A Letter To You

 Dear friends and family,

Just 2 months ago I was dying. The tumors in my liver and other vital organs were out of control. My life was in tragic danger and all doctors and oncologists that know me had run out of treatment options. 

Two months ago, my liver was so enlarged and full of cancerous tumors; I looked like a heavily pregnant woman. We practically called off celebrating our only son’s Bar Mitzvah and it was likely that I wasn’t going to live to see my Zach becoming a Bar Mitzvah at all.

As you know, my dearest ones, we have been scouring the earth for something - anything to save my life! As I blogged, back a couple of months ago, my father found one clinic that gave him hope. In Istanbul, Turkey, of all places! Thankfully not too far to be completely out of reach - my parents fully researched this place known as: ChemoThermia.

At the end of August, I began receiving treatments here, in Istanbul. Treatments that make me wonder if this is what it’s like to be in Hell. 

I decided, in my heart, that I would continue coming for treatments until my first pet ct. I believed with all my soul that these treatments would save my life. Usually the first scan is performed after 4-6 rounds of treatments. 

As you know, I’ve been in treatment both in Israel and America and as of the end of 2017 they no longer had anything to offer but an impending death sentence. Denial kicked in and so did complications, hospitalizations, pain and suffering.

A few days ago, I had a pet scan in Israel and my oncologist and the radiologist were shocked yet very happy for me.  Objectively the improvements are stunning! The radiologist said, “It’s a good scan!”. My oncologist in Israel said, “You made my day!”, with great emotion and perhaps even a glistening of tears in his eyes, “Whatever you’re doing is working....” And that’s the best news I’ve received in at least 4 years!

Today, my dad and I sat with my Doctor S. here, at ChemoThermia, and reviewed the scans together. As I’d done together with my husband and Professor C., in Israel, just 2 days ago, I saw the evidence with my own eyes.  Every tumor has responded in some way to the treatments! Some tumors completely disappeared. 

As of July 30th, my spleen was one big mass of cancerous tumor and now all active cancer, in my spleen, is resolved! My liver was 3 times normal in July and now it’s back to a normal size. Many tumors have disappeared from my liver and the ones that remain are smaller and glow less strongly on the scan. We reviewed slice after slice of the scan and witnessed the dramatic improvements with tears of happiness in our eyes; my heart racing. 

Now I’ve seen the good news on the actual scans with both Prof C. in Israel AND Dr S in Turkey. I’m exhausted to my core so it’s hard to be emotional right now however, knowing that this Hellish treatment is working against the cancer is phenomenal! 

Let me be clear: I still have cancer.

I still have cancer and this is the ONLY treatment that’s caused tumors to shrink or disappear in 4 years! Today, my life is in less danger but I must continue doing my job which, is coming to Turkey and receiving these grueling treatments and paying for them.

I have osteopenia - severe calcium deficiency and fragile bones. My sternum is broken along with other some bone fractures. The greatest news is that my vital organs are less burdened and more able to function. 

Objectively the improvements are stunning. Just 2 months ago I was dying - my life was coming to an end and now all the news is positive! The only negative part is having to be in treatment yet that’s obviously what’s given me a new chance at living. 

Please continue to pray for my complete recovery. Perhaps consider contributing to my cause; my treatments in Istanbul, Turkey.

With Love,

Ahava