[Captivate Android Development] JoeDV:
Hello All

Been away for a while... dealing with some very emotional issues and trying to find the strength to stay positive. Rather than answer the same questions over and over, which I'd really prefer not to do, I'll explain the situation as best I can. I don't mind discussing it... if anything I prefer to make this part of everyone's consciousness, for I believe it can make you a better, stress free person and a better parent.

As most of you know, my daughter has been undergoing chemo since January. She has osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. Her primary spot was just above her right knee. She had the tumor along with 7" of her femur removed and a bone graft performed. All scans during her treatment came back clean, so our hopes were extremely high that the chemo was working and that we had beat this awful disease. Then, at the end of her treatment, they performed the end of chemo scan, only to find that the cancer had spread. Even more depressing was that a more detailed scan then revealed that it had spread even farther than first thought.

She now has spots on her arm, ribs, spine, wrist, pelvis, knee, and ankle. They believe the cancer has moved to her bone marrow as it is not in any of her tissue or organs.

So, essentially, the 8 months of chemo didn't work. We're now left trying another type of chemo drug, that has some awful side effects, and only has a response in 30-50% of the people on it. (the first treatment is effective in 85%). If these new drugs don't work, there is one more drug to try (shot in the dark) before we'd have to look for an experimental trial, assuming she's physically able to withstand it at that point.

She is currently in very good spirits and is a happy little girl. We've decided not to tell her, our other kids, or her friends the extent to which the cancer has spread. As far as she knows, it's only in her arm where they did the biopsy. The most depressing news we received is that if this chemo doesn't work, they said statistically she may only have 6 months to a year.

For those of you who are parents, I believe you can understand how devastating that is. To know that each milestone may be the last... the last birthday, christmas, last winter, spring, etc... to know they will never experience life and what it has to offer. She'll never get to drive, have a boyfriend, graduate high school, get married, have kids... the things we all take for granted.

So to all I say... enjoy each day you have... assume nothing. Don't stress over the small things... because that's what they are... small and insignificant. Work doesn't matter, sitting at a traffic light doesn't matter, if your kids are making too much noise, enjoy it. Let them be kids, spend time with them, hug them and tell them you love them each and every day.

With that said, we will keep fighting and doing all we can to win this war... but since the odds are so stacked against us, we will also continue to cherish each and every minute, every word, every smile we can get each day. I thank all of you who have supported us during this extremely rough time... your words of encouragement and support are greatly appreciated.

Joe