Two days at the University of Chicago Med Center

Patty and I have returned from Chicago having gone through the 2-day visit to the medical center that happens for me every two months if I continue to do well in their treatment protocol. For these visits, we drive both ways as we need our car to get back and forth to the hospital from a hotel. As usual we left our beloved dog, Chaim, with Sarah and Thomas and drove up on Wednesday, July 1. This was a different schedule for us due to the Independence Day holiday week closing of the clinic there on Friday (July 3). On the way to Chicago, we stopped at my now favorite place for lunch: Culver's, and had their featured item, the "Butter burger". We really don't know why they call it that, but it sure is good. The drive up was not too bad and we arrived at the clinic at 3:30 PM Chicago time for my MRI appointment. I think you know from my previous posts that these MRI's are not fun, but this time, it was a little easier with less waiting time and only 45 minutes in the loud and uncomfortable chamber. After this, we left the hospital and drove and checked in to our hotel which is near Midway airport. We had our usual dinner at Friday's restaurant and settled in for the night at the Fairfield Inn. The next morning we drove back to the medical center and had my appointment with Dr. Nicholas' partner, Dr. Lukas. Dr. Lukas examined me and showed us my latest MRI scan results. Patty and I were both happy and relieved to hear that tumor remains held in check and my disease has not progressed. My blood counts and labs are also in excellent shape. We couldn't have received better news. From Dr. Lukas, we went to the food court, ate lunch, and then it was up to the sixth floor for my Avastin infusion. The infusion suite was backed up, 1 hour behind schedule, making it a bit harder. My Avastin infusion again went without incident, we left the hospital and began our 3.5 hour drive home to Indianapolis. Sarah and Thomas brought Chaim up to our house for us and the four of us went out to nearby Ocean World for a sushi dinner.