The Map has all 58 National Parks listed along with National Monuments. We highlighted the ones we saw in pink for 2018. Total: 21 National Parks, 2 National Monuments. This is inside our Travel Trailer. We had it special built w/o bunks so that we could store our bikes.
I want to begin by saying, I was surprised when Terri asked me if I was going to post this. She is a very private person, however she also feels had there been more stories like hers when she was first diagnosed, she would have felt more hopeful and inspired. This is why she had agreed for me to blog her story.
Terri began experiencing increasing abdominal discomfort while we were at Badlands. She had some discomfort since Moab , Utah but attributed it to being so active. When we were headed to Colorado Springs, she decided to contact her oncologist in Arizona, since he was closer than the one back home in Pennsylvania. She had an appointment scheduled at the end of August, but he advised coming in sooner if we could. We parked the camper at Alamosa KOA and drove 9 1/2 hours to Scottsdale Arizona. Terri had a PET and CT scan on August 7th and the doctor reviewed the results the following day. It was not the news we had hoped for. The PET scan showed some activity in her abdomen and pelvis. He advised IV Chemo again. The oral Xeloda , which was a very low dose, appeared not to be effective. He did offer a clinical trial, however that would mean Terri would have to stay in Arizona for a month and then return every 2 weeks indefinitely. Terri opted to return home and try 5FU/Onivyde. The clinical trial is a phase one and right now, only 3 people are on it. We know that genetic testing on her tumors showed she should respond to the 5FU. The Gemcitabine/Abraxane regime was hard on her the last time and she was having difficulty finishing the cycles.
On the way back to Alamosa, Terri asked me if I would post this because she wanted to show people, “there are bumps in the road.” That is how she described the news….
When we returned to Alamosa, we got to see the last National Park on our list- Great Sand Dunes. I will post about that later. Our trip was cut short by only 6 days. We arrived home Monday and Terri started Chemotherapy Wednesday the 15th. The 5FU is given intravenously over 46 hours. She was connected to a small portable IV pump for 2 days. She will do this every 2 weeks. Oh… I forgot to mention, after we came home form the chemo clinic, she went for a scooter ride. We were planning to golf later that evening, but it rained….
Amazing….Truly Amazing