i know this is long but please do take the time to read it through to obtain the latest update on our brother Sherwin.

An update letter for Sherwin written by Jenny, Sherwin's girlfriend:


Hi Family and Friends,

I want to thank everyone who came out to Sherwin's Marrow Drive on August 7th, 2005. We had a great turnout, and Sherwin was actually released from the hospital that day...he even made a brief appearance at the drive in Woodland Hills! Combined with a drive hosted by Sherwin's
sister in Beverly Hills, we managed to register almost 3,500 people to be potential donors for people desperately in need of a marrow/stem cell transplant.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, support (both financial and emotional) and love throughout all of this; it is so appreciated. We should start getting some results of the tissue typing in the next three weeks or so.

Unfortunately and sadly, I have some very difficult news to share with all of you. Over the past weekend, after being out of the hospital for only one week, Sherwin came down with some alarming symptoms. He told me privately that he was worried that his cancer had come back, and that he was having night sweats, fevers and bone pain again. On Tuesday, our worst fears were confirmed. A blood test showed that he again had blasts in his blood, and that the past two rounds of chemo to try and get him into remission have not worked. At this point, the oncologists at Cedars-Sinai feel that there is not much more that they can do for him. We knew that there is not much time left to make decisions about getting care elsewhere, and have sent his medical records to specialists in Texas, Israel and Germany in hopes of finding additional treatment.

We learned yesterday that M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (a leader in leukemia research and stem cell transplantation) has decided to take on his case, and he will fly out to Houston, TX for testing and evaluation beginning August 30. Although it will be very difficult to leave his hometown, family and friends here in California, Sherwin feels it is his only hope to receive treatment at M.D. Anderson. He is at home until then, and just monitoring his bloodwork as an outpatient at Cedars. He needs blood transfusions every couple of days, because the leukemia is active in his blood and marrow again. It is a very difficult and scary time, and I would be lying if I told you that we were "doing okay." But, we are doing our best to spend as much time together as possible before he leaves for Texas, and enjoy time with his family and take in the beautiful L.A. weather here.

I fear the battle that the future holds for us, but I know that Sherwin is strong in mind, body and spirit...more so than any other person I have ever known. If anyone can get through this, I know he can. He is determined to fight, and has told me that he has too much living left to do to give up now. I know he has so much fight left in him, though the past few months (not to mention the past year and half since his original diagnosis) have taken a lot out of him. It will be hard to have him so far away, but I know that M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is the best possible place for him to be. They have many clinical trials using new drugs, immunotherapy, and if a match is found they are able to do transplants even if the patient is not currently in remission. It will be difficult, but I plan to visit as often as I can while he's out there. (The transplant process itself takes a minimum of 3 months, without complications.) The love and prayers of all of us will bolster his spirits and fuel his determination to keep up his fight.

I am sorry to have to break such disheartening news, but I thought that you should all know because you have shown Sherwin such constant love and concern. He has been so very touched by each and every person that went out of their way to support him through this journey, and has asked me to thank you all. Please keep Sherwin and his family in your prayers and thoughts, as they are needed now more than ever before. I promise to update you on his progress, and I promise to stand by him and keep him thinking positive. We will get him through this darkness. Thank you so much for all that you have done, and I hope that my next email brings better news.

Love,

Jenny

 

Best wishes to him, hope he makes it out just fine.

 

Not the update I was hoping to read Florida sends it's Hopes and Prayers to you and yours!

 

i have a lot of respect for the oncologists at MD Anderson. i wouldn't hesitate to get treated there if i had a similar condition.

 

i used to live in the second closest house to the MD Anderson center in houston. i wish i was there now so i could keep him company.

if he sees this: good luck sherwin...i know you can get through it all

 

our prayers are with Sherwin everyday

 

best wishes from the other side of the pond.

its a sad story to hear about this and it was not the update i was hoping for.

take care and the best of luck.