AIRBOSS Updates

Welcome to our CaringBridge site. We've created it to keep friends and family updated. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most.

Back in January of 2000 I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, and had my right kidney removed February 9, 2000. In November of the same year they removed a spot that was a met of the renal cell in my upper left lung.

Fast forward 13 years later after having clean scans, they found a 1.5cm spot in the lower portion of the same lung. They will check to see what it is after they remove the spot. Praying it is not another met, but something that is benign.

They removed the lower lobe of my left lung. Kidney cancer. August 2018 spot in right lung has grown. Surgery to remove it scheduled for 8/28/18. Praying it is benign.

Was kidney cancer. March 27, 2019 Routine CT scans showed a lesion in 1 lymph node and on an adrenal gland. Oncologist prescribed Immunotherapy. April 17, 2019 Started Immunotherapy every 3 weeks for 4 treatments then once a month for 12 more treatments.

May 2019 Many side effects from the Immunotherapy but feeling great. July 10, 2019 While going to routine visit during Immunotherapy we told the doc that Boyd was feeling a slight pressure in his forehead for a couple of days. He ordered a brain MRI that day and the result is the cancer has spread to his brain.

Schedule posted in journal entry.

July 30, 2019 Brain tumor and blood clot in the brain removed. 1 day in ICU 1 day in regular room then home. No side effects and feeling great.

August 5, 2019 Wound check and stitches removed. All looks good.

October 4, 2019 Thanks everyone for keeping up with us and supporting us. We are trying to get all his follow up appointments on November 13th. It will be a long day, but it is easier on us due to traveling back and forth. As far as we know, he will have labs, CT, MRI, follow up with radiologist, oncologist and if all looks well he will start back on Immunotherapy that afternoon.

October 7, 2019 Schedule for Wednesday November 13th.  Levine Cancer Center and Carolinas Medical Center 8am Brain MRI 10:45am meet with radiologist  12:15pm Full body CT 1pm labs 1:30pm oncologist 

October 15, 2019 Quick visit to the endocrinologist in Charlotte this morning. Doc says A1C is perfect! Brain MRI 8am First of many appointments today. I will edit and add as we go along throughout the day. 9:30am Blood draw 9:30 Radiation Oncology running early on all appointments so far. Radiologist will read the brain MRI Not good news... More brain tumors. Having the CT scan in a few minutes then visiting the oncologist. The oncologist and radiation doc will coordinate a plan.

November 13, 2019 Good update for now. Oncologist seems to think they are not new tumors and one area seems to be swollen and had some bleeding from pressure. They are starting him on another steroid regiment and follow up with an MRI at a later date. Met with oncologist, he thinks it might be just swelling from the radiation treatments prior and maybe a little bleeding from pressure. He recommended he start on more steroids and a follow up MRI down the line after they have a team meeting with all his docs.

November 19, 2019 Just heard back from Boyd’s oncology office. They are telling him to take the steroid regimen they prescribed for 5 weeks then they will do another MRI and compare to all his prior MRIs to see what the next step will be. There is a a lot of swelling from pressure in his brain that they want to get control of before anything else is done. Thank you all again for your prayers and well wishes. Please keep them coming and praying that his brain is stable with no new growth at his next MRI. I will post his scheduled date when we get that from the radiologist.

November 22, 2019 MRI December 30 Arrive 12:15 for 12:45 scan 1:30 Follow up with radiologist .

We hate asking for help, but after tomorrow our insurance starts a new calendar year. His personal deductible is $350 and out of pocket is $5000. Boyd had to quit his job back in July and we had already hit the deductible and catastrophic for 2019. He has a pension that is very good, but we could use a little help if you can offer to donate to his medical expenses. I added additional funds for hotel stays while he has to stay over for testing. While he is in the hospital, I always stay in his room 24/7, never stay in a hotel. Thank you to those of you who have already reached out to us with many expenses, it has really lowered the stress level we are going though. Again we hate asking for help, but it would take a huge burden off of us if you could. ❤️ Love you all and thanks for keeping up with us coming up on 20 years January 29.