This is a big week for Harry. We go to see the surgeon on Friday.
Sunday was a full day, Harry, me and his Mom went to lunch. Then came home for coffee. Karen and Mac(my sister and her husband) stopped in on their way home from Mississippi. Then we went to see Harry's stepfather in the nursing home - he fell yesterday - he seems to be ok.
Today - Harry is taking his mom out again and then we are going to meet up with Mike and Jan = his cousins for coffee and desert to celebrate her birthday.
Anyway - please don't stop the praying we still need it. Harry has been dizzy lately - so I am going to put a call in to one of his doctors today - to see if we need to worry about it.
I'll let you know...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Got back last night
I returned home from 30 degree Miami. Harry had fixed red beans and rice. He turned in for an early night.
Today we went to the farmer's market to walk around for him to get exercise. He's napping now - so I am heading to the store.
Quiet day..
Take care
Mona
Today we went to the farmer's market to walk around for him to get exercise. He's napping now - so I am heading to the store.
Quiet day..
Take care
Mona
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Harry's Fabulous Friends
Harry's Friends got together and decided to do this for him. We are so very touched by their generosity. Here is the flyer they created.
Harry Ravain Benefit
Harry Ravain (drummer for Benny Grunch & the Bunch) has recently gone through extensive cancer treatment. Please join his many musician friends as we throw a party to raise funds to help defray his medical costs!
When: Sunday, February 8, 2009
Time: 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rock N Bowl - 4133 S Carrollton Avenue, NO, LA 70119
Phone: (504) 482-3133
Website: www.rockandbowl.com
Cost: $5.00 donation
Members of the following bands (listed alphabetically) will perform:
Benny Grunch
Bobby Cure
Earl Stanley
Fleur de Lis NOLA
John Blancher
The Nobles
New Orleans Quarter Notes
Orleans
Paul Varisco
Phat 2’s Day
…And
The Amazing Dr. Z (Hypnotist)
For more info call Alan Reese at (504)888-9586 or (504)289-2167
Harry Ravain Benefit
Harry Ravain (drummer for Benny Grunch & the Bunch) has recently gone through extensive cancer treatment. Please join his many musician friends as we throw a party to raise funds to help defray his medical costs!
When: Sunday, February 8, 2009
Time: 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rock N Bowl - 4133 S Carrollton Avenue, NO, LA 70119
Phone: (504) 482-3133
Website: www.rockandbowl.com
Cost: $5.00 donation
Members of the following bands (listed alphabetically) will perform:
Benny Grunch
Bobby Cure
Earl Stanley
Fleur de Lis NOLA
John Blancher
The Nobles
New Orleans Quarter Notes
Orleans
Paul Varisco
Phat 2’s Day
…And
The Amazing Dr. Z (Hypnotist)
For more info call Alan Reese at (504)888-9586 or (504)289-2167
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Harry's Mom's Birthday
Harry has been feeling pretty good lately. Today is his Mom's 81st birthday and they are spending the afternoon together and then going to dinner tonight. I am in Miami where it is 30 degrees but home in a couple of days...
I will let you all know how the shopping is going..
Mona
I will let you all know how the shopping is going..
Mona
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Great News - New Turn in the Road
Well we saw 2 doctors today and the news is great and there is a lot that is going to happen in the next few weeks...
We saw Dr. Black first and he has released us back to Dr. Schuette, Harry's pulmonologist. Yes that means no additional chemotherapy for now. Before I get into what's next - let me tell you where we are.
The disease in Harry's lymphnodes is virtually gone. Both tumors in his lung have been reduced by half or more. The is still cancerous activity in those tumors but it has reclined also by more than half. They way they know this is by how the tumor processes the sugars used in the PET Scan - It has reduced from a 7 to a 4. They are all seeing something in the scan that tells them his lungs still have some radiation pneumonitis and as we all have discovered - Harry heals but it seems to take a really long time. They have put Harry back on steroids to heal this problem.
Now for Dr. Schuette. He was the first doctor we saw through all of this and after Harry's diagnosis he was the one who told me that he would not talk prognosis until we could not talk remission or cure. He is a very very wise man. He was also there for me on the day I fell apart - he listen to me cry over the phone and assured me things were going to be ok and then visited Harry on his own time without pay to reassure Harry that things were going well. He's quite a doctor. If you ever are in need of a pulmonologist -Southern Lung and Dr. Matthew Schuette are who I would recommend. After reading the PET scan - he recommended that it was time now to see a Cardiothoraic Surgeon. Yes surgeon. The disease has been diminished enough for surgery to remove the cancer so Harry can be cancer free and not in remission. In order to refer us Harry had to have a lung capacity tests -they did those and he passed with flying colors. The idea will be to remove the upper left lung lobe. Because he had a capacity of 2200 total and you only need 800 to survive, they are scheduling an appointment for him with a Dr. Brothers. Dr. Schuette says that if he personally had to have lung surgery - this is who he would want doing surgery. Dr. Brother's tries to do the surgery with a scope only making it a minimally invasive surgery and only opens up the chest if necessary.
So they are scheduling the appointment for the week of the 26th(when I get back from Florida). Dr. Schuette says Dr. Brother's is very aggressive - so I can see this going quickly. I have a couple of more shows already scheduled - so I am going to ask if at all possible that they schedule the surgery right after the 13th of February.
I cam honestly tell you that in August - I never thought I would be writing this post. Stage 3b is so close to terminal. Today Dr. SChuette says that because of the tumors he would stage him 2a-3a. This truly has been a miracle. They never said anything but I don't think any of us expected this amazing of a response.
The prayers and Harry's determination have gotten him through. So please please - keep praying for us.
The next week will be light on posts - as I am out of town but as soon as I know when we are going to see the surgeon - I will let you know.
Thank you for your support - neither of us could or would have made it without all of you behind us.
Love
Mona & Harry
We saw Dr. Black first and he has released us back to Dr. Schuette, Harry's pulmonologist. Yes that means no additional chemotherapy for now. Before I get into what's next - let me tell you where we are.
The disease in Harry's lymphnodes is virtually gone. Both tumors in his lung have been reduced by half or more. The is still cancerous activity in those tumors but it has reclined also by more than half. They way they know this is by how the tumor processes the sugars used in the PET Scan - It has reduced from a 7 to a 4. They are all seeing something in the scan that tells them his lungs still have some radiation pneumonitis and as we all have discovered - Harry heals but it seems to take a really long time. They have put Harry back on steroids to heal this problem.
Now for Dr. Schuette. He was the first doctor we saw through all of this and after Harry's diagnosis he was the one who told me that he would not talk prognosis until we could not talk remission or cure. He is a very very wise man. He was also there for me on the day I fell apart - he listen to me cry over the phone and assured me things were going to be ok and then visited Harry on his own time without pay to reassure Harry that things were going well. He's quite a doctor. If you ever are in need of a pulmonologist -Southern Lung and Dr. Matthew Schuette are who I would recommend. After reading the PET scan - he recommended that it was time now to see a Cardiothoraic Surgeon. Yes surgeon. The disease has been diminished enough for surgery to remove the cancer so Harry can be cancer free and not in remission. In order to refer us Harry had to have a lung capacity tests -they did those and he passed with flying colors. The idea will be to remove the upper left lung lobe. Because he had a capacity of 2200 total and you only need 800 to survive, they are scheduling an appointment for him with a Dr. Brothers. Dr. Schuette says that if he personally had to have lung surgery - this is who he would want doing surgery. Dr. Brother's tries to do the surgery with a scope only making it a minimally invasive surgery and only opens up the chest if necessary.
So they are scheduling the appointment for the week of the 26th(when I get back from Florida). Dr. Schuette says Dr. Brother's is very aggressive - so I can see this going quickly. I have a couple of more shows already scheduled - so I am going to ask if at all possible that they schedule the surgery right after the 13th of February.
I cam honestly tell you that in August - I never thought I would be writing this post. Stage 3b is so close to terminal. Today Dr. SChuette says that because of the tumors he would stage him 2a-3a. This truly has been a miracle. They never said anything but I don't think any of us expected this amazing of a response.
The prayers and Harry's determination have gotten him through. So please please - keep praying for us.
The next week will be light on posts - as I am out of town but as soon as I know when we are going to see the surgeon - I will let you know.
Thank you for your support - neither of us could or would have made it without all of you behind us.
Love
Mona & Harry
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
One Doctor Down and the news is Great!
Due to me mistakenly marking my calendar Harry only had an appointment with Dr. Monsour today and tomorrow we have 2 appointments, Dr. Black & Dr. Schuette.
So for the news... Harry had a PET Fusion Scan yesterday.. he said that the lymphnodes are no longer visible and the tumors in his left lung are severely reduced. Which essentially means - everything he has gone through has worked. We see Dr. Black tomorrow and see whether or not he will have any additional chemotherapy and whether or not we can talk about surgically removing the tumor. Does this mean he is in remission - I don't know - I did not ask that specific question but I will tomorrow. If all this is true they should be able to reduce the staging from 3b down.
Dr. Monsour was very happy and surprised by the fabulous response Harry has had to treatment - so for now the biggest problem is he still has Radiation Pneumocystis and Dr. Monsour wants him back on steroids but not until we talk to Dr. Black and get his approval.
Dr. Monsour also told Harry that he should be able to have raw oysters - You'd of thought it was Christmas and he had been given a million dollars but he MUST get Dr. Black's approval first.
So I should be able to post more news tomorrow.
But please know that without our families and friends and all your prayers and prayer groups - we would not be where we are today. We are very very lucky people.
Thank You
Mona & Harry Ravain
So for the news... Harry had a PET Fusion Scan yesterday.. he said that the lymphnodes are no longer visible and the tumors in his left lung are severely reduced. Which essentially means - everything he has gone through has worked. We see Dr. Black tomorrow and see whether or not he will have any additional chemotherapy and whether or not we can talk about surgically removing the tumor. Does this mean he is in remission - I don't know - I did not ask that specific question but I will tomorrow. If all this is true they should be able to reduce the staging from 3b down.
Dr. Monsour was very happy and surprised by the fabulous response Harry has had to treatment - so for now the biggest problem is he still has Radiation Pneumocystis and Dr. Monsour wants him back on steroids but not until we talk to Dr. Black and get his approval.
Dr. Monsour also told Harry that he should be able to have raw oysters - You'd of thought it was Christmas and he had been given a million dollars but he MUST get Dr. Black's approval first.
So I should be able to post more news tomorrow.
But please know that without our families and friends and all your prayers and prayer groups - we would not be where we are today. We are very very lucky people.
Thank You
Mona & Harry Ravain
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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