05/07/2026
We had a really good appointment today, and I honestly feel very encouraged leaving it. Her new doctor has been wonderful, very thorough, compassionate, and positive throughout everything.
The scans showed a little bit of everything: some tumors actually decreased in size, some stayed unchanged, and a couple grew slightly. But all of the changes, both the decreases and increases, were considered minor. The biggest blessing is that nothing new has appeared, and after 13 years of fighting Stage 4 PNET, that alone feels like a huge victory to us.
Because there has been some decrease, the doctor would like her to continue on her current treatment and give the medication a little more time to work. She’ll go back in the middle of July so they can see how things are progressing. His feeling was that the medicine may still continue helping the more stubborn tumors, and if a few are still growing by then, there are still other options they can explore.
One thing he said that really stuck with us was that sometimes there are “unruly family members”, meaning different tumor mutations can react differently to treatment. He explained that if needed later on, there are still possibilities like ablation, chemo, or even radiation infusion treatments possibly available.
We also know the reality of Stage 4 cancer. They know the cancer is there, and there very likely could be microscopic cancer cells in places that simply are not showing up on scans yet. We understand this may never fully be “gone,” and that this journey is more about managing it, treating it, and continuing to give her the best quality of life possible. But after 13 years of watching her fight with such courage, faith, and strength, we also know never to put limits on hope.
And one more thing that touched my heart today… before we started this drive home, Gage made a stop and came back out carrying flowers for his wife, his mom, and me. Such a simple gesture, but in moments like these, it means so much. He is truly such a blessing to our family, and we are beyond thankful for the love and support he gives all of us every single day.
Overall, we left feeling hopeful, thankful, and reassured that she is in very good hands. Thank you all for continuing to pray, love, and walk beside us through this journey.
