The Week In Pictures

Just about a month ago we wrote to ruminate on hounds, prayers, and smile-worthy pictures of Dea. At that time some new members of Team Dea (the docs from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) were preparing to infuse her with an experimentally re-engineered batch of her own immune cells. Some old members of Team Dea were preparing a collection of photographs to remind her of good times with dear friends during the clinical trial. And everyone was praying. That month and this trial have now transitioned into some of the most dramatic, prolonged, edge-of-seat waiting that I, personally, have ever experienced. Did those hounds hunt? Did those tumors respond? How the heck is Dea?!?

As you know, Dea was asked to move close to Fred Hutch for quick access to testing, monitoring, and emergency response — in case that should become necessary. She hasn’t been home in nearly two months! After a zillion appointments, a rotten stretch of chemo-sickness, one infusion, two transfusions, a dance with dehydration, and one somewhat-expected fever… things have settled into a groove for the home stretch of the trial. After those initial bumps, she got to take a much-appreciated break from chemotherapy. She has rediscovered the joy of eating. She has gained a little weight, she has gotten some rest, and she has wondered once or twice… what will be the results of this extraordinary experiment?

Because she cannot currently feel the results of her immunotherapy, she is left to wonder and wait with the rest of us: What will we see when Dea gets her turn with the instruments that produce those fancy positron-illuminated pictures of her old tumors? If those pictures tell a thousand words, what will they say? After a couple months of preparation and experimental treatment, Dea’s first ‘results’ scan happens tomorrow — with results expected toward the end of the week. And so she will soon have her first before-and-after pictures to start assessing the situation.

In some ways, a set of pictures was never more eagerly anticipated (the anticipation is running pretty strong). But, in some ways, this week’s PET-scan pictures should not overshadow the collection of photos that all of you have sent during this spring’s very long journey. In case you have not seen the growing photo collection that friends put together this month, you really have to check this out… A live feed of the Dea Connection Cam is embedded just below for your consideration (you may have to click “load more images” when you get to the bottom).

Thanks to all of you who uploaded photos! See if you can find your photos in the collection. See if you can find one where Dea is actually smiling. See how far you can scan down this page before you bust a grin of your own. And then hold onto a little bit of that grin for the next time you see Dea. It’s going to be a powerful week in pictures. While we wait for this week’s PET-scan pics this, below, may serve as photographic evidence that we’re all in the suspense of this week together.

Love to you, Dea :^]

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Click on any photo, below, to enter slideshow mode.

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Got more photos of Dea connection? Keep them coming!!
You can add more photos to this collection by uploading them to this Google Photo Album.
You can also sign Dea’s digicard here (her preferred mode of communication during clinical trial).