SitRep

Alison did an MRI yesterday which confirmed the presence of a tumor just on the inside of the top of her skull. That's the closest aligator to the boat at this point, so we're going to radiate. She went from MRI to Radiation Oncology, where they made her a mask to steady her head (she didn't like that) and mapped where they would radiate. Her first session is tomorrow.
The Medical Oncologists from CN and IU converged, and have determined that in her current state they cannot radiate and administer chemo at the same time. Her platelets are too low, and there would be undue risk of the tumor bleeding on the inside of her skull. The doctors are worried that the treatment would be more damaging than the cancer. So we have to do 3 weeks of radiation and hope nothing else grows in the meantime. It's hard times, but she continues to persevere and drive "the bus" of her care.
As for getting out of here, we haven't talked much about it. Her pain is the main issue, but unlike her last hospitalization, the radiation won't do anything for it. It is nerve pain, and there are nerve medicines and ways to overcome it. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Her spirit remains true, and the doctor I spoke with at length today verified my impression of the matter, which is that Alison is taking all this with grace uncommon to most.

++I wanted to clarify diagnosis at this time. Alison's is still Neuroendocrine, but now they think it is "Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma," vice the slow-growing, lesser aggressive Carcinoid Neuroendocrine.