A Good Time for Glenna
Hello everyone. I am pleased to report that Glenna is on a flight as we speak heading for Desert Hot Springs, California, for her much deserved week of relaxation and a much needed week away from her "annoying" parents! She will spend the next five days doing whatever she chooses to do. This hotel/spa really looks wonderful. If any of you want to check it out, the web site is: http://www.the-spring.com/
Our friend, Steph, who works there, has her room all primped and ready for her - the fridge is filled with all her favorite foods and she left a basket of magazines and goodies for her pleasure. Lindsey's boyfriend, Logan, is picking Glenna up from the L.A. airport tonight and driving her out to Steph's house (2 hours east). What a guy - so nice to do it and I know Glenna will love spending that time with him. Then, tomorrow, Steph will take her to The Springs and settle her in. We're so happy that she is able to have this most precious time and I feel so good having Steph there to look over her. She'll be back in Providence late Friday night.
Jacob came home for the weekend to spend some time with her before she left. He made us a couple of delicious meals while he was here. What a treat. We had some good family time. He absolutely loves his school and the restaurant he started working at in Portsmouth (The Dunaway). It's so great to see how focused he is on his culinary career - he's a natural.
Glenna talked to Will and it looks like he'll be heading out of Iraq probably on March 8th - so he should be home around the 9th or 10th. She has a paper chain in her room and removes a link every day - the last one being the day he arrives. It's getting so small! Very exciting.
Glenna had an appointment with Dr Lawrence last Friday - and her date to start the clinical trial is set for March 13th. She will go in the week before to have a full set of scans and make sure everything checks out OK before they begin. Hopefully, all will - and she will get her first infusion on the 13th. Glenna will be part of a study which includes 24 patients and is being offered through the partnership of MGH/Beth Israel/Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and Brigham and Womens hospitals. The clinical trial involves using two types of treatments: one is the MDX-010 antibody; and the other is the MDX-1379 melanoma vaccine. It is a blind study - 60% of the patients will be picked to receive both the antibody and the vaccine/20% will receive the antibody and a placebo and the other 20% will receive the vaccine and a placebo. There is no way to tell which one or if both work more effectively; hence the study. And neither her doctors, nor Glenna will know exactly what she is getting. She receives an infusion at the hospital once every 3 weeks. The infusion takes about 4 hours and she will be monitored and tested periodically throughout to make sure she is stable. Once the process is completed, she goes home and unless she has any side effects that need attention, she will not go back until the next infusion. There could be many different side effects, and a low percentage of dangerous risks to this trial. But there also could be little to no side effects or risks. Time will tell, and time is exactly what we need right now. We have discussed this procedure, not only with her own doctors, but with doctors at other hospitals as well, and right now in her situation, they have agreed that this is the best next step for her. Glenna is a very strong woman and is ready to plunge ahead with whatever will help her to get better. We are so very proud of her strength.
Will will be here to go through her first infusion with her. Dr. L. was pretty confident that she would probably not have many side effects from the first treatment. Other than her head still being pretty sore from the radiation, she's been feeling pretty good lately, and it would be wonderful if she continued to feel good throughout Will's visit. But no matter what, I know Will will be very supportive for her.
Well, folks - it's time to cut this short. I will post updates periodically as news changes. Please keep Glenna in your prayers and thoughts everyday. And remember to make your love known to those you care about. I care so much for all of you who love Glenna and know that your love helps her everyday.
Until the next time, Love you all, Mama Kohl
Our friend, Steph, who works there, has her room all primped and ready for her - the fridge is filled with all her favorite foods and she left a basket of magazines and goodies for her pleasure. Lindsey's boyfriend, Logan, is picking Glenna up from the L.A. airport tonight and driving her out to Steph's house (2 hours east). What a guy - so nice to do it and I know Glenna will love spending that time with him. Then, tomorrow, Steph will take her to The Springs and settle her in. We're so happy that she is able to have this most precious time and I feel so good having Steph there to look over her. She'll be back in Providence late Friday night.
Jacob came home for the weekend to spend some time with her before she left. He made us a couple of delicious meals while he was here. What a treat. We had some good family time. He absolutely loves his school and the restaurant he started working at in Portsmouth (The Dunaway). It's so great to see how focused he is on his culinary career - he's a natural.
Glenna talked to Will and it looks like he'll be heading out of Iraq probably on March 8th - so he should be home around the 9th or 10th. She has a paper chain in her room and removes a link every day - the last one being the day he arrives. It's getting so small! Very exciting.
Glenna had an appointment with Dr Lawrence last Friday - and her date to start the clinical trial is set for March 13th. She will go in the week before to have a full set of scans and make sure everything checks out OK before they begin. Hopefully, all will - and she will get her first infusion on the 13th. Glenna will be part of a study which includes 24 patients and is being offered through the partnership of MGH/Beth Israel/Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and Brigham and Womens hospitals. The clinical trial involves using two types of treatments: one is the MDX-010 antibody; and the other is the MDX-1379 melanoma vaccine. It is a blind study - 60% of the patients will be picked to receive both the antibody and the vaccine/20% will receive the antibody and a placebo and the other 20% will receive the vaccine and a placebo. There is no way to tell which one or if both work more effectively; hence the study. And neither her doctors, nor Glenna will know exactly what she is getting. She receives an infusion at the hospital once every 3 weeks. The infusion takes about 4 hours and she will be monitored and tested periodically throughout to make sure she is stable. Once the process is completed, she goes home and unless she has any side effects that need attention, she will not go back until the next infusion. There could be many different side effects, and a low percentage of dangerous risks to this trial. But there also could be little to no side effects or risks. Time will tell, and time is exactly what we need right now. We have discussed this procedure, not only with her own doctors, but with doctors at other hospitals as well, and right now in her situation, they have agreed that this is the best next step for her. Glenna is a very strong woman and is ready to plunge ahead with whatever will help her to get better. We are so very proud of her strength.
Will will be here to go through her first infusion with her. Dr. L. was pretty confident that she would probably not have many side effects from the first treatment. Other than her head still being pretty sore from the radiation, she's been feeling pretty good lately, and it would be wonderful if she continued to feel good throughout Will's visit. But no matter what, I know Will will be very supportive for her.
Well, folks - it's time to cut this short. I will post updates periodically as news changes. Please keep Glenna in your prayers and thoughts everyday. And remember to make your love known to those you care about. I care so much for all of you who love Glenna and know that your love helps her everyday.
Until the next time, Love you all, Mama Kohl
posted by Glenna @ 6:36 PM
2 Comments:
At 11:56 PM,
Anonymous said…
So glad to read that Glenna is getting spoiled and pampered in CA. Have thought of you all daily and check the blog for updates so I'm so glad to get this one. Feel very positive for the clinical trials and I know Glenna will do great through this next step - especially with Will by her side. Yeah! Love you all and will check in but I'm sure you and Bobby could use some R&R right now too!
At 12:03 PM,
Anonymous said…
So glad to hear there are no obstacles in the way of Glenna's next treatment . . . and we all know what kind of side effects Will's presence is going to have on her!! Sending love every moment...
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