Running Update:

11/28/2019		5.1 mi	43:44
11/29/2019		5.0 mi	49:02
11/30/2019		3.2 mi	32:02
12/1/2019		6.3 mi	1:03:06
12/8/2019		3.3 mi	32:47
12/11/2019		5.0 mi	50:47
12/13/2019		5.0 mi	50:44
12/15/2019		7.6 mi	1:16:02
12/16/2019		3.2 mi	30:47
12/18/2019		5.0 mi	49:16
12/21/2019		5.0 mi	48:22
12/22/2019		15.1 mi	2:35:24
12/23/2019		8.1 mi	1:22:45
12/24/2019		5.0 mi	50:33

I was sick at the beginning of this month and missed some time running, so had given up on the thought of breaking 1000 miles this year.  But when I did the math this week, I realized 1000 miles was still within reach, so I’ve made a final push this week to get in as many runs as I can before we leave for Canada for New Years.  I’ve run 33.2 miles in the past 4 days (OMG!) and am now at 997.2 miles.  I’ve run 7135.4 miles in 7 years.  Of course, I ran lots before that, but I didn’t get a Garmin until 2013 :) 

I think I might go for 10k in 10…

Jane Update:

We knew shortly after Jane’s MRI on the 11th that the new abdominal tumor had not grown since the end of September, but yesterday we got an official review from one of our team leaders at NIH, Dr Andrea Gross.  The MRI on 12/11/19 included contrast and imaging method called diffusion-weighted imaging which helps to determine how worrisome a tumor is.  Not only did the abdominal tumor not increase in size but did not “enhance” or become more pronounced with contrast, which indicates it is not actively growing; and it did not show any “diffusion restriction”, which is also a good sign.  Also reassuring was the fact that, though it is right next to them, the tumor is not pressing on Jane’s kidney or ureter.

Left: 9/30/19.  Right: 12/11/19.

 The plan is to repeat an abdominal MRI along with the usual MRI of Jane’s facial plexiform neurofibroma when we return to NIH in March 2020.  During that visit we will also meet with the team’s neurosurgeon to see how difficult it would be to remove the abdominal tumor.  Though it currently has reassuring features, this type of tumor (a “distinct nodular lesion”) has a somewhat higher chance of becoming cancerous than other neurofibromas.  The neurosurgeon would be able to help us weight the risks of surgery, given the tumor’s deep location, against benefits of removing it.  Dr Gross will present the case to the neurosurgeon in January, so he is familiar with it when we meet with him in March.

NF Update:

I am thrilled to report that, with your help, in 2019 Jane and I raised

$20,151

for the Children’s Tumor Foundation!  

Thank you to everyone who donated to help us #EndNF <3

Happy Holidays to all!

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