Frank Rhodes - a former student

Dear professor Howard

I was saddened to hear that you have been diagnosed with brain cancer.

I wish you the best as you struggle with this challenge.

I received a MS/BS thesis from your and worked in your lab in 1980 and 1981. You were head of the ChemE Dept at the time.

I did a bunch of coal pyrolysis experiments on your fancy dancy machine. I mostly took data, but you were generous enough to let that pass as a master’s thesis anyway.

Not only did I learn about coal, but became quite the beer sophisticate, as well. Your head lab technician taught me a lot in both arenas.

You were always kind, not too demanding and always friendly and available. I remember the whole experience fondly.

After about two years plying the Chemical Engineering trade, I ended up becoming and entrepreneur. Flipping houses and running/growing a family sign business.

Again, all the best as you deal with this challenge

Regards, Frank

Beautiful message from Tom Bowman, a colleague from Stanford University

I would encourage all of you who follow the blog to take the time to open this absolutely beautiful electronic card and rejoice at the message it delivers.
Carolyn

Dear Carolyn and Jack,
Tom Bowman (ctbowman@stanford.edu) has sent you a Jacquie Lawson electronic greeting card.Please click on the following link to see your card. If your e-mail program has not displayed this as a link, then please copy the following into the Address or Location bar of your Internet browser.http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1321785034171&source=jl999

Alternatively, please visit http://www.jacquielawson.com/ and select the Pick Up Card option in the menu. Then enter your card code, which is:1321785034171If you have any problem at all viewing your card, please click here:http://www.jacquielawson.com/help_1.asp

MORE GOOD NEWS DECEMBER 1, 2007

MORE GOOD NEWS
UPDATE
DECEMBER 1, 2007

Myra and I were in the hospital parking lot last evening when I received a phone call from Jack’s nurse, Donna, in the recovery room. Only 2 hours after surgery, Jack had given her my cell phone number to call me. We arrived in the recovery room, where Jack was amazingly alert and talkative. I got to give him the most amazing news that Dr. Cosgrove had tremendous difficulty finding any live tumor tissue for the tissue testing that is being done in CA. Jack was astonished to say the least. We are most hopeful and so grateful that this mass has been debulked.

While we were chatting, 2 of the medical doctor team members came by to check on Jack. They asked him if he could move his left arm that has been completely immobile for 2 months now. He not only moved it but he raised it several times with complete control. Jonathan and Courtenay arrived shortly after us. Jonathan, our filmmaker, brought his video camera and captured Jack talking and moving his left arm. The joy of this movement is magnified by the fact that Dr. Cosgrove, Jack’s neurosurgeon and primary doctor for his care, had told us that Jack had less than a 5-10% chance of any mobility restoration. We praise God, the Great Physician, for his most gracious mercy.

Jack is still in ICU this morning but he somehow managed to get access to a phone and called me at 6:00 AM. He said he had not slept all night but decided that we should come in this morning instead of later today. I had told him last evening that we would be in later today since I was certain he would be exhausted and needed to rest today. He told me that since the picture had changed as the result of the surgery, that he wants to talk to us. Since my Dad calls each morning, Jack beat him to the call this morning. It was a most wonderful call.

The legions of prayers have been heard by our merciful Lord. His strength continues to be magnified in our weakness. My weakness, for sure, is the unbelief of the possibility of such a miracle as this one. “Lord, help thou my unbelief.”

As we all continue to rely on our Lord and His sovereign mercy, I am so reminded of
Habakkuk 3:19
“The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer to enable me to go to the heights.”

As we continue to pray for mercy, strength, and hope, we embrace all of you have been such prayer warriors on our behalf. Please continue as the Lord leads.
Love and Happy December,
Carolyn and family

Surgery UPDATE

UPDATE
November 30, 2007
6:30 PM

I want to let all of you know that are prayers have been answered beyond comprehension. Jack came through the surgery with flying colors. Not only did they remove the dead tissue, but 99.9% of the tumor tissue was also dead. The tumor, needless to say, had not progressed but had caused massive swelling due to the dead tissue.

Dr. Cosgrove said that he had a great deal of difficulty finding any live tumor tissue for the tissue test that I described this morning. He also said that it will be days to weeks before we know if any of the motor function will return. What he does feel confident about is that Jack will be able to come off of the steroids in several days. After Jack recovers from this part of his treatment, he will be moved back to NE Rehabilitation hospital for a few weeks.

Jack’s sister, Myra, a former student, Rich Shantross (surprised us by showing up at the hospital – he took a day off work to provide us with support), and I spent a couple of hours with Jack this morning and walked with him to surgery. The Lord has truly carried us to the heights today and we are most thankful. The legions of prayers have been answered. We will continue to wait on the Lord as the next phase of this journey unfolds. My birthday is next week and this gift is the best one that I could ever imagine.

We continue to desire your prayers, love, and support. We are all looking forward to a restful night’s sleep.
Carolyn

Update November 30, 2007

UPDATE
November 30, 2007
This week has again challenged us with the unexpected. Jack’s left leg has been swelling over several days. Each evening both of his legs are encased in a mechanism that inflates and deflates to enhance the circulation is his legs. There is always a concern for the occurrence of blood clots when a person is less mobile than they had been previously coupled with chemotherapy side effects. As his leg began to remain swollen and even worsen, the Dr. decided to do an ultrasound test on him last Tuesday afternoon. What they discovered was that he has 2 large blood clots now – a likely side effect of the chemotherapy he was on during September and October. One of the clots is in his right groin while the other one is behind his left knee. The concern is that as the body tries to absorb these clots that pieces will break off and migrate to his lungs and heart. Unfortunately, Jack is not a candidate for blood thinners. Tumors are huge blood banks. If Jack was given blood thinners, he would potentially have a brain hemorrhage at the tumor site. Thanks to modern medicine, the Doctors went to plan B. Jack was taken back to Lahey Clinic emergency room on Tuesday evening for Plan B. Plan B is a filter that looks like an umbrella that was placed in the large groin vein. If the clots try to migrate, the filter prevents large pieces from going to the lungs and heart.

Here comes the fun part of the evening – we can always find humor and joy in the events. Picture Jack in this high tech emergency room with various people coming and going doing their jobs. The doctor comes in and describes in detail what the procedure is going to be and how it works. Jack is flat on his back, paralyzed on his left side, special stockings to improve the circulation, Jonathan and me at his side – as the doctor describes the filter, Jack wants to know the pore size of the filter. Only Jack!!!! That engineering mind has not stopped yet. The evening only gets more interesting. A young Dr. walks in the room and says – hello Professor Howard. MIT students always refer to faculty as Prof. We immediately have a clue. Apparently, this student thought Jack was a math professor at MIT (there used to be another Jack Howard in the math department at MIT). This Dr. decided to google Jack; consequently, Jack was discovered. The procedure finally occurred in the middle of the night since the team that specializes in this procedure had gone home for a quiet evening. Jack was conscious throughout the procedure. Apparently, there was much discussion about the world’s energy crisis with this team consulting with Jack during this surgery. Who would have guessed that maybe our energy crisis might be solved in an emergency surgery room! Thankfully, the procedure was successful and we all went home to sleep for a short winter’s night.

Jack was admitted that evening to Lahey Clinic since the doctors and Jack had decided that he would have the brain surgery. There are several hopes for the surgery. One of the big hopes is to maybe restore the use of Jack’s left leg, extend his life for some months, and remove the need for steroids that have many negative side effects. Initially, surgery was not an option due to the high risk for paralysis. We have the paralysis, so we do not have that as a concern. Jack has another brain image (MRI) this morning followed by surgery at 1:00 PM today.
Jack had a very comfortable day yesterday. Two more “southern” friends came in to visit him. Victor Vejins, Nano-C’s CEO – I think Viktor and his family must live in Southwest West Concord, MA, and Jack’s first office mate at MIT last century, Bill Dalzell, who definitely qualifies as a Southerner since he lives in Marshfield, MA on the deep south side of Boston. Jonathan spent time with him during his lunch. Jonathan called to say he was off to get Jack more coffee – Jack’s favorite drink of choice.

I spent time with Jack last evening. It was a time of reflection on our Lord and his tender mercies toward us over the many years that we have shared. We discussed our abundance in the ways that we have been blessed with our families and friends that are far and wide. We are truly resting in the shadow of the wings of our Lord, our only place of refuge from the journey of our lives and especially the storm of this disease.

Another amazing event that has happened is that Megan’s (Jonathan’s wife) family have some dear friends in Orange County, CA. This family escaped the Serbian war a few years ago. Megan’s Mom, Margaret met them on the plane as they were traveling to the US. Margaret is a flight attendant and befriended them. They knew no one. The two families have become very close friends. We have had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful family. The woman works in a lab that tests cancer tissues to determine the most effective treatment for the cancer. She has offered and is sending via overnight the kit that is used to collect cancer tissue. Jack’s tumor tissue will be exposed to many forms of chemotherapy in her lab for potential treatment after surgery. Thank you Megan for orchestrating all of this work.

When an experience such as the one we are going through happens, it is truly an awesome thing to see how the Lord has woven the fabric of our lives. It is also wonderful to see the far reach of so many people that desire to help in so many ways. We deeply express our gratitude to all of you. I told Viktor this week that I felt like I was training for a marathon. His response to me was that I am in the marathon. I agreed with him. Unfortunately, there is no training as we know training for this marathon. By God’s grace, our strength is supplied sufficiently moment by moment.

I will close with the verses that I shared with Jack last evening. Also, I will be updating the blog throughout the weekend. Jack's sister, Myra, is arriving this morning to be with us over the next several days. We continue to covet and need your prayers.

Excerpts from Psalm 16
V1. “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
V7. “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me: even at night my heart instructs me.
V8. “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
V9. “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure”
V11. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Blessings,
Carolyn and family

Yiannis Levendis Letter - Northeastern Professor

Dear Jack,
It has been sometimes that I have not seen you. In the meantime, I have been receiving news about your medical condition from Henning and from the internet blog.
I have not contacted you as I did not want to be intrusive and as I also faced family issues.
But having read a poem recently I thought about you a lot. So, on this Thanksgiving Day I decided to write you a note, to share this poem with you. You may already know of it; I didn’t until recently.
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
By Mary Stevenson, 1936
I can only hope that now that the first round of your treatments is over, that we will see positive changes and we will see again two sets of footprints in the sand.
Jack, you are a rare breed of a gentleman and it has always been a sheer pleasure dealing with you.
When we meet you brighten my days. I look forward to many more of those bright days.
Your friend,
Yiannis A. Levendis

November 26, 2007 UPDATW

UPDATE
November 26, 2007

Psalm 19:1-4
“The heavens declare the glory of God,
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”

Psalm 19 is a beautiful Psalm of David and expresses our experiences and opportunities during our difficult trial with Jack. One of Jack’s hopes has been that he would have the opportunity to express to others the glory of the Lord. He is getting more of this time than he had imagined.
He recently was visited by a psychiatrist who wanted to talk with him about how he was feeling about his situation. He had an amazing experience telling her how he is trusting the Lord in all aspects of this challenge. He explained to her that he is confident that the Lord has it all under his complete control and he rests with that. She inquired by asking “Isn’t unusual for scientists to believe like that?” He said not in his experience and he began to give her examples of well known scientists. Jack has always said that he has had a unique view of the majesty of God because of his work. He has observed intricate order and design in the smallest of ways (nano technology). We praise our mighty Lord for these discussions with others.
Jack remains at NE Rehabilitation Hospital where he is receiving 3 hours/day of therapies – speech, occupational, and physical. He enjoys the challenges of the sessions. He doesn’t think there is enough therapy. Sundays are days off where he rests. He told me last evening that when he was in the bathroom, he pulled himself up and down 60 times in order to workout. The staff would have had a heart attack if they had known he was doing this activity. He is so concerned about maintaining as much strength as possible. The staff is concerned about safety. You can obviously tell that safety is second on Jack’s list.
On the medical front, I have spoken with both his radiologist and neurosurgeon. His radiologist, Dr. Shih, told me that he could not have had a worse response to the treatment. The treatment did not arrest the tumor growth, it continues to grow, as I mentioned previously. Also, there is much necrotic (dead) tissue. Dr. Cosgrove has decided that surgery is the best option. He would debulk or resection the tumor (both of these terms are used interchangeably) and remove as much of the dead tissue as possible. The hope would be potentially to restore the use of Jack’s left leg. The original inoperable diagnosis was given due to the paralysis issue. We now have the paralysis, so we don’t have anything to lose in Jack’s function. Of course, there is always risk with surgery. Dr. Cosgrove explained that the biggest concern is the possibility of infection from the necrotic tissue. Jack and Dr. Cosgrove meet today to discuss surgery. If Jack opts for the surgery, it will likely occur this week. Jack has indicated to me that he will choose surgery.
Jack is much better overall than he was a week ago. The high doses of steroids have reduced the swelling so much that he is much more alert and engaged. He does continue to exhibit erratic blood sugar levels. If his blood sugar is elevated, they administer insulin. Medical issues become like a domino effect; one problem is helped only to create another one.
The children and I had a lovely Thanksgiving with Jack. The hospital had a catered meal for patients and families. It felt very festive. It was also comforting to be among so many others suffering in similar situations. The staff is wonderful at this hospital creating a place of hope and courage. We are thankful.
Courtenay, Jonathan, Megan, and I have spent time together over the weekend discussing our hopes, fears, concerns, and strategies. I told them that we have two primary jobs with Jack – comfort him and love him in all the ways we can.
If Jack has successful surgery, he would begin taking the Brazilian plant extracts that I previously have mentioned. He is willing to take them. The doctors have said whatever you want to try as long as it will not harm him. We believe we have nothing to lose with this option.
By God’s grace, we move through these events with hope, joy, and solitude. The Lord continues to provide for us in all ways for that we are most thankful.
I will update further when we have more information.
I will close with the quote from Psalm 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Blessings to all of you who continue to send cards, emails, and prayers to us and for us,
Carolyn