She's not a cancer patient but she plays one on TV

Mom, you are doing great.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other.  An additional week or so is not so bad.  It gives you some extra time to learn more Korean than just "hello".  Speaking of which, I have given your second-oldest granddaughter all of my remaining won and coins.  She actually has two piggy banks completely full of big cash and says she is going to use it for college.  Any leftover and she'll buy college books.  See how it works when you tell a child, from newborn to ten years-old, that they ARE going to college?  Now she says she wants to be a politician... oh and fashion designer.  I can just see the White House now in thirty years.

The person I was having that "conversation" with (as noted in my last post) seems to have backed-off.  Why anyone would think that South Korea is a third world country is beyond me.  After listing each un and ill informed question from that person with facts seems to have helped.  I truly hope that this all will end up in medical history someday.  That doctor from Korea who found the way to cure disease and illness. 

Let me change my self-questioning and any past doubt to:  THIS WILL WORK.

This should not be because we couldn't find a reason not to go to Korea for this treatment.  This should be because THE FIND A CURE FOR CANCER WORLD TOUR - SOUTH KOREA 2010 means something.  It means that there was enough information we could sink our teeth into and make an informed decision.  It means that after you keep putting one foot in front of the other... you move... you get somewhere.  And after all that you have been through (and are still going through), you haven't stopped.  You know the destination and that's why you keep going.  A lot of mountains have been climbed and a lot of journeys traveled down unknown paths. The difference between those who have the courage to do those things and you? 

Nothing.

Well...

I am reading the CaringBridge updates from Dawn, Jackie, James and John everyday.  So wishing the best for everyone there.  Please give Jackie a hug from me.

Have you finished watching all of your Boston Legal DVD's yet? 

Much love from your family in California!! 

Here is the Tshirt you will have to wear when you get back...   

So.

I have found myself in a conversation with someone who (understandably) thoroughly questions this entire process with Dr. Moon.  Okay, actually is adamant that this process is a fraud. 

The last thing I want to do is be a commercial for Goodgene.  I will be one when mom has been helped.  There are moments while I was there that took me aback - like what happened with Jackie's fiducials.  But you know what?  Mom had surgery in the US that was profoundly terrible.  Can anybody say they have never experienced a problem with US healthcare, doctors or hospitals?  Like I said before, no one (and no country) has this healthcare business right.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WORKS!  God help me, I pray that it does.

What does success mean?  Does it mean that 100% have to be "cured" of cancer?  25%?  10%?

Dr. Moon is working on opening a lab in Houston.  Obviously, continued research is key.  Mom is getting IGRT treatments (along with other treatments) in South Korea.  So, I feel comfortable with her there.  She is being treated, at least, there. 

As I previously wrote, not all who have come have survived.  There are those, however, that have.  Why?  Why them and not others?  What if you only get an extra year before your cancer comes back?  Is the money and time worth it?   Here is some reality:

 I spoke to the wife of a patient who died.  She said this:
"I would suggest doing everything in your power to get your mother to Dr. Moon. I have met with two people who went there. However, they were very straight forward and said that of the 20 people being treated at the same time as them, they are the only 2 still alive. They did say, though, that even the people who died were so happy when they died. They weren't in pain, they didn't die of some drawn out disease, it was in their sleep. I wish that was how my husband had died. Just going along and then died in his sleep instead of the steady decrease in his ability to do things, including see. I know that this man's treatments are expensive, but he does a fantastic job. He does stem cells, dendritic cell therapy, cyberknife... What you need to know about dendritic cell therapy is that it uses your white blood cells to attack your cancer. So if you have a low white blood cell count, depleted bone marrow, etc... they can not do the treatment for you. That is another problem with Tye going there. He had so much chemo that his body just stopped creating white blood cells and his count was very low".

And the son of a patient who died:
"Dr. Moon's treatments went very well for my mom. It knocked the lung cancer down by 30~40% according to the before and after tests we did. Unfortunately we were unaware that the cancer had spread to her brain prior to us leaving for Korea & the treatments we did specifically targeted her lungs. When we got back to California they found the brain cancer and did a series of whole brain radiation treatments. She's resting comfortably now but the brain cancer seems to be pretty advanced and she's not responding much to the radiation.  I wish I had a better story for you but what we originally went to Korea for was accomplished and from what I hear from the other families that were out there with us they've been successful too".

I reached out to some folks and some have reached out to me.  I am keeping my eye on those who are still out there, living their lives... praying for them too. 

False hope and blind faith is not what should take anyone to a country they know nothing about.  Have informed hope and thoughtful faith. Do your research!

Right now, we'll have to wait and see.  Mom, myself and her doctors are anxious to see her results.  As promised, I will share them.

~

Update

It is time for an update.  The day after I left, mom's BFF came in.  So far, mom has continued the normal routine of treatment although had her second round of Avastin (w/hydration) last week.  So far, she has not felt too sick from the Avastin/Tykerb/Cisplatin and radiation... just very tired.  Unfortunately, the pain she has been experiencing has only gotten worse.  With radiation, the hope is that the tumors pressing on those sensory fibers will shrink enough to alleviate most of that pain.  Dr. Moon wants her to stay an addtional 1.5 - 2 weeks.  The good news is that mom found a Baskin Robbins and it's inside of Home Plus of all places.  I would like to know WHY I didn't see it while I was there.  Even in 6 degree weather, it would have been nice to have a Rocky Road pig-out.  Mom, go get yourself some more ice cream (remember there is a freezer under the fridge) and try to hang in there.   You can do this.

Day Twenty-Five

It began to snow this morning (weather report finally right). As much as it's pretty when it does snow, we all dread it for fear it means taking the subway to KCCH. Thankfully, it let up and Mr. Mok drove us over.


This morning at the clinic, mom received stem cells and a protein drip. Poor thing just doesn't have much in the way of good veins anymore. In the past four weeks, she has had approximately 5 days without any needles.

This is a picture of mom with Mr. Won from this morning. I think he said he is 26. Looks young, doesn't he? He handles all blood harvesting as well as makes individual vaccines.

Mom, Dawn, Dave and I were later picked up from the hotel by Mr. Mok at 2:40 pm and swung by Goodgene to pick up Dr. Moon and dropped him off at home on the way in. Sitting in the car with Dr. Moon was very interesting. He did talk about opening up a clinic in the US (near Alexandria in Louisiana) on an Indian Reservation. The problem there is that they would be at the behest of the tribe Chief. If he said "go", they would need to go. The back-up then is in the Bahamas. He has already been approved by the government there. Third back-up is in Cabo San Lucas.

Mom asked him about radiation therapy, as it is used greatly in conjunction with stem cells and chemo. He said that mostly standard radiation is used in the States but in South Korea, it can be modified. If a patient would be in need of a specialized radiation therapy (i.e. Cyberknife, etc), they could come to Korea for that as it would only be for a short time (as opposed to being here for approx. 7 to 12 weeks as most patients need to be). Also, if he is centrally located, he can refer patients to one of the three Mayo clinics. He's hoping this Spring.

At KCCH, both mom and Dawn got their IGRT treatments. This was mom's third. Only twelve more to go!

Tonight is my last night in Korea. I'll miss my mom. We haven't spent this much time together since I was 17. But I'm looking forward to seeing her again this June for my oldest daughter's 10th birthday. Hang in there, mom. Remember all that you've gone through already. Just a few weeks more! It will go by quickly.

I hope you'll hear the echo of my voice and the swish of my pom-pom's cheerleading you on. I love you, mom.
Goodbye South Korea.

Goodbye my Magic Window. I've watched the traffic, red neon crosses and snowflakes... and thought about life and family gazing out of this window.

Will update soon.

Day Twenty-Four

Mom woke up fever-free and feeling alright. Looks like the Tylenol PM worked well. At the clinic, mom had a vaccine shot and a protein drip. Here is a photo at the clinic today of just about everyone (lt to rt:  Mom, Nurse Moon, Debbie, Jeff, Mi-Yan, Dawn, Jackie, Tom, Yu-Jin.  back row. Dos, Dave, Bryan). We're missing Joe, his wife Erika, Mr. Won and the elusive Dr. Moon.

The Moon Crew Dec09/Jan10.


Well, we got all the way down to KCCH this afternoon only to find out that the radiation machine was still not working. A waste of a 70,000 won taxi trip and 2.5 hours. Oh well. It's better than getting radiated by an ill-tempered piece of equipment.

The health system seems so strange here. There is health insurance but you have to have a family member wheel you around on your gurney... and stay with you in your room because they won't admit you without help. If you want to shower, you have to bring your own soap and towels. If you want to walk around in the hospital lobby... no problem, just be sure you don't let strangers step on your IV tube. I watched a woman pushing someone in a wheelchair right over the foot of someone with a medical boot on that foot. He yelled and yelled at that woman. This was inside of an elevator. And when you are brought pills by the nurse, they won't bring you water or anything to swallow them with. So, be sure you bring your own water.

In the States, hospitals charge a fortune so we expect more. We expect more so the hospitals charge a fortune. It's a never-ending cycle. As far as I'm concerned, no one has this health care business right. No one.

I can hardly believe I'm leaving in just two days.  When mom's pal takes over, she'll email me from time-to-time, which I will post updates here.  And, of course, any news on how this treatment is working.
 
TTFN!