and has cared for the yard. Another trip to the VA for an MRI is scheduled for next week. You might want to pray (or send good energy Mark's way) that his test results are good.

Life in Thailand
Soon I will put something more on this blog about life in Thailand.

Mark is Leaving the Land of Smiles (Thailand) Today and headed to the USA
When Mark is in the airport in Bangkok, he will be in one of the most beautiful airports in the world. There are beautiful huge statues of mythical characters and scenes from Thai myths. Orchids are in magnificent abundance along with other flowers.
Mark is coming to get a check-up with his oncologists at the VA hospital in Houston this coming Wednesday. Say a prayer for him. It's been a long time since he had a scan of any kind or a check-up.
Mark just called to say his flight out of Thailand or somewhere else along the string of flights got canceled so he is on a new flight schedule. He is on his way

Happy Birthday Mark

Shoe Cart in Pattaya/Jomtien Beach Thailand

Tomorrow is Mark's 6th Birthday after Prognosis of 3 Months or Less to Live

After the frightening discovery of cancer and metastasis in 2005, I was afraid Mark wouldn't live until his birthday in April of 2005. Not only did he live until that birthday, but he'll celebrate his 6th birthday after diagnosis, tomorrow.

How thankful we are that Mark has survived. It could easily have been otherwise. Yesterday dear friends lost their young adult daughter who had lymphoma. She died not because of lymphoma but rather to decreased immunity due to treatments for the lymphoma and then getting a bacterial infection. How sad this is.

While Mark wasn't lucky enough to have health insurance for the first two years of treatment, we were lucky to be able to pay cash at Bumrumgrad Hospital. We lived a 50 cent Taxi ride from the hospital. The hospital kept a close watch on his WBCs and RBCs and would let me take injections home to give him to stimulate WBCs or RBCs as needed. Mark and I kept a close watch on his temperature and other signs of infection. In Thailand we could buy antibiotics at the pharmacy without a prescription. When we were on a trip, we could start antibiotics ourselves. So many things have kept Mark alive: grace of God, prayers, lots of support from so many people, his love of reading, fighting spirit and luck. Love of reading really helped as he could take his mind off his situation. This helped keep the stress down. We think we know what helped keep Mark alive, but in the end no one really knows why one person lives and another does not. We know it wasn't from avoiding sugar as Mark loved sugar and ate things with sugar. We know it wasn't from herbal medicine or special seaweed preparations. He had to choose between herbal medicine and his oncologist and radiologist. He chose the doctors, which for him turned out to be a good decision. There were times when it felt like Mark could slip away from us, but somehow he survived.

More on the Culture and Life in Pattaya/Jomtien Beach, Thailand
In Jomtien Beach, a vegetable and meats cart comes by nearly each morning. Small portions of meat hang in plastic bags to keep flies out and there is a wide variety of vegetables. When I was in Thailand recently, I bought things from this cart to have made into soup or other dishes in the guest house where I stayed.The guest house manager "Da Da" was eager to cook me delicious things with lots of vegetables and pork, chicken, and/or shrimp but not beef. Many people here do not eat beef for religious reasons.
Sometimes a cart comes down the street with a wide variety of clothing for women. There are carts down the beach road and main roads that have all kinds of food for sale. Vendors are on the streets selling all kinds of articles made by hand. There are people selling women's underwear on the street. One of my favorite carts is the shoe cart which has racks of all kinds of fancy women's shoes on a cart powered by a motorcycle. See picture above. Click on any picture to enlarge it.

Mark is still in Thailand and Using Easy Cheap Transportation to Get Around in Pattaya/Jomtien Beach Thailand



In many ways life in Jomtien Beach Thailand is less expensive and easier. I thought I might do a few blogs on how life is different there and perhaps give you a little insight into why Mark stays there so much.

In the pictures above you see the popular truck with bench seats transportation. It is called a Songtao and sometimes Songtail by Forang (foreigners) . For 10 baht (100 baht = approximately $3) you can travel lots of places in the city and for 20 baht you can travel to more distant areas. You simply flag one of these vehicles down and climb on. If the vehicle is full or if you just want to, you can stand on a back platform and hang on. Many people who live in Pattaya/Jomtien Beach do not own a car thus avoiding all the costs and other problems that go along with operating a car. This can make life a little less stressful. Maybe less stress will help Mark stay in remission. When he comes home, he'll go to the VA hospital in Houston and the doctor will try to find the answer to the question of remission or not.

Mark at Jomtien Beach at Sunset

Mark and Mom in Pattaya-Jomtien Beach Thailand

I (Mark's mom)arrived in Thailand at 1:30 am. Mark had sent a driver (Mr. A.) for me. The plane was late but Mr. A waited and he recognized me right away. After sleeping on the plane and on the ride from Bangkok to Jomtien Beach, I was up and ready to go the next day. I am staying at Angel's guest House on Chiaprauk Road and Mark has a one bedroom condo a mile or two down the same road. Mark had been saying he was putting on weight and indeed he had put on some, but of course he is still not very pom puey (fat). everyone remarks about how handsome he is.

The movie is off. The proposed cast was very "wiggly", coming and going and not available for critical times and some prospective cast members thinking this movie was going to gross millions and wanting to be paid accordingly. Here movies have to be approved by the Thai govt. but that didn't seem to be any problem. The real problem was getting a working cast committed to the project.

So far our adventures have been confined to Pattaya-Jomtien with one foray out to the Silver Lake Winery and gardens which is very beautiful. There is a gorgeous lake viewed from the abundant flower gardens. Across the lake there is a windmill that looks like a scene from Holland.The vineyards are beautiful.

We also went to the turtle conservatory at the Sattahip Naval Base. Our driver and guide was a Navy Marine. Apparently you can be a marine in the Navy. There is a submarine on the navy base. Farang (foreigners) can see the outside but are not allowed inside the submarine. There were many many turtles at the conservatory from very small to very big ones. At one point we were driving along the coast on the navy base and came to a barricade. Our guide got out to talk to the guards and later told us, we could not go on that road as the Thai prince was staying somewhere on a nearby hilltop at the navy base.

Mark and I made one Rotary meeting at the Cliffs Hotel Complex where the Rotary Club has their own dedicated room. When the hotel was built, one room was created especially for Rotary. It is a round room with the Rotary flags displayed all around the room. When the meeting begins, we face a picture of the king, not the flag and the national anthem is played. The food is good. We had duck and red curry. Each person orders what they want from an extensive hotel menu. The speaker talked about an orphanage he has created in the north of Thailand. Like Mexico, children are not necessarily orphans. Families send them to the orphanage if they can not afford to feed and care for them. The children can stay as long as they stay in school and are encouraged to finish high school.

We had a picnic with friends on the beach last Monday night This was an official Budha holiday. The weekend was a three day holiday and was packed until Mon. night when a lot of people had returned home to go to work Tuesday.

I am thinking about going to Hua Hin for a few days. This is a city on the coast and it is the location of one of the palaces of the royals. The king and queen used to spend a lot of time in Hua Hin as well as in Chang Mai where there is another royal resident. Years ago they would go in motorcades out from Hua Hin to meet with the farm families and the king would drive his own car. They would stop wherever people had gathered on the road. The king and queen were very concerned about the welfare of the people. I read that they also loved animals and would stop for any domestic or wild animal and once stopped to let a pair of cobras cross the road.

It is very hot here. I change clothes 3-4 times a day. I wash my clothes in the sink and hang them on the balcony. I walk one hour in the morning and am drenched when I return to my room. There is a lovely breeze off the gulf of Thailand which helps a lot.



Mark and Mom

After 4 days of Marti Gras Mark's Mom Headed to Thailand
I just spent four days in small towns in Louisiana with Mark's step-father James. We experienced the customs and festivals around Mardi Gras beginning with supper at DI's on the Evangeline Highway near Basille, La. DI's had Cajun music and the people in costume dancing and begging for food and money. For information on DI's and some Cajun music go to http://www.discajunrestaurant.biz/music.htm
We went to the Savoy Music Store for the jam session by people from all over who came with their music instruments. We went to Jennings for the Squeezebox Shootout which is an accordian contest.
For more about Louisiana customs of Mardi Gras go to http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Festiva1/en/lsm/page4.html

In the morning I head to Thailand to spend time with Mark and see how he is doing.
Stay tuned for more information and pictures

Mark is Close to his 5 year Anniversary After Being Told He had Three Months or Less to Live
Around Valentine's Day 2005,I listened to the messages on the phone answering machine. Mark's voice came on "Mom, I'm in a bit of trouble" Lots of possibilities swirled in my mind as I called Mark back and learned that his bit of trouble was a huge doughnut shaped tumor in his esophagus at the gastric juncture with several tumors in his liver.
He was given a bottle of liquid morphine and told to get his affairs in order. Not one to give up easily, a major battle with cancer followed. Mark, his sister, and I are thankful every day for all the care Dr.s Theera Umsawadi and Sunantha Srisiebut Playsongsang at Bumrumgrad Hospital in Bangkok gave Mark and for all the support of family, friends, and strangers and later his VA doctors and nurses.

There is every reason to celebrate this 5 year anniversary, but weighing heavily on Mark's mind is the possibility his cancer could come back and not feeling as well as he would like and not having as much energy as he would like. He perked up this week and is cooking tacos and is closer to his positive and cheerful self. Perhaps he is perked up because he began helping our friend Jerry Barrett to make a movie in Thailand. Not to be left out, I am headed to Thailand next week to assist in casting or production or whatever is needed. This is the third movie Mark has been in since his diagnosis.
Check in periodically to learn more about this movie and to keep up with Mark's other adventures.
Note the picture above is from the first movie Mark was in. He is second from the left. Third from the left is Jerry Barrett, film maker.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Mark, His Mom, and Sister Stephanie,

Another year is coming to a close and the three of us are all happy to be alive, especially Mark after his prognosis in 2005 that he had three months or less to live. Does this go to show that you shouldn't believe everything you hear?

This Christmas Mark is in Thailand, Stephanie is in England, and Mom in Austin. We'll have another Christmas together another year.

Mark is waiting for our friend Jerry Barrett to arrive in Thailand from the Katmandu valley. Jerry is planning to film another movie with Mark in it. Mark is doing his own cooking and taking it easy.

Stephanie was in Boston area (Southbridge, Mass) last week for a conference and Mom went to be with her and to eat lobster and shop. We were in Southbridge for a couple of days then we went into Boston and stayed at the Royal Sonesta Hotel across from the Galaria shopping mall.We found an Afgan restaurant and it was really good. We toured the historical sites. Good thing we didn't go to Boston this week as the area was snowed in and many of the airports closed on the East Coast.

A Miracle Cure?

Mark's doctor at the Veteran's Hospital called me this week. He said he was thinking that Mark might have gotten "a miracle cure." A lot of you, from all over the world, were praying for him, so maybe so. The oncologist reminded me that Mark's Pet Scan was good. He suggested that cancer could come back as a new cancer or the old cancer could pop up again, but he wanted to focus on the possibility of a miracle cure and begin to screen Mark for any other health problems that we might have been ignoring as we focused on the esophageal and liver cancer and the strange suspicious spot on his kidney. Of course that makes sense.

I'm writing an instructor's manual for a text book about to be published and one of the chapters is on Cancer. What do the authors say? For starters that the experience of cancer is a disruptive and life-threatening experience. This is certainly true. Mark left his dream job on the island of Saipan. I left the Rotary GSE team that I had worked with for a year preparing to study violence on the Mexican border. Mark headed to Thailand for treatment and his sister and I followed. I cannot convey how difficult the next two years of treatment were for Mark and how much he appreciates all the support he got from friends, family, his doctors and nurses, medical personnel, and strangers.

It is initially hard for Mark and I to wrap our minds around "a miracle cure" after his various dire prognoses from medical personnel,after all he has gone through, and with the effects of cancer and chemotherapy and radiation still very much with him.

Should we embrace this cure with all our energies and hopes or move with caution knowing the cancer can come back or another cancer pop up like the chest wall tumor that came out of nowhere, was radiated and is gone? I suppose the answer is that Mark and even his sister and I will go on squeezing everything we can out of every day and living life to the fullest to the best of our abilities and we will deal with whatever comes our way.

I'll keep you posted on Mark. He is still having adventures in Thailand.

Elke and Hinrich

Another dear friend has died from cancer. Hinrich died September 8, o9 at his home in the loving arms of Elke his wife, who greatly misses him. We celebrate his life and morn his passing. He was a wonderful person and friend. When Mark was very sick and he wanted to travel in case he died and never got to travel again, I took him to Amsterdam. All the rooms in Amsterdam were taken as it was the 25th anniversary of the queen on the throne. Hinrich gave us the information that allowed us to find the last two vacant rooms in Amsterdam. He contacted his cousin in Amsterdam who showed us around. Hinrich and Elke invited us to travel by train to Groningen in the Netherlands where they picked us up by car and took us to their home in Emden, Germany and fed us a delicious meal. Mark was so very cold in those days even in the hot Bangkok sun, but especially so in Northern Germany. Our friends Hinrich and Elke loaned Mark a coat, fed him, and let him rest before going to a small village to visit with distant relatives of ours. Hinrich had helped me with my genealogy sparing no effort to find the descendants of my great great grandfather who came from Ostfriesland Germany. What fun it was for Elke, Hinrich, Mark and I to enjoy an Ostfriesland tea ceremony with our Gerdes relatives in their home and to learn of their branch of the family. We were so lucky that Elke and Hinrich came into our lives. At that time Hinrich looked so healthy and Mark so sick. What a strange thing that Hinrich is gone and Mark continues on nearly five years beyond his three month prognosis.

I recall when mark got his three month or less prognosis and his saying something like: "Mom I am too young to die, dying before my mother and my older friends. I've just begun to get my life in order." I remember telling him not to count on death before me or others and that I might get run over by a garbage truck on one of the multi-lane streets in Bangkok where you take your life in your hands to cross the street. Ironically Mark has lost a number of close friends including young and old in the past nearly five years. It is inevitable that Mark too will eventually die but not before his time is up.

What is Mark doing now? Mark has been lying low or as he says: "I've been hunkered down: not going out and not spending any money." 10 days ago Mark discovered his debit card was expired and the ATM would not give him any money. I got a new debit card for him, mailed the card one day and mailed a package the next. The package arrived into his hands in Thailand in 5 days and the card in 10 days. Life is looking up as he now can withdraw some money and get out and about. Fortunately Mark has a number of good friends in Jomtien Beach and Pattaya and several would have loaned him a little money as they know he is good for it and they know Mark's mom and that she would never let him go without enough money to make a loan good. He just didn't want to borrow any money. Good for him. Mark says he feels good and life is good. He still has to pace himself to have enough energy and he still has pain.

Kind thoughts and prayers are still greatly appreciated.

Mark reports he is doing well. He called Wed. morning US time which is Wed. evening Thai time. He had just finished going to a Rotary meeting where he met a lot of interesting people. There was not long to talk because it was about to rain and he was on a motorcycle so he wanted to try to beat the rain home. Mark reported he had been to Bangkok by bus and gotten his visa business done.

It looks like Mark is feeling much better and getting out and about with friends. Last week when he called he was eating at Shenanigans. This is a nice restaurant with a very reasonable menu. I will double check with Mark the details but my recall is that on Fridays we would get a T-bone steak, salad, and potatoes for 200 baht or about 6 dollars each. If you are in Pattaya or Jomtien Beach, I recommend you go to Shenanigans which is reasonable with good service, however if you want lots of service and atmosphere and are willing to pay much more...go to the News Cafe or Manhattans. There are lots and lots of other real nice restaurants.

Mark is back in Thailand Again and it's 2 Years Since any Chemo -

Picture of Mark wearing a hat made by one of the Thailand hill tribes of indiginous Indians.

I was reading old blogs today and was astounded at what I had forgotten or lost track of. I was amazed that it has been two years since Mark last had chemo. His doctor in Thailand had wanted Mark to continue on chemo as long as he was alive and he was willing, but when he left Thailand after two years of treatment and sought care at the VA, the VA doc in Houston wanted him off of chemo and enjoying a quality of life which is difficult or impossible with all the side effects from chemo. While short on energy, Mark has still accomplished and seen a lot that he never thought would be possible over the past two years.

If you have not heard from Mark in recent weeks, realize it is not just you but all his friends and acquaintances who have not gotten a note. Mark had not touched a computer in weeks...too sick and no energy. Today for the first time he used his Acer notebook and sent some thank-you notes. Mark's sister wanted him to have an Acer since she and I both have one. Stephanie paid for it and I picked out a cool red one for him. Mine is red too. Steph has a conservative color.

In some early blogs I reread quotes of Mark writing his sister about why he wanted to be in Thailand once he was diagnosed with cancer. He was saying that people in Thailand have a different view of death and accept people dying differently (better) than we do in the USA. Since Mark has survived now nearly five years, I've had time and opportunity to study the Thai culture and come to better understanding of the Thai thoughts on death and the ceremonies and beliefs surrounding death as well as life. Hopefully I can accept my own eventual immortality and death when the time comes. Maybe Mark will outlive me and if not, I will accept and celebrate his life and his new adventure after life. He has outlived many friends and family members and who would have thought it when he first shared that he had been given three months to live. Thanks again to all of you who prayed for him, sent him cards, letters, kool-aide, licorice, small gifts, and pictures. It meant so much to him that people cared about him and wanted to lift his spirits. Hopefully Mark and I can do this for others in this period when he is doing ok.

Addendum: Stephanie alerted us that Robbie, one of her young teacher friends and a wrestling coach when he was at Kennick High in Yokoska Japan, had died suddenly and unexpectedly. What a contrast in the length of time his wife Melissa had for good-byes (perhaps none) and the length of time we have had with Mark since his 3 month prognosis (four and a half years). We have to be thankful for what gifts we are given in spite of the diagnosis of cancer and all it entails. It is also joyous that Robbie and Melissa had an extended trip to Australia this summer. I was so impressed with Melissa's work in planning a wonderful trip to many places in Australia. It's not all about Mark or all about cancer but also about the young friends who have died and leave us with a sense of loss as well as the gift of having known them.

Mark got an encouraging report on his Pet Scan done at the VA Hospital in Houston. He is apparently still in remission and he will head back to Thailand soon. He will travel using his air miles.

Mark Presented his Rotary Club Banner
( Pattaya-Jomtien Thailand Club) at the University Rotary Club Austin, Texas on June 28th to outgoing president Linda Nowlin. This meeting was the initiation of new officers for the 09-10 year. Linda went over the club accomplishments for the year and outstanding contributions by individual members. Dr. John Doty, Austin oncologist for 20 years and now Executive Director of Austin Samaritans, a group dedicated to providing care to the poor and undeserved in Central America and elsewhere in the world spoke about the work of this group. If you are interested in helping in some way and/or for more information go to http://dogoodchannel.com/nonprofits/austin-samaritans

Mark is Back in Texas and Checking in at Houston VA

Mark came in Tuesday June 2nd arriving from Bangkok and all turned around time wise. Bangkok is 12 hours ahead of us so when it is sleep time here, Mark is up and ready to go and when it's time to go, he is ready to sleep. He is working hard on turning his sleep cycle around.

On the 8th Mark saw his oncologist, Dr. Arce-Lora at the Houston VA. Afterward he told us that Dr. Lora has scheduled a pet scan for him. In Bangkok when Mark was treated at Bumrumgrad in 05-07, we wondered about a pet scan but at that time there was no pet scan in Thailand. The hospital had a staff member whose job was to help patients with arrangements for pet scans in Singapore or Hong Kong. A young woman with cancer being treated in the same clinic as Mark went to Hong Kong for a pet scan because she could take her two-year-old son to the Disney Park there in addition to getting the scan. She shared the details with us. There was the cost of travel, the hotel stays, and then somewhere around 1500 to 2000 for the pet scan. The first pet scan to be installed in one of the hospitals in Bangkok so people there no longer have to travel abroad to get a pet scan was I think located in Bangkok Hospital which has numerous facilities around Thailand under its umbrella including Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital which seems to have a Pet Scan or access to one. Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhava elder sister of the King of Thailand, was a royal patron of Bangkok Hospital and I believe it was she who was instrumental in getting a pet scan for Bangkok Hospital and the people of Thailand. She died of cancer in 2008 at Siriraj Hospital, the oldest hospital in Thailand located on the west bank of Cho Phraya River in Bangkok.
More recently Bumrumgrad hospital installed a Pet Scan. "The scanner installed to provide services at Bumrungrad is the PET/CT Biograph 64 TruePoint, Siemens’ latest technology ... PET/CT provides high resolution images even in traces of the disease as small as 3-6 millimeters in size. This instrument provides an anatomical map for pinpointing the ex-act location of tumors in the body with 64-slices per revolution in only 0.33 seconds, thus providing enhanced quality and faster views for both 2 and 3 dimension images (http://www.thaipr.net/nc/readnews.aspx?newsid=09C9CE0EB7EAF1C65306AA3EE6CE4F59 "

At any rate, we are excited and scared too that Mark will get a pet scan and learn the results soon.

Mark, here with shrimp, is coming to Texas June Second

Mark paid rent in advance on his small condo in Jomtien Beach, arranged for cleaning and bug spraying and is preparing to come home for awhile to get tests at the VA hospital in Houston. Pray that he will still be in remission.

Report on Recent Chaos In Thailand which reached Pattaya Jomtien Beach I've promised you a report and finally here it is. The Financial Times headline on page one April 14 said "Thailand gripped by chaos".... "Anti-government protesters and the military fought dramatic battles on the streets of Bangkok that left at least two dead and almost 100 injured." The red shirted anti-government protesters want an ousted exiled prime minister Thaksin back in power and called for the resignation of current prime minister Abbisit Vellajiva. How did this affect Mark and his sister, Stephanie, and her friend Rossina who were visiting him? Prime Minister Abbisit had arranged an Asian summit to take place at the hotel where Mark's Rotary Club meets on Wednesdays. Mark planned to take his sister to dinner at the Rotary Club. Prior to the Rotary meeting, the red-shirted protesters pushed past the gate guards and stormed the hotel complex. Dignitaries were moved safely by the government in helicopters and by boat, but PM Abbisit's car windshield was damaged. All this activity forced the closure of the Asian Conference and a change of meeting place for the Rotary Club. There were street closures and two way streets were changed to one way streets. Lots of excitement in Pattaya-Jomtien Beach. Mark and his sister and Rossina were actually able to buzz right on past the roadblocks to get to the hotel, in a hired baht bus, only to find out the meeting had been cancelled. They ended up at a nice restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms. Yes, Condoms! They all also had a harder time getting around due to traffic changes. Nonetheless it was a big adventure.
Addendum May 31st Cabbages and Condoms (C&C)Restaurants - The C & C restaurants were established in several cities in Thailand with all proceeds going to support the activities of PDA which stands for Population and Community Development Association. The Cabbage and Condoms Restaurants offer excellent food and promote health and safety aspects of condom use. Diners can get free condoms and the glass table tops reveal an interesting collection of condom packages. Handicrafts produced by rural villages are on sale with profits funding PDA's development and social welfare activities. There is a C&C at 12th and Sukhumvit in Bangkok. This is about half-way between where we lived in Bangkok (near the corner of Asoke or Soi 19 and Sumhumvit) and Bumrumgrad hospital (just off Soi 1 and Sumhumvit). Another C&C is in Pattaya and this is where Mark and Rossina and Stephanie ate when the redshirt anti-government group stormed the hotel complex where Rotary meets.

Early pictures of Mark in Cancer treatment. Contrast these pictures with how he looks today 4 years beyond early prognosis of three months or less to live.

Mark and The Mom in Amsterdam, 2005

Mark and friend Ruben's cousin Eugenio in Amsterdam

Mark had lost his hair other than a bit that was light gray to white and thin. He had lost a lot of weight and had no appetite. He started feeling better after visiting some coffee shops and museums and riding in boats on the canals in Amsterdam.

I have pictures of Mark looking sicker but even sick he always tried to look his best and smile with and for people. He would look really really good and often after the pictures would go back to bed for several hours and sleep interrupted by pain, nausea and vomiting.

Mark with former co-worker. Mark is thin, weak, and hair falling out in 2005

I took a picture of Mark at one of his low points trying to have supper with Charlie Praloomratana who, along with his wife, was visiting family in Thailand. They were former co-workers in the respiratory therapy department on Saipan. Mark had no strength, could hardly stay awake and got so nauseated he had to leave in a taxi with Jin, who fortunately had a plastic bag so Mark could vomit during the taxi ride home.

I want people who are fighting cancer and having a difficult time, or their caregivers, can to contrast this picture with Mark now in 2009- see that for some people adventures are possible, remission is possible, we never know what will happen, and it's best to hold onto some hope until it is crystal clear there is no hope . Mark told me in January that no matter how sick he was early on, he never once thought of giving up...never once thought he would actually die.

Check in frequently to the blog. We often say in our family: "Don't worry about it especially if you can't do anything about it." This may have been one of the many things that helped Mark: the ability to not worry. I'm sure he knew he did not have to worry about many things as his mom and sis would take care of whatever needed attention while he was sick.