Tabitha Morgan - Kick Cancer's Butt

June 2014

A year has passed since Tabby was first diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and so much has happened. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to pray for.

As many of you know her diagnosis came at a time when she was nurturing and enjoying our five month old daughter Sophia. Tabby was thankful for finally having the child she had always dreamed of and thankful for challenges of being a new mom.

Finding out Tabby had advanced cancer was a severe blow to the family. However we soon found out that we are truly blessed in so many ways and we celebrate those blessings every day. We celebrate being touched by so many friends, family, and countless good hearted people that have reached out to us. We are also extremely thankful that Tabby responded so exceptionally well to her initial cancer treatment. Because of all of you and Tabby's strength and fighting attitude we can celebrate a year of surviving this horrible disease. A year of ups and downs, pain and fear, tears and laughter, love and joy.

Sadly, two months ago, we discovered that Tabitha's cancer has mutated and come back very aggressively. Her specialized cancer treatment is no longer working due to the mutation and the cancer is again spreading throughout her lungs, brain and liver. Although we were told this might happen one day it was devastating to hear so soon. Each day had been filled with fighting to stay strong while keeping up with little Sophia. Now the days are again filled with finding a way to battle the resurgence of her cancer and hopefully find a way to get it under control again.

On May 12th Tabitha underwent radiation treatment of her brain tumor in Anchorage. The results of the treatment won't be known until follow up scans later this month. On the 18th of May, Tabby, Sophi and I flew to Denver, Colorado so she could receive a surgical treatment to mitigate the fluid buildup around her lungs and be tested to see if she was a candidate for a clinical trial of a promising new cancer drug. Tabby spent nine days in University of Colorado Hospital recovering from the surgery. She was readmitted four days later due to breathing difficulties from the cancer spread. While in the hospital we finally got the test results back that were positive for Tabby to be included in the clinical trial for the new drug CO-1686. This was great news as it is one of the most promising treatments available.

On June 4th Tabby again was released from the Denver hospital and started the clinical trial on June 5th. This trial includes daily doses of an oral medication and hospital visits in Denver to monitor her condition and response to the drug. During the first month of treatment Tabby is required to be seen three times over a three week period in Denver and then return once every three weeks for further follow up. Tabby and Sophia have now flown to Oregon to temporarily live with friends. This will enable her to travel more easily back to Denver during the first three weeks of the trial. If things go well they will return to Alaska at the end of June and then travel from Alaska to Denver every three weeks throughout the remainder of the trial. The clinical trial treatment will be ongoing for at least a year pending positive results and FDA approval.

I have returned to Alaska after taking last month off from work. It is hard to have Tabby and Sophia so far away but I know they are in very good hands. I must note how incredibly strong my wife and daughter are. Tabby for constantly fighting the fight and little Sophia for all the challenges of seeing mommy sick, sleeping in hospitals and hotels, and for all the miles traveled. There will be many more miles flown, hotels slept in, and rental cars driven however they will take it all in stride for they are amazing.

Again, considering everything, we count ourselves blessed and we thank you all for being a part of our lives.

Tim, Tabitha and Sophi
 
June 2013

On Monday, June 3rd, Tabby was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, which has spread to other systems. Monday, June 10, she underswent surgery to remove  the largest tumor, just above and behind her left eye. The remaining cancer will be treated by appropriate radiation or drug therapies. Amazingly, Tabby has no symptoms other than shortness of breath, a mild cough and some pain in her chest.

This is not an easy diagnosis and the fight will be a tough one. Some of the treatments could make Tabby feel and look sick. There is a lot of hope to be found in the fact that Tabitha is young, has no other illness or symptoms, and we have access to powerful new drug therapies and an excellent team of doctors and nurses. Not to mention that Tabitha can fight anything and win"”like her long battle with infertility and her recent victory, beautiful Sophia Rose.

 Your support means a lot to Tabby and the whole family but, please respectfully avoid giving TOO MUCH advice or results of your own investigations. Tabitha is a very smart lady and while she understands and shares everyone's concern, she doesn't "want a pity party." What she does want and need is your strong and continuous support, all the prayers you can muster, and to be kept in your mind and heart through this difficult time.