In late September, Michael underwent radioactive iodine treatment and subsequent isolation to treat the remaining thyroid cancer. Now, we get to wait until next April, when scans and lab work will reveal the effectiveness of the treatment. 

This has been a tough year and it has taken its toll. So, we decided that it was time for regaining stamina and enthusiasm. We began this process by taking a road trip to one of our favorite places – Ouray,Colorado.

On the way to Ouray, we spent a night in the Jemez Mountains in Northern New Mexico. Then we braved the perilous “Million Dollar Highway” from Durango to Ouray. After 3 days in Ouray, we visited Native American ruins at Hovenweep National Monument in Utah. Then we were rained on, snowed on, and welcomed at the Indian Flea Market in Gallup, New Mexico.

It was a good trip, and a great escape from the medical issues. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Clear Creek Campground in the Jemez Mountains

A short video of this yearling mule deer is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRlEesAzF8U

On the road to Durango

On the Million Dollar Highway

Ridgway State Park

In Ouray

The Cimarron Range, viewed from Ridgway State Park

San Juan Mountains, from Dallas Divide Pass

Sunset over the Ridgway Reservoir

Moonrise at Ridgway

Cabin in the Woods

The Castle Ruins at Hovenweep

Mike on the Holly Ruins Trail

Rabbit

Prairie Rattlesnake

On the road south of Shiprock, NM

Red Rock Park - Church Rock, NM

And then it rained, and then it snowed

 The last six weeks have been rather challenging. Michael has continued to heal well from the thyroid surgery in May. We received concerning lab results in early July that indicated the presence of significantly more cancer. The oncologist ordered a series of body scans. So Michael was poked and scanned and made to spend long periods of time in metal tubes. We waited and worked on acceptance. Last week the oncologist let us know that all of the scans came back clean and the only remaining cancer is what they already suspected.

Sometime this fall Michael will undergo a one time radioactive iodine treatment which hopefully will eliminate the lingering thyroid cancer. Compared to some of the other treatments that might have been recommended we are quite happy with this option. It will require four days of isolation and avoiding contact with pregnant women, children and sailors for a week. The sailors will be the challenging part. And the endocrinologist seems to have gotten the proper dosage of the synthetic thyroid hormone. Michael is feeling much more energetic and enthusiastic. Just kidding about the sailors.

We have gone out camping a few more times recently. Here are some photos mostly from our adventures in the nearby Sacramento Mountains.

Thanks for all your love and support,

Michael and Dennis

Sunrise over the Organ Mountains, from Buena Vida Park in Las Cruces. 

Holy Cross Retreat Center, Las Cruces.

White Sands National Park. On our way to the mountains. 

Artwork at the Inn of the Mountain Gods casino, Mescalero Apache reservation.

Wild Horses in The Pines campground, Cloudcroft, NM.

Wild flowers in the woods. 

Hummingbirds.

Life in the woods. 

(A baby Horny Toad - only about an inch and a half long.)

Sunrise.

Sunset.

The night sky at about 3:00am.