Another update from your guest blogger

Suzanne is still at the hospital so, yet again, I am stepping in to update everyone.

On Monday, Suzanne had a spinal tap to check for leptomeningeal carcinoma. Cancer in the meningeal fluid. We just got the results, which were negative. However, because of the extremely high rate of false negatives with this test, they will need to retest her again in a day or so. This would be an explanation for the nausea. The first step in treatment in a drug called methotrexate being added to the spinal fluid. While they were performing the spinal tap on Monday, they did start the treatment.

Today, she met with the doctor who previously performed the stereotactic radiation on her spine. He took a look at her scans and was very pleased with the results. The brain tumors have shrunk significantly and there is currently no need for any surgery.

As for the blood clot, it is still present. She has started PT and hopefully she will have some relief from that soon.

At this point, we are looking at about another week in the hospital. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

On another note, life here in the DiSilvestri house is going along as normal as possible (CHAOTIC!!) and I had a funny story to share.
Trooper, the enormous mastiff, likes to greet people coming in the house with some sort of stuffed animal, shoe, or anything else he finds laying around. Yesterday, Natalie was preparing for Halloween and put on a Winnie the Pooh costume. She then fell asleep curled up on the couch. Someone knocked on the door and Trooper, in his excitement, picked Natalie up in his mouth. He promptly dropped her onto the floor where Natalie stayed, asleep, while we all laughed hysterically. Even through all the uncertainty and stress, we are finding some time to laugh.