Yes, There Is Hope!

Sorry for the delay in updating, but we did indeed go to New York, attend the conference and see the doctors.

On the evening of Friday, November the 13th, we went to the airport and caught a 1am flight to New York, with a layover in Houston. We got into New York at 10:30 am and took Super Shuttle to the hotel, where we were able to check in early and sleep.

We rested until the evening, when we went out on the town. We were right in the theater district and loved wandering around Times Square. We had dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimps place. One person who donated money to us after we had enough specified that it be used to do something fun while we're in NY, so we did. Elizabeth is a big fan of High School Musical, so we went and saw the movie in a theater on 42nd street. We both loved it.

Afterward, we did some more wandering around Times Square. We spent a lot of time sitting on the red stairs (see http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/10/16/nyregion/16duffy_index.html ). There was so much to take in. We were there till almost midnight, but always felt safe. The city was very much alive with activity. It was like sitting in a shopping mall at midday.

So the next day, we had to figure out the subway system to get to the conference at Union Square. Fortunately, we ran into another family going to the same conference & we just followed them.

The conference was great. These doctors are the ones who are doing the research to find the best way to handle this type of tumor. We were hearing the latest in cutting-edge stuff. One reason why they do this is because they say that it is actually the parents like myself that are pushing the research. We are becoming more and more informed and less likely to put up with what our local family doctor would tell us about what to do, which as we know, is not very effective.

They fed us breakfast and dinner at the conference. Afterward, we took the subway back to Times Square and hung out there more. Neither of us were too hungry, so we snacked in the hotel before going to bed. Neither of us were tired, though so it took a while to get to sleep, which was a bummer, because we had to get up at 1:30 in the morning in order to catch the Super Shuttle for the first flight out in the morning.

So Elizabeth got to be seen by a couple of the doctors and they did indeed say that there is an approach that they feel will be successful. It is similar to one that we did before, but with some distinct new ways of doing it. They say that she will be able to use her hand again!

The discouraging thing is that they also said that they cannot cure it. It will come back again, possibly in 5-10 years. Elizabeth is disappointed and wondering if it would be worth it, given the past failures. But I'm pretty sure she'll go through it. It promises to be a long process, but I'm game if she is!

Our next step is to get her insured, which may not be easy. More work!

Thanks for visiting!