Spread the Sunshine

Even though it's snowing in DC, our house is filled with sunshine. After a barrage of scans before Christmas, Andrew and I and his parents traveled to Baltimore to see his doctor to receive the results. Last week we received this good news (also sent to us in an email from Dr. Thornton):

The soft tissue mass component of your disease which was quite prominent on your first MRI has resolved and the only deformity left is that of the bone, which is all consistent with treatment effect. keep up the good work! Katie

What this means is that the treatment is working and the cancer is beginning to remove itself from Andrew's body and the soft tissue mass that was causing him so much pain is now gone ....GONE ... can you believe it. We are overjoyed with these results and look forward to new scans in March to reveal the same and hopefully even better findings.

Andrew is currently finishing a five day outpatient treatment today (Friday). He has done well this week and continues to keep a positive attitude and looks forward to the end of his treatment. He has 8 treatments left and will be finished around the middle of June, and plans to take the bar in July. He will have his first base-line scan in August and will be followed every 3 months after that.

But for now, he is enjoying being pampered by me. Here he is in the Infusion Center at Reston Hospital waiting his last 30 minutes of treatment for this week.

Thank you to everyone for the emails, cards, flowers and fruit baskets. They were all wonderful reminders that Andrew continues to improve!!

Until the sunshine comes for real .... we bask in the warmth of good news, love, family and friendships!!

A Grizwald Christmas

So I know, I know, I'm late in writing about our Christmas adventure but Christmas in Uniontown is always an experience with Linda and Pete... and lucky for all of you, I was able to score the pictures from Linda's camera ... and in most of the pictures, people have heads. On that note, at least cameras are digital these days so we don't have to worry about film. We all remember the 1987 Disney vacation where Linda took pictures for like 2 days with no film in the camera!!! Classic..... But I must say, Linda and Pete always do Christmas right ... they deck the halls, trim the tree and Pete shots anything that comes within arms length of the deck so 'the boys' can skin it, ground it and turn it into hamburgers and jerky. And speaking of the tree .... yes dad I had to mention it ... our tree this year had 'blue' lights on it. Yes blue... well they were L.E.D lights that dad bought at the store but not before he had checked all of the old lights and strung them from top to bottom. In an attempt to not loose his mind and his patience he took all of the old lights off the tree .... since one of the strands decided not to work from the time he checked them in the socket to the time he put them on the tree ... and dispose of them and high-tale it to Walmart to buy new. But much to his dismay, he was unable to find the normal yellow glowing, christmas lights we all know and love. Instead he spent like ten dollars a strand and bought the most high-powered, eye-piercing, long lasting-lights ever made ... without checking with mom first .... BIG MISTAKE. Needless to say the blue-tinted lights were used as a consistent source of jokes, laughs and overall amusement throughout the visit. Here's a picture of our modern, yet traditional looking head light tree (I think it looks like the lights on

the front of our Audi!)

But besides the sore subject of the lights, there were not to many other issues at Christmas. We had a quiet Christmas eve, that Andrew all but slept through. He was a tired bear since he had only finished chemo a week prior to Christmas but we more than made up for it with Christmas and the day after. Christmas at the Bozick's is always one for the record book ... and if you ever want to watch the day unfold, just ask ... Pete tapes them all. We have assigned spots where we have to sit so he can get all 3 of us in the frame. Now we never stay in those seats so one of us is always missing and he is always telling us to move over .... but let me remind you that we have never just stopped a normal day to sit down and watch these 30 christmas tapes that Pete has ... but they are there as models in case anyone would like to have a 'real Bozick Christmas' in their own house. Pete sells the box set at the low low price of 3 easy payments of $33.99 ... not including tax and shipping .. and if you call in the next 30 minutes, he will even throw Linda in for free. A real bonus, isn't that right Pete!!!!

Here are a few of the photos from gift opening on Christmas morning:

(me and my new PSU jacket)

(Poor Adam and Andrew ... Linda still hasn't learned that they are not twins who were separated at birth. They always get the same things... even boxer shorts. Now they can wear their candy cane undies at the same time!!!)

(Andrew's I'm the best Lawyer nutcracker.)

But the person ... or animal ... who had the most fun at Christmas is always our loving,

wonderful and not ever well behaved bulldog Winston. Nana Bozick spoiled him with a big stocking that he continued to growl at even after he had obtained and eaten everything in it. As you can see from the pictures he was the king of his domain all christmas long....

And we also had a Christmas Miracle ... no I'm not talking about the good news we got from Andrew's doctors, which I will post in the next blog .... I'm talking about Adam Lowell's deer. I mean really ... Pistol Pete and his gun slinging buddies trudge through the woods for weeks on end and either don't see a deer, see one that not big enough, or are tracking the deer patterns from day break to dusk. Does anyone but me find it absolutely amazing that Adam can go out the morning after Christmas and before 10 am, shot a deer only steps away from the warm truck he was waiting in? And to boot, he only needed one bullet ... I guess Richard was right ... My Adam shots a bulls eye every time!!! I think the camo, boots, hats, gloves and warmers are all for show ... I think I could show up hunting in a pair of Jimmy Choo's and a black mini and have the same result. All I have to say it that its a Christmas Miracle .... one shot, one bullet and all before lunch ..... Miracles do come true!!! Or maybe its knowing the exact time, place and eating spot .... SSSSHHHHH ...don't worry Pistol, you're secrets safe with me!!!

But someone did benefit from Adam's deer. Despite first impressions, Winston would be an excellent hunting dog, minus the whole obedience, walking in the woods and waking up early thing. He's more like Adam .. just up for the kill. As you can see from the photo, his pappy gave him a deer leg to carry around. He kept trying to bring it into the house. He wanted to put it in his bed. That's were he takes all of his worldly possessions.

But all in all it was a wonderful visit with mom and dad full of a lot of laughter and fun. It was great to see Grandma Bozick, Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Bob, Uncle Al and Aunt Janet, Stan and Michelle, Peppy and Char, Jennifer and Jimmy and Ellie and Dom, Jenny, Brian, Matt, Bill, Rick and Aubrielle, Erin, Donnie and Baby Dylan, Nathan and Garrett. Our life is full of great friends and family and we can't wait for next Christmas!!!!

Ho ... Ho.... Ho....

Vote John Troxell for Cancer Research

After a long 3 days in the hospital, Andrew returned home yesterday to the comforts of his own bed where he and Winnie snuggled in for a long winters night. He is doing well and spending today with his mom at the hospital receiving hydration. Pistol Pete moseyed out of town last night and back to Uniontown. Thanks for the gun-slinging, pistol-packing, root'n toot'n, hillbilly help ..... yeehaw!!!!

But today Andrew and I want to devote this blog to asking our friends and family to help support Lauren's First and Goal Foundation by voting for Coach John Troxell of Franklin and Marshall University for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year. Coach Troxell was a former coach at Lafayette College where Adam, my brother, went to college.

Lauren´s First and Goal is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, a labor of love started in 2004 by John and Marianne Loose in honor of their daughter, Lauren, a 12-year-old pediatric brain tumor survivor. The Loose family started the foundation as a way to help other families who are battling childhood cancer. John Loose is also a coach at Lafayette College and LFG is helped run by the members of the Lafayette College Football Team.

If Coach Troxell wins, he will be donating the money to Lauren's First and Goal to help fight pediatric cancer and for cancer research. Please use the links attached to the coach of the year or Lauren's First and Goal website to cast your vote for Coach John Troxell of Franklin and Marshall University. Every vote helps!! Also please feel free to pass the links on to your friends and family members. We appreciate the help!!!

For with Money we buy science ... and with science, we buy live.

Everyone needs a sidekick!!

Today was back to the old grindstone of chemo for Andrew. He and his trusty sidekick, Pistol Pete, checked into the hospital this morning for Andrew's 3-day long inpatient treatment. Ang and Pistol have their days jammed packed with napping, talking to nurses, napping, eating lunch, napping, watching crappy TV, and did I mention napping.......It's what they both do best.

Andrew's treatment is going well. He's tired and a little restless but feeling pretty good all-around. We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.

He still has a healthy appetite though. He ate all of his lunch and a huge dinner filled with about 6 homemade meatballs, pasta and sauce, salad and a roll and he just inhaled two homemade 3 berry muffins. Boy I'm a good wife .... or maybe I myself need a life. Either way, he's eating and that makes us all happy.

And as for Pistol, since he has already killed his 8-point buck for this season, I am truly perplexed as to what he is doing all day but I'm confident that he is taking good care of Andrew. Maybe he's practicing for fishing season .. who knows.

Andrew and I also want to say a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Gwen and Kevin who got engaged at 3:30 pm on Monday. I guess it's a good time to get engaged!!!! We are so excited for you two and can't wait for the wedding. We hear it's less than a year away. We are looking forward to Andrew attending cancer-free.

It's about time Kevy Kev!!!! Mazel-Tov!!!!

Can't wait for next season

Thanks again to Jamey Perry, Joe Paterno and Daryll Clark. We can't wait to be at all of the games next year. WE ARE ...... PENN STATE!!!

Success with honor ........

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

Happy late Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family. The past few weeks have been more than hectic for both Andrew and I. The day before Thanksgiving Andrew finished his marathon 33 sessions of radiation ... WOO HOO!! It was a long 7 weeks but we both made it through. The only downside of him completing the treatment is that I had to return to work ... BOO!!! Anyone who really knows me, knows I love staying home and not going to work every day. It is so easy to get things accomplished in a day when no one is on the road, in the markets and in my way. But I digress (as I sit at my desk adding and subtracting to see exactly how long it is till Christmas break .. 13 days not counting today .. if anyone wants to know).

For the most part Andrew's radiation treatment went smoothly, minus the dreaded sunburn, bowel issues and low White Blood Cell counts he had to endure every day. But since the completion of his treatments, he has been able to receive the Neulasta shot that stimulates his WBC's and they have more than recovered to their normal range. Which is a huge sigh of relief for the both of us. Though he was suppose to continue with another round of 3-day inpatient chemo treatment next Monday, Dec 7th, the doctors feel it is in his best interest to wait one more week to begin, so Monday, Dec. 14th it is. One more week off from Chemo will be good for him to regain more strength before getting another huge kick-in-the-ass 3-day inpatient treatment.
Andrew also received an amazing and thoughtful gift at the end of his radiation treatment from my advisor at Penn State, Jamey Perry. Jamey's the biggest PSU football fan I know and he was able to get a personalized autographed football signed by JoePa ad Daryll Clark. It's awesome and it made Andrew smile ear-to-ear. Jamey also sent a football tee used in a game to hold the ball. Thanks Jaim -- you're the best!!! Can't wait to see you next season.......
Since Andrew's treatment ended the day before Thanksgiving we were able to spend the day with my parents in Uniontown. Normally we spend it with Andrew's parents in Princeton, NJ but his dad came down with walking pneumonia and we had to cancel. Steve is doing better and we hope to visit NJ to celebrate Hanukkah next weekend.
But as a whole, Andrew and I are doing great. He continues to go to work as much as he can and stay as active and normal as possible. We are both looking forward to Christmas and spending it in Uniontown with my parents, Adam and of course, Winston, the best bulldog in the world. If you can believe it, even with all of this going on, Andrew and I (when I say this I really me 'I') are done with our Christmas shopping. All I have to do is wrap them, which I plan to do this weekend. I even have all of my Christmas cards addressed and ready to send. This is what happens when your husband goes to bed at 8 pm. You have all kind of time to get projects done. Not sure what I'll take up after the holidays ... maybe knitting or scrap booking. Oh who knows... just one day at a time!!
Since his diagnosis, Andrew and I have felt very strongly that we need to help raise awareness and money for Ewing's. As you can see from the new logo on my page, we are hoping to help Widener University, Andrew's alma mater, to partner with us and with Uplifting Athletes to raise money for Ewing's. We will keep everyone posted on our progress and how to get involved. www.upliftingathletes.org
But for now ... we are just taking each day as it comes and not worrying what tomorrow brings. (Lexapro helps him with this):) Andrew and I will be seeing his doctor at Johns Hopkins the week after Christmas for a follow-up appointment and we continue to see Dr. Felice every week in Reston. He will also be having scans on his hip some time around the New Year to give us a marker as to the size of the tumor and to see what is left to get rid of. Keep your fingers crossed and remember to keep Andrew in your thoughts.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

His name is Earl

Thanks to some wonderful home cooked meals (pat on the back for me) like the doctor ordered, Andrew's white blood cells have rebounded nicely and he was able to start chemo again on Monday. He is also still having radiation every day and after today will only have 2 weeks left. He should be done the day before Thanksgiving.

Though I'm sure no one really enjoys chemo, I can tell that there are aspects that Andrew enjoys.... first off, everyone knows his name and talks to him... I mean he's a 29 year old cancer patient and most of the people in here having treatment done are over the age of 60 (and I'm being nice.) ..... he also loves having me wait on him ... whatever he needs, he gets ... juice boxes, packed lunch served to him, cookies .... and that leads me to his favorite part of chemo ... Earl, the morning cook in the cafeteria. I can't verify this for myself, but Andrew tell me that Earl makes the best egg, cheese and bacon English muffin sandwiches in the world. He adds a little ketchup for good measure and you should see him perk up in the morning. Earl knows my name and my order and when he sees me coming in the morning, he sprays the griddle and starts the eggs sizzling. With a smile, he always asks about Andrew and makes it right every time. (I should let you know that Andrew does eat breakfast in the morning ... these 2 muffin sandwiches are just mid morning snacks ... and he wonders how he put on 45 pounds?) Though Earl probably doesn't really know it, he is a huge contributor to the success of Andrew's treatment every day. I've tried my best to re-make these sandwiches at home, but Andrew still likes Earl's the best.

There are a mountain of people who contribute to Andrew's overall success with beating this disease .. doctors, PA's, nurses, technicians, schedulers, valet parkers, parents, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmothers, dogs, neighbors, friends, co-workers ... and Earl. Thank you all for contributing. We know together we can beat Andrew's cancer!!!!

Muchas Gracias!!!