Dear Friends and Family,

Please believe me when I say I want to give you good news.   For the last 6 weeks we have been sitting on pins and needles.   My treatment of Avastin was postponed when my blood work showed that my liver profiles were 10x's higher than normal.   The doctors suspected that the Avastin was damaging my liver.   We were hoping that my blood work would get closer to normal so that I might be treated.

I had a PET scan, CT scan and Heart MRI.   The tumors in the liver and surrounding the heart have grown by 30%, much larger than expected by missing one treatment.   It has been determined that the Avastin is not benefiting me, and that continuing on the study would not be in my best interest.   As I've mentioned in the past, this cancer is extremely rare.   Less than 5 people a year are diagnosed with Angiosarcoma located in the abdomen.   It is more common in the head and neck, yet still extremely rare.   I knew the study on Avastin and Angiosarcoma was open to 30 patients.   What I didn't know was that I was the only patient with this disease at Northwestern University.   Now that I am no longer on the study, we are now looking at chemo therapy.   I hope to meet with the Oncologist on Thursday for a consultation and then begin therapy.   We already know that chemo is not very effective for this cancer, but at least it will shrink the tumors and buy me more time to find something better that will work.

Thank you for your notes and prayers.   I'm sorry if I don't write back, it's sometimes much more difficult than you can imagine.   I suspect it might be even more difficult once I begin chemo therapy.   I promise to send notes out as I fight this battle.   I will triumph.   I hope to come through this as well as my sister Liane who was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer 3 1/2 months after my diagnosis.   I know that I am as strong-minded, strong-willed and determined as she is.   My immediate family has been a great source of support for me and for Charlie.   My brother Jeff and his wife Barb are incredible and have helped Charlie and I though this struggle.   After 16 years, my mother finally told Charlie to drop the "Eleanor thing" and call her mom.   Both of my parents thank Charlie at every opportunity for helping me make all the right decisions.

I am not giving up.   Right now I feel too healthy.   I will continue to paint when I feel well.   I will continue to enjoy life as I always have.   I get great joy from listening to Charlie play the harpsichord and piano.   I enjoy our dinners out with friends.   I hope to do a little travel when possible.   This journey has been a road filled with more potholes that the country of Costa Rica.   I know that this is all part of the process to getting well.   It's been rough.   Charlie and I struggle hourly between hope and despair.   Hope always wins.   We will win.   By the way, thank you for all of your thoughts and inquiries on my artwork.   I’m not yet ready to sell anything.   Our friend, Amy Gill has given me a goal to work towards, and right now, I'm up for the challenge!!!   Perhaps after September, I’ll make my paintings available.

I am feeling perfectly fine now.   We will drive back to St Louis tomorrow afternoon.   I am excited about this new study and I feel that I will do very well.   The infusion is every 21 days.   After two treatments, we will repeat CT Scans and see how effective the medication is.   As our dear friend Sandy Mountford has told me repeatedly, this is part of the process.   I accept that and am ready to begin a new stage and a new chapter.   I will continue to have some aches and pains and will continue to grow stronger into a cancer-free individual.   As I have learned from your letters, many of you are cancer survivors.   I plan to join you soon.

My gratitude and appreciation to you all,

Randy