The Big Day

Well, here we are at Cook's in the outpatient surgery wating area. We arrived at 6:30 AM and have gone through all of the usual sequences of events. Unfortunately, it seems like everyone is running a little late so they did not take her back until about 8:20 AM. This has me guessing that we will probably know something in about 30 - 45 minutes assuming all goes well. All in all, this has gone pretty smoothly. I certainly can't complain. As usual, I am just anxious to get to the bottom of all of this.

I should also tell you that my trip to Washington, D.C. for NCI Translates was an incredible experience. I am not really in the mood to go into the details, right now (I have Sydney on my mind.) However, I will tell you that has been transformational for me. In some areas it has solidified my thinking regarding neuroblastoma research and in some other ways I have been enlightened to new ideas and perspectives. I can tell you this. I viewed research that spanned just about every cancer. This event was representative of the entire cancer population. I can also tell you that, if anything, neuroblastoma was over represented. Yes, you heard me. Neuroblastoma research projects accounted for anywhere from 5 to 15% of the abstracts that appeared in each of the sections in which I participated. That is a huge number considering the fact that this was not even a pediatric population that we were looking at. This was all cancer - breast, lung, prostate - you name it. Our neuroblastoma research is something to be proud of. Our investigators are clearly leaders in the cancer world. Ironically, Sydney's vaccine trial was a big subject at the meeting. I actually met with some of the researchers behind her study. It was a shock for both me and them.

Well, more later. My nervousness is now taking priority over my writing so I think I am going to focus back on my anxiety now.

I have purpose on the brain.