December 30, 2009

After a long year of travel and treatments, we have finally received the next best thing to a perfect year end event. Bryon's MRI showed his tumor has shrunk down to the smallest size since surgery in January. Dr. Jensen is very happy with the results and informed us that Bryon is the poster boy for his drug trial. Bryon is the longest lasting patient on the trial and currently is one of only two remaining candidates on the trial in Utah. Our trial coordinator, Travis, is going to email us the measurements they have been recording all year long and any other information regarding Bryon's participation in the trial. We are excited to share this news with everyone, since it has been a year of such uncertainty. When we receive all the information it will be posted for you to see how Bryon has progressed since surgery. You may even be able to compare MRI's from post surgery to the present. The MRI's are a real window into how incredible this news really is.

Bryon is very tired, but relieved to hear the good news. The cold weather wears him out very quickly and he is not very active with such temperatures looming outside. He does want to express his gratitude to all of his friends, neighbors and family memebers who helped us out over the last month.

Thank you to the neighbors who visited and kept Bryon in touch with the outside world. You are the kind of people that make us feel welcome anywhere, anytime.

Thank you to family for always being a beam of support and a light to reality when things get foggy. From Sunday dinners to extended phone calls, family is where the love begins.

The whole Gundersen family wishes to extend a huge hug of appreciation to Bryon's co-workers at Schreiber Foods. The volunteers from Schreiber's came to our home and spent much of their valuable time fixing and mending the basement of our home. It is now a comfortable place to be and easier to maintain. Although they are not finished, the projects and kind gestures have meant the world to us. Even though Bryon has completed his speech therapy, he is speechless when is comes to recalling all of the kindness that has been shown to him and his family.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and we wish you all the happiest of times in 2010.

December 27, 2009

Nothing new to report other than we survived the holidays. Bryon is looking forward to a trip to Salt Lake on Tuesday for an end of the year MRI. We requested a clean image, but we will have to wait and see what the doctor has to say. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that your New Year will bring great things.

December 8, 2009

Holy cow, is it December already?! Well, I think a quick update is in order. Bryon did finally finish his speech therapy, and was given an open invitation to sharpen his skills at the USU speech institute anytime in the future. He met all of his goals and has improved by 80% or more in most categories. There was only one area where he was improved by 76%, but that too exceeded our expectations.

Bryon is able to visit Schreiber's occasionally and enjoys seeing his work buddies. You know you have a good job when everyone you work with becomes your friend, even when your not at work. He misses the job, but admits that being able to improve his speech and fine motor skills was more important. Bryon is still unable to drive, even with his improvements, his attention span is still not where is should be. In a few months he will take a driving test in Salt Lake, it will tell him what he will need to work on to become a safer driver.

As of Monday Bryon started another chemo cycle. It is the same old story as usual, we are pretty used to it by now. The holiday season is fast approaching and we are counting our blessings. The fact that we get to be together every day, and not just on the weekends or holidays, is our greatest treasure. Having time to enjoy each others company and make memories with the girl's is more than Bryon can ask for. Now that we have some snow on the ground, our holiday is pretty much complete.

If the blog is not updated further down the road, Happy Holidays to everyone! Thanks for all your love and support all year round.