Dave is home! We had to go to the ER on Saturday night because he was having difficulty breathing. He had a chest X-ray but coudn't see Pneumonia, tested for flu--came out negative. He had echocardiogram and showed that he has Diastolic Dysfunction --the heart doesn't contract and relax with each heartbeat which increases pressure and fluid in the blood vessels of the lungs (pulmonary congestion). He had a very tough few nights at the hospital with extremely severe breathlessness. He was supposed to come home Tuesday but he started running a fever. His WBC went down to 1.5 -- deffinitely an infection. Had to continue with IV antibiotics. Pain was also increasing due to coughing.

He came home with 2 kinds of antibiotics, advair and proventil for brochial and codeine which helps reducing the wheezing. Oxycotin is increased to 30 mg 2x a day, dilaudid and morhine sulphate as needed. Xeloda (chemo pills) has been suspended until we see his oncologist next Tuesday. Taxotere might be out of his chemo regimen since it causes him to have shortness of breaths everytime he gets the treatment.

He is looking a lot better than when left for the ER. Civilians must have been getting sick more than the military. We stopped by at our local hospital because it's more convenient but the line at the triage was as long as the line at the commissary register on a payday! We did the hour drive to the Naval Hospital, Bethesda and nobody was waiting to be seen. I called Barbie, told her that Dave and I was on a date, having McDonalds for dinner at the ER.

He is watching his favorite game show, "Match Game '75" right now after eating a bag of popcorn, cheese and crackers and grapes. We will be driving down to Va. tomorrow after all my kids leave which will be a little bit earlier than usual.

Please continue to hold him in your thoughts and prayers---continues strength physically and mentally. Thank you.

Edith

CT SCAN RESULTS / JAN.2, 2007

The tumor in his liver has grown from 5.2 to 5.4 cm. Multiple, too numerous to count, nodules are scattered throughout the greater omentum, slightly increased in number and size. ( Greater omentum is a serous membrane draping the colon and the small intestine. It is attached along the stomach and the first part of the duodenum--shortest, widest and most fixed potion of the small intestine-- It also contains fat and keeps the intestines warm). Well, I wished I could explain it better but English is my 2nd language. It's hard to master this language esp. when dealing with medical lingo!

This is not good news but I can't dwell on the bad. I have to continue on having faith. GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Dave is going to continue with the same regimen: GTX protocol. He is back on full dose of Xeloda, 2200 mg. This might do the trick. He was put on half dose a few months ago because he had problems but never put back until the last week of Dec. On his first scan with this regimen (full dose of Xeloda), the nodules in his lungs disappeared.

His old oncologist ( her fellowship at the Naval Hospital is over, backed to NIH) recommended to continue with the same regimen since Dave has been tolerating it rather well. Dave will be meeting with his new oncologist on Tuesday, another relationship! I hope he will be as nice and personable as Dr. Mohebtash. It helps a lot having a good relationship with your oncologist.

Dave hasn't been feeling good lately. His brochitis is still lingering around (if he would just quit smoking). We just got back from Va. tonight and he did his usual routine while there; squirrel hunting, playing poker and fishing. He won his money back two weeks ago but lost some last night (don't know how much) but he had fun.

We had dinner at Barbie's, Saturday night but Dave had to pass. It's his poker time. He's hooked! Ruth and Frank drove down to Va. this weekend to look for land. They found one, Robert and Barbie's property but it's not for sale! They also like Dave's hunting ground.

Ruth and I has been friends for 12 years and now she wants to grow old with me in Va. I'm screwed! :) But she has made good friends with Barbie so they could be neighbors.

The girls are doing just fine. Melissa spent some time with Dave this weekend, hunting and fishing. They also had Robbie and Robyn (Ruth's daughter) with them fishing today before going home. Danica is still working a lot, spending her money as fast as she could-- better than dating anyways.

We appreciate your contineous support, love and prayers. Please continue to hold Dave in your thoughts and prayers--pray that the tumors would shrink and pray for continued strength physically and mentally.

Thank you so much!

The Hoskins Family