Back to Chicago to see Oncologist

Going back to UCMC to see what they can do to kick this in the butt!

• What more can I say... but, the man upstairs has sent us yet another miracle - an Angel by the name of DR Olopade! (8)
• This is the heavenly gift we have all been waiting for - DR Olopade is a WORLD-RENOWN LEADER in Breast Cancer and has numerous awards for devoting her life's work to this cause. (Featured in October Ebony magazine and numerous scientific journals)
• 30 years of research on Breast Cancer and Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics
  Director at University of Chicago Medical Center
• Gina (and the rest of us too) feel that this has been a truly Blessed day as DR Olopade has given us a feeling we haven't felt in over three to four weeks - HOPE!
• Her approach is very aggressive and compassionate and she is going to check not only the new biopsy from Gina's femur surgery, but, also, the biopsy from the breast cancer from 2002.
• We have a follow-up appointment in two weeks (Oct 8th) and should have a plan on what specific type of cancer we are dealing with and how to treat it!

Keep your PRAYERS coming and THANKS to all who have been with us along the way!!

Trip to Chicago Med Center

University of Chicago Medical Center 09/21/07 @ 1000 HRS

• Back to UCMC to check on "bruising-like" areas on back of right leg (where surgery was)
• Dr Peabody, Dr Angeline, Dr Avedian ALL met with us and said "bruises" are just from surgery and Gina's leg looks really good
• Removed surgical bandages and saw no abnormal swell ling and NO BLOOD CLOTS (Yeah!) 8)
• Gina had four incisions on right thigh from surgery with a total of 27 staples to close them
• Worried a little about losing blood from surgery and Gina being anemic so Dr Peabody had us check blood in lab - All blood tests came back good!
• See Dr Peabody again in a week (OCT 1) to discuss Radiation treatment and remove staples/check healing progress

Thanks again, from all of us, to all of the staff at UCMC - especially DRS: Peabody, Angeline & Avedian!

Leg Surgery Day

Surgery at University of Chicago Medical Center (Mitchell Bldg) @ 6AM

• DR Peabody and DR Angeline performed Bone Biopsy @ 0800 HRS
• Unfortunately, Carcinoma (cancer cells) were present in right femur 8(
• Gina then had a steel rod surgically placed into middle of right femur bone - four incisions on leg and then stapled closed
• Gina gets to go to Recovery room around 1530 HRS
• Family met with DR Peabody after surgery and he said operation went well - Gina has very STRONG bones w/ no fractures and very solid. DR Peabody scraped some Carcinoma from bone area and said Radiation/Chemotherapy would be administered for remaining cells
• Stayed over night and Gina went home next night after some Physical Therapy with her crutches (Of course she lived up to her image and was tough-as-nails)
• Next Follow-Up visit on October 1st w/ DR Peabody

The staff were Excellent (once again) and very professional and efficient! Thanks to all staff for your hard work and dedication! 8)

Visit to Dr. Peabody

Dr Peabody Visit at University of Chicago Medical Center for Advanced Medicine @ 1300 HRS

• Met with Dr Terrance Peabody and his associate, Dr Angeline @ 1300 HRS
• Once again, nothing more to say about visit other than UNBELIEVABLE!
• Upon arrival (10 minutes early), we were treated with utmost professionalism in a personal, "family" atmosphere
• Dr Angeline (note the last name starts with GOD's helpers) met with us first in doctor's office BEFORE scheduled time and our X-Rays and scans of Gina's leg were being looked at right away by the Radiologist
• Dr Angeline took Gina's personal information and then told us what to expect from visit
• Dr Peabody came in, followed by Dr Angeline and a visiting doctor and showed us the X-Rays and scans
• Dr Peabody said something showing up around outer bone of right femur and said it could be from Gina getting hit with that softball line drive in June OR could be the cancer starting
• Dr Peabody suggested we have an operation that would give him a biopsy sample which they could check in THEIR OWN LABS within @ 30 minutes and tell if cancer or not
• If not cancer, close up incision and send us home; If cancer present, then insert steel rod through hip bone into middle of Femur to strengthen it and secure with pin on each end, monitor Gina overnight and send home sometime Friday
• Dr Peabody had us scheduled for surgery THIS THURSDAY ALREADY at 6 AM!
• After surgery, if cancer was found, follow-up with Radiation

Visit to Dr. Sipahi

DR SIPAHI visit @ 1230 HRS

• Not the news we were hoping for today but we will get through this!
• The Liver Biopsy results came back as there being a tumor in the Liver
• DR Sipahi also believes that the scans are showing a very small spot on outer kidney and in right lung as well as the right femur bone.
• We are going back to University of Chicago on Monday to see DR Peabody about the leg
• DR Sipahi thinks we might need a steel rod put in for strength, although Gina is not feeling any pain in her leg right now.

Keep up those wonderful prayers and kind words because the FAITH in God and all of you is stronger than any medicine will ever be!

Thanks for everything to everyone and GOD BLESS!

Gamma Knife Surgery

The Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago (Aka: Ravenswood Hospital) -Gamma Knife Radio static Surgery on 09/06/2007

** Let me start by saying you have all been nothing short of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G with all of your thoughts, kind gestures and mainly PRAYERS! The Love & Support we feel is one of the main reasons I believe Gina will not only be better, but completely cleansed by GODS Hands of any illness! -- Thanks so, So, SO MUCH (Bob)

• The surgery started this morning at @ 6 AM with consultation by DR Jimenez (Truly Gifted surgeon who was guided by Gods Hands)
• Next, came the installation of a metal frame that had to be attached to the skull to prevent movement during procedure (Very painful for Gina, but she is fine now)
• Next, another MRI on site with three surgeons (DR Jimenez- neurosurgeon, DR Schwartz - Radiologist and DR Levan - Physicist)
• Finally - GREAT NEWS!! The surgeons only found one tumor, turns out the other "activity" was an enlarged blood vessel.
• Planning for @ 3 HRS
• The actual Gamma Knife Radio surgery procedure (@ 1 HR) - all went well and doctors confident they killed all bad tumor cells (@ 1 PM)
• RECOVERY - Post Surgery (eat, rest (nap), and monitor activity - GINA, of course, passed with flying colors and gets to go home now (@ 3:45 PM)
• HOME SWEET HOME for Rest/Relaxation

Let me finish tonight's thoughts with the following comment - ALL of the staff from the receptionist and nurses to the three very highly recommended and skilled doctors were not only warm and personal but gave us all their full, undivided attention the whole day - Truly a rarity in today's fast-paced, you're-just-a-number-to-me attitude of most service providers! THANKS again for all of our loving friends, family and especially to the man upstairs who truly does guide our souls to the right places if we let him in! GOD BLESS to all! 8)