Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you already know…Brandy, Gabriel, and Ezekiel are currently staying at the hospital while Gabriel is undergoing a new regimen of Chemo.  I am not as well versed as Brandy is when detailing the specifics of the treatment(s) , but since she will not be able to update everyone until she gets home (sometime on Sunday 8-10-08), I will give everyone a general update.  Expect a more detailed reiteration around Sunday night or Monday morning.

Brandy recently posted that Gabriel had his biopsy August 5^th, and the next day had to be rushed back up due to infection type symptoms.

Here is some in-between information.  The results of his biopsy had came back while Brandy and the kids were up there for the infection.  Apparently, the surgeon was wrong (nice right?) when he originally stated that it was boney tumor growing back.  I have been advised by Brandy that the pathology report indicates that it is the soft tissue tumor growing back.  Which means, this tumor not only stopped responding to the Chemo, but has disregarded it all together.  Yes, it is still vary much cancerous…  To my displeasure, the doctor (Dr. Hock) outline only three counter attacks to this tumor.

1.      Change in Chemo treatment

2.      Radiation:  can cause the left side of his face to remain a two year old for the rest of his life

3.      Aggressive Surgery:  would completely disfigure his face

Needless to say, the choice was easy here.  Brandy will elaborate on the details..  However, I am not to pleased with these options, and in my "layman" opinion, we are only given such a short list of choices due to the lack of research and collaboration by those treating him.  Many moons ago, I had many friends and family who dedicated countless hours initiating contact with doctors from around the world and records of similar cases.  My cousin Nikki, always aggressively working for Gabriel, made contact with a doctor in Germany who was to present Gabriel's condition at a tumor convention there in Europe.  To my knowledge, Dr. Hock never touch based with him….humph!  My anger is stemming from a statement made from Dr. Hock to Brandy, "….you know we may not beat this…."  WHAT THE F*#K!...you don't give up a battle cause you lose a fight, so miss me with that pessimistic sh*t!  Basing it off my dad's advise, I plan to take a day off my prestigious 17k a year job and understand what context Dr. Hock had said this in…because, I do not accept failure, nor, can I place trust into the hands of the one(s) treating our son if that person accepts failure.  OK…enough cathartic venting…I just had to put it out there.

Last night, Gabriel's temperature spiked to 99.3 but is fine now.  He is still extremely energetic and Brandy has told me that he has not changed in any of his characteristics.

Side note:  Gabriel is not only vary important to my wife and I, but to many people from both sides of the fence.  Unfortunately, his condition places our other gem in the shadows.  Ezekiel is doing great!  I will never hold the fact against him that he is such a mamma's boy.  He gets around real good and is occasionally pulling himself up to a stand.  I think he'll be real big into electronics cause he sure does like pulling every exposed cord we have in the house.  He is so big, he actually wrestles with Gabriel…even though Gabriel has a tendency to be too rough (my fault).  "that which does not kill you, only makes you stronger."

Sincerely,

James, Brandy, Gabriel, and Ezekiel