The Holidays are here .....

Halloween 2009 continued in typical Schneider fashion. This year's theme was Dr. Seuss! Bumpy was "The Cat in the Hat". Brady and Casey were "Thing 1" & "Thing 2". Although the weather wasn't very nice, the evening was a still a "treat"!!

November has been a bit more challenging for Rick. His latest scan showed some very small growth activity so they are back to the drawing board to find a new course of treatment which will again stabilize the tumor activity. Tami has spoken with many experts across the country and this past Friday, she and Rick took a trip to Washington DC to meet with Dr. Fine at the NIH to discuss clinical trial participation. There are a number of options to choose amongst and, if the first one doesn't work, there are still other options to try. One constant is that Rick will continue with Avastin, for now. For the chemotherapy agent, they are choosing between a different dosage schedule of Temodar or starting on BCNU.

While not the news they are used to getting from Rick's scans - through all this, Rick continues to have an amazing 'Positive Mental Attitude'! The incredible support of his friends and family has made this "rough spot" so much more bearable. The Schneiders are looking forward to hosting their family in New York for Thanksgiving, as always, and they will be spending the holidays at the The Atlantis in the Bahamas. If anyone would like to join them, please let them know!

Summers' Over, Schools' In and Rick Gets an A+ Again!!

It's almost Fall in New York, the weather is starting to change and kids are back to school. Everyone is feeling the typical "re entry" blues wishing it was end of June again...But not the Schneiders (well, maybe just a little)!  On Tuesday, Rick went for a follow up scan and his results were awesome!!  His scans continue to be stable and all is well.

After a rainy visiting day in Maine, Tami, Brady, Rick and Bump headed back to Nantucket for some R & R.  In August when Casey was done with camp, he and Rick spent a night at Takajo for Father Son Weekend.  A good time was had by all and getting home to NY for the Bears game as well as their comfy beds couldn't come soon enough for the Schneider boys.  

Back to Nantucket for the last weeks of summer - what could be bad.  Even 2 hurricanes couldn't stop the Schneider's from having fun.  Whether it was back at the helm of "The Dude" or enjoying ice cream at the famous Juice Bar, Rick continues to amaze us all.

The fall will be busy with interviews for schools, the Jewish Holidays and of course FOOTBALL!!  Next scan in a couple of weeks - til then, Happy New Year and be well!! 

Rainy June Doesn't Stop Rick!!

On Tuesday, Rick and Tami came back to NY from Nantucket to meet with their new doctor - Dr Lisa DeAngelis. Dr DeAngelis is the Chair of Neurology at Sloan-Kettering and will be taking care of Rick from now on since their previous doctor moved to Switzerland. The scan they did on tuesday continues to show no tumor activity and be exactly what everyone was hoping for!! Dr DeAngelis is pleased with how well Rick is doing and, at some point could see stopping the Temodar and/ or Avastin. Tami questioned the doctor about other things

(eg supplements, fish oils, etc) that Rick could try but she felt " Rick looks amazing, why change a thing?"

For now, Rick's treatments will continue as they have been and the next update will be in September.

Tami and Rick are off to Maine this weekend to pick Brady up from camp and then they will visit Casey next weekend at Takajo. From there it is back to ACK and the Gorgeous Gal.

Have a great rest of the summer and if anyone is in Nantucket stop by and visit with the Schneiders!!

Summers Here and All is Well with Rick!!

On Thursday Rick went in for an MRI and the results were fantastic once again!! The disease continues to be dormant and all that's left is scar tissue. Rick, according to his doctor, continues to beat the odds and our plan is to have him continue to beat the odds - for MANY years to come!! Brady and Casey are off to sleep away camp in a few weeks and Rick and Tami are looking forward to a nice, quiet summer on the Gorgeous gal!! Happy Memorial Day and Have a great summer!!

March Ends on a High Note for the Schneiders!!

Another great MRI today!!  All is stable and, at this point, Rick's doctor has said that there's nothing more to shrink.  Only calcifications remain - this is good!!  He will continue with his current treatment and she said that they could be "cautiously optimistic" about the future!!

2009 Off to a Good Start

While the market maybe down, things for the Schneider's are looking up!!  They enjoyed 2 weeks in the Bahamas (with family and friends) eating, sunbathing and taking in all the Atlantis had to offer.  They celebrated New Year's Eve with 45 people aboard the Gorgeous Gal and are now settling into January in New York.

But what is better than this is great news from Dr Abery.  Rick had an MRI yesterday and to quote his doctor, the results were "FANTASTIC"!!!  Rick's tumor continues to get smaller (50-75% reduction in size overall) and he feels terrific!!!

They are looking forward to good times ahead and more great news in March when they go for the next scan.