Mexico Powered!

We are now at the end of our third day in Mexico, and despite a much faster pace of life, my internal battery is charged well beyond any level I have known in the past 3 months. Since our arrival we have re-connected and breakfasted, lunched, dined, partied, imbibed, danced, toured, shopped, explored, philosophized and learned with many of our friends in Merida. We have been graciously hosted by Carlos and by Mary Anne and Allan. We have also made a few new friends along the way. The social calendar is now filled for the next two weeks and we will leave for the country tomorrow to visit good friends there and to begin to accomplish some of the work we have been unable to attend to. We look forward to connecting with many other friends in Merida when we return to the city later in the week.



Decisions . . . Decisions



This morning I had a long telephone conversation with Dr. Khan, my radiation oncologist, to explore various approaches to my post surgical treatment. He was most generous with his time, and is exploring the efficacy of four possible approaches to treatment, all of which would make me available for Reagan and Bing's wedding on May 9. The nominees are:

1. an accelerated program of conventional radiation. This would involve 33 treatments over 7 weeks and would necessitate a return to New York this weekend, social calendar notwithstanding.


2. a deferred program of conventional radiation. This would again involve 33 treatments but would be initiated in mid May


3. a fractionated program of radiation. This would involve a shorter term of treatment at a slightly increased dosage. This would begin in early April.


4. tumour bed radiation. I would receive 5 treatments of higher level radiation focused on the area from which the tumour was removed. This is a clinical trial rather than a standard protocol and there is some doubt whether I could qualify for this program.

Dr. Khan is going to evaluate the impact these various options are likely to have on the success of treatment and advise me. I will then make my decision which way to proceed. I will also investigate the potential to have option 1 performed in Merida; Dr. Khan agrees this would be a viable option.

Tonight, with Chuck and Mary Ann Taylor, we returned to our favourite destination in Merida, Restaurante Amaro, and were greeted like family, with warmth, joy and relief. Enrique danced salsa with me as he had promised by internet. Jaime and the waiters made us more than welcome, anticipating, with total accuracy, our orders. Roberto Cañedo, who played and sang during my birthday party, was once again on stage and performed many of my favorite songs. Olga, the owner, was not able to be there, but upon learning we were back in Merida, called to congratulate me on my return and to invite us to her home to welcome us back. She also invited us to attend a fundraiser for AIDS children sponsored by our friends Allan and Mary Ann, which we had already planned to attend. We could not have been made more at home.

In all, this has been a glorious three days, and has has done much to alleviate the trauma of the last three months. It is wonderful to be back in our winter home.