Harder Day

Today's treatment has been much more difficult for Brad. He is becoming more resistant to the Coley's Toxins (which is to be expected). So, in order to get his fever to rise today..they had to give him a second injection of the toxins. The shaking was more intense and he just seemed to be worn down. I know he is also emotionally ready to have a break.

I have also been fighting a cold the last 5 days so I don't feel that I have been as helpful to him due to the fact that I haven't been feeling well either. To hopefully lessen the duration of the cold, I have been taking maximum dosages of Zycam. I've tried to keep my germy face away from Brad as much as possible (knowing that a cold is the last thing he needs)..but it is hard...when he feels bad, I just want to kiss all over his sweet face. The most debilitating part recently is that I also have been having sudden back pain accompanied with migrane headaches. I'm not usually a person who gets headaches but I have had a couple over the past year. So, I am also praying for my own quick recovery so that I can quickly resume my position as head nurse. (Uncle Matt has taken over my role while I have been down.)

Papa C., Uncle Matt, Nonnie, Zeke & I came to Weißenburg for a little while to use the internet. Brad stayed at home with Gwanddad and Kaelyn to get a little rest.

We will be headed back to the states in one week....yeah! I know that Brad is VERY ready.

This is a picture of Brad as he was connected to the dialysis machine (it gathered the materials from his blood that were needed to create the dendritic cells and natural killer cells.

We have been truly blessed with amazing nurses here at the clinic. This picture shows one of the nurses massaging Brad's feet during the fever therapy. It is interesting to me...the male nurse that Brad has had many time is especially sympathetic and attentive. He has given Brad many head massages to help with headaches and he is always checking on him. So kind.

More Pictures

One of the pictures is of Brad & Zeke..having a thumb wrestling tournament while we waited for dinner.

Another family portrait, per Michelle May's request.

Some other pictures of the kids from this weekend. Zeke is showing us his 'bootie dance' in one of the shots...very nice.

Good News

Yesterday afternoon and evening went well for Brad. The fever session was shorter, Brad didn't get a secondary round of fever that night, and he seemed to feel altogether better. We reported back this morning to tell Dr. Thaller that Brad did not have a fever again last night....Thaller commented in saying that he felt it was because Brad's immune system was getting stronger (sounds great to me!)

Today was much the same. Brad started shivering just after 9am and then only had fever until about 11. That is by far the shortest stent of fever that he has had during one of these sessions. By the time we went into the other room for the hyperthermia, he was without any fever. Following the hyperthermia, we started the use of the dendritic and natural killer cell therapy.

Dr. Thaller has been taking notice of an annoying cough that Brad has been struggling with since arriving to Germany. I am fairly convinced at this point that it is aggrevated by allergies, but Dr. Thaller felt that a good round of accupunture could cure it. First thing this morning, Dr. Thaller had Brad on the table to insert about 70 needles all over his body. I don't think that Brad was very excited about this technique, but he tolerated it well. I didn't hear much coughing from Brad the rest of the day...don't know if the accupunture worked or if Brad was just afraid to cough around Dr. Thaller....afraid he might poke him a few hundred more times. Ouch! I have pictures, but I don't have time to download them today. (More later)

We received a great care package from the Jones' and Shoup's today. The funniest part was the toilet paper for Sandra and the hair care products for David. We laughed a lot!

We also received LOTS of mail today! The staff at the clinic has really taken notice to the number of cards that have come into the clinic with Brad's name on it. I am so thankful for the cards that have been sent. Brad was very emotional today during the shivering and the cards truly help him through it. Thank you again. We love you all and we will write more soon.

More Pictures from the Castle

Here are a few other pictures from the Harburg castle. In the first picture Zeke is showing off his souveniors that Nonnie & Gwanddad found for him. He is now ready for hire if anyone has a castle that needs protecting.

K Walking Down from The Harburg Castle

We took the family to Harburg Castle yesterday after lunch. We showed Zeke all the knights, swords & shields...he ate it up. On the way back to the car, I let Kaelyn walk on her own down the decline to the car...she was laughing the entire way...half walking...almost running...just about to fall the whole time. It was really funny to watch.

Daylight....A LOT!

One funny thing about Germany this time of year is that it stays light outside a whole lot! Night doesn't come until about 10pm and the morning comes at about 4am.
This adjustment has come a little easier for some than others. Here is a picture of Zeke and Gwanddad using their eye patches to block out some of that menacing light.