Decision Time

We were supposed to decide whether Ben will participate in the next clinical trial by today, but we've been given until Monday since we have not had the chance to speak with Dr. Hurvitz. I did speak with one of the oncology nurses and one of our other doctors yesterday, and I am a bit more inclined to do the study at this point. If we don't "randomize" (i.e. participate in the study and have Ben get one of four random treatment protocols), we probably would get one of the two "middle" intensity protocols anyway. And the PEG-Asparaginase drug we are concerned about Ben having to get (the one with the huge shots in his thighs) apparently is a tremendously effective cancer drug, so there may be some significant medical benefit to him being on one of the protocols where he gets more of that drug. But we'll be re-reading the protocols and doing a lot of thinking over the weekend.

My mom is here until Sunday, and the kids are having a great time with her. Amazingly, Ben took the fishing game out of his PSP and started playing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. But he's still crazy about fishing. He's received some really cool gifts lately. The LA Kings sent a puck signed by Alexander Frolov, Ben's favorite hockey player. Some military and police friends of mine have sent challenge coins, unit patches and posters. And people from my mother's company's main office sent hockey jerseys and t-shirts for him. He's a lucky kid.

That's it for now. I had an early conference call today and I'm going upstairs to see if anyone is awake yet.