Update on Jonas Borchert (Don Nolte's grandson)

Jonas is doing well. His shingles are almost completely cleared up. He says he has no residual pain which is a huge relief. He has adapted well to his new diet and the initial weight loss, from 104lbs down to 101 lbs, is most likely just water weight and he probably won't lose any more from here on out. He is still blind in his left eye and always will be. He reports that the numbness and tingling on the left side of his face that he has had for two years seems to be, oddly enough, diminishing. This most recent round of radiation has caused him to lose more hair, but on a positive note – it's on the opposite side of his head and appears to make his 'hairstyle' more symmetrical. He is not currently on any traditional medical protocol as we wait to hear second opinions from two other physicians. Make no doubt about it, our goal is still to cure our son whether or not any doctor thinks it can be done. Jonas has been handling all this in great Jonas fashion – rolling with the punches. = )School is starting next week and Jonas is really looking forward to it. He has three advanced classes, geometry and chemistry, and an intro to BioMedicine. No study hall. His choice. Um, I'm kind of nervous about that. The high school has been very amenable offering to make changes wherever and whenever he will need it. (Lee's Summit teachers and administration are the BEST!) But he just wants to pass or fail like a regular kid. Hmmmm. I'm wondering if (or when) he will change his tune…...Summer is almost over we have only had three or four days at our own swimming pool! Jonas has not even been in it once! In fact it's the first year ever that we have had real pool problems. A special thank you to our good friend Chris O'Shea for getting our pool up and running! That has been an additional pain in our neck and our pocketbook for too long now. Thanks Chris!And a huge special thank you to Paul and Becky Morales, Karen and Bill Atkins, Zak and Vera Dowdle, Doug and Christine Laird, and my dad Don Nolte. They say, "Friendship isn't about the big things. It's all the little things…." which is true, but right now it seems like all our little things are especially big. Thank you for getting us through this.And finally and "fond farewll and safe journey" to Jonas's friend Myreece Hill and his family that moved away to Arizona this week. Jonas and Myreece have been friends since elementary school and I am grateful for the steady and true friend that he has been. We are so sorry to see them go and know that they will make fast friends in their new hometown. Thank you for always being there for Jonas, Myreece. Stay in touch!!Wishing you all a wonderful new school year and hope you enjoy these final dog days of summer!