“Things I learned along the way” … in the event this may help others, I thought I’d share … If you or your loved one is struggling a great deal with pain, you may want to consider 1) having a pain...
Sunday, June 26th, Jeff continued to rest at home. We were so very grateful that his pain seemed completely managed and we didn’t have to fret about his hurting. The hospice nurse visited around...
I’ve done a terrible job updating about my Jeff. To those of you who followed his journey, I can’t thank you enough, and thought it only “fair” that I update with the most recent news. Although none...
A few days after Jeff had his first infusion of Keytruda, his eye was droopy. I was concerned about additional brain tumors and called oncology. They brought Jeff in the following day for an...
You’re absolutely correct. Jeff was mistaken. He does have insurance coverage through the end of this month. My apologies for the misinformation....
I don’t even know where to start. Jeff went into work last week and his entire department was laid off. His health insurance ended Tuesday. Jeff is running out of time … he doesn’t have time for his...
We saw Dr. Kwon Friday and Jeff does in fact qualify for LU-177. It’s news we were hoping for, praying for. Although FDA approved, I’m worried when it’ll actually be available and having potential...
“ Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate, a peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), is a tumor-targeted treatment that uses radiation to induce tumor cell death in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) via a β...
Crazy how fast things change. The same day we saw Dr. Kwon we saw Jeff’s radiation oncologist that afternoon. As I wasn’t anticipating much of an update from that appointment, I posted an update...
When Jeff originally did the guardant 360 testing, they found 2 mutations that may respond to PARP inhibitors or immunotherapy. I believe what Dr. Kwon recommended yesterday was PARP inhibitor,...
We saw Dr. Kwon today and unfortunately we didn’t get good news. In part, Dr. Kwon made comments such as: * I don’t want to mislead you, you’re very sick * you should be worried * I can understand...
My Jeff recently had an off day cognitively. He couldn’t answer questions appropriately and in general appeared disoriented and confused. Although I hoped it was due to a med change, I feared the...
❤️❤️❤️...
Y’all, I’m sick with fear. But for the kindness of strangers, Jeff and I would mostly be alone on this journey. Please know how genuinely grateful I am for prayers, positive juju, and for “thoughts”...
It’s worth so very much… it genuinely means the world to me. Team Jeff Gallagher isn’t doing well. I’m very, very concerned. However, by the grace of God we have a plethora of people who pray for...
Thank you ❤️...
I wish he could catch a break. There has been “something” at every single turn. My heart breaks for him and our children. I think he does need assistance, but I also think he’s not ready to accept...
I am forever grateful for your support, thank you....
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means more than you can possibly know....
He has had leg weakness since diagnosis. They can’t find the source and it’s just getting worse. He originally had surgery to remove a tumor from his spine, but that should have affected his...
Thank you Michael. I’m really worried about him. Something just hasn’t seemed right the last month....
Jeff went back in for chemo and his blood pressure had plummeted and he was running 102 + fever. They nixed chemo and sent him immediately to the ER. He was discharged yesterday, although we didn’t...
Took my Jeff to ER last night. He was experiencing excruciating breakthrough pain for most of the day yesterday. He hurt so bad that merely changing positions reduced him to tears. His leg weakness...
As previously mentioned, Jeff’s PSA values went up to 158. The PET scan revealed a “slight increase” in mets, but at this point Dr. Kwon isn’t hugely alarmed. Jeff has had 2 infusions of the...
Thursday my Jeff had labs, brain MRI, and appointments with radiation oncologist and his neurosurgeon. His doctors are not only phenomenal physicians, they’re just “good people”. We are on a tough...
We are approaching the year anniversary of my Jeff’s diagnosis. This courageous man has faced unimaginable obstacles, repeated disappointments, excruciating pain, failed treatments, and yet through...
My Jeff had labs Monday and his 2nd infusion of carboplatin/cabazitaxel Tuesday. Labs proved disappointing. Jeff’s PSA is up from 76.5 to 101. Jeff’s oncologist said “lets not worry yet”. Jeff is...
Last week we encountered a conflict with my Jeff’s medical team. I’m not exactly clear what the discord is, but I felt it left us in an impossible situation. With Jeff’s life literally at stake, I...
Mumbo - such a thoughtful reply. Thank you for links and information. ❤️...
My last update on Jeff was a downer, so I thought I’d share something that tickles me. Jeff is already thinking about Christmas and has started to shop. Granted his shopping is done online, but he...
My Jeff’s brain looks better. However … It appears cancer has spread to Jeff’s lungs. He has fluid and inflammation in his lungs which is likely being caused by the ducts that drain by themselves...
I wrote the following yesterday and today I woke up still feeling shattered and hopeless. My heart is broken for Jeff. I’m sharing in this forum as I’m just so utterly sad. I wish I could find some...
I edited my original post to say the same as the following, but to ensure it’s seen: “I should have clarified about the snoring guy … It’s the little things that matter, or rather, it’s the little...
Jeff met with the radiation oncologist that specializes in both spine and brain cancer/tumors. Neither of us really cared for the fellow that we met with first, but when Dr. Locke came in, she was...
My Jeff got his staples out! His recovery from brain surgery was remarkably speedy, uneventful, and with zero cognitive interruption. Surgery was 9-8-2021, Jeff returned to work 9-21-2021 ~ just...
Thank you for sharing your story and thank you for continuing to be such a positive influence and support. You guys truly are my heroes. xoxo ~ Stephanie...
Its been a week since Jeff had the tumor removed from his brain. He looks and sounds great. I’m so in awe by his courageous nature and good spirits. Jeff had labs today, but we don’t see a doctor...
Jeff has 34 staples and is already a bit apprehensive about when they take them out. The tumor was a little bit stuck to his brain, however the neurosurgeon said it wasn’t significant and he was able...
Yesterday was a very long day. We reported to the hospital at 10:00 a.m. Jeff’s actual surgery was approximately 3 hours long, but it was nearly 8:00 p.m. before we were alerted he was in recovery....
We had to report to hospital at 10:00 this morning. A lot of today was hurry up and wait. It’s currently 6:11 p.m. CST, Jeff is still in surgery, but just received a text that the procedure is still...
They bumped Jeff’s brain surgery up another day. We did all necessary preop appointments today, surgery to remove brain tumor from the dura is tomorrow, Wednesday, 9-8-2021. Watch out cancer, they’re...
I’ve mentioned before how much I love my Jeff’s radiation oncologist, Dr. Shumway. He has an impeccable bedside manner and I have always felt he genuinely cares. I truly can’t say enough positive...
About 23 years ago I met Jeff in Memphis, TN after Jeff had relocated from Minnesota for work. I had lived in the south my entire life and Jeff had forever been a northern boy. The southern pace was...
My Jeff had labs and a palliative care appointment. We are still reeling from the brain mets diagnosis, but I’m grateful to report that his pain is still reasonably managed. I’m typically the most...
Our daughter, Channing, and I convinced Jeff to go out to eat to Texas Roadhouse last night. It’s a place he loves and we knew he’d enjoy the food and we hoped he would appreciate being out. We get...
Thank you! Wish I were writing about a happier topic 🙂...
I failed to ask if they were operable or not. Prior to meeting with neurosurgery, but in reference to potential surgeries to remove tumors, the radiation oncologist stated, “they can’t go in and get...
The largest tumor is on the dura. It’s my understanding though that the tumors they intend to radiate, although smaller, are actually in his brain....
My goodness, how quickly things change. When we met with Jeff’s radiation oncologist, he advised that it was unlikely neurosurgery would elect to do surgery. He stated they are very selective with...