Carmichael's Position

Update on Mom

As many of you know, a few years back my mom was diagnosed with Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Islet Cell Cancer that had initially metastasized to the liver.

After surgery to remove the infected parts (update 2, update 3, update 4,  update 5, update 6) of the pancreas and the liver things were looking up.  The short of it is that mom experienced a couple years of greatly improving health and attitude.  That is until just under a year ago in a follow-up scan we learned that the remaining cells in mom’s liver had begun to grow again.  Damn!

We flew mom out here to Denver to meet with the Oncologist for whom my wife Ginger is Chief Nurse, to get a solid second opinion, and to pursue the potential treatment using SIR-spheres .  The treatment looked promising and was administered back in Jacksonville.  After the 3 month waiting period to determine if there was any progress made using this treatment, we were disappointed to learn that no reduction in the cells’ size or number had happened, if anything they were showing signs of progressing.  Damn again!

As is usual in the Carmichael family, we’re not ones to be easily defeated, so we circled the wagons again and began seeking other doctors who specialized in treating this rare form of cancer.  We found one in the Tampa area who specializes and has performed numerous clinical trials of regimens that have proven somewhat successful.

We liked what we learned about the next potential treatment (a more systemic oral chemotherapy capitalizing on the benefits of two separate medications taken in series).  Again, we would not learn much about the progress of this treatment for another 3 months when a follow-on scan would be performed.

Today was that scan… I can tell you that I know I am not the only Carmichael who has spent the last few sleepless nights offering up a prayer of strength and hope for a positive report.

This afternoon I received a text from my sister Kelly who flew down to Florida to be with Mom and Dad in Tampa on this fateful day, it read simply… “Good News- tumors show some shrinkage! All counts good.”

What a fantastic text! 

I spoke with mom about an hour ago, she is doing very well and as I’m sure you can imagine her spirits sound uplifted.  The regimen is not complete, shrinkage is not remission.  She will begin again another 3 months of the systemic chemo, if all continues to go well we hope to see more progress in reducing these vile cells!  I will keep you posted.

Washington DC

I grew up in the suburbs of Washington DC (West Springfield VA to be specific) and I always enjoy any opportunity to return to the Nation’s Capitol whenever I can.  Of late that opportunity has been a smidge rare.  However this past week our company was invited to present at a gathering of facility managers for the US Government (all our clients).  Of course we accepted, and off I was, winging my way to the greatest swamp ever!

On top of all of our meetings and obligations I was on a mission to meet face to face with my fellow blogger and photo-hound “Pinch” Paisley.  We’ve been exchanging stories, sharing photo tips, and commenting on each other’s thoughts for years now and I thought “Hell, he works at the Navy Yard! I should be able to swing by.” Turns out I had a meeting scheduled there and wouldn’t you know it? It was in the building right next door to his!… By fate of my and Pinch’s schedule we really didn’t have too much time to spare for a meet an greet, but we managed to carve out 10 minutes to insure we had the opportunity to finally shake hands, put a voice with a face, and snap a picture… which he’s still supposed to post!  

It was great to finally meet the retired CDR!  I look forward to a bit more time available next time I’m in DC where we might be able to belly up to the bar to swap a few lies whilst imbibing the local tavern’s finer ale… or two.

Back to the rest of DC… Of course you know I had my Nikon with me to snap a few images… Here’s a taste:

These first couple, were taken immediately after I landed at Reagan National and had retrieved my rental car.  As I headed out of the airport there is an access to the park that lies immediately under the approach path of Runway 19.  For those of you who have landed at Regan that’s the approach that makes all the twists and turns following the Potomac River, past the monuments of the National Mall all the way to the numbers.  I pulled into the park and grabbed the camera to snap a few. 

Later that evening, after my boss landed we headed off to dinner, but first a brief stop at the Roof-top lounge of the “W” right next to the Treasury Building.  WOW what a view!

That’s the Treasury Building in the immediate foreground on the right with the White House just beyond it.  Then panning to the left is obviously the Washington Monument with the Jefferson Memorial in the distance.

After dinner at the Old Ebbitt Grill Kevin and I walked off our meals by touring the sites, including the White House, the WWII memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

These first two images were created using HDR (High Dynamic Resolution) to balance all of the light vs Dark areas of the well lit White House while still illustrating the color and richness of the grounds.  I especially wanted to try to capture the red tulips surrounding the fountain.

After a good walk we ended up at my favorite site in DC… The Lincoln Memorial.  A place where people have taken literally Millions of pictures.  I wanted to try to capture that elegant Daniel Chester French sculpture of our greatest President in a creative light (exposure).  I think I like how I managed… what do you think?

And there you have it… After DC we winged our way on the Delta Shuttle up to NYC where I have been the past coupla… to return tomorrow to Denver!