Robin Update: Starting Over Again --- 09-19-2010

As you may recall, Robin's father, Hal Gilbert, passed away on September 10th from a type of cancer called "Multiple Myeloma;" a cancer that starts in plasma cells and affects the bones and other organs. By the time they diagnosed it, the cancer had done so much damage that his only options would only extend the inevitable and leave him sick and in pain. So he chose to forgo the chemo and allow the disease to finish what it started. Hal was a good Christian gentleman, and we have no doubts that he is joined with God's saints in Heaven. We have been blessed to know and love him.

Since Robin was too ill to travel to North Carolina, our son, John went to the funeral in our place. Robin was in touch with her mother, Johnnie, and other family members and friends throughout the funeral preparations. Robin helped to select the music for the funeral, and she wrote a eulogy for John read at the funeral. On the night before the funeral, Robin and I held a traditional rosary at our home while the "viewing" was taking place in Lincolnton. The next day, Monday, September 13th, at the same time as Hal's funeral, we held a Liturgy of the Word at Robin's bedside, and we prayed some of the prayers from the Catholic Funeral Rite. It was not the same as being there and being surrounded by family and friends, but it did provide us with a connection with them, and it provided us with some level of closure. Please keep our family in your prayers, especially Robin's mom, Johnnie. She and Hal were married for over sixty years, so Johnnie will be dealing with many changes and many decisions over the next few months.

With respect to Robin's health, she finished her IV antibiotics on September 13th, the day of the funeral. She still has the catheter, which allows us both to sleep a little better, although we are concerned about how long it must be left in, and if there might be side effects from continued use. On Tuesday, 9/14, I took Robin to see her Primary Care Physician to get prescriptions refilled and follow-up after the infection. Other than a mild fever, Robin seemed to be doing well. There was no explanation for the fever, but the doctor was not overly concerned because it was so low-grade. They checked her urine for "bugs" and found none.

Starting on Tuesday, September 21st, Robin is scheduled to start the scans required before she can start treatment at MDAnderson. She has MRIs scheduled for 9/21 and 10/01, and because of her claustrophobia, Robin requires general anesthesia (to be knocked out) each time. This turns the 30 minute scans into an all day affair, with nausea and illness for the next two days afterward. After the MRIs, Robin will get CT and PET scans on October 22nd, and then meets her Oncologist on Monday, October 25th to get her reports and to have her cancer "restaged." It seems crazy that it takes so long to get all this done, but I guess they have to wait a certain time for recovery after general anesthesia before the next test. All these tests need to be completed before Robin can get into a clinical trial. The fact that her cancer is so aggressive makes the waiting without treatment more than just frustrating; it is troubling to think about the damage that might be done while we are waiting.

Before I close, I wanted to remind Robin's friends that Robin has a birthday coming on September 30th. Last year, the theme was "Royalty", and your birthday cards were addressed to Queen Robin, Her Highness, Princess, Empress, etc. You folks were SO creative, and the number of cards she received was a real show of support that raised her spirits. I would like to suggest a new theme of "Fighter" this year for her birthday. This year has shown how tough Robin is and what a fighter she has been, and I think we should celebrate it. Use your imagination, old comic books, history books, etc. Address the envelope to Dragon Lady Robin Burns, or The Virago, Robin, or Wonder Woman. Be creative. I hope you will ALL participate to bring some brightness to Robin on this special occasion. (Email me if you need the address; I don't want to publish it here).

As always, I ask that you keep Robin and her mother, Johnnie, in your thoughts and prayers. This has been a tough month, and the next few weeks will not be much better, but with God's help, we will press forward.

We continue to pray for all of you each day, and we thank God for the gift you have been to us.

Love,

                  --- Larry, Robin, & John