September of last year when Dr. Tony Tsai, my ocular oncologist, called to refer me to an oncologist that was a specialist in the type of cancer he felt the spot on my liver was he said there is a very good one at UC Davis and there is one in San Francisco that is perhaps the best in the country. San Francisco it is. Getting the best and SF really is not that much farther in the scheme of things made it an easy decision. Last but not least is the fact that our daughter, Gina and her husband, Steven live in SF and have a beautiful home in the Marina that has accomodations for Mom and Dad. What a blessing that has been. So grateful.

When I got my referral to Dr Kevin Kim I had not yet been officially diagnosed with cancer specifically Uveal Melanoma. But so grateful Dr Tsai and Dr Kim planned for the worst and hoped for the best. It provided about a 3 week head start on initiating my plan for treatment. So grateful.

The end of March marks about 6 months of this journey with cancer. I could not have done it alone. Family, friends, my medical team and so many others that I owe a debt of gratitude. At the top of the list is of course, my wife, Mela. My rock. Exuding patience I did not know she had. There were times that were really hard and she was there. So grateful. My medical team and staff at CPMC in San Francisco. Everyone from the janitor, to security, receptionist, nurses, doctors have all been so kind and just amazing. Our neighbor, during the month of December, when I was at my lowest and sleeping on the couch would come over and open the french doors to our backyard and let Lila out. And has taken our cans to the curb for the last couple of months. So grateful. I could go on and on but won’t. I do not want it to be a bad Oscar speech. Perhpas it is worse but that’s ok.

Good News - Thursday, February 20 we drove to the hospital on Van Ness in SF. I had only been there for cancer related visits for the last five months. But this is bigger and much much better. We arrived aroung 10:30 AM and by 1:33 PM if I remember correctly Gina and Steven were the proud parents of a beautiful, healthy baby boy - Luca. Nothing better. Mela is over the moon. It is now grandparents that make the drive to SF for my medical care.

We will be there at the end of this month for my infusion and to begin the celebration of Mela’s birthday month. If not sooner we will be back at the end of April for MRI, CT scan and another infusion but mostly to see the kids and hold our grandson.

Be Kind, Stay Strong, Be Humber and God Bless!