Mark got an encouraging report on his Pet Scan done at the VA Hospital in Houston. He is apparently still in remission and he will head back to Thailand soon. He will travel using his air miles.

Mark Presented his Rotary Club Banner
( Pattaya-Jomtien Thailand Club) at the University Rotary Club Austin, Texas on June 28th to outgoing president Linda Nowlin. This meeting was the initiation of new officers for the 09-10 year. Linda went over the club accomplishments for the year and outstanding contributions by individual members. Dr. John Doty, Austin oncologist for 20 years and now Executive Director of Austin Samaritans, a group dedicated to providing care to the poor and undeserved in Central America and elsewhere in the world spoke about the work of this group. If you are interested in helping in some way and/or for more information go to http://dogoodchannel.com/nonprofits/austin-samaritans

Mark is Back in Austin and Checking in at Houston VA

Mark came in Tuesday June 2nd arriving from Bangkok and all turned around time wise. Bangkok is 12 hours ahead of Austin so when it is sleep time here, Mark is up and ready to go and when it's time to go, he is ready to sleep. He is working hard on turning his sleep cycle around.

On the 8th Mark saw his oncologist, Dr. Arce-Lora at the Houston VA. Afterward he told us that Dr. Lora has scheduled a pet scan for him. In Bangkok when Mark was treated at Bumrumgrad in 05-07, we wondered about a pet scan but at that time there was no pet scan in Thailand. The hospital had a staff member whose job was to help patients with arrangements for pet scans in Singapore or Hong Kong. A young woman with cancer being treated in the same clinic as Mark went to Hong Kong for a pet scan because she could take her two-year-old son to the Disney Park there in addition to getting the scan. She shared the details with us. There was the cost of travel, the hotel stays, and then somewhere around 1500 to 2000 for the pet scan. The first pet scan to be installed in one of the hospitals in Bangkok so people there no longer have to travel abroad to get a pet scan was I think located in Bangkok Hospital which has numerous facilities around Thailand under its umbrella including Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital which seems to have a Pet Scan or access to one. Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhava elder sister of the King of Thailand, was a royal patron of Bangkok Hospital and I believe it was she who was instrumental in getting a pet scan for Bangkok Hospital and the people of Thailand. She died of cancer in 2008 at Siriraj Hospital, the oldest hospital in Thailand located on the west bank of Cho Phraya River in Bangkok.
More recently Bumrumgrad hospital installed a Pet Scan. "The scanner installed to provide services at Bumrungrad is the PET/CT Biograph 64 TruePoint, Siemens’ latest technology ... PET/CT provides high resolution images even in traces of the disease as small as 3-6 millimeters in size. This instrument provides an anatomical map for pinpointing the ex-act location of tumors in the body with 64-slices per revolution in only 0.33 seconds, thus providing enhanced quality and faster views for both 2 and 3 dimension images (http://www.thaipr.net/nc/readnews.aspx?newsid=09C9CE0EB7EAF1C65306AA3EE6CE4F59 "

At any rate, we are excited and scared too that Mark will get a pet scan and learn the results soon.

Mark, here with shrimp, is coming to Texas June Second

Mark paid rent in advance on his small condo in Jomtien Beach, arranged for cleaning and bug spraying and is preparing to come home for awhile to get tests at the VA hospital in Houston. Pray that he will still be in remission.

Report on Recent Chaos In Thailand which reached Pattaya Jomtien Beach I've promised you a report and finally here it is. The Financial Times headline on page one April 14 said "Thailand gripped by chaos".... "Anti-government protesters and the military fought dramatic battles on the streets of Bangkok that left at least two dead and almost 100 injured." The red shirted anti-government protesters want an ousted exiled prime minister Thaksin back in power and called for the resignation of current prime minister Abbisit Vellajiva. How did this affect Mark and his sister, Stephanie, and her friend Rossina who were visiting him? Prime Minister Abbisit had arranged an Asian summit to take place at the hotel where Mark's Rotary Club meets on Wednesdays. Mark planned to take his sister to dinner at the Rotary Club. Prior to the Rotary meeting, the red-shirted protesters pushed past the gate guards and stormed the hotel complex. Dignitaries were moved safely by the government in helicopters and by boat, but PM Abbisit's car windshield was damaged. All this activity forced the closure of the Asian Conference and a change of meeting place for the Rotary Club. There were street closures and two way streets were changed to one way streets. Lots of excitement in Pattaya-Jomtien Beach. Mark and his sister and Rossina were actually able to buzz right on past the roadblocks to get to the hotel, in a hired baht bus, only to find out the meeting had been cancelled. They ended up at a nice restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms. Yes, Condoms! They all also had a harder time getting around due to traffic changes. Nonetheless it was a big adventure.
Addendum May 31st Cabbages and Condoms (C&C)Restaurants - The C & C restaurants were established in several cities in Thailand with all proceeds going to support the activities of PDA which stands for Population and Community Development Association. The Cabbage and Condoms Restaurants offer excellent food and promote health and safety aspects of condom use. Diners can get free condoms and the glass table tops reveal an interesting collection of condom packages. Handicrafts produced by rural villages are on sale with profits funding PDA's development and social welfare activities. There is a C&C at 12th and Sukhumvit in Bangkok. This is about half-way between where we lived in Bangkok (near the corner of Asoke or Soi 19 and Sumhumvit) and Bumrumgrad hospital (just off Soi 1 and Sumhumvit). Another C&C is in Pattaya and this is where Mark and Rossina and Stephanie ate when the redshirt anti-government group stormed the hotel complex where Rotary meets.

Early pictures of Mark in Cancer treatment. Contrast these pictures with how he looks today 4 years beyond early prognosis of three months or less to live.

Mark and The Mom in Amsterdam, 2005

Mark and friend Ruben's cousin Eugenio in Amsterdam

Mark had lost his hair other than a bit that was light gray to white and thin. He had lost a lot of weight and had no appetite. He started feeling better after visiting some coffee shops and museums and riding in boats on the canals in Amsterdam.

I have pictures of Mark looking sicker but even sick he always tried to look his best and smile with and for people. He would look really really good and often after the pictures would go back to bed for several hours and sleep interrupted by pain, nausea and vomiting.

Mark with former co-worker. Mark is thin, weak, and hair falling out in 2005

I took a picture of Mark at one of his low points trying to have supper with Charlie Praloomratana who, along with his wife, was visiting family in Thailand. They were former co-workers in the respiratory therapy department on Saipan. Mark had no strength, could hardly stay awake and got so nauseated he had to leave in a taxi with Jin, who fortunately had a plastic bag so Mark could vomit during the taxi ride home.

I want people who are fighting cancer and having a difficult time, or their caregivers, can to contrast this picture with Mark now in 2009- see that for some people adventures are possible, remission is possible, we never know what will happen, and it's best to hold onto some hope until it is crystal clear there is no hope . Mark told me in January that no matter how sick he was early on, he never once thought of giving up...never once thought he would actually die.

Check in frequently to the blog. We often say in our family: "Don't worry about it especially if you can't do anything about it." This may have been one of the many things that helped Mark: the ability to not worry. I'm sure he knew he did not have to worry about many things as his mom and sis would take care of whatever needed attention while he was sick.

Click on any photo to see it larger

Pictures from Mark's induction into Rotary Club of Pattaya-Jomtien Thailand - pictures taken by Graham Hunt Crowley one of the Rotary members. Pictures are of Mark getting his Rotary pin from the president, receiving his membership, and the dinner with fellow Rotarians

Mark's birthday is April 20th. This is his fifth birthday since being told he had three months to live. We were amazed he made it to the first birthday after that dire prognosis and the wild roller-coaster ride that year was. We celebrated that first birthday as if it were his last. This is not a bad attitude for all of us: to enjoy each birthday and each day as if it will be our last. Time and life are precious. Mark's sister Stephanie and Rosina, one of her friends who is a DODDs teacher, are in Thailand right now to see the sights during Spring break and they will celebrate Mark's birthday early.

If you want to send Mark a birthday card that would be wonderful. Mark enjoys home-made cards, notes, and pictures drawn by children or adults and loves to hear what's going on with you. It is the thought that counts the most. His address is Mark Richardson c/o Angel and George Richardson, Angel's Guest House, Jomtien Beach Road 131/23-24 M0012 (Chaipreuk Road), Nongprue, Banglamung, Thailand What an address! Even if you're reading this after the big day, send a note - he loves news and we're still celebrating every day.

Songkran Festival is coming to Thailand (April 13-15). This is the Thai New Year. The Thai people believe that water will wash away bad luck and in some places the people shoot water at each other with water guns and hoses and also throw buckets of water on passing folks It is also a time when many Thais return home and honor the parents and grandparents by pouring scented water over their hands. It is a time of washing Budha statues and a time of doing merit (good deeds to others). This seems like a good time to post some pictures of past festivals enjoyed with Mark's friend Jin (Yuwanit Tipkunok July 1976-June 2008) who left this earth way too soon. Pictures posted are of Jin, Mark and me, Mark having fun with the hose and Stephanie and her friend Phil in a dousing trying to hold their own with water guns. At the time, Mark was getting chemotherapy and was very sick. He was cold even in the hot Bangkok sun. He wondered if he should wear his good suit jacket or not to keep himself warm against the cold water soakings. I advised him to go ahead and wear it, to live every day to the fullest and not save anything for a special occasion. Right now is a special occasion.
Mark's sister Stephanie and her friend Rosina are going to Thailand during Songkran this year on their spring break. I think this may be the first time to Thailand for Rosina.

Mark's birthday is coming soon. (April 20th). Does anyone want to send him a card? He is doing well, living in his own apartment and doing his own cooking in Jomtien Beach, Thailand.
Mark has officially joined the Pattaya-Jomtien Rotary Club - hopefully we will get a picture of that occasion from Mark soon. He really enjoys being with the people in the club.

Mark is joining the Pattaya Jomtien Rotary Club. He's been to five consecutive meetings and received word he has club approval to join. Formal initiation will take place soon. Mark has been concerned that he'll not be able to do as much service as his Rotary peers in the club, since he still has to pace himself due to his cancer and after effects of treatment. He describes the members of this club as enthusiastic for club projects. When the president asks who will help, it seems nearly everyone raises their hands.This club does all kinds of projects to raise money such as road rallys and club members swimming the bay. The money raised is used for a number of fine projects including water projects involving taking potable water generator systems to remote areas of Thailand to provide drinking water to school children and others. Mark reports that he is excited to be joining this club and will participate in whatever projects he can to the extent he can. He enjoys helping people and worked very hard when he and his mom volunteered in the Moskito Coast of Honduras and Thailand.
Mark will be in Thailand until June and then will come to Texas to check in at the Veteran's Hospital in Houston for tests and evaluation of his cancer status. He will go back to Thailand as soon as he gets a green light from the VA docs.
I (Mark's Mom) am in Austin working at the community mental health center. High lights of the week include going to the symphony to hear the Charlie Daniels Bank backed by the Austin Symphony (tickets compliments of a co-worker whose wife plays in the orchestra) and being invited to meet Mark's sister Stephanie in Phoenix in April. Read old blogs and you'll see she lives north of London. She is coming to the states twice this spring for educational conferences.
Watch this site for pictures which Mark is sending soon.

Mark saw Dr. Theera Umsawadee at Bumrumgrad Hospital in Bangkok, We were in Bangkok yesterday and today. We took the 2 hour bus ride from Pattaya to Ekami Bus Station in Bangkok for about 3 dollars each then a 3 dollar taxi to our hotel and a 50 cent taxi to the hospital. This was the economy trip to Bangkok. Dr. Theera had ordered an x-ray of Mark's hips since he had complained of hip pain and Mark got the x-ray before seeing the doctor. A suspicious lesion in the sacral area warranted a Cat scan this am which we thought would be 700 dollars but ended up about 3 or 4 hundred dollars (11,000 baht). Mark is actually having joint pain in many joints. It may just be mild osteoarthritis but Dr. T. is like a cat ready to pounce on any possible cancer. He feels certain Mark will have cancer crop up somewhere eventually.Wouldn't it be wonderful if this did not happen. Dr. T. is very happy with Mark's overall health at present and pleased with the chemo regimen he prescribed for Mark when he first went to Bumrungrad for treatment. We are happy with it too since Mark is enjoying what has been labled as remission. We still recall times on chemo with the vomiting in plastic bags in taxis, complete loss of appetite, the weight loss, the dizzyness, feeling faint, the neuropathies, low blood counts, low BP, the loss of some hearing and lots of other side effects which we tend to

blame on chemo but Mark seems to think it was all worth it. Dr. Theera was so careful with Mark, monitoring him very closely during chemo, hospitalizing him for some of the chemo runs and 24 hour urines to monitor kidney function. Notice all the papers and journals surrounding Dr. T. He reads everything he can about cancer research.

Peking Duck We ate an assortment of appetizers and Peking Duck in a Chinese Restaurant in the hotel last night and stuffed ourselves. We took the bus back to Pattaya Jomtien Beach today. Tomorrow is my last day in Thailand. I am sad to leave Mark, the beach, the sea, and the seafood.
Friday Feb. 13 I am back in Austin and Mark is still in Thailand.
Friday Feb. 20 Probably should do a new blog instead of a post script on this one but not much news. Mark has moved to a new place that he loves. It has a pool which he is enjoying. Unlike the guest house, he is now doing his own cleaning and reports he has made many trips to the store for cleaning and housekeeping supplies. He is still close to the beach. I think he is still visiting the Jomtien Pattaya Rotary Club with a plan of joining the club.
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We are on the island of Koh Chang - Mark and I nearly cancelled our trip as Mark injured his knee and could hardly walk. We decided to carry on as it would cost us to cancel the car and driver we'd scheduled to take us to the ferry at Trat. Mark wasn't up for the minivan ride with 12 backpackers to save a little money. We had a nice trip from Jomtien Beach to the ferry and for 100 baht (a little over $3) we had a ferry ride. Our hotel is the Chang Buri which has accommodations on the beach and accross the road from the beach. We are in the hotel part across from the beach and is a very nice. The part of our hotel that is on the beach is very exclusive and very expensive.

At the other end of White Sands Beach are some colorful accommodations welcoming backpackers. Next time maybe we will stay there. Koh Chang (koh means island) is the second largest island in Thailand. Puket is the largest island and Koh Samui is the third largest. Koh Chang is part of a large island chain. We hope to get to Koh Mak which was voted to have one of the 100 best beaches in the world.
Day two: Mark is hanging out in the exclusive area of our hotel and sunbathing there by the pool overlooking the sea. Because of his knee pain he is not up for scuba diving and island hopping. I took him to eat at the Texas Steakhouse tonight. It is owned by a man from Switzerland who was interested in our Texas connections. The food and drink were outstanding.
I now know a whole sentence in Thai. I can ask where the toilet is. This is an essential thing to learn.
Saturday Jan. 31 I can now ask for ice and lemon for my drink in Thai. We have eaten so much seafood. The best are the scallops with garlic pepper sauce. We have rented a car for tomorrow to go see all of this island.

I noticed that Mark still has a string bracelet one of about 30 put on his arm when we made a visit to Jin's family near Korat in his chemo and radiation days. This particular string has 33 knots each tied by a different monk from the village temple. Mark has worn this for 4 years through showers, scuba diving, skiing and all the things he does.

Sunday Feb. 1 Mark drove us all over the island. You can't drive all the way around. The roads don't go through. We went down one side and then backtracked and went down the other side which is much less populated and none the less beautiful. Our first stop today was an elephant camp where we fed the elephants. For 900 baht you can ride one to a watering hole and swim with the elephants.

We went to several beaches and to a Fisherman's village where the shops and restaurants and homes are built over the water. We saw a little dog in a dog house built over the water. Continuing our trip up winding mountainous roads and hairpin turns, we had to stop for a monkey sitting in the road. We meant to get home before dark but we didn't and it was stressful for Mark driving on narrow hairpin mountainous turns coming back. I offered to drive but for some reason he turned me down. We had dinner close to the hotel at Paddy's Irish Pub and watched Newcastle play soccer against a team whose name I have forgotten.
Monday Feb. 2 - We took another drive, turned in the car, sunbathed, and walked on the beach. The restaurant was out of scallops so we had mussels and two kinds of shrimp. We have found no Americans on Koh Chang...lots of Canadians, Englishmen, Germans, Russians and French. Some of these European ladies even go topless on the beach.

Tuesday Feb. 3 - Leaving Koh Chang We hate to leave and I wish I had scheduled the car for two days later. A car came from Pattaya to pick us up at the hotel, take us on the ferry and all the way back to the guest house. It was about a six or seven hour trip. We stopped for late lunch at a Thai restaurant for Thai people and ate duck soup: a dark broth with yellow noodles and a duck leg and pieces of duck. This was the first duck soup I had ever eaten and it was good.

Wed. Feb.4 - Mark, George Richardson who owns the guest house we are staying in and I went to the Pattaya Jomtien Rotary Club at the most fabulous hotel, The Royal Cliff Grand Hotel,where the Rotary club has their own room. The man who built this gated hotel complex was a Rotarian and built a room especially for the Rotary Club. On the right is the President of the club,Brenden Kelly. Instead of the 4 way test, the national anthem is played while everyone faces a portrait of the king. Mark is thinking about joining this Rotary club.

Sunday Jan 8 Lot's of beach time since last note. Sorry about cold weather in other parts of the world, but if any consolation it is really really hot here right now. We are headed for Bangkok today. We wanted to do some banking tomorrow as well as for Mark to get an x-ray and check in with Dr. Theera Umsawadee and take him all the records from the VA in Houston where Dr. Theera used to work. It seems that tomorrow is a big Budha day and all bars will be closed which is a clue that the banks might be closed as well. We may have to stay two days in Bangkok. We will stay at the Ambassador Hotel which is nice and I will try to take Mark to the Oriental Hotel which is so posh there are fashion police in the lobby to prevent people in shorts from entering. Only guests going from pool directly to rooms may cross the lobby in shorts but they can not linger there. Mark has not seen the Oriental or some other places in Bangkok due to being so sick for so long while living in Bangkok for two years.

Watch for new post soon. Mom is going to a Thai Rotary meeting Wed. evening and Mark and Mom take off for some Thai islands on Thursday

Mark and Mom are Now Both in Thailand: Welcome to the Land of Smiles
I (Mom) arrived in Bangkok at 2:30 am January 15 after long flights. A delayed flight in Japan made the trip longer. Mark sent a taxi to the airport for me. I slept on the ride to Jontiem Beach. When I arrived at the guest house, I found an orchid plant from Mark in my room and a note to warm a mother's heart. It started with "Welcome to the land of smiles and the biggest smile is mine since you are here."
Up at 9 am and to the beach day one. Day two we took a motor scooter ride to explore the area looking at beaches, hotels, temples and monuments. The excitement of riding on the back of a motor scooter in Thailand with Mark driving is similar to accidently skiing the black slopes. It brought back memories of when he was in high school and had a motorcycle. He would tell me: "Get on mom. I'll take it easy this time" and then he would go like a bat out of hell through the woods and scare me to death.
We had a heart to heart talk about what his doctor in Bangkok told him. The doctor thinks this fight with cancer isn't over even though Mark seems in remission. We are enjoying our adventures and making ready for the battle. Thanks to all who are praying for Mark and we are praying for you.
Addendum: Day 3 in Thailand. We have a routine : I walk an hour then we have breakfast at Yorkies, a British place on the beach. We get the same thing each day: egg, bacon, sausage. a hot canned tomato, and toast. One day I got the "baked beans" too but it was just pork and beans out of the can. Between 12 and 2 we get a bowl of soup at a Thai kitchen. Today we went to the beach. I stayed all day. Mark came and went. He has adopted a beach dog and he reads and plays with his dog. We are thinking of going to Hua Hin for a couple of days. We will go see his doctor again too.
Mark Thinks Mom takes too many pictures This is Mark hiding under a book with his adopted beach dog in the background.

Lost track of time. We went to eat with friends then to an Austin Texas type open mike bar. Foreigners can't play music or do any work without a big fine so this was a charity event and that makes it ok. George, our Host at the guest house was fined 80,000 baht for working on his own house. I was sick in bed 30 hours, lost track of time . I'm just creeping out to take a cup of tea. I think it is early on day 5. Sidetracked now thinking about whether to go to a Thai wedding or not and how to get transportation and a hotel in Koh Chang. In the meantime we went to eat at King seafood. Mark is holding a two pound lobster and a one pound shrimp

Look for update soon - Not hearing much from Mark who has been in Thailand 2 weeks. He did ccok up a shrimp boil dinner along with a fellow guest at the place he stays (Angel's guest house). Mark had the spices with him in his suitcase. I (Mom) head for Thailand January 14.

Mark is now on the beach, Jomtien Beach, Thailand - Mark arrived just in time for a party at the guest house where he stays. He plans to walk the beach for exercise then read and rest under a beach umbrella. See the picture of his Christmas stocking that we hung by the chimney for him in his absence. We had the tree up for three weeks before Mark left so he could get the feel of Christmas. If you think we have a lot of gifts, many are gift bags for people who are mentally ill living in group homes. The contents are donated by Rotary friends, our neighbors and other friends.
Mark got his eyeglasses in Thailand the day after he arrived . He used his old frames and got prescription lenses for 25 dollars.

Mark's cancer is said to be in remission by the doctors at the VA hospital in Houston although they are watching a small mass in the left kidney which has not enlarged in recent cat scans.
For those of you with cancer or caring for someone with cancer who are interested in the treatment aspect: the last chemo Mark received was in June 2007 (18 months ago) at the VA hospital in Houston. It was a 3 day regimen of Carboplatin (paraplatin) 517 mg in 250 cc normal saline over 30 minutes on day one only, Fluorouracil 1000 mg IV push days 1-3, and Leucoverin Ca 600 mg in 100 ml. normal saline infused over 30 minutes days 1-3. We stayed in a Best Western in Houston for three days and three nights going to the hospital each day for Mark's chemo. Mark wanted to stay on chemo...his goal to stay alive no matter how sick but the docs were concerned about his quality of life. Granted life has better quality when not on chemo but quality is a mute point if you are not alive.
Mark's initial chemo in Thailand was somewhat different. I will look it up and report it here later. At that time, he got a lot more IV fluid with his chemo and had to stay overnight in the hospital at least one night of each chemo round. He was a lot sicker. He was followed very closely as he was just a 50 cent Taxi ride from the hospital. At that time he was fighting ongoing nausea and vomiting, lack of appetite, weight loss, periodically low white counts, low red blood cells, tremendous chills, a tendency to over heat, weakness, low blood pressure, foot and hand neurasthenia, feeling weak and exhausted and many other symptoms as well. Mark was also getting radiation initially and again later when he developed a chest wall tumor. While others thought he would surely die within months, Mark tells me he never ever thought he would die. Maybe that helped keep him alive along with your cards and prayers. Being in remission and on the beach is like night and day compared to his first two years of treatment in and out of Bumrumgrad Hospital. A good Christmas present would be for Mark to stay in remission.

Mark Has Five Whirlwind Days After Resting a Week To Get Ready.
Mark seemed a little down and not his usual positive funny self, so James and I got him a ticket to go to Reno to meet up with his former co-worker Allan and Allan's friend Mike.

The guys managed to get in some skiing on Mt Rose in Tahoe. They went Scuba Diving in California, watched a Football Game, and ate seafood at the Atlantis Hotel in Reno.

Mark came home in a great mood; all psyched up. Right now he is resting up by reading a lot so he can be ready to go to Thailand soon.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I know Mark is thankful to have good friends like Alan, Mike, and others who are too many to name here. Everyone reading the blog is a friend to Mark.

Addendum December 5th 2008. Mark leaves for Thailand on Tuesday the 9th. Our friends Barry Nowland and Pinetop Perkins the 95 year old Blues piano player are headed to Washington DC. and will go in a limo in tuxes to the White House this weekend. Pinetop is nominated for another Grammy. We know Barry doesn't have the big head yet cause he dropped by with a hamburger for mom at work and went out with Mark and friend Frank on Thursday night. See earlier blogs for pictures of Pinetop.

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Trip to Antones Blues Club - Mark and I went to the Blues Club and had a table center front. Rotary friends went also (Dr. Clift Price and wife Sue, Sandra Jones, Paul and Lucy). Pinetop Perkins (winner of two Grammys this year and 95 years old) played keyboard with his friend Willie Big Eye Smith on harmonica. It was quite a show. We did the early show and were home in bed about 10 pm.


The Christmas season has begun. Two Christmas parties last Sunday. Austin Family Magazine Christmas card shoot and right after that we went to a cast Christmas party and shoot for the

movie Mark is in called Ten Little Santas. I am seriously thinking about putting our Christmas tree up.

Picture above and left - Mark top left, Frank Seccuro top middle, Jerry Barrett top right (click on any picture to enlarge it).

We squeeze trips to the VA around our shoots and parties. Mark had a headache at the base of his skull for three days so he took a trip to the local VA clinic. They sent him immediately to the VA in Temple Texas to get a cat scan of his brain. The next day Mark decided the pain had gone into his ear. He had an appointment to get an admission history the next day at our local VA and mentioned his ear. It turned out that his pain is probably due to an ear infection so he is on antibiotics. Two appointments coming up in Houston at the VA; a urology appointment on the 10th and an oncology appointment on the 21st.

Mark Received Word today that his good friend Kenny Walker died. In the 1980s and early 90's Mark and Kenny shared housing at least twice. They shared a house in central Austin close to the Draft House. Mark was a respiratory therapist at a nearby hospital and Kenny was a bank examiner. They threw parties that were legend in Austin. At one time they were room-mates in Dallas living in an apartment close to where the Dallas Cowboys practiced. Kenny was in love at that time with a Hispanic girl whose family made and sold ice cream. Kenny loved ice cream, playing the banjo, listening to bands, and telling a good story on himself and his brother. Kenny made us laugh. He was soft spoken and kind.

Kenny moved to Mississippi to help take care of his mother. Last year Mark went to Mississippi to visit Kenny and rocked with him on the porch of his home. Not too long ago we learned that Kenny had an illness which he was fighting, adult onset acute leukemia . Today Mark learned in a letter from Kenny's brother that Kenny took a turn for the worse, went into ICU, and his heart gave out. Mark was supposed to die more than three years ago from his cancer. He wonders why he is still alive and several young friends are dead. His only conclusion: "God obviously has work for me and I wonder what it is."
Kenny Walker is loved and missed. We will write more about him and put a picture on the blog when we get ourselves pulled together.

Mark had an MRI last Wed. and saw the Doctor on Friday. We stayed overnight in Houston Tuesday for the Wednesday MRI and made a flying one day trip down in the car on Friday. We know little more than before the test. The doctors are watching a spot on Mark's left kidney. He was doing poorly last week, not eating, not drinking, dehydrated, lost 12 pounds, sleeping nearly around the clock, mood depressed, complaining of excess saliva a symptom he had when first diagnosed and this worried him. By Saturday night he perked up and was making lists of things he wanted from the grocery store. Mark went to our neighborhood block party (BBQ and a band) at the end of the block for a little while Sat. night. This was called a recession buster party and it set a new standard for neighborhood parties. Mark didn't stay too long, conserving his energy for a film shoot this morning (Sunday) which lasted about two and a half hours in which he had several scenes including a couple of running scenes and one scene in which he discovers a dead girl.



















Mark's step dad James and I played hosts/docents to 650 American Bar Association members and guests who came to the Bob Bullock museum Thursday night for dinner (prime rib), music performances, dancing and the three floors of exhibits. 12 buses brought the attendees. There were museum staff and catering staff but I believe we were the only two docents. Amazingly, the museum can accommodate 650 guests quite well. James and I did get to eat prime rib and dance a little.
We went to the museum again today to help with activities for the children in connection with a new exhibit called Cowboy Presidents. We also got to hear Ben Sargent, our local Pulitzer prize winning editorial cartoonist, speak. We felt OK leaving Mark. He was feeling better but not well enough to go with us. My hat is off to Mark for all the common sense he has gained and how he paces himself to have strength to battle cancer and do a few interesting things.

Mark in our swimming pool with all water removed.- This week the pool is being resurfaced
Mark helps host our neighborhood watch party- Each year in Austin Texas neighborhoods are encouraged to have neighborhood parties so neighbors can get together and get to know each other and find ways to make neighborhoods safer. This year our neighbors were invited to meet in our yard and eat hot dogs and visit. We ended up visiting on the driveway as well as the yard. People brought food and drink to share so we had pizza, appetizers, slaw, chips, salsa, health drinks, etc. Twenty five people showed up along with children and two special dogs. Mark is upper left in the garage in the top picture talking to neighbor Troy who works for Dell Computers. Mark is on the left in the middle picture where he is visiting with Pete (center) who is a pilot flying ultra-lites and larger planes and Dagmir (right) who along with his wife Rose own a travel agency specializing in cruises. To find out about their travel deals go to www.Sterling Vacations.com or call toll free 1-866-345-7755,
Click on any picture on this blog to enlarge it and get greater detail.


Events and activities take Mark's mind off his cancer and worry that his esophageal cancer is back or his liver cancer is growing or his chest wall tumor is coming back. He has been depressed at times recently. He always rallys himself and fights off his depression by taking on an adventure or a chore. Yesterday Mark cleaned, organized, and cooked for the neighborhood party. Today Mark cleaned James' truck and did a great job. Tonight Mark is being filmed for the movie Ten little Santas.
Mark will get an MRI this coming week at the VA in Houston. If the MRI report is good, Mark will head for Thailand next month.
Sister Stephanie sent an e-mail this morning and said: "I'm on the SeaFrance ferry crossing from Calais to Dover right now and they have wireless... so thought I'd check in.". She heads to Turkey for eye surgery on Saturday; her second and hopefully last eye surgery.
Below: Yuki from Japan married to Troy who is in top picture talking to Mark. Their little girl is in the middle picture playing with a neighbor doggie. click on the picture to get more detail.